Translate

Friday, December 20, 2013

THE TREE OF LIFE - NYOBS 17.02

TREE OF LIFE
The Bible teaches about life giving food in our garden as well as snakes that bring death.


A Little Tradition
Tradition; - At one time there was a Jewish custom to plant a tree at the birth of a child; a cedar tree for a boy and a pine tree for a girl.
When a couple married, their trees were cut down and used in the construction of the huppah, the bridal bower.
Webster - Bower; a room, a hut, a rustic cottage or retreat
More Tradition; - If a son turned out to be evil, the father would cut down the son’s tree and he would be disowned. – I never knew you.
Matt 7:23 – I never knew you.
23 Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' NIV
Ps 51:11 – Don’t cast me out of your presence
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. NIV

Tree of Knowledge of good and evil
  • Scholars believe that the tree of knowledge of good and evil was just an ordinary tree planted for the purpose of testing Adam. – By eating of the tree, Adam did not receive universal knowledge, but received experiential knowledge. – He experienced the knowledge of right and wrong. - The omniscient (all knowing) God already knew Adam would fail. – The universal law of “sin and death” had already been put into effect.  “If you sin you will die”.
  • Knowledge of the Good in you will never redeem you from the evil that’s in you.
  • The way to God is not knowledge nor a formula nor a ritual; it’s a person.

TWO TREES
  • We hear a lot about the tree of knowledge of good and evil that was planted in the garden, but there was also another special tree planted, but with very little said about it.
  • The Tree of Life was also planted in the middle of the garden and was available without any restrictions
  • You must note; The Tree of Life was not hidden, it was in full view, fruitful and available.
  • Why is it that forbidden fruit is considered the sweetest? – Why are we drawn to what is off limits to us? - Sin separated Adam AND US from the Tree of Life.
Gen 2:9 – Planted in the middle of the Garden.
9 In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. NIV
Gen 3:22 – The Tree of Life provided immortality
22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." NIV
Gen 3:24 – Sin separates us from the Tree of Life.
24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. NIV
Tree of Life
  • After the expulsion of the “Adam’s Family” from the Garden; we learn for the first time that the tree would have provided everlasting life or immortality – The properties of the tree had not been previously revealed. – We have no idea what God has in store for us.
  • NOTE:  God permitted by decree that Adam could eat freely from the tree of life and He did not withdraw that decree.  But when Adam sinned, two Cherubim Angels blocked the way to the tree. – God sent His Son Jesus to provide THE way back to the Tree – He is the only way to the TREE OF LIFE which is in God’s garden of paradise in Heaven
v      Here is what Adam and Eve and all mankind missed out on by being separated from God.
Ø       It was a fruit bearing tree with leaves with healing properties. - Eating the fruit of the tree produces good works, blessings, fulfillment, sensitivity, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Ø       The Tree revitalizes and renews; it imparts wisdom; the knowledge of Spiritual things providing entrance through the sacred gate into the Kingdom of God’s eternal life.
Gen 2:16 – You are free to eat from the tree of life
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; NIV
Prov 3:13-18 - Wisdom
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; NIV
Prov 3:18 - Blessings
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. NIV
Prov 11:30 – The Tree of Life produces good works.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. NIV
Prov 13:12 – The Tree of Life produces fulfillment.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. NIV
Prov 15:4 – The Tree of Life produces sensitivity.
4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. NIV
Rev 2:7 – Those that overcome eats the tree of life
7 He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. NIV
Rev 22:2 – The Tree of Life bears the fruit of the Spirit
2 On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. NIV
Gal 5:22-23 – Tree of Life fruit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. NIV
Rev 22:14 –The Tree of life is for the righteous believer
14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
NIV
Seed
  • You can draw a parallel from the two trees; that of Christ as Life and Satan as Death.
  • You can see the symbolism of good seed and bad seed.
  • From the first woman came two seeds. - Abel was considered a prophet; the good seed – Faithless Cain was the bad seed.
  • A Good tree does not bear bad fruit; likewise, a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
  • A seed always produces after its own kind
  • You will know a good tree by its fruit, or you could say YOU will be known by your fruit.
  • You reap what you sow. – You reap far more than you expect and far longer than you expect.
Luke 6:43-45 – A good tree bears good fruit
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers.
45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. NIV
Matt 7:16-20 – You will know them by their fruit.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. NIV
Gen 1:11 – The seed is produced after its own kind
11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. NIV
Gal 6:7-8 – You will reap what you sow
7 Don’t be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. NIV

From the Apocrypha
  • Since little is found in scripture about the Tree of Life, I though it would be fun to look slightly outside the Bible into the Apocrypha concerning Jewish thoughts about this tree.
  • The books in the Apocrypha were at one time a part of the Jewish Talmud, but overtime were dropped.   A lot of it sounds just like the Authorized Version. – These books are still found in the Catholic Bible.
  • The tree of Life is described in color like golden fire, as having a fragrance beyond all fragrances and leaves and wood that never withers.
  • The fruit resembles palm tree dates and the blooms are beautiful in appearance.
  • The tree provides rest, goodness and wisdom. – The tree stands as the difference between corruptibility (death) and incorruptibility (Life).
1 Enoch 24:4 – A tree like none other
4 And the seventh mountain was in the midst of these, and it excelled them in height, resembling the seat of a throne: and fragrant trees encircled the throne. And amongst them was a tree such as I had never yet smelt neither was any amongst them nor were others like it: it had a fragrance beyond all fragrance, and its leaves and blooms and wood wither not for ever:
5 and its fruit is beautiful, and its fruit n resembles the dates of a palm. Then I said: 'How beautiful is this tree, and fragrant, and its leaves are fair and its blooms very delightful in appearance
2 Enoch 8:3-5 – It looks like golden fire.
3 And in the midst of the trees that of life, in that place whereon the Lord rests, when he goes up into paradise; and this tree is of ineffable goodness and fragrance, and adorned more than every existing thing; and on all sides it is in form gold-looking and vermilion and fire-like and covers all, and it has produce from all fruits.
4  Its root is in the garden at the earth’s end.
5 And paradise is between corruptibility and incorruptibility.
2 Esdras 8:52 – In it is found rest, goodness and wisdom
52 For unto you is paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is builded, and rest is allowed, yea, perfect goodness and wisdom.

INTERESTING
  • The Menorah or the seven light lamp stand is often referred to as forming the sacred Tree of Life, God’s unseen presence in the temple.
  • Our names are already written in the book of life, it’s unbelief that removes our lampstand from His presence and blots out our name from the book.
Ex 25:31 – Make a lampstand with buds and blossoms
31 "Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece.
Ex 25:37 – Seven is completeness
37 "Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. NIV
Rev 3:5 – Your name is in the book – It’s up to you if it stays.
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name.
Rev 2:5 – Repent or your lampstand will be removed
5 If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. NIV
Pay Attention
  • Satan makes our load heavier, giving us a sense that God’s word is false; seemingly lies.  Satan gets our mind off of God’s promises of the Tree of Life and onto our daily burdens. – Satan says; surely God did not say that you will die. – Touch it, smell it, eat just a tiny bite.
  • Pray that God will show you His way, that you may know Him and find His grace.
We have no idea what God has prepared for us – It’s beyond description.
Don’t bark up the wrong tree.
Ex 5:9 – Make God’s promises seem like false promises
9 Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies (God’s promises)." NIV
Ex 33:13 – Show me your way that I may know you.
13 I pray, if I have found grace in your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. NKJ
1 Cor 2:9 – We have no idea what God has prepared for us.

9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"



 In the multitude of counselors,
 there is wisdom.
Prov 11:14

I am grateful for those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further than I otherwise ever could have.

A Commentary - Eerdmans
Apocrypha; The – Edgar J. Goodspeed
Bible Almanac; The – Nelson
Bible Commentary – R.B. Meyer
Commentary on the Pre-Adamic flood – Dr. Al McCallister.
Customs and Folkways of Jewish Life – Theodor H. Gaster
Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible - Dake
Expositor’s Bible Commentary; The – Frank E. Gaebelein
Harper’s Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row
Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale
Illustrated Manners and Customs of the Bible – Packer – Tenney
Invisible War; The – Donald J. Barnhouse
Jewish book of why; The - Kolatch
Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan
New International Dictionary of the Bible; TheDouglas - Tenney
There were Two Trees in the Garden – Rick Joyner
Today’s Dictionary of the Bible – T.A. Bryant
Who’s Who in the Bible: The Complete – Paul D. Gardner
Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The - Tenney

No comments:

Post a Comment