Psalm 52:8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.
I really like olives and enjoy them in my salads or as a side to an entrée. The rest of my family doesn’t care for them, basically because they don’t like the taste. Olives can be very bitter and a nuisance to eat if the stones are left in, but I like them and look forward to eating them throughout the summer months.
When I was a kid, my mom used olive oil for medicinal purposes. Whenever any of her children had earache, she would warm a small bottle of olive oil and then tip some of it on to a cotton ball. She then placed this in the sore ear and by morning the pain had disappeared. I don’t know how this worked but it must have been an old Mediterranean remedy that possibly originated thousands of years ago.
In winter during the flu season, my mom would also give us all a teaspoon of olive oil before bedtime. She put some sugar on the spoon in order to make it easier to swallow. I guess that’s when and where I developed a taste for olives.
In the Middle East, olives were not only a part of the staple diet, they also helped the economy to prosper. The fruit, oil, and even wood of the olive tree were highly valued. This is why the psalmist writes about flourishing in the house of God as an olive tree – it was a symbol of prosperity, security, and strength. To be a flourishing olive tree in God’s House meant that everything was perfect, complete, and whole.
Perhaps you are beginning a new journey or project that you hope will help you to prosper. Maybe you’re starting something fresh that has some great potential or opportunities for the future. Allow God to be at the center of this process and seek His guidance in all of the decisions that you will make. By honoring God at the heart of your plans, you open yourself up to the opportunity of making your dreams ‘flourish like an olive tree in God’s House.’
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the opportunities and blessings that You bestow upon each of us throughout our lives. Help us to seek Your guidance in all of our daily decisions and steer us on a path that will lead to fulfilling our potential and accomplishing our dreams. In Christ’s Name, we flourish. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
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