30 May | EVERYONE
«The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.» Psalm 92:12-15
When our planet came out of the hands of the Creator, it was a splendid land. Everything was blooming. There were no thistles, no thorns, no dry, lifeless earth. All of this came about as a consequence of sin. Sin kills. It imperceptibly distances you from the God of life and leads you into the territory of death. At first, it makes you believe that things will be better without God, but time takes care of showing you the sad reality. Your existence deteriorates and your dreams wither and dry up.
Is there hope for the person whose life is destroyed by sin? Is there a possibility of recovery for the one who feels swept away by the gales of this world? The promise of this psalm is that the righteous will blossom like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. Notice that the flourishing of the righteous is not due to the absence of difficulties. The surrounding environment is hostile and desert-like. They pray because, in Jesus, they are righteous.
The cedars of Lebanon were known for their size, strength, durability, beauty, and the psalmist compares the righteous to these majestic trees. And he goes on to say, the righteous receive their strength from the sanctuary, where God’s presence is found. They do not shine for their own glory. They only reflect the disposition of the Creator.
Time passes. The years come and go, but the righteous continue to shine. “They shall still bear fruit in old age,” today’s verse emphasizes.
In God everything is just because He is righteous. He is the source of justice. His name is righteousness, and those who learn to live with Him eventually become righteous.
Take Action
Would you like to be like the palm tree that does not allow itself to be swept away by time or by difficulties? Stay planted in “the house of the Lord” and you shall always flourish.