For the last twenty-two years, our family has lived in New England and upstate New York, where we have enjoyed the dazzling colors of the fall foliage. But we don’t see any palm trees! They tend to grow in warmer coastal regions, which is why we associate them with vacation destinations and beautiful islands.
Throughout history, palm trees have symbolized health, vitality, longevity, and fruitfulness. Spiritually, this is how Scripture refers to the righteous — those who love the Lord, take him at his word, and live accordingly.
This morning I read Psalm 92, which closes with beautiful imagery:
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Last summer I visited the land of Israel and saw many palm trees. But the species of tree to which the Psalmist was referring, the Judean date palm, which grew in Israel thousands of years ago, “produced a larger, more durable and sweeter variety of date than the fruit we see today.” In an Smithsonian Magazine article earlier this year, Brigit Katz noted,
In ancient times, the region of Judea was known for its plump, delicious dates, which delighted the palates of classical writers like Pliny the Elder; in his sweeping natural history treatise, the Roman author marvels at the Judean date’s “unctuous juice” and “extremely sweet sort of wine-flavour like that of honey.”
Such was the tree the psalmist had in mind when he wrote, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.” The image is that of fruitfulness and vigor. “They still bear fruit in old age” (vs. 14). The life span of a palm tree is about 100 years old. Throughout its life, it continues to bear fruit, making it an appropriate simile for a godly person. Bible scholar Derek Kidner notes,
It is a picture … which sets a pattern of spiritual stamina for our encouragement and possibly our rebuke.
That is to say, elderly Christians should be encouraged to know that they are still of great value and benefit to others as they proclaim the Lord’s greatness (Ps. 92:15). But in some cases “senior saints” need to be rebuked because they have grown spiritually lazy in their latter years and no longer look for ways to serve others. (Indeed, I’ve heard more than one elderly believer say, “I’ve put in my time,” indicating that they’re over and done with ministry.) That’s not the biblical picture presented here! Older saints have invaluable wisdom, seasoned counsel, earnest prayer, and precious memories of God’s faithfulness to share with others!
Never underestimate the value of godly, older Christians — whether that be you or someone else.
“They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps. 92:13). That’s how believers stay fresh and green: they are rooted and grounded in God, continuing to worship him with the gathered church through all seasons of life.
This is the one other tree referred to in Psalm 92 as a symbol of godly people. “They grow like a cedar in Lebanon” (Ps. 92:12) — the largest trees of the Near East, a symbol of majestic size and strength. Such vitality, stability, fruitfulness and strength result from worshiping God. (As I pointed out in another article, “A Steady Heart,” my own father exemplifies this truth.)
Today on #ThankfulThursday, our church family is celebrating the lives of three men in our congregation who went home to be with the Lord this past month. By God’s grace, they all “by reason of strength” (Ps. 90:10) lived into their 80s. Each of them had “evergreen hearts” filled with spiritual vitality that generated faithful service to others. They remained fruitful until the end and finished well.
May we do the same.