"They will be called 'oaks of righteousness', a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:3) Oak is well known for its size and longetivity. It is often associated with honor, nobility, and wisdom. Like the oaks, the righteous too are considered as living legends, representing all that is true, wholesome, stable, and noble. The righteous are rooted well because they are planted besides streams of water. Speaking of the righteous, the Psalmist says, "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it's fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1:3) Infact, 'there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.' (Psalm 46:4) The angel showed John 'the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, yielding it's fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.' (Revelation 22:1-2) Likewise the righteous too are a planting of the Lord in his courts and they will flourish. 'The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming,"The Lord is upright; he is my Rock and there is no wickedness in him."' (Psalm 92:12-15) The Lord has planted us that we might display his righteousness. But there are those in the Church who display wickedness because they are not planted by the Lord. Speaking of the Phariseees, Jesus said, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots." (Matthew 15:13) There are no weeds in the courts of God but only the ones planted by the Lord. If we have been planted by the Lord, then the river of life will refresh us. He will see to it that we bear fruit in season, that our leaves do not wither and whatever we do shall prosper. 'For the Lord watches the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish.' (Psalm 1:6) Amen.
Sam Matthews. K
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