Did you know that the words “tree, trees” appear 287 times in the Scriptures? Trees are a recurring theme from Genesis to Revelation. They represent both life and death. The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil were in Eden. Adonai told Moses to throw a tree into the bitter waters of Marah to make it sweet. Yeshua died on a tree and thus brought life to Believing Israel. Those who do God’s commandments will be granted access to the Tree of Life in Heaven.
In Judaism, there is a special day to commemorate the new life budding on the trees in Israel. It is celebrated on the 15th of Shevat, which happens to fall on the evening of February 7th until the evening of February 8th. The first bud of the almond tree shows that spring is on its way.
There was even a special mitzvah concerning trees for those entering into the Promised Land. Leviticus 19:23-25 says, “When you enter the land and plant various kinds of fruit trees, you are to regard its fruits as forbidden- for three years it will be forbidden to you and not eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, for praising Adonai. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, so that it will produce even more for you. I am Adonai your God.” All this to say, God had the people’s safety, patience, and maturity in mind even in regards to the fruit trees. God thinks of everything, doesn’t he?
To me, Tu B’Shevat reminds me of the need to be mature, bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom. Trees are visual reminders that good things take time. A giant oak tree begins as a tiny acorn. It is buried in the ground. It is nourished by the nutrients of good soil and water. It has to be pruned and cultivated. It is continuously cared for by God so that it may grow. It takes a while for a tree to begin to produce useful fruit. Usually a tree’s best fruit is not its first year but rather comes a few years down the road.
A tree left to its own device, may or may not be so lucky. Those who desire to be wild trees, never allow themselves to be pruned for their own benefit, will bear wild, inconsistent fruit. A mature tree is always one that is cultivated and cared for by the Husbandman. Those in Believing Israel wishing to bear consistent, tasty fruit must submit themselves to God’s provision (by faith in Yeshua) AND his written Commandments.
On Tu B’Shevat, I’m sending money to Israel so that trees can be planted. I’ll get a certificate in the mail. I want my son to grow up knowing that’s he’s got a small share of trees in the land of Israel. These trees mean a better economy and a better environment for Am Segulah (God’s Treasured People). I hope that these trees can grow and mature and produce nourishing fruit and economy for my brothers and sisters in Israel. That is the physical action for Tu B’Shevat.
But I will also be concentrating on my own fruit tree. I am reminded of Psalm 1:1-3, when I meditate on the spiritual element of Tu B’Shevat:
“How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand on the way of sinners, or sit where scoffers sit! Their delight is ADONAI’S TORAH, on his TORAH they meditate day and night. They are like TREES planted by streams- they bear their FRUIT in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.”
Those who are mature, bearing good fruit are those who chose to depart from the ungodly crowd and saturate themselves in the Torah of God. They plant themselves next to the Living Waters (see John 4, 7) and soak in the goodness of the Lord. It’s both obedience and devotion, a conscious desire to submit to God’s clear-cut commandments and rest in God’s provision.
If you want to know what I’ll be doing on Tu’B Shevat, I’ll be eating some fruit and nuts to remind me of the sweetness of God’s provision and I’ll have the Word of God in my hand, concentrating on it and its sweetness. I’ll be praying that God allows me to become mature, as I plant myself next to the Living Waters. I want my fruit to be mature. I want to be complete, lacking nothing. I want to soak in all that the Scriptures have to offer. I’m embracing the Torah of God with arms wide open, now that I have the Living Water flowing within me, giving me satisfaction. I’ll also be remembering that the tree that meant death for Yeshua, meant life for me. May the fruit of my life mean life for others.
Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Go to http://www.jnf.org/support/tree-planting-center/ to see how you can plant a tree in Israel and bless the land.
Oseh shalom bim’romav H ya’aseh shalom aleynu V’al kol Yisrael V’Imru Amein. He who makes peace in High Place, He will make peace for us and for all Israel, and let us say, “AMEIN!”
Happy Tu B’Shevat!
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