Am I like a green olive tree? That is a question that requires some pondering! I have thought of myself to be like a lot of things but I am not sure about a green olive tree. I have seen myself as an ox, yoked with another ox plodding down the road of life. I have seen myself as a lily reaching for the sunshine, face turned toward heaven. I must admit, I have tried to picture myself as a tree planted by the water, unmovable because of its root system. I was raised in the Giant Redwoods and have thought of standing tall and stately. However, I haven’t tried picturing myself as the green olive tree yet.

I came across a passage in my reading recently that caught my attention. It seems as if the Bible says something a little unusual my warped mind will get snagged. Needless to say, hearing or reading of someone saying, “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God…” (Psalms 52:8) was enough to snag the warp in my mind. It almost seems as if he were boasting about being a green olive tree. I had to investigate!

The Psalmist is making a boast, in a sense. Now since it is scriptural, it is in the Bible, and it is done modestly, I would say it is a Godly boast, not a prideful look at me type of boast. The Psalmist is actually saying this is the way in which it should be done. This is the kind of person you should be! You should be a “Green Olive Tree.”

The writer of this Psalm is David. He has given the psalm to a chief musician to sing. This is written in response to a situation that David is dealing with in his life. He is running from Saul, king of Israel, who desires to kill him. David had stopped by the house of Ahimelech on his escape. He was defenseless and asked for a weapon. He was given the sword of Goliath. He was also given some bread to eat.

Upon leaving, he was spotted by a herdsman of Saul named Doeg. Doeg made haste to Saul and told him what he has seen. Saul had the house of Ahimelech put to death, eighty-five people in all. This was to warn everyone of the danger they would experience if they were to help David.

David is running for his life. He is being unjustly pursued. Friends of his have lost their lives for no justifiable reason. His enemy is a powerful man, the king, with riches at his disposal. In the midst of this David says of his enemy; you have put your confidence in your strength and your riches. God is going to up-root your tree and destroy you. As for me, I am a green olive tree in the house of the Lord. I have put my trust in God.

David is stating that he is doing more than putting his trust in God. David is taking this thought just a bit further. He is saying that not only is he trusting in God, he is prospering and flourishing in the house of God. The green olive tree speaks of grace, peace and prosperity. It speaks of the richness which is found in the house of the Lord. It typifies the unction of the Holy Spirit in the life of the child of God. It speaks of protection from the dangers of the outside elements, because it is under divine protection in the house of God.

Often I become afraid of the power of the enemy. I have witnessed the destruction that he has sent against me. Jesus said in John a thief comes but to steal, kill and destroy! Too often that is where my attention focuses. He has come to steal my blessing and my joy. He has come to kill me spiritually. He has come to destroy all that is precious to me. His tongue is razor sharp as he points out my faults, mistakes and short-comings. He highlights all the reasons that I won’t make it, that I will fail!

I must realize, I must have confidence, trust, in my Lord and Savior. If I dwell in the house of the Lord, if I am a child of God, then I am protected. I am not relying on my power and strength; I am relying on the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within me. I am a green olive tree. I can enjoy the security of His house the shelter that is offered there.

In this protection I can prosper, I will flourish; I will thrive and enjoy the fruitfulness resulting from being in His house. I am chosen of God. He has cultivated me. He has loved me and called me special. I have known His grace. I have experienced His peace! I have witnessed His care! I am a “Green Olive Tree.”

David said in one of his psalms that God would hide us in His pavilion. The pavilion was in the center of the camp. It was the place where the King slept, where his tent was placed, when he was leading his troops to war. The whole army encircled the pavilion. In order for the enemy to get to the King, who was in the pavilion, they had to pass through the whole army. There was no way to get to him otherwise. It was in this pavilion, this place of protection, that David said God would hide us.

Another name for the pavilion was tabernacle. The Tabernacle of the Lord was placed in the center of Israel. You had to pass through the whole encampment in order to get to the Tabernacle. Another name for Tabernacle is the House of the Lord. If He hides me in His Pavilion, His Tabernacle, His House, the only way for the enemy to get to me is to pass through Him. I am a “Green Olive Tree!”

I must stop looking at the power of the enemy and start looking at the power of my God. I must go back to John and read the rest of the story. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. However, Jesus Christ said that He has come that we might have life and have that life to the fullest extent. He is speaking of abundance, prosperity and richness. I don’t believe He is placing a monetary value on this, I believe He is speaking of a richness of life that comes from being in the sheepfold, the House of the Lord! I am a “Green Olive Tree!”

God Bless!