Title: Plant in the House of the Lord
plant in the house of the LORD
“The righteous will prosper like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. It is planted in the house of the LORD; it will flourish in the courts of our God” (Psalm 92:12-13).
I. text commentary
Psalm 92 is a song sung on the Sabbath day, and it is a song that was sung during the morning sacrifice in the temple every Sabbath. Here, the happiness of the saints who have a relationship with God is contrasted with the miserable condition of the wicked. The wicked seem to prosper like grass, but in the end they will perish, and the righteous seem to be oppressed and persecuted, but they will “prosper like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” Because they are planted in the house of the LORD.
II. Is it planted in the house of the LORD?
Not all saints are saints, and not all Christians are Christians. The beauty of the prosperous saints mentioned in the text is limited to those who are planted in the house of Jehovah.
A. Meaning of ‘planted’
It is not said that a lifeless tree was cut down and planted in the ground. When a living tree takes root in the ground and absorbs nutrients from the ground to grow, it is said to be ‘planted’. When a tree is ‘planted’, there is a communication of life between the invisible root, the visible stem, and the fruit, so that it grows as a body. In this way, when the saints are planted in the church, the saints receive life through the church, and the church is also built up together through the saints.
B. The ‘spread’ church life and the ‘planted’ church life
There is a ‘life of the church that spreads’ and a life of the church that is planted. The distinction between the two is not based on age, age, or years of attending church. Leaving the church because you have experienced conversion but cannot keep your heart, attending church for a long time but not being changed by the Word, serving the church as your own body and living the church life without serving, all of these are 'spread church life' to be. Although their lives are in the church, their roots are not rooted in the church, so there is no growth of faith.
On the other hand, those who are “planted” in the church, even though they have little faith, form a living relationship with Christ and grow into the Lord's people every day. Those who have become a part of the body of Christ through the truth and the Holy Spirit become one body with the church, grow with the growth of the church, and become whole with the church's perfection. The church life that God wants is this “planted” life.
Ⅲ. Bless the planted church life
A. Two ways of aging
There are two ways God's people age: the aging of animals and the aging of plants.
The aging of an animal is the loss of life and strength as it ages and becomes miserable and pitiful. Saints too, with the passing of time, move away from the perfection of the beautiful life. On the other hand, the aging of plants is rather strong, prosperous, and beautiful as they grow older. The Apostle Paul said, “The outward man perishes, but the inward man is renewed day by day.” Our body decays with the old age of animals, but our soul acquires magnificence and greatness like the aging of a tree. The saints planted in the Church of God will have the firmness that is not easily shaken like a tree as they get older. In the thrill of the cross of Christ, through the grace that is poured out through the Holy Spirit and the Word, we grow into a stronger and stronger person. Through the unstoppable love of God, we can grow and prosper beautifully in the midst of tribulations, trials, hardships and crises, sins and suffering.
B. When you have been in the church for a long time
IV. conclusion
We need not a momentary passion, but a solid life of faith that is deeply rooted in the Church of Christ and moves forward through suffering, joy, trials and pains. Being filled with the life of Jesus, we can endure any trials, and we will be people who share the life of Jesus wherever we go. As we take root in the church of Christ, as the years go by, we will become strong and mature like a palm tree and a cedar tree, and become beautiful saints.