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- Oct 26, 2007
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And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 1 Kings 4:25 ESV
What’s up with the Bible and fig trees? More than you might suppose! In the Old Testament, God’s blessings of peace and prosperity included the imagery of every man under his own fig tree. You see this in Deuteronomy 8:8 shortly before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. You see this again in 1 Kings 4:25, 10:27 (and 2 Chronicles 1:15, 9:27) during the reign of Solomon.
Then again, the Lord uses unfruitful and dead fig trees as metaphors of His judgments against the rebellious nation of Israel. You see this in Isaiah 9:10, 34:4; Jeremiah 5:17, 8:13; Hosea 2:12, 9:10; Joel 1:7, 1:12; Amos 4:9; Habakkuk 3:17; and Haggai 2:19.
This plethora of prophecies sets the stage for one of Jesus Christ’s last and most misunderstood miracles, the cursing of the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14 and 11:20-25. Both picture the Lord’s judgments against rebellious Israel and compel His followers to offer authentic, faith-filled, and God-focused prayers always.
Prayer: Lord, You want me to see figs and fig trees as You see them. They’re compelling metaphors, indeed.
What’s up with the Bible and fig trees? More than you might suppose! In the Old Testament, God’s blessings of peace and prosperity included the imagery of every man under his own fig tree. You see this in Deuteronomy 8:8 shortly before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. You see this again in 1 Kings 4:25, 10:27 (and 2 Chronicles 1:15, 9:27) during the reign of Solomon.
Then again, the Lord uses unfruitful and dead fig trees as metaphors of His judgments against the rebellious nation of Israel. You see this in Isaiah 9:10, 34:4; Jeremiah 5:17, 8:13; Hosea 2:12, 9:10; Joel 1:7, 1:12; Amos 4:9; Habakkuk 3:17; and Haggai 2:19.
This plethora of prophecies sets the stage for one of Jesus Christ’s last and most misunderstood miracles, the cursing of the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14 and 11:20-25. Both picture the Lord’s judgments against rebellious Israel and compel His followers to offer authentic, faith-filled, and God-focused prayers always.
Prayer: Lord, You want me to see figs and fig trees as You see them. They’re compelling metaphors, indeed.
