About

The green olive is one of the most valuable trees to the ancient Hebrews. Its leaves are evergreen, with the capacity to live up to a thousand years.  It was first mentioned in Gen 8:11 when the dove returned to Noah’s ark, carrying an olive branch in its beak – this became a sign unto Noah and a symbol of a new beginning. It was subsequently mentioned in other verses of the scripture; including Hosea 14:6 and Psalm 128:3 as Hebrew’s poetic symbols for peace, stability, and a generally flourishing state.

The well nourished root of a green olive is the secret to its survival in a dry rocky habitat. Its strength is also determined by the planter who needs to put in a great deal of work by nurturing, cultivating, and fertilizing the tree until its flowers blossom, after which the fruit springs forth.

Psalm 52:8 provides an allegorical context of an olive tree to a believer’s quality of life. Here, David likens himself to a green olive tree which flourishes in and out of season, and whose roots cannot be plucked out or dismantled. He gushes about his oneness with God – his place of contentment, despite the consistent injustice, hopelessness, and evil that rattled his world. He was sure that the Lord had planted him, and no earthly force would be able to pluck his root off from God’s abundance, help, and provision.

Our journey as believers is undoubtedly a beautiful one and even though our earthly strides are beguiled by the imperfections of this side of Eden, the Lord constantly supplies abundant grace and he gently reminds us of being more than a flicker of hope to this dying world. So, he draws us, first unto himself, and then releases us  as a sweet fragrance, that we might consistently proclaim the goodness, mercy and love that we have received to the dying world.