The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-02-05
MEDITATION ON
THE PALM TREE,
fBy PETER VAN ZEE. J

a scriptural standpoint, We find that
it contains a few interesting thoughts
not only for the Christian, but also for
the non-Christian as we'll. don't
know. however, whether We can take
the subject in any other or better way
than in comparing the palm tree its
fruitfulness, different products, source
Of growth. etc, with the Christian,
and vice versa. don't know either.
as we find anything in the scriptures
by which the Christian or the Church
is as frequently represented by then
the tree. the vine, or the corn, which
gfradually brings forth its fruit and is
first green before ii is ripe. The Chris
tian thus in our lesson. is in a special
manner compared to the palm tree
Many other passages however, besides
in Ps. 80, mention is made of the
Christian in comparison TO the palm
tree, but We will not speak Of those:
but may we speak first of the palm
tree as tree: and then We will some
what easier get at the Christian.
Undoubtedly but few of US have seen
a palm tree, such as are grown in Pal
estine: but the tree as il grows in our
eastern countries is said to be a very
beautiful tree; valued very highly. II
grows from 90 to so feet high, very
straight, without limbs or branches.
except at the very top, where, soto
speak, it is crowned with large plumes
or feathered-like leaves of an emerald
green color. These leaves are fire.
quently twenty feet in length, dropped
slightly at the ends, and underneath
are found the clusters Of fruit called
dates" which are gathered in about
the same way like We nowadays climb
the telephone poles.
But the tree is valued not only so
highly for its ornamental purposes,
but also for its usefulness. If ! mis-
take not many of the inhabitants Of
Arabia, Persia and Egypt, subsist
chiefly on the fruit Of this tree. The
sap. which is obtained simply by tap
ping. furnishes an excellent drink or
wine, as il is called palm wine" from
which many other products are again
extracted, and also from the leaves,
The tree begins to bear fruit. six or
eight years from the time Of planting
and continues to be productive for at
least a century. Year after year il
furnishes food, and after il has fulfill
ed il mission as a tree, il gives itself
back to the service of its owner, there
by again furnishing fuel and building
material.
Thus We note, firstly. that every
part Of the tree was good for some.
thing. for even the seed was eaten
by the camel and used by man as q
substitute for coffee. And peculiar,
too. the statement that it bears il best
fruit in old age" But in short, the
Syrians or Arabians enumerate three
hundred and sixty different uses
which the tree subserres, and thai
a tree of the desert tso-called) ie-,
growing by the desert and upon the
oasis in the desert. where ii has char
actsristics to contend with, and amidst
all those drawbacks it ever remains
in its place, thrives and grows
We also note the elasticity" Of the
palm; its determined growth upward
even when loaded with weights.
Moreover the very high ideal" that
the psal1nist had when he says, Ps. 90
y, THE righteous shall flourish like
the palm tree" Whether the psalm
list had reference to the perpetual
green of its foliage, its fruitfulness, OF
possibly the height at which the fruit
and foliage grew, is not clear; but the
ideal WAS as great as could be III com
. pairing the child of God.
But as the palm tree subseryed SO
many different uses (hgurauvely
speaking almost one for each day II
the year.. so too, by consecrating our
life and our will to Christ and his serv'
ices, in confessing Him by faith be
fore the world, living that profession
out in our lives. We too, greatly In
crease and enlarge our usefulness IL
the world while sin On the other hano
perverts US, and warps our usefulness
for good righteousness makes US q
power for good, good for many things,
good for everything. This applies not
only to the spiritual life, religious du-
ties but also to the secular. For the
apostles so APPLY says in writing to
Timothy (4:s) For bodily exercise
profiteth little; but goodness Is profit
able unto all things"
Every part of the palm tree was
| good for something; therefore II Is not
saying too much that cody l1fe-a
life in whom Christ is found by the
miracles OF regeneration, is good III
all voeations OF life; while those who
follow nothing but their own tDchna-
ton, the so-called pleasures and Sins
of the world. unfit themselves for the
real duties of this life, and above al
for the heavenly; for heaven itself
Nothing is born full grown. II passes
through h period Of growth and II mus,
grow or die. Being born again. Is Z
great thing, but II Is not everything
the growing after birth TO maturity
is much more the END for which birth
is alone desirable and valuable. The
person who is led to the knowledge OF
his lost condition. and the knowledge
of Christ as his Saviour, may al first
seem 10 grow somewhat rapidly as be
ing on the mountain top but Inc
u Christians life is not life Of excite
ment and emotion. does not grow by
leaps and bounds" in that sense but
rather like the palm tree with when
il is compared, is calm, growing
STEADILY onward and upward.
The palm tree, having its top hlgh
extended in the air, its fruit and fol-
are as far from the earth and as near
10 heaven as possible, and its roots
penetrated deeply into the soil, InVlsl-
BILE To the eye, securely anchored so
VI