The Palm Tree Blessing.

by W. E. Shepard.

Introduction

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree."--Psalm 92:12.

Wherever the Holy Spirit in the inspired Word has made any statement concerning anything, whether in regard to flowers, fruit, agriculture, horticulture, stock raising, minerals, earth, sea, sky, stars, science, religion, or what not, rest a.s.sured that statement is absolutely correct. There may be some statements which are hard to understand at first, but which may become perfectly clear when proper light is thrown upon them.

The Word of G.o.d abounds in comparisons. It says the wicked are "like the troubled sea," the backslider like the dog "turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." In the first Psalm it says the unG.o.dly "are like the chaff which the wind driveth away," but on the other hand the G.o.dly are "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Wherever G.o.d has compared the G.o.dly or the unG.o.dly with anything, He certainly understood the case and made no mistake.

If one is not sure of his spiritual standing, it might be well to select something to which G.o.d has likened him, and then note the difference.

Among the most beautiful comparisons in the Word is this: "_The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree_."

The object of this little book is to show some of the characteristics of the palm tree blessing. Let the reader not forget to keep before his mind the thought of measuring up, and in that way be able to determine whether he belongs to the cla.s.s mentioned. Please do not think of neighbor So-and-so, but keep your thought on your own personal experience.

The Palm Tree Blessing

CHAPTER I

THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS BEAUTY

It is certainly one of the most beautiful trees in nature. That is why so many are used in decorating the premises. People do not plant scrub oaks in their gardens, but they plant nature's beauties.

In the palm tree realm we have a large variety, of different sizes, such as date, fan, and cocoa nut, and in them all it seems that G.o.d laid Himself out to make something charming to behold.

When He compared the saint with the palm tree, it signified that there is something in him that is beautiful. One may be counted homely, or disfigured by some mark of nature or accident; but in spite of all he can have G.o.d's beauty shining out from his face and life. It matters not how he may be marked with some naturally undesirable feature, in spite of all, the palm tree saint has the effulgence of the upper-world glory, which over tops it all, and there shines forth real, heavenly beauty. So there is hope for all.

That beautiful daughter of King David, and sister to Absalom, who was the finest looking man of his day, was called Tamar, which is the Hebrew word for _palm_. Doubtless she was called Tamar on account of her beauty. Absalom named his daughter Tamar for this same reason: "And unto Absalom there was born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance."

Moses was so close to G.o.d and heaven during those days on the mount, that his face literally shone. And just in proportion as people today get close to the upper world, will G.o.d cover them with His celestial cosmetics. This far surpa.s.ses the paint and powder and Circa.s.sian cream of a frivolous and fashion-loving world. If people only knew it, the more of these--and of dead birds, rag posies, and glittering gewgaws--they put on, the more unbecoming they appear, and the more any natural beauty they chance to have is covered up. Whenever a woman besmears her face with paint and powder, hoping to cover up what she may think to be unseemly, she might as well carry a placard bearing this inscription:

To whom it may concern: This is to certify that I am homely, and am trying to cover up the fact by the use of paint and powder, thus hoping to deceive the public.

SIGNED--O. C. PRIDE.

"The King's daughter is all glorious within." And because of this it works out, and so, with G.o.d's glory upon one, surely there is no need of the world's adornments to supplement G.o.d's handiwork. "The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" is the adorning which all should seek, and all may obtain.

The climax of trinket wearing is to be found in the heathen world. There they deck themselves literally from head to heel. They puncture ears, lips, and nose to find more room for their jewelry. G.o.d's arraignment of His people in the third chapter of Isaiah for patterning after the heathen customs is appalling, and we wonder that the translators of the Bible had the ingenuity to ferret out all the different kinds of trumpery in that dead language and find their proper expression in English. When the writer was a boy going to a country school, he was told by the teacher that barbarians wore jewelry, and in proportion as people did the same today they were barbarian. We once stepped into a restaurant in the city of Omaha, and noticed a woman seated at one of the tables. The sight of her hand eclipsed anything we had ever seen.

There were rings galore. We do not remember the number on her fingers, but she had so many, it looked as if she had not room enough on her fingers, so she actually had one on her thumb. Doubtless she thought this added to her beauty. We once saw a fortune teller with large rings in her ears, three chains around her neck, seven rings on her fingers and eight bracelets on the wrists.

How different is all this from the beauty which the Holy Spirit gives!

We have seen the faces of some saints that verily shone with the brightness of the indwelling Christ within. Sometimes in deathbed scenes G.o.d has lifted the curtain just enough to let a little of heaven's halo fall across the features, and how it lighted up the face and made it radiant with a glory which at once was known to be unearthly. G.o.d surely knows how to beautify His people.

CHAPTER II

THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS STRAIGHTNESS

There is something in the very nature of this remarkable production, that scarcely allows of any departure from the perpendicular. The palm tree will grow straight. One seldom sees a crooked one. We remember seeing one, but it was dead.

Now, if we have the palm tree blessing, we are spiritually straight.

G.o.d's people are straight. They are straight in their homes, in the church, in their business, with the world, with each other and with G.o.d.

In their business deals they will not stoop to any underhanded trickery either on a big scale or little. They will even swear to their own hurt and change not. They will put themselves out to hunt up the conductor in order to pay their nickle fare before they leave the car. They never leave the counter with a surplus of change if they know it. They are careful about not using many words in buying and selling. They never cover up the defects and make prominent the good points in their deals.

They endeavor to observe the Golden Rule, doing unto others as they would have others do to them. They will surely overcome any stingy element in their makeup, if previously possessed with such a factor.

They will not lavish their homes and let G.o.d's cause languish. Their earthly store belongs to G.o.d, and they recognize His right to draw upon them whenever He chooses.

One of the greatest stumbling blocks to the world today is the crookedness of so many so-called saints. The world knows when we walk straight. They may call one an old fogy, brand him as a fanatic, say he has gone crazy over religion, but at the same time they will say, "He pays his grocery bills." And perchance a sinner is dying and wants prayer, he will send for the very one he called fanatical and crazy. Do you think, dear reader, that you would be the one he would call upon for prayer?

The story is told of a man who was felling a tree, and was buried beneath the branches as it fell. On being extricated he was found to be mortally injured. A physician was summoned, and saw at once that the poor man must soon die. Being interested in his spiritual welfare, he told the man plainly that he could not live, and advised him to make his preparation to meet G.o.d, suggesting at the same time that he send for a certain neighbor who was a deacon in the church. Upon the mention of this deacon's name, the dying man recoiled, and said, "I hate him. He has lived alongside of me for years and has never said a word to me about my soul."

It is said that the palm tree has such a natural tendency to grow straight, that it will not grow crooked though heavy burdens be placed upon it. It will push up in spite of all the load, and simply remain straight. How like G.o.d's true saint! Satan has many burdens with which to break his back, or cause him to deviate from the straight course, but with this blessing, he is enabled to rise in spite of all and be a perfectly perpendicular pilgrim. Praise the Lord! Business burdens, domestic duties, religious responsibilities would crowd in and hold us down, or shift our course upward, but He who carries our cares, and bears our burdens will bring us up straight if we but look constantly to Him.

CHAPTER III

IT IS NOTED FOR ITS PERENNIAL FRESHNESS

The palm tree is an evergreen. It always has a fresh, green crown on top, on the heavenly side. Some parts may wither; some leaves fade and fall in time, but up at the top is a never-fading, fresh, beautiful crown that basks in the open sunlight and is a beauty to behold. Now, pilgrim, press up alongside of this characteristic and see if you have the mark.

The palm tree blessing is always a fresh blessing. Those who are so fortunate as to have this experience have a freshness about them that makes others desire it. There is nothing stale nor dry in their testimonies or prayers. With this beautiful characteristic, one does not say over the same old testimony, repeat the same stereotyped prayer at family worship, nor ask the same blessing at the table over and over.

You might note the next time you say grace at the table, and then ask yourself if you have the palm tree blessing.

How refreshing some people's testimonies always are! We are sure to get something new. Even if it is old, it is set forth in a new garb, and people enjoy it and get blessed. They have a perennial freshness in their lives, and a storehouse from which to draw, so that they are always enabled to bless a congregation whenever they are present.

There are some saints that are always in demand in meetings because they are so juicy and blessed. There is such a crown of rejoicing toward heaven in it all, that the meeting is sure to rise in interest and power whenever they take part.

Have you ever noticed a meeting that begins to rise with each succeeding testimony? One speaks and the spiritual thermometer goes up a little, then another in the Spirit talks out his heart, and up goes the temperature another degree or so, and thus it rises till it reaches a good, warm level, when suddenly some one arises and instantly down goes the thermometer. The meeting has cooled off several degrees. What was the matter? Will you kindly notice the next time you testify, and see if the thermometer goes up or down? Then ask yourself about this blessing, providing you cooled the meeting off.