357. Fertility and Abundance
Hosea 14:5, 6 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread and His beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
This promise is one of several descriptions of the Messianic Age as a time of fertility and abundant prosperity. The plant growth and greenery is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden and foreshadows the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth of Paradise. This kind of fertility and abundance is shown in the life of Jesus with the several miracles: water into wine, feeding of 5000, stilling the storm, walking on water, large catch of fish, and the coin in the fish’s mouth. Several parables describe growth and prosperity: sower and seed, seed growing secretly, mustard seed growth, vine and branches, the wedding feasts, and the prodigal’s party.
The Messianic Age when Jesus comes will be a glorious time. These promises involve two aspects: 1) the spiritual fertility and abundance of the kingdom of God ruling in the hearts of believers; 2) the eternal state of paradise with God. The two aspects are connected to each other: the one is now by faith, and the other is later by sight. The one flows into the other. We see neither the present spiritual abundant life nor the future physical abundant life, but we see them afar off and take hold of them by faith. For the present time, we need to see life from this glorious point of view. Though the fertile life is obscured by sin it is nevertheless more real and abiding that the life we see and feel.
The promise of life in the Kingdom is beyond description, but the Bible uses physical things we can see to attempt top describe spiritual and eternal beauty and prosperity. The Lord Himself is as fresh every morning as the dew unto us. So is God’s mercy new every morning. The Church shall grow as the lily, and all the blossoming flowers of grace and beauty. The roots of the Church spread widely and grow deep, so that we may stand strong and always find nourishment. Our branches shall spread abroad to provide shade and cool breezes as rest and relaxation for the soul. The beauty of trees reminds us of the beauty of the Church as it reflects the beauty of the Lord God to the world. The smell of the cedars of Lebanon points to the fragrance of Christ living in Christians as they give off the pleasant odor of love to all around them. Receiving the present and future promise by faith affects our life with joy and hope.