Palm trees, Orlando, Florida, picture made a few weeks ago when Debbie and I visited “The Holy Land Experience” and saw a scale model of the City of Jerusalem!

Today’s Bible Study Lesson …

I knew the Bible talked about trees, of course, but 358 times? That’s exactly how many, if I counted correctly earlier this morning.

For example, Genesis opens with God creating them, trees. “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit TREE yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” Genesis 1:11, the first mention of trees in Scripture.

And Revelation closes with a reference to trees, a tree. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the TREE of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” The City here is New Jerusalem, Revelation 22:14, the last mention of trees in the Bible.

And in the middle? Jesus died on a Tree! “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a TREE.” Galatians 3:14 (Add 1st Peter 2:24 here as well. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on THE TREE, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Speaking of the Lord Jesus, obviously.)

Wow!

I’ve ordered a Book about trees, from a secular scientific viewpoint.

And I already own a book about trees, from a spiritual perspective. (Phillip Keller’s “As a Tree Grows,” comparing the development of trees to the slow but steady grown in a Christian’s life!)

I really want to preach on trees sometime soon, a whole series of sermons I’m anticipating!

Yes, “men as trees!” See Mark 8:24.

I don’t know yet how many species of trees are listed in the Bible, but the number is significant.

For example: “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” Psalm 52:8

“Green,” fresh and vibrant!

“Olives,” a symbol of the Holy Spirit, Christians being Spirit indwelt.

“House of God,” not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together!

And how can anyone live such a sterling testimony for Jesus, alive and beneficial and faithful to Church … and Spirit associated, Spirit filled?

Read the last clause of the verse for the answer … “I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” Because of God’s Grace, Mercy, Love!

Amen!

Even in the Bible, wicked men are compared to trees! “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay TREE.” Psalm 37:25

I have a lot to learn about the subject at hand.

But it is going to be an enjoyable study!

Here, symbolically, Jesus is likened to a refreshing “apple Tree!” Song of Solomon 2:3 … “As the apple TREE among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.”

More to come … the Lord willing.

What kind of tree are you?

Jesus will close our lesson today, His Words from the Sermon on the Mount. “Even so every goodTREE bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt TREE bringeth forth evil fruit. A good TREE cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt TREE bring forth good fruit. Every TREE that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew 7:17-19

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

This banner was at the front of an auditorium where I preached recently, last Friday night to be more specific. Sort of an unusual verse to be highlighted in such a place!

Today’s Bible Lesson …

The verse truly is amazing, in a collection (Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the whole Bible) of 176 verses, all (or nearly so) of which magnify the incomparable Word of God!

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

Psalm 119:165

“Loving” God’s Law (a Bible term often indicating ALL of Scripture) is typical for the 119th Psalm. So are obeying it and treasuring it and pondering it, among many other verbs and participles. Such as: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” The psalmist speaking (praying) directly to the Lord, Psalm 119:11.

But here the precise result of loving the Bible … “nothing shall offend them,” is unique.

The essence of this little jewel, which is really a promise from the Lord to all Scripture lovers, hinges on the little verb “shall offend.” In Hebrew it’s “mikshol,” and means “to stumble!”

(I realize that one will also be less “offended” … in the sense of not being emotionally “hurt” as easily … by immersing himself or herself in the Word of God. There is no doubt about this fact. It is used this way 3 times in our Bible.)

But I am also saying that 11 out of 14 times in the King James Version of Scripture “mikshol” is translated “fall, be ruined,” or “stumblingblock!”

Psalm 119:165 is clearly guaranteeing a Bible lover that he or she will not STUMBLE along the way, faithfully following the Lord!

Furthermore … “mikshol” is actually derived from a root verb, “kashal,” which means “to fall” (27 times), “to stumble” (19 times), “be cast down” (4 times), “to be feeble” (4 times), also (1 or 2 times each) “overthrown, ruined, decayed, failed, weakened.” Wonderful!

Yes, there is a direct correlation between one’s feelings for the Bible, his “devotion to” and “eagerness for” the Book, and that person’s success in not falling, not even stumbling or tottering as he pursues his Christian course of life!

No wonder that put that banner at the front!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Here’s where I’m preaching this week, behind a pulpit in Summerville, Georgia. I made this picture last night (Sunday Evening) after the service. The old-timers used to call this piece of furniture the “sacred desk!”

Today’s Bible Lesson …

I love pulpits!

Years ago Dr. Cyrus Ingersoll Scofield authored a book of his sermons and named the compilation “In many Pulpits.” I have that little volume in my library yet today. A good book, by the way! (I heartily recommend his Bible too, his notes. He is premillennial in his eschatology, his belief about “last things.”)

I as well, solely because of God’s marvelous Grace, have been privileged to stand in many pulpits.

The place from which God’s Word is proclaimed.

Then I wondered, “Is the word in the Bible, the noun pulpit?”

It is.

But only once!

And it was in use that day, when named in Scripture!

“And Ezra the scribe stood upon a PULPIT of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.” Nehemiah 8:4, these thirteen men being helpers to the Preacher Ezra! Men of God still need capable, godly helpers!

The next two verses further clarify … “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: and Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” Worshipping, obviously praising the Lord!

And yes, they are expounding the Word, too … “They caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.” Nehemiah 8:7, likely precise verse-by-verse Bible teaching from the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy.

That very day over that pulpit, as Scripture was exposited (preached) … a great Revival ensued!

In summary … “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Wow, Nehemiah 8:8.

I can find no other reference to a pulpit in the Bible.

Now here’s some etymology. The noun “pulpit” is “migdal” in Hebrew, meaning a “tower!” Apparently this pulpit was elevated. On a platform perhaps. The root verb involved here, “gadal,” means “to become important, to become great!” That’s significant.

Oh, that America would return to a love of preaching!

Oh, that much of the professing Church would too!

Paul firmly commanded Timothy, under Divine Guidance … “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2nd Timothy 4:4

I say from deep within, “Thanks be unto God for preaching, and (secondarily) for PULPITS from which such action occurs!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Atop Lookout Mountain, as far north in Georgia as one can travel! I made this photo with my phone one Friday morning. I had driven to the College at the top of the Mountain to do some research in the library. Quite a good collection of theology books, commentaries!

It is said that here a person can see seven States! They are Georgia (of course), Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, even Kentucky and (barely) Virginia!

This sort of reminds me of a precious verse of Scripture. One we taught our children years ago, all three of them, while they were still at home.

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3, straight from the Mind of the Holy Spirit, via the pen of the Old Testament King Solomon.

Yes, my eyes can see quite a ways from Lookout Mountain.

BUT GOD’S EYES … SEE EVERYWHERE!

It is said that anytime an individual sins … he or she momentarily “blocks” any thought of God! Of the Lord being present. Of God looking over his shoulder! Of God seeing right into his heart!

Remember … “The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1st Samuel 16:7

To keep oneself mindful of the simple fact that GOD IS WATCHING … well may be a great deterrent to ungodly living!

Again, Proverbs 15:3 … “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

Amen!

Teach this verse to a little one today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Can you tell the picture from the observation point at Rock City was made in the Fall of the year? The colors are beautiful this year.

The colors of Fall! I love this Season of the year, always have.

The adjective is “multi-colored.”

And it seems to me that everywhere we’ve been this Autumn the “colors” have been spectacular. As if our Creator had a paintbrush and had worked incessantly, the Artist of artists!

I stood a few weeks ago atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia. At a place called Rock City, a tourist attraction but also a vantage point from which one can see several States. The view, the colors were majestic!

Again I say, “multicolored.”

Why am I so emphasizing that word this morning?

Because there is a corresponding (parallel) Greek word that thrills my soul. It is spelled “poikilos,” and means “diverse, variegated,” quite literally “of various colors!”

For example, 1st Peter 1:6 reads: “Wherein ye (Christians) greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS.” Manifold trials, manifold hardships! Even various kinds of trials, yes “multi-colored!”

But then, praise the Lord, Peter also tells us: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the MANIFOLD GRACE of God.” 1st Peter 4:10, look at this! Though we do have multicolored testings … we also experience the manifold Grace of God! Grace that comes in every imaginable color! Grace, the songwriter concludes, “Grace for every need!”

Wow!

Should we look elsewhere in Scripture we would soon discover God also has “Manifold Wisdom!” Here’s Ephesians 3:10 … “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the MANIFOLD WISDOM of God.”

And Luke 18:30 (in context) tells us the “MANIFOLD REWARDS” of serving the Lord! Read it when you have time, the whole paragraph in which it sits.

Next time you see the colors of Fall, a beautiful tree or broad landscape … soak in the beauty, then thank God that for all the trials we face … there are a dozen “colors” of Grace to match them!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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