The Shade Tree.
Notes
Transcript
Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good:
Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good:
The Location of the Shade Tree.
The Location of the Shade Tree.
The Israelites were sacrificing on the top of the mountain because the wanted to be seen.
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Outward expression of religion or worship, is sin, if done in pride. We should audit our heart and motives and ensure that we are living for the glory of God and not ourselves.
The Laziness of the Shade Tree.
The Laziness of the Shade Tree.
They desired to be seen and even though they would offer sacrifice from the top of the mountain they still insisted on taking the easy way.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
There is no shortcut for the service of the Lord. We must labour for Him and in Him we find rest.
The Licentiousness of the Shade Tree.
The Licentiousness of the Shade Tree.
They had allowed the shade tree to lure them into sin.
II Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
The Liquidation of the Shade Tree.
The Liquidation of the Shade Tree.
Those who falsely trust in its shade will be destroyed. Im Jonah 4, Jonah was angry because the shade plant had died.
In Mark 11:12-25 We fig that Jesus cursed the fig tree because it was profitable for nothing . We see that the bible says that it was full of green leaves but no fruit. It provided shade but nothing else. It is not enough for Christians to live lives of comfort and ease but rather we should seek to bring forth fruit.