On my recent visit to Ickworth House I was very taken by the beautiful old olive tree. It is over 100 years old and is very impressive with a bounty of green leaves. Olive trees have been growing for millennia and used for their oil and fruit.
Olive trees in the Bible are rich in symbolism, representing peace, blessing and prosperity.
The olive branch has been a symbol of “peace” to the world and we often hear the expression “extending an olive branch” to another person to settle a dispute.
Genesis 8v 11 says, “This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone.” This was good news for all on the Ark.
I was given a small olive tree a few years ago in memory of a friend who had suddenly died. It seems to be doing okay. A couple of years ago there were a few tiny olives on it and last year there were dozens. I await my crop this year but I don’t think I’ll be a threat to any commercial growers.
Lord, we pray that as an olive tree with strong roots grows green and bears olives, may we with our roots firmly planted in Jesus bear fruit spiritually.