“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord. And he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Book of Jeremiah, ch. 17, vs. 7-8*, bold font is ours)
Recently, more and more people claim that they have stopped watching TV because the information they receive from there is overwhelming, not trustworthy, or one-sided. The topic of the day is the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, which is why many of us are looking for ways to filter the information we receive and not be "drowned" in a sea of facts and fiction. Whether our brains can distinguish between what is true and what is not, everything we perceive as information through our ears and eyes has an impact on our whole personality, even on our spirit. It's no coincidence that something said in God's word, which thousands of years later would be scientifically confirmed, is "faith comes by hearing" (Epistle to the Romans, ch. 10, vs. 17*)
Sometimes in a moment of helplessness we might say: "I'm not sure of anything anymore!".
There is a term that often appears in the text of the Bible, but which is less and less common in the vocabulary of modern Bulgarians: reliance.
In the passage quoted above from the book of the prophet Jeremiah, the verb "trusts" is a translation of the verb form in Hebrew בָּטח (batach). According to the BDB (Brown-Driver-Briggs) collection, the Strong's dictionary, and other compilations, the verb contains the following meanings: to trust, to rely on, to have hope due to confidence in someone, to lean on, to hold on, to stand with confidence, to remain unconcerned, to be filled with courage because of trust in something/someone. Some sources connect bāṭaḥ with an Arabic verb that means "to lie stretched out/reposed on the ground". What is the feeling in this verse? A feeling of peace, calmness, safety, stability, courage, and expectation of something good. There is no effort, confusion, clouded judgment, fear, and negativity. There's no place for these things when you know in whom you've taken root, who is your strength, and your safety.
Even in Bulgarian, "reliance" has a connection with support—something you can lean on, something from which you draw strength, hope, inspiration, and a proper understanding of the circumstances around you.
The verse from the book of the prophet Jeremiah speaks of this person whose heart (thoughts, feelings, desires, motives) is inspired by the Spirit of God. Such a person is strong, lives in love, and is stable in mind, for God has given us a spirit not of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” (Second Epistle to Timothy, ch. 1, vs. 7**)
Metaphorically, in the book of Jeremiah, it is described what it means to draw strength, calmness, confidence, and inspiration—to be like a tree planted by the water, whose roots are near the spring. It will not wither, note, not if, but when heat comes and drought arrives. Its fruit and leaves will not wither because its Source of life and hope is real, not deceptive. Circumstances above the soil—heat, wind, drought, cold—do not affect the tree because its roots are deep by the life-giving waters of the spring.
So it is with us. We cannot seek peace and calmness, try to distinguish truth from lie, or fight to impose some form of justice and balance if we have not first "rooted" ourselves by the Source. Anything else in which we place our reliance will turn us into shrubs barely surviving in a dry and barren desert. Dying plants with shallow roots, whose only hope to get water would be from rain or dew, i.e., dependent on circumstances, and their joy and hope are fickle. “Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. He shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited." (Book of Jeremiah, ch. 17, vs. 5-6*, bold font is ours)
Do you want to see the good, recognize it, have stable ground under your feet, bring cheerfulness and calmness to your heart? Root yourself at the Source, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Weekly Challenge: What are your expectations for the next year or two? What do you expect to happen next month or even next week? We challenge you to take a sheet of paper and a pencil or colors. Draw your expectations. What do they look like, and what colors dominate?
Take a second sheet and try to draw the picture of the tree whose roots are by the spring. Is there a difference in your feelings for the two pictures?
* Biblical quotes are according to the text from the Bible, new translation from original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013.
** The biblical quote is according to the text from Bible, revised edition © Bulgarian Bible Society 2015.
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