Vine, Fig Tree, Pomegranate Tree, Palm Tree and Apple Tree Joel 1:12

Joel the prophet gave the people of Judah a description of the devastation that occurred throughout their land. “The fields, land, corn, new wine and oil” were all affected by the invading “nation”, and “the husbandmen” and the “vinedressers” were to “be ashamed” and “howl” because of them. In chapter one and verse twelve of his prophesy, Joel added, “the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate tree, the palm tree and the apple tree” to his list of things which were destroyed where we read:

The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languishes; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

The verse begins, “The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languishes; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered:” Joel began with “the vine” or “vine tree especially the grape” “is dried up” or “withered, without moisture and exhibiting dryness”, “and the fig tree” which refers to “tree with the fruit of figs” “languishes” or “is weak, droops, is exhausted and feeble”; “the pomegranate tree” or “the fruit from the pomegranate tree”, “the palm tree also” which means “such as the date palm tree”, “and the apple tree” which means “a tree from which apples come”, “even all the trees” which refers to “woods, timbers, stocks, stalks, sticks, gallows, cedar-wood and woody flax” “of the field” or “land, cultivated field, home of wild beasts and plains”, “are withered” which means “dried up, confounded and ashamed”. Even the “trees” which were in the land of Judah were devastated by invading “nation”.

The verse goes on to say, “because joy is withered away from the sons of men.” Joel added, “because joy” which means “gladness, exultation and rejoicing” “is withered away” or “dried up, confounded and ashamed” “from the sons” which refers to “the male children and grand children” “of men” or “mankind or human beings”. In addition to the lands and trees being affected by the invasion, “the gladness and rejoicing” of the people were gone as well.

When we consider these words of Joel, we once again see how thorough this destruction was upon Judah. Every “tree” was affected by the invasion, and the once thriving land was now barren and “withered”, and the “joy” of the people disappeared too. Perhaps we have felt like this before. Maybe it seems that our once flourishing and fruitful life is now “saddened”, “dried up, confounded and ashamed”. Jesus Christ came into this world for those who feel like this. He came to “seek and to save that which was lost”, and for those who feel like all their “fruit” is gone, today is the day to turn to Him and find His redemptive and restoring Salvation.

Next time Joel tells the people of Judah to “gird themselves” and “lament”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.