Under the shade of the apple tree

Under the shade of the apple tree

Scripture: 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. Song of Songs 2:3

Observation: In this verse, the bride pictures her bridegroom like an apple tree among the trees of the wood. And the tree does two things, it gives shade to her, and also gives her sweet fruit to eat.

When one thinks of an apple tree, pleasant thoughts come to mind. It is a big, pleasant tree, bearing one of the choicest of all fruits, the apple. In the Psalms, David cried to God “Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings”. That’s how God sees us in His love, as the apples of His eye. We are highly favored, and as a loving father looks with great pleasure upon his sons or daughters, God looks with great pleasure upon us.

Likewise, as we grow closer to God and to Jesus, we begin to feel the same way, looking at God with great delight, like the apple of our eye. David understood this. He exclaimed “There is one thing I ask, this is what I seek, that I might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple.”

Now focusing on the tree, the shelter it gives us is shady and comfortable. God led Abraham to pitch his tent under the great trees of Mamre. The shelter given him was just like what God gives those who come under Him. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. The Psalmist writes again! His Shelter protects us and keeps us from harm and trouble. “You are my hiding place, you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” David says.

Like the apple tree provides beautiful sweet apples, God also provides His children with good, wonderful things. Again from the Psalms, it is written of the man God favors “He has granted him the desire of his heart, and has not withheld the request of his lips” and “You let them feast upon the abundance of your house, you let them drink from your river of delights”. Indeed, God blesses us with far, far more than we can hope for or imagine. We need only to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto us.

Application: Know that we are the apple of God’s eye. Start seeing our Lord Jesus as the apple of our eye. Trust in God as our Shelter and Protector. Thank God and enjoy the many good things He gives us.

Prayer: Oh Lord, I praise thee that You look upon us with great favor. Help me see you the same, learning to love You as You love me. Help me ever trust in You as my great Shelter. Thank You for the abundance of good and pleasant things you ever bless me with. In Jesus name, Amen.