The Apple Tree

by Anne Linington⁽¹⁸⁷⁾ Red Star

http://Faithwriters.com

The Apple Tree

I had been struggling for some weeks to understand the words of one of the pieces chosen for the Choir to sing at the Music Festival. I knew of trees in Genesis and Revelation, but couldn’t recall a scripture for the song, “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”. I continued to practice, albeit somewhat puzzled, though I had heard the same words at a Carol Service the previous Christmas, but to a different tune; “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”, had me stumped!

While we were taking a short break at Lulworth Cove, I saw a lovely gnarled old apple tree from the dining room window where I was enjoying my final fry-up before returning to the Island .The garden birds were clearly enjoying their breakfast too, from the feeders suspended from it.

That evening, now back in Newport, I spent some time in Christian meditation, a daily practice I had begun six months earlier when recovering from a broken ankle. On this particular evening, the tune and then the words of the song came to mind, “Under the shadow I will be, of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”. As I repeated them, I had the sense of sitting under the shade of a beautiful apple tree, and feeling a deep sense of security and protection; This I recognised as being Jesus Himself.

The next morning, due to a cold, I stayed home from Church. I spent some time expressing the sheer joy of this wonderful insight, in a pen and ink drawing- of me perched on a swing hanging from an apple tree. I was surrounded by some of the things that bring me delight- cats, books, music, flowers and a cup of tea.

The following Saturday I was sharing what had happened with a close friend, and showing her my drawing, when she told me that “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”, was indeed found in the Bible, in the Song of Solomon. We looked it up together, and found it in Chapter 2v3 where the “Beloved” says of her “Lover”

“ Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in His shade, and His fruit is sweet to my taste”.

I felt God had truly spoken to me and was confirming it without doubt through His word. These past weeks my sense of security has been challenged, but on recognising this, I reaffirm where my true security lies, and learn to “Sit in His shade, and eat of His fruit”.

Article submitted Tuesday, September 15, 2009 & read 357 times.

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» left by Lance Ponder⁽⁹⁰⁾ (2 years 145 days ago.)

He is always faithful to answer your questions. Persist in your search and be willing to accept the answer you receive. Ask in faith and you will always be answered.
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» left by Verna Mull from Greene, Iowa (2 years 142 days ago.)

Anne, this is a beautiful devotional. I had never picked up on Christ being an apple tree before. Letting my thoughts dwell on that, brings a lot of things to my mind. As a child, I used to sit in not just an apple tree, but in a tree to read and to listen to the birds, and I felt closer to God somehow. This is a great thought to me.
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» left by Anne Linington⁽¹⁸⁷⁾ (2 years 138 days ago.)

I was concerned that you had "disappeared" from the site, but Marijo Phelps said you were still here under the name Cheery Blossom.

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» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹⁹⁹⁾ (2 years 140 days ago.)

Oh, Anne, this is a good one to contemplate for awhile. I like it much! thanks, Marijo
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» left by Marijo Phelps from mountain meadow CO (2 years 136 days ago.)

Anne ~ I came across this very scripture in doing some Bible search within a day of the time I first read this and I don't even recall reading it before either! Marijo
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