Title: 13
Author: Joe G
Last saved by: Matt Lawson
Company: GDC

© 2005 Joe Griffin		05-10-03-B.CC02-508 /

Those Occupied with Christ Are as a Tree Planted by the Waters: The Metaphors of Jer 17:8; the Shulammite’s Use of the Faith-Rest Technique

Jeremiah 17:8 - [NET]  They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water.  It has nothing to fear when the heat comes.  Its leaves are always green.  It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought.  It does not stop bearing fruit.
1.	This tree is in contrast to the broom tree noted in verse 6.  This references the general term for any tree, in this case one that is planted near a stream and whose roots spread out toward the water.
2.	In our context in Song of Solomon 1:7, the tree represents the Shulammite and the Shepherd who are believers that possess inner happiness.
3.	These two “trees” are planted near a stream which in Church Age application represents the Holy Spirit.  A tree survives by having a good supply of water.  In this case the word for water is plural which emphasizes the many doctrines found in the Bible.
4.	Trees that have access to these waters will be able to draw nourishment from them as supplied by the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry.
5.	This access is achieved by deep roots that reach out to the stream.  They represent the positive volition of the Shulammite and the Shepherd that acquired a high inventory of doctrinal ideas in their souls from the nourishing waters of the Word.
6.	A tree planted by these waters and whose roots have reached out to them for nourishment has “nothing to fear when the heat comes.”
7.	The “heat” represents the adversities and exigencies of life that must be managed with the pertinent doctrines which are already available in the soul and ready for application.
8.	This results in an absence of fear in the face of sudden danger or intractable circumstances.  “Nothing to fear” thus refers to the faith-rest technique where under pressure the Shulammite and the Shepherd draw on the promises of the Word to stabilize them in the midst of adversity.
9.	From this status of tranquility they are able to draw from their reservoir of doctrines to develop rationales that lead to doctrinal conclusions.
10.	In this situation the Shulammite will reach the doctrinal conclusion to stand fast while the Shepherd will conclude that he needs to move out.
11.	It is noted that their “leaves are always green” which makes reference to their healthy spiritual life that is functional under pressure.
12.	A tree has great flexibility.  The winds may whip in a storm and it will bend and sway but if its roots are deep it will stand fast until they are past.  Once calm is restored it may be minus leaves and branches but it survives and reassumes its upright position.
13.	The adversities and challenges of life often make the believer feel he is caught up in a category five hurricane.  But deep doctrinal roots will enable him to endure until it passes.
14.	Usually he is battered to a certain degree but the Lord delivered him through it and as a result of seeing doctrine work he is a better person for it.
15.	Therefore he has “no need to be concerned in a year of drought.”  This makes reference to the things God expects us to endure.  The Shulammite is about to be interrogated by the king of Israel for the purpose of recruiting her into his harem.
16.	She is now on the front ranks of the angelic conflict.  There is not time to listen to a tape or logon to an audio stream.  There is no way she can excuse herself to go to Bible class or review her notes.  The doctrine she has already learned is what she must utilize to defend herself in this combat.
17.	The Christian way of life is characterized by periods provided for intake of doctrine followed by periods designed for its application.  This is a time for the latter and is described as a “drought.”
18.	In the circumstance before her the Shulammite “does not stop bearing fruit.”  This is where she draws from the reservoir of doctrine in her soul and produces from it divine good.
19.	The word for “bearing” is the creation verb ‛asah which means to manufacture something out of existing materials.  Out of doctrine the Shulammite manufactures divine good production.
20.	The major problem-solving device that she produces is occupation with Christ which sustains her in her period of drought before the king of Israel.
21.	Jeremiah 17:8 may be paraphrased to illustrate its application to the Shulammite in Song of Solomon 1:7a, “Tell me, O you whom my soul loves.”
22.	Her dependence upon her absent Shepherd Lover illustrates the believer’s reliance on the invisible Christ in times of adversity through occupation with Him:
Jeremiah 17:8 -	[Paraphrase]  They, the Shulammite & the Shepherd, will be like a tree planted near a stream supplied by the Holy Spirit.  Their positive volition is pictured as roots which spread out toward His waters of doctrine.  They have nothing to fear when adversity comes.  Their resident doctrine is always green—deployed on the FLOT Line of their souls.  They have no need to be concerned in a year of drought when circumstances demand immediate application from their reservoir.  They do not stop bearing the fruit associated with occupation with Christ.

Grace Doctrine Church Media Ministries:	     www.gracedoctrinechurch.com       www.joegriffin.org      www.gdcmedia.org