8. OLIVE PLANTS. Psalm 128:3.

I wonder why God calls our children 'olive plants'. I think I have a few ideas:

1. Olive trees were a symbol of blessing to the Israelites. When they saw the new olive shoots coming up around their olive trees, they knew they were blessed. (Deuteronomy 6:11; 8:8).

2. Olive plants have to be cultivated or they will deteriorate and grow wild. So our children have to be cultivated and trained if they are going to grow up in wisdom and stature.

3. Olive trees are a symbol of beauty. Hosea 14:6. The Hebrew word 'hod' used for beauty, although sometimes used for men, is mainly associated with God. It means splendor, majesty glory and honor. This time it is used of the olive tree. God wants our children to grow up beautiful like the olive tree, revealing to the world the glory and splendor of God.

4. Olive trees had a purpose. They were not just ornaments. Our children also have a purpose. Before the foundation of the world God chose them and prepared their destiny. It is our role as parents to help them find that destiny and prepare them to walk in it. In Bible days the olive tree was used for:

a) Building. The two cherubims within the oracle and the doors into the oracle were made of olive wood. 1 Kings 6:32,33. The purpose of our 'olive plants' is to help build the kingdom of God.

b) Light. The oil from the olive tree was used for lighting the lamps in the tabernacle. Exodus 27:20,21; Leviticus 24:1-4. Let us pray that our 'olive shoots' will grow up to be lights in the midst of the darkness of this world. There are many who are afraid to have children because they fear to bring them into this evil world. But this is the very purpose God wants us to bring forth the godly seed - to be lights in the midst of the darkness! If we hold back the godly seed, evil will increase.

c) Holy Anointing Oil. Exodus 30:22-33. Let us pray that our 'olive plants' will grow up to be anointed of God to "preach good tidings unto the meek; to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound..." Isaiah 61:1.

d) Food. The Israelites could hardly survive for food without the olive tree. Even in our countries what would we do without olives, olive oil and all the things that are made from them? May our children "feed many" who are broken and starving and needing God. Proverbs 10:21.

5. Olive trees live forever. Well, just about. There is a saying in Israel that the "olive tree never dies." On a number of occasions we have visited the site of the Garden of ethsemane which is at the base of the Mount of Olives and looks up to the Golden Gate of the city of Jerusalem.

This is the gate that the Bible says Jesus is going to walk through one day. In this garden, there are a number of very old, gnarled olive trees. The guides tells us that they are two to three thousand years old and they are still alive and growing. Our children are also eternal souls who will live forever. Mothering is an eternal career. It is not a waste of time. It lasts into the eons of eternity.

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