We find such things in Scripture as “the vine of the earth,” and an “unfruitful fig-tree,” also “the root and fatness of the olive-tree,”—our distinct privileges. We find no such thing as an olive-tree become earthly or fruitless. I do not say that it has not to do with earthly things, but there is no such thing in Scripture as an earthly olive-tree, in the same sense as we read of “the vine of the earth.” This is a matter of great importance to our souls. How entirely separate is it in all its joy and fruit, from what the vine and fig-tree hold out, even if they were fruitful! This is grace: the other responsibility.
We are partakers of “the root and fatness of the olive tree.” What is spoken concerning “the olive-tree” in Judg. 9:99But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? (Judges 9:9)? “Should I leave my fatness wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted,” &c. In Psa. 1049Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. (Psalm 104:9), too, “oil to make his face to shine.” How can this be? By sending into man’s heart the blessed emotions and feelings of the living God. I am sure the way in which the soul is separated from earthly things is by having things that are worth obtaining—things that keep and preserve themselves. In the prayer of the apostle, in Eph. 19Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9)., we have “the root and fatness of the olive-tree” brought out, and, in chap. 3, the soil in which the root is planted. Jesus is the root, as we all know. He is the one root from which everything that is “fat and flourishing” must spring.
The Spirit is the One who ministers everything that is worth possessing. And where is all found that is worth possessing? In Jesus. Whence is it that all that is good or joyful really flows? From “the Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” We are in the root of the olive-tree that one day will make those who are blessed in that day to have their faces to shine in the knowledge of the living God. None of those blessings are lessened to the Jews by our being made partakers “of the root and fatness of the olive-tree;” but our hopes are different. Our hope is a heavenly hope—our standing a heavenly standing. Our Jesus? Is He here manifesting the glory of God, so that all eyes can see Him? Or has God shed abroad His Spirit on all flesh, so that there are none whose joys do not come from God, whose sorrows are not assuaged, and whose rights are not avenged by God? God will be the avenger by and bye. Jesus, as hidden in God, is secretly ruling everything, ordering all providential arrangments; but Jesus’ heart is occupied about the saints of God, about His elect: with what our hearts are so little occupied. This is a sufficient occupation for the children of God.
When Paul was converted, and brought to see the union of the saints with Jesus, what was he taught? “How great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” What did the Lord teach Paul? Nothing about the order of the world, simply those things which concerned the heavenly people.
The Spirit of God, with all His communications of “the things of God,” the unfoldings of the graces and glories of Jesus, and enjoyed, living communion with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ—is “the fatness of the olive-tree.” The root is Jesus, in the bosom of the Father. Where is the fatness? In Jesus in the glory, but ministered to us by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. What has the Holy Ghost to teach us? All about the Father and the Son and our blessed inheritance; and this is what separates us from the world, and gives our souls such a consciousness of the irremediable badness of everything else.
Paul sets before us the way of our blessed Lord more distinctly than those who were with Him when on earth; for he knew Him as the risen Man at the right hand of the Father. The apostles, who were with Jesus here on earth, could add nothing to Paul when they came to confer with him. Here Paul got his instructions how to walk in the world. He was planted in the root, settled, and anointed, for “it had pleased God to reveal His Son in him.” He came down as it were from the glory, willing to die daily, taking all the comfort of Scripture, as ministered to his soul by the Holy Ghost, “knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus,” &c.
We here find what the root and fatness of the olive-tree does. It fashions and conforms us to the expression and feelings of Him who is in the bosom of God. Thus the thoughts of God ought to be corning out of us fresh and full, as in the first Psalm. What a description of man do we find there!
When the Lord came, did he fail (Isa. 49)? As concerning the gathering of Israel He failed (ver. 4); but beloved, it was not in vain: all He did was prosperous. The Lord was going through this and that, expressing the mind of Him from whom He came, but they refused Him. And after He had exercised great patience towards them, they were broken off for a time. But the Lord will not fail in His promises. We may preach, and there may be failure, but those whom God has chosen will receive the word; and there is this comfort, “Yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.” What we are doing won’t prosper if it be not done in the Spirit and in the grace of Christ. We must always be doing our things as those who are rooted and grounded in love.
“The fatness of the olive-tree,” the anointing, is for special service. To be kings and priests is what we are anointed for. How little do we know what it is to be priests. Its fullness is reserved for a future time, as well as our kingly office. I believe we have to wait for this. We cannot come out now with Melchizedec, and pronounce the blessing which he pronounced on Abraham. Jesus, as our Priest, bears our names on His breast and on His shoulders, as those who are going through the wilderness unto the rest that remains for His people.
The proper exercise of what we get from “the root of the olive tree” is that of prophets. Our portion is to have “the mind of Christ,” to be the revealers of the thoughts, the intentions, and the purposes of God in all we do. The Lord never took up His priestly nor His kingly character on earth. They were not fit to be governed by Him. As a prophet he explained, to those who had “ears to hear,” those things which were necessary to be known. Is the honor or power of this world any part of the endowment of the saint? Surely: but in glory. “Let the saints be joyful in glory, let a two-edged sword be in their hand. This honor have all His saints.” But we are not in glory. Till then our simple plan is to be prophets. We shall find plenty to do, without descending into the things of the world, in getting into “the root and fatness of the olive-tree.”