Think about the difference between hay and fruit trees. At harvest time, the hay is cut and collected. The dried hay will live no more. However, at their harvest, the fruit trees are not cut down or taken away. Their fruit is collected, but the tree remains, living and well. In Psalm 92, the wicked are compared to the grass of the field, while the righteous are compared to palm trees planted in the house of the Lord. Like the grass that sprouts quickly, the wicked flourish for a time, but when the harvest finally comes they will perish. On the other hand, the righteous are like palm trees in the house of the Lord. When the harvest comes they will gladly give their fruit. They will be "ever full of sap and green" (v. 14).
Lord, admittedly this perspective is sometimes hard for us to have (v. 6). We see the wicked flourishing now, and then we want justice now. When we don't see justice, then we start to doubt you, saying: "Don't you care? Can't you do something?" Lord, calm our anxious hearts.
Remind us of the coming harvest, Lord, for surely you will come to make all things right. The grass of the fields will be cut down, and the trees of your house will be established forever. Lord, we pray: establish us like the trees of your courts. May Psalm 42:14-15 be descriptive of us: "They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him." We pray, Lord: may we be evergreen, from this point on, even unto old age, flourishing even in hardship, and bearing fruit into our advanced years and unto the very end. Grant us hope that we might persevere. And be glorified in and through us, we pray. In Jesus' name, amen.
