There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains; its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; and those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. (Psalm 72:16)
In the previous devotion, we discussed a spiritual concept derived from this verse: how a handful of Good Seed can produce a mighty harvest. Coupling this with what is revealed in the Parable of the Sower, though the seed is likely to fall on all types of ground, with God overseeing the process that seed can yield an increase of thirty, sixty and even a hundredfold. Furthermore, because the Gospel of the Kingdom is able to overcome all obstacles — just as the tiny mustard seed can become a tree for birds to roost in — the Word of God can grow, multiply and populate under the most challenging of situations. That thought brings me to the main point for today.
In the beginning, God planted a garden; He didn’t build a city. In fact, as far as the biblical record goes, the first city builders were rebels — men like Cain and Nimrod. The point is, from their beginning, cities have typically been prone to carnality, violence and all things that operate in opposition to virtue and Godly principle. In short, the beauty and purpose of God’s creation is more apparent in unpopulated areas than in the cities. That is why, I believe at least, God did not build a city but planted a garden. That being said, God has no desire to abandon the city dweller to the negative and carnal influences that thrive in urban areas — the Good News is for them as well. It can, in fact, flourish even in the midst of the most undesirable elements.
David obviously envisioned a time when what grows in “fields and garden,” spiritually speaking, would also grow in the city. Moreover, David envisioned a time when the city, specifically Jerusalem under the Kingship of the Messiah, would function as the template and basis for all societies, whether they be rural or urban. In other words, the Word of God would permeate and impregnate all nations, all peoples and all cultures. Though God planted a garden, He is Lord over all — even the cities and all who dwell therein. And so, as it is written, “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3) and the Lord shall be King over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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