tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4906909475153160896.post1092171271944585840..comments2023-06-26T11:15:49.598+03:00Comments on The 2 Spies: ~Day 30~ Perspective~The 2 Spieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04375675691017671642noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4906909475153160896.post-8558531080321803882010-12-21T22:46:09.154+02:002010-12-21T22:46:09.154+02:00December 21st 2010 (30)
Two Baskets of Figs
“1 Af...December 21st 2010 (30)<br /><br />Two Baskets of Figs<br />“1 After Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the craftsmen and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD. 2 One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very poor figs, so bad they could not be eaten. 3 Then the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "Figs," I answered. "The good ones are very good, but the poor ones are so bad they cannot be eaten." 4 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 5 "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. 6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. 8 " 'But like the poor figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,' says the LORD, 'so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt. 9 I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, an object of ridicule and cursing, wherever I banish them. 10 I will send the sword, famine and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their fathers.' ” [Jer 24:1-10]<br /><br /><br />The fig tree is one of Scriptures most used visual aids. In the passage above the LORD didn’t choose the exiles over the remnant because one group was better than the other but rather because He is gracious and He could show favour on who He chose. <br /><br />Variously in Scripture we have seen figs being symbolic as: <br /><br />(1) A Covering – from sin and shame (Gen 3:7)<br />(2) A Fruit – sweet and delicious (Ju 9:11) <br />(3) Prosperity – hence a secure life (1 Kgs 4:25)<br />(4) Shade – from the day’s heat (Jn 1:48)<br />(5) Meditation – of the Word (Jn 1:48)<br /><br />Above all the fig tree is symbolic of the nation of Israel, a nation (if we take the symbolism further) that will produce two crops of figs each year. <br /><br />Dear readers, if you have just an hour of free time why not study this symbolism associated with, “the tree (ie fig) you did not plant,” further; for each symbol you find … eg: (i) a covering from sin and shame … is what the LORD has graciously provided for the entire world through His Chosen People. The list above is not exhaustive; there are many more to be found. <br /><br /> “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” [Mtth 7:16] <br /><br />Steve Perry <><Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4906909475153160896.post-57991831460014491822010-12-21T05:52:09.523+02:002010-12-21T05:52:09.523+02:00I would love to come sit with you and eat figs. I ...I would love to come sit with you and eat figs. I really look forward to reading your posts.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09682692439867613297noreply@blogger.com