Issue 1416 – Tulips – April 8, 2024
The tulips and hyacinths are in bloom in our yard. I can see a bunch of yellow tulips from my office window. The bleeding heart (one of my favourites) isn’t long before blooming. The birds are nesting and mating. Officially or not, Spring is here. We may still have some less-than-desirable weather, but the seasonal change is upon us.
This morning, I was searching “tulips in the Bible” because they were on my mind, and I wondered if they had any particular biblical significance.
It turns out that tulips aren’t in the Bible, and when I did an online search of “tulips in the Bible,” I primarily found links to various Calvinistic websites. TULIP is an acronym for a theological system. It fits my particular theological bent but isn’t one of those essential hills to die on. You might agree or disagree, and that’s okay. That whole debate is way outside the scope of Gleanings.
Finding that tulips were not mentioned in the Bible, I began to ponder other flowers. By some counts, more than 25 flowering plant types are mentioned by name in the Scriptures, with allusions to others.
I decided to look up lilies, which was a random choice, but I didn’t want to look up all 25.
The lily can be a symbol of beauty and purity.
As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. Song of Solomon 2:3
The most familiar of the references to the lily can be found in the teachings of Jesus.
It is included as an example in a passage about trusting in the power of God.
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Luke 12:22-31
Jesus paints a powerful picture with His words. If God Almighty pays close attention to the details we take for granted, how much more will He care for the ones He created and sent His Son to die for?
He calls us to put our faith in Him and to seek Him. He is the place of comfort and true fulfillment, whether in times of plenty or want, lives of ease of turmoil.
We can trust Him. In a world where everything disappoints us at some time, good intentions can go astray, and the status quo is constantly changing, we have an unchangeable anchor to cling to. That’s an incredible gift.
When you see a lily, a tulip or any other beautiful bloom, remember the love and provision of God and praise His name.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)