The Palm Tree Blessing   By: W. E. Shepard

The Palm Tree Blessing

A discourse on the various characteristics of the palm tree, illustrating the many features of the sanctified, Christian life.

By Evangelist W. E. Shepard

Author of "Wrested Scriptures Made Plain" Etc.

NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE KANSAS CITY, MO.

COPYRIGHT, 1913 NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS BEAUTY 7

CHAPTER TWO

THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS STRAIGHTNESS 11

CHAPTER THREE

THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS PERENNIAL FRESHNESS 14

CHAPTER FOUR

THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS FRUITFULNESS 19

CHAPTER FIVE

THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR SWEETNESS OF ITS FRUIT 26

CHAPTER SIX

THE PALM TREE BEARS FRUIT IN ITS OLD AGE 34

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS UTILITY 41

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE PALM TREE IS APPRECIATED 56

CHAPTER NINE

THE PALM TREE WILL GROW IN THE DESERT 66

CHAPTER TEN

THE PALM TREE FINDS THE WATER 71

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE PALM TREE GETS OTHERS STARTED 76

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE PALM TREE MOUNTS HEAVENWARD 81

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE PALM TREE IS PECULIAR IN ITS GROWTH 86

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE PALM TREE HAS A ROUGH, COARSE EXTERIOR, BUT IS SOFT AT THE HEART 89

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE LIFE OF THE PALM TREE IS AT THE CENTER 96

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE PALM BRANCH IS THE SYMBOL OF VICTORY 113

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THE PALM TREE WILL NOT ADMIT OF GRAFTING 128

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE PALM TREE IS ADAPTED TO WARM CLIMATES 142

CHAPTER NINETEEN

PALM TREE PECULIARITIES 146

a. The Explosive Flower.

b. The Living Sacrifice.

c. The Foreign Missionary.

d. Differences in Size and Form.

Introduction

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." Psalm 92:12.

Wherever the Holy Spirit in the inspired Word has made any statement concerning anything, whether in regard to flowers, fruit, agriculture, horticulture, stock raising, minerals, earth, sea, sky, stars, science, religion, or what not, rest assured that statement is absolutely correct. There may be some statements which are hard to understand at first, but which may become perfectly clear when proper light is thrown upon them.

The Word of God abounds in comparisons. It says the wicked are "like the troubled sea," the backslider like the dog "turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." In the first Psalm it says the ungodly "are like the chaff which the wind driveth away," but on the other hand the godly are "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Wherever God has compared the godly or the ungodly with anything, He certainly understood the case and made no mistake.

If one is not sure of his spiritual standing, it might be well to select something to which God has likened him, and then note the difference.