Jacob 5 Olive Tree

Jacob 5

Jacob 5: 1-14

Zenos.............................................................................an unknown prophet  (Zenos Enos?)
olive tree...................................................................extended metaphor.  Multiple parallels.
waxed old and began to decay..........................................the work of time destroys the tree
prune, dig, nourish..........................................................work to fix it.  Proactive steps
somewhat a little..............................................................improvements, but not very much
will lose..........................................................................needs a stronger intervention
graft elsewhere.................................................................productive parts transferred to other places and plants
the wild........................................................................brings in outside trees, not part of orchard
might preserve................................................................movement of others into the tree

The story begins with a need for Israel's scattering.  The fruitful shoots are taken outside the area to invigorate itself and promote growth elsewhere, and some are brought back in.

Jacob 5: 15-25

tree good fruit.............................................................the grafted branches are doing well
much fruit.....................................................................very productive decision
go...........................................................................check the various experiments
much fruit..................................................................many of the others fruitful and good
poorest spot...............................................................some of the worst places have best fruit
counsel me not.............................................................the owner doesn't humor the servant
gather it........................................................................the idea worked

The Lord of the orchard understands his olive tree better than the servant, and he reminds him that he doesn't take counsel from the servant.  To a large degree the grafting and scattering works very well in producing good fruit.

Jacob 5:  26-35

pluck off......................................................................with the mixtures there are bad branches
servant wants to pluck, cultivate, prune, etc........................anxious to use the same methods
long time..............................................................this methodology used for a long time
visit to test..........................................................need to do an inventory of the whole system
end cometh..........................................................Lord sees the need to stop the whole thing
all sorts of fruit.......................................................the Lord and servant see every imaginable fruit
none good.................................................................the system is now a complete loss
done all........................................................................all acceptable means have been employeed

For a considerable time the system works very well, producing good fruit.  Eventually the wild fruit begins to reemerge, and the whole system is in failure mode.

Jacob 5: 36-50

roots good............................................................there are still things that an work
need to destroy bad growth and bad fruit..............................the burning at harvest time
wild has overcome the good......................................seems fairly universal
wild and corruption have led to a disaster....................................time to burn all the bad
who............................................................................looks for a reason for the corruption
lets hew down....................................................intend to clear massage sections of the orchard
servant:  spare.......................................................intercession of the servant,  let's try again

Due to the fallen state of the orchard, the inventory leads the owner to say lets tear it all down.  the production has completely stopped.  The servants pleads for another attempt

Jacob 5: 51-64

yes.....................................................................owner willing to try another cycle
graft back in.....................................................pull all the better fruit together
spare tree..............................................................all grafted to the natural tree
preserved the roots.................................................the natural tree has the natural roots
grafting............................................................putting the original trees back together
take strength....................................................orginal roots reinvigorate the original tree
first fruit the best.................................................the idea that the original tree best olives of all
last time............................................................will do this one more time, but not again
dig prune nourish...........................................the same methods again employed

The owner now intends to do a great gathering.  He expects that the system will produce the very best fruit of all, but it will not last forever.  He will need to vacate the whole system

Jacob 5: 65-72

not all at once................................................grafting to be done gradually,  not too much trauma
a chance to let the good overtake the bad........................each tree will have this opportunity
natural tree....................................................main feature of the orchard
pruning will take place.....................................as things become more apparent, destroy the worst
ye shall have joy................................................the servant promised a part with the fruit
did obey..........................................................the plan is worked to the t.

A plan of gathering and pruning is employed.  All the plan is done exactly according to the plan.

Jacob 5: 72-77

natural fruit again...............................................plan working very well,  Good and bad fruit
Main tree become equal.......................................eventually the good fruit become becomes
dominant
servants commissioned.......................................best of all.  Lord of orchard employs the best servants.  Fruit gathered
long time............................................................this system works for a long time.
This will continue until the lord calls time.  Then the whole thing will be assessed

The final stages of the garden.  Eventually the only thing that will be allowed to remain is the good. All other types of trees and fruits will be destroyed.

Jacob 5

Olive tree.

A long parable that parallels the history of God and his covenant peopl on the earth.  He illustrates the long time periods that are needed to grow a successful garden and developing a reasonable harvest from it.  The interesting question in it is "Who" has done the corruption in it.  Surely He and his servants have done everything correctly.  The wildness comes in.  The servants obey, but the branches and trees do not.  The owner and servants have a very emotional attachment to the garden.

Researchers say that this parable is very accurate and very instructive about real olive orchards.

Fascinating read.