The Palm Tree by the Rev. H.D. Campbell
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They that are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall nourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap, and green.
One can understand the Hebrew poet likening the righteous man to a palm tree. When one works it out in the manner of the old commentators, one finds the analogy a remarkably close one.
Above the plain, it rears its height, its trunk straight as the mast of a ship, "erect as Rectitude herself." It is a perfect emblem of the faithful servant of God, upright in his integrity - "upright as a palm tree" is Jeremiah's phrase.
There is an Arabic proverb which says that the palm tree has as many uses as there are days in the year. Its fruit is in the highest degree nutritious. An Arab can go for a couple of days on a handful of dates. They are the chief article of food for a large proportion of the inhabitants of Egypt, Arabia, and Persia. An average tree will produce in one season 300 or 400 lb. of dates.
The stones of the dates are crushed for food for the camels. From the leaves, thatch, mats, baskets, and other articles are made. The thick stalk of the frond makes fruit crates and fowl coops. Its fibres are teased out for thread and cordage. The sap flows out freely when the trunk is cut near the top; as much as 20 gallons of liquid for fermentation being procured in this way, for palm wine and other concoctions. From the dates brandy and honey are made. The stem is used for fuel, and for gate posts and rafters. So valuable, then, is the palm tree that it is no wonder the prophet Joel should regard its withering as a sign that desolation is come over the land, "when joy is withered away from the sons of men."In its usefulness, therefore, the palm tree again depicts the righteous man- serviceable to his generation in wholesome influence and fruitful deeds.
There is an Arabic proverb which says that the palm tree has as many uses as there are days in the year. Its fruit is in the highest degree nutritious. An Arab can go for a couple of days on a handful of dates. They are the chief article of food for a large proportion of the inhabitants of Egypt, Arabia, and Persia. An average tree will produce in one season 300 or 400 lb. of dates.
The stones of the dates are crushed for food for the camels. From the leaves, thatch, mats, baskets, and other articles are made. The thick stalk of the frond makes fruit crates and fowl coops. Its fibres are teased out for thread and cordage. The sap flows out freely when the trunk is cut near the top; as much as 20 gallons of liquid for fermentation being procured in this way, for palm wine and other concoctions. From the dates brandy and honey are made. The stem is used for fuel, and for gate posts and rafters. So valuable, then, is the palm tree that it is no wonder the prophet Joel should regard its withering as a sign that desolation is come over the land, "when joy is withered away from the sons of men."In its usefulness, therefore, the palm tree again depicts the righteous man- serviceable to his generation in wholesome influence and fruitful deeds.
Its Beauty.
"How fair and pleasant art thou, O my love," sings the lover in the Song of Songs, "Thy stature is like the palm tree." The palm is, indeed, a graceful tree, tall and slender, magnificently crowned by a top of feathery plumes - to the Easterner, the queen of all trees. "The dark brown or golden-yellow clusters of the fruit impart a wonderful beauty to the tree, especially when seen in the evening twilight," is the verdict of a traveller, and those who have seen the sight will echo his words.
The palm was used as an ornament of beauty in Solomon's Temple, being carved on the walls and doors of the Holy of Holies. And Ezekiel, in his vision of the temple, saw the graceful palm figured on the pillars and arches as well.
"How fair and pleasant art thou, O my love," sings the lover in the Song of Songs, "Thy stature is like the palm tree." The palm is, indeed, a graceful tree, tall and slender, magnificently crowned by a top of feathery plumes - to the Easterner, the queen of all trees. "The dark brown or golden-yellow clusters of the fruit impart a wonderful beauty to the tree, especially when seen in the evening twilight," is the verdict of a traveller, and those who have seen the sight will echo his words.
The palm was used as an ornament of beauty in Solomon's Temple, being carved on the walls and doors of the Holy of Holies. And Ezekiel, in his vision of the temple, saw the graceful palm figured on the pillars and arches as well.
The swaying beauty and grace that distinguishes the palm tree was transferred in simile, by the Hebrew poets, to the lovely women of their race. And three times in the Old Testament are women given the name of "Tamar," "The Palm Tree." Two of these are Absalom's "fair sister," and his daughter "of a fair countenance."
"They that are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God,"
sang the psalmist. They were planted there because of their beauty, just as to-day one may see an occasional date palm in the quadrangle of an Eastern house, or the court of a mosque. One remembers a solitary palm in the courtyard of the famous mosque at Hebron, and how its bright green, curved foliage lent an indescribable touch of the picturesque to the dazzling white of the surrounding walls.
These palms, when grown in courts, do "flourish" remarkably, just because they are protected. But the sacred singer is chanting the beauty of holiness. Spiritual influence is a beautiful thing, and is power in its highest exercise; and it is nourished by communion with the eternal in the worship of the congregation.
"They that are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God,"
sang the psalmist. They were planted there because of their beauty, just as to-day one may see an occasional date palm in the quadrangle of an Eastern house, or the court of a mosque. One remembers a solitary palm in the courtyard of the famous mosque at Hebron, and how its bright green, curved foliage lent an indescribable touch of the picturesque to the dazzling white of the surrounding walls.
These palms, when grown in courts, do "flourish" remarkably, just because they are protected. But the sacred singer is chanting the beauty of holiness. Spiritual influence is a beautiful thing, and is power in its highest exercise; and it is nourished by communion with the eternal in the worship of the congregation.
The 1,900-year-old Jewish coin from the time of the Bar Kochba Revolt bearing part of the name of its leader and a palm tree. Unearthed in the Judean Desert in 2021.
Photo by Clara Amit/IAA.
Image and information: https://israel21c.org/ancient-coin-takes-off-to-the-stars-with-israeli-astronaut/
Its Secret of Life.
The palm combines beauty with power. For a stem so slender the palm is peculiarly strong. The fierce desert storms will sometimes bow the straight trunk till its corona of leaves touches the ground. Yet the stem rarely breaks.
Despite the light, pithy nature of its trunk, the palm, therefore, has great endurance. It often seems virtually to be a root springing out of a dry ground, so arid and bare is the scorching sand around. But its roots reach subterranean moisture, and so, in the midst of a howling wilderness, as by a miracle, it can clothe the leaves upon its summit with a cool verdure, refreshing to eyes blinded by the desert glare.
That plant life, nourished on hidden stores in the midst of a weary land, is a figure of the righteous man whose simple faith "flourishes," even through distress of afflictions. For it is fed on secret supplies of "living waters."
The palm tree always signifies the presence of water; and in this, again, it is a type of him who, by his manner of life, guides others to the spiritual springs of his own comfort and strength.
When the children of Israel in their desert wanderings saw 70 palm trees on the horizon at Elim, they knew their thirst would soon be assuaged. These oases are pleasant to the eye. One meets a series of them along the railway from Port Said to Jerusalem. Resting in their shade from the star tag sunshine, one would often see long robed Bedouins, the women veiled, their camels squatting near.
The Oasis.
Thirsty camels in a caravan, travelling over the desert, and sighting one of these oases, at once break into a trot, quickening as they approach. The cameleers are put to it keep the beasts under control and the loads from shifting.
"They shall bring forth fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and green."
The palm continues to bear its golden clusters of dates for 200 years or more. It retains its usefulness, its shapely beauty, and stately strength to the last. To the servants of God who have reached old age the palm brings a comforting message. "The old age of the good is a living illustration of the beauty of goodness."
And then, the palm tree is a symbol of victory and triumph. We speak of prosperous times as "palmy days"; we say that a winner "carries off the palm." In seasons of rejoicing, the Mediterranean peoples carried palm leaves in their triumphal processions. When Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph the multitude expressed their delight by waving palm branches.
The only other reference to palms in the New Testament is in "Revelation," when these evergreen trees become symbols of the joy of the eternal life. There is seen the innumerable multitude that had come out of great tribulation standing before the Throne, in robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb, and with palms in their hands.
Reverend Herbert Douglas Campbell (1887-1960)
This interesting account of his early life was published in the Brisbane Daily Standard in 1935 -
Rector of St. Thomas' Church of England, Toowong, Rev. H. B. Campbell has been promoted Archdeacon and vicar of St. Arnaud, Northern Victoria, which position he will take over after Easter. Few men in the church have performed such a wealth of work, diverse in its nature, as Mr. Campbell has done since he was ordained deacon in Melbourne in 1914. Soon after his ordination he went to London, and while studying at the London University did slum work in the East End. In 1916 he was obtained priest by the Bishop of London. From 1917 to 1919 he fought on the Western front. Then he spent 16 months on military duty in Constantinople, and finally consecrated the cemeteries of the Australian dead at Gallipoli.
Returning to Australia, Mr. Campbell linked up with the St James and St. John's Mission to the Poor in Melbourne. One of his proudest memories in his Sunday afternoon Bible class and a club formed of the "push" elements of Fitzroy and Carlton. In 1927 Mr. Campbell came to Brisbane as minor Canon of St. John's, and next year went to St. Thomas's as rector. In addition to obtaining his degree of Master of Arts, Melbourne, Mr. Campbell gained his B.D. in London. For the last two years he has been lecturer at St. Francis's College at Nundah, and for five years he has been editor of the "Church Chronicle." [Brisbane Daily Standard, March 14, 1935, see here]
The Reverend Campbell was born in Richmond, Victoria in 1887 to Herbert Angus and Wilhelmina (nee Wagner) Campbell; he married Margaret Sinclair Anderson in 1923 and they had one son, Ian. Margaret died in London on November 17, 1952, aged 62 and Reverend Campbell died in Melbourne on July 29, 1960, aged 72. (Margaret's death notice The Argus, December 13, 1952, see here)
The palm combines beauty with power. For a stem so slender the palm is peculiarly strong. The fierce desert storms will sometimes bow the straight trunk till its corona of leaves touches the ground. Yet the stem rarely breaks.
Despite the light, pithy nature of its trunk, the palm, therefore, has great endurance. It often seems virtually to be a root springing out of a dry ground, so arid and bare is the scorching sand around. But its roots reach subterranean moisture, and so, in the midst of a howling wilderness, as by a miracle, it can clothe the leaves upon its summit with a cool verdure, refreshing to eyes blinded by the desert glare.
That plant life, nourished on hidden stores in the midst of a weary land, is a figure of the righteous man whose simple faith "flourishes," even through distress of afflictions. For it is fed on secret supplies of "living waters."
The palm tree always signifies the presence of water; and in this, again, it is a type of him who, by his manner of life, guides others to the spiritual springs of his own comfort and strength.
When the children of Israel in their desert wanderings saw 70 palm trees on the horizon at Elim, they knew their thirst would soon be assuaged. These oases are pleasant to the eye. One meets a series of them along the railway from Port Said to Jerusalem. Resting in their shade from the star tag sunshine, one would often see long robed Bedouins, the women veiled, their camels squatting near.
The Oasis.
Thirsty camels in a caravan, travelling over the desert, and sighting one of these oases, at once break into a trot, quickening as they approach. The cameleers are put to it keep the beasts under control and the loads from shifting.
"They shall bring forth fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and green."
The palm continues to bear its golden clusters of dates for 200 years or more. It retains its usefulness, its shapely beauty, and stately strength to the last. To the servants of God who have reached old age the palm brings a comforting message. "The old age of the good is a living illustration of the beauty of goodness."
And then, the palm tree is a symbol of victory and triumph. We speak of prosperous times as "palmy days"; we say that a winner "carries off the palm." In seasons of rejoicing, the Mediterranean peoples carried palm leaves in their triumphal processions. When Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph the multitude expressed their delight by waving palm branches.
The only other reference to palms in the New Testament is in "Revelation," when these evergreen trees become symbols of the joy of the eternal life. There is seen the innumerable multitude that had come out of great tribulation standing before the Throne, in robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb, and with palms in their hands.
Reverend Herbert Douglas Campbell (1887-1960)
This interesting account of his early life was published in the Brisbane Daily Standard in 1935 -
Rector of St. Thomas' Church of England, Toowong, Rev. H. B. Campbell has been promoted Archdeacon and vicar of St. Arnaud, Northern Victoria, which position he will take over after Easter. Few men in the church have performed such a wealth of work, diverse in its nature, as Mr. Campbell has done since he was ordained deacon in Melbourne in 1914. Soon after his ordination he went to London, and while studying at the London University did slum work in the East End. In 1916 he was obtained priest by the Bishop of London. From 1917 to 1919 he fought on the Western front. Then he spent 16 months on military duty in Constantinople, and finally consecrated the cemeteries of the Australian dead at Gallipoli.
Returning to Australia, Mr. Campbell linked up with the St James and St. John's Mission to the Poor in Melbourne. One of his proudest memories in his Sunday afternoon Bible class and a club formed of the "push" elements of Fitzroy and Carlton. In 1927 Mr. Campbell came to Brisbane as minor Canon of St. John's, and next year went to St. Thomas's as rector. In addition to obtaining his degree of Master of Arts, Melbourne, Mr. Campbell gained his B.D. in London. For the last two years he has been lecturer at St. Francis's College at Nundah, and for five years he has been editor of the "Church Chronicle." [Brisbane Daily Standard, March 14, 1935, see here]
The Reverend Campbell was born in Richmond, Victoria in 1887 to Herbert Angus and Wilhelmina (nee Wagner) Campbell; he married Margaret Sinclair Anderson in 1923 and they had one son, Ian. Margaret died in London on November 17, 1952, aged 62 and Reverend Campbell died in Melbourne on July 29, 1960, aged 72. (Margaret's death notice The Argus, December 13, 1952, see here)
The Age, July 30, 1960, p. 21
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