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The Tamarisk Tree
Genesis 21:25-34 ESV
When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.
“Abraham planted a tamarisk…”
- Desert shrub/tree
- Known for longevity and coolness
- Had religious significance in early Mesopotamia
- Abraham may have created a “sanctuary” to worship in
Our Sanctuary
- Creating a sanctuary for daily devotion- 1 Cor 6:19-20 & Rom 12:1
- A regular time
- A regular place
- A regular habit
- You are a sanctuary! – 2 Cor 7:1 & 1 Pet 1:15-16
- Maintaining me as a sanctuary
- Separated
- Cleaned – Rom 13:14 & 2 Tim 2:22
- Ordered – 1 Cor 9:27 & Phil 4:9
- Used – Rom 8:29-30 & Matt 5:16