Mystcism is the Worship of Your Experiences” from Broken.
Mysticism is the belief that direct knowledge of God can be attained through your subjective experiences of God or something god-like. Mysticism, then, is nothing more than worship of your emotions.
Mysticism has found many ready listeners in American culture because American culture is a melting pot of trying to feel good. Humans have always made feeling good a high priority, but in our age we have made it an art form. Both Christians and non-Christians alike spend most the waking day trying to feel good. When we feel bad (which happens a lot), we begin casting around the market for something new to consume in order to try and feel better. Once we find an answer, we remain as diligent in trying to make the feeling better last as long as possible. This is our way of life. It is our economy, our national pass time, and our greatest export. We believe, teach, and confess that the key to happiness is managing discomfort by increasing good feelings instead, and we are so successful at it that we’ve also come to assume God approaches religion the very same way. Why wouldn’t God want me to be happy? Why wouldn’t God want to meet my needs, take away my cares and worries, and lift me up? Why wouldn’t a truly good God want me to find Him by learning to feel the goodness of His presence? It only makes perfect, heartfelt sense.
For this reason, all over America, every week, a vast number of the most well-meaning of us congregate in special houses that we have built for the sole purpose of trying to feel God together. By combining applied motivational speeches and creative musical arrangement with the latest and best gimmicks of technology, we listen to the promise that we can and will feel good by finding God (and find God by feeling good). We consume these carefully manufactured divine experiences like any other product, expecting them to be over on the hour so that we still have plenty of time to trot back to our lives of buying, selling, and trying to feel even more good in all the ways we possibly can. Fresh off the assembly line, we don’t mind applying whatever bits of personal skill development the preacher told us was this week’s key to directly enhancing our experience of God. None of us feel manipulated. We would be angry if you told us we were just consumers being sold a fast-food religion. “Mysticism” is just a big word without any meaning to us. But every week we buy it anyway. We go to our churches in search of a better feeling, and when we find it, we believe that we have found the real presence of God.
Jeremiah 24 describes a vision of two baskets of figs, symbolizing the exiles from Judah. This vision can be deeply understood by examining several other parts of the Bible, which provide context and thematic parallels, especilly when it comes to our Lord’s cursing of the fig tree during the events of Holy Week.
2 Kings 24:10-16: Historical Context
The historical context of the Babylonian exile, particularly the account of King Jehoiachin’s exile in 2 Kings 24, is foundational for understanding the wider meaning of Jeremiah 24.
Deuteronomy 28:1-68: Blessings and Curses
Deuteronomy 28 outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, forming a foundational understanding of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The vision of good and bad figs in Jeremiah 24 echoes these themes, where the good figs represent those who will be blessed and preserved, while the bad figs face judgment. This correlation illustrates the persistent biblical theme that obedience leads to prosperity and disobedience to ruin, akin to the blessings and curses described in Deuteronomy 28.
Symbolic Significance of Figs
Figs are associated with prosperity and blessing, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:8, where the Promised Land is described as a land of “wheat and barley, vines and fig trees.” The fig tree also symbolizes fruitfulness and the well-being of Israel, with healthy fig trees and abundant fruit signifying a flourishing and obedient nation, as highlighted in Micah 4:4, where each man is promidsed his own fig tree.
Judgment and Restoration
Jeremiah 24 uses the vision of the two baskets of figs to symbolize God’s judgment and promise of restoration. The good figs represent those who will be preserved and restored, while the bad figs face destruction. Hosea 9:10 compares Israel to early figs, emphasizing God’s initial delight in His people but also hinting at their later unfaithfulness.
Parables Involving Figs
The parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9) involves a fig tree that bears no fruit despite being given time and care, symbolizing Israel’s spiritual barrenness and the impending judgment if they do not repent. The plea for one more year of cultivation represents God’s patience and willingness to give opportunities for repentance. Similarly, Jesus cursing a fig tree for not bearing fruit (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-25) serves as a prophetic sign of judgment against unfruitfulness and hypocrisy, particularly aimed at Israel’s religious leaders who failed to produce the fruits of righteousness.
Cultural and Agricultural Context
Understanding the seasons of fig trees is crucial, as they produce early figs in spring and main figs in summer. A fig tree with leaves but no fruit out of season could symbolize false appearances or unfulfilled potential. Agricultural practices such as soil cultivation and fertilization reflect divine care and expectations for His people.
New Testament References
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus uses the fig tree as a lesson (Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33). When the fig tree’s branch becomes tender and its leaves sprout, it signifies the nearness of summer. Similarly, the signs of the times indicate the nearness of His return. Figs also illustrate spiritual truths, such as the importance of bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8).
Integration with Broader Biblical Themes
The fig tree imagery ties into the broader theme of Israel’s covenantal relationship with God. Fruitfulness represents obedience and faithfulness, while barrenness indicates disobedience and judgment. Even within the context of judgment, there is often a message of hope and potential restoration, as seen in the vision of good figs in Jeremiah 24 and the plea for one more year in Luke 13.
Conclusion
The fig tree and its fruit carry deep symbolic meanings in the Bible, representing prosperity, judgment, repentance, and hope. By examining these themes across various passages and parables, we gain a comprehensive understanding of how figs serve as a metaphor for the spiritual state and destiny of God’s people. This framework not only enriches our interpretation of specific passages but also connects to the larger narrative of God’s relationship with humanity.
