Under His Own Vine and Fig Tree
In reading through the correspondence of George Washington, one of the things you may notice is that the "father of our country" was acquainted with Scripture. He seemed to have a favorite phrase from the Bible: But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; And none shall make them afraid: For the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it (Micah 4:4 KJV). After the revolutionary war, the retired general wrote to his friend, the Marquis De Lafayette: "At length my Dear Marquis I am become a private citizen on the banks of the Potomac, & under the shadow of my own Vine & my own Fig tree, free from the bustle of a camp & the busy scenes of public life...I am not only retired from all public employments, but I am retiring [sic] within myself; & shall be able to view the solitary walk, & tread the paths of private life with heartfelt satisfaction—Envious of none, I am determined to be pleased with all. & this my dear friend, being the order for my march, I will move gently down the stream of life, until I sleep with my Fathers" (https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/past-projects/quotes). George Washington looked forward to a life of peace, quiet, safety, and contentment.
During biblical times in Palestine, many landowners planted vineyards. In addition to the vines that would produce grapes, they would also plant fig trees in their vineyards. In almost every vineyard, a tower would be erected to watch for thieves and wild animals. Thus sitting under one's own vine and fig tree symbolized peace, security, and contentment. Paul chastised the idolaters in Lystra for not recognizing the God of heaven who gave them such blessings: Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17).
The passage with which George Washington was familiar in the book of Micah was a prophecy about the Christian age. Chapter four begins with the words, Now it shall come to pass in the latter days... (Micah 4:1 NKJV). The kingdom of Christ was not to be of this world; rather, it was to be a spiritual kingdom (John 18:36). Therefore, the reference to sitting under one's own vine and fig tree pointed to the day when a child of God would have every spiritual blessing... in Christ (Ephesian 1:3), as well as all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Jesus' disciples did not understand this at first. They thought Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6), as in the days of Solomon's reign when Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon (1 Kings 4:25).
George Washington did not get to rest long as he was called back to serve as the first President of the United States of America. Christians are not promised a life of ease and comfort, although the Lord promised to provide for our necessities (Matthew 6:33). The apostle Paul did not have an easy life. He wrote; From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). Yet, he could also say, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4)!
Paul could say that because he was in Christ, the only place of true contentment (Phil. 4:12,13). Christians today can say and feel no less, as we sit under the shadow of our own vine and fig tree in Christ where none can make us afraid. That is, as we sing, peace though the world be raging.
Brotherly, Jamie
