The Re-growing Tree Stump
The re-growing tree stump is a favourite symbol and motif I have often used in my art work. I have used the outline shape of this motif as the 'signature piece' in hand-crafted jigsaw puzzles that I have painted and cut. I have used it as a theme in some graphic works and I have also used the re-growing tree stump as a motif in carvings, especially welsh lovespoons.
As a symbol it is a striking vsual representation of renewal, re-birth, new life and new beginning. It is the strongest form of metaphore, because it is what it is, metaphore, tautology and truism rolled into one simplicity.
The re-growing tree stump is also an image often mentioned in the scriptures, ultimately referring to the comming, promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, 'The righteous Branch' from the 'Stump of Jesse'.
"'The days are coming,’ declares the Lord , ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
“‘In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
he will do what is just and right in the land.
In those days Judah will be saved
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’
Jeremiah 33:14-16
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord —
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord .
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
Isaiah 11:1-10
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For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel..,'
Jeremiah 33:17