The Green of Spring & the God Who Makes All Things New

When I think of Spring I think of green, all the shades of green, light, dark and everything in between.

The summer sun has not had the chance to turn the grasses into golden brown yet. Instead, all the new growth seems to glow in bright hues of green. After winter, I love seeing all the trees pop in chartreuse colors that are lit from within. I caught this picture while heading out to do errands (I wasn’t driving).

Ann Kirsten

There is so much green in God’s creation. If He has favorite colors, green must be right up at the top. And we are so blessed to live in the Pacific Northwest where green is plentiful and vibrant. My sweet husband grew up on the prairie where yellow and gold are the primary colors. His parents marveled every time they came to visit. They were astounded at all our green.

Ann Kirsten

Green plays an important role in scripture too.

It’s hard to pinpoint just how many times green is mentioned in the Bible. It depends on how the different versions have been translated (in NIV green is sometimes translated as “trees” or “groves”). But you can bet that green gets its share of attention.

It represents life and health. Proverbs 11:28 says, “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”

Ann Kirsten

It represents rest and peace. “He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,” Psalm 23:2

It represents healing and restoration. “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2

It symbolizes spiritual prosperity. Psalm 52:8 says, “But I am like a green olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.”

It evokes the beauty of a faith-filled life. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:3

And green can symbolize hope as when the olive branch was brought back to Noah.^“When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.” Genesis 8:11

Lack of green was also used as dire warnings. “For they shall soon be cut down like grass and wither as the green herb.” Psalms 37:2

Pagans tried to take green as their own. They used it for places to worship. “Under every green tree” is mentioned many times in the Old Testament. Ezekial, Jeremiah, and 2 Kings talk about the sad falling of Israelites who took to worshipping idols under green trees.

So, as you can see, green symbolizes so many things in the Bible. A very quick search on “green in the Bible” will uncover more verses than you could study in a day. Here are a few to get started: Revelation 8:7, Luke 23:31, Mark 6:39, Psalms 37:35, Job 8:16, Leviticus 23:14, Jeremiah 3:6. And there are many more.

It would be a fun study to do in springtime when the world is green and new.

Here are some projects to go along with your study of green.

SHADES OF GREEN

Send your kids outside to see how many shades of green they can find. They could take pictures or pick leaves to show you. I had fun doing this myself!

Ann Kirsten

GROW SOME GREEN

Use an old cardboard egg carton as a seed starter. Fill each cup with soil and plant easy seeds: beans, chia, sunflowers, etc. Mist the seeds and place them in a sunny spot. When they are ready to transplant in the garden you can plant them egg carton and all!

Ann Kirsten

MAKE A GREEN BOUQUET

Make a bouquet out of all green cuttings. Find unique shapes and shades of leaves. Who needs flowers when there is so much green to choose from?

Ann Kirsten

GREEN PAINTBRUSH

Have your kids make paintbrushes out of leaves tied together or to a stick.

Ann Kirsten

Let them experiment with the brushstrokes different leaves make.

Ann Kirsten

HAMMER TIME

Your kids will love this one. All you need is leaves, a hammer and some washed cotton cloth or some watercolor paper. Place paper on a cutting board and place your material or watercolor paper on top. Arrange leaves onto your surface.

Ann Kirsten

Cover it with another piece of paper or a paper towel and carefully hammer away. Lift off the leaves and see what transferred. Different leaves will transfer more or less of their chlorophyll.