Topical Bible: Fruits: Called The: Increase of the Land

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, fruits are often referred to as the "increase of the land," symbolizing God's provision and blessing upon His people. The concept of fruits as the increase of the land is deeply rooted in the agricultural society of ancient Israel, where the bounty of the harvest was seen as a direct result of divine favor and obedience to God's commandments.

Biblical References:

1. Leviticus 26:4 : "I will give you rains in their season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit." This verse highlights the connection between obedience to God's statutes and the resulting abundance of the land. The fruitful yield is portrayed as a blessing contingent upon the Israelites' faithfulness.

2. Deuteronomy 7:13 : "He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil—the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks, in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you." Here, the increase of the land is part of a broader promise of prosperity and multiplication, encompassing both agricultural and familial growth.

3. Proverbs 3:9-10 : "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine." The principle of offering the firstfruits to God is emphasized, suggesting that acknowledging Him with the initial yield leads to further abundance.

4. Psalm 67:6 : "The earth has yielded its harvest; God, our God, blesses us." This psalm reflects a communal acknowledgment of God's blessing through the fruitful yield of the earth, reinforcing the idea that the increase of the land is a manifestation of divine favor.

Theological Significance:

The increase of the land, as represented by fruits, serves as a tangible sign of God's covenant relationship with His people. It underscores the dependence of humanity on divine provision and the importance of living in accordance with God's will to receive His blessings. The concept also carries eschatological overtones, pointing to a future time of ultimate fulfillment and abundance in God's kingdom.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, agriculture was the backbone of society, and the success of crops was crucial for survival. The increase of the land was not only a matter of physical sustenance but also a reflection of spiritual health and alignment with God's purposes. Festivals such as the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) celebrated the harvest and acknowledged God's provision.

Practical Application:

For believers today, the principle of the increase of the land can be applied spiritually and materially. It encourages gratitude for God's provision, stewardship of resources, and the practice of giving back to God as an act of worship and trust. The concept also invites reflection on the ways in which God continues to provide and bless His people in various aspects of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 85:12
Yes, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Ghost
... "Increase," because we must be in a state of grace, that is ... try to stir up dissensions
should be called the children ... 186 Q. Which are the twelve fruits of the ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 16 on the gifts.htm

The So-Called Letter to Diognetus
... 5In sending him, God called men, but ... the more of them are punished, the more do others
increase? ... themselves are decked out with a variety of fruits; ?^2for in ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the so-called letter to diognetus.htm

Of the Nature of Tithes.
... of all things which annually increase, either spontaneously ... of tithes of gardens,
technically called decima hortorum.5 ... Cabbages, saffron; and the fruits of all ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/1 of the nature of.htm

Demonstration vi. --Of Monks.
... as offerings for the King desirable fruits, fasting and ... him return it to its Giver
with its increase. ... banker's table, [862] will not be called an unprofitable ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration vi of monks.htm

Genesis.
... her the name of "Life""which is called "Eve" [1257 ... Increase, that with your seed
the pole and earth [1258]. 60 Be filled; and, as Mine heirs, the varied fruits. ...
/.../unknown/fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/3 genesis.htm

His Earliest Oracles. (ii. 2-iv. 4. )
... it shall be, when ye multiply and increase in the ... of the land, begetters of its fruits
and lords ... Jeremiah has been called the blackest of pessimists, and among ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 his earliest oracles ii.htm

Modern Revivals, Concluded.
... This system, if system it may be called, is in ... Four thousand had been reported as
the fruits of the ten ... But the increase of her membership for that period was ...
/.../chapter xxvi modern revivals concluded.htm

Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ...
... begotten of the thirty Aeons, but of their fruits. ... we have shown, the others who
are called Gnostics began ... of those who aggravate disease and increase ignorance ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/selections from the work against 2.htm

The Pioneer's Influence Upon a Nation's Ideals.
... story presents certain of the noblest fruits of Israel's ... In the so-called later priestly
stories regarding ... As numbers increase in the hunting stage game ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study v the pioneers influence.htm

The Land and the People.
... variety and fertility of soil, capable of producing fruits of all ... A talmudic tract
is called Beza, The Egg, after this ... "Whoever does not increase his knowledge ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm