Under the Pomegranate Tree

1 Samuel 14:2, “Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron. And the people who were with him were about six hundred men.”
New American Standard Bible

Notice the phrase, “the pomegranate tree which is in Migron.” The Bible does not say, Saul stayed under “a” pomegranate tree but “the” pomegranate tree which is in Migron. What was special about that tree?

“Under a pomegranate tree. Under Rimmon, which not only signifies a pomegranate tree, but also a strong rock, in which 600 Benjaminites took shelter, Judges 20:45. Probably it was in this very rock that Saul and his 600 men now lay hidden.”
Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Holy Bible,
Abridged by Ralph Earle,
1 Samuel 14:2, p. 306

It was more than a pomegranate tree but I am not surprised that Saul chose that place because I believe he liked to eat. So do others. Me, I am the others!

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I have a strange relationship with food. If I have an abundance, I give most of it away. When shopping, I buy just enough for a week and then I break that chocolate bar into 7 pieces and only eat 1 piece a day!

I count my cheese, lunchmeat, graham crackers, bread, and coffee pods before I have seconds to make sure I don’t run out before my weekly Aldi’s run.

I learned something about myself this weekend. I have food rules:

Clean up your plate.
When eating at someone’s place, eat everything offered to you.
Don’t waste food – save the leftovers.

Saturday night, we had our annual Star Awards Volunteer Banquet. This year’s theme was “A Taste of Italy.”

They served: lasagna, chicken alfredo, salad, breadsticks, and chocolate cheesecake. After my second breadstick, I was too full for cheesecake! I thought I would eat it during the awards presentation.

I was part of the “Chicken Dance Flash Mob” and ran around a lot during the “People Bingo.” Surely, I would have room for cheesecake after that!

Nope.

After taking pictures?

Nope.

After the “Dad Jokes?”

Nope.

During the awards?

Nope.

The highlight of our evening was when our son Derek and his wife Rachel were named the youngest recipients of the “Volunteer of the Year!” You can only win that award once!

As we gathered our things to go, Derek said, “Mom, that cheesecake is no good.” (It had been on the table for over 3 hours.)

“I know,” I replied.

Still, I put it and the other piece that was left on the table on a plate to take home.

Why? Because of my food rules. I put them in the refrigerator and after 4 days, my conscience will let me throw them away.

Where did my food rules come from?

I grew up in Bible Schools where my father served as the maintenance man. He was a handyman who could fix anything. Part of his salary was food. We ate what the students ate.

(Liver, three times a day for a month. We had a “chef” cooking when a truckload of liver was donated to the school.)

During the summer months, we lived with Grandpa and Grandma on the farm. Dad worked with my uncles who were electricians and mom helped with the gardening, butchering chickens, making homemade catsup, and canning.

We ate whatever Grandma made. We cleaned up our plates and didn’t waste food.

I was taller than my sisters and slender because of my high metabolism. Until I got braces, I had difficulty chewing my food. I ate slowly. They kept trying to put “meat on my bones” by adding a bit more food to my plate.

It never worked. I stayed slim until I turned 40 and my metabolism slowed down.

I am glad to know why I struggle with weight loss. It is my “food rules.” But Saturday, I decided to change them. I will take half-portions to avoid stuffing myself. I will leave the leftovers for others.

I said all of that to say, I can relate to Saul. I like food!