Sounding in the Poplar Trees - Garden In Delight

The trumpets have sounded! Today marks Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, with quaking blasts to turn us to the Lord. Also called Rosh HoShanah, the first holiday in a 1-2-3 of observances, the day summons us to repentance, reverence, and ultimate refreshing, signifying the head of the Jewish year.

And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. Leviticus 23:23-24 RSV

Let’s celebrate this audible call in the garden by appointing poplar trees to our devotions, specifically Populus euphratica. Poplar trees may be nondescript in the landscape, yet quiver with distinctive sounding to match the move of Feast of Trumpets.

Poplars are best known in the Bible for holding the harps of melancholy exiles along the banks of the Tigris-Euphrates River. In a flash of scenery, mourners were too overcome with grief to please their tormentors’ taunts for playing joyful-sounding melodies.

By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung up our harps. For it was there that our captors asked us to sing them a song, and, tormenting us, demanded a joyful song Psalm 137:1-3 NCB

Wait a minute, didn’t they hang their harps on willows? Not likely. The trees of this seemingly simple lament plunge us into botanical complexities in the Bible, yet give us some uncanny parallels to ponder for the high holy season. Meanwhile, we lament for so many weeping by the rivers and waters in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Willows vs. Poplar Trees

young weeping willow tree growing in Michigan — *weeping willow is named for Psalm 137:2*

Your favorite translation may say “willows” instead of poplars in Psalm 137:2, and the iconic weeping willow, Salix babylonica, gets its common name from this Word, as if its arching branches drop sorrowful, leafy tears to symbolize the displaced, despondent Israelites. Yet most Biblical botanists point out that poplar trees, especially Euphrates poplar, were more popular in this region, since Salix babylonica is native to China, not western Asia. The weeping willow is named from God’s Word but not planted in it, a plant geek technicality!

Nevertheless, Salicaceae, the willow family, has over 500 species, widespread throughout the world, including poplars, aspens, cottonwoods, and willows, from billowing shrubs to shimmery, quaking trees, populating the banks of ponds, streams, rivers, or lakes; colonizing snowy mountainsides, or filling valleys and ravines.

"willows of the brook" imagery near Grand River, MI — These north American willows along the Grand River picture “willows of the brook (Leviticus 23:40 KJV)” the celebrated branches of the Feast of Tabernacles. Biblical willows include Salix alba or S. acmophylla, water-loving trees or large, riverbed shrubs

Despite the scuttlebutt of willows vs. poplar trees, Euphrates poplars are connected to other key moments in God’s Word to accompany this holiday season in a timely way.

King David Battles Under Poplar Trees

King David was on the move with his troops, defending the territory promised to God’s people. God-of-the-Angel Armies* was with David, assisting supernaturally in taking possession and securing territory for God’s people.

…so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind [the Philistines] and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 2 Samuel 5:23 NIV

*imagine these Euphrates poplars as background to King David’s battle*

When Philistine rival-forces came searching for King David, God gave the warrior key strategy, amplifying the rustling tremor of poplar leaves with the rhythm of marching troops as his signal to advance:

“As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 2 Samuel 5:24 NIV

Populus balsamifera from Bailey Nursuries in MN — *Try this tree as a Biblical metaphor: Balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera, from Bailey Nurseries. This North American native can reflect God’s Word in a beautiful way as a “balsam tree.”* Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries

Again, a type-of-tree dispute: Your favorite translation may call these “balsam trees,” which might be a logical linguistic choice of species, since the Hebrew word for tree in this verse implies a vague reference to dripping—a gesture to the tears of Psalm 137:2? But the balsam or balm of the Bible, Commiphora opobalsamum, with fragrant, oozing sap, grows more as a shrub than a tree, and of course, its leaves don’t quiver distinctively in quaint breezes.

Alternately, “mulberry trees” are mentioned in other translations, and mulberries do favor riparian landscapes, often growing in thickets along waterways. However, their leaves do not noisily quake as the story requires, either.

If the essence of this supernatural strategy was to hear the sound, then layering the tempo of striding troops over the distinctive rustling of poplar leaves is the kind of horticultural detail that gardeners savor. Only the poplar will do!

Why Do Poplar Trees Have Quaking Leaves?

From what I have gathered, because I do not have a nearby poplar to see for myself, it is likely that stem physiology creates the characteristic sounding in aspens, cottonwoods, and poplars. Stems are flattened instead of rounded, vertically so, yet securely fixed to twig and leaf to endure tremoring tensions. In concert, leaves are broad, flat, stiff, and slick (“glabrous and glaucous” in botanical terms), helping to catch the slightest stir in air currents, rattling in response.

Pause for a gathering of Words to stir us likewise:

“Don’t let this rattle you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you?” John 14:1-2 The Message

When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. Psalm 75:3 NIV

Although the mountains may be shaken and the hills may totter, my steadfast love will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will never be shaken, says the Lord who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 NCB

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22 NIV

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31 NIV

*Euphrates poplar trees near a field of grass to imagine the Lord’s fast-growing refreshment*

Suddenly, there was a strong earthquake that shook the foundation of the jail. Then all the doors of the jail broke open, and all the prisoners were freed from their chains. Acts 16:26 NCV

Fast-Growing Poplar Trees

Another quality of willows and poplars, and mulberry trees for that matter, captured in Biblical metaphor is their quick growth rate and ease of propagation.

“’…I will pour refreshing water on the thirsty and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your children, my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass blanketing a meadow, like poplars growing by gushing streams. Isaiah 44:4 TPT

This marvelous Word refreshes, like the streams rushing by rustling trees, and foreshadows the Feast of Tabernacles soon to follow the Feast of Trumpets; simultaneously the Word circles us back to Ba‘al-P’ratzim, the Lord breaks through, as King David named Him.

So David went to Ba‘al-P’ratzim and defeated them there. He said, “Adonai has broken through my enemies for me like a river breaking through its banks.” This is why he called the place Ba‘al-P’ratzim [Lord of breaking through]. 2 Samuel 5:20 CJB

Who is ready for the Lord to break through?

Closing Prayer

O Lord, we are sorry for so many weeping by the rivers and waters in the wake of Hurricane Helene! Yet Your Word reassures us of how much You love us and how You use all things to summon us to Your side. Because of Your Son, Jesus, we are ushered into a life forever with You, a life secured and fortified. Your ancient Word is full of ancient patterns which apply to our current situations so we can see Your faithfulness and power burst forth. Even as you prevail in a flooding river way, let my devotion to You spring up fresh and full of vitality. Let me chatter away in praises and songs like a babbling brook, singing, “I belong to You!” (Isaiah 44:5) You always move us from times of weeping to songs of joy, turning mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11, Isaiah 61:3), patterned in Yom Kippur followed by Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. We look forward to celebrating with You with great joy! (Nehemiah 8:12) In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

*Euphrates poplars growing by the water in Kazakhstan © Ekinaa | Dreamstime.com*

Shout! Earth deep below, give up your shout! Mountains high, break out with joyous songs of praise! Let the forest choirs join in, with every tree singing its notes! For Yahweh has paid the ransom price for Jacob’s tribes, and he will be glorified in Israel! Isaiah 44:23 TPT

*as translated in The Message from 2 Samuel 5:10; other translations include LORD God Almighty, LORD God of hosts, LORD of heavenly forces. See more translations here.

Read more about mulberry trees in Moving Mulberry Trees and Mountains and another water-loving tree to plant in Water Savvy

Do you love connecting God’s Word to your gardening work and the trees and plants around you? You will love my new book, My Father is the Gardener, Devotions in Botany and Gardening of the Bible, order at this link.

God's Word for Gardeners Bible with grapes from grapevines

Find poplars in God’s Word for Gardeners Bible in “Lay of the Land,” The Promised Land, beginning on page 221

fall feast begin with the Feast of Trumpets - like this decorative brass horn in a garden bed of wandering Jew

Read more from the Devotions Blog on Biblical Feasts

Find willow in the Plant Guide and poplars are coming soon!

Photo Credits: cover photo ©2024 Shelley S. Cramm poplars or cottonwoods (I’m not sure which) by a pond in Grand Rapids, MI; weeping willow captured at Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, MI; and “willows by the brook,” an unknown assortment of willow species, along the Grand River near downtown Grand Rapids, MI. A stand of Euphrates poplars photographed in Kazakhstan, ID 122768753 | Euphrates Poplar © Ekinaa | Dreamstime.com; Balsam poplar ©Bailey Nurseries, Populus balsamifera ; Euphrates poplars springing up with grass and flowers, also near Kazakhstan ID 122262860 | Euphrates Poplar © Ekinaa | Dreamstime.com; Euphrates poplars in front of a pond ID 186254381 © Wxj651208 | Dreamstime.com Primitive Populus euphratica forest of various forms.

CJB notes Scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.

The Message denotes Scripture quotations taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.

NIV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

RSV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

TPT denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com