I'm for Cleavers
We occasionally find new weeds on our block because it was once a cow paddock
and then a horse paddock that had been grazed but not gardened. Weeds simply did
not have an opportunity to develop to the full because they were kept in check
by being eaten down.
Some of the weeds we find are designated pests and must be destroyed before they
spread to other areas. Others are simply weeds to be dealt with by pick and
shovel.
One of the more fascinating ones is called cleavers and it is a pretty grass,
delicate looking in youth, and I am sure it was created to teach a lesson that
is sometimes rather neglected or weakened by varying translations.
Soil type and position does not deter it, heat, cold, drought or rain does not
deter it and it seems to have no natural enemies short of the cow and the horse.
We are stuck with cleavers and I mean literally stuck. It cleaves. It clings. It
does not let go.
It does not care if you wield pick and shovel, lethal hatred or sworn enmity, it
takes hold of your hand, your sleeve, your boots and it seems to stretch from
the roots to hold you fast through thick and thin. It seems to pursue you until
it joins itself to you and I am convinced that if we had no other friend left on
the face of the earth, we would still have cleavers clinging to us 'till death
us do part.'
Perhaps the Lord had cleavers in mind when he said in Deuteronomy 13:4, 'Ye
shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and
obey his voice, and cleave unto him.' KJV. Or as was said of Barnabas when he
observed the Lord's people, he 'was glad, and exhorted them all, that with
purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.' Acts 11:23.
Perhaps cleavers should be in the wedding bouquet at every marriage to be a
living reminder of what Jesus asked if they had read, 'For this cause shall a
man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall
be one flesh?' Matthew 19:5.
I am glad we found cleavers growing wild in the garden, it is like a little
piece of Scripture waiting to be enjoyed. I'm for cleavers, aren't you?
Elizabeth Price eprice@dragnet.com.au