The life of one of the kings of England was once saved by hiding in a tree. He had been defeated in battle, and was obliged to flee for his life. With only a single officer, he was separated from all his friends. In their flight they plunged into a thick wood. Their enemy pursued after them. Selecting a large tree, with very thick foliage, they climbed up and hid themselves above in its branches. Their pursuers passed directly underneath them. The poor king and his companion saw them searching about for him, but they were hidden from view by the leaves of the tree. Thus the King of England found shelter in a tree. That tree stood for long years afterwards, and was always called the Royal Oak.

There is another tree that has proved a shelter, not to a king, but to countless thousands besides. It is the tree to which they nailed our blessed Lord Jesus, the Son of God. Peter liked to speak of that tree. He wrote, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24).