Cedar Tree Christians
Psalms 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
I. The Picture of the Cedar Tree
A. Was planted by God
- Psalm 104:16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
B. Was commanded by God to praise him
- Psalm 148:7-9 Praise the LORD from the earth…fruitful trees, and all cedars:
C. Was meant to be obedient to God
- Psalm 29:5, 6 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
D. Was to be a place for birth
Ezekiel 31
- 3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
- 4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
- 5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
- 6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
E. Was to be a place for protection
- Ezekiel 31:6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
II. The Prestige of the Cedar Tree
A. They were a very valuable commodity.
I Kings 5:8-12
- 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
- 9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
- 10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
B. They were used for the beams of houses.
- Song of Solomon 1:16, 17 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
C. They were used to build David a house.
- II Samuel 5:11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
D. They were used to build the house of the forest of Lebanon. – I Kings 7
E. They were used for the re-building of the Temple.
- Ezra 3:7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
F. They were used to build Solomon’s Temple. – I Kings 5
III. The Peculiarities of the Cedar Tree
As I researched the cedar tree, I was amazed at the amazing peculiarities of this tree.
No wonder God said “…the righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon…”
Each one of these unique characteristics signify a characteristic that God expects in us!
- Cedar trees are extremely flammable. – It needs no lighter fluid; has internal fuel
- Cedar wood burns without smoke. – Not a lot of show, but heat, beneficial substance
- Cedar burns better than other woods because it has so much oil in it. (type of the Holy Spirit)
- Cedar when it is burned leaves only a few ashes. – none of it is wasted; mostly useful
- Cedar trees produce ‘cedar oil’ which is used as a preservative for cloth and parchments.
- Cedar tree oil is used for medicinal purposes.
- Cedar tree oil is used as an insect repellant. – discourages annoying distractions
- Cedar limbs are stripped (shed its outer covering), soaked in water (the Word) and twisted together to form ropes. (picture of unity)
- Cedars are in full bloom all year round. – (Psalm 1 – his leaf shall not wither…)
- Cedar trees are pollinated by the wind. – picture of the Holy Spirit
- Cedar is extremely durable and keeps it scent for many years. – the more mature it gets, the better
- Cedar is used as a medicine to prevent infection. – picture of separation and holiness
- Cedar is used in making many perfumes because of its aromatic fragrance.
- Cedar trees very intolerant of pollution. – They need pure air to flourish.
- A type of manna is derived from the cedar tree to be used for food.
- Cedar trees are known for their horizontal limbs. They grow out and cover a lot of ground.
- Cedar trees do not respond well to being transplanted. Picture of stability.
- Cedar trees have a high drought tolerance because their roots reach so far down. (Rooted in Christ..)
- Cedar trees are highly resistant to pests and diseases.
- The roots of the cedar tree go as far down as the tree is tall. – picture of depth and inner substance.