Like a Cedar
Ps 92:12-15
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."
The cedar is mentioned in 65 places in the Bible and “cedar tree” is found in 6 places.
The word cedar appears to come from Arabia and means strong and firmly rooted tree.
They often grow to 40 feet in circumference. The psalmist says that we who are righteous will grow in an incredible fashion.
Please notice four things about cedar trees.
1. They Grow DOWNWARD
❏ Sends its taproot deep, seeking hidden springs and wraps around rocks for anchorage.
❏ According to Numbers 24:6, Israel itself is strong and happy like cedar trees beside the waters.
❏ Paul urged the Ephesians to be “rooted and grounded in love.”
❏ E Stanley Jones: “Before we can go frather, we must go deeper.”
❏ Colossians 2:6,7: As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.
❏ Three uses of a root:
(1) It is necessary for the life of a plant. We are not really alive until we are united to Christ.
(2) It carries nourishment to the plant...we need nourishment from Jesus to grow and endure.
(3) It keeps the plant in its place. Illus.: Mrs. Moore’
Fixed Faith.
- husband’s illness and death
- her heart attacks
- being alone–no help from most of her children
- believed she was going to Japan—and she did!
2. The Cedar Grows UPWARD
❏ It can grow to a height of 120 to 150 feet!
❏ Christians walk on the earth, but their heads should be above the clouds.
❏ J.G. Holland: “God, give us men, tall, sun-crowned, who live above the fog.”
3. Cedars Grow OUTWARD
❏ As a rule, the cedar starts about 9 or 10 feet from the ground, the branches grow out horizontally and become very wide-spreading.
❏ Should not our lives reach out like branches to touch the needs of others?
Cones: 1st year they are pale green
2nd year they are browner and about 3" across
3rd year they are dark brown and open up to
release seeds
❏ Stretching out as they do, these branches provide shade and shelter from the elements.
❏ They possess a certain beauty that is unmatched as they stand majestically against the sky.
A dear lady was asked what she used to make her complexion so beautiful. Her answer: “Its all in the make-up.”
- for my lips I use truth
- For my voice I use kindness
- For my eyes, I use compassion
- For my hands I use charity
- For my figure, I use uprightness
- For my heart I use love
- For any who do not like me I use prayer
❏ Their fragrance is such that they are not attacked by insect pests. Dry cleaners use the wood. See II Cor.2:14,15
❏ They were used in purification rites in the cleansing of lepers (Lev.14). Symbolized the impartation of new life free from corruption.
❏ A much desired tree, free of knots! They are also “rot”
resistant, making them ideal for ship builders.
4. Cedars Grow ONWARD
❏ Noted for their longevity. There are some today over 2,000 years old. This suggests the immortality of the righteous.
❏ The cedar is a perennial evergreen. Likewise, a Christian is “instant in season and out of season.”
❏ It has remarkable lasting qualities. Solomon used it to build the Temple. Jesus uses the righteous to build his church.
CONCLUSION
Like a cedar, be those who grow downward and draw nourishment from Christ.
Grow upward as you keep your spiritual eyes on eternity.
Grow outward as you seek to touch others with your faith
Grow onward with the lasting qualities of Christ.
