Cedars: The Strength and Beauty of a Christian

I saw the heart of God

like a cedar grove

Branches broad

like outstretched arms

and creatures in its boughs

I saw the heart of Jesus

more fragrant than a rose

grand majestic

height perfected

and splendorously sown

I saw the Holy Spirit

like a lighthouse rove

inside of many cedars

roaming to and fro

I saw disciples fixed

like trees into the soil

as tall as roots go deep

with views the mountain knows

"He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” (Mark 8)

While hiking in the woods, the Lord has turned me onto his fondness of cedar trees. As I gaze at their heights, wild abundance and provision, I notice that they are a lot like his people.

Look at how often they are mentioned in the Bible! Here are just a few:

The Bible describes the cedar tree as strong and durable (Isaiah 9:10), graceful and beautiful (Psalm 80:10, Ezekiel 17:23), high and tall (Amos 2:9, Ezekiel 17:22), fragrant (Song of Songs 4:11) and spreading wide (Psalm 80:10-11).

Cedars don't hide very well. They aren't made to. They stretch high into the elements as lighthouses that call to birds and creatures who are looking for a place to rest.

Cedars proliferate like crazy. They are resilient and a strong, even in harsh environments and are in a perpetual spring, staying green all year long. Cedar was burned upon the altar as a pleasing, aromatic sacrifice to the Lord and all nearby. They a have a beautiful, cleansing fragrance, like the heart of the Lamb.

Cedars are not always the most "beautiful trees" in the eyes of the world. They can look bare in places, or lopsided. But, the King's splendor is not this world's riches. It's his lavish grace. Oh, the broadness and splendor of God's heart for sinners. Somehow, this makes them all the more beautiful and majestic.

Cedar is a good quality choice of wood for a carpenter, because of its durability, which no doubt, comes from the hand, watering and feeding of the Lord. God specially hand-planted the cedars of Lebanon and used them to build his temple. Now, God's temple is followers of Jesus. I believe that he gave us these poems so that we can learn something important about him and his intentions for us. Let's follow where he's pointing. Learn more about this metaphor and the literal use of cedars in the Bible for this beautiful revelation:

Quote from The Spurgeon Library -The Cedars of Lebanon Sermon (Highly recommend!):

https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-cedars-of-lebanon/#flipbook/