It was majestic in beauty,
with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
to abundant waters.
I made it beautiful
with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden
in the garden of God.
(Ezekiel 31:7, 9)
It is the tree most mentioned in the Bible-70 times. Ezekiel makes the comment that the Cedar is a picture of power, might and excellence.
In Judges, I and II Kings the Cedar is the most distinguished and important tree amongst all trees. And apparently it caused a little jealousy in the forest.
The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’ (Judges 9:15)
And when a fire
Consumes the forest
The Cedar will spread
Its pleasant aroma
A fragrance of resin
Of Cedar oil
The Cedar’s wood is durable. Palaces were built from it, as well as King Solomon’s temples. Cedars were also used for making the masts of ships, for purifying the leper and even for the construction of chariots.
Look! It is Solomon’s carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.
King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid
by the daughters of Jerusalem.
(Song of Solomon 3:7-10)
At least twice in the Bible were the righteous compared to the Cedar tree as the Psalmist expressed so eloquently.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
Planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age;
they will stay fresh and green.
(Psalm 92:13)
Seven Interesting Facts About the Cedar:
The Cedar tree can be considered 1) as the first of all trees . . .
The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that He planted.
(Psalm 104:16)
2) They are strong and durable . . .
The bricks have fallen down,
but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars.
(Isaiah 9:10)
3) Graceful and beautiful, 4) fragrant, 5) planted by God Himself. 6) They along with all nature were created to glorify and praise God . . .
Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
(Psalm 148:7-9)
And 7) The Cedar tree was the glory of Israel, God’s chosen ones.
How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwelling places, O Israel!
Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the LORD,
like cedars beside the waters.
(Numbers 24:5,6)
The Cedar tree, the tree of God, surely is poetry in motion.
