The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. (Psalm 92:12-13)
There are several instances in the Scripture where people are likened unto trees. For example the man who delights in the law of the Lord is likened to a fruitful tree planted by the rivers of water (Psalm 1:2-3). When you think about it, the comparison is quite appropriate; both men and trees have trunks and limbs. Both men and trees put forth seed that results in fruit, or shall we say offspring. In this way, men and trees are propagated in the earth. The verses above underscore this comparison and adds further depth to the concept, and particularly where the righteous are concerned.
The righteous man is compared to a palm tree, a tree that grows upright without bending just as the righteous man is to walk upright and in truth before the Lord. The palm tree is said to be free of knots signifying that the righteous should strive to be free of flaws. The palm fronds (leaves) are at the very top of the tree suggesting that the righteous man does not look to the world but to heaven for guidance and sustenance. It could also imply that our reward is not immediate but comes in the hereafter, following a lifetime of service to our Creator. In short, every part of the palm is useful but, like all trees, the palm is rooted in the earth suggesting that, as noble as it is, there are deficiencies. That’s where the cedar tree comes in.
Whereas the wood of the palm is unsuitable for specific projects, cedar wood compensates for the palm’s weaknesses. For example, in antiquity the wood from the cedar was commonly used to make vessels and utensils signifying that the righteous man is suited to be a vessel dedicated to God’s service. When the palm is cut down, the trunk dries in the ground. When the cedar is cut down, its roots and stump often continue to live and a new cedar shoot will rise from the ground. This is to signify that, though wicked men strive to eradicate the people of God, the Almighty’s purpose will continue as He raises up others to carry His agenda forward.
The key to all of this is found in the concluding verse: “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish.” As noted above, all natural trees are rooted in the earth (the world) and therefore will be subject to the earth’s corruptive influences. But the man and woman who are planted in the Lord’s House receive their life-giving sustenance from a heavenly source and are, therefore, resistant to the world’s influence; that is why the righteous man will thrive when others wither away. So let us make certain we are rooted in Him that we may flourish in the courts of our God. May we all exhibit the attributes described here and be abundantly fruitful that our children and grandchildren may carry on after we have finished our course.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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