Interestingly, these great trees do not depend on humans for their nourishment. They stand tall on the towering rock, untouched by human watering. Yet, our Heavenly Father sustains them. This stands as a vivid metaphor for the Christian who lives by faith. He is independent of man, even in material matters, looking to the Lord, his God, for his ongoing maintenance. The dew of heaven is his portion and the God of heaven, his fountain.

Moreover, the cedars of Lebanon are not preserved by any human force. They owe nothing to man for their safeguarding from the fierce wind and storm. They are God's trees, cared for and preserved by Him, and Him alone. Similarly, the Christian is not a hothouse plant shielded from temptation. He stands in the most exposed position with no shelter, no protection, except this--that the vast wings of the Eternal God always cover the cedars that He himself has planted.

Like the cedars, believers are full of sap, possessing enough vitality to remain evergreen, even amid winter's snows. The thriving and majestic condition of the cedar is for the praise of God alone. The Lord has been everything to the cedars, and therefore, as David gracefully expressed in the Psalms, "Praise the Lord, you fruitful trees, and all cedars." In the believer, there is nothing that can glorify man; he is planted, nourished, and protected by the Lord's own hand. To Him let all the glory be ascribed.

Eternal God, who gives life and sustains,
To You, we look for our nourishment.
May Your broad wings forever be our shield,
As in Your glory we humbly bask.

Questions for Reflection

1. How can you apply the self-reliance of the cedars in your daily life?
2. How does the concept of being God-planted influence your self-perception as a Christian?
3. How does understanding the cedars' independence from human intervention affect your understanding of divine providence?
4. How does the image of the cedar flourishing through winter's snows inspire your resilience during trying times?
5. How does the protection of the cedars by God reflect on His protective nature over you?
6. What practical steps can you take to embrace a lifestyle of dependence on God, as represented by the cedars of Lebanon?
7. How can you translate the vitality of the cedars into your spiritual life to remain evergreen?
8. In what ways can you offer glory to God alone, as suggested by the majesty of the cedars?
9. How can the image of God's care for the cedars influence your understanding of His care for you?
10. How does the independence of the cedars inspire you to live more independently of societal pressures and norms?
11. How can the image of God as the fountain and source of sustenance enhance your faith and trust in Him during times of need?

Supporting Scriptures

Genesis 1:11-12: Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so.
Genesis 2:9: Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Job 14:9: at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
Psalm 1:3: He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
Ezekiel 17:23: I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
Daniel 4:21: whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—
Revelation 22:2: down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Dawn and Dusk: Scriptures, Devotions, and Prayers. Inspired by Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening: Daily Readings. You are free to copy as needed for noncommercial personal and ministry use.