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. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Psalm 92:12-15)

The Trees Of The Lord

On the third day of creation, God spoke, and the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit trees in abundance. Trees were created before the sun, moon, and stars. The birds and the animals came on the fifth and sixth day. Man was made on the sixth day. God used His creation to tell the story of His grace, mercy, and love. The psalmist used the natural earth in many of their psalms, including the palm tree and the mighty cedars of Lebanon. A palm tree is a noble tree sending all its strength upward in one bold column. Its strength lay in growing amid the desert’s drought as a beacon of hope for the weary traveler. On the summit of the mountain, the cedar tree stood against the harsh winds that battered it daily.

The godly man will rejoice in the knowledge of the great works of God. Creation shows the Lord’s handiwork, including lessons from the trees. Like a palm tree, the righteous will flourish in a harsh world. The palm tree was a tall and elegant symbol of life and hope. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people waved palm leaves before Him. Solomon carved palm trees into the walls of the temple. The cedar tree survived high in the mountains, facing the onslaught of brutal weather. It became a symbol of strength and was used for its lasting qualities.

Those who follow the word of the Lord and pattern their lives after the righteous judgments of God flourish like a palm tree. The abundance of the fruit of the palm brings life. His strength will be rooted in the word of God, so that when the strong winds of adversity come, the strength of the cedar will secure the heart to withstand the wiles of the devil. The heart of the righteous will be firmly planted in the house of the Lord to enjoy its blessings of divine communion. Even in old age, the righteous will remain a symbol of strength and fruitfulness. Age does not diminish the heart in serving the Lord; it enhances it.

Aged believers have much to offer the kingdom of God. Through life’s experiences, they bring the glory of the palm tree, which stands in a stark world yet remains flourishing and abundant in fruit. The strength of age is like the cedar tree, which withstands the winds of change and uncertainty. Only in the house of the Lord will true joy be found to bear fruit that is fresh and flourishing. God is the rock, and He establishes the righteous as palm trees and cedars. The world sees the glory of God in the righteous men and women who adorn themselves like the palm and cedar. God’s creation extols His glory, and in the church, the eternal grace of God is found in the righteous. Growing up to be giants in a desolate land is the glory of the Christian life. Finding security in the cedars of God’s people is where the strength of grace is demonstrated.