The Cedar of Rest
Then all the trees in the countryside will know that I, the Lord, bring down the high tree and raise up the low tree, that I make the green tree dry up, and I make the dried-up tree blossom. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will carry it out. (Ezekiel 17:24)
As God’s people sat in exile, in Babylon, God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel. Many of Ezekiel’s prophecies and messages for the exiles were not just spoken but were acted out. They were like parables being acted out for God’s people.
When Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin, king of Israel, captive, he put Zedekiah up as the king of Judah. But Zedekiah turned against Nebudchanezzer and tried to make a treaty with Egypt to help him. But God proclaimed through Ezekiel that Zedekiah would not be successful. He was not the rightful king to the throne and he had broken a covenant made in God’s name. For this, he would suffer much misfortune and be brought to Babylon.
But God gave the people hope. The hope that he would once again restore the line of David to the prestige that it had under Solomon. But this would not be an earthly reign like David and Solomon’s. God used a picture of a cedar tree. He would take a small sprig from the top of the tree and make it into a might cedar on top of the mountain of Israel. In this tree, the birds of the air would find rest and shelter. And the other trees would know that God had done this.
The cedar tree is Jesus. From the line of David, God would bring his Son, Jesus, into this world. And even though Jesus seemed to be nothing more than a carpenter, he was also the savior of the world. Through him, all peoples of all nations find their salvation. Through him, all people have forgiveness of sins. He is the low tree that has been brought high. He is OUR Savior, in whom we take refuge. Amen.
The song for today is “Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)” by Kari Jobe