Bible Society of South Africa
Xanthe Hancox

The role of trees in the Bible – Day 9

The cedar tree (Part 2) — grow upwards, outwards and downwards

Itekisi yeBhayibhile

UHEZEKILE 31

Umsedare eLebhanon

1Ngosuku lokuqala kwinyanga yesithathu yonyaka weshumi elinanye ndaliva ilizwi *likaNdikhoyo lisithi kum: 2“Mntundini, bhekisa kukumkani waseJiputa nezihlwele zakhe, uthi:

“Ngubani na onokufaniswa nawe ngobungangamsha?

3Khangela iAsiriya eyaye ingumsedare eLebhanon,

omasebe mahle ongamele ihlathi.

Kaloku wawukhule wamde,

uyivelele kanye loo ntshinyela yehlathi.

4Waba mde kuba wawusela amanzi

emithombo ephuma emathunjini omhlaba,

emilanjana inkcenkceza amanzi phezu kweengcambu zawo,

ize isele neminye imithi yasendle.

5Ngoko ke waba mde lee kuneminye imithi apho endle,

aqhama amasetyana awo, axanda amasebe,

ngenxa yamanzi amaninzi.

6Zonke iintakazana zakha iindlwana zazo kumasetyana awo;

zonke izilo zasendle zazala amathole azo phakathi kwamasebe awo;

zonke izizwe ezinodumo zaphumla emthunzini wawo.

7Wawongamele ngobuhle, uxandile ngamasebe,

kuba iingcambu zawo zazisela amanzi ezantsi emathunjini omhlaba.

UHEZEKILE 31:1-7XHO96Vula kumfundi weBhayibhile

Yesterday we spoke a bit about the value of the cedar tree. In today’s passage there are three things worth noting about the way the cedar tree grows.

They grow downward. Cedars send their taproots deep, seeking hidden springs and wrapping around rocks for anchorage. According to Numbers 24:6, Israel itself is strong and happy like cedar trees beside the waters. Paul urged the Ephesians to be rooted and grounded in love and in Colossians 2:6-7 we read: “As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.”

They grow upward. Cedar trees have been known to reach heights of over 40 metres! As Christians, we walk on the earth, but our heads should be above the clouds, focused on Christ. As the American poet and novelist J.G. Holland once said, “God, give us men, tall, sun-crowned, who live above the fog.”

Cedars grow outward. The branches of the cedar tree grow out horizontally and become very wide-spreading. Stretching out as they do, these branches provide shade and shelter from the elements. Should not our lives also reach out like branches to touch the needs of others?

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
SIFUMANE KU-