Cèdre de la Chaux (Cuisery) – Branches ©WikiC
Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell. And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it.” (Ezekiel 17:22-24 NKJV)
That tree above is not on a mountain, but that is quite a majestic Cedar tree to me. How about the trunk of that same tree? WOW! Think the birds could find a home in a Cedar Tree?
Cèdre de la Chaux (Cuisery) – trunk ©WikiC 2
Flicker in Cedar Tree ©Flickr Todd Petit
Here is another Cedar Tree, this time planted back in 1886 AD. There is plenty of places for birds to dwell.
Cedar tree planted c.1886 by Edward VII when Prince of Wales, in the Gardens of Easton Lodge ©WikiC
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) in Israel ©WikiC
What are these verses referring to? Here are some comments from several Commentaries:
“17:22, 23 one of the highest branches. This is messianic prophecy stating that God will provide the Messiah from the royal line of David (“the high cedar”) and establish Him in His kingdom (like a mountain, cf. Dan. 2:35, 44, 45). He will be “a high branch” reigning in the height of success. “Branch” is a name for Messiah (cf. 34:23, 24; 37:24, 25; Is. 4:2; Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Zech. 3:8; 6:12). Messiah will be “a tender one” (v. 22) growing into a “majestic cedar” (v. 23). Under His kingdom rule, all nations will be blessed and Israel restored.” [NKJV MacArthur Study Bible 17:22,23]
Lacrimose Mountain Tanager (Anisognathus lacrymosus) ©FlickrScott Loarie
“17:24 — “I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will perform it.”
The Lord wants us to remember that He is absolutely sovereign. If a nation becomes powerful and prominent, it does so because He allowed it. If a nation falls, it does so because He permitted it to happen. God rules among the nations, and only He can truly give His children hope. [NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes]
Brown-necked Raven, Israel ©WikiC
“17:22 I will take: The Hebrew is emphatic: “I Myself will take” In contrast to human kings, God declared that He personally would pick out, plant, and make prominent a tender one—that is, a twig or a sprig. Cedar branches are symbolic of rulers on the Davidic throne (see 17:3, 4, 12, 13), and elsewhere of a line of David’s descendants prophesied to produce the Messiah (see 2 Sam. 7:16; Is. 11:1–5; Jer. 22:24–30; 23:1–6; Zech. 6:9–13; Matt. 1:1–17). If not directly messianic in intention, vv. 22–24 at least have strong messianic implications. Thus, with reference to His humanity, we discover a new title for the Savior Jesus. He is the Tender One.”
“17:23, 24 What was accomplished in the restoration under Zerubbabel was a fulfillment of this promise. But as is often the case in biblical prophecy, the greater fulfillment is still to come in the reign of the Savior King. The establishment of the cedar twig, the Messiah, over Israel will make the nation a fruitful and majestic cedar where diverse people will live in unity and harmony. all the trees of the field: All nations will realize that the Lord is their sovereign God and that He has accomplished what He said He would do.”
Mountain Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus sindianus) by Nikhil Devasar
“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
(Isaiah 55:12 NKJV) Would that big cedar clap? Yes!
I like to just let God’s Work speak for itself.
“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.” (Psalms 96:11-13 NKJV)
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 