151. PSA 92:12-14. THE LORD’S PLANTATION

Psa_92:12-14. The Lord’s Plantation

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon: those that so planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God," &c.’97Psa_92:12-14.

The people of God are sometimes likened to the vine; sometimes to the willow, to the fir-tree, to the fig-tree, to the olive-tree, to the myrtle, &c. In the text they are likened to the palm-tree, and to the cedars of Lebanon.

Let us, I. Explain and illustrate the Metaphors employed, Psa_92:12. II. Notice their situation, Psa_92:13. And, III. God’s gracious Declarations concerning them, Psa_92:14. Let us then,

I. Explain and illustrate the Metaphors employed.

They are likened to the palm-tree, and to the cedars in Lebanon.

1. They are likened to the palm-tree.

The palm is one of the most interesting and useful trees in Palestine. It grows from forty to one hundred feet high; and bears the rich fruit of dates, in large clusters, hanging down from the top of the tree, one of which often yields two hundred weight. The palm is thirty years in arriving at maturity, and will bear fruit for seventy or a hundred years afterwards. It requires little attention, except to be well watered every four or five days. What a beautiful emblem of the pious man! "Like the palm-tree."

(1) In its straight and towering height. Wicked are compared to briers, and brambles, and thorns.

(2) In its rich fruitfulness. He yields rich fruit to God. Heart fruit’97lip fruit’97life fruit; and the fruit of benevolence and goodness to the world at large.

(3) Bears his fruit like the palm-tree, especially in connection with his head, Jesus, without whom he can do nothing.’97Joh_14:1-6.

(4) Like the palm-tree, the Christian can dispense with the attentions and pleasures of the world; his happiness and fruitfulness depend entirely on the flowing streams of heavenly grace.

2. They are likened to the cedars of Lebanon.

The mountains of Lebanon form the northern boundary of Judea, are white in appearance, and are celebrated for their lofty flourishing cedars. The good man may be compared to the cedar of Lebanon, on account,

(1) Of his elevated situation. "He is an inhabitant of the rock." "Lives on high," &c. Isa_43:11. Psa_40:1, &c.

(2) Like the cedar, he is an evergreen. His leaf never withers. Bears fruit in every season and condition of life, and even in death itself.

(3) Like the cedar, for his fragrance, and pleasant aromatic perfume. The Christian is fragrant to God in all his graces and services. And he is so to the church in all his virtues, and spirit, and conversation.

(4) Like the cedar, he is used in the erection of God’s spiritual house. 1Ki_6:9. The Lord’s spiritual house is composed of the cedars of his gracious plantation.

(5) Like the cedar for its incorruptibility. Cedar is said to resist all those insects which cause decay. What a beautiful emblem of the Christian! He is spiritual, incorruptible, and immortal. His graces, his happiness, his spirit, shall exist forever. He shall never perish, but inherit eternal life.

Now let us notice,

II. Their Situation.

"Planted in the house of the Lord’97in the courts of our God." It is implied,

1. That they are exotics.

Originally they were a part of the wild olive; strangers to God and his church. In the wilderness, yielding the bitter wild-fruit of sin.

2. That instrumentality has been em ployed with respect to them.

They have been "planted." God, by his word and holy Spirit, has cut them off from the wild olive, brought them out of themselves, and sin, and the world, and planted them in his own vineyard.

3 They are planted in the Lord’s house, in the courts of our God.

That is, in his church’97his spiritual family.

(1) A place separated from the world.

(2) A fruitful place, where the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, and the holy waters of the sanctuary, are constantly en joyed.

(3) A place protected and favored with the peculiar smile and blessing of God. This is the situation God has designed for them, the situation which they love. No other situation where the Lord’s plants can grow and thrive.

Notice,

III. God’s gracious Declarations concerning them.

It is said,

1. That they shall flourish.

Be verdant and fruitful. Answer the end of their proprietor. Be happy, holy, and useful.

2. That they shall grow like the cedar.

Increase in height, and strength, and beauty. Grow upwards in heavenly-mindedness, and conformity to the Divine image. Strike their roots deeper, and spread their branches in every direction. Grow in grace, and in meetness for eternal glory.

3. They shall bring forth fruit in old age.

Other plants generally fail then. Not so the people of God; they ripen for another and a better world. Abraham, Jacob, David, Zachariah, Simeon, &c.

4. They shall be fat and flourishing.

Fully and perfectly holy and happy. Enjoy the riches of divine grace; and manifest, in the graces and virtues of the Christian character, the glory of God. Entirely meet for the beatific vision, and the consummate glories of the heavenly world. How dignified, happy, safe, and glorious the Christian character! Happy the people in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS