Psalm 104:16 | The Trees of the Lord

Psalm 104:16"The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;"

Psalm 104 observes the creation. As a matter of fact, it follows the Genesis flow of creation. Of course, when we observe the creation it reveals the glory of the Creator: "The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever" (Psalm 104:31). The one detail of creation we want to focus on this morning, unto the glory of God, is the trees of the Lord.

Planted by God

These trees were not planted nor tended to by man, but they were the cedars of Lebanon, planted by God. God had created them at the beginning of this world, and they had gone on bearing seed after the order God had set for them. Then the wind, animals, or some force of nature had carried the seed to the place where they could fall into the ground and rise again in new life. Little by little they grew until they stood as monuments to the power of our Creator to care for His creation. Think of Yosemite—trees untouched for millennia. How year by year, decade by decade, and century by century they continue to grow.

They are cedars, so we know they are evergreen. They grow year-round and never die! What a wonderful picture of the new life we have in Christ! An abundant life, a full life, and a life of constant renewal and growth. How was it that we came to be planted in Christ? It was by His providence, by some wind of the Spirit that blew a gospel preacher or messenger along our route, and the gospel seed was planted and it took root in our hearts and sprang forth to new life! Oh how glorious our Lord is! How excellent are His ways, past finding out! He planted us in Christ, and we have been and will be sustained for all the days of our life!

Full of Sap

Our verse holds the key to these trees' growth and endurance through the ages. It is not the world around them that causes them to thrive, but something within them: sap. Sap is the lifeblood of the tree. It runs from the root to the branches and carries with it water, and minerals, and sugars, and everything the tree needs to grow. These trees are unusually full of this life force, so full that if they are cut they almost immediately give it out.

So are those men and women of the Lord who have been planted by Him and are sustained by Him. We are pulsing with the life of Christ by His Holy Spirit, carrying the power of Christ from our root, Jesus, to the extremities of our life. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, patience, and all the fruits of the Spirit form us into the "perfect man." So full are they that when they are abused, no longer will they produce bitterness and strife, but out flows the love of Christ, the forgiveness of Christ, the life of Christ. Truly, "the trees of the LORD are full of sap!"

To the Glory of God

How glorious, how wonderful, how great is our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer! "The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever!" All over this earth there are men and women planted and sustained of God, existing, growing, and enduring all unto the glory of God. Oh to be one of His, to be full of the Holy Ghost, to be more like Him, to exist to His glory! "Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD" (Psalm 104:35).