CEDARS OF LEBANON
W Carl Ketcherside

Lebanon lay to the north of Palestine. Much of it consisted of snow-clad mountains. On these grew the famous cedars which reared themselves heavenward. The Lebanese, being devoid of good farm land, developed a maritime regime. The tall trees became the masts for their sailing boats. The lesser ones provided planks out of which the ships were built. In chapter two of his book, the way we have it divided, Isaiah spoke about the cedars and oaks, and the ships of Tarshish.

He begins with a condemnation of the people. Wealth, in those days was counted by silver, gold, and horses. Their land was full of silver and gold. There was no end to their treasure. The country was full of horses. There was no end to their chariots. But it was also full of idols. The inferior man bowed before them. The great man humbled himself. The voice of the Lord was heard saying "Forgive them not." They are encouraged to hide in caves, and to seek refuge in the dust. It is affirmed that Israel was influenced. They followed foreign customs. They worshiped objects they had made with their own hands.

It has always been a question as to why God's people compromised with sin so easily. From the time they were divinely delivered from Egypt they mouthed criticism of the God who freed them from slavery. They murmured for bread. They murmured for flesh to eat. They wept copious tears for water to drink. Eventually their kings turned the very temple into a place of wild idolatry. "They broke all the laws of the Lord their God and made two metal bulls to worship, they also made an image of the goddess Ashtoreth, worshiped the stars and served the god Baal." They sacrificed their sons and daughters as burnt offerings to pagan gods. They consulted mediums and fortunetellers. They became wholly corrupt and irretrievably rotten.

Isaiah said "Everyone will be humiliated and disgraced." He predicted that a day was coming when human pride would end and human arrogance be destroyed. Men had hidden in caves. They had dug holes in the ground. They took all kinds of means to hide from God's anger. They wanted to escape from His power and glory. It is then that the prophet spoke of what God would do. "He shall destroy the tall cedars of Lebanon, and all of the oaks in the land of Bashan. He will sink even the largest and most beautiful ships."

I think of that as I gaze at pictures of large and beautiful cities in the pages of popular magazines today. These, too, can pass away! The places where once they stood can become rugged piles of shale. The streets can be blasted into oblivion. The earth can reverberate and be shaken. Our own "Mountains of Lebanon" can be wasted. It is incredible that these things may pass away. But they can, and will! A day is coming when human pride will be ended and human arrogance be destroyed.

It may seem incredible but the day can come when Nashville, Houston, Dallas and Abilene will be blasted into oblivion. Men and women can go skulking to hidden bank vaults to live out their fear and shame. Darkness will be welcome. The light of the sun will be a catastrophe. The explosion of one well-directed nuclear warhead can undo in seconds what it took centuries to erect. The accomplishments of skillful men can disappear in a mingled heap. Young men and women, as well as those who have attained their majority, can be lost in a moment of immediacy. And with them can go all of the gadgets in which they have trusted.

Centuries later, the people who remain, will come searching the ruins, turning over the stones as they now do in Ur and Nineveh, looking for some semblance of a vanished culture, picking up the toys of a previous people. The tall cedars of Lebanon and the sturdy oaks of Bashan will be destroyed, Of course, this does not need to happen. In Isaiah 1:27 God promises to save everyone who repents. In 1:16, 17 we are encouraged to stop doing evil, and learn to do right. Three groups are mentioned as test cases upon whom we can practice. The best protection against atom bombs are lives of righteousness and well-regulated behavior.

Tall cedars growing on towering mountains are beautiful. The wind, sighing among the branches makes an attractive chorus. One likes to drive among the trees. He experiences solace for the soul. He derives a real sense of tranquility. He hesitates to leave and return to the noise and turmoil of the city. But what a difference when a stately grove has been swept by fire. The tangle of trunks and limbs presents a symbol of death and destruction, a holocaust of despair.

I offer a plea. That our own country may maintain its beauty and utility, that it may be a land of freedom and liberty, let all who read this resolve to renounce wickedness and unrighteousness. May we become so pure that the hand of God will have to be spread over us in blessing and not become a mailed fist of punishment. May the cedars of Lebanon continue to be a bright and beautiful decoration of love, joy and peace! God grant it! —4420 Jamieson 1-C, St. Louis, MO 63109