By Kathy L McFarland
7/31/2024
The Mysteries of Trees
Mark 8:22–26 (KJV 1900)
22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
TY200 – INTERPRETATION CONFIDENCE CHART
- Typology known as fully God’s Truth concerning trees walking as recorded in Mark 8:22-26 (Those specifically, typologically identified in Scripture)
- Trees in Scripture identify the different Spiritual Lives that are lived on this Earth
- Different parts of the trees walking with Christ are fully represented in Scripture as God’s Truth
- Tree – Spiritual Lives of forgiven followers walking with the Lord Jesus Christ and producing powerful fruits of His.
- Root – The foundation of a tree from firstfruit that is secured by a lump of clay that can grow and produce living works of fruit
- Leaves – The preparation that LORD God makes for the coming events of living works.
- Fruit – Living works of the LORD God, done through followers (Branch) of the Lord Jesus Christ (Vine) at the guidance of the Holy Spirit with the spiritual life of a walking tree.
- Seed – Word of God.
- The fruit of righteousness is a Tree of Life.
- Cedar Tree – Spiritual life defines politically, worldly, and socially powerful leaders with spiritual hints of (righteous or wicked) strength whose height is far beyond regular people. They are political superstars with religious overtones throughout their persona. They can start their growth as righteous or secular; but eventually take on spiritual overtones and end up wicked. When one man assumes that great of power, then the spiritual side with the LORD God and the Lord Jesus Christ and their Holy Spirit is denied eventually. To gain such great power over people requires astute political manipulative control over their world with hints of divine empowerment; most often, that powerful of a man or woman leader realizes the need for appearances that “God is on their side,” whether it be for war or rule or privilege. So just as Lucifer dipped his roots into the biggest “flowing grace of God” river so do those that want to be ultimate ruler. It means nothing if their soul is measured. But it means everything to trick the masses and gain the power necessary to rule the world.
- Typology Known Confidently (Those represented in Scripture with enough frequency, sufficiency, and accuracy to reveal their typological meanings with full Truth of God unchallenged and supported by the Holy Spirit’s teachings)
- Almond Tree – The believer, as an almond tree, is a Christian leader, chosen by God, that watches over the works of Christians guided by the Lord, and the people he serves.
- Algum/Almug Tree – The Spiritual Life works that honors the LORD God and guides Believers to come closer to Him toward the beauty of His Holiness through the Lord Jesus Christ. Musical worship and high praise are often expressed through these types of Christian works.
- Ash Tree – A Spiritual Life with a deceived heart, that stands among places of Christians and worships different false gods created by other human beings or self.
- Typology Known Probably (Knowledge of Scripture, God’s Way, Logic and common sense in the typological meaning can NOT be confirmed fully with the Word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit)
- Bay Tree – Native spiritual life that develops naturally.
- Fake Bay Tree – Imitation spiritual life forced upon believers through powerful coercion, trickery, evil, or control.
- Box Tree – Spiritual life that stands in the midst of dryness. The location the Box Tree stands is empty of both worldly people and the flowing grace of the LORD God. Here stands the lonely Christian as a beacon for the uncommon seeker of God. Eventually, the Box Tree is combined with the other beautiful spiritual life souls that serve in the world and in the dry places and perform ministry guided by the Holy Spirit and coming together in the Sanctuary of the Lord. A possible identity of a Box Tree is a missionary that serves in extreme conditions with few common people, the lack of Christian presence and the lack of the movements of God.
- Typology NOT Known (Can NOT make even simple assumptions of the typological meaning because there is NOT enough frequency, sufficiency, or accuracy recorded in Scripture, and the Holy Spirit is NOT teaching deeper meaning)
Teachings by Kathy L McFarland
Did any of you grow angry over Lucifer planting his cedar tree right next to the great waters of the LORD God, and sucking that grace given for God’s people into his big tree to become bigger and better than all others? I think that sometimes the devil is just an afterthought. But this creep did everything possible to make himself more powerful than our Lord, to include drinking those waters in God’s Garden. It reminds me of the anger I felt when I realized that the LORD God allowed Lucifer to go to and from Heaven at will, and to trick those angels. What nerve Lucifer had! Thankfully I know the rest of the story, and our side wins! Thanks be to God!
I have never taught a cedar tree the things of God that I am aware. I have taught a few almost powerful Christians, such as high-ranking military officers and some politicians, the deeper things of God, but it seldom happens. None have reached the height of cedar tree.
Cedar tree spiritual life defines a politically and spiritually (righteous or wicked) strong person whose height is far beyond regular people. They are political superstars with religious overtones throughout their persona. They can start their growth as righteous; but usually, they end up wicked. When one man assumes that great of power, then the spiritual side with the LORD God and the Lord Jesus Christ and their Holy Spirit is denied eventually. To gain such great power over people requires astute political manipulative control over people; most often, that powerful of a man or woman realizes the need for “God to be on their side,” whether it be for war or rule. So just as Lucifer dipped his roots into the biggest “flowing grace of God” river so do those that want to be ultimate ruler. It means nothing if their soul is measured. But it means everything to trick the masses and gain the power necessary to rule the world.
This next part of our study of the cedar tree is going to be focused on the righteous spiritual life of true followers of Christ before and after it goes bad.
Numbers 24:6 (KJV 1900)
6 As the valleys are they spread forth,
As gardens by the river’s side,
As the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted,
And as cedar trees beside the waters.
1. Some cedar trees are planted by the LORD God beside His waters
2 Samuel 5:10–12 (KJV 1900)
10 And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him. 11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. 12 And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
2. The cedar tree house built for David by Hiram, King of Tyre, gave him perception that the LORD God had established him king over Israel.
1 Kings 7:1–2 (KJV 1900)
But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
3. Solomon built his house out of cedar when he became King.
1 Kings 9:10–11 (KJV 1900)
10 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, 11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
4. King Hiram of Tyre furnished Solomon with cedar trees, fir trees, and gold to build the House of the LORD God, and King Solomon’s house.
5. King Solomon felt it was such a rich gift, that he gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
Song of Solomon 5:15 (KJV 1900)
15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold:
His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
6. Excellent countenance is associated with cedars.
7. The Hebrew to “excellent countenance” can mean appearing magnificent to those that look, or it can mean an imposing connection that is looked upon with awe and wonder, possibly through the supernatural revelation from God. A deeper word study would need to be conducted, with the examination of the Solomon use compared to other uses to maybe connect closer. We will see if our study identifies it any better without confusing word studies.[1]
Zechariah 11:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.
2 Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled:
Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.
3 There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled:
A voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
8. Lebanon cedar trees are tyrants that are destroyed, which brings howling by the fir tree of Lebanon and oaks of Bashan and the young lions of Jordan.
9. The cedar trees of Lebanon are mighty. They are devoured by a fire after being destroyed (spoiled).
a. Fallen – 5877 נָפַל (nāꞏp̄ǎl): v.; ≡ Str 5307; TWOT 1392—1. LN 15.118–15.122 (qal) fall, i.e., have an object go from a higher position to a lower position, often with the implication of being out of control in relation to the situation[2]
b. Spoiled – 8720 שָׁדַ ד (šāꞏḏǎḏ): v.; ≡ Str 7703, 7736; TWOT 2331—LN 20.31–20.60 (qal) devastate, ruin, i.e., destroy an object or condition in any of various ways (Job 12:6; 15:21; Ps 17:9; 91:6; Pr 11:3; Isa 16:4; 21:2; 33:1ac; Jer 6:26; 12:12; 15:8; 25:36; 47:4; 48:8, 18, 32; 49:28; 51:48, 53, 55, 56; Eze 32:12; Hos 10:14b; Ob 5; Mic 2:4a+), note: in some contexts the destruction includes looting and plundering[3]
c. Howl – 3536 יָלַל (yāꞏlǎl): v.; ≡ Str 3213; TWOT 868—LN 25.135–25.145 (hif) wail, howl, i.e., make loud crying and shrill shouting noises of sorrow[4]
Teachings of Kathy L McFarland
Remember this important observation as you study: the LORD God appoints the powerful leaders of the world or allows them to achieve fame and power as His Will chooses. As you will learn in our study, He already knows the consequences of humans embracing the cedar tree in their spirituality.
Yet, to advance His plans, He chooses the best leadership each situation demands to have the outcome He wills. Yet most of the cedar trees embrace Lucifers power in the end. This is not the choice of God, but of the fallen man that has gotten greedy for power that the cedar tree can manipulate.
The LORD God destroys the cedar trees that are mighty and wicked in His time. The tyrants are under His watch, and they will be destroyed.
Ezekiel 17:22–24 (KJV 1900)
22 Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: 23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.
10. The LORD God can make a goodly cedar merely by taking the highest branch of the high cedar and set it, crop off the top of his young twigs a tender one, and plant it upon a high mountain and eminent.
a. (Highest) Branch (set) – 7550 צַמֶּרֶת (ṣǎmꞏměꞏrěṯ): n.fem.; ≡ Str 6788; TWOT 1931b— 1. LN 3.47–3.59 tree-top, i.e., the uppermost part of a tree (Eze 17:3; 31:3, 10, 14+); 2. LN 3.47–3.59 shoot, sprig, i.e., a small branch from the top of a tree (Eze 17:22+), note: used to start a new plant[5]
b. Set – 3851 I. יָתַ ן (yāꞏṯǎn): v.; ≡ Str 5414; TWOT 1443—1. LN 23.205 (qal) be durable, healthy, i.e., not be easily diseased or uprooted (Pr 1:12 cj+), note: for NIV text, see 5989; 2. LN 68.11–68.21 (qal) last a long time, i.e., continue to be in a certain state for a considerable duration (Isa 33:16 cj+), note: NIV parses as 5989[6]
c. Crop – 7786 קָטַף (qāꞏṭǎp̄): v.; ≡ Str 6998; TWOT 2010—1. LN 43 (qal) pluck, pick off, i.e., remove as harvest, the fruit part of a plant (Dt 23:26[EB 25]; Job 30:4+); (nif) picked (Job 8:12+); 2. LN 43 (qal) transplant, formally, break off, i.e., remove a sprig of a tree (as a propagation technique) and replant as a new plant (Eze 17:4, 22+)[7]
d. Tender – 3438 יוֹנֶקֶת (yôꞏněꞏqěṯ): n.fem.; ≡ Str 3127; TWOT 874b—LN 3.47–3.59 new plant shoot, i.e., a young shoot of vegetation (Job 8:16; 14:7; 15:30; Ps 80:12[EB 11]; Eze 17:22; Hos 14:7[EB 6]+)[8]
e. Plant – 9278 שָׁתַ ל (šāꞏṯǎl): v.; ≡ Str 8362; TWOT 2480—LN 43 (qal) plant, i.e., place seeds, slips, or root-stock in the ground for growing and cultivation (Eze 17:22, 23+)[9]
f. High – 1468 גָּבֵ הּ (gāꞏḇēah): adj.; ≡ Str 1362, 1364;— 2. LN 81.3–81.11 high, towered, i.e., pertaining to being in an elevated spatial position or dimension (Eze 31:3+), note: see also 1469[10]
g. Eminent – 9435 תָּלוּל (tāꞏlûl): adj.; ≡ Str 8524; TWOT 2513—LN 81.3–81.11 lofty, towering, high, i.e., pertaining to being relatively high or tall (Eze 17:22+), cf. also 9424[11]
11. The LORD God has control over all trees. He can bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish.[12]
Isaiah 41:17–20 (KJV 1900)
17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none,
And their tongue faileth for thirst,
I the Lord will hear them,
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
18 I will open rivers in high places,
And fountains in the midst of the valleys:
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land springs of water.
19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together,
That the hand of the Lord hath done this,
And the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Teachings of Kathy L McFarland
“Uneasy is the head that wears the crown” (Shakespeare, in Henry IV, Part 2, Act 3, scene 1, lines 26–31).
What can we do when we see a righteous cedar tree beginning the power journey, developing into a leader that knows the Lord? PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! for him. Pray for other strong spiritual trees to surround him and provide him with God’s teachings and counsel as he tries to navigate this wicked world. Call upon the shittah, myrtle, and oil trees to guide the cedar tree in the wilderness so he can see, know, consider, and understand together with them. That is the solution that the LORD God has made to grow a righteous cedar tree to prevent him falling to the depths of wickedness with Lucifer. This is the protection of God that the cedar tree must embrace to maintain holiness. Without a strong, spiritual counsel surrounding him, he is certain to become wicked because of his awesome power and spiritual knowledge.
Let us consider End Times drama for a bit. There is going to be conflict between many that appear to be cedar trees. They are going to be powerful and appear to be very holy and righteous. The worst players are going to look the most righteous. But we have learned that no cedar tree can be all-powerful and all-righteous; it is impossible. When the cedar trees reach the ultimate power, even those that started out with good intentions, they usually embrace wickeAdness in the end. But with
support, the cedar can be a righteous leader for the poor and needy.
So as the End Time timing unfolds, look at the powerful and high-reaching cedar trees from the wilderness. Do they have the shittah, myrtle, and oil trees surrounding them so they can see, know, consider, and understand? The LORD God has let us know how a cedar tree can maintain righteousness. As End Times approaches let us commit to identify the powerful, untruthful, unrighteous leaders, even if they appear on their own most holy, and take appropriate action to protect God’s people. Because if they are without strong Christian support by strong Christian leaders, they are tricking those that don’t know.
Worksheet
1. What are the characteristics of a righteous cedar tree?
2. What are the characteristics of a wicked cedar tree?
3. What happens to make a wicked cedar tree against God?
4. What type of trees in the wilderness does the cedar tree need to support his righteousness?
5. What can a cedar tree realize if he has the correct support?
Remember to come back to this teaching when you learn the characteristics of the other trees associated with the cedar tree!
[1] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 5260, 5261
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Each of these verbs and adjectives have very specific meanings when you evaluate the words associated with trees and other deep things in God’s Word. We will examine them at another time.
