The Keys To Happiness ~Righteousness~
Psalms 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Have you ever considered the significance of this scripture?
Let's take a moment to dissect it together.
Key words: Righteous, Flourish, Palm Tree, Grow, Cedar in Lebanon
According to Merriam-Webster
Righteous: Of good conduct, morally right or justifiable, virtuous, good, decent, upstanding
Flourish: Grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way especially as a result of a particularly favorable environment, thrive, prosper, increase, multiply
Grow: To become larger, to increase in size, to become better or improved in some way
The Palm Tree
Palm Trees typically grow in two climates, rainforests and desserts. Most consist of a straight, unbranched stem with large evergreen fan shaped leaves.
Resilient in nature, the spongy bark was used during the Revolutionary War to build Fort Moultrie and defend against British cannonballs.
The Palm branch was also a symbol of victory in Roman competitions and in Christianity.
In Judaism it symbolizes peace. In Kabbalah, the Palm Tree represents plenty and the Tree of Life.
In modern times, the Palm Tree symbolizes paradise, relaxation, and rest.
The Cedar Tree
The Cedar Tree is an evergreen tree that grows up to 130 feet tall and a trunk that grows up to 8 feet and 2 inches in diameter.
The Cedar Tree has been used throughout history to build ships, palaces, and houses. It was used in early circumcisions and the treatment of leprosy.
Burning Cedar was used to celebrate and in formal religious and civil ceremony proceedings.
The Palm Tree grows in adverse conditions and has the agility to bend with its crown touching the ground without breaking.
It withstands the storms and perilous weather and bounces back majestically beautiful.
The Cedar Tree in Lebanon grows on mountainous hilly terrain, yet it has girth, strength and an unmatched distinctive aroma worthy of Kings' courts.
With this background information, I was moved to tremendous courage, pride and strength.
The author, presumably King David, tells us that if we are of decent character, then we can expect to prosper in areas that would be impossible for the unrighteous to survive and increase in sizes that are clearly unattainable by all but the Righteous.
