Ezekiel 31:5

Ezekiel 31:5 says, Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.  These next few verses compare the cedars of Lebanon to other fruit bearing trees.   The cedars were viewed as being of greater value than fruit bearing trees, even though they could bear no fruit. Ezekiel said that because Assyria was blessed with many natural resources and could produce many things because of it that she was exalted above all other nations.  We often exalt those who are very rich and even envy them even instead of exalting God and wanting to be more like Hiim.   

Verse six adds, All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.  God said that the fowl of the air were plentiful because of the trees that they could nest in and that the animals were plentiful because they could bring forth their young under the shade of the trees.  These were still all natural things that God was responsible for and had nothing to do with the cedars of Lebanon themselves.  Likewise, because of her great natural resources, Assyria had become a great nation that others felt was more important than any other nation.  No matter how great a nation may become today, we should never put it ahead of God.   

Verse seven continues. Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.  God said that like the cedars of Lebanon among trees, Assyria had been a great nation that no other nation could compare to.  Assyria towered over them like a great cedar that none of the other trees could compare to.  This had led to self-pride on the part of Assyria, leading them to believe they were indestructible.  Some nations today, many who not only do not follow God’s laws but also even deny His existence, believe themselves to be indestructible, but like Assyria, when God’s judgment comes, they will fall completely. 

Verse eight states, The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.  Still comparing Assyria to the trees of Lebanon, God said that Assyria was viewed as more beautiful than any other country, just as the cedars of Lebanon were viewed as more beautiful than even the trees in the Garden of Eden, which was a place of perfection.  We should never start to think that as a nation or as an individual that we are powerful of our own merit but should always acknowledge that we owe everything to God, and even if the world holds us in great esteem, we will never be of everlasting power outside of God’s will. 

Verse nine adds, I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.  Like the cedars of Lebanon, God said that He was the One Who had made Assyria great and that He was also the One Who had caused their fall.  Once more, we should always give God credit for everything that we are blessed with today, and if we don’t, we should be ready for a fall.