The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars: yea, the Lord shall break the cedars of Libanus.
ק֣וֹל יְ֭הוָה שֹׁבֵ֣ר אֲרָזִ֑ים וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֶת־אַרְזֵ֥י הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The voice of the Lord brings low those who are proud, breaking their hearts. He will shatter the mighty cedars of Lebanon. Through repentance, the Lord will bring down those exalted by earthly glory, and to confound them, He will reveal His Divinity through humble elements of this world, as noted in 1 Corinthians 1:28.
The voice of the Lord shatters the cedars. In Scripture, the cedar is sometimes praised for its longevity, resilience against decay, pleasant aroma, and suitability for use as a covering; at other times, it is criticized as barren, rigid, and thus serves as a metaphor for the wicked. As stated, I have seen the wicked in great stature, exalted like the cedars of Lebanon (Psalms 36:35). In this context, we consider the cedar in its negative aspect, for the voice of the Lord demolishes the cedars. This divine voice resides in the souls of the noble, as it is said to dismantle those who mock self-importantly, elevating themselves through the illusory benefits of this world such as wealth, fame, power, physical allure, vitality, or resilience. The Lord will uproot the cedars of Lebanon.
Those who appropriate what is foreign for self-aggrandizement represent the cedars of Lebanon. Just as the lofty cedars, poised on high mountains, gain greater visibility by their elevation, so do these individuals, who lean upon the transitory nature of the world, grow proud and haughty, becoming like cedars. They are called cedars of Lebanon because of their pride in the heights achieved by others, and because earthly things, akin to the summits of Lebanon, uplift them, prompting their arrogance. However, the Lord strikes down not all cedars, but only those of Lebanon, as Lebanon symbolizes idolatry. Souls that are imbued with the wisdom of God (cf. 2 Cor. 10:5) are likened to the cedars of Lebanon that face judgment. In contrast, the cedars of God are those adorned by the branches of the vine brought from Egypt, as noted in the Psalms: the mountains are covered by His shade, and His branches are the cedars of God (Ps. 79:11). Additionally, our Lord is referred to as the vine: I am the vine, He declares, you are the branches (cf. John 15:5). This signifies that those who were previously unfruitful and destined for destruction can find new life and covering in Christ. Embraced by His grace, they become the cedars of God. Thus, the cedars of God are shielded by the fruitful branches that encompass them, while the cedars of Lebanon are brought low by the Lord.
The voice of the Lord shattering the cedars. Here, the term ‘cedars’ symbolizes the opposing powers. The Lord will dismantle the cedars of Lebanon. The ‘cedars of Lebanon’ signify those who hold high positions among the Jewish people, as the Holy Scriptures frequently equate Lebanon with Jerusalem.
In His baptism, Christ humbles the once-arrogant and proud demons.
Through these expressions, the Prophet indicates the downfall of false gods. Just as the ancient idol temples were elevated yet yielded nothing of value to their worshippers, the Prophet compares them to the tall cedars of Lebanon, which, despite their height, produce no edible fruit.
The Lord's voice shattering the cedars
The cedar is sometimes viewed positively due to its enduring nature, long-lasting vitality, and pleasant aroma, as reflected in the scripture, "The righteous shall flourish like a fig tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he multiply" (Psalm 91:13). Conversely, it can also represent negativity because of its barrenness and unfruitfulness, as indicated in "I have seen the wicked exalted and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon" (Psalms 36:35). Here, David refers to demons as cedars because of their lofty pride, which led to their downfall from heaven. The voice of the Lord, he indicates, manifests—when? When He shatters or confounds the demons. After referring to the Lord, it is essential to delineate what follows.
For instance, when saying the voice of the Lord is, one should continue with the idea of His shattering the cedars. This manner of expression is exemplified in the verses that follow. Basil the Great interprets the shattered cedars as those who depend on the transient pleasures of this world, characterized by arrogance and inflated pride, referred to as the cedars of Lebanon because they take joy in the elevation of others. The Lord shall indeed break (shatter) the cedars of Lebanon. Mount Lebanon, a prominent mountain situated between Judea and Phoenicia, is home to many cedars and is associated with idol worship. Therefore, David speaks of the cedars of Lebanon as altars to false gods that stood upon it, indicating their true essence. He likens these idol altars to cedars, considering their height, multitude, and sterility. Through this, David prophesies the destruction and shattering of the mountain, thereby subtly revealing the obliteration of the idol altars that were upon it.
In the first interpretation, the Prophet shifts from God's actions within the waters to His influence in the skies, illustrating how the Lord's voice or command incites winds and tempests. This is referred to in Psalm 148:8 as the stormy spirit that executes His word. Indeed, the might of the Almighty is truly remarkable, for He has imparted such strength to something as subtle as the wind, which can swiftly topple the sturdiest trees—feats that many individuals struggle to accomplish even with great effort over time. The Prophet specifically highlights the cedars of Lebanon, renowned for their strength and resilience, found exclusively on Mount Lebanon. In a deeper symbolic sense, these cedars represent lofty individuals, distinguished by their might, wisdom, or regal stature.
The fragrance of the cedars signifies the allure of earthly delights and carnal indulgences, while their robustness symbolizes those entrenched in stubbornness and ancient fallacies. Through the miraculous power of the Gospel, all these ‘cedars’ were brought low, leading them to embrace Christian humility and gentleness, yielding fruits that align with true repentance, which is richly documented in sacred history.
Cedars symbolize arrogant sinners whom the Lord urges to embrace the truth and transforms their hearts through repentance. The cedars of Lebanon, once home to pagan altars, were conquered by the mighty influence of Christ's Cross.
The cedars of Lebanon serve as towering symbols of idolatry. The ancient designation for Lebanon is Wasan. It is possible that the term sim refers to the groves where idols were erected. Both Basil the Great and Theodoret specifically highlight the calf at Horeb as a notable example. Psalms 105:19; Exodus 32:20.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS