Day 11 – Fir

(Abies)

“Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.” Isaiah 14:8 KJV, and “The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.” Isaiah 60:13 KJV 

The fir tree is an evergreen tree, of beautiful appearance, whose lofty height and dense foliage afford spacious shelter and shade. It’s mentioned most frequently in the prophetic text of Isaiah and symbolises joyful worship and the future glory of the temple in Jerusalem that would be build with the noble wood of the cypress, elm, and fir. The group name of these trees in Hebrew is called “Berosh” and considered to be of the same genus.

Isaiah appears to have written chapter 60 before the arrival of Nehemiah in Juda, when the walls of Jerusalem still lay in ruins. In spite of this, its message centres around future construction rather than present destruction. The prophet’s aim is to lift the people’s spirits so that, despite the hardship they are enduring, they would fix their attention on the new Jerusalem; on the city of Yahweh, Zion of the Holy One of Israel, the place where we will eternally worship God.

Prayer: Father, may we rejoice in our worship of You like the fir trees and remember this reference pointing to the New Jerusalem we are waiting for in anticipation. May we be seen as evergreen and beautiful in our appearance to You as we lift Your Name high. You are sovereign and mighty, beautiful and worthy of all praise. Amen.

Love, Pastor Iriza