Rooted in Discernment — Watch, Wait, and Discern

The cedars of Lebanon have always captured my imagination; thus, my production company bears the name Sea Forest Media. Growing up and spending time along the Pacific coast gave me a cinematic vision of God’s creation. The meeting of the rugged cliffs, the vast ocean, and the towering cedar forests often reminded me of the cedars of Lebanon—those enduring biblical symbols, giants of strength. Throughout Scripture, the cedars of Lebanon stand as emblems of strength and faithfulness. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon” (Psalm 92:12)

The height of a Cedar of Lebanon reaches toward heaven. Its roots drive through rock, probing and searching for precious water. God’s work in His people often unfolds the same way. Before He raises us, our roots go down. He forms character through trust and faithfulness. As Paul reminds us, “Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3–4). The cedar does not stand because of its own strength, like those whose lives are rooted in Christ. Ezekiel drew upon that same image, describing the cedar rising above every tree of the field, its branches spreading wide enough to shelter the birds of heaven. It was a picture of beauty, yet woven into it was a sober warning. The same height that reflects God’s blessing can become the birthplace of pride when dependence upon Him is forgotten. “All the trees by the waters shall not exalt themselves in their height… for they are all delivered unto death” (Ezekiel 31:14).

Standing within a dense forest, every trunk limits one’s vision. The world is reduced to what lies in immediate view, making it difficult to recognize the larger landscape. Climb above the canopy, however, and everything changes. Rivers, mountains, valleys, forests, and approaching storms suddenly reveal themselves as parts of one unfolding picture. What once appeared disconnected now makes perfect sense. Perspective does not change reality; it allows us to see it.

God granted Daniel that perspective, an understanding not only of dreams and visions but of kingdoms and the unfolding of history. While Babylon celebrated its greatness and believed its empire would endure, Daniel understood that every kingdom ultimately stands accountable before God. When the mysterious words Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin appeared upon Belshazzar’s wall, Daniel immediately recognized God’s verdict: Babylon’s days had been numbered. Daniel recognized God’s verdict: Babylon’s days had been numbered, weighed in the balances, and found wanting. Judgment was rendered, and the king’s reign was over.

Throughout Scripture, restless waters often portray nations in turmoil and the instability of fallen humanity. Against that backdrop, the cedar stands like a lighthouse upon a rugged shore, unmoved by the raging sea. Storms come and go. Kingdoms rise and fall. Yet the one whose roots reach deeply into Christ remains steadfast. Isaiah described a generation that would call evil good and good evil. Jesus called the Pharisees blind guides — men who upheld tradition while missing the heart of God’s law: “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14). Their blindness wasn’t ignorance; it was lost perspective. They had position and the crowd’s respect, yet still couldn’t see past their own traditions. The tragedy is rarely a lack of information. More often it is a loss of perspective. A person may possess education, influence, and the approval that comes from reinforcing the accepted narrative, yet remain unable to see beyond its assumptions. True discernment is not merely knowing more facts; it is learning to see from God’s perspective.

Scripture consistently calls God’s people to watch, wait, and listen. Habakkuk declared, “I will stand my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me.” Only then did God say, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:1–2). God calls His people to seek His perspective before proclaiming His vision. Too often we become so occupied with the trees immediately before us that we lose sight of the wilderness through which God is leading us. God’s perspective reveals the path through the wilderness.