What does the Bible say about forests?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible portrays forests as part of God’s good creation, under his sovereign care, displaying both his generous provision and his righteous judgment. Psalm 50:10 declares that every beast of the forest belongs to the Lord, while Psalm 104:20 shows creatures moving through the night according to his ordering. Forest trees supply human needs, yet Isaiah 44:14 warns against using God’s gifts to fashion idols. Scripture also uses forest imagery for danger and devastation: Isaiah 9:18 compares wickedness to a consuming fire, and Jeremiah 5:6 describes judgment through a lion from the forest. Even so, Micah 7:14 looks to the Lord as the faithful Shepherd who feeds and restores his people.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Tracts of land covered with trees Isaiah 44:14
- Underbrush often in Isaiah 9:18
- Infested by wild beasts Psalms 50:10; Psalms 104:20; Isaiah 56:9; Jeremiah 5:6; Micah 5:8
- Abounded with wild honey 1 Samuel 14:25; 1 Samuel 14:26
- Often afforded pasture Micah 7:14
- Mentioned in scripture
- Bashan Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6; Zechariah 11:2
- Hareth 1 Samuel 22:5
- Ephraim 2 Samuel 18:6; 2 Samuel 18:8
- Lebanon 1 Kings 7:2; 1 Kings 10:17
- Carmel 2 Kings 19:23; Isaiah 37:24
- Arabian Isaiah 21:13
- The south Ezekiel 20:46; Ezekiel 20:47
- The king’s Nehemiah 2:8
- Supplied timber for building 1 Kings 5:6-8
- Were places of refuge 1 Samuel 22:5; 1 Samuel 23:16
- Jotham built towers, & c, in 2 Chronicles 27:4
- The power of God extends over Psalms 29:9
- Called on to rejoice at God’s mercy Isaiah 44:23
- Often destroyed by enemies 2 Kings 19:23; Isaiah 37:24; Jeremiah 46:23
- Illustrative
- Of the unfruitful world Isaiah 32:19
- (A fruitful field turned into,) of the Jews rejected by God Isaiah 29:17; Isaiah 32:15
- (Destroyed by fire,) of destruction of the wicked Isaiah 9:18; Isaiah 10:17; Isaiah 10:18; Jeremiah 21:14
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