February 12, 2010
Again, we are in the season of the blossoming of the almond tree. Because we have had an exceptionally warm winter, we noticed, already in mid January that some of the almond trees in Jerusalem were in bloom. Thus, although a little earlier than normal this year, the blooming of the almond tree does start, as a rule, in Jerusalem and from there spreads to Samaria and to the rest of the country. We are all familiar with the prophetic usage of this tree, and the meaning of its name.
The word for almond in Hebrew is “sha’ked”, the root verb of which is “to watch diligently”. This is well illustrated in Jeremiah 1:11-12, which reads: “Moreover the word of YHVH came to me, saying, 'Jeremiah, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree’. Then YHVH said to me, ‘you have seen well, for I am watching [persistently and with diligence] over My word to perform it.'"We have written in the past about the relationship between the olive tree, which represents "the house of Jacob", and the almond trees, that are especially prolific here in Samaria (and also in Judean hills), strewn among the many olive groves. The almond trees' pink and white spotlights-splashes burst forth and glow, highlighting and testifying to the olive trees that YHVH is diligently watching over His Word to perform it. What a wonderful ray of hope YHVH gives to us annually, which also heralds the beginning of the year just ahead and His feast days! What comes to mind is the clarion call: "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of YHVH, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah, and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3)! How appropriate that the almond blossoms are first seen in Jerusalem and then spread to Judea and Samaria, reminding us of Yeshua's answer to His disciples, when they asked Him about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Now, after two thousands years the good news of the hope of Israel has been, and still is being witnessed to in all nations. As evidence of this fact, we are seeing the hearts of the children of the forefathers turning back to their true identity, as they remember the Torah of Moses and the prophets. They are being witnesses, like the "sha'ked", to the faithfulness of the covenant keeping Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Our hearts are grieved over the many things that are taking place in the land of our inheritance, but yet YHVH will remain faithful to watch (almond = sha’ked - to be diligent) over His Word and promises to Israel, the olive tree. We find that our hearts are aching, as did Yeshua's when He wept over Jerusalem, or like Paul's, whose pain he expressed with the following: “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Messiah for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh… who are Israelites” (Romans 9:2-4).
With the situation again brewing on the Lebanese border, and with Iran making its claims of nuclear capabilities, and now almost daily attempts by radical Palestinian groups or individuals to attack Israeli citizens and soldiers, we as YHVH's watchmen must be alert to what He is doing in the midst of these intensifying conditions. Primarily, He is looking to make sure that the spiritual enemy is defeated and overcome in our own lives and relationships. Yeshua came to destroy the works of the enemy, so may we be about His business and bring down every high tower (thought) that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim (ref. 2Corithians 10:3-4). As we clear the spiritual atmosphere around us, we will be able to peer with greater clarity into the earthly realm, as well as into YHVH's intents and purposes while He establishes His kingdom on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Ephraim
Again, we are in the season of the blossoming of the almond tree. Because we have had an exceptionally warm winter, we noticed, already in mid January that some of the almond trees in Jerusalem were in bloom. Thus, although a little earlier than normal this year, the blooming of the almond tree does start, as a rule, in Jerusalem and from there spreads to Samaria and to the rest of the country. We are all familiar with the prophetic usage of this tree, and the meaning of its name.
The word for almond in Hebrew is “sha’ked”, the root verb of which is “to watch diligently”. This is well illustrated in Jeremiah 1:11-12, which reads: “Moreover the word of YHVH came to me, saying, 'Jeremiah, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree’. Then YHVH said to me, ‘you have seen well, for I am watching [persistently and with diligence] over My word to perform it.'"We have written in the past about the relationship between the olive tree, which represents "the house of Jacob", and the almond trees, that are especially prolific here in Samaria (and also in Judean hills), strewn among the many olive groves. The almond trees' pink and white spotlights-splashes burst forth and glow, highlighting and testifying to the olive trees that YHVH is diligently watching over His Word to perform it. What a wonderful ray of hope YHVH gives to us annually, which also heralds the beginning of the year just ahead and His feast days! What comes to mind is the clarion call: "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of YHVH, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah, and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3)! How appropriate that the almond blossoms are first seen in Jerusalem and then spread to Judea and Samaria, reminding us of Yeshua's answer to His disciples, when they asked Him about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Now, after two thousands years the good news of the hope of Israel has been, and still is being witnessed to in all nations. As evidence of this fact, we are seeing the hearts of the children of the forefathers turning back to their true identity, as they remember the Torah of Moses and the prophets. They are being witnesses, like the "sha'ked", to the faithfulness of the covenant keeping Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Our hearts are grieved over the many things that are taking place in the land of our inheritance, but yet YHVH will remain faithful to watch (almond = sha’ked - to be diligent) over His Word and promises to Israel, the olive tree. We find that our hearts are aching, as did Yeshua's when He wept over Jerusalem, or like Paul's, whose pain he expressed with the following: “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Messiah for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh… who are Israelites” (Romans 9:2-4).
With the situation again brewing on the Lebanese border, and with Iran making its claims of nuclear capabilities, and now almost daily attempts by radical Palestinian groups or individuals to attack Israeli citizens and soldiers, we as YHVH's watchmen must be alert to what He is doing in the midst of these intensifying conditions. Primarily, He is looking to make sure that the spiritual enemy is defeated and overcome in our own lives and relationships. Yeshua came to destroy the works of the enemy, so may we be about His business and bring down every high tower (thought) that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim (ref. 2Corithians 10:3-4). As we clear the spiritual atmosphere around us, we will be able to peer with greater clarity into the earthly realm, as well as into YHVH's intents and purposes while He establishes His kingdom on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Ephraim
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