Tsitsit & Blossom

Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. (Isa 60:21)
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In the wilderness, the children of Israel were instructed to wear fringes or “tsitsit” on the borders of their garments:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes (H6734) in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe (H6734) of the borders a ribband of "tek-ay'-leth" (תְּכֵלֶת H8504): And it shall be unto you for a fringe (H6734), that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments and be holy unto your God. I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. I am the LORD your God. (Num 15:37-41)

In the Hebrew, these fringes or “tsitsit” are associated with the imagery of a flower, and the word for fringes comes from a root word meaning to blossom or flourish.

H6734
(צִיצִת  tsı̂ytsith  tsee-tseeth')
Feminine of H6731; a floral or wing like projection, that is, a fore lock of hair, a tassel: - fringe, lock.

H6731
(צִץ    צִיץ  tsı̂yts tseets,   tsits tseets)
From H6692; properly glistening, that is, a burnished plate; also a flower (as bright colored); a wing (asgleaming in the air): - blossom, flower, plate, wing.

H6692
(צוּץ  tsûts  tsoots)
A primitive root; to twinkle, that is, glance; by analogy to blossom (figuratively flourish): - bloom, blossom, flourish, shew self.

By analogy, people are referred to as trees and branches [Psa 1, Isa  55:12, Jer 11:19, Jer 17:8, Eze 37:19-29, Mat 3:7-10].  How are we to determine a type of tree?

for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. (Luk 6:44)

We know a tree by the fruit it produces.  Throughout the Word of God, the tree that seems to be associated with righteousness and the priesthood is the almond tree:

• the light in the holy place (menorah) was patterned after a blossoming almond tree [Exo 25:31-37]
• Mount Sinai in Midian is known as Jabal al-Lawz in Arabic which translates as "Mountain of Almonds"
• Aaron's rod budded, brought forth buds, bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds [Num 17:1-13]
• Jeremiah, a priest, was shown the branch of an almond tree in a vision [Jer 1:11-12]

Consider that the children of Israel were to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [Exo 19:5-6]; this might be symbolized by a planting of almond trees.  And consider that this kingdom of priests, a holy nation were instructed to wear tsitsit on their garments which are symbolic of blossoms.  This creates the imagery of a planting of almond trees with branches bearing blossoms or flourishing.

Regarding the cycle of the almond tree, when a blossom is pollinated by a bee, then fruit begins to hastily emerge from the calyx.  These firstfruits rapidly or hastily grow over a course of weeks at which time they may be either harvested or left on the tree to mature.  The fruits remaining on the tree continue to mature in the heat; through the summer heat, the seed within becomes firm and the flesh withers thus revealing the seed inside...a seed that is either sweet or bitter.

By analogy, when a person’s faith is pollinated with the Word of God, fruit begins to emerge.  According to James chapters 1 & 2, the evidence of the fruit is revealed through faith and obedience (works).  As the fruit of a person matures through the heat of trials and tribulations, their fleshly desires wither in the heat revealing the seed inside…a seed that is either faithful to the Word of God (sweet) or rebellious to the Word of God (bitter).

The tsitsit were to remind the children of Israel of all the commandments of the LORD, to do them and that He is the LORD their God who brought them out of Egypt.  In the words of James, they were to be “doers of the word”, to remain faithful & obedient; this conveys the imagery of branches of almond trees which bear sweet seed.  Contrast this with being disobedient or rebellious:  “seeking after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring.”  In the Hebrew, the word translated as “rebel” comes from H4784 which means to be bitter; this conveys the imagery of branches of almond trees which bear bitter seed.

Why was it important for the children of Israel to remember the commandments? Because the commandments, rulings, and statutes (the way of the LORD) are the basis of righteousness and justice...and to do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice [Pro 21:3]. The LORD delights in these things, for it is written:

Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD." (Jer 9:23-24)

As we learn to walk in the commandments and apply them to our lives, we learn His way of righteousness and justice:

And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. (Gen 18:17-19)  ...Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (Gen 26:5) 

For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. (Psa 33:4-5) 

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. (Psa 103:6-7) 

Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! (Psa 106:3) 

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. (Psa 119:142)

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. (Pro 14:34)

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. (Pro 21:21)

But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. (Isa 5:16)

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; (Isa 48:17-18)

Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed. (Isa 56:1)

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. (Isa 61:10-11)

If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver, and if you swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. (Jer 4:1-2)

When the Righteous Branch returns, He will set up a government that is established with justice and righteousness:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isa 9:6-7)

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.' And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter." (Isa 28:16-17)

The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion's treasure. (Isa 33:5-6)

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' (Jer 23:5-6, also Jer 33:15)

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! (Rev 15:3)

And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!" (Rev 16:7)

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. (Rev 19:1-2) ​

The commandments of God teach the principals of what is right and just...from our Heavenly Father's perspective or "in the eyes of the LORD."  These are the very principals that the tsitsit are to remind us to obey.  The Righteous Branch produced the fruit of justice and righteousness.  If we are grafted into the Righteous Branch, then so, too, shall we produce the fruit of justice and righteousness. If the Righteous Branch is coming to set up a kingdom upheld in justice and with righteousness and if we will rule and reign with Him, then so, too, shall we uphold justice and righteousness. If the commandments are the plumb line of His righteous government, and we are wearing tsitsit to remind us of His commandments and to do them, then as we walk in His ways, we are bearing witness to His kingdom…we are proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God!

Are the commandments of God important for you today?  Only if you plan to rule and reign with the Righteous Branch in His kingdom.

Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! (Psa 106:3)

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and obey it. (Luk 11:28)

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev 20:4-6)

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Rev 22:14)

tags: tsitsit, commandments, righteousness, fringes, tassels, strings, hem of garment, blossom