In the wilderness, the children of Israel were instructed to wear fringes or “tsitsit” on the borders of their garments:
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)
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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:
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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:
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:
As we learn to walk in the commandments and apply them to our lives, we learn His way of righteousness and justice:
When the Righteous Branch returns, He will set up a government that is established with justice and righteousness:
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.
Are the commandments of God important for you today? Only if you plan to rule and reign with the Righteous Branch in His kingdom.