Daily Bible Reading - October 9, 2017

Today's Reading:

Revelation 10

Nehemiah 13

Psalm 104:24-25

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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading   

Today is the fourth day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Today, we will be continuing our study of in the Trees used in the Feast of Tabernacles (part 2 of 2). 

Yesterday, we began our study on the message and meaning behind the trees Yahweh commanded us to use in the Tabernacle Sukkot. We found that these Tabernacles trees represent characteristics of Yahweh’s end-time people. Today, we are going to continue our study of the Tabernacles trees by looking at the significance of the Willow and Pine.

As we are studying about the characteristics of the Tabernacles trees, let’s remember that when we produce these characteristics, through Yahweh’s strength, we will soon be able to partake of the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:1-5).  

The willow, like the palm, follows the water.  Wherever the spiritual willow is, the Source of living water is to be found.

As it says in Ezekiel 17:5, “He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.”

But while the palm stands tall to signal the presence of water from a great distance, the willow spreads its soothing branches, offering respite from the heat of the sun.

Yahweh’s End-time people are to be like the willow. We are to connect to the Source of Life offering Babylon’s sun-scorched people the protecting shade of Truth.

The willow is also a symbol of deep intercession. It is about sighing and crying for God’s professed people still caught in the sins of Babylon.  It is about looking forward to the day when all of God’s sheep are no longer in Babylon’s embrace, but reside safely within His fold.

Psalm 137:1-2  “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.”

The leaves and bark of the willow tree have been mentioned in ancient texts from Assyria, Sumer and Egypt as a remedy for aches and fever, and the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates wrote about its medicinal properties in the 5th century BC. Native Americans across the American continent relied on it as a staple of their medical treatments. This is because it contains salicylic acid, the precursor to aspirin.

Willow bark also contains auxins (plant growth hormones), especially those used for rooting new cuttings. The bark can even be used to make a simple extract that will promote cutting growth.

Thus, we find that the willow is symbolic of God’s people who are to lift the pain of others while promoting their spiritual growth.

Next, let’s look at the significance of the pine tree.

In Isaiah 60:13, it says, “The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of My Sanctuary; and I will make the place of My Feet glorious.”

The original Hebrew word translated in this verse as pine is Strong’s Number 8410 - tidhâr (tid-hawr‘)

It means enduring; a species of hard wood or lasting tree.

Matthew 10:22 talks about the character quality of endurance. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

The pine used for Tabernacles is both beautiful and enduring. This shows us that we are to be lovely through the beauty of Yahshua. And we are to endure whatever we are called to face, standing straight for truth like the pine, no matter how strong the winds blow or persecutions storm.

The resin of some species of pine is an important source of turpentine. Turpentine is purgative and purifying, although a bit unpleasant at times. Yahweh’s people as they give the final Elijah Message will share a pointed message that is both purgative and purifying. It is not a gentle truth, but calls the people boldly and plainly to come out of Babylon. 

In Isaiah 41:19-20, Yahweh tells us that He puts ALL the characteristics of these Tabernacle trees within us to glorify His Name and give a powerful testimony to the unsaved. Isaiah even says that these blended characteristics in us give the viewer understanding about God.  It says, “I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:  That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Yahweh hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”

God is calling us to be a witness of His life-changing glory. Our testimony is to be so powerful, through what we have allowed Yahweh to do in us, that people will gain understanding and wisdom by viewing it.

The reason Yahweh has chosen these specific trees to be a part of the shelter at Tabernacles is that they show us what He’s calling us to be like, as His End-time people.

Summarizing the Spiritual Significance of the Willow:

1) The willow shows us that Yahweh’s children should seek to lift the pain of those we come in contact with. 

2) We also want to have Yahweh’s Presence and Truth in us so that we will promote spiritual growth in all we meet.

 

3) The willow is also a symbol of deep intercession and sorrow for the sins of Babylon. It reminds us that we are called to pray for those about us, weeping between the porch and the altar as we plead for the salvation of souls. 

4) Finally, the willow is a symbol of soothing shade for those seeking refuge from Babylon’s sun strokes.  It shows that we are to provide safe shelter in Truth and refreshment in guiding the weary to the Source of life.

 

Summarizing the Spiritual Significance of the Pine:

1) Like the pine tree on the side of the mountain, Yahweh calls us to stand straight and tall for Truth no matter what comes. Through His strength we must endure to the end.

2) The pine tree also reminds us to give the full purgative truth. It is a pointed message against sin that the end-time Elijah team is called to give.

3) Finally, when man had become confused about the character of God, Yahshua came to Tabernacle among us to show us what Yahweh was like. His lovely Life gave depths of understanding that concepts alone could not. We, too, are called to glorify God in our lives and words, thereby helping others to gain understanding of the Truth.

Yahweh is calling His children to present all of the lovely characteristics of these Tabernacles trees. 

Like the Myrtle, we are to be fragrant with the indwelling Presence of Yahshua. Like the Palm, we are to be connected to the Source of Living Water as an oasis in this spiritual desert. Like the willow, we are shelter and pray for those tangled in sun worship. And like the pine we are to stand straight for truth enduring all storms, right to the end.

And this is the lovely message of the Sukkot. That as we allow the Saviour’s power to transform us into these beautiful traits, our lives become more and more fully the Tabernacle of the Holy Spirit.