Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - LULAV

                                                         LULAV*

It is interesting just how much of Jewish tradition, and therefore our tradition, is based on the story of the Exodus and the journey through the wilderness. In the book of Leviticus we read:

…on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, 

…you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days…

And you shall take for yourselves on the first day 

the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, 

the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook… 

(Leviticus 23:39-40)

There seemed to be specific instructions in this passage regarding the types of trees to be represented during the feast in question; the query then is to why? According to Wikipedia, a lulav is a closed frond of the date palm tree. When bound together with branches of the myrtle, and branches of the willow along with the etrog, a fruit of the citron, the whole was known as the lulav and was symbolic of the travel of the Jewish people through the wilderness.

The palm tree, which tends to grow in the valley areas, symbolized the sojourns through the valleys of life and that God never left them. As it says in Psalm 23:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil; 

For you are with me…

(Psalm 23:4)

The myrtle tree, which grew more on the hillsides, tended to remind the people of the mountains they had to climb during their travels and again that God never left them and remained with them no matter how difficult the road became.

And the willow which grew near water or in more moist areas symbolized the life-giving waters that God provided for them in the wilderness. As the psalm also says:

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside still waters. 

(Psalm 23:2)

The other mentioned, of course, was the fruit of beautiful trees; the fruit being a reminder of the bounty and provision that awaited them in the Promised Land. As it says in Isaiah:

…thus says the Lord…

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name; 

You are Mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned…”

(Isaiah 43:1-2)

The Lord was saying to the Jewish people that He would be with them in the valleys of life as well as when they were going through whatever mountain lay before them and that provision would always be there for them. And if they remained faithful, the fruit and promises of the Promised Land would eventually await them. Referenced again in Psalm 96 and in Isaiah 55:

 

Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.

Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. 

(Psalm 96:12)

…And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

(Isaiah 55:12)

The same promise is echoed in the New Testament when Jesus says:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

(Hebrews 13:5)

What has been stated in the Old Testament is just said again in the New, just in different ways and format. The meaning, however, remains unchanged. And that is: God is always with us.

And that is something we should always be thinking about.

*Adapted from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Chan, p.g. 165

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TZEMACH

 TZEMACH

The word “Tzemach” is apparently the Hebrew word meaning to sprout, blossom, prosper, spring forth, etc. It evidently refers primarily to organic material coming forth from the ground. 

In the book of Zechariah, a branch is considered to be the tzemach because it is that which comes forth and starts in a small way before it enlarges, spreads, and encompasses a much larger space. In fact, Zechariah used this concept in a message of prophecy to Jehozadek, the high priest.

 

…speak to him saying…

‘Behold, the Man whose name is the Branch!

From His place He shall branch out, 

And He shall build the temple of the Lord;

…He shall bear the glory, 

And shall sit and rule on His throne… 

(Zechariah 6:12-13) 

This was not the first time the concept was used. In chapter 3 of the same book we read Zechariah saying:

…For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch. 

(Zechariah 3:8)

In addition, Isaiah used similar language when he said:

In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious… 

(Isaiah 4:2)

…when he referred to the time of the renewal of Zion. Also,

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 

(Isaiah 11:1)

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;

A King shall reign and prosper,

And execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. 

(Jeremiah 23:5)

In those days and at that time

I will cause to grow up to David

A Branch of righteousness;

He shall execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. 

(Jeremiah 33:15)

And as John says in chapter 15:

I am the vine, you are the Branches. 

He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; 

for without Me you can do nothing. 

(John 15:5)

In a number of books then, prophecy refers to Jesus as being the Branch or the Tzemach; that which starts small and continues to grow until it encompasses much more than initially thought, eventually the entire world. And as it enlarges, the Branch eventually becomes the vine and we, in turn, become the branches to hopefully keep spreading what the vine has to offer: the Good News for all of us.

Something further to keep thinking about.

Adapted from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Chan pg 143  

 

Pastor Matthew Trott July 19 2026

 

Pastor Matthew Trott July 19 2026

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Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 50

 

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 50

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Dr. Barlay with Something to Think About - EVE

EVE

There are many aspects of Scripture which are lost to us because of the way we are expected to read the Bible. In many cases these aspects are subtle and the full meaning not evident. Such is the case with Eve.

We often speak of Adam and Eve as if the two were as one, and in many ways that is true; but in the beginning man’s companion was just called “the woman,” or in Hebrew “ha-ishah.” She was not called Eve until sometime later. 

That time came just after the fall and God placed a curse on man for violating His command. He said to her:

I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;

In pain you shall bring forth children… 

(Genesis 3:16)

Just after this… 

…Adam called his wife’s name Eve…

(Genesis 3:20)

Up to this time in the Bible there is no indication that anything that was in existence had not been created by God but now woman had been given the role of procreation. Thus, Adam renamed his wife Eve, which means “Life-Giver,” for she was to be the giver of life to all humanity. No where up to this point in time had man been told to have children. They had been put…

…in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 

(Genesis 2:16)

It was initially through Eve that they were to be… 

…fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it 

[and] have dominion over…every living thing that moves on the earth. 

(Genesis 1:28)

The timing and naming of Eve; another small but significant detail in the Bible.

And another little thing to think about.

Pastor Jasmine Trott July 12, 2016 Parts 1 &2

 

Our apologies for the two part video.

Pastor Jasmine Trott July 12, 2016 Part 1

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Pastor Jasmine Trott July 12, 2016 Part 2

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Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 49

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