WHY PALM BRANCHES?

Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019

WHY PALM BRANCHES?

King Solomon carved palm trees in the walls of the Temple.

1 Kings 6:29

29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.

In Heaven, we will rejoice with palms in our hands!

Rev 7:9-10

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

           Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem corresponded to the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles. The Hebrew word sukkōt is the plural of sukkah, "booth" or "tabernacle", which is a walled structure covered with s'chach (plant material, such as overgrowth or palm leaves). A sukkah is the name of the temporary dwelling in which farmers would live during harvesting, a fact connecting to the agricultural significance of the holiday stressed by the Book of Exodus. As stated in Leviticus, it is also intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt. Throughout the holiday, meals are eaten inside the sukkah and many people sleep there as well.

           Believers are free from the slavery of sin. We are dwelling temporarily on the earth while working in the Lord’s harvest of souls. It is sufficient but it is not our final and permanent home. We await the return of the King of Kings. When He comes we will abandon the booths and cry out “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”

Mark 11:8-9

8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

Dear Lord, soon we will stand with the multitudes with palms in our hands. We will be home and the harvest will be over. Thank you for freeing us from the slavery of sin. AMEN