APPOINTED TO PRAISE!

 

Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021

 

APPOINTED TO PRAISE!

 

Luke 19:37-40

37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 

           Today is Palm Sunday and palm branches are our focus but it might as easily be called Shouting Stones Day. This was Christ’s appointed day of praise. The whole creation was aware of the divinity of Messiah and humans mindlessly agreed.

 

           Palm branches were regarded as tokens of joy and triumph and were customarily used on festive occasions (Leviticus 23:40, Nehemiah 8:15). Kings and conquerors were welcomed with palm branches being strewn before them and waved in the air.

 

           Additionally, Palm Sunday is like the Tabernacle procession. The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot is a seven-day celebration where the Israelites (or Jewish people today) build a temporary shelter with a roof of palm leaves or similar vegetation. They eat their meals in the temporary shelter to help them remember that God protected and provided for them during the exodus. On the seventh day of Tabernacles is the Hoshana Rabbah, which includes circling the altar seven times, repeating a prayer that begins and ends with the word hosha῾-na (meaning, “Save, please!”). The last circling involves the bundle of willow branches.

 

           The worshipping rocks became the weeping earthquake in Matthew 27:51 as Jesus died. Even Paul mentioned the groaning creation in Romans 8:22. But what the creation knew and acknowledged; man seemed unaware.

 

Luke 19:41-42

41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

 

Dear Lord, I don’t want to be dumber than a box of rocks! Let me praise and acknowledge you today. AMEN