THE LESSON OF THE ALMOND TREES
ISRAEL HOSTAGE UPDATE
Thank you so much for your faithful & fervent prayers which are powerful and effective! Last Thursday, 3 more hostages were released from Gazan dungeons, along with 5 Thai agricultural workers. They were released after being held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 482 days. HalleluYAH! Praise Yah!
Thai hostages: Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat, and Rumnao Surasak
Hamas releases 3 more Israeli Hostages as we enter the 11th Biblical Month! They were released after 484 days of captivity in Gaza.
Although Yarden Bibas was released, there has been no mention of his wife or 2 children. While their fate remains unknown, we continue to hope against all hope that they are still alive. Please join us in prayer for them!
THE PAINFUL PRICE
In life we become accustomed to crying with tears of joy from one eye and tears of grief from the other. Such is the case with this unjust hostage – prisoner swap deal that includes a ceasefire and the release of almost 2000 murderers with Israeli blood on their hands for 33 hostages (alive or dead). Some are asking, “Has Israel made a terrible mistake?”
| With all of this uncertainty, where is our hope? Our hope is in YAHWEH alone. |
| “Deliver me from my enemies, O my Elohim; set me on high from the ones who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of evil and save me from bloody men.” (Psalm 59:1-2) |
11th BIBLICAL MONTH
This week, we enter into the 11th Biblical month.
A WELL WATERED GARDEN
This month is represented by water, as it is the season of heavy rains in Israel. It is a time to be refreshed and renewed as we enter into Abba’s promises. As we give to others out of the abundance Yahweh has blessed us with, we are to be like a well-watered garden, satisfied by the goodness of YAH.
“And Yahweh shall always guide you, and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)
May Yahweh pour out even more of these during this month!
| THE LESSON OF THE ALMOND TREES |
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| THE WATCHMAN TREE We are to be like trees planted by rivers of water, always bearing fruit for the Kingdom in the right season. In fact, it is during the 11th month that Israel celebrates the festival of trees called in Hebrew Tu Bishvat. The Almond tree is the first tree to blossom and yet the last to bear fruit. It is beautiful to see almond trees blossoming all over Israel every winter. It is called the Watchman Tree because of the play on words in the Hebrew: “The word of YAHWEH came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond rod (shaked שָׁקֵד)” Then YAHWEH said to me, “You have seen well, for I watch over (shoked שֹׁקֵד ) My Word to perform it.” (Jeremiah 1:11 – 12) THE LESSON OF THE ALMOND TREES In Hebrew, this prophecy uses a play on words that carries a vital truth. The Hebrew word for almond, ‘Shaked’, is also translated as “to watch”. By seeing the almond branch, YAHWEH assured Jeremiah that He was watching over His word to bring it to pass, no matter the passage of time. If you are a Watchman on the wall for your family and others, you will also agree with what Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 21:8 “And he cried, A lion! YAHWEH, I always stand on my watchtower by day; and I am stationed at my post all the nights.” KINGDOM WATCHMAN A Watchman doesn’t guard goods. When they pray, they protect their family, others, and places from evil and danger. YAHWEH gives watchmen specific assignments – individuals, families, other believers, cities, and borders to watch over. To watch YAHWEH’s word and to see how it will come to pass. In Biblical Israel, as throughout most of the ancient world, guards or watchmen stood in watchtowers at strategic locations, looking for enemy arrivals, and blowing the trumpet to warn of their approach. Even today, there are guard towers and stations throughout Israel manned by the Israeli Defence Forces, security guards, or residents of the village. In many ways, Believers in YAHWEH of Israel and Messiah Yahshua are also called to be watchmen. “I have set watchmen on your walls O Jerusalem. All the day and all the night they shall not always be silent; you who remember YAHWEH, keep not silent.” (Isaiah 62:6) The Hebrew word for watchmen here is ‘shomerim’, from the root word shamar, which means to keep, guard, watch, and preserve. A Shomer Shabbat (literally, Guard of the Sabbath) is a person who keeps the Shabbat according to rabbinic fashion. A shomer is also a security guard in Israel, such as one who is hired to watch over a group of students going on a hike close to any border post or one who is a security guard at the entrance of a shopping mall. “And I sought among them a man to wall up a wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30) KINGDOM FRUIT The Almond blossoms are a picture of the promise of fruit in our lives. Only through His Holy Spirit are we able to bear fruit when we eat His seed – The Word. The Sword is the Word. No other seed can produce Kingdom fruit. We will be known by our fruit. It is very important to see how those YAHWEH has chosen can be identified; they are fruitful. “Every branch in Me not bearing fruit, He takes away; and each one bearing fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.” (Joh 15:2) KINGDOM LIFE The Almond Tree is the 1st tree to awake in spring and the last tree to shed its leaves, thus the longest tree to ‘stay awake’. As stated about the Almond Tree in Jeremiah 1: 11-12, the word contains the significance of watching and hastening. The word for almond tree in Hebrew is SHA’KAD, and the word for “I will hasten” (Jer 1:12) is SHO’KED, from the same root. The almond was the emblem of the Divine forwardness in bringing YAHWEH’s promises to pass. Abba Father answers what an almond stands for: It is a picture of His Word. This means “to be watchful, to remain watchful, on the lookout and alert at all times.” Ps 1:3 “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of waters, which will give its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf will no wither, and all which he does will prosper.” Abba Father has a promise and purpose for all His children. It is Good. Because of this dream of Abba Father over our lives, our enemy, Satan, prowls around to steal and destroy this plan. Through His Word and by His power and authority, we can overcome the enemy. We have the Lion of the tribe of Judah on our side. He has conquered death for us. WATCHMAN WARN OF DANGER YAHWEH often calls the prophets His watchmen, such as when He told Ezekiel: “Son of man, I have made you a Watchman [tzopheh] for the house of Israel. And hear the Word of My mouth, and warn them from Me.” (Ezekiel 3:17) The Hebrew word for Watchman here is ‘tzopheh’, which comes from the root word tzaphah –צָפָה, which means to look out, spy, or keep watch. So serious is this position to YAHWEH that He said He would hold Ezekiel accountable for the deaths of those he was told to warn and did not. “‘But if the Watchman [tzopheh] sees the sword coming and does not blow the ram’s horn, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes a soul from them, he is taken in his iniquity. But I will require his blood from the watchman’s hand.’” (Ezekiel 33:6) This was the call of the prophets in ancient Israel, and it is the call of Believers in Yahshua. When Yahshua sent 72 of His disciples throughout Jerusalem to share the Good News that the Kingdom has come near, it also came with a warning for those who rejected them: “Truly I say to you, it will be more tranquil to the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in Judgement Day than for that city.” Matthew 10:15. Quite often, we even need to become watchmen over our own hearts and minds. When the Prophet Habakkuk complained to YAHWEH, he appointed himself as a Watchman, looking for the answer: “I will stand on my guard and set myself on the tower, and watch to see what He will say against me, and what I shall return on my rebuke.” (Habakkuk 2:1) However, when we hear a Word from YAHWEH, we must be prepared to actually do it. “Therefore, to anyone knowing to do good, and not doing it, it is sin to him.” (James 4:17) Another word for Watchman, which is not as common in Scripture as shomer or tzopheh is ‘notzri’, which means Watchman, guardian, or overseer (notzrim in the plural). It comes from the root natzar — נָצַר, which means to watch, guard, or preserve. It’s a beautiful word in Scripture as it describes YAHWEH’s oversight in keeping Israel precious and safe. “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste, a howling wilderness. He encircled him and cared for him; He guarded [natzar] him as the apple of His eye.” (Deuteronomy 32:10) “You are my hiding place; You preserve [natzar] me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7) This refreshingly positive understanding of natzar has been lost for centuries in the Jewish culture in which Jewish People never call themselves notzrim. Most believers don’t give much thought to being spiritual watchmen, but they should. You could make the difference as to whether a person or physical territory thrives or languishes. A WATCHMAN ON THE WALL KNOWS THE ENEMY’s TACTICS YAHWEH is bigger than the battle. All watchmen know how the enemy works and aren’t / afraid of his tactics. Do you think David noticed Goliath’s stature as he slung the stones? No, he didn’t – he focused on how big YAHWEH was. Don’t be deceived. YAHWEH knows what goes on behind enemy lines. He gives believers a battle plan, so you aren’t silenced by attacks. Jehoshaphat defeats Moab and Ammon by seeking YAHWEH. He and the people fasted, prayed, praised YAHWEH, and waited for His counsel. A prophet delivers YAHWEH’s message, and he says “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what YAHWEH says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but YAHWEH’s”. (2 Chronicles 20) YAHWEH tells the people to take their positions and stand still. They won’t even need to fight. King Jehoshaphat sends singers out first to praise YAHWEH. Praises confused the enemy, so they killed each other. YAHWEH turned Judah’s dire circumstances into a Valley of Berakah which means blessing. Great was my surprise also when I read in verse 14: “Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of YAHWEH came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph.” Mattaniah was part of that move of YAHWEH who turned their dire circumstances into a blessing. Today I am very excited to again be part of a BIG MOVE of YAHWEH in this season, to again play a role as a “Mattaniah” in YAHWEH’s plan. MESSIAH YAHSHUA IS YAHWEH’S DIVINE WATCHMAN Watchmen place themselves under YAHWEH’s authority to outlast the enemy. We wait for YAHWEH’s instructions because He is on our side. We recognize the enemy’s plans, wear the full Armor, and put our trust in YAHWEH, believe we never fight alone! Some say there are no coincidences in the Hebrew language and, interestingly, a related word to notzrim with the same root (N-TZ-R) is netzer —נֵצֶר. Netzer means shoot or branch, which can refer to descendants, as we find in this well-known prophetic Messianic verse: “A shoot goes out from the stump of Jesse [King David’s father], and a Branch [Netzer] will bear fruit out of his roots. The Spirit of YAHWEH shall rest on Him — He will have the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of YAHWEH.” (Isaiah 11:1–2) The netzer (branch) here is Messiah Yahshua, the Son of David, the Head of the Notzrim. He came as a divine Watchman warning people to “repent, for the Kingdom of YAHWEH has drawn near.” (Matthew 4:17) And He came to preserve their lives for eternity: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost – (Luke 19:1-10) Like the warring angels and the prophets of old, believers in Yahshua today are called to be concerned for the physical and spiritual preservation of all believers. We are called to be the watchmen, praying for the shalom (peace) of Jerusalem; helping the world to understand YAHWEH’s plan for His People and His Land, and defending them against the battles waging against them daily. And most importantly, we are also called to speak the Word of YAHWEH to all people, helping them to understand that His Kingdom has come through Messiah Yahshua, the prophesied Netzer (Branch) of David, the One they have been longing for. In all these ways, believers are to be YAHWEH’s appointed watchmen for everyone today. “The voice of your watchmen, they lift the voice together, they sing aloud. For they shall see eye to eye when YAHWEH brings back Zion.” (Isaiah 52:8) A WATCHMAN ON THE WALL PRAYS Watchmen are YAHWEH’s guardians and therefore called to watch and pray. As a Watchman, you don’t pray based on feelings. You stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and respond quickly to how He moves. A prayer warrior takes up the mantle as Watchman by “in hope, rejoicing; in affliction, enduring; in prayer, steadfastly continuing;” (Romans 12:12) and “praying without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That doesn’t mean you don’t do other things. It does mean that prayer is always on your mind. That’s because uppermost in a Watchman’s life is a concern for others. You experience temporary moments of grief and anguish when families struggle, and evil seems to ramp up in intensity. As Watchman, you know that giving your concerns to YAHWEH gets results you could never orchestrate on your own. A WATCHMAN STAYS COMMITTED Being on the front lines of a spiritual battle day after day can be disheartening. Yet, YAHWEH expects the same vigilance from you and me as he did from Ezekiel. Ezekiel 3:17-18 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. And hear the Word of My mouth, and warn them from Me. In My saying to the wicked, surely you shall die; and you do not warn him, and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, he, the wicked, shall die in his iniquity. But I will require his blood at your hand.” Paul served as a Watchman over churches and today’s believers should warn other believers who are overtaken by sin. Regardless of the personal cost, a Watchman is a servant to others on behalf of Yahshua. A Watchman sees with spiritual eyes and a heart sold out to Yahshua. A WATCHMAN ON THE WALL BUILDS YAHWEH’S KINGDOM By staying pure, holy, and righteous, a Watchman on the wall is spiritually awake. A Watchman brings his/her A-game to the darkest times. Who can deny that darkness covers the earth and draws closer to Yahshua’s return? While others are asleep spiritually, you can separate yourself unto YAHWEH and remain vigilant amidst the influence of a perishing world. You can be instrumental in bringing others to a saving knowledge of Yahshua. You cannot be both kingdom-minded and worldly-minded. Romans 12:2“And be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of Elohim.” The Kingdom of YAHWEH is inside you waiting to be released to others through whatever outreach you choose. Wherever YAHWEH places you, be a Watchman on His behalf. Pray, stay committed, and be wise to Satan’s tactics. You will build YAHWEH’s Kingdom one soul at a time. QUOTED: “Endtime Watchman” – Author: Mattaniah Lochner |
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AND THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY COME! (Rev 22:17)
“For I say to you, In no way shall you see Me from now on, until you say:
“BARUCH ATHE HASHEM ADONAI”
“Blessed is He who comes in the Name of YAHWEH.” (Matt 23:39)
Shalom, Mattaniah
