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An Almond-Tree

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 8, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 32.

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"An Almond-Tree"

By Ernest Lloyd

ERNEST LLOYD
BECAUSE of its blossoming the earliest of any of the trees, and before it is in leaf, the almond has its Hebrew name shaked, from a verb signifying to make haste, to watch, to wake early. Thus when the prophet (Jer. 1:11) is shown the "rod of an almond-tree" (awaking rod), God means to indicate to him by it that, as this tree makes haste to bud, so he would hasten his judgment on the people.
'There is here,' says Blayney, 'at once an allusion to the property of the almond-tree, and in the original a paronomasia, which makes it more striking there than it can be in a translation. It was a practise in early times to place an object for an idea, having the same sound. Thus, in the Pentateuch the word for unleavened bread is a noun signifying a going forth, or out of, derived from the verb to go forth. In like manner, when Solomon, speaking of an old man (Eccl. 12:5), says the almond-tree shall flourish, he intends to express it by the quickness with which old age surprises us; while the snow-white blossoms upon the bare boughs of the tree aptly illustrate the hoary head and the defenseless state of old age.'
The almond was regarded by the Jews as a welcome harbinger of spring, reminding them that the winter was passing away, that the flowers would soon appear on the earth, that the time of the singing of birds was come, and the voice of the turtle would soon be heard in the land. Cant. 2:11, 12. The word shaked, therefore, was a beautiful and fitting synonym for the almond-tree which 'hastened' to put forth its blossoms. The knowledge of this interesting fact will explain this otherwise unintelligible passage in Jeremiah. Aaron's rod that so miraculously budded, yielded almonds; and the Jews now carry boughs of flowering almond to the synagogues, on great feast-days, just as the Jews of old used to present palm branches in the temple. The almond was also the model of the ornaments of the candlestick in the tabernacle, suggesting the 'quickening' influence of the Holy Spirit.
'I will hasten [shaked] my word to perform it.' The Lord desires to encourage us as he did Jeremiah, with his unfailing promise of speedy assistance in carrying a 'heavy message' to the people—'touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.' We live in 'a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy.' 'The foundations of the earth are out of course,' and 'if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?'—They can remember that 'the Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven;' that 'the Lord trieth the righteous;' and they cry to him from whom cometh all help: 'Help, Lord, . . . for the faithful fail from among the children of men.' He is the unfailing Friend of his people. His name is 'a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.' 'I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.' 'The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.'
'Once more the King of kings, and Lord of lords, may be looking down upon his beleaguered church, and saying, 'Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat;' and once more may every 'good soldier of Jesus Christ' hear that comforting, assuring, courage-giving word from the 'Captain of our salvation,' 'I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.' Though the church be sifted 'like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.'' 'The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth [shaked] greatly.' 'And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.' 'God shall help, . . . and that right early' (shaked). Praise ye the Lord.
Pasadena, Cal.