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RUSSELL SANDERS
9-24-2021
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
THE SUKKOT – PART 5
Today is the third day for the Jews to live in their sukkot (hut) made of tree limbs. Yesterday we spoke of the fruit of these trees. The fruit are called the “four spices.” We spoke of the first two, the citron and the date. Today we cover the other two types of trees and their fruit.
The third tree is the myrtle. They call it the “Hadas.” It is the opposite of the tasty non-fragrance date Palm (lulav). The Hadas has a very good fragrance but has no taste. The fragrance represents good works, but the lack of taste means they have little or no knowledge of God or his written word. In other words, they “look good and smell good” on the outside, but they lack the word of God on the inside.
These are those who we consider “hypocrites.” They are in the church, and they “appear” to be Christians, but they are not truly saved. Many of the religious Jews of Jesus’ day fit that description. They followed all the rituals of the Law and the Synagogue, they tithed, and gave alms, but the love of God was not in them. It was all for show.
The fourth “spice” tree is called the “Arava.” They take the youngest of the willow branches before they open and use it. It has no taste. It has no fragrance. It represents the unbeliever who has neither the word of God (taste) nor the faith that produces good works (fragrance). It is the unregenerate soul.
As the Jews feast and make merriment during the seven days of living in their sukkot, they also say special prayers of blessing over the people in all four of these “spice” categories. So should we also be praying for our fellow man in these four “groups.”
Citron: These true believers need our prayers because the adversary is always looking for a way to “trip them up” or get them discouraged. They need our prayer support to hold up their faith and works that they “be not weary in well doing.” (II Thessalonians 3:13 and see also Galatians 6:9.)
Date: These are believers who received the word and believe but fail in living up to the good works that come from genuine faith. They are carnal Christians. We pray for them that they will draw close to God and become fruitful in faith like the “citron” believers.
Myrtle: We pray for these “look good, smell good” church hypocrites that Holy Spirit will convict them, and they will come into true faith on God (Jesus). Their “good works” alone will only lead them to hell.
Willow Branch: We pray for these lost souls that they will hear the word, believe, repent, and be saved. These are those of the “white harvest” ready for the soul winners to reach. The most important job of the church (you and me) is to bring souls into the kingdom of Heaven for the King of Kings.
We may pray for healings, finances, family matters or whatever else, but the most important matter of all is to pray for those who are lost and then go out and reach them with the word (and testimony) of Jesus.
Sukkot is a season especially dedicated to these prayers. May it also be year-round.
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