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Weekly Devotional

March 30, 2009

God’s Peace be with you all.

Revelation 7:9-12   After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!"  ¹¹ And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,  ¹² saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen."

Next Sunday we will celebrate Palm Sunday.  As we gather we will receive palms for us to waive as we begin our worship, much like the Hebrews waived as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.  While it has become a tradition that we celebrate this final journey of Jesus’ into the city, there is more to this celebration and the significance of palm branches.

            The first example is in the above pericope from Revelation.  John the seer describes the scene of celebration.  You will notice that like the Gospel of John’s story, these people are waiving palm branches (see John 12:13).  They have become a part of the worship and celebration of God.  This brings us to the second example.  Palm trees (and branches) have always been a part of the decoration of God’s Temple.  If we look back at 1 Kings (chapters 6 and 7) we see that the Temple was adorned with palm tree carvings, many of which were overlaid with Gold.  In Ezekiel’s vision of the New Temple (Ezek. 40 and 41), palm trees are once again used as decoration.  Why it is a major decoration is unknown.  Perhaps God is just really fond of this aspect of his creation.  Perhaps it is because of what they stand for.  Psalm 92:12 says “The righteous flourish like the palm tree.”  What better to decorate God’s temple than a tree that multiplies and flourishes so well that it is used as a metaphor for the righteous?

            As we approach Palm Sunday, we often think of this triumphant ride into Jerusalem.  But this coming Sunday, I hope you reflect on the meaning of the palm branch in your hand.  I hope that you will realize that like all the saints above, you are worshiping the living God through a simple action.  That action also connects you with all the other branches of the church in the world that celebrate Palm Sunday on the same day.  So like the vision of John, all the people from every tribe and nation will be gathered, waiving palm branches, and worshiping God Almighty.  Amen for that!

In our prayers this week: 

Ann, Doris and her mom, Jane, Irene Scheiry (Jane’s mom), Joseph, St. John’s Lutheran Church

God’s Peace,

Pastor Judson