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| Judg 9:8 Once upon a time
the trees decided to elect a king. First they asked the
olive tree, 9 but it refused. "'Should I quit producing
the olive oil that blesses God and man, just to wave to and fro over the
other trees?' it asked. TLB |
Olive Oil, the Olive Tree and it's Roots are equally
important
They encompass a threefold multiple
tied together in such a way that it represents completeness like that
of Jehovah, the God of Israel.
For this reason the
God of Israel is referred to in plural, el-o-heem
(Gods), not el-o'-ah, El (god) - the god
of Islam and other religions. [Allah, the name of the god
of Islam, is actually the name of a desert god:
Quotes from several Islamic and other
scholars should suffice to emphasize this important point. Ramon Bennett
lists the following in his book “The Wall” (pages 235 and
236):
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“Allah” is a purely Arabic
term used in reference to an Arabian deity. (Robert Morey, The Islamic
Invasion)
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“Allah” is a proper name,
applicable only to their peculiar God. (Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion
and Ethics)
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The origin of this goes back to pre-Muslim
times. Allah is not a common name meaning “God”. (Robert Morey,
The Islamic Invasion)
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“Allah” is a pre-Islamic name
… corresponding to the Babylonian Bel. (Encyclopedia of Religion and
Ethics).
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Allah was known to the pre-Islamic Arabs;
he was one of the Meccan deities. (Encyclopedia of Islam).
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Allah-worship, as well as the worship
of Ba’al, were both astral religions in that they involved the worship
of the sun, the moon, and the stars. (E.M. Wherry, A Comprehensive Commentary
on the Quran).
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In Arabia, the sun god was viewed as
a female goddess and the moon as the male god. The name
Allah was used as the personal name of the moon god. (Robert Morey, The Islamic
Invasion)
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Allah, the moon god,
was married to the sun goddess. Together they produced three goddesses who
were called “the daughters of Allah.” These three goddesses were
called al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat.
(Ibid.) The desert Arab…feared
and worshiped incalculable deities in stars and moon…. Now and then
he offered human sacrifice [Editor: suicide in our day]; and here and there
he worshiped sacred stones. The center of this stone worship was Mecca with
the Ka’aba and its sacred Black stone…in its southeast corner,
five feet from the ground, just right for kissing…. Within the Ka’aba,
in pre-Moslem days, were several idols representing gods, One was called
Allah…three others were Allah’s daughters al-Uzza, al-Lat, and
Manat.(Will Durant, The Story of Civilization).
( Back to
Altar#Messiah)
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The multiplicity of the God of Israel can easily
be explained by analysing the characteristics of us humans since we were
created in "THEIR" image - Genesis 1:26 "Let
us make man in OUR image, in OUR likeness." Our (human) beings
constitute three dimensions or persons, a soul (person), a body (person),
and a spirit (person). Similarly we have:
God, the soul, with his intense love and righteousness. We cannot see
him, but we can experience him like a caring father.
God the Spirit, who was there from the beginning as we see in Genesis
1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty,
darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering
over the waters. It is nearly as if the earth was so
desolate that God didn't want to set foot on it, which supports the view
that the creation described in Genesis 1 was actually a re-creation of the
earth due to some catastrophe that had hit it. God also puts His (The) Spirit
on people to establish a special relationship with them:
I Samuel 16:13 So Samuel took the horn
of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day
on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.
Later, after David had sinned, we see how precious his
special ties to God are from his following plea: Psalms 51:11
Do not cast me from your presence or take your
Holy Spirit from me.
God the Body, the Messiah. The main difference between
the God of Israel and other gods is that he is not represented on earth by
objects, e.g.. Buddha statues, the Black Rock in Medina, etc., but
by a person with a human body. The first time we come across him is where
Abram was visited by three men. Genesis 18:1
The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great
trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat
of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he
saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed
low to the ground. 3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord
(Adoni in Hebrew), do not pass your servant by.
Abraham calling one of the three men "my Lord" in Genesis
18:1 was not simply in the context it is used today in Israel, meaning
Sir or my Sir (adon or adoni). We know this Lord was God from the fact that
the original Hebrew text calls him Jahwe instead of "Lord." He was
God in human form, most probably the Messiah, also
called Immanuel, meaning, "God with us." |
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The Olive Tree
Similarly, the Olive Tree comprises
an unseen part, the Root(s), the visible Tree (that could be
chopped off like the Messiah as in Isaiah 11:1), and
the Oil.
Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and
a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall
rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel
and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; KJV
Isaiah 53:1 But, oh, how few believe it! Who will listen? To whom will God
reveal his saving power? 2 In God's eyes he was like a tender green shoot,
sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. But in our eyes there was
no attractiveness at all, nothing to make us want him. TLB
Revelation 5:5 "Stop crying, for look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, has conquered, and proved himself worthy to open the scroll
and to break its seven seals."
Revelation 22:16 I am both David's Root and his Descendant. I am the bright
Morning Star. TLB |
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Return to the
Picture of an Olive
Tree |
Connection with the
Spirit
Zechariah 4:1 Then the angel who had been talking with me woke me,
as though I had been asleep.
2 "What do you see now?" he asked.
I answered, "I see a gold lampstand holding seven lamps, and at the top there
is a reservoir for the olive oil that feeds the lamps, flowing into them
through seven tubes. 3 And I see two olive trees carved upon the lampstand,
one on each side of the reservoir. 4 What is it, sir?" I asked. "What does
this mean?" 5 "Don't you really know?" the angel
asked.
"No, sir," I said, "I don't."
6 Then he said, "This is God's message to
Zerubbabel: 'Not by
might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty-you will succeed
because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.'
Zechariah 4:11 Then I asked him about the
two olive trees on
each side of the
lampstand,
12 and about the two olive branches that emptied oil into gold bowls through
two gold tubes.
13 "Don't you know?" he asked.
"No, sir," I said.
14 Then he told me, "They represent the two anointed ones who assist the
Lord of all the earth."
Rev 11:4 These two prophets are the two olive trees, and two candlesticks
standing before the God of all the earth. TLB |
Return to the
Picture of an Olive
Tree |
Israel is also presented
as an Olive Tree
Psalm 52:8-9 But I am like a sheltered olive
tree protected by the Lord himself. I trust in the mercy of God forever and
ever. 9 O Lord, I will praise you forever and ever for your punishment. And
I will wait for your mercies-for everyone knows what a merciful God you are.
TLB
Hosea 14:5 I will refresh Israel like the dew from heaven; she will blossom
as the lily and root deeply in the soil like cedars in Lebanon. 6 Her branches
will spread out as beautiful as olive trees, fragrant as the forests of Lebanon.
7 Her people will return from exile far away and rest beneath my shadow.
They will be a watered garden and blossom like grapes; they will be as fragrant
as the wines of Lebanon. TLB
Israel and Ephraim, Israel and the
Messiah, David and the Messiah are so interconnected, that the Father
often alternates from one to the other as if there is no difference between
them.
Exodus 4:22 Then you
are to tell him, 'Jehovah says, "Israel is my eldest son, 23 and I
have commanded you to let him go away and worship me, but you have refused:
and now see, I will slay your eldest son."'" TLB
Jeremiah 31:4 I will rebuild your nation, O virgin of Israel. You
will again be happy and dance merrily with the timbrels. 5 Again you will
plant your vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria and eat from your own
gardens there. 6 "The day shall come when watchmen on the hills of
Ephraim will call out and say, 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion to the
Lord our God.'" ... 9 Tears of joy shall stream down their faces, and I will
lead them home with great care. They shall walk beside the quiet streams
and not stumble. For I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my oldest
child." TLB |
Return to the
Picture of an Olive
Tree |
Where do non-Jews
(Gentiles) fit in "horticulturally"?
We see in Romans 11 that the Gentiles
are also represented by the Olive Tree; ironically, however, in a paradoxical
way that is not acceptable to Christians who think they have replaced
Israel:
Romans 11:1 I ask then,
has God rejected and deserted his people the Jews?
Oh no, not at
all. Remember that I myself am a Jew, a descendant of
Abraham and a member of Benjamin's family. 2 No, God has not discarded
his own people whom he chose from the very beginning ...
16 And since Abraham and the prophets are God's people, their children
will be too. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the
branches will be too.
17 But some of these branches from Abraham's tree, some of the Jews, have
been broken off. And you
Gentiles who
were branches from, we might say, a wild olive tree, were grafted
in. So now
you, too, receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children,
sharing in God's rich nourishment of his own special olive tree.
18 But you must be careful not to brag about being put in to replace the
branches that were broken off. Remember that you are important only because
you are now a part of God's tree;
you are just a
branch, not
a root.
19 "Well," you may be
saying, "those branches were broken off to make room for me, so I must be
pretty good." 20 Watch out! Remember that those branches, the Jews, were
broken off because they didn't believe God, and you are there only because
you do. Do not be proud; be humble and grateful-and careful. 21 For if God
did not spare the branches he put there in the first place, he won't spare
you either...
22 Notice how God is both kind and
severe. He
is very hard on those who disobey, but very good to you if you continue to
love and trust him. But if you (Gentile Christians) don't, you too will be
cut off. 23 On the other hand, if the Jews leave their unbelief behind them
and come back to God, God will graft them back into the tree again. He has
the power to do it. 24 For if God was willing to take you who were so far
away from him -
being part of a wild
olive tree
- and graft you into his own good tree - a very unusual thing to do
- don't you see that he will be far more ready to put the Jews back again,
who were there in the first place? TLB |
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The Olive trees
in Canaan was also part of Israel's inheritance.
Deuteronomy 6:10 "When the Lord your God has brought you into the land he
promised your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and when he has given
you great cities full of good things-cities you didn't build, wells you didn't
dig, and vineyards and olive trees you didn't plant.
Joshua 24:13 I gave you land you had not worked for and cities you did not
build-these cities where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and
olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.' TLB |
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Characteristics and uses
of Oil
Anointing
1 Samuel 16:13 So Samuel
took the horn of oil and anointed him (David) in the presence of his
brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David
in power. NIV
Ps 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You
anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. NIV
Blessing/Curse
(Punishment)
Judges 9:8 Once upon
a time the trees decided to elect a king. First they asked the olive tree,
9 but it refused. "'Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses
God and man, just to wave to and fro over the other trees?' it asked.
TLB |
Return to the
Symbolism and Uses |
Feeling
Psalm 45:7 You love
righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above
your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. NIV
Isaiah 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a
crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of
mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They
will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display
of his splendor. NIV
Jeremiah 31:12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they
will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD--the grain, the new wine and the oil,
the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more. NIV
Fuel for lamps
Exodus 27:20 "Instruct the people of Israel to bring you pure olive oil to
use in the lamps of the Tabernacle, to burn there continually. TLB
Grooming
Ps 104:15 and wine to make him glad,
and olive oil as lotion for his skin, and bread to give him strength. TLB
Matt 6:17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18
so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting,... NIV
Luke 7:46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my
feet. NIV
Healing
(Spiritual) and
Medication
Mark 6:13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil
and healed them. NIV
Luke 10:34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.
NIV |
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Symbolism and Uses |
Honor
Gen 28:16 Then Jacob woke up. "God lives here!" he exclaimed in terror. "I've
stumbled into his home! This is the awesome entrance to heaven!" 18 The next
morning he got up very early and set his stone headrest upright as a memorial
pillar, and poured olive oil over it. 19 He named the place Bethel ("House
of God"), though the previous name of the nearest village was Luz. TLB
Exodus 27:21 Aaron and his sons shall place this eternal flame in the outer
holy room, tending it day and night before the Lord, so that it never goes
out. This is a permanent rule for the people of Israel.
Luke 7:45 You refused me the customary kiss of greeting, but she has kissed
my feet again and again from the time I first came in. 46 You neglected the
usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has covered my feet
with rare perfume. TLB
Sanctification/Atonement
Exodus 28:41 Clothe Aaron and his sons with these garments, and then dedicate
these men to their ministry by anointing their heads with olive oil, thus
sanctifying them as the priests, my ministers.
Exodus 29:36 Every day you shall sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering
for atonement; afterwards, purge the altar by making atonement for it; pour
olive oil upon it to sanctify it. TLB
Exodus 30:22 Then the Lord told Moses to collect the choicest of
spices-eighteen pounds of pure myrrh; half as much of cinnamon and of sweet
cane; 24 the same amount of cassia as of myrrh; and 1 1/2 gallons of olive
oil. 25 The Lord instructed skilled perfume makers to compound all this into
a holy anointing oil. TLB |
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Symbolism and Uses |
Payment/Compensation
1 Kings 5:10 So Hiram produced for Solomon as
much cedar and cypress timber as he desired, 11 and in return Solomon sent
him an annual payment of 125,000 bushels of wheat for his household and 96
gallons of pure olive oil. TLB
Deuteronomy 15:12 "If you buy a Hebrew slave, whether a man or woman, you
must free him at the end of the sixth year you have owned him, 13 and don't
send him away empty-handed! 14 Give him a large farewell present from your
flock, your olive press, and your wine press. Share with him in proportion
as the Lord your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in
the land of Egypt and the Lord your God rescued you! That is why I am giving
you this command. TLB
Luke 16:5 "So he invited
each one who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation.
He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe him?' 'My debt is 850 gallons
of olive oil,' the man replied. TLB
Provision
or lack thereof as punishment
Joel 2:19 The LORD will
reply to them: 'I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy
you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.
NIV
Job 24:11 They are forced to press out the olive oil without tasting it and
to tread out the grape juice as they suffer from thirst. TLB
Mic 6:15 You will plant crops but not harvest them; you will press out the
oil from the olives and not get enough to anoint yourself! You will trample
the grapes but get no juice to make your wine. TLB
Hag 2:16 Before, when you expected a twenty-bushel crop, there were only
ten. When you came to draw fifty gallons from the olive press, there were
only twenty. I rewarded all your labor with rust and mildew and hail. Yet,
even so, you refused to return to me,'" says the Lord. TLB
Rev 6:6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,
saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for
a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" NIV |
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Symbolism and Uses |
Sacrifice/Offering/Tithe
Oil has to be added to Grain offerings:
Lev 2:1 "Anyone who wishes to sacrifice a grain offering to the Lord is to
bring fine flour and is to pour olive oil and incense upon it. TLB
Could be given as tithes
Deuteronomy 14:23 Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the
place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain,
new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose
of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. TLB
Uses of Olive
Wood
Olive wood is very knotty and is more suitable for art work, although it
was sometimes used for smaller construction work like door frames:
1 Kings 6:23 Within the
inner sanctuary Solomon placed two statues of Guardian Angels made from olive
wood, each fifteen feet high. TLB
1 Kings 6:33 Then he made square doorposts of olive wood for the entrance
to the Temple. TLB |
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