Study #16: ZAYIN

ZAYIN AND THE OLIVE ( ZAYIT IN HEBREW )

The official emblem of Israel is the Menorah with two sprigs of OLIVE on either side. It symbolizes the nation of Israel as a Light to the nations bringing Peace ( Shalom ) in its wake ( the symbol of the OLIVE Branches ). But it is the pure OLIVE OIL that sparks the Light of God’s Menorah in the Temple – the symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The word for OLIVE is ZAYIT spelt as Zayin, Yod and Tav.

ZAYIN represents a weapon, the seven lights of the Menorah, Shabbat, leadership, marital union and becoming God’s vessel for blessing and sanctity.

YOD represents a closed hand, intelligence, a work being done.

TAV is the sign of covenant, a return to a sense of purpose and direction, light shining from the darkness.

From this pictorials of ZAYIT we can see the effect of ZAYIN as the modifying first letter. To be the finest oil, the olives had to be beaten down from their tree, crushed and scourged under the hammer/ grinding mill of ZAYIN. Only then could the oil be considered pure and fit for its purpose – approved unto God as holy and conscecrated for burning at the Temple Menorah.

Father God, the trials and tests through our journey of life attest to this preparation as our Lord Himself experienced at Gethsemene ( the Place of the Olive Press). For until we are refined by the sufferings of Christ and realise His Hand in our personal healing can we shine as light in the darkness of our present age as vessels of honour for Your glory.