HEBREW WORD STUDY – FLOWER – TSITS – ציצ  

 Psalms 103:15-17: “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”

It seems as if this is to say that life is just here today and gone tomorrow? A hundred years from now no one will even know you existed.  For that matter who cares if you are remembered a hundred years from now, you will be dead.  For that matter why even bother with life if all you are getting is pain, misery, and heartbreak, where your only hope is what Friedrich Nietzsche the German philosopher says is knowing that life will end and it can end anytime you want. 

It is interesting that the root word for grass is chatsar where in its Semitic root it has the idea of something that quickly perishes. The word for flower is tsits which is a word used in ancient Canaanite cultures for colorful wings and feathers.  This is not your standard word for flower you although, as we can see from this word.  The emphasis is on its bright colors and the temporary awe that it brings. There wasn’t much color in those days.  Pretty much sand and desert, everything was sort of black and white until a bird flew by or you came upon a field of wildflowers. My study partner talks about the Wizard of Oz and how the beginning is in black and white and then when Dorothy steps into Oz suddenly everything lights up in glorious Technicolor. For the moment you are awe-stricken, that is what tsits (flower) means. Eventually, you get used to the colors and the awe fades.

Actually, Jewish tradition teaches that this is not about life but the gifts and opportunities that God gives us in this life. We must seize these opportunities and use our gifts when they are manifested for soon the opportunity will be gone and we will outgrow many of our gifts.

Yet verse seventeen tells us that God’s mercy endures forever. Somewhere in that word mercy or chasad (goodness, kindness, and faithfulness) lies the meaning of life. For in His mercy we will experience new opportunities and new gifts. Get it! Even at an advanced age, we will still receive new gifts from God, gifts we were not born with.  As long as God gives us life, we have opportunities. I just read in the Talmud this morning that the meaning to life is to discover God’s purpose, the reason He created us and then to discover the gifts God has given us to carry out that purpose. Learning God’s purpose and discovering the talents (old and new) He has gifted us with is a lifelong journey. I am 67 years old and I am still discovering new talents or gifts that God has given to me and opportunities to use those gifts.  

In my youth, I attended many seminars on discovering your spiritual gifts. I’ve taken many so-called tests to discover my gifts but ultimately, it is God who reveals your gifting and it is revealed in His time. Sometimes that revelation comes later in life than earlier when you are ready for it. But every time it comes it is like a tsits the discovery of bright, beautiful colors. Grab it, seize it and use it for God’s glory, for it will soon pass.