The second prophecy in Jeremiah occupies only two verses, which we give

in full:

`Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what

seest thou?  And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.  Then said the

Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten My word to perform

it' (Jer. 1:11,12).

The word for `almond tree' is shaked, and the word for `hasten' is

shoked, the almond being called the `watcher' or `early waker'.  When the

time comes for the people of Israel to be restored, the same word is again

`And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them

(shoked), to pluck up ... so will I watch over them ... to plant, saith

the Lord ... I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and

with the house of Judah ...' (Jer. 31:28-31).

Moreover, in verses 36 and 37 Israel are assured that they shall not be

cast off on account of their misdeeds -- a passage which finds an echo in the

words of Romans 11:29 `For the gifts and calling of God are without

repentance'.  Returning to the prophecy of Jeremiah, we observe that where

the green olive tree with the broken branches is spoken of, the prophet

interprets the symbol as referring to Israel:

`But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that

nation, saith the Lord' (Jer. 12:17).

If we examine the context of Romans 11, we shall find that there also,

Israel is portrayed as an olive tree:

`To Israel He saith, All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto

a disobedient and gainsaying people' (10:21).

`Blindness in part is happened to Israel ... and so all Israel shall be

saved' (11:25,26).

`As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes' (11:28).

There can be no misunderstanding these references that stand on either

side of the passage which refers to the olive tree.  It is not a church that

is in view, but Israel as a nation.  The `they' that `stumbled' are Israel

(11:11); `my flesh' (11:14) refers to Israel; and those who were `cast away',

and who are yet to be `received', are Israel (11:15).

We have next to consider the `branches' of the olive tree:

`God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew'  (11:2).

`There is a remnant according to the election of grace' (11:5).

`Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election

hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded' (11:7).

The branches that were broken off were the unbelieving among Israel,

the remaining branches constituting a remnant.  Into the place from which the

unbelieving of Israel had been broken off, the Gentile believer had been

grafted, `contrary to nature'.

Why does the apostle use the expression `contrary to nature'? The root

and fatness of the olive tree belonged to Israel, and if Israel had repented,