So Will I Watch Over Them

The Hebrew word shaqad (שָׁקַד) means to watch over. It implies an alert oversight, ensuring that things happen as they should.

The related noun shaqed (שָׁקֵד) means almond or almond tree. The almond tree was the first tree to bloom in Israel, so it was viewed as the wakeful or alert one.

This explains the conversation between God and Jeremiah when he was called to be a prophet:

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 [shaqed].
Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten [shaqad] my word to perform it.

Jeremiah 1:11-12

God told Jeremiah that as prophet, he would be responsible to do many things, including “to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). The first four tasks are unpleasant but sometimes necessary. The last two are rewarding. We build inanimate things; we plant and cultivate living things.

Later, God described His own work of scattering and gathering in the same terms:

And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over [shaqad] them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over [shaqad] them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:28

God watches over us during all phases of our lives. He is not detached and indifferent. He is very much involved.

Zenos’s allegory of the olive trees, quoted in the Book of Mormon in Jacob 5, adds another dimension to God’s oversight. He is not only aware of our growth; He is committed to it. He delights in our achievements and sorrows at our setbacks (Jacob 5:41). “What could I have done more for my vineyard?” He asks repeatedly (Jacob 5:41, 47, 49). “It grieveth me that I should lose this tree,” he says eight times (Jacob 5:7, 11, 13, 32, 46, 47, 51, 66). And three times, He anticipates having joy in the fruit of His vineyard (Jacob 5:60, 71, 75).

Life is a learning experience, and learning isn’t always easy. There are times when we need to let things go, when things we treasure are taken away or even destroyed. These are difficult learning experiences. But there are other times when we are able to build or plant things and watch them take shape. God watches over us through all of these experiences. Like the almond tree, He came before us and He watches over us continually, not as a disinterested observer but as a loving and committed parent.

Today I will visualize God watching over the experiences which are shaping me. I will be grateful for His support as I let things go and watch things grow.