Bells and Pomegranates - Garden In Delight

Among the many wonderful signs that the holiday season is here—the crisp air-with-a-chance-of-snow, warm-fires-and-hearts-aglow, moving through mid-November to New Year’s crescendo—are bushels of pomegranates appearing in produce sections. These brilliant red fruits stacked up in special displays serve as soundings to Christmas and Chanukah cheer, as earth-toned pumpkins and gourds give way to all that is merry and light. Let’s ring in the festivities with bells and pomegranates!

Taking a cue from the hem of the High Priest’s robe, I have a gathering of Scriptures to lead our hearts in devotion as we ponder the pomegranate, a meaningful way to let our minds wonder as we wait in grocery checkout lines, LOL!

Bells and Pomegranates for Ministering

In one of the Bible’s secret garden moments, God decreed a panache for fashion by designing the priest’s robe with a botanically detailed hemline:

To be placed around its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet material. Alternate them with gold bells (a gold bell, then a pomegranate, a gold bell, then a pomegranate), all around the hem of the robe. The robe shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die. Exodus 28:33-35 EHV

Twice the Lord declared His desire for a two-beat expression along the ground-touching edge of the priest’s blue robe:

On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. They also made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates all around the hem of the robe, between the pomegranates—a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate around the hem of the robe for ministering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Exodus 39:24-26 ESV

These descriptions reveal that pomegranate emblems were to be woven by Spirit-filled artisans (Exodus 31:1-11), in multi-hued threads, amplifying the rich coloring of the rinds. Next, golden, i.e. metal, bells were fixed between the needlework fruits. That is, once the robe was grounded in fruits, the bells were sewn in between each plump punctuation, forming a rhythmic pattern: bell, pomegranate, bell, pomegranate, on and on encircling the edge.

Specifically, this robe was to be worn by Aaron, the High Priest, to minister, in carrying out his devoted tending to the LORD. The bells sounded his movement; naturally, each step or turn he made would jingle the bells, broadcasting his activity. Since he would be in the Holy of Holies and not visible to the community, the bell sounding would let the people know that the priest was alive and engaged; in turn they could hear and be attuned to his activity. The priest’s worshipful actions became synonymous with sound, stirrings to listen for, echoing the intimate garden life of Eden.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day Genesis 3:8 AMPC

Growing Readiness

Yet what first presents as clothing design blooms in precious metaphor, foretelling the ministry of God’s Spirit. This adorning pattern established a meter—interwoven with the tinkling bells was the bright pomegranate fruit, infusing sounding with sweet, nourishing vibrancy, as fruit is sweet to the taste, in the work of ministering. Sounding, nourishing; sounding, nourishing, a rhythmic pattern, a heartbeat, a two-part power in the way the Spirit of God works. Considering the bells and pomegranates, this hem design calls us to readiness, growing in anticipation of the outpouring and blessing of the Spirit of God (Isaiah 44:3).

bell shaped pomegranate flower — *pomegranate flowers dangle like little bells, a horticultural detail hinting to the hem*

The Pattern Continues

Let me usher you now to the writings of Paul, which deepen understanding of life in Jesus. We can find two lists regarding Holy Spirit’s ministry, calling us to become aware of His presence through gifts and fruit. Initially, we might not link these two lists, as they are part of different teachings to separate communities, addressing distinct issues. Yet The Lord tucked this telling sign in the hem of the High Priest’s robe, and the two impartations are meant to be in harmony as the bells and pomegranates declared, a hidden sign that the pattern continues.

There are different varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different forms of activity, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each of us, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one, is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom; and to another, the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit. Another by the same Spirit is granted faith, while still another is granted the gift of healing by the same Spirit. To one, is granted the gift of mighty deeds; to another, the gift of prophecy; and to yet another, the gift to discern spirits. One receives the gift of tongues and another the ability to interpret them. 1 Corinthians 12:4-10 NCB

… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Galatians 5:22-23 NCB

Each listing relays 9 manifestations, making rhythmic pairings as the hemline foretold, adding another clue to put the two together. Intermingled with the movement of the Spirit—His sounding, His call, His Words—is sweet fruitfulness of His love, produced in our personalities to ground our life and relationships in His.

*pomegranate leaves turn golden in late fall, a horticultural detail hinting to the bells*

Gifts and Fruit Together

Naturally, as a gardener, I have gravitated to the fruit of the Spirit over my years of getting to know God’s Word. This metaphor is an easy one to love, especially since love is first on this list! Watching spring blossoms swell with forming fruits on a tree boughs or berry shrubs is a gardener’s delight, and Holy Spirit infuses us with similar joyful goodness as we grow and cultivate His Presence at home, giving us gracious ability to live and love the people around us.

Only recently did I see the recounting of gifts of the Spirit in harmony with the fruit, thanks to this teaching from The Lance Wallnau Show. The gifts are not as obvious a simile to “bells” as fruit is to “pomegranates”…maybe we have to struggle a bit to grasp it. See our Father the Gardener, giving us a little work to do! Consider that the gifts are predominantly spoken, releasing God’s power through sound, comparing to the audible quality of bells.

One can find extensive studies on the aspects, theology, and applications of the gifts and fruit, yet for now let us simply embrace that the two impartations are meant to be experienced in concert. This is the essence of Paul’s classic prose on love in the next chapter, 1 Corinthians 13:

And if I were to have the gift of prophesy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but I have never learned to love, then I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 TPT

Dazzling displays of miracles and healings, pinpointed words of wisdom or knowledge, along with the symphonies of speaking tongues will be rhythmically intermittent with kindness, love, and joy, with peace and gentleness, by God’s loving care and Presence. ‘Tis the season to celebrate the outpouring of His Spirit and the ways He lives and moves among us.

To learn more about growing pomegranates, read “Blooming Pomegranates” in the Devotions Blog and visit pomegranate in the Plant Guide

Bells and Pomegranates Treasury

Savor the sounding of these resonating Words and let us draw near to worship God, ready to welcome His moves.

May God’s undeserved kindness and total well-being that flow from our Father God and from the Lord Jesus be yours. Galatians 1:3 TPT

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Exodus 34:5-7 NIV

So will I pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing upon your descendants. Isaiah 44:3 ISV

look for pomegranates in the produce section plentiful in late fall

I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts. John 15:9 TPT

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 TLV

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Galatians 5:22-23 The Message

Every believer has received grace gifts, so use them to serve one another as faithful stewards of the many-colored tapestry of God’s grace. 1 Peter 4:10 TPT

But when the Father sends the Spirit of Holiness, the One like me who sets you free, he will teach you all things in my name. John 14:26 TPT

If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Galatians 6:8-9 TPT

Aaron was set apart to consecrate the most holy things. He and his sons were to burn incense before the Lord forever, and to minister, and to proclaim blessings in his name forever. 1 Chronicles 23:13 NCB

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? 1 Corinthians 6:19 RSV

The Lord is within your spirit and his grace overflows to you. 2 Timothy 4:22 TPT

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NIV

pomegranates now in season at grocery stores

From our Thanksgiving Table to Yours

Bring God’s Word from garden to table with this simple, vibrant fruit salad for your Thanksgiving feast.

celebrate bells and pomegranates with a fruit salad recipe

Closing Prayer

O Father, thank you for the blessings You put in our lives! Thank You for connecting some of Your most profound ways to something I can taste and touch and grow, like pomegranates! Let me be filled with Your Spirit as I go to the supermarket, hallelujah! I can praise and worship You everywhere I go, and everywhere I wait—and thank You for going ahead of me into eternity to secure more than enough patience for the extra pressures that even a joyful season brings. O Lord, bring me back around continually to be listening for Your moves and bringing You near to those around me. You have set me apart yet I am grateful to belong to Your wonderful harvest! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

The Lance Wallnau Show on bells and pomegranates

Be sure to watch Lance Wallnau and his teaching on the bells and pomegranates, which inspired this post for the Devotions Blog: The Bell and the Pomegranate: A Hidden Message About Power and Character

Do you enjoy connecting your garden work to God’s Word? My Father is the Gardener is a devotional book for you! Makes a great gift for the gardener, too!

Learn more about planting a pomegranate tree in your garden in the Plant Guide

Pomegranate is an old favorite in the Devotions Blog – enjoy more reading: Blooming Pomegranates in the Bride’s Garden, Too Busy to Peel a Pomegranate, The Seven Species: A Garden-to-Table Guide, Thanksgiving Devotions, A Bearing Fruit Breakfast

God's Word for Gardeners Bible with grapes from grapevines

Read more in God’s Word for Gardeners Bible! Pomegranates are detailed in “Wonderful Blessing,” in the Bearing Fruit devotions series beginning on page a-34

Pull it all together in a poem from the A-to-Z Primer of Plants from God’s Word in P is for Pomegranate

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