RR Psalm 33:13,14 Part 7

Rabbi’s Reflections - Monday, July 28 2025 
Shalom,

Psalms
Psalm 33:13,14 – Part 7

Psalm 33:13 Adonai looks down from heaven. He observes all humanity. 14 From His dwelling place He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth.

In these two verses, we are told that God “looks, observes and gazes.”  Each is its own distinct Hebrew word, with nuances of meaning.  

First, God “looks” (from Nabat) down from heaven.  The connotation is to look with prophetic insight.  The first time this word appears in Scripture, God speaks it to Father Abraham.  Genesis 15:5 He (God) took him (Abraham) outside and said, “Look up now (Habet-Na), at the sky, and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your seed be.”  

Father Abraham had to look up to heaven.  This same Shoresh is used ub Numbers when the children of Israel needed to look up to see the snake.  Numbers  21:9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, and it happened that whenever a snake bit anyone and he looked at the bronze snake, he lived.  

Next, God “observes” (Ra'ah) all humanity.  This is straightforward seeing (both literally and figuratively).  In the creation story, God “saw” all He had made, that it was good.  Then in Genesis 12, God made Himself visible to Father Abraham.  Genesis 12:7 Then Adonai appeared to Abram, and said, “I will give this land to your seed.” So there he built an altar to Adonai, who had appeared to him.

Finally, God gazes (Hish’gi’ach) from heaven to earth.  This is our word in modern Hebrew, “Mash’gi’ach,” meaning one who inspects “Kashrut” (insures that the laws of keeping kosher are strictly followed).  It is a word that is only used three times in the Hebrew Scriptures, while “Ra’ah” is used over 1,300 times.  

The final use of “Hish’gi’ach” is found in Isaiah as part of his description of the fait of the opposer (satan).  Isa 14:16 Those who see you will stare at you, reflecting on what has become of you: “Is this the one who shook the earth, who made kingdoms tremble, 17 who made the world a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who never opened the house of his prisoners?” 

Yup, that’s the one who thought he was something, but his destiny is eternal torment in the lake of fire.  This describes the fait of the unholy trinity.  Revelation 20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they shall be tortured day and night forever and ever.  And the rest of humanity will inspect his sorry condition.  You will see it.  Bo Yeshua Bo!  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon28-July 20253rd of Av, 5785
De 1:11-21Ez 291 Ch 8Col 4  (Lk 24)

Rabbi H Michael Weiner

Recent

Archive

 2025

Categories

Tags