RR Psalm 34:18,19 Part 14
Shalom {{firstName}},
Psalm 34:18 The righteous cry out and Adonai hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. 19 Adonai is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those crushed in spirit.
Rabbi Trail: Time for a Yiddish lesson. The word for today is “Shanda,” which means “a terrible shame.” I bring it up today, because it occurred to me as I read these verses in Hebrew that it is a “Shanda” they had to be translated into English. Poetry is more than rhyme, it is also meter. The Hebrew is written so that each half verse contains either nine or ten syllables. This, plus the acrostic (each verse starts with the next letter of the Hebrew “Aleph-Bet”) allows for easy memorization of the entire Psalm, if you’re a Hebrew speaker. End RT.
Today, we are presented with a couplet. Yesterday we had two sides of the same coin as we contrasted the righteous with evildoers in verses 16 & 17. Today it is a couplet, as we compare the righteous and the brokenhearted. The action in verse 18 is that Adonai “hears the cry of the righteous.” This is followed by the action in verse 19 is that Adonai “draws near to the brokenhearted.” The result is that the righteous receive deliverance (side note - Jacob prayed this same word, “Hatzilayni,” deliverance from Esau in Genesis 32:11) from all their trouble, while salvation (Yeshua) comes to the brokenhearted who are crushed in spirit.
Verse 18 begins, “Karov Adonai(YHVH) L’nish’b’ray - Lev,” meaning “the Lord is near to those whose hearts are broken. When are we closest to God? When we are in deep distress. While this is true, why should it be that way? Psalm 145 (another acrostic Psalm) uses the same word that starts with a “Quf” (Karov) but puts it this way. Psalm 145:18 Adonai is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
Yeshua addressed this calling in His Bar Mitzvah portion… (see Luke 4:16-21)
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, 2 to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn 3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Adonai, that He may be glorified.
Has your heart been broken? Are you mourning? Would you like to receive comfort and healing? Isaiah 55:6 Seek Adonai while He may be found, call on Him while He is near. Receive the blessing of the Lord today. Psalm 95:7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the flock of His hand. Today, if you hear His voice: Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu21-Aug 202527th of Av, 5785
De 14:22-29Hos 3-4 1 1 Ch 28Tit 2 (Jn 14)
Psalm 34:18 The righteous cry out and Adonai hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. 19 Adonai is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those crushed in spirit.
Rabbi Trail: Time for a Yiddish lesson. The word for today is “Shanda,” which means “a terrible shame.” I bring it up today, because it occurred to me as I read these verses in Hebrew that it is a “Shanda” they had to be translated into English. Poetry is more than rhyme, it is also meter. The Hebrew is written so that each half verse contains either nine or ten syllables. This, plus the acrostic (each verse starts with the next letter of the Hebrew “Aleph-Bet”) allows for easy memorization of the entire Psalm, if you’re a Hebrew speaker. End RT.
Today, we are presented with a couplet. Yesterday we had two sides of the same coin as we contrasted the righteous with evildoers in verses 16 & 17. Today it is a couplet, as we compare the righteous and the brokenhearted. The action in verse 18 is that Adonai “hears the cry of the righteous.” This is followed by the action in verse 19 is that Adonai “draws near to the brokenhearted.” The result is that the righteous receive deliverance (side note - Jacob prayed this same word, “Hatzilayni,” deliverance from Esau in Genesis 32:11) from all their trouble, while salvation (Yeshua) comes to the brokenhearted who are crushed in spirit.
Verse 18 begins, “Karov Adonai(YHVH) L’nish’b’ray - Lev,” meaning “the Lord is near to those whose hearts are broken. When are we closest to God? When we are in deep distress. While this is true, why should it be that way? Psalm 145 (another acrostic Psalm) uses the same word that starts with a “Quf” (Karov) but puts it this way. Psalm 145:18 Adonai is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
Yeshua addressed this calling in His Bar Mitzvah portion… (see Luke 4:16-21)
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, 2 to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn 3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Adonai, that He may be glorified.
Has your heart been broken? Are you mourning? Would you like to receive comfort and healing? Isaiah 55:6 Seek Adonai while He may be found, call on Him while He is near. Receive the blessing of the Lord today. Psalm 95:7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the flock of His hand. Today, if you hear His voice: Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu21-Aug 202527th of Av, 5785
De 14:22-29Hos 3-4 1 1 Ch 28Tit 2 (Jn 14)
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