RR Psalm 35:10 Part 6

Shalom,

Psalm 35:10 All my bones will say: “Adonai, who is like You, rescuing the poor from one too strong for him, the poor and needy from one who robs him?”

Rabbi Trail:  Before we enter into the seriousness of today’s subject verse… I’m amused (“Amused” is an interesting word in itself.  “Muse” means “to focus attention.”  “Amuse” means the opposite, “to lose focus or attention.”  To say, “I am amused” is to admit I have lost my focus.) by the last Hebrew word in this verse.  The Shoresh is “Gazal,” (Gimel-Zion-Lamed) which means to “rob, seize, snatch, pluck, or consume.”  That last meaning is the same for the identical sounding word in English.  “Guzzle” means “to consume.”  Also in Hebrew, “Ra’ev” means “hungry.”  Sounds similar and has similar meaning to our English word “ravenous.”  End RT.

With that out of the way, we have before us a question.  In Hebrew the question is “Mi K’mo’cha,” meaning "Who is like You?”  The Hebrew response is… “Ayn K’mo’cha,” (see 1Chronicles 17:20) translated “There is none like You!”  BTW - It is a refreshing break to declare that our bones will speak in celebration of God’s triumph over His/our enemies.  Most often in Scripture our bones are described as suffering in silence, as in Psalm 31:11 For my life is consumed in sorrow and my years in sighing. My strength fails because of my anguish and my bones waste away.

But here it is the Lord, Himself, Who rescues the weak.  This is a theme we will find to be repeated throughout Scripture.  Psalm 82:3 Give justice to the poor and fatherless. Be just to the afflicted and destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.  

The last part of our study today is to meditate on what it means to be “rescued.”  Other meanings of the Hebrew word, “Natzal” (Nun-Tzadi-Lamed) are, to be “plucked out, delivered, spared or snatched away.”  (Come to think of it, our English word “natal” has similar meanings related to child birth.)   It is a word that is used more than 200 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, 14 times in Exodus alone.

Will we ever (and I mean ever) be able to stop giving thanks to the One Who has delivered us from certain destruction into eternity in His marvelous presence?  (We are delivered in both space and in time.) Psalm 136:1 Praise (give thanks to) Adonai, for He is good, (Hodu L’Adonai Ki Tov) for His lovingkindness endures forever.  (Ki L’Olam Chasdo) Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed3-Sep-202510th of Elul, 5785
De 23:7-23[8-24]Amos 52 Ch 9Heb 9 (Ac 4)

Rabbi H Michael Weiner

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