RR An Obstacle to Expecting Favor By David Harwood
Shabbat Shalom,
Our last meditation considered two hindrances to expecting favor (charis): unbelief and unhealthy introspection. The obstacle we will look at in this meditation is similar to unhealthy introspection: a guilty conscience.
A guilty conscience can hinder us from looking to God for favor (charis/grace). Thankfully, we have an opportunity to be cleansed of legitimate, not phantom, guilt. We can confess our sins to God.
David did.
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said: “I confess my transgressions to Adonai,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:5)
Jacob/James encouraged this within the context of corporate covenanted relationships.
So confess your offenses to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. (James 5:16)
In my opinion, this form of confession may have to do with sins committed against the community. Sin against the community of believers is connected to illness in 1 Corinthians 11.
For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and quite a few have died. (1 Corinthians 11:30)
If our manner of life is marked by self-condemnation because of habitual sin, confessing our sins to others who reciprocate and fervently intercede may provide victory, restore confidence in God’s favor, and expedite physical healing - if sin is a contributing cause.
John encouraged us to trust God’s faithfulness and integrity. He wrote that He will forgive us as we confess the reality of our rebellions to God.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Upon the confession of true guilt, we are forgiven and cleansed. Father is faithful to forgive. It is righteous that He forgives. God honors Yeshua’s worthy sacrifice.
Confession clears the way for relational reconciliation with the favorable God. Relational reconciliation builds upon the foundational forgiveness of a sinning individual or community.
Ultimately, the answer to a guilty conscience is having a firm reliance upon Yeshua’s atoning sacrifice. This, like the confession of sin, is our responsibility. We must choose to rely upon Him, and choose to belong to Him.
We rely upon the Messiah’s atoning blood. Faith in its power can cleanse our offended consciences. It purifies us from all unrighteousness.
how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God—cleanse our conscience ...? (Hebrews 9:14a)
This cleansing may affect residual results of already forgiven sins. For example, shame and self-rejection. Unconfessed sin hinders our expectation of the experience of divine favor/charis.
At times, confession is the first step towards relational reconciliation with God and others. If we’ve sinned against a person, or the community of disciples, restitution may be part of the purifying process which cleanses our souls, heals our emotions and helps us know God’s favor.
We’re guided in this process by Torah.
That person is to confess the sin he has committed, make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it to the one he wronged. (Numbers 5:7)
Here’s an example of restitution that was provoked by the presence of the Messiah.
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord. “Look, Master, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have somehow cheated anyone, I repay four times as much!” (Luke 19:8)
As a result, Yeshua publicly commended Zacchaeus. He declared God’s saving favor upon him.
The fundamental answer to the question of a guilty conscience is the cleansing power of Yeshua’s blood. We need to firmly agree with God’s evaluation. We are favored, forgiven and restored.
Again a voice came to him, a second time: “What God has made clean, you must not consider unholy.” (Acts 10:15)
Confession of true guilt, and the resultant reliance upon the righteous forgiveness of God clears the way to expect to experience God’s favor.
Expect Father’s favor and experience it.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat8-Nov-202517th of Cheshvan, 5786 Parashat Vayera
Ge 22:1-242 Ki 4:1-37Heb 11:8-19
Our last meditation considered two hindrances to expecting favor (charis): unbelief and unhealthy introspection. The obstacle we will look at in this meditation is similar to unhealthy introspection: a guilty conscience.
A guilty conscience can hinder us from looking to God for favor (charis/grace). Thankfully, we have an opportunity to be cleansed of legitimate, not phantom, guilt. We can confess our sins to God.
David did.
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said: “I confess my transgressions to Adonai,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:5)
Jacob/James encouraged this within the context of corporate covenanted relationships.
So confess your offenses to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. (James 5:16)
In my opinion, this form of confession may have to do with sins committed against the community. Sin against the community of believers is connected to illness in 1 Corinthians 11.
For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and quite a few have died. (1 Corinthians 11:30)
If our manner of life is marked by self-condemnation because of habitual sin, confessing our sins to others who reciprocate and fervently intercede may provide victory, restore confidence in God’s favor, and expedite physical healing - if sin is a contributing cause.
John encouraged us to trust God’s faithfulness and integrity. He wrote that He will forgive us as we confess the reality of our rebellions to God.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Upon the confession of true guilt, we are forgiven and cleansed. Father is faithful to forgive. It is righteous that He forgives. God honors Yeshua’s worthy sacrifice.
Confession clears the way for relational reconciliation with the favorable God. Relational reconciliation builds upon the foundational forgiveness of a sinning individual or community.
Ultimately, the answer to a guilty conscience is having a firm reliance upon Yeshua’s atoning sacrifice. This, like the confession of sin, is our responsibility. We must choose to rely upon Him, and choose to belong to Him.
We rely upon the Messiah’s atoning blood. Faith in its power can cleanse our offended consciences. It purifies us from all unrighteousness.
how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God—cleanse our conscience ...? (Hebrews 9:14a)
This cleansing may affect residual results of already forgiven sins. For example, shame and self-rejection. Unconfessed sin hinders our expectation of the experience of divine favor/charis.
At times, confession is the first step towards relational reconciliation with God and others. If we’ve sinned against a person, or the community of disciples, restitution may be part of the purifying process which cleanses our souls, heals our emotions and helps us know God’s favor.
We’re guided in this process by Torah.
That person is to confess the sin he has committed, make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it to the one he wronged. (Numbers 5:7)
Here’s an example of restitution that was provoked by the presence of the Messiah.
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord. “Look, Master, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have somehow cheated anyone, I repay four times as much!” (Luke 19:8)
As a result, Yeshua publicly commended Zacchaeus. He declared God’s saving favor upon him.
The fundamental answer to the question of a guilty conscience is the cleansing power of Yeshua’s blood. We need to firmly agree with God’s evaluation. We are favored, forgiven and restored.
Again a voice came to him, a second time: “What God has made clean, you must not consider unholy.” (Acts 10:15)
Confession of true guilt, and the resultant reliance upon the righteous forgiveness of God clears the way to expect to experience God’s favor.
Expect Father’s favor and experience it.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat8-Nov-202517th of Cheshvan, 5786 Parashat Vayera
Ge 22:1-242 Ki 4:1-37Heb 11:8-19
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2025
May
RR Psalm 28:5 Part 5RR Psalm 28:6 Part 6RR Psalm 28:7a Part 7RR Psalm 28:7b Part 8RR Psalm 28:7c Part 9RR Psalm 28:7d Part 10RR Psalm 28:8 Part 11Rabbi’s Reflections - Saturday, May 10, 2025 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 28:9 Part 12RR Psalm 28:9 Part 13RR Psalm 28:9 Part 14RR Psalm 28:9 Part 15RR Psalm 29:1 Part 1RR Psalm 29:2 Part 2Favor From a Fooled Philistine By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:3 Part 3RR Psalm 29:4 Part 4RR Psalm 29:5 Part 5RR Psalm 29:6 Part 6RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7Favor/Grace in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:8 Part 8RR Psalm 29:10 Part 10RR Psalm 29:9 Part 9RR Psalm 29:11 Paert 11RR Psalm 30:1,2 Part 1RR Psalms 30:3 Part 2RR Psalm 30:4 Part 3Favor (Chen/Charis) in the Psalms By David HarwoodRR Psalm 30:5 Part 4
June
RR Psalm 30:6 Part 5RR Psalm 30:7 Part 6RR Psalm 30:8 Part 7RR - Psalm 30:9-11 Part 8RR Psalm 30:12,13 Part 9RR Favor (Chen/Charis) in Proverbs By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 31:3 Part 2RR Psalm 31:4 Part 3RR Psalm 31:5 Part 4RR Psalm 31:6 Part 5RR Psalm 31:7 Part 6RR Kohelet By David HarwoodRR “Taking Our Thoughts Captive – Part 2” By Jerry MillerRR Psalm 31:8 Part 7RR Psalm 31:8 Part 8RR Psalm 31:9 Part 9RR - Psalm 31:10 Part 10RR Psalm 31:11 Part 11Zechariah and Favor By David HarwoodRR - Psalm 31:12-14 Part 12RR Shalom SpecialRR Psalm 31:15 Part 13RR Psalm 31:16,17 Part 14RR Psalm 31:18 Part 15RR Psalm 31:19,20 Part 16RR Adonai-Tzva’ot and End-Time Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:21 Part 17RR Psalm 31:22 Part 18RR Psalm 31:23 Part 19
July
RR Psalm 31:24 Part 20RR Psalm 31:25 Part 21RR Psalm 32:1 Part 1Rabbi’s Reflections - Favor and Luke By David HarwoodRR Taking Thoughts Captive Part 3 by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 32:2 Part 2RR Psalm 32:3,4 Part 3RR Psalm 32:5 Part 4RR Psalm 32:5 Part 5RR Psalm 32:6 Part 6Some Nuances of Charis By David HarwoodRR Psalm 32:7 Part 7RR Psalm 32:8 Part 8RR Psalm 32:8 Part 9RR Psalm 32:9 Part 10RR Psalm 32:10 Part 11RR Psalm 32:11 Part 12RR Psalm 33:1 Part 1RR Psalm 33:2,3 Part 2RR Psalm 33:4,5 Part 3RR Psalm 33:6,7 Part 4RR Psalm 33:8,9,10 Part 5Favor In Acts 1 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 33:11,12 Part 6RR Psalm 33:13,14 Part 7RR Psalm 33:15,16 Part 8RR Psalm 33:17,18,19 Part 9RR Psalm 33:20,21 Part 10RR Psalm 33:22 Part 11RR Favor in Acts 2: Stephen by David HarwoodRR “Endurance for the Race” by Jerry Miller