RR FREEDOM: GIVING THANKS, PAYING HONOR (Part 2) By Raymond Finney
Shavuah Tov,
I continue a brief series prompted by Veterans Day, which was observed less than one week ago (November 11, 2025). I hope you remembered our heroes, living and dead, who have served or are serving our nation and communities in a variety of services. We are a free nation by God’s grace and the efforts of patriotic men and women who protect us daily. You may refresh your memory of Part 1 in Shomair’s RR archives: https://syknox.org/blog/2025/10/30/rr-freedom-giving-thanks-paying-honor-part-1-by-dr-raymond-finney .
Veterans Day is officially established for military veterans. In this RR series, I add men and women in community protection services (law enforcement officers, firefighters, etc.) because their efforts keep us safe. I cannot think of a day set aside to honor community protection service people. Police officers are being murdered for what should be safe activities (serving subpoenas, quieting domestic disturbances, sitting in patrol cars awaiting assignments, etc.). ICE agents are victims of doxxing (public identification of names/ residences so that revenge may be taken against agents or families). Millions of Americans, led by selfish, power-greedy politicians, harbor hatred against military and community protection service personnel. Military and community protectors try to save lives by running toward gunfire to restore order or running into a burning building to save lives, while the rest of us flee. Many in the print/ broadcast media have been politicized and are biased against traditional aspects of our society. Our heroes are poorly respected. God forgive our misguided nation! All Believers in the world need to pray for their nations, as Daniel prayed for his people. (Read Daniel 9:1-19.)
LET GOD ARISE! God acts through His people. As God’s children, we must take the fight for good to evil forces (Satan and his minions). Shomair Yisrael sings a song I like– Paul Wilbur’s “Let God Arise” (listen: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=kZoOrHRAhvk&list=PLP3BH8gwIub7TI_kgpkrVJqJr2NuwBpwN). Yes, God, arise! (Psalm 68:2-4: Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered! Let those who hate Him flee before Him. 3 As smoke is blown away, may You blow them away. As wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. 4 But let the righteous be glad. Let them exult before God. Let them rejoice with gladness.) And, God, may we, Your children, arise with You! We Believers must grow strong spines-- strong enough to help defeat Satan. The ultimate conflict is in the future (the Tribulation), when forces of the anti-Messiah (Antichrist) will attempt to exterminate Jews and Christians (a new Holocaust). Bring it on, Satan, if we are on God’s side, we will be victorious! (Romans 8:31b: … If God is for us, who can be against us?)
God has arisen through men and women who have fought His enemies and have sought peace and safety for all. The question each Believer must ask him-/ her-self is: Have I arisen with God to fight the good fight with Him? We must be like Isaiah and volunteer for service. (Isaiah 6:8: Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying: “Whom should I send, and who will go for Us?” So I said, “Hineni. Send me.”) [Translation of Hineni = “Here I am.”] Others with similar responses to God’s call include: Abraham (Genesis 22:1, 11); Jacob (Genesis 31:11 and 46:2); Moses (Exodus 3:4); Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4); and Ananias (Acts 9:10).
If God needs a Believer to fight for Him, are you ready to answer, “Here I am, Adonai, send me?” Let us consider examples of God arising to fight evil or to support good. I will use the idea of “Let God arise,” and how we need to invoke God’s presence and participation in our fights. Our fight for God is much easier because Yeshua has already won the major battle for us.
“LET GOD ARISE” AGAINST FOREIGN ENEMIES. Our nation is hated by many nations, including nuclear powers. Our major enemies include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. President Trump is negotiating treaties with some of these nations based in large part on friendships. I hope he is right. I personally do not trust Xi Xinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, and other adversaries as far as I can throw my house.
Nuclear warhead-tipped ballistic missiles have changed the face of war. Little idiots like North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un can pose major threats to world peace because of modern weapons. Earlier this year, China’s President Xi Xinping approved military reforms aimed at boosting combat readiness and preparing the military for "engaging in warfare." We Believers live in a hostile world. There are portions of cities even in America we dare not enter. President Trump is calling the National Guard into major cities to try to establish some semblance of order and safety. Satan must– and eventually will– be defeated, but before his defeat the world must suffer the Tribulation and the anti-Messiah (Antichrist). God’s prophets have assured victory for God and His people.
SIDELIGHT 1. I moved to Memphis in early September, 1960 for educational purposes. I married Linda while in Memphis. I lived in Memphis for a doctorate education, internship, and tour in the US Public Health Service. I left in late June, 1967. When I first saw Memphis, I fell in love with this beautiful, peaceful Southern city. I thought Linda and I might live permanently in this wonderful city. Things started changing before I left, though. Today, Memphis is a major crime center (one of America’s most dangerous cities). President Trump has dispatched the National Guard to Memphis to restore lawfulness. Memphis is a good example of how fast a city can deteriorate. The Bible prophesies that the entire world will become sin-filled and hazardous, under the rule of the anti-Messiah (Antichrist). Bad times are coming. Do not marvel at how fast evil can overtake good. END sidelight.
SIDELIGHT 2. At least ten powerful historic empires have lost all power in one generation. This rapid fall of powerful empires gives credence to President Ronald Reagan’s observation about freedom: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” History shows that the average duration of an empire’s survival is 250 years. Using a starting date of 1776 for America, our nation will have survived the average 250 years next year (2026). Is the death knell starting to sound for the American experiment? The Bible assures us that the world’s civilizations will be destroyed before or during the Tribulation. As long as God’s calendar permits, we American Believers should enjoy our great nation and make it a brilliant beacon built on a hill to provide hope and assistance to other nations. (Matthew 5:14-16: [Yeshua said] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”) END sidelight.
Continuing the discussion of God arising against our world’s enemies, some soldiers died in war because they were drafted and forced to be on the front line of battle. Others, though, chose to be in battle because of love for country and they gave their lives freely to preserve liberty for their family, friends, and all of us.
Rep. Albert Herlong read into the Congressional Record (January, 1963) forty-five goals of the American Communist Party to collapse and defeat the United States ’government. This list may be read at: https://cdn.subsplash.com/documents/W8FD27/_source/5b8c9068-5344-4a33-b77a-31d54f98a52e/document.pdf . Some items may now be obsolete, but look at the number of items that have been accomplished or can be accomplished in the future. We have Communists being elected to political office in the United States .New York City recently elected a socialist/ communist to be its mayor. Major blocs of voters favor socialism (communism’s first cousin) over capitalism. Are we close to a Communist overthrow of America?
“LET GOD ARISE” AGAINST DOMESTIC (TREASONOUS) ENEMIES. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) in a speech to the Roman Senate summed up a nation’s two enemies: “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. He works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.” All of Cicero’s enemies– fools, the ambitious, and internal enemies-- now roam the halls of government, seeking power and “contributions” wherever possible.
This part of this RR gives me the most pain and strikes fear in my heart for the future of America. It is not likely that America will be defeated by foreign enemies. Our armed forces are the best in the world and we have a huge stockpile of nuclear weapons. I fear America will more likely fall because of our fellow Americans (Cicero’s “traitorous enemies within the gate”). If you do not share this fear, are you are staying abreast of what is happening in our country? I believe we may be in the early stage of a civil war. Will this war escalate or fizzle out? America’s Civil War (1861-1865) began with a minor attack on Fort Sumter in 1861 and quickly expanded to a war that killed hundreds of thousands of combatants.
Cicero’s warning has been known for centuries. Even so, America keeps electing internal (domestic) traitors. Shameful patronage of corrupt politicians depends on a greedy political class, ignorant voters, self-serving PACs and donors, politicized judges, corrupt news media, and others. State and national governments are filled with men and women who wish that our nation falls in order that it becomes something we will not recognize. America will fall in the future due to the evil (Satanic) activities of the anti-Messiah (Antichrist), but we Americans do not need to hasten the day of that tragic time. Are many of America’s political class corrupt? It is amazing that a politician enters office virtually penniless and leaves office a few years later as a multimillionaire. I suppose these newly rich politicians are just better at managing a fixed income than I am. Or, do bribes find their way into politicians’ pockets? Or, do politicians learn useful secrets for insider stock trading? Any politician who gains more than a publicized (authorized) salary for an office he/ she holds or other honest income is a thief and traitor to our nation (an enemy within the gate).
Even though governments regularly fail the governed, we still seek solutions from man’s governments. We should be seeking solutions from God’s Kingdom. Until November 30, when we meet again to study God’s precious Word, Shalom and Maranatha.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun23-Nov-20253rd of Kislev, 5786
Ge 28:10-22,Jdg 20Ps 42-43Mk 2(Ro 13)
I continue a brief series prompted by Veterans Day, which was observed less than one week ago (November 11, 2025). I hope you remembered our heroes, living and dead, who have served or are serving our nation and communities in a variety of services. We are a free nation by God’s grace and the efforts of patriotic men and women who protect us daily. You may refresh your memory of Part 1 in Shomair’s RR archives: https://syknox.org/blog/2025/10/30/rr-freedom-giving-thanks-paying-honor-part-1-by-dr-raymond-finney .
Veterans Day is officially established for military veterans. In this RR series, I add men and women in community protection services (law enforcement officers, firefighters, etc.) because their efforts keep us safe. I cannot think of a day set aside to honor community protection service people. Police officers are being murdered for what should be safe activities (serving subpoenas, quieting domestic disturbances, sitting in patrol cars awaiting assignments, etc.). ICE agents are victims of doxxing (public identification of names/ residences so that revenge may be taken against agents or families). Millions of Americans, led by selfish, power-greedy politicians, harbor hatred against military and community protection service personnel. Military and community protectors try to save lives by running toward gunfire to restore order or running into a burning building to save lives, while the rest of us flee. Many in the print/ broadcast media have been politicized and are biased against traditional aspects of our society. Our heroes are poorly respected. God forgive our misguided nation! All Believers in the world need to pray for their nations, as Daniel prayed for his people. (Read Daniel 9:1-19.)
LET GOD ARISE! God acts through His people. As God’s children, we must take the fight for good to evil forces (Satan and his minions). Shomair Yisrael sings a song I like– Paul Wilbur’s “Let God Arise” (listen: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=kZoOrHRAhvk&list=PLP3BH8gwIub7TI_kgpkrVJqJr2NuwBpwN). Yes, God, arise! (Psalm 68:2-4: Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered! Let those who hate Him flee before Him. 3 As smoke is blown away, may You blow them away. As wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. 4 But let the righteous be glad. Let them exult before God. Let them rejoice with gladness.) And, God, may we, Your children, arise with You! We Believers must grow strong spines-- strong enough to help defeat Satan. The ultimate conflict is in the future (the Tribulation), when forces of the anti-Messiah (Antichrist) will attempt to exterminate Jews and Christians (a new Holocaust). Bring it on, Satan, if we are on God’s side, we will be victorious! (Romans 8:31b: … If God is for us, who can be against us?)
God has arisen through men and women who have fought His enemies and have sought peace and safety for all. The question each Believer must ask him-/ her-self is: Have I arisen with God to fight the good fight with Him? We must be like Isaiah and volunteer for service. (Isaiah 6:8: Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying: “Whom should I send, and who will go for Us?” So I said, “Hineni. Send me.”) [Translation of Hineni = “Here I am.”] Others with similar responses to God’s call include: Abraham (Genesis 22:1, 11); Jacob (Genesis 31:11 and 46:2); Moses (Exodus 3:4); Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4); and Ananias (Acts 9:10).
If God needs a Believer to fight for Him, are you ready to answer, “Here I am, Adonai, send me?” Let us consider examples of God arising to fight evil or to support good. I will use the idea of “Let God arise,” and how we need to invoke God’s presence and participation in our fights. Our fight for God is much easier because Yeshua has already won the major battle for us.
“LET GOD ARISE” AGAINST FOREIGN ENEMIES. Our nation is hated by many nations, including nuclear powers. Our major enemies include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. President Trump is negotiating treaties with some of these nations based in large part on friendships. I hope he is right. I personally do not trust Xi Xinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, and other adversaries as far as I can throw my house.
Nuclear warhead-tipped ballistic missiles have changed the face of war. Little idiots like North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un can pose major threats to world peace because of modern weapons. Earlier this year, China’s President Xi Xinping approved military reforms aimed at boosting combat readiness and preparing the military for "engaging in warfare." We Believers live in a hostile world. There are portions of cities even in America we dare not enter. President Trump is calling the National Guard into major cities to try to establish some semblance of order and safety. Satan must– and eventually will– be defeated, but before his defeat the world must suffer the Tribulation and the anti-Messiah (Antichrist). God’s prophets have assured victory for God and His people.
SIDELIGHT 1. I moved to Memphis in early September, 1960 for educational purposes. I married Linda while in Memphis. I lived in Memphis for a doctorate education, internship, and tour in the US Public Health Service. I left in late June, 1967. When I first saw Memphis, I fell in love with this beautiful, peaceful Southern city. I thought Linda and I might live permanently in this wonderful city. Things started changing before I left, though. Today, Memphis is a major crime center (one of America’s most dangerous cities). President Trump has dispatched the National Guard to Memphis to restore lawfulness. Memphis is a good example of how fast a city can deteriorate. The Bible prophesies that the entire world will become sin-filled and hazardous, under the rule of the anti-Messiah (Antichrist). Bad times are coming. Do not marvel at how fast evil can overtake good. END sidelight.
SIDELIGHT 2. At least ten powerful historic empires have lost all power in one generation. This rapid fall of powerful empires gives credence to President Ronald Reagan’s observation about freedom: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” History shows that the average duration of an empire’s survival is 250 years. Using a starting date of 1776 for America, our nation will have survived the average 250 years next year (2026). Is the death knell starting to sound for the American experiment? The Bible assures us that the world’s civilizations will be destroyed before or during the Tribulation. As long as God’s calendar permits, we American Believers should enjoy our great nation and make it a brilliant beacon built on a hill to provide hope and assistance to other nations. (Matthew 5:14-16: [Yeshua said] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”) END sidelight.
Continuing the discussion of God arising against our world’s enemies, some soldiers died in war because they were drafted and forced to be on the front line of battle. Others, though, chose to be in battle because of love for country and they gave their lives freely to preserve liberty for their family, friends, and all of us.
Rep. Albert Herlong read into the Congressional Record (January, 1963) forty-five goals of the American Communist Party to collapse and defeat the United States ’government. This list may be read at: https://cdn.subsplash.com/documents/W8FD27/_source/5b8c9068-5344-4a33-b77a-31d54f98a52e/document.pdf . Some items may now be obsolete, but look at the number of items that have been accomplished or can be accomplished in the future. We have Communists being elected to political office in the United States .New York City recently elected a socialist/ communist to be its mayor. Major blocs of voters favor socialism (communism’s first cousin) over capitalism. Are we close to a Communist overthrow of America?
“LET GOD ARISE” AGAINST DOMESTIC (TREASONOUS) ENEMIES. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) in a speech to the Roman Senate summed up a nation’s two enemies: “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. He works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.” All of Cicero’s enemies– fools, the ambitious, and internal enemies-- now roam the halls of government, seeking power and “contributions” wherever possible.
This part of this RR gives me the most pain and strikes fear in my heart for the future of America. It is not likely that America will be defeated by foreign enemies. Our armed forces are the best in the world and we have a huge stockpile of nuclear weapons. I fear America will more likely fall because of our fellow Americans (Cicero’s “traitorous enemies within the gate”). If you do not share this fear, are you are staying abreast of what is happening in our country? I believe we may be in the early stage of a civil war. Will this war escalate or fizzle out? America’s Civil War (1861-1865) began with a minor attack on Fort Sumter in 1861 and quickly expanded to a war that killed hundreds of thousands of combatants.
Cicero’s warning has been known for centuries. Even so, America keeps electing internal (domestic) traitors. Shameful patronage of corrupt politicians depends on a greedy political class, ignorant voters, self-serving PACs and donors, politicized judges, corrupt news media, and others. State and national governments are filled with men and women who wish that our nation falls in order that it becomes something we will not recognize. America will fall in the future due to the evil (Satanic) activities of the anti-Messiah (Antichrist), but we Americans do not need to hasten the day of that tragic time. Are many of America’s political class corrupt? It is amazing that a politician enters office virtually penniless and leaves office a few years later as a multimillionaire. I suppose these newly rich politicians are just better at managing a fixed income than I am. Or, do bribes find their way into politicians’ pockets? Or, do politicians learn useful secrets for insider stock trading? Any politician who gains more than a publicized (authorized) salary for an office he/ she holds or other honest income is a thief and traitor to our nation (an enemy within the gate).
Even though governments regularly fail the governed, we still seek solutions from man’s governments. We should be seeking solutions from God’s Kingdom. Until November 30, when we meet again to study God’s precious Word, Shalom and Maranatha.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun23-Nov-20253rd of Kislev, 5786
Ge 28:10-22,Jdg 20Ps 42-43Mk 2(Ro 13)
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
Recent
Archive
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 “Endurance for the Race” by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 33:22 Part 11RR Favor in Acts 2: Stephen by David Harwood