RR Some Favorite Verses (1) By David Harwood
Rabbi’s Reflections - Saturday, February 28, 2026
Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},
Some Favorite Verses (1)
By David Harwood
I’ve been looking forward to this transition in our exploration of the emotional content of grace. To sum up, grace means favor, and our God favors those He finds worth favoring, those who have found favor in His eyes.
We do favors for those we favor, and the nuances of charis (favor/grace) are manifold. They are applicable to every circumstance in which we might find ourselves.
We’re going to begin a survey of some important verses in the New Covenant Scriptures and deliberately substitute the word favor for grace. As we do, I believe it will enhance your understanding of the love of God.
Look at Peter’s description of God’s favor (grace/charis).
As each one has received a gift (charisma – manifestation of favor), use it to serve one another, as good stewards of the many-sided (poikilos) grace (charis/favor) of God. (1 Peter 4:10)
In the Tree of Life Version, we find that the Greek, (poikilos), has been translated “many-sided”. Others render it as “manifold” (NASB, NRSV), or “varied” (NET, LEB, HCSB). The word, (poikilos), speaks of diversity. It is charis/favor/grace that “manifests itself in various ways.” (Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament).
Consider how the Septuagint describes Joseph’s coat. To describe it, the LXX employs poikilos. In the Lexham English Septuagint it is translated as “a many-colored tunic”.
(By the way, the Hebrew indicates that it was most likely a tunic which sleeves extended to the palms of one’s hands and/or reaches to one’s feet... but... the Septuagint... What can I say?)
In the following chapter, Peter described the God from whom these manifold manifestations of favor comes. He called Him the God of all Grace.
... the God of all grace (charis/favor) (1 Peter 5:10b)
He’s the God of all Charis. The God of every manifestation of Favor. Let’s read it again.
... the God of all favor (charis/grace) — who has called you into His eternal glory in Messiah—will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10b)
Do you recall that Paul gave a new title to our Father? He called Him the God of Hope.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and shalom in trusting, so you may overflow with hope in the power of the Ruach ha-Kodesh. (Romans 15:13)
He followed Gideon’s example. Gideon gave the Lord a new name.
So Gideon built an altar there to Adonai and called it “Adonai-shalom.” (Judges 6:24a)
Paul built on this. One of Paul’s favorite designations for God was “the God of Shalom,” Consider the following five verses.
Now may the God of shalom be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15:33)
Now the God of shalom will soon crush satan under your feet. May the favor (charis/grace) of our Lord Yeshua be with you. (Romans 16:20)
... the God of shalom will be with you. (Philippians 4:9b)
... the God of love and shalom will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11b)
Now may the God of shalom Himself make you completely holy (1 Thessalonians 5:23a)
This title is reinforced in Hebrews.
Now may the God of shalom, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of an everlasting covenant, our Lord Yeshua, (Hebrews 13:20)
And now, Peter, gave Father a new descriptor. He is the God of all Favor.
Peter was writing to persecuted believers. Their lives and livelihoods were threatened. The Apostle saw the origin of their trouble as being the devil. Peter exhorted them to resist him with a prophetic promise:
After you have suffered a little while, the God of all favor (charis/grace) — who has called you into His eternal glory in Messiah—will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
Were there many trials? Was tribulation coming from all sides? We have the guarantee. As many trials as there may be, the God of every manifestation of Favor is sufficient to bring us through.
He is the God of all Favor who especially favors you.
PS: A prayer request: This weekend I have the privilege of conducting a seminar on God’s Love at Full Gospel Tabernacle, Far Rockaway, Queens, NYC. I would appreciate any prayer on behalf of the Lord’s purposes in this appointment. Thank you.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat28-Feb-2026 11th of Adar, 5786 Parashat Tetzaveh Shabbat Zachor
Ex 30:1-10, De 25:17-191 Sa 15:2-34Rev 12:7-17
Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},
Some Favorite Verses (1)
By David Harwood
I’ve been looking forward to this transition in our exploration of the emotional content of grace. To sum up, grace means favor, and our God favors those He finds worth favoring, those who have found favor in His eyes.
We do favors for those we favor, and the nuances of charis (favor/grace) are manifold. They are applicable to every circumstance in which we might find ourselves.
We’re going to begin a survey of some important verses in the New Covenant Scriptures and deliberately substitute the word favor for grace. As we do, I believe it will enhance your understanding of the love of God.
Look at Peter’s description of God’s favor (grace/charis).
As each one has received a gift (charisma – manifestation of favor), use it to serve one another, as good stewards of the many-sided (poikilos) grace (charis/favor) of God. (1 Peter 4:10)
In the Tree of Life Version, we find that the Greek, (poikilos), has been translated “many-sided”. Others render it as “manifold” (NASB, NRSV), or “varied” (NET, LEB, HCSB). The word, (poikilos), speaks of diversity. It is charis/favor/grace that “manifests itself in various ways.” (Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament).
Consider how the Septuagint describes Joseph’s coat. To describe it, the LXX employs poikilos. In the Lexham English Septuagint it is translated as “a many-colored tunic”.
(By the way, the Hebrew indicates that it was most likely a tunic which sleeves extended to the palms of one’s hands and/or reaches to one’s feet... but... the Septuagint... What can I say?)
In the following chapter, Peter described the God from whom these manifold manifestations of favor comes. He called Him the God of all Grace.
... the God of all grace (charis/favor) (1 Peter 5:10b)
He’s the God of all Charis. The God of every manifestation of Favor. Let’s read it again.
... the God of all favor (charis/grace) — who has called you into His eternal glory in Messiah—will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10b)
Do you recall that Paul gave a new title to our Father? He called Him the God of Hope.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and shalom in trusting, so you may overflow with hope in the power of the Ruach ha-Kodesh. (Romans 15:13)
He followed Gideon’s example. Gideon gave the Lord a new name.
So Gideon built an altar there to Adonai and called it “Adonai-shalom.” (Judges 6:24a)
Paul built on this. One of Paul’s favorite designations for God was “the God of Shalom,” Consider the following five verses.
Now may the God of shalom be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15:33)
Now the God of shalom will soon crush satan under your feet. May the favor (charis/grace) of our Lord Yeshua be with you. (Romans 16:20)
... the God of shalom will be with you. (Philippians 4:9b)
... the God of love and shalom will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11b)
Now may the God of shalom Himself make you completely holy (1 Thessalonians 5:23a)
This title is reinforced in Hebrews.
Now may the God of shalom, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of an everlasting covenant, our Lord Yeshua, (Hebrews 13:20)
And now, Peter, gave Father a new descriptor. He is the God of all Favor.
Peter was writing to persecuted believers. Their lives and livelihoods were threatened. The Apostle saw the origin of their trouble as being the devil. Peter exhorted them to resist him with a prophetic promise:
After you have suffered a little while, the God of all favor (charis/grace) — who has called you into His eternal glory in Messiah—will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
Were there many trials? Was tribulation coming from all sides? We have the guarantee. As many trials as there may be, the God of every manifestation of Favor is sufficient to bring us through.
He is the God of all Favor who especially favors you.
PS: A prayer request: This weekend I have the privilege of conducting a seminar on God’s Love at Full Gospel Tabernacle, Far Rockaway, Queens, NYC. I would appreciate any prayer on behalf of the Lord’s purposes in this appointment. Thank you.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat28-Feb-2026 11th of Adar, 5786 Parashat Tetzaveh Shabbat Zachor
Ex 30:1-10, De 25:17-191 Sa 15:2-34Rev 12:7-17
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