RR Psalm 55:11-14 Part 6
(Early) Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},
Rabbi’s note: Yesterday was our one full day (between two nights) in the Galilee area of Northern Israel. We started by driving to Chamat Gader, just east of the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee.
Rabbi Trail: https://hamat-gader.com/en/עמוד-הבית-english/ We went there, but did not go inside. https://hamat-gader.com/en/crocodile-farm/ I did walk through the alligator park once, years ago, and felt like bait the whole time. I counted over 120 alligators (and I’m sure there are more now because that was about 10 years ago). End RT.
This was a day dedicated to the living memory of the Israeli spy, Eli Cohen. (https://books.google.co.il/books/about/Our_Man_in_Damascus_Elie_Cohn.html?id=GDm7AAAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y)
A comment about Eli Cohen, z”l… He is our hero! The intelligence he provided to Israel saved many lives during the six day war of 1967 and following. Soviet Union provided technology is how he was captured. In spite of the tragic ending, this is an inspiring success story.
We followed the 8 stations of the Eli Cohen Trail, all along the Golan Heights. The 4th station stands out in my mind. It is a place called “The Porch.” It was a Syrian Army Officer’s Club where Eli Cohen, z”l gathered a lot of information about the Syrian military, its positions, movements and capabilities. https://tourgolan.org.il/en/listing/the-eli-cohen-trail-2/
All in all, it was a great day, and I’m glad we took the time to honor the memory of Eli Cohen z”l. End RN.
___________
Psalm 55:11 Day and night they make the rounds on her walls. Iniquity and mischief are within her. 12 Ruins are in her midst. Oppression and deceit never leave her square. 13 For if it were an enemy taunting me, I could endure it. If my foe was exalting himself over me, I could hide from him. 14 But it is you, a man like me—my companion and my close friend!
In verse 11, we switch from “they” (those “opposers” we called “absalomites” yesterday) who make their rounds, to “her,” the “city or place” in which “they” are making their rounds. Ultimately, David’s lament focuses on “you, a man like me.” That man of opposition is further identified as “my companion and my close friend!” One character mentioned in the Bible seems to fit the description. Ahithophel from the town of Giloh (modern Giloh is a suburb of Jerusalem a little closer than Bethlehem).
2Samuel 15:12 Also Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor from his town Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. So the conspiracy gained momentum for the people following Absalom continued to increase.
Rebellion is a threat to any authority. God treats rebellion seriously. As Samuel admonished King Saul… 1Samuel 15:23a For rebellion is like the sin of divination and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry.
Picture this, God has prepared a highway in the wilderness. Imagine you’re traveling through the unsettled territory of the wild west without a road. The going is difficult and you have to literally cut your way through the brush and overgrowth. Suddenly, you arrive at a paved highway. Every obstacle has been removed. This is a picture of “the way” of the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” It is a declaration of Adonai. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Back to our “wilderness (lack of a road) experience.” What sane person would say, “No, I want to do this my way and make my own road?” Obey God and you will do well. 1John 5:3 For this is the love of God—that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome…. 12 The one who has the Son has life; the one who does not have Ben-Elohim does not have life. Now that’s living. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri12-June-2026 27th of Sivan, 5786
Nu 15:17-26Jer 36Da 11:21-452 Co 1(Lk 1:39-80)
Rabbi’s note: Yesterday was our one full day (between two nights) in the Galilee area of Northern Israel. We started by driving to Chamat Gader, just east of the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee.
Rabbi Trail: https://hamat-gader.com/en/עמוד-הבית-english/ We went there, but did not go inside. https://hamat-gader.com/en/crocodile-farm/ I did walk through the alligator park once, years ago, and felt like bait the whole time. I counted over 120 alligators (and I’m sure there are more now because that was about 10 years ago). End RT.
This was a day dedicated to the living memory of the Israeli spy, Eli Cohen. (https://books.google.co.il/books/about/Our_Man_in_Damascus_Elie_Cohn.html?id=GDm7AAAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y)
A comment about Eli Cohen, z”l… He is our hero! The intelligence he provided to Israel saved many lives during the six day war of 1967 and following. Soviet Union provided technology is how he was captured. In spite of the tragic ending, this is an inspiring success story.
We followed the 8 stations of the Eli Cohen Trail, all along the Golan Heights. The 4th station stands out in my mind. It is a place called “The Porch.” It was a Syrian Army Officer’s Club where Eli Cohen, z”l gathered a lot of information about the Syrian military, its positions, movements and capabilities. https://tourgolan.org.il/en/listing/the-eli-cohen-trail-2/
All in all, it was a great day, and I’m glad we took the time to honor the memory of Eli Cohen z”l. End RN.
___________
Psalm 55:11 Day and night they make the rounds on her walls. Iniquity and mischief are within her. 12 Ruins are in her midst. Oppression and deceit never leave her square. 13 For if it were an enemy taunting me, I could endure it. If my foe was exalting himself over me, I could hide from him. 14 But it is you, a man like me—my companion and my close friend!
In verse 11, we switch from “they” (those “opposers” we called “absalomites” yesterday) who make their rounds, to “her,” the “city or place” in which “they” are making their rounds. Ultimately, David’s lament focuses on “you, a man like me.” That man of opposition is further identified as “my companion and my close friend!” One character mentioned in the Bible seems to fit the description. Ahithophel from the town of Giloh (modern Giloh is a suburb of Jerusalem a little closer than Bethlehem).
2Samuel 15:12 Also Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor from his town Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. So the conspiracy gained momentum for the people following Absalom continued to increase.
Rebellion is a threat to any authority. God treats rebellion seriously. As Samuel admonished King Saul… 1Samuel 15:23a For rebellion is like the sin of divination and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry.
Picture this, God has prepared a highway in the wilderness. Imagine you’re traveling through the unsettled territory of the wild west without a road. The going is difficult and you have to literally cut your way through the brush and overgrowth. Suddenly, you arrive at a paved highway. Every obstacle has been removed. This is a picture of “the way” of the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” It is a declaration of Adonai. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Back to our “wilderness (lack of a road) experience.” What sane person would say, “No, I want to do this my way and make my own road?” Obey God and you will do well. 1John 5:3 For this is the love of God—that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome…. 12 The one who has the Son has life; the one who does not have Ben-Elohim does not have life. Now that’s living. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri12-June-2026 27th of Sivan, 5786
Nu 15:17-26Jer 36Da 11:21-452 Co 1(Lk 1:39-80)
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