RR Psalm 56:9 Part 6
Rabbi’s Reflections - Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Shalom,
Rabbi Trail: This really is a “rabbi trail” (or maybe “Rabbi’s Perspective”), a break from my series on anti-Semitism. We’ll get back to that tomorrow. But first, in every people group, there are historical events that end up having an eternal effect on the national approach to life by that affected group. For instance, 250 years ago, July 4, 1776 (it turns out) has infused the values of pride, independence and freedom into our own USA society. Likewise, the fact that Israel has survived every war (whose purpose was to erase Israel from existence) evokes similar pride in the Jewish people throughout the world.
The most dramatic of those victories (to date) is the Six Day War in early June 1967. As much joy, gladness and celebration that these events have brought to Jewish people worldwide, there is a corresponding shame and embarrassment that those same events have brought to the Arab and Muslim world.
Although there are many other historical events that mark our “people group personality” (if you will allow me to invent such a phrase), there is only one more I want to mention today. You guessed it, the Holocaust. In Hebrew, it is the “Shoah,” taken from a word meaning “the destruction.” The effect on the Jewish mindset is “Never again!” It invokes a toughness, as a people, that never again will we be lead to our death without resistance.
It has created, particularly in Jewish Israelis, a determination to never let anyone take advantage my sweet, soft, self deep within that tough exterior. The Israelis have a word for someone who puts up no resistance. It is borrowed from English, and the word is “fryer.” The image is of a killed plucked chicken about to be dropped into a “fryer” and turned into fried chicken.
No one in Israel wants to be called a fryer. Moreover, no one wants to be taken advantage of in a way that would even give someone a reason to think such a thing. Hence, the aggressive driving that is ubiquitous there. This is related to the fact that Israelis refer to themselves as “Sabras.,” meaning “cactus.” They see themselves as prickly on the outside, but tender and sweet on the inside. End RT.
_________
Psalm 56:9(8) You have recorded my wanderings. You put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?
Wait a minute! What are these “recordings?” (Remember, King David didn’t have devices for recordings.) So David must be referring to written recordings. Then of course these are written in a book. Did we know God has a book? It seems King David did. Note: God’s ancient books are scrolls.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The written word is in a book or scroll. The spoken word is in the air, and in our ears. Our tears are in God’s bottle. The point here is that not one word, and not one tear is wasted. In God’s kingdom, everything is either black or white. It either produces fruit for God’s purposes or it is the work of darkness, whose destiny is to be destroyed. Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Rabbi Trail: A “name” is more than a label to identify you. Your “name” in biblical terms is your reputation. The Hebrew word for “book” is “Sefer.” A “Sipur” is a story, a book is a story. God has the “book of life” which is the story of your life, your reputation. End RT.
For those of us who have received Yeshua as our Lord and Savior, our story is covered by the blood of Yeshua. Revelation 3:5 The one who overcomes thus will be dressed in white clothes; I will never blot his name out of the Book of Life, and will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
That’s good news to those who believe. You have been pardoned from your guilty verdict by the grace of God. Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him when He pardoned us all our transgressions. 14 He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed1-July 202616th of Tamuz, 5786
Nu 27:6-23Ez 8-9Neh 6Gal 5 (Lk 12:1-34)
Shalom,
Rabbi Trail: This really is a “rabbi trail” (or maybe “Rabbi’s Perspective”), a break from my series on anti-Semitism. We’ll get back to that tomorrow. But first, in every people group, there are historical events that end up having an eternal effect on the national approach to life by that affected group. For instance, 250 years ago, July 4, 1776 (it turns out) has infused the values of pride, independence and freedom into our own USA society. Likewise, the fact that Israel has survived every war (whose purpose was to erase Israel from existence) evokes similar pride in the Jewish people throughout the world.
The most dramatic of those victories (to date) is the Six Day War in early June 1967. As much joy, gladness and celebration that these events have brought to Jewish people worldwide, there is a corresponding shame and embarrassment that those same events have brought to the Arab and Muslim world.
Although there are many other historical events that mark our “people group personality” (if you will allow me to invent such a phrase), there is only one more I want to mention today. You guessed it, the Holocaust. In Hebrew, it is the “Shoah,” taken from a word meaning “the destruction.” The effect on the Jewish mindset is “Never again!” It invokes a toughness, as a people, that never again will we be lead to our death without resistance.
It has created, particularly in Jewish Israelis, a determination to never let anyone take advantage my sweet, soft, self deep within that tough exterior. The Israelis have a word for someone who puts up no resistance. It is borrowed from English, and the word is “fryer.” The image is of a killed plucked chicken about to be dropped into a “fryer” and turned into fried chicken.
No one in Israel wants to be called a fryer. Moreover, no one wants to be taken advantage of in a way that would even give someone a reason to think such a thing. Hence, the aggressive driving that is ubiquitous there. This is related to the fact that Israelis refer to themselves as “Sabras.,” meaning “cactus.” They see themselves as prickly on the outside, but tender and sweet on the inside. End RT.
_________
Psalm 56:9(8) You have recorded my wanderings. You put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?
Wait a minute! What are these “recordings?” (Remember, King David didn’t have devices for recordings.) So David must be referring to written recordings. Then of course these are written in a book. Did we know God has a book? It seems King David did. Note: God’s ancient books are scrolls.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The written word is in a book or scroll. The spoken word is in the air, and in our ears. Our tears are in God’s bottle. The point here is that not one word, and not one tear is wasted. In God’s kingdom, everything is either black or white. It either produces fruit for God’s purposes or it is the work of darkness, whose destiny is to be destroyed. Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Rabbi Trail: A “name” is more than a label to identify you. Your “name” in biblical terms is your reputation. The Hebrew word for “book” is “Sefer.” A “Sipur” is a story, a book is a story. God has the “book of life” which is the story of your life, your reputation. End RT.
For those of us who have received Yeshua as our Lord and Savior, our story is covered by the blood of Yeshua. Revelation 3:5 The one who overcomes thus will be dressed in white clothes; I will never blot his name out of the Book of Life, and will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
That’s good news to those who believe. You have been pardoned from your guilty verdict by the grace of God. Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him when He pardoned us all our transgressions. 14 He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed1-July 202616th of Tamuz, 5786
Nu 27:6-23Ez 8-9Neh 6Gal 5 (Lk 12:1-34)
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
Recent
Archive
2026
January
RR Psalm 42:12(11) Part 8RR Psalm 43:1 Part 1RR In Praise of Milk By David HarwoodRR Psalm 43:2 Part 2RR Psalm 43:3 Part 3RR Psalm 43:4 Part 4RR Psalm 43:5 Part 5RR Psalm 44:1-5(1-4) Part 1RR “The Priority & Power of Relationship” by Jerry MillerRR Favor on top of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:6-9(5-8) Part 2RR Psalm 44:10-13(9-12) Part 3RR Psalm 44:14-17(13-16) Part 4RR Psalm 44:18-22(17-21) Part 5RR The Throne By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:23-27(22-26) Part 6RR Psalm 45:1-3(1,2) Part 1RR PPsalm 45:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 45:5(4) Part 3RR Psalm 45:6(5) Part 4RR Psalm 45:7(6) Part 5RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Doubting Favor by David HarwoodRR Psalm 45:8(7) Part 6RR Psalm 45:9(8) Part 7RR Psalm 45:10(9) Part 8RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 9RR Favor and Calling By David HarwoodRR YESHUA BEYOND THE BIBLE By Dr. Raymond Finney RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 10
February
RR Psalm 45:14-16(13-15) Part 11RR Psalm 45:17,18(16,17) Part 12RR Psalm 46:1,2(1) Part 1RR Psalm 46:3,4(2,3) Part 2RR Charismata - Signs of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 3RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 5RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) – Part 4RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 6RR Psalm 46:9-12(8-11) Part 7RR THE ONE AND ONLY YOU (Part 1) The Amazing Mystery of Light and You By Dr. Raymond FinneyRR Favor and Sanctity by David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:9-12 (8-11) Part 8RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 1RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 2RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 3RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 4RR Gratitude for Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 47:6(5) Part 5RR Psalm 47:7(6) Part 6RR Psalm 47:9(8) Part 8RR Psalm 47:10(9) Part 9RR Psalm 48:1-3 Part 1RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 3” by Jerry MillerRR Some Favorite Verses (1) By David HarwoodRR Psalm 1:1 Part 1 (rerun)
March
RR Psalm 48:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 5RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 4RR Psalm 48:5-7 Part 3RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 6RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 7RR Some Favorite Verses (2) Generosity and Enabling Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 48:13-15 Part 8RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 1RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 2RR Psalm 49:6(5) – Part 3RR Some Favorite Verses (3) Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:7-9(6-8) Part 4RR Psalm 49:10,11(9,10) Part 5RR Psalm 49:12(11), 13(12) – Part 6RR Psalm 49:14(13) Part 7RR Manifestations of Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 9RR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 8RR Psalm 49:19-21(18-20) Part 11RR Psalm 49:17,18(16,17) Part 10RR Psalm 50:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 50:3 Part 2RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 5” by Jerry MillerRR Yeshua’s Enriched Speech and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 50:5 Part 4RR Psalm 50:4 Part 3RR Psalm 50:6 Part 5RR Psalm 50:6 Part 6RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 7
April
RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 8RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 9RR Yeshua Provides a Pattern By David HarwoodRR Pasach 3 Torah Lesson – Exodus 33-12-34:26 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Let's Celebrate Yom HaBikurimRR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 10RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 11RR Sh’mini Torah lesson – Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Psalm 50:22,23 Part 13RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 12RR Yeshua Grew By David HarwoodRR Psalm 51:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 51:3 Part 2