RR Psalm 60:4-6 Part 2

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 60:4 You made earth shake; You split it open. Heal its fractures—for it shudders. 5 You made Your people see hardship. You made us drink wine of staggering. 6 To those who fear You, You gave a banner, to be unfurled before the archers. Selah

Do you see that phrase in verse 6, “You gave a banner?”  That “banner” is in Hebrew “Nes,” meaning a sign or a wonder.  This word, “Nes” appears more than 20 times in the Hebrew Scriptures.  Isaiah used this same word when he prophesied over the salvation of Israel.  Isaiah 62:10 Go through, go through the gates. Clear the way for the people! Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Lift up a banner over the peoples.

When Isaiah says, “Clear the way for the people,” that means remove the stones of stumbling that are preventing Israel (Jewish people) from coming to faith in the Jewish Messiah.  Anti-semitism is one example of such a stumbling stone.  Followers of Yeshua should reflect the love of the savior.  Jeremiah 31:3 “From afar Adonai appeared to me.” “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”  As the people of God, we must love what (and whom) He loves.

For centuries the Body of Messiah has accused Jews of being “Christ killers,” and the next moment asked the question, “Wouldn’t you want to love Jesus and welcome Him into your heart?”  The inconsistency of these two messages form a disconnect and a stumbling block for Jewish people to come to a place of faith in trusting the Jewish Messiah.
 
Here in our subject verses, David is offering a prayer.  Let me paraphrase, “God, You are breaking the world apart and we are suffering hardship.  Heal the broken places because we can’t do this ourselves (like people who are drunk on wine can’t help themselves either).  Therefore, oh Lord, send us a miracle, show us a sign, and save us from the arrows being shot at us.”  Let’s give Isaiah the last word today.  In these few verses, he answers our prayer.

Isaiah 45:21b “Who foretold this from ancient time? Who has declared it of old? Is it not I, Adonai? There is no other God beside Me—a righteous God and a Savior—there is none besides Me! 22 Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God—there is no other. 23 By Myself I have sworn—the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness, and is irrevocable: that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear. 24a They will say of Me, ‘Only in Adonai is righteousness and strength.’ 25 In Adonai all the seed of Israel will be justified (made righteous) and give praise.”

Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri31-July-202617th of Av, 5786
De 11:10-21Ez 401 Ch 181 Ti 2 (Jn 7)