RR Psalm 38:22,23(21,22) Part 10

Shalom,

Psalm 38:22 Do not forsake me, Adonai. O my God, be not far from me. 23 Hurry to my aid, my Lord, my salvation.

King David concludes this Psalm with three quick declarations, as he implores God not to leave him, to not be far away (stay close) to him, and finally be quick (in a hurry) to help Him.  And yet, I want to focus today on the last two Hebrew words of the Psalm, “Adonai T’shu’a’ti,” meaning “God, (God’s name, “Adonai” is actually specifically written out, A-D-O-N-A-I, in Hebrew) You will be my Savior.”  

Yesterday, I accepted an invitation to speak at the Roane State Community College campus in Oak Ridge, as part of their adult continuing education program called ORICL.  They asked me to teach a one class session course titled, “.Yeshua, a light to both Jews and Christians.”  The challenge I faced was that several of my students were neither Jewish nor Christian.

At one point in the class, I was challenged by a student with (apparently) no active religious background.  “Jesus, is never mentioned in the Old Testament (a lie commonly spread by rabbis), so why do we even need a savior?”  Her question seemed to suck the air out of the room for me.  I wish I had studied this verse yesterday instead of today.  Here is Yeshua’s name in these last two words of Psalm 38.

I did tell her that Jewish people have always needed an intermediary, for example, the Aaronic priesthood or even the sacrificial system (laying hands on the soon-to-be-sacrificed animal in identification and in a transfer of sin.  She said, “We have not done sacrifices in a long time,” as if that makes any difference.  I also mentioned every Jewish prophet called upon Yeshua’s name, but that didn’t seem to change her heart or mind.

The best answer (of course, now I can think of the “best answer”) is actually a question.  “In Genesis, chapter 3, we read… Genesis 3:15 “I will put animosity between you and the woman—between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel.”  Answer this question, “Who is going crush the serpent’s head?”  

Satan’s demonic spirit had entered the serpent to bring rebellion against the loving protection of God into the world, infecting humanity with a spiritual sickness that causes physical, emotional and spiritual death.  In the Hebrew liturgy of Yom Kippur we sing often, “Ki Ayn Banu Ma’am,” meaning “For there is nothing within us to make (anything).”  In other words, “We got no fixings with which we can fix our the sin problem that we have all inherited from Adam and Eve.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law— 5 to free those under law, so we might receive adoption as sons.  

One other student in the class rightly offered this… John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  And I would add what Yeshua said next… John 14:7 “If you have come to know Me, you will know My Father also. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”

Actually, both the evidence and proof of our need for THE SAVIOR is on every page of both the Old and the New Testaments.  Before I make this the longest RR ever, I’m going to give Yeshua the last word, and close the discussion.  For Yeshua went on to say… John 5:46 For if you were believing Moses, you would believe Me—because he wrote about Me. 47 But since you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”  

Is Yeshua mentioned in the Old Testament?  I recommend Asher Intrater’s book, “Who Ate Lunch With Abraham?”  Yeshua appears many times throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, and Asher points out quite a few of them.  These last two words of Psalm 38 provide all the answer anyone needs.  “Adonai T’shu’a’ti,” meaning, “Lord, You are my Salvation.”  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed12-Nov-2025 21st of Cheshvan, 5786
Ge 24:27-52Jdg 7Ps 33Mt 24:1-28(Ro 4)

Rabbi H Michael Weiner

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