RR Psalm 43:1 Part 1

Shavuah Tov,

Psalm 43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and champion my cause against an ungodly nation. From a deceitful and unjust man, deliver me!

In (transliterated) Hebrew, let’s focus  the first word and the last word of the verse, “Shaf’tay’ni” - from “Shofet” meaning “judge”, and “T’Fal’tay’ni” - from “Palat” meaning “deliver, rescue, or escape.”  Between these two, judge and deliver, there is a plea to “argue my argument.”  The same Hebrew word is used twice.  The word is “Rabah.”

Rabbi Trail:  In Hebrew, “Rabah” (argue) sounds like Rabah (abundance, the basis for the title “Rabbi”).  They are even spelled alike, but as you can see, the meanings are not related… or are they?  

Remember rule #1 (in my world) in Hebrew, “Al Tariv Im Rav,” meaning “don’t argue with the rabbi.”  End RT.  

Back to our subject verse.  God promises to judge righteous judgment.  Isaiah 11:3 His delight will be in the fear of Adonai. He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor decide by what His ears hear. 4a But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the poor of the land.  And He expects us to be like Him in this… John 7:24 “Do not judge by appearance, but judge righteously.”

While we’re on the subject… there is judgment which is the trial and there is judgment which is the verdict, and we must not confuse the two.  Our lives are filled with judgment.  We are tried continuously from day to day, from issue to issue.  For those who know Yeshua, and have decided to follow Him, our verdict (which is the final judgment) is reversed from guilty to innocent.  

Also, while we are admonished not to judge, we must always use discernment to know good from evil.  Sure, we are told… Matthew 7:1 “Stop judging, so that you may not be judged.”  But we are also told… Philippians 1:9 Now this I pray, that your love might overflow still more and more in knowledge and depth of discernment, 10 in order to approve what is excellent—so that in the Day of Messiah you may be sincere and blameless.

Let’s bring this to a close with the very next verse (I just couldn’t pass it up)… Philippians 1:11 (Be) filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua the Messiah, to the glory and praise of God.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun4-Jan-202615th of Tevet, 5786
Ex 1:1-17 2 Sa 19Ps 91 Lk 12:1-34(Gal 1)

Rabbi H Michael Weiner

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