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)
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)
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
Recent
Archive
2025
May
RR Psalm 28:5 Part 5RR Psalm 28:6 Part 6RR Psalm 28:7a Part 7RR Psalm 28:7b Part 8RR Psalm 28:7c Part 9RR Psalm 28:7d Part 10RR Psalm 28:8 Part 11Rabbi’s Reflections - Saturday, May 10, 2025 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 28:9 Part 12RR Psalm 28:9 Part 13RR Psalm 28:9 Part 14RR Psalm 28:9 Part 15RR Psalm 29:1 Part 1RR Psalm 29:2 Part 2Favor From a Fooled Philistine By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:3 Part 3RR Psalm 29:4 Part 4RR Psalm 29:5 Part 5RR Psalm 29:6 Part 6RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7Favor/Grace in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:7 Part 7RR Psalm 29:8 Part 8RR Psalm 29:9 Part 9RR Psalm 29:10 Part 10RR Psalm 29:11 Paert 11RR Psalm 30:1,2 Part 1RR Psalms 30:3 Part 2Favor (Chen/Charis) in the Psalms By David HarwoodRR Psalm 30:4 Part 3RR Psalm 30:5 Part 4
June
RR Psalm 30:6 Part 5RR Psalm 30:7 Part 6RR Psalm 30:8 Part 7RR Psalm 30:12,13 Part 9RR - Psalm 30:9-11 Part 8RR Favor (Chen/Charis) in Proverbs By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:4 Part 3RR Psalm 31:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 31:3 Part 2RR Psalm 31:5 Part 4RR Psalm 31:6 Part 5RR Psalm 31:7 Part 6RR Kohelet By David HarwoodRR “Taking Our Thoughts Captive – Part 2” By Jerry MillerRR Psalm 31:8 Part 7RR Psalm 31:8 Part 8RR Psalm 31:9 Part 9RR - Psalm 31:10 Part 10RR Psalm 31:11 Part 11Zechariah and Favor By David HarwoodRR - Psalm 31:12-14 Part 12RR Shalom SpecialRR Psalm 31:15 Part 13RR Psalm 31:16,17 Part 14RR Psalm 31:18 Part 15RR Adonai-Tzva’ot and End-Time Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:19,20 Part 16RR Psalm 31:21 Part 17RR Psalm 31:22 Part 18RR Psalm 31:23 Part 19
July
RR Psalm 31:24 Part 20RR Psalm 31:25 Part 21RR Psalm 32:1 Part 1Rabbi’s Reflections - Favor and Luke By David HarwoodRR Taking Thoughts Captive Part 3 by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 32:2 Part 2RR Psalm 32:5 Part 4RR Psalm 32:3,4 Part 3RR Psalm 32:5 Part 5RR Psalm 32:6 Part 6Some Nuances of Charis By David HarwoodRR Psalm 32:7 Part 7RR Psalm 32:8 Part 8RR Psalm 32:9 Part 10RR Psalm 32:8 Part 9RR Psalm 32:10 Part 11RR Psalm 32:11 Part 12RR Psalm 33:1 Part 1RR Psalm 33:2,3 Part 2RR Psalm 33:4,5 Part 3RR Psalm 33:6,7 Part 4Favor In Acts 1 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 33:8,9,10 Part 5RR Psalm 33:13,14 Part 7RR Psalm 33:11,12 Part 6RR Psalm 33:15,16 Part 8RR Psalm 33:17,18,19 Part 9RR Psalm 33:20,21 Part 10RR Psalm 33:22 Part 11RR “Endurance for the Race” by Jerry MillerRR Favor in Acts 2: Stephen by David Harwood
