RR Psalm 44:1-5(1-4) Part 1

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 44:1 For the music director, a psalm of the sons of Korah, a contemplative song. 2 We have heard with our ears, O God—our fathers have told us—of a work You did in their days, in days of old. 3 With Your hand You displaced nations, but You planted them. You afflicted peoples, and You drove them out. 4 For it was not by their own sword that they took possession of the land, nor did their own arm save them. But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face—for You favored them. 5 You are my King, O God—command victories for Jacob!

Rabbi Trail: There is a difference between the Jewish numbering of the verses and the way the verses are numbered in most Christian Bibles.  This causes the numbering of the verses to be “one off” throughout the Psalm.  

The Jewish Bibles make the introduction stand alone and label it verse 1, while the Christian Bibles (mostly) combine verses 1 and 2 into one verse.  This causes all the rest of the verses to off by one through the end of the Psalm.  Therefore; Psalm 44 has 27 verses in the Jewish Bible, but only 26 in the Christian Bible.  However; every word of the translation is the same.  End RT.

First, the phrase, “our ears heard” starts a quick trip back in time, as we recall the stories our forefathers told us about “the work You worked” (the word for “worked” is used twice).  Those stories of the wonder-working power of God happened “days ago, days long ago.”  Yes, that word for “days” is used twice also.  And how was that wonder-working power manifested?  The children of Israel were victorious over the inhabitants of the land.  The testimony of these victories appears throughout the book of Joshua.

Joshua 1:3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I am giving to you, as I spoke to Moses…. 5 No one will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you.

This leads us to a prayer addressed to God, “Command victories for Jacob.”  And what is the Hebrew word translated as “victories?”  You know it well… it is “Yeshua!” (In the plural, “Yeshuot”).  The victory long ago was for land, but today in modern times, our victory is spiritual, over sin and death. 1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!  That’s right, the ultimate victory is salvation.  Rejoice!  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri9-Jan-202620th of Tevet, 5786
Ex 4:18-312 Sa 24Ps 99-100 Lk 16(Gal 6)

Rabbi H Michael Weiner

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