RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 10

Shalom,

Rabbi Trail: You might have noticed that I don’t count the Omer the same as most of the wider Jewish community.  Ordinarily I like to go along with the customs of traditional Judaism, but this is significant, so I just can’t.  The commandment to count the Omer (a measure of barley offering - a thank offering) is found in the Torah.  

Leviticus 23:15 “Then you are to count from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the Omer of the wave offering, seven complete Shabbatot.”

The rabbis (many centuries ago) decided that “the morrow after the Shabbat” meant the second day of Pesach.  But that does not allow for “seven complete Shabbatot,” as at the end of the verse.  When we start counting on Sunday (like I and others do), we always have seven complete Shabbatot.  We will celebrate Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, on Sunday, May 24, 2026.  The rest of the Jewish community will celebrate two days earlier.

To do this, I admit that we have to “cherry pick” at the Talmud.  In other words, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to give us our understanding of Scripture and not rely entirely on the ancient writings of rabbinical authorities.  

The Scriptures provide an outline without a lot of detail.  “Keep the Sabbath Day holy,” doesn’t tell us much about how.  The rabbis have developed over 5,000 rules, and they don’t all agree, plus they frequently change the rules, meaning that from time to time they disagree with themself.  This year we are two days behind the rest of Judaism, and next year also. End RT.
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Day 3 of counting the Omer

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר

Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav, Vitzivanu Al Sefirat Ha-Omer.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and commanded us about the counting of the Omer.  Today is zero weeks and three days of the counting of the Omer.

Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks.  1Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.
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Psalms
Psalm 50:16-21 – Part 10

Psalm 50:16 But to the wicked, God says: “What are you doing, reciting My laws and taking My covenant in your mouth? 17 For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you. 18 When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and your portion is with adulterers. 19 You have unleashed your mouth for evil and harnessed your tongue for deceit. 20 You sit, speaking against your brother, slandering your own mother’s son. 21 These things you have done—Should I keep silent? You thought I was just like you—but I reprove you, and set the case before your eyes.

Why did we break these verses into sections like this?  Because those being addressed in verse 7 are not the same as those being addressed in verse 16.  In verse 7, God is addressing “My people… Israel,” while in verse 16, God is addressing “the wicked.”  However; it should be noted that both groups manifest outward sanctity and observance while dismissing the inward heart change God desires.  

The first thing God speaks to “the wicked” in this section of Scripture is in the form of a question, “What are you doing?”  God then adds to the question by explaining what He means.  He says (you are) “reciting My laws and taking My covenant in your mouth?”  The connotation is that the wicked tend to speak as if they have both understanding and authority when they actually have neither one.  

As if that is not enough, God then makes the most serious accusation… you “hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you.”  Let’s make an inference…. If the wicked “hate discipline,” then it stands to reason that the righteous “love discipline.”  That really smart rabbi who wrote the Book of Hebrews must have read this Psalm.

Hebrews 12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

This lesson didn’t start in the Psalms either.  The Psalmist must have read the Torah.

Deuteronomy 8:5 Now you know in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so Adonai your God disciplines you. 6 So you are to keep the mitzvot of Adonai your God—to walk in His ways and to fear Him.

Yes, “walk in His ways.”  In Hebrew, “ways” are “Drachot” which takes us to 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.  “Remove the stones” means “clear an easy to follow path that leads people to Yeshua.  That leads us all to a harvest of “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Shalom shalom.

Day 3 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue7-Apr-2026 20th of Nisan, 5786 Pesach VI
Nu 9:1-14; 28:19-25Isa 41Pr 30Jas 1 (Mt 1)