Posts with the category “rabbis-reflections”

Shalom,Psalm 31:12 Because of all my adversaries I am the contempt of my neighbors and a dread to my acquaintances. Seeing me on the street, they flee from me. 13 I am as forgotten as a dead man. I ha...  Read More

Shalom,Zechariah and FavorBy David HarwoodI’ve been looking forward to considering chen/charis in Zechariah. There are two clear instances of the use of chen/charis therein, and one ambiguous one. Thi...  Read More

Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:11(10) – Part 11Psalm 31:11(10) For my life is consumed in sorrow and my years in sighing. My strength fails because of my anguish and my bones waste away.Back in verse seven, Da...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:10 Be gracious to me, Adonai, for I am in distress. My eyes waste away with grief, my soul and my body as well.He’s described as a man after God’s own heart, as the priest and prophet,...  Read More

Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:9(8) – Part 9Psalm 31:9 You did not hand me over to the enemy. You set my feet in a wide-open place.Well then, in whose hands are ya?  If we’re not “handed over” to the enemy, th...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:8 I will be glad and rejoice in Your lovingkindness, for You saw my affliction. You knew the troubles of my soul.Yesterday, we studied God’s “Chesed” (grace) response to us, which crea...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:8 I will be glad and rejoice in Your lovingkindness, for You saw my affliction. You knew the troubles of my soul.“Gilah V’Simcha,” meaning “rejoice and be glad,” written in the first p...  Read More

Shalom,Rabbi’s note:  For Part 1 - Taking Our Thoughts Captive, by Jerry Miller, please see the RR for Sunday, May 4, 2025.  Jerry has taken a short break from writing every other Sunday.  We are so g...  Read More

Shalom,We’re nearing the end of our survey of the use of chen and charis in the Tanak and Septuagint. We’ve been looking at when the Hebrew, chen, and its Greek equivalent found in the Septuagint, cha...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Friday, June 13, 2025 (Early) Shabbat Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:7(6) – Part 6Psalm 31:7 I detest those who continue to watch worthless idols, but I trust in Adonai.What’s that word, ...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Thursday June 12, 2025 Shalom {{firstName}}, PsalmsPsalm 31:6(5) – Part 5Psalm 31:6 Into Your hand I commit my spirit. You have redeemed me, Adonai, God of truth.Rabbi Trail: Ano...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:5(4) – Part 4Psalm 31:5 Free me from the net they hid for me, for You are my refuge.Rabbi Trail: I met Rabbi Joseph (see yesterday’...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 31:4(3) – Part 3Psalm 31:4 Since You are my rock and my fortress, You lead me and guide me for Your Name’s sake.Rabbi Trai...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Monday, June 9, 2025 Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 31:3(2) – Part 2Psalm 31:3 Turn Your ear to me, rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a stronghold for my deliveran...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Sunday, June 8, 2025Shavuah Tov {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 31:1,2(1) – Part 1Psalm 31:1 For the music director, a psalm of David. 2 In You, Adonai, have I taken refuge: Let me nev...  Read More

In Proverbs, a father revealed a path to gaining favor. Let kindness and truth never leave you— bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will gain favor (chen/char...  Read More

This Psalm, like so many others, finishes in a flourish with a series of joyful thoughts. Look at this list of exchanges…. Mourning into dancing, sackcloth into clothes of joy, sing in glory and not ...  Read More

This “plea” by David is an appeal to the Lord for mercy. We must all make such an appeal. The Hebrew word translated as “plea” is “Etchanan,” with “Chen” at the heart of it. ...  Read More

And this use of a sense of security is not necessarily a good thing, as it is regularly tied to an attitude of complacency. The sad truth (revealed throughout history) is that we, the people, turn to...  Read More

There is a contrast in the Hebrew of this verse. The contrast is between “B’ki” (Bet-Kaf-Yud) and Rina (Resh-Nun-Hey). They both mean “to cry out,” but in totally different contexts. ...  Read More

This “remembrance” is not the opposite of “forgetfulness,” but a memorial that is a testimony of our eternal debt to His kindness. How dare we receive His kindness and not offer a praise of thanks? ...  Read More

There are only two examples of chen/charis in the Psalms. Let’s look at the first, Psalm 45:3 TLV.Grace pours from your lips. Therefore God has blessed you forever. (Psalm 45:3b TLV) “Favor (charis/ch...  Read More

Announcement:  This Saturday (May 31st) is the fifth Saturday of May.  Therefore; we will not have a service on Saturday morning this week.  Instead, we will have a Friday night Shabbat dinner (bring ...  Read More

The greatest miracle in the world is that the almighty God, creator of the world and everything in it (He must be really smart to make it all work together amidst the never ceasing chaos) loves you an...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm Psa 30:1 A psalm, a song for the dedication of the Temple, of David. 2 I will exalt You, Adonai, for You have lifted me up, and did not let my enemies gloat over me.A few housekeeping ite...  Read More

The rabbis love this verse! It has a prominent place in the Torah service liturgy. The purpose of that liturgy is to help us prepare our hearts to receive the message of the Torah. Through His Word...  Read More

These RR devotionals are the product of my devotional life with the Lord, I’m glad to share them with you. My dear wife, Jan, helps me every day by being the first person to listen to me read what I ...  Read More

There is one more question that demands an accurate answer… “Who is on the throne of your heart?” Before you answer in a hasty manner, take a moment to reflect. Sometimes we put ourselves on the thr...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 29:8 – Part 8Psalm 29:8 The voice of Adonai shakes the desert. Adonai shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.This verse in Hebrew is amazing poetry, and like most verses of...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Favor/Grace in 2 Samuel and 1 KingsBy David HarwoodThere are three more instances of chen/charis in Israel’s prophetic historical narratives. There are two in 2 Samuel and one in 1 King...  Read More

A soft heart is a coachable heart. A soft heart can receive correction from the Lord. A hard heart cannot receive. It is resistant to direction from God’s loving command. Everything that can be sh...  Read More

Where do we experience the Lord carving out flames of fire in the Apostolic writings? Acts 2:3 And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. This happened on ...  Read More

We know all things are possible for God (see footnote)… but, there are two exceptions. Technically, these two things are not impossible for God. It is just His divine order that prevents Him from br...  Read More

The cedars of Lebanon were very important in the building of Solomon’s Temple. This is a great example of a Jewish king (Solomon) and a Gentile king (Hiram) working together to give glory to God by b...  Read More

God’s overall purpose is to express Himself through love. God created mankind so that He could love us, and the world so that He would have a place and the provision through which to love us. ...  Read More

Throughout history, people have been running away from the voice of God. Exodus 20:21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. Today, God is raising up a ...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Favor From a Fooled PhilistineBy David HarwoodDavid was on the run seeking shelter from Saul. He was desperate. How desperate was he? Desperate enough to seek protection in the land of ...  Read More

Come to think of it, the Hebrew word “Havu” translated as “ascribe” is not the usual word for “give” (which is Ten, or Noten), but - as a matter of perspective, come. It is an imperative form of “giv...  Read More

Wait a minute… there is one thing that God has refused to give Himself, a willing human heart. From the beginning, God has insisted that we have free will. Each of us must choose, and life is full o...  Read More

Psalms Psalm 28:9 – Part 15Shalom,Psalm 28:9 Save Your people, bless Your inheritance, shepherd them and carry them forever.The closing Hebrew phrase to Psalm 28 is “V’Nas’em Ad-HaOlam,” meaning “And ...  Read More