Shalom,

Psalm 68:18 The chariots of God are thousands and thousands—my Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.

The previous verse (17) ends with the profession that “Adonai will dwell there (the Temple Mount) forever.”  That’s a strong statement in which God is making an eternal claim on the property of the Temple Mount.  No wonder the whole world has lined up to remove God’s sovereignty from that place.  If Satan can make God a liar on that one thing, every other promise of God comes into question.  Can you imagine, Jews (the chosen people) are forbidden from praying on that one piece of ground.  We know for sure Jews have been praying there since father Abraham took his son, Isaac, to Mount Moriah about 4,000 years ago.  

Our subject verse tells us about Adonai, Who just made a promise that He will dwell on the Temple Mount forever.  Now we learn that God has multiplied thousands (the English doesn’t do the Hebrew justice) of chariots, and that He Himself is among them.  Back in verse 13, there is an “army of hosts” from this world that is confronting the multiplied chariots of Adonai.  This is stupid on their part, but they can’t help themselves.

Ezekiel 38:4 I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws. I will bring you out, with all your army, horses and horsemen—all of them splendidly dressed—a vast assembly with breastplate and shield, all of them wielding swords.

Rabbi’s note:  Why won’t the current Iranian regime agree to a peace plan, as they stare their own destruction in the face?  Same as with stubborn Pharaoh, because God won’t let them.  End RN.

So, Adonai has over a million chariots (a thousand thousand), and He is among them.  This isn’t new… we find an abundance of saints mentioned near the end of the Torah.  Deuteronomy 33:2 He said, “Adonai came from Sinai and dawned on Bnei-Yisrael from Seir. He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came from the holy myriads (abundance of saints)—blazing fire for them from His right hand.”

Did you catch this, I’ve mentioned it several times already.  Adonai (Who is Yeshua) is among them.  Revelation 1:7 “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him. Yes, amen!” 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says Adonai Elohim, “Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty!”

And this is not an isolated thought, without other Scriptural support, for example… John 14:3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be.

Next in Psalm 68 the tone changes to prayer.  We’ll pick it up tomorrow with verse 19.  Until then, be prayed up and ready for Yeshua’s return.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue     03-Nov-2026             23rd of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 24:10-26               Jdg 5               Ps 28               Mt 22:23-46   (Ro 6)

Shalom,

Psalm 68:15 When Shaddai scattered kings there, it was snowing on Zalmon. 16 Mount Bashan is a mountain of God. Mount Bashan is a mountain of peaks. 17 Why do you gaze with envy, you mountain peaks, at the mountain God desired for His dwelling? Yes, Adonai will dwell there forever!

There is a celebration being reported here.  God is mentioned here by His name, Shaddai, usually translated as “God almighty.”  In Hebrew, a “Shad” is a breast.  The chest is emblematic of the center of power.  So the poet is continuing his celebration of God’s victory over His enemies, who live to the east of Israel.  That’s where “Zalmon” is, east of Zion.  Those mountains of Jordan, also called the mountains of Gilead, are greater than the hills of Israel.  

Jeremiah 50:19 I will bring Israel back to his pasture. He will feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.

Inserting God’s victory over “Mount Bashan” is also significant.  The mountains of the east are made of solid volcanic rock (called basalt, where we get the name Bashan).  Not so with the hills of Judea.  Those hills are made of layers of limestone and sandstone, which is much softer.  It is a notable miracle of God that He takes the weaker hills and makes them victorious over the stronger mountains.  He does this to show His power.

2Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue.

Though the mountains of Bashan may seem powerful, God has placed His abode in Mount Zion, which may not ever deserve recognition in the natural, but reigns supreme in the spiritual.  

Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched… 22 But you have come to Mount Zion—to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, a joyous gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are written in a scroll in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones made perfect,

Made perfect through the sacrifice of Yeshua.  That’s the victory we continue to celebrate.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon    02-Nov-2026             22nd of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 23:17-24:9            Jdg 4               Ps 27               Mt 22:1-22     (Ro 5)

Shavuah Tov,

Probably the most well-known illustration of people recognizing, and supporting, one another’s spheres is found in the remarkable disclosure of Paul in Galatians.
 
On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised just as Peter was for the circumcised. (For the same God who was at work in Peter as an emissary to the Jews, also was at work in me as a[n] emissary to the Gentiles.) Realizing the favor that had been given to me, Jacob and Peter and John—who are the recognized pillars—shook hands in partnership with Barnabas and me, so that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews. (Galatians 2:7–9)
 
Now, I never took notice that Peter was not alone in this sphere. Certainly, Jacob/James was set in place to minister primarily to the Jewish people. But John? John too? According to Paul, John too. It changes the way I read his writings. However, for our immediate purpose it is enough to note that there were two specific spheres recognized, and two groups of people devoted to each sphere. To those who were descended from the Patriarchs, Jacob, Peter, and John. To those who were outside the Abrahamic covenant, Barnabas and Paul.
 
So, what do we have? Recognized spheres of influence. Recognized spheres of responsibility. Mutually recognized spheres of influence and responsibility – and koinonia – mutual support, with mutual respect. They recognized that it was God who entrusted these spheres to one another.
 
What about us? What if our spheres are not apostolic calls to Israel and the nations? What if our sphere is something like… giving money? Let’s look again at Romans 12.
 
For through the grace given me, I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think—but to use sound judgment, as God has assigned to each person a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
 
Through God’s enabling favor we have received an allotment of faith, and through that faith we also have received a sphere of service. The faith empowers the gift, and it is possible that our faithfulness influences the extent of our sphere. What we receive faith for determines what we do.
 
Examples of this are found in verses 6-8.
 
We have gifts that differ according to the grace that was given to us—if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; or the one who teaches, in his teaching; or the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who gives, in generosity; the one who leads, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6–8)
 
We have seen examples of apostles being faithful within their allotted spheres. They believed their calling. They acted upon their faith. They were faithful. What about us?
 
Consider this: there is a calling within the gifts. We are called to wisely estimate what has been given to us as manifestations of favor (charismata) and be zealously faithful in exercising the gift we’ve been given.
 
Consider Paul’s estimation of the value of faithfulness.
 
However, I don’t consider my life of any value, except that I might finish my course and the office I received from the Lord Yeshua, to declare the Good News of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)
 
Paul took his call seriously. He received his sphere with gratitude and sought to steward it for the sake of the King and His people. It is righteous to seek to be faithful to the calling upon our lives and that calling is often manifested through the gifts we have been given. We offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices through a righteous response to the mercies of God.
 
I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable to God—which is your spiritual service. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)
 
How? Through having our minds renewed as to our assigned purpose within the believing community. Having a sane estimate of ourselves, counting the cost, and going forward in life as servants of God, living sacrifices.
 
Our gifts and spheres may not be the earth-shaking equivalents of someone like Paul, but the same faithfulness the apostles showed is appropriate to our spheres as well.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun      01-Nov-2026             21st of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 23:1-16                 Jdg 3               Ps 26               Mt 21:23-46   (Ro 4)

Shabbat Shalom,
 
This week’s parshah is Vayera. The name comes from Genesis 18:1 Then ADONAI appeared (vayera) to him at Mamre’s large trees while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day.
 
In this week’s portion the LORD appears to Abraham, Abraham finds out that Sarah will have a son in about a years’ time, Sodom and Gomorrah face destruction, Abraham intercedes, Lot and two of his daughters escape, Sarah is abducted again, Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech, Isaac is born, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, and the binding of Isaac.  
 
Wow, there is a lot in this portion. Let’s just look at Abraham’s visitors. What reason might the LORD have chosen to visit Abraham that day? Was it to get a good meal? After all, it appears that Abraham was well known for his hospitality. He certainly kept up this reputation with the feast he provided for his three visitors that day.
 
However, there do appear to be two other reasons…first to announce that Sarah, despite being nearly 90 years old, was soon to be a mother.
 
Genesis 18:10 Then He said, “I will most surely return to you in about a year’s time, surprisingly, Sarah your wife will have a son.
 
And second to inform Abraham that the LORD was about lay some rather permanent correction on Sodom and Gomorrah because of their persistent, bad behavior.
 
Genesis 18:16-17, 20-21 Abraham was walking with them to send them off, when ADONAI said, “Should I keep secret from Abraham what I am about to do…?” Then ADONAI said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great indeed, and their sin is very grievous indeed. I want to go down now, and see if they deserve destruction…”
 
These two separate announcements seem completely unrelated, other than the happenstance of time. Yet with the LORD there is rarely, if ever happenstance. So, what possibly could be the reason for putting these two events together? More importantly, is there a lesson in this for us?
 
Sodom and Gomorrah we among the most affluent cities in the Land. Sadly, they were also the most self-indulgent and utterly deplorable cities. These two cities represent just about everything that is in opposition to the ways of the LORD. God’s destruction of these two cities provides a dramatic warning to all God’s people. In the Shema we are told to teach these commandments diligently to our children. What better example of how indulging in selfish and sinful ways will impact your life and your relationship with God than Sodom and Gomorrah?
 
On the other side of the equation, Abraham provides a powerful example of how to behave toward others and represent the goodness of God. Abraham’s tent was always open to others, even complete strangers. He respectfully welcomed guests – bowing low to the ground before them and quickly providing for their comfort – water to wash their feet and a place to recline in the cool shade beneath the trees.
 
Genesis 18:2-4 When he lifted his eyes to see, suddenly, three men were standing right by him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed down to the ground. Then he said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant. Please let a little water be brought so you can wash your feet and make yourselves comfortable under the tree. And let me bring a bit of bread so that you can refresh yourselves…”
 
He also saw to their physical needs by providing an enormous and high-quality feast which would normally have been reserved for only very special occasions. A fattened calf, milk, butter, and a large amount of bread made from more than 31 quarts of flour (one seah – measure in TLV is equal to 10.5 quarts).
 
Abraham exemplified brotherly love and kindness, giving freely to those in need. Conversely, Sodom and Gomorrah were openly hostile to strangers. The cities embraced hatred, violence, and widespread immorality. Sound familiar?
 
Like Abraham, although we are in this world, we are not to be of this world.
 
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.
 
This does not mean that we are supposed to draw away from the world and live in isolation. Rather, we are encouraged to be even more involved with life and our fellow human beings.
 
Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand, so it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
 
Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers – for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
 
Like Abraham, we are called to live lives that are filled with the presence of God and characterized by our good works and our hospitality. We need to be continually reaching out to others, spreading the joy and the Word of the LORD. Our life should be joyful and filled to the fullest with the love of God and his Son, Yeshua the Messiah.
 
Let’s give Paul the final word. Philippians 4:4, 8-9 Rejoice in the LORD always – again I will say rejoice. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise – dwell on these things… put these things into practice, and the God of Shalom will be with you.
 
Shabbat Shalom

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat      31-Oct-2026             20th of Cheshvan, 5787 Parashat Vayera
Ge 22:1-24                2 Ki 4:1-37                     Heb 11:8-19

(Early) Shabbat,

Psalm 68:14 When you lie among the campfires, wings of a dove were covered with silver and her feathers with shimmering gold.

This is poetry at its finest.  The images are lying “among the campfires,” and the description of the wings of a “dove.”  The translations and descriptions of these visions are widely disputed.  

Rabbi Trail: The Hebrew word translated as “campfire” is only used one other place in all of Scripture (Ezekiel 40:43) with no reference there to “campfire.”  This leaves us with a conundrum.  The Shoresh could be “Shin-Peh-Tav” meaning lips or language.  Still this is colorful language (this Psalm is full of such language).  Some translations use the word “sheepfold.”  Let’s not miss the context… these are a people who have been given the victory by God and are living leisurely and peaceably in the glory of it all.  End RT.  

A “dove” in Hebrew is “Yonah,” Jonah’s Hebrew name.  Sometimes, in Scripture, the “dove” is a reference to Israel.  Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son….11 “They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, like a dove out of the land of Assyria, and I will settle them in their houses.” It is a declaration of Adonai.

The detailed description of the vision of the wings of this “dove” in our subject verse, needs some unpacking.  The last Hebrew word of the verse is “Cha’rutz“ translated as “shimmering gold.”  In other places, “Cha’rutz” is frequently translated as “fine gold.”  This word has a deeper spiritual meaning, than  another commonly used word for gold, “Zahav,” meaning “golden.”  

Gold and silver are mined using sharp digging equipment.  That is the origin of “Cha’rutz.”  Spiritually speaking, these silver and gold covered feathers of the dove are sharp and incisive.  This “dove” (victorious Israel) is eager and even diligent to make clear, “cutting edge” decisions that are priceless (as gold).    

Let’s pray that we would be that “Cha’rutz.”  Isaiah 41:14 “Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you.” It is a declaration of Adonai, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 “Look, I will make you a threshing sledge, new, with sharp (Cha’rutz), double-edged spikes.  Lord, make us sharp in victory, by the power of Your Son.  Amen and shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri       30-Oct-2026              19th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 21:22-34            Jdg 2             Ps 25           Mt 21:1-22     (Ro 3)

Shalom,

Psalm 68:12 The Lord gives the word—a great company of women proclaims the good news. 13 “Kings of armies, flee, flee!” She who stays at home divides the spoil.

There are only six Hebrew words in all of verse 12, and the first word is “Adonai,” one of the Hebrew names for God.  Previously, in this Psalm, God’s more common name “Elohim” has been used eleven times in a row.  However; now the name first used by Abraham is mentioned.  Abraham addressed the Lord God, “Adonai Yehovah” as recorded in Genesis 15:2.  Genesis 15:2 But Abram said, “My Lord Adonai, what will You give me, since I am living without children, and the heir of my household is Eliezer of Damascus?”  Of course, God answers Abraham’s prayer with the miracle of Isaac’s birth.

As I said yesterday, the use of this special name for God signals a shift in our attention.  It’s like when your mother called you using your full name, and you immediately knew something had changed.  The immediate change is from a retelling of the past (You marched through the desert, the earth shook, the heavens rained, You sustained Your inheritance), to the future.

Rabbi Trail: Remember, the Biblical “future” is a sense of incomplete action (not yet finished).  In other words, whatever is being done, keeps on being done into the future.  The Hebrew word used for “gives” is “Yi’ten,” meaning He will be giving.  And Who is doing the giving?  Adonai!  End RT.

And what is Adonai “giving?”  Adonai is giving a speech!  The Hebrew word “O’mare” is translated in the TLV as “word” but that doesn’t do it justice.  When God speaks, we (His people) should be listening.  That’s another clue that something of a significant change is about to happen.  

Isaiah 30:30 Adonai will make His glorious voice heard, and reveal His arm descending with fierce fury in a consuming fire, in cloudburst, rainstorm and hailstones.

Rabbi Trail: The Hebrew here consistently uses the incomplete (future) structure, although the TLV doesn’t reflect that.  Also, I can’t find the use of “women” proclaiming the good news.  The “good news” is feminine in itself, but not the “great army of hosts” proclaiming it.  End RT.

And, what’s the “good news?”  The people of God (the hosts, “Tz’vah”) divide the spoils.  That’s a proclamation of victory.  God gives the victory to His people!  That’s “good news” indeed.  

1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!

So, the “big change” (as promised yesterday) comes to us in three ways, God’s name “Adonai” is used, God is speaking, and He is proclaiming the “good news,” His message of victory.

Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu     29-Oct-2026              18th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 21:5-21            Jdg 1               Ps 24               Mt 20              (Ro 2)

Shalom,

Psalm 68:11 Your community settled in it. In Your goodness, O God, You provided for the poor.

In meditating upon the Scriptures one or sometimes a few verses at a time, as we do, it is easy to lose the metanarrative of it all (the overarching story of Scripture), which must also be appreciated.  God is good, and He sent His Son to raise up a people who will follow Him in righteousness.  

The word translated here as “community” (Chai’yat’cha) is based on the Shoresh, “Chai,” (Chet-Yud) meaning “life.”  Living in God’s goodness means recognizing that God is not only the giver of individual life, but also the giver of communal life together.  We call that communal life, “community.”  

Non-Jewish believers in Yeshua tend to marginalize communal living.  They say things like, “I am saved, I am a man of God, and I have a devotional life.”  

1Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12a Fight the good fight of faith! Take hold of the eternal life—you were called to it.

Jewish people, on the other hand, tend to value community.  They say things like, “We are the people of God, we are the people of the book, and we are the chosen people.  

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a holy people to Adonai your God—from all the peoples on the face of the earth, Adonai your God has chosen you to be His treasured people.

Both perspectives are important, and equally valuable. 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Our subject verse is Psalm 68:11.  The last Hebrew word of this verse is “Elohim.”  This is one of the names for God.  This is the 11th time in Psalm 68 that name is used.  The first Hebrew word of the very next verse (12) is “Adonai,” really “Adonai” and not a substitute for YHVH (the ineffable name for God, [Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey] for which “Adonai” is frequently substituted).  

After calling God by His Hebrew name “Elohim” 11 times in 11 verses, then the sudden switch to “Adonai” indicates a dramatic change in the communication.  Please read the RR for tomorrow to see the change taking place.  Hint: there is some good news involved.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed    28-Oct-2026              17th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 19:21-21:4            Jos 24              Ps 23               Mt 19              (Ro 1)

Shalom,

Psalm 68:10 You poured down abundant rain, O God. You sustained Your weary inheritance.

There are only four Hebrew words in the first half of verse 10.  The first and last ones are quite familiar.  They are “Geshem” (rain) and “Elohim” (God).  The two words in between are amazing.  

First, “N’da’vot” (plural for “N’davah”) is commonly known as a “freewill offering.”  Usually, we are making an offering to God, but here, God is making a “freewill” offering to His inheritance (us, His community).  Let’s meditate on this for a moment.  Don’t miss it… these words mean God is showering abundant gifts of His own freewill upon His inheritance.  This is from God’s “inner impulse.”  What’s even better, is that God is showering gifts in the plural (meaning many times over), so that we can live and thrive in His presence.  The greatest gift is Yeshua, and all God’s blessings come through Him.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah.

The second word is “Ta’nif” which means to wave, as a wave offering.  But once again, it is not us “waving” an offering before God, but Him waving an offering before us.  The “wave” is like a military salute acknowledging authority.

Yeshua is the reality of all authority.  His once and for all time sacrifice made every other offering (including every wave offering) possible.  Hebrews  9:14 how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God—cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Together, the amplified understanding would be that God can’t help Himself.  His will or desire is to pour out (rain down) abundant blessings (gifts) upon you, acknowledging your position (close to Him) made possible by Yeshua’s sacrifice.  Does that not make you glad and joyful from the inside out?  

Isaiah 45:8 “Rain down, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down justice. Let the earth open up, let salvation sprout, and righteousness spring up with it. I, Adonai, have created it.”

Yes, God promises a harvest of righteousness.  Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without having watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to sow and bread to eat, 11 so My word will be that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to Me in vain, but will accomplish what I intend, and will succeed in what I sent it for.

The second half of the verse also has four Hebrew words.  Na’cha’lat’cha (your inheritance) V’Nil’ah (weary, describes God’s inheritance) Ata (You, speaking of God) Ko’nan’tah (from “Kun” meaning “faithfully established and made firm”).  An amplified understanding would be that God has taken His weary inheritance and through His authority made them (us) steadfast and unshakable.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude—through this we may offer worship in a manner pleasing to God, with reverence and awe.

Psalm 55:23 Cast your burden on Adonai, and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.

May Your blessings rain upon Your people, oh Lord, that they (we) might be firmly established and made unshakeable forevermore.  Amen.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue     27-Oct-2026              16th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 19:1-20                 Jos 23              Ps 22               Mt 18              (Jude)

Shalom {{firstName}},

Psalms
Psalm 68:8,9(7,8) – Part 5

Psalm 68:8 O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the desert—Selah— 9 the earth shook, the heavens rained at the presence of God—the One of Sinai—at the presence of God, God of Israel.

Rabbi Trail:  The Bible is written in three ways at the same time.  We might be tempted to call it past, present and future.  Properly, it should be understood as completed (past), being done now (present) and not yet complete (future).  God is not time constrained like we are.  Furthermore; when God does something, it keeps on being done.  His will is so powerful He doesn’t have to “DO” anything, He sets things in motion and they keep on being done.  

Take our own salvation, for instance.  God appeared at Sinai (and many other times) and He is going to appear again.  The earth shook, it’s still shaking and it will shake again.  The heavens rained at His presence, they are still raining in His presence, and they will continue to rain in the presence of God.  End RT.

The poet here, in Psalm 68 is quoting the prophet Deborah….  Judges 5:4 Adonai, when You came out from Seir, when You marched from Edom’s field, the earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water. 5 The mountains quaked before Adonai, this Sinai at the presence of Adonai, the God of Israel!

Both Deborah and the psalmist are building on themes expressed by Moses… Deuteronomy 33:26 “There is none like God, Jeshurun, riding through the heavens to your aid and through the skies in His majesty.  Much later, Habakkuk builds in this once again.  Habakkuk 3:3 God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His majesty covers the heavens, and His praise fills the earth.

We’ve been waiting for this great reality.  Revelation 1:7 “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him. Yes, amen!”8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says Adonai Elohim, “Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty!”

So, my friends, which is it, is the Lord going forth from heaven or coming to the earth?  Of course, your answer will depend on your perspective.  This is one event.  If you’re in heaven, God is going forth, and if you’re in the earth (like most of us), then “behold Yeshua comes!”  Revelation 22:20 The One giving testimony to these things says, “Yes! I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Yeshua!  The important thing for you and me is that we are prepared to answer Amen when the Bridegroom appears.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon    26-Oct-2026              15th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 18:15-33               Jos 22              Ps 21               Mt 17              (3 Jn)

Shavuah Tov,

It is written:
 
“Judges and officers you are to appoint within all your gates that Adonai your God is giving you, according to your tribes; and they are to judge the people with righteous judgment (mishpat-tsedek). … Justice, justice (tsedek, tsedek) you must pursue, so that you may live and possess the land that Adonai your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 16:18–20).
 
This instruction was given to judges and officers. In verse 20, “justice” is tsedek, usually translated as righteousness. “Righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue.” The doubling of this word is the equivalent of putting “righteousness” in all caps, in bold font, followed by an exclamation point: RIGHTEOUSNESS!
 
These men had unique spheres. They had more authority than the average person, but everyone can pursue righteousness. And we should.
 
Usually, the people prophets exhorted to act righteously were the powerful. These are those most likely to oppress the vulnerable. On the other hand, if they pursued RIGHTEOUSNESS! (tsedek, tsedek), they could make a difference in many lives. People tend to emulate their leaders.
 
Political, cultural, and economic elites have huge spheres of influence. But what about the rest of us? Most do not have this level of authority or influence.
 
Please consider John the Immerser’s exhortations.
 
The crowds were asking him, “What should we do?” He answered them, saying, “Whoever has two coats, let him give to the one who has none; and whoever has food, let him do the same.”
 
Tax collectors also came to him to be immersed. “Teacher,” they said to him, “what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not take more than you are supposed to.”
 
Also soldiers asked him, saying, “And what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not take things from anyone by force, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:10–14)
 
The clerk at the cash register can pursue righteousness by being honest. Adolescents can pursue righteousness as they honor their parents and contribute to peace within their parents’ homes. Those younger can care for the aged.
 
At times, fulfilling one’s this-worldly-obligations is a very high spiritual priority.
 
But if anyone does not provide for his own, especially those in his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)
 
All these spheres are, from a merely human perspective, on a low level of influence. Yet, they are opportunities to pursue righteousness.
 
In 2003 I wrote: "Righteousness is the developing and working out of relationships by the power of the Holy Spirit. Righteousness is active love, mercy and faithfulness." Today, I’d add that the human foundation of righteous interactions is that, through the love we have for the King, we love others as we love ourselves.
 
Also, we pursue righteousness by loving our enemies.
 
To a conquered and oppressed people, the Messiah said, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matthew 5:41) Paul preached that we “overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21b)
 
Yeshua was faithful within His assigned sphere. His sphere was His home and, likely, His family’s business. He pursued righteousness there.
 
Then His sphere was His own people. He pursued righteousness as He sought “the lost sheep of the House of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24b)
 
Finally, His sphere reached its apex. He gave His life for the sins of humanity and tore down the devil’s dominion.
 
Even after His resurrection, ascension and glorification, Yeshua is still pursuing righteousness within His sphere.
 
Where did it begin? Through pursuing righteousness in what every child can do. He was subject to His parents.
 
What is your sphere? Pursue righteousness there. Strengthen or lay the foundations of righteousness that qualify you to see the expansion of the Kingdom through your life and, in particular, your prayers.
 
Depart from evil and do good. Seek shalom and pursue it. The eyes of Adonai are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry. (Psalm 34:15–16)
 
Make no mistake. God will work with those who have little influence to affect circumstances way outside their spheres of authority, because nothing is outside of God’s influence. And we can influence God through prayers of confession and intercession.
 
The same faithfulness is called for in every sphere. The same motive is looked for in the pursuit of righteousness. It is a sincere devotion to God and love for others. If we cultivate that, the pursuit of righteousness is right behind.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun      25-Oct-2026              14th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 18:1-14                 Jos 21              Ps 20               Mt 16              (2 Jn)

Shabbat Shalom,
 
This week’s Parshah is Lech Lecha. The name comes from Genesis 12:1 Then ADONAI said to Abram, “Get going out (lech lecha) from your land, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
 
In unpointed (no vowel markers) Hebrew these two words appear identical – lamed kaf, lamed kaf. These are from the Hebrew word halak, to walk. Only when these words are read in context or with vowel pointing do the differences in pronunciation and individual word meaning become obvious. In a literal translation, these words mean “go” lech, “go for yourself” lecha.
 
This is an imperative phrase, strongly telling Abram to “go!” Kind of like “go now!” or “get moving” or maybe even “Hurry up!”  
 
In this reading, there is also a fair bit of “wait.” Like 25 years of waiting for the promised son for a 75-year-old man whose wife is already 65 years old.
 
Genesis 12:4 So Abram went, just as ADONAI had spoken to him. Also, Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.)
 
Had the LORD immediately fulfilled his promise of a son for Abram it would have been a great wonder. 65-year-old women just don’t have babies. Even today that would be considered a medical wonder. Yet the LORD wanted this birth to be more than just a curiosity, a very rare, unusual event, or in human terms a nearly impossible occurrence – the LORD wanted to be sure that this event was so spectacular that everyone would know beyond all doubt that Isaac’s birth was a true miracle made only possible through the LORD.
 
To make the waiting even more poignant, the LORD later told Abram that he would not possess the land. Nor would his son, not even his grandson, but a future generation many years away.
 
Genesis 15:13-15 Know for certain that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and that they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years…Then in the fourth generation they will return here…
 
Many of us have also experienced times of “hurry up and wait” in our lives. Mom and Dad hurry the kids, getting them loaded in the car, only to have to wait for Dad after Mom sends him back into the house to check to be sure that the lights are all off, or the toaster is unplugged, or the coffee pot turned off. Now the trip can begin…hurry up, get into the car, then wait for Mom and Dad to be sure that everything in the house and car is safe before the journey can begin…
 
There are plenty of Scripture verses reminding us to “wait on the LORD.” But “hurry-up” verses rare. Perhaps this is a reflection of the LORD’s character.
 
Could you imagine what it would be like if the LORD was not patient with us? If he were not long-suffering? Perhaps waiting is part of our training. Perhaps the LORD is teaching us the importance of being patient, not just with waiting for him but in our dealings with others.
 
Psalm 27 starts out with ADONAI is my light and my salvation – whom should I fear? ADONAI is the stronghold of my life – of whom should I dread?
 
The Psalmist then goes on to describe various troubles and challenges, and petitions for the LORD to intervene.
 
Psalm 27 ends with Surely, I trust that I will see the goodness of ADONAI in the land of the living. Wait for ADONAI. Be strong, let your heart take courage and wait for the LORD.
 
As we go through our lives, we often face challenges, pains, and suffering. Yet this Psalm is telling us not to be afraid, ADONAI is my light and my salvation and ADONAI is the stronghold of my life. But we are also reminded to be patient and wait on the LORD.
 
Waiting on something earnestly desired is very difficult. Sadly, we are often unprepared to play the waiting game. In our society instant gratification is more the norm than patiently waiting. Credit is far too easy – buy now, pay later – no money down, low monthly payments – use plastic money. The busiest restaurants are fast food joints and buffets where there is no or very little waiting involved. We order huge amounts of goods on the internet – expecting delivery within a couple days.
 
When we must wait, we get bored, distracted, and often irritable. Even in the “waiting room” we get grumpy if we are not seen within a few minutes of our appointed time.
 
Isaiah 40:30-31 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but they who wait for ADONAI will renew their strength. They will soar up with wings as eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
 
James (Jacob) 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
 
I must admit that the trial of the slow starting driver at the traffic light, the line cutters, or slow service at a restaurant used to test my perseverance. I seem to have mellowed in this regard a little. But I certainly have not progressed far enough in my faith to be able to claim that these events are joyful! While I may no longer toot the horn or otherwise voice my displeasure aloud, I certainly am not shouting for joy either!
 
Yet James is telling us that we must practice waiting to perfect our faith. So maybe we should view delays in our lives, regardless of the cause, to be God-sent opportunities to perfect our faith. If we can do that enough for this to be our habit, perhaps we will grow our faith, and maybe even lower our blood pressure! And perhaps we will have arrived at a perfected faith when we can bless the LORD and sing for joy when we face delays, even those caused by someone else.
 
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Messiah also forgave you.
 
Shabbat Shalom

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat      24-Oct-2026             13th of Cheshvan, 5787 Parashat Lech-Lecha
Ge 17:7-27                Isa 40:27-41:16       Ro 4:1-12

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 68:6 A father of orphans, defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. 7 God settles the lonely in a home. He leads prisoners out to prosperity. But the rebellious live in a parched land.

Wow, I could write on these two verses for a week.  Don’t tempt me.  Here is another name for God, “Father.”  God is not just A Father, but THE Father.  He is our heavenly Father.  What’s better?  The life giver, loves orphans, widows, the homeless, and prisoners, each according to his need.  To the fatherless, He becomes their Father.  To the widows, He becomes their protector.

Rabbi Trail:  The Hebrew word translated as “protector” is “Dayyan” (as in Moshe Dayan, the famous Israeli general who unified Jerusalem in the Six Day War).  The word is only used twice in Scripture, the other place being 1Samuel 24:15.  However; it comes from “Din” meaning judgment.  A “Beit Din” is a house of judgment, or courthouse.  Etymologically, it is connected to the tribe of Dan.  

The connection should be obvious… a court (house of judgment) is where those who cannot defend themselves go to seek justice.  God warns us against injustice.  Leviticus 19:15 “You are to do no injustice in judgment. You are not to be partial toward the poor nor show favoritism toward the great, but you are to judge your neighbor with fairness.  And so it should be for widows. End RT.

Also, our subject verse promises a home to the isolated (translated as “lonely” the Hebrew comes from “Yachad” (Echad) meaning sole.  Whenever you’ve got one of something, you want to protect it.  That’s how God is to an only child.  

Notice too that He settles them in a “home” (Bayit) but God, Himself, inhabits a dwelling.  The Hebrew word is “Ma’oun” (not “Bayit”).   The Ma’oun of God connotes a dwelling place, which is a habitation or retreat.  It is a safe place where there is community.  Psalm 26:8 Adonai, I love the (habitation of) Your house, the place where Your glory dwells.

Not so with the rebellious.  They live in a dry and barren place.  Not only that, it is also a dark and lonely place.  God is light, and there is no darkness in Him.  And you know it’s lonely because every rebellious person puts himself first.

Live for God, and He promises to deliver you out of dry places.  Isaiah 41:17 “The poor and needy ask for water, but there is none, Their tongues are parched with thirst. I, Adonai, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18 I will open rivers on the bare hills and springs in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land into fountains of water.”  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri       23-Oct-2026              12th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 15:7-17:6              Jos 20              Ps 19               Mt 15              (1 Jn 5)

Shalom,

Psalm 68:5 Sing to God, sing praises to His Name. Prepare the road for Him who rides through the deserts, whose Name is Adonai—and rejoice before Him.

May I offer you my own amplified version of this verse?

Sing (Shiru) to Elohim (La’Lohim), sing praises (Zam’ru). Stop, the “Etnachta” (a cantorial note that instructs the singer to pause, like a grammatical comma) is found under the word for “sing praises.”  Then the Hebrew continues,… Lift up (from “Salal” meaning exalt, extol, literally “pile up,” or prize) His name.  It is His name that is exalted.  You know, exaltation to the One Who rides mounted through the dry, barren and deserted places (deserts).  “Ya” is His name. (V’ilzu) and rejoice (L’Fanav) before His face.

Isaiah had a similar vision (the Hebrew word choices echo one another).  In both, our subject verse and Isaiah 62, there are inclusions and invitations for the people to join in praise of and to God.  Isaiah adds clarity… 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. 11 Behold, Adonai has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the Daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes! See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”

In modern America, we tend to take highways for granted.  Not so in biblical times.  Remember this, the Bible is speaking about more than roads, but a “high” way that describes life in the kingdom of God.  Isaiah 35:8 A highway will be there—a roadway. It will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it. It is for the one who walks the way. Fools will not go astray.  

No wonder the earliest believers in Yeshua were called “followers of the way.”  That’s not just a title, but a description of the way of life to which every believer is called.  Once again, we turn to Isaiah, who prophesied the words fulfilled by John the Baptist, who himself promoted the arrival  of Yeshua.  Isaiah 40:3 A voice cries out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of Adonai, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

This “highway” not only leads us to Yeshua, but the “way” is lead BY Yeshua.  Lead, follow, or get out of the way.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu     22-Oct-2026              11th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 14:21-15:6            Jos 19              Ps 18               Mt 14              (1 Jn 4)

Shalom,

Psalm 68:3 As smoke is blown away, may You blow them away. As wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. 4 But let the righteous be glad. Let them exult before God. Let them rejoice with gladness.

Let’s start today with two Hebrew words.  They are similar, but distinctively different.  I believe they are a poetic device used to draw a rhyming contrast.  In verse 3, we have “MiP’nay Aysh” meaning “FROM before (the face) of the fire.”  Then in verse 4 we find, “Lif’nay Elohim” meaning “before (TO the face) of God.”  So together they form the thought, “From before the face of the fire, to the face of God.”  The wicked perish, while the righteous celebrate in the presence of God.

When the Bible repeats a theme, it is done intentionally to focus our attention.  Don’t miss this, verses 3 and 4 are a compare and contrast.  What happens to the wicked (“perish before God”) is dramatically different from what happens to the righteous (“exult before God”).  This is not the message we hear from universalists who say, “We’re all going to end up in the same place, because there is no such thing as hell.  After all, God knows we’re all sinners.”  The evidence against this is enormous.

Yeshua spoke about it on many occasions.  Let me start with the Sermon on the Mount.  Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.”  There is so much more.  John 5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29 and come out! Those who have done good will come to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil will come to a resurrection of judgment.”  

This doesn’t erase grace, it embraces it.  Grace is not a license to sin.  Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound?  Grace (properly understood) is the God-given desire to DO the will of God.  Jacob 2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.  And, because God loves us, and would never intentionally frustrate us, therefore; “grace” also includes the ability to do the works of righteousness.

It is easy to see the theme of our subject verses, the wicked perish while the righteous rejoice.  So many of the Psalms (as well as other Scriptures) build on this.  The Psalm for the Sabbath Day is only one such example.  Psalm 92:8 Though the wicked spring up like grass, and all evildoers flourish, it is only to be ruined forever…. 13 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

And, we must remember that righteousness is only possible through Yeshua.  Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves—it is the gift of God. And finally, Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always—again I will say, rejoice!  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed    21-Oct-2026              10th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 14:1-20                 Jos 18              Ps 17               Mt 13:31–58  (1 Jn 3)

Shalom,

Psalm 68:1 For the music director, a psalm of David, a song. 2 Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered! Let those who hate Him flee before Him.

My friends, this is so good… my eyes are filled with tears of joy.  God’s word never disappoints.  There are thirty-six verses (in most Hebrew Bibles) that make up Psalm 68.  The significance of this is explained after the Rabbi Trail below.
Rabbi Trail:  In Hebrew, the 22 letters are also the numbers.   The assigning of a numerical value to words is called “Gematria.”  While it is fun to “play around” with, I would not base my faith on it, as some do.  An interesting side note, the mystical rabbis of old, who study Gematria to uncover “secret” meanings (we avoid “secret” meanings) have rules or conventions that guide their study.  One of their rules is the plus or minus one principle.  This means that if a value is close (say, plus or minus one) to being a significant meaning, they can just add or take away value arbitrarily to make the significant meaning fit.  So, while we are aware of Gematria, we would never base our faith on it.  End RT.

Thirty-six is double eighteen and eighteen in Hebrew is made of the letters, Chet(8) and Yud(10) which spells “Chai” (life).  So thirty-six is “double life.”  In Hebrew, when something is repeated (doubled) it expresses the superlative, so “double life” means the “best life possible.”  And this Psalm is full of such exclamations.

Psalm 68 starts by repeating Moses’ prophecy as the Levites began to move the Ark of the Covenant (with some small changes for the context)… Numbers 10:35 Whenever the Ark would set out, Moses would say: “Arise, Adonai! May Your enemies be scattered! May those who hate You flee from before You!”  This is the liturgy of the Torah serive.  

In the previous Psalm (67) David repeated the Aaronic Benediction from Numbers 6:22-27.  This first one is a prayer for you, to put God’s name and blessing on you, while the second one is also a prayer, this time for protection from God’s enemies.  

Also, significant in this Psalm (68), is the use of God’s names.  Scholars have counted their uses.  Elohim alone is used 23 times, plus many other names of God I will point out as we continue in our meditations of Psalm 68.  How about an oldie, but a goodie to start the week?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWXSYjHEe6I

After all that about the structure of Psalm 68, let’s put some substance to our meditation for today.  Beside the previously mentioned reference of Numbers 10, where else do we find the coupling of God rising up and defeating his enemies?  How about all throughout the Bible.  Isaiah 33:2 Adonai, be gracious to us! We long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of trouble. 3 From the noise of tumult people will flee; When You lift Yourself up, the nations will be scattered.

And, there is this, again from the Psalms… Psalm 132:8 Arise, Adonai, to Your resting place—You, and the Ark of Your might. 9 Let Your kohanim wear righteousness, and let Your godly ones sing for joy.  Solomon prayed these same words at the dedication of the Holy Temple (see 2 Chronicles 6:41).  From Moses to David and Solomon, it’s generational.  May we all “wear righteousness” and “sing for joy” over the defeat of every enemy of God.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue     20-Oct-2026              9th of Chesvan, 5787
Ge 13:5-18          Jos 16-17        Ps 16               Mt 13:1–30    (1 Jn 2)

Shalom {{firstName}},

Psalms
Psalm 67:6-8(5-7) – Part 4

Psalm 67:6 Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You. 7 The earth has yielded its harvest—God, our God will bless us. 8 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.

The Bible is written to a people who were very agrarian.  In an agrarian society, if the land doesn’t produce a harvest, the people starve.  For example, the potato blight beginning in Ireland in 1845 was the proximate cause of the deaths of one in five (1.5 million) people who were living in Ireland at the time.  I say, “proximate cause” because the starvation that didn’t kill some, led to other diseases that did kill them.

We are agrarian today too, but we don’t notice it as much.  That’s because when crops fail, we can seek out alternatives such as imports, other sources from within the United States, or other products altogether.  We discovered during the COVID crisis that these issues can also become very real for us today.  So we praise God that the earth has “yielded its harvest.”

Don’t miss this… just as you may have heard me say, “For every physical reality, there is a greater spiritual reality,”  so there is also a spiritual component to the earth yielding its harvest.  “All the ends of the earth will fear Him” (speaking of God).  “All the peoples (notice this is a reference to all nations of the earth) (will) praise You” (again, speaking of God). 

The same six Hebrew words make up both verses 4 and 6.  And what follows verse 6 is a mirror of what follows verse 4.  In verse 5, the peoples are glad to be under God’s reign (judgment).  Then in verse 8, again the peoples are glad, this time to receive His blessing, which is also the result of being under God’s reign (those who fear Him).

Jacob saw this harvest of all the peoples of the earth in the form of a city.  Hebrews 11:10 For he was waiting for the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Jeremiah saw it too… Jeremiah 33:9 “Then this city will be to Me for a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth, which will hear all the good that I do for them, so they will fear and tremble because of all the good and for all the shalom that I do for it.”

And John saw it too… Revelation 21:2 I also saw the holy city—the New Jerusalem—coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  That “city” isn’t geography, it is the people of God, “as a bride.”  Then, Psalm 67:8 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon    19-Oct-2026              8th of Chesvan, 5787
Ge 12:14-13:4            Jos 15              Ps 15               Mt 12:22-50   (1 Jn 1)

Shavuah Tov,
 
Luke 18:1-8 is an important teaching about persevering, importunate prayer.
 
Then Yeshua told them a parable to show that they should always pray and not be discouraged,
 
He said, “There was a judge in a certain city who neither feared God nor respected people. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’ “He was unwilling at the time. But afterward he said to himself, ‘Although I don’t fear God or respect people, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice so she won’t wear me out by her incessant coming.’ ”
 
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge is saying. Won’t God do justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He be slow to help them? I tell you, He will quickly give them justice. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1–8)
 
Yeshua said we should persevere in prayer even when it appears as if God is unjust. God is not unjust. He will answer and vindicate the righteous.
 
This parable is generally used to encourage those of us who are consistently praying for a righteous, favorable answer from God in our personal lives. Obviously, this is a good application of this parable, but let’s look at the context.
 
What are the immediately preceding verses to Luke 18 about? In Luke 17:20–37, Messiah Yeshua spoke about the Kingdom of God.
 
First, He spoke of the presence of the coming Kingdom as experienced through His person and ministry.
 
Then, lest He be misunderstood, Yeshua spoke about the longing His disciples would have to see “the days of the Son of Man.” Those who were yearning for His reign would have to endure age-long disappointment.
 
Next, He warned His followers not to frantically give in to enthusiasms. He wanted them to understand that the coming of the Son of Man would not be a mystery. It would be unmistakable. But first, before the “days of the Son of Man,” He would suffer and be rejected.
 
But, one might well ask, what about His coming in glory - like a thunderbolt lighting up the heavens? It will happen, but it will be preceded by the Days of Noah and the Days of Lot. Days of normal life. Days of eating, drinking, marrying, being given in marriage, buying, selling, planting, building. (Luke 17:27-28)
 
And then, lest His disciples get discouraged in the time of waiting, “Yeshua told them a parable to show that they should always pray and not be discouraged.” (Luke 18:1)
 
At the end of this age, the faithful, fervent followers of the Lord, will be under intense pressure. They will be longing for His appearing and it will appear as if it will never happen. Yeshua reassures us that it will.
 
What kind of faith is this, that the Lord will look for?
 
From my perspective it is faith that He will return as He said He would. But that confidence will have been under trial. After all, it has been so long. His coming has been so delayed. The believing community will be sorely tempted to give up their expectation, to surrender their hope in Yeshua’s return.
 
This parable is not just about individual prayer requests. It is eschatological.
 
It is faith for the full manifestation of the Kingdom at the time of Yeshua's return. It is a faithfulness maintained while the expectation of His return is mocked in the world and downplayed in the daily life of the believing community. I think that the faith that may be hard to find is the form of faith that affects the way people live. Its absence is seen in the adopting of the world’s aspirations, goals and habits, the pursuit of that which the world lives for: eating, drinking, marrying, being given in marriage, buying, selling, planting, building. (Luke 17:27-28).
 
This is faith that will be found in a faith-filled person who becomes the image of the faith they maintain. This widow may represent the One New Man who is vulnerable to “the vultures”. She needs protection and is longing for the Lord’s return.
 
The form of faith Yeshua will be looking for is likened to a widow who continually brings her case before an unrighteous judge. She has not had her day in court. But she will.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun      18-Oct-2026              7th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 12:1-13           Jos 14          Ps 14         Mt 12:1-21     (2 Pet 3)

Shabbat Shalom,

This week’s parshah is Noach. The name comes from Genesis 6:9 These are the genealogies of Noah (Noach).
 
In parshah Noach, we get God ordering Noah to construct the ark, the gathering of animals, the flood, God’s covenant (brit) with Noah (the rainbow as a sign), the Table of Nations, the Tower of Babel, and the genealogy from Shem to Abraham.
 
In Hebraic thought, the term “seventy nations” is understood to mean all nations and all peoples. This thought originates in Genesis 10 because there are seventy descendants of Noah and his sons mentioned. This idea reminds us of both the diversity of people groups and humanities unity. We may have differences, but we are all descended from a common ancestor.
 
Most of us remember from our childhood fun Bible stories of the animals marching two by two into the ark.
 
Genesis 6:19 Of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of everything – male and female – into the ark to keep alive with you.
 
But is this the whole story? Just two of every bird and animal?
 
Genesis 7:2-3 Of every clean animal you shall take seven of each kind, male and female, and of the animals which themselves are not clean two, male and female. And also the flying creatures of the sky seven of every kind, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of the whole land.
 
Let’s look at one part of this verse before delving into the more important part. That is the “seven of each kind” bit. This little statement has caused endless debate among scholars. Bible translations variously say seven, seven pairs, or fourteen of each kind of clean animals or birds. The Hebrew is tiqqach-lecha shivah shivah. Literally, you shall take with you seven seven. In Hebrew a repeated word is normally distributive – like seven of everything listed. In this case it can be read seven of each kind of clean animal or seven of each male and female (of each kind) which equals seven pairs or fourteen of each kind.
 
I wouldn’t base my faith on any one of these specific numbers. Whichever the number, it was what God commanded, Noah obeyed, and it was sufficient to repopulate the earth after the flood.
 
What I really wanted to focus our attention on is “Of every clean animal you shall take seven of each kind.”  Wait a minute, the first time we get a definition of what constitutes a clean animal isn’t until Leviticus 11 which according to Bible scholars is more than 1100 years after the flood.
 
Yet somehow Noah knew. Some may speculate that of course he knew, because Noah could count…if there were just two animals, they were unclean, if there were seven or seven pairs, they were clean.
 
However, “clean” comes from the Hebrew word tahor – which is more in line with ceremonially acceptable or ceremonially pure – not physically clean (free of soil or other physical contaminate). While there is no biblical evidence that Noah was offering sacrifices before the flood, I will point out that Abel offered animal sacrifice Genesis 4:4 Abel brought the first born of his flock and their fat portions.
 
It seems reasonable that as a righteous and Godly man, Noah very well may have been offering sacrifices before the flood. Whether he made sacrifices before the flood or not, Noah certainly knew exactly what to do when he came out of the ark Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to ADONAI and took of every clean domestic animal and of every clean flying creature and he offered burnt offerings on the altar.
 
Why is this important to us? Many will accuse someone of being legalistic if they refrain from eating unclean (lo-tahor) animals, like pork or horse, because they are following the Law of Moses, which is according to them, for the Jews.
 
But the account of Noah teaches a different conclusion. Clean and unclean animals were not determined through Moses. What Moses did more than 1100 years after the flood is write down, codify for everyone – Jew and Gentile – what is tahor and what is lo-tahor.
 
Commonly the Jews are very good at keeping to their morashah, their tradition or heritage which is thought to reach back to the exodus. Perhaps the account of Noah and the clean and unclean animals tells us that maybe morashah reaches back even further – to Noah and maybe even earlier. The difference is that the Jews remembered while most of the rest of Noah’s descendants forgot.
 
Let’s close with this thought from Paul, Colossians 2:16 Therefore, don’t let anyone pass judgement on you in matters of food or drink, or in respect to a festival or new moon or Shabbat. In other words, don’t let people pass judgement on you because you are following God’s commandments. Never forget our morashah.
 
Shabbat Shalom

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat      17-Oct-2026             6th of Cheshvan, 5787 Parashat Noach
Ge 11:1-32                Isa 54:1-55:5                        2 Pe 3:1-14

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 67:4(3) Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You. 5(4) Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly, and guide the nations on the earth. Selah

Rabbi Trail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHVfIYrSi50. This Psalm was put to music by Steve McConnell more than 20 years ago.  Click the link provided.  Today’s first verse is the chorus and the rest of the Psalm are the verses.  A shout out to the trombone player, Rabbi Rich Nichol from Needham, MA.  Steve McConnell wrote a great body of Messianic music.  It is all online for your enjoyment.  End RT.

Here we go… according to the words of these verses (4&5), all the nations are going to join with Israel in praising the One True And Living God.  “Selah,” so let’s pause and meditate on that for a moment.  

Rabbi Trail:  The use of the word “Seleh” is like a “holy ground” moment.  Moses heard God calling to him from the burning bush (that didn’t burn up)…  Exodus 3:5  Then He said, “Come no closer. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”  In other words, God is saying to Moses, “Moses, don’t go running off (it hurts to run on hot desert sand without shoes), hang out here with Me for a while.  Let’s talk.”  That’s the full meaning of “Selah.”  God is calling us to Himself in the same way.  End RT.

Won’t that be wonderful, when the whole earth is worshipping the same One True and Living God!  “Kulanu K’Echad” meaning “altogether as one.”  But there is one part of these verses that we have not mentioned yet.  It says that God will “judge” (from Shophet) and “guide” (from Yashar).  God’s “judgment” mentioned here is not intended to be in a judicial sense of guilt or innocence, but in a governmental sense of all the people being submitted to God’s righteous reign.  That’s also the intended meaning of “Yashar,” to set everything straight.  Yashar means upright (also translated “righteous”) and untangled.

Psalm 25:14 The secret of Adonai is for those who fear Him. He makes His covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are always looking to Adonai, for He will pull my feet out of the net.

“Pull my feet out of the net” is how this verse prophecies that God will untangle our lives.  Simply put, God’s judgment is the salvation of the world.  It is Satan who condemns, but God Who redeems.  So, who has had more challenges in life than Job?  Yet, even in the midst of his troubles, he declared…. Job 19:25 “Yet I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will stand on earth. 26 Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.  

Do yourself a favor and agree with Job while there is still time.  Isaiah 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous one his thoughts, let him return to Adonai, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri      16-Oct-2026              5th of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 9:18-10:32            Jos 13         Ps 13            Mt 11            (2 Pet 2)

Shalom,

Psalm 67:3 so that Your way may be known on earth, and Your salvation among all nations.

“So that” connects this verse to the previous one.  In the previous verse, we are asking God for a blessing, to look favorably upon us, “so that” His “way” may be known throughout all the earth, and that His “salvation” (Yeshua) may be known throughout all the nations.

This is poetic language.  It uses different words to say the same thing twice.  God’s “way” (Derekh) and “salvation” (Yeshua) are the same thing.  Yeshua and the Apostle Thomas had this exchange (some of it is provided for context).

John 14:1 Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me…. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Master, we don’t know where You are going. How can we know the way?”6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.

There it is… John 14:6a Yeshua said to him, “I am the way.”  God’s plan is to save the world THROUGH the salvation of Israel.  Romans 11:15 For if their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  “Life from the dead” is Paul prophesying worldwide revival.  

Isaiah 56:6 Also the foreigners who join themselves to Adonai, to minister to Him, and to love the Name of Adonai, and to be His servants—all who keep from profaning Shabbat, and hold fast to My covenant— 7 these I will bring to My holy mountain, and let them rejoice in My House of Prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar. For My House will be called a House of Prayer for all nations. 8 Adonai Elohim, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, “I will gather still others to him, to those already gathered.”

Those of us in Messianic Judaism are like a first fruits people, anticipating when all the nations will be included in God’s blessings.  Ephesians 2:14 For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation. Within His flesh He made powerless the hostility— 15 the law code of mitzvot contained in regulations. He did this in order to create within Himself one new man from the two groups, making shalom,

Ah, so much to misunderstand here.  The law or God’s righteous principles is not “done away.”  The difference with Yeshua is that we are no longer judged by the Law, but guided by it.  This gives us the opportunity to have a heart relationship with Yeshua, not based on doing, but rather based on being led by His Spirit.  Ephesians 3:16 I pray that from His glorious riches He would grant you to be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Ruach, 17a so that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Be that “one new man” with a heart for God.  Hear Yeshua’s invitation…. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass.”  

Last time I checked, “all things” have not yet “come to pass.”  WDYD, “What Did Yeshua Do?”  Let’s do that and walk with Yeshua in righteousness.  2Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu     15-Oct-2026              4th of Chesvan, 5787
Ge 9:8-17            Jos 12              Ps 12               Mt 10              (2 Pet 1)

Shalom,

Psalm 67:1 For the music director, with stringed instruments, a psalm, a song. 2 May God be gracious to us and bless us. May He cause His face to shine upon us—Selah

This Psalm is relatively short.  There are eight verses in the TLV (and most Jewish Bibles).  Because most Christian Bibles combine verses 1 and 2 into verse 1, there are only 7 verses in most Christian Bibles.  Three times in this short Psalm we find the identical Hebrew word, “Y’Var’che’nu,” meaning “may God bless us” (it’s connected to God’s name, “Eloheynu,” all three times.

This reminds us of the three parts of the Aaronic benediction at the end of Numbers 6.  Numbers 6:23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons saying: Thus you are to bless Bnei-Yisrael, by saying to them: 24 ‘Adonai bless you and keep you! 25 Adonai make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you 26 Adonai turn His face toward you and grant you shalom!’ 27 In this way they are to place My Name over Bnei-Yisrael, and so I will bless them.”  And it is easy to see the similarities in our subject verses.  

God is so powerful (He did create the universe, which is so big that we can’t invent a telescope big enough to see the end of it.) that He doesn’t have to DO anything in order to bless us.  If He only looks upon us, we are blessed.  This same line appears twice in Psalm 80.  Psalm 80:4(3) O God, restore us, make Your face shine, and we will be saved.  (And again, 4 verses later.)

Moses’ face shone after being in the presence of God.  Exodus 34:29  Now it happened, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hand when he came down from the mountain, that Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant, because God had spoken with him. 30 When Aaron and all Bnei-Yisrael saw Moses, the skin of his face shone in rays, so they were afraid to come near him.

Yeshua’s face also shone after being in God’s presence.  Matthew 17:2 Now He was transfigured before them; His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.  Personally, I believe this is why Adam and Eve didn’t know they were naked before the fall.  Before they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they had a relationship with God.  Scripture implies that they walked with God in the Garden.  From being in His presence, they would naturally shine with His glory.

“Selah!”  Let’s pause to appreciate God’s blessings.  Take a moment to rest in His presence, and give Him a thank offering.  May our hearts be filled with gratitude toward God for His goodness toward us.  Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! Praise Him, bless His Name. 5 For Adonai is good. His lovingkindness endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed    14-Oct-2026              3rd of Cheshvan, 5787
Ge 8:15-9:7         Jos 11              Ps 11               Mt 9                (1 Pet 5)

Shalom,

Psalm 66:20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His lovingkindness from me.

While I haven’t checked all 150 Psalms lately, I don’t recall ever seeing one that doesn’t end on a positive note.  Here, Psalm 66 is consistent.  God is always listening.  As Psalm 121:4 begins in Hebrew, “Hine, Lo Yanum, V’Lo Yishan,” meaning “behold, (God is the previously mentioned subject in verse 2) He does not slumber nor sleep.”  God will never turn away from our prayers because of His lovingkindness (“Chesed”).  He loves us perfectly by His grace.

David previously celebrated his victory over sin….  Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  This is consistent with many other Scriptures….  Psalm 37:37 Notice the man of integrity and watch the upright—for the man of shalom has a future. 38 But transgressors will be destroyed altogether. The future of the wicked will be cut off.  

What David is saying here is that the hypocrite is not heard by God, but the one whose heart is in alignment with God’s righteous principles is always heard.  1John 5:14 Now this is the confidence we have before Him—that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him.

There is an interesting couplet in the Hebrew of Psalm 66, verse 20, “T’fi’la’ti V’Chas’do.”  The exact translation is “my prayer and His grace.”  What a combination!  As we sing on Yom Kippur, “Ki Ayn Banu Ma’asim,” meaning “for we have nothing in ourselves to make (our own righteousness).”  Every major king and prophet in the Bible knew this.  Daniel is a good example.  

Daniel 9:3 “So I set my face to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. 4a I prayed to Adonai my God and confessed, saying:… 5a ‘We have sinned… 17 So now, our God, listen to the prayers and petitions of Your servant, and cause Your face to shine upon Your devastated Sanctuary, for the sake of my Lord.18b We do not present our supplications before You because of our own righteousness, but because of Your great compassions.’”

God has set standards of righteousness for those who follow Him.  Those same standards apply to God, Himself.  Moses heard this from the Lord, and right now, you can hear it too.

Exodus 34:6 Then Adonai passed before him, and proclaimed, “Adonai, Adonai, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth, 7 showing mercy to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means leaving the guilty unpunished, but bringing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.”

Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue     13-Oct-2026              2nd of Chesvan, 5787
Ge 7:17-8:14          Jos 10              Ps 10         Mt 8            (1 Pet 4)

Shavuah Tov,

Yeshua taught his disciples to pray, "Our Father... Hallowed be your Name" (Matthew 6:9–10). Often it is taught that these words represent a time of praise, readying us to enter God's presence. But they are much more than that. They are an impassioned plea for the hallowing, or "sanctifying," of God's Name that will occur when He reigns in glory on the earth. This is the pivotal and foundational petition of prayer.

The faithful Israelite was threatened by priestly apostasy and surrounded by heathen darkness. In the land of Israel the Jewish people were divided into various sects vying for religious supremacy. They were dominated, humiliated, and cruelly oppressed by Rome. Objects of scorn and discrimination at home and abroad, Israel groaned beneath this heathen yoke.

The Jewish people believed that God would restore Israel in the Messianic kingdom. In that kingdom, God's will would be fully expressed and his Name would be absolutely "hallowed."

God's Name

In the Psalms, we find that individuals often prayed with reference to God's Name (Psalm 25:11; 31:3; 79:9).

Eventually, "the Name" was seen as a synonym for God's person (Psalm 20:1; 44:5).

It is something "tangible," in which one can place one's faith, for “whoever calls upon the Name of Adonai will be delivered” (Joel 2:32).

God's Name and Israel

God's reputation is inextricably bound to his people's condition. Therefore, prayer for Israel's restoration ultimately was, and is, for the glory of God's Name.

The prophets saw the glory of God's Name as being tied to Israel's condition. Jeremiah prayed this way (Jeremiah 14:7, 21).

The Nations and the Name

In Psalm 79, we read that God's Name is ignored by the nations resulting in animosity towards Israel. This leads to God's wrath upon them. That wrath will be the means of restoration and blessing for Israel "for the glory of Thy Name" (Psalm 79:6–7, 9–10, 13).

Now, through Messiah, the remnants of the nations and the remnant of Israel praise the Name of Adonai (Romans 15:9–10).

This praise anticipates the time of the full revelation of Adonai’s Kingdom. Ultimately, all the nations will hallow his Name because God’s righteous acts will be revealed (Revelation 15:4).

Becoming Watchmen

How then should we pray for Israel? First, we must recognize that, apart from a remnant of born-again believers, Israel is under judicial blindness (John 12:38–40; Romans 11:7, 25; 2 Corinthians 3:14; 4:4).

The united remnants of Israel and the nations are to intercede on their behalf, because Israel’s own watchmen are blind (Isaiah 56:7, 10).

In King David's day, Israel was decimated by the judgment of God. The plague was halted due to costly intercession (2 Samuel 24:24–25).

In the same way that plague was stopped, Israel's judicial blindness can be lifted by costly intercession.

Who are these watchmen? They are men and women who have a burden for the glory of God, for the Name of God to be hallowed. They lay aside their comforts to "remind Adonai" day and night of his promises and covenants with the Jewish people. With Paul, they agonize in prayer for Israel's salvation (Rom. 10:1). They are the New Covenant priesthood drawn from all nations.

The content of this intercession is summed up in Psalm 122:6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." They yearn for the end of bloodshed in Israel. But, even more, they beseech God for salvation, justice, and the worship of Messiah Yeshua to saturate the Jewish people. Only then will Jerusalem know true Biblical peace (shalom).

Seeking First the Kingdom

God's Name will not be fully hallowed "on earth as it is in heaven" until his kingdom is established over Israel and the nations. We who have tasted the goodness of that reign should pray for Israel's restoration. As Paul said, it will be "life from the dead" (Rom. 11:15).

These prayers will be answered. The Messiah returns to establish the full physical reality of the present Kingdom. The expectations of the prophets will be realized (Acts 3:19–21).


Every believer is part of this process as they intercede along the lines Yeshua outlined. However, they do not necessarily understand or desire the means of this prayer’s fulfillment. The Jewish people turn to God through the Messiah. The nations who are in opposition to the Jewish people will be judged. Adonai is going to deliver Israel. It will be life from the dead (Romans 11:12, 15).

Our Father in heaven,

for the sake of your Name restore the heart of Israel to your Son and to your purposes

that your Name may be sanctified in every way and in all the earth.

Let your kingdom come.

Send Messiah to rule from Jerusalem

that your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.
 
Scriptures (TLV)

Matthew 6:9–10
9 “Therefore, pray in this way: ‘Our Father in heaven, sanctified be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Psalm 25:11
For Your Name’s sake, Adonai, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

Psalm 31:4 (31:3 in most English Bibles)
Since You are my rock and my fortress, You lead me and guide me for Your Name’s sake.

Psalm 79:9
Help us, God of our salvation— for the sake of the glory of Your Name. Deliver us, and atone for our sins— for Your name’s sake.

Psalm 20:2 (20:1 in most English Bibles)
May Adonai answer you in the day of trouble! May the Name of the God of Jacob set you up securely on high.

Psalm 44:6 (44:5 in most English Bibles)
Through You we push back our foes. Through Your Name we trample those rising up against us.

Joel 3:5 (2:32 in most English Bibles)
Then all who call on Adonai’s Name will escape, for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be rescue, as Adonai has said, among the survivors whom Adonai is calling.”

Jeremiah 14:7, 21
7 Though our iniquities testify against us, Adonai, act for Your Name’s sake. For our backslidings are many. We have sinned against You. … 21 Do not despise us, for Your Name’s sake. Do not dishonor Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us— do not break it!

Psalm 79:6–7, 9–10, 13
6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his country. … 9 Help us, God of our salvation— for the sake of the glory of Your Name. Deliver us, and atone for our sins— for Your name’s sake. 10 Why should the nations say: “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, let it be known among the nations that You avenge the shed blood of Your servants. … 13 So we, Your people, the flock of Your pasture, will praise You forever. From generation to generation we will recount Your praise.

Romans 15:9–10
9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy. As it is written, “For this reason I will give You praise among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Your name.” 10 And again it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”

Revelation 15:4
Who shall not fear and glorify Your name, O Lord? For You alone are Holy. All the nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed!”

John 12:38–40
38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said, “Adonai, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of Adonai been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah also said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they might not see with their eyes nor understand with their hearts and turn back, and I would heal them.”

Romans 11:7, 25
7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained; but the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened— … 25 For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

2 Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were hardened. For up to this very day the same veil remains unlifted at the reading of the ancient covenant, since in Messiah it is passing away.

2 Corinthians 4:4
In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so they might not see the light of the Good News of the glory of Messiah, who is the image of God.

Isaiah 56:7, 10
7 these I will bring to My holy mountain, and let them rejoice in My House of Prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar. For My House will be called a House of Prayer for all nations.” … 10 His watchmen are all blind. All of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, dreamers lying down, lovers of slumber,

2 Samuel 24:24–25
24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you at a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Adonai my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 shekels of silver. 25 Then David built there an altar to Adonai, and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So Adonai was moved by prayer of entreaty for the land, and restrained the plague from Israel.

Romans 10:1
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for Israel is for their salvation.

Psalm 122:6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem— “May those who love you be at peace!

Romans 11:15
For if their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Acts 3:19–21
19 Repent, therefore, and return—so your sins might be blotted out, 20 so times of relief might come from the presence of Adonai and He might send Yeshua, the Messiah appointed for you. 21 Heaven must receive Him, until the time of the restoration of all the things that God spoke about long ago through the mouth of His holy prophets.

Romans 11:12
Now if their transgression leads to riches for the world, and their loss riches for the Gentiles, then how much more their fullness!

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version. Copyright © 2014, 2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society. Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun      11-Oct-2026              30th of Tishrei, 5787 Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan (Day 1)
            Ge 6:9-22                   Jos 8                Ps 8                 Mt 6                (1 Pet 2)

Shalom,

Psalm 66:17 I cried out to Him with my mouth, and exaltation was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But surely God has heard. He has listened to my voice in prayer.

First, let’s emphasize that this is for you.  In the previous verse, you are specifically included… Psalm 66:16 Come and listen, all you who fear God.  Welcome to the “club.”  This is the club of God fearers.

Rabbi Trail: The old slogan of the Israel Tourism Authority was “No one belongs here more than you.”  (Today it has changed to “I am Israel,” I like the old one.)

When I moved to Israel years ago, every day I would meet native Israelis who could immediately tell I was not one of them.  Somewhere in the conversation that followed, every one of them would say something like, “Welcome to the club.”  What club is that?  The “club” of the people who are the most hated people on earth.  

There is a difference in their minds between being born into that club (without a choice) and choosing to join.  When you choose to join, you put a target on your back and invite the judgment of the entire world.  

Today, I’m inviting you to join the club.  Will you stand with God’s ancient people, Israel, as a “Gur?”  In modern Hebrew a “Gur” is a puppy, but biblically speaking it means, “To sojourn among a people other than your own.”  Abraham was a “Gur” in Canaan.  

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he migrated to the land of promise as if it were foreign, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob—fellow heirs of the same promise.  

And, as long as we’re on the subject of “fellow heirs…”  Romans 8:16 The Ruach Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.  17  And if children, also heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Messiah—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

So stand tall with the chosen people, as a witness to God’s faithfulness, and know that God has your back.  This is a noble and worthwhile calling.  End RT.

In our subject verses, the club of God fearers are calling out loud (so that God will hear).  Wait, a moment ago, in verse 16 we were invited to listen, but immediately, we’re asking God to listen to us.  Interesting, but there is something in between with which we must dealt.  Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  We cry out, “oh God, cleanse my heart.”

Psalm 51:12(10) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

It is so easy to get right with God, because He is perfect and His love is perfect.  We get right with God based on His perfection, not on ours (hint, we don’t have any).  Let us repent, invite God to cleanse us of all unrighteousness, and trust that He hears us when we call upon His name.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon    12-Oct-2026              1st of Cheshvan, 5787
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan (Day 2)
Ge 7:1-16           Jos 9                Ps 9            Mt 7            (1 Pet 3)

Shabbat Shalom,
 
We are starting our Torah reading schedule once again. Our first portion is B’reisheet – In the Beginning Genesis 1-6:8. The name Genesis comes from the Septuagint, an early Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Genesis translates to “Origins” which is a fair understanding of B’reisheet.
 
The name for this portion comes from Genesis 1:1 In the beginning (B’reisheet) God created the heavens and the earth.
 
Contained in this reading are the creation story, the fall of man when Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the story of Cain and Abel, the genealogy from Adam to Noah, and the descent of mankind into near complete corruption.
 
Let’s start with the beginning. In Hebrew Genesis 1:1 reads: B’reisheet bara Elohim et ha’shamayim v’et ha’eretz. Literally – In the beginning created Elohim the heavens and the earth.
 
The second word, bara, means “created.” Bara, in its various forms, appears 55 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. Yet bara never takes a human subject. Humans asah (make or do) or yatzar (form), only God can bara. Humans cannot create anything from nothing. Everything we form or make uses materials that God created. Just a random thought.
 
What I really want to discuss is night and day. In Genesis 1 the phrase “There was evening and there was morning” is repeated after stating what God had just finished creating.
 
We western thinkers consider the new day to begin either at midnight or at dawn. The phrase “A new day is dawning” comes to mind. We think of night following day. But that’s not how the Bible sees it. The Bible sees day following night.
 
Let’s analyze the first day. Verse 2 Now the earth was chaos and waste, darkness (night/evening) was on the surface of the deep… verse 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (morning/day). Verse 5 There was evening and there was morning, the first day.
 
When a baby is born, he or she comes from darkness (the womb) into the light of the world. Yeshua talked about spiritual rebirth with Nicodemus.
 
John 3:4-5 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus said to him. He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” Yeshua answered, “Amen, amen I tell you, unless one is born of water and of spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
 
When someone is baptized, probably the most common statement used is a variation of: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Buried with Yeshua in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life.” (Matthew 28:19 and Romans 6:3-4).
 
Yeshua was born, like us, from the dark womb to the light of the world. He was baptized into the darkness of the water and raised into the light of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh when John baptized him. And he has already done us one better, he went into the darkness of death and was raised physically into the newness (light) of life.
 
Because of Yeshua’s sacrifice, we now look forward to the day of his return when we all will be physically raised to eternal life (light), when there will be no more darkness.
 
Revelation 22:3-5 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in the city, and his servants shall serve him. They shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. Night shall be no more, and people will have no need for lamplight – for ADONAI-Elohim will shine on them. And they shall reign forever and ever.
 
The Parshah ends with a warning and a promise.
 
Genesis 6:5-8 Then ADONAI saw that the wickedness of humankind was great on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their heart was only on evil all the time…So ADONAI said, “I will wipe out humankind, whom I have created, from the face of the ground…because I regret that I made them.” But Noah found favor in ADONAI’s eyes.
 
We don’t know what exactly society was up to that was so wicked that God sent the flood waters, but when we look at our world today it is hard to believe that it must have somehow been worse.
 
We are indeed at a point in history that Isaiah warned us about in 5:20
 
Oy to those who call evil good and good evil; who present darkness as light and light as darkness…
 
In Genesis 15:16 God tells Abraham that it will be a while (like 430 years a while) before his descendants will inherit the Promised Land because “the sins of the Amorites are not yet complete.” Apparently, as bad as it seems to us, the sins of this world are not yet complete. When will God put an end to this madness?
 
Matthew 24:26 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, not the Son, except the Father alone.
 
Until the Father sends Yeshua, we can only do the best that we can to be the light by representing Yeshua and the Father bringing people out of darkness by making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them all God and Yeshua have commanded us…oh and praying Bo Yeshua, Bo!
 
Shabbat Shalom

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat      10-Oct-2026             29th of Tishrei, 5787 Parashat Bereshit Shabbat Machar Chodesh
Ge 5:25-6:8               1 Sa 20:18-42           Jn 1:1-17