Shalom,

Psalm 51:4 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

There is washing and then there is washing.  At the Seder, we wash our hands with running water (Ur’chatz).  But this washing, in Psalm 51 is “Kabas” (Kaf-Bet-Samech).  The deeper meaning is “washing by stomping,” indicating the need to go deep in cleansing, not just surface cleaning, but deep cleaning through the entire fabric of our lives.

This is the word used throughout Scripture to describe the level of preparation necessary for big events.  Exodus 19:10 Adonai said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow. Let them wash (Kabas) their clothing. 11a (And thus) Be ready for the third day.  

There are two Hebrew words for sin, in verse 4. “Avon” which is “iniquity,” and “Chatah” translated as plain “sin.”  There is a third word for sin, “Pesha” which is translated previously, at the end of verse 3, as “transgressions.”  These three words are routinely used together as all inclusive of different types of sin.  

“Pesha” is “a rebellious breach of trust.” It is used 93 times in the Bible to describe that type of sin.  “Avon” is “punishment for the guilty.”  It is used 231 times.  Finally, there is “Chatah” which is “habitual sinfulness and its penalty.”  It is used 294 times in the Hebrew Scriptures.

In using three words for sin, the Lord is being all inclusive.  Sin is not what makes you feel bad.  1John 3:4b … for sin is the transgression of the law. (KJV)  And there is a penalty… Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death….  However; the rest of that same verse contains a great promise.  Romans 6:23b …but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

I want to close today with the previous verse.  Romans 6:22 But now, having been set free from sin and having become enslaved to God, you have your fruit resulting in holiness. And the outcome is eternal life.  That’s right, in Messiah Yeshua we have “fruit resulting in holiness” that produces eternal life.  I love that and you should too.  Shalom shalom.

Day 11 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed15-Apr-202628th of Nisan, 5786
Le 13:55-14:20Isa 46Job 41 Pet 1 (Mt 6)

Shalom,

Psalm 51:3 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your mercy. According to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

As verse 3 begins (the last part of verse 1 in most Christian Bibles), David is pleading with God for favor at three levels… for grace [Chen] (Be gracious to me, O God) … for mercy or lovingkindness [Chesed] (… according to Your undeserved mercy) … for compassion or tender mercies [Rachem] (… according to Your great compassion).  

David then ends verse 3 with a plea to God to “blot out my transgressions.”  First, David (and all of us s well) have many sins.  David committed adultery, but it led to other sins, even the murder of Uriah the Hittite.  When David says, “Blot out my transgressions,” the Hebrew word for “blot” is “M’cha” (Mem-Chet-Hey).  It comes from a word meaning to stroke or rub.  These “sins” are not easily removed with a little water.  These sins are stains on the fabric of our lives.  It is going to take the power of God to “scrub” them away.  

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says Adonai. “Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they will become like wool.” 

As Isaiah’s prophecy continues, he lays out a choice.  Isaiah 1:19a If you are willing and obey, (… good things will happen). 20a  But if you refuse and rebel, (bad things will happen).  This takes us back to the Passover Seder.  What will you have, the bitter herb (of slavery), or the sweetness of Charoset (freedom)?  

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!  

Lastly for today, we need a right understanding of what freedom in Yeshua means.  It means we are free to follow Him.  It does not mean we are free to live any way we want.  You can’t live like hell and expect to get to heaven.  1John 2:1a My children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin…. 6 whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.  Is this optional, read it again.  Seems pretty clear.  

This is also consistent with Ephesians, where we read… Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves—it is the gift of God. 9 It is not based on deeds, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship—created in Messiah Yeshua for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them.

Shalom shalom.

Day 10 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue14-Apr-202627th of Nisan, 5786 Yom HaShoah
Le 13:40-54Isa 45Job 3Jas 5(Mt 5)

Shalom,

Psalm 51:1 For the music director: a psalm of David, 2 when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba.

“King David sinned!!!”  That’s your headline.  David was Israel’s second king.  Saul, Israel’s first king, sinned too.  Both of them were confronted with their sin by prophets.  The prophet Samuel confronted Saul and the prophet Nathan confronted David.  Their responses were strikingly different.  

Saul responded to Samuel… 1Samuel 15:20 “But I did obey the voice of Adonai,” Saul tried to justify his actions to Samuel. “I went on the mission on which Adonai sent me, and brought back Agag the king of Amalek—and utterly destroyed the Amalekites.”  But that was not the mission of Adonai.  King Saul then asked for forgiveness, but the Lord was unforgiving toward him because his repentance was insufficient.    

Many years later, it happened that Nathan had to confront King David similarly, saying… 2Samuel 12:7a Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”  And David responded as a man who is broken… 2Samuel 12:13a Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Adonai.”

There is a key distinction here, that many sermons are missing these days.  God requires “T’shu’vah” (Hebrew for “repentance”). You can come to God “just as you are,” but make no mistake, God expects change.  Peter preached it on that first Shavuot (Pentecost) after the resurrection.  Acts 2:38  Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh.

But, the repentance/forgiveness continuum did not originate there.  Isaiah 44:22  I have blotted out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”  “Return to me” is “Shu’vah Ay’li” meaning “repent to Me.”  

You might wonder, “Does this even apply to me, after all I have Yeshua as my Savior?”  Paul said this to the Greeks of Athens… Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the periods of ignorance, now He commands everyone everywhere to repent.  Receive it in the name of Yeshua.  Shalom shalom.

Day 9 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon13-Apr-2026 26th of Nisan, 5786 Le 13:24-13:39Isa 44Job 2Jas 4 (Mt 4)

Yeshua is the perfect pattern for understanding the process of growing in God’s favor. For those who see grace primarily as undeserved favor, Yeshua growing in charis may be a difficult concept. However, grace means favor, and one receives favor from someone who is pleased with the recipient of that favor. A benefactor gives favor (chen/charis/grace) to those who please him. 

In John 1 we find the Apostle wrote that Yeshua is God’s lamb. Twice, the exhortation came, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”  

The next day, John sees Yeshua coming to him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) 

Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples and watched Yeshua walking by. He said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35–36) 

John the Immerser said to unidentified hearers, “Behold the Lamb.” Later in the same chapter we find him speaking to two of his disciples, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God.” 

More than merely human eyes focused on Yeshua. Father beheld Him too and, when He did, Yeshua found favor in His Father’s eyes. When Father beheld His Son, He was pleased, He loved who He saw. Yeshua received charis.

There are two witnesses is Matthew’s Good News that testify of Father being pleased with His Son.

After being immersed, Yeshua rose up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Ruach Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him. And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:16–17) 

Why was He pleased? 

At Yeshua’s immersion we see the culmination of Yeshua’s normal life and the beginning of His ministry. Up until that time, Messiah had resisted every temptation and stayed loyal to the One He loved with His whole being. In humility, Yeshua had submitted to His parents and brought obedience to the Torah to a zenith. Also, He fulfilled righteousness by cooperating with the prophetic move of God as Father’s purposes were revealed through the Immerser. One more thing, at the Jordan, Yeshua offered Himself up to God as the suffering servant who would be slain for the sins of the world. He was the Lamb of God.

These things pleased God. 

Next. Let’s briefly look at the Transfiguration.

... suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice from out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5) 

At the Mount of Transfiguration, the Messiah was still in the all-consuming intensity of ministry to Israel. Yet, He kept His eyes fixed on His ultimate mission. The spiritual realm was revealed, and He spoke to Moses and Elijah of what He was to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). He was still dedicated to offering Himself up as a sacrifice for our sins. 

This pleased God. 

What is the result of God being pleased with someone, anyone? Favor. When someone is pleasing to God, they receive favor (charis/grace) from the God who is pleased.

Consider Yeshua. He grew in favor. He grew in obedience, too. He learned obedience.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8) 

As His obedience increased, so did His experience of Father’s favor. He always, always, pleased God.

So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:28–29) 

There is a connection between pleasing God and experiencing favor. 

Once again, let me remind us that the Good News reveals that we all exist with a baseline of divine charis. At the same time, recall that just as we can grow relationally in pleasing God, we can grow experientially in receiving favor from our Father.

Yeshua did. He’ll help us to do the same.

Day 8 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun12-Apr-2026 25th of Nisan, 5786 Le 12:1-13:23Isa 43Job 1Jas 3 (Mt 3)

Shabbat Shalom,
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Day 7 of counting the Omer

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

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

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and commanded us about the counting of the Omer.  Today is one week and no days of the counting of the Omer.

Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks.  Psalm 92:1 A psalm, a song for the Shabbat. 2 It is good to praise Adonai and to make music to Your Name, Elyon,
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Sh’mini Torah lesson – Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47
By Jeffrey Freeman

Aaron and his sons have just completed seven days of purification required for their ordination as priests. On the eighth day offerings are made, and Moses and Aaron go into the Tent of Meeting. When they come out:

Leviticus 9:23-24 – The glory of ADONAI appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of ADONAI and devoured the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw it, they shouted and fell in their faces.

Everything is going well. A newly appointed High Priest plus four helpers. The glory of ADONAI appeared to the entire assembly. The Tabernacle is complete and operational. Yet Chapter 10 brings a troubling report:

Leviticus 10:1-2 – Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own censer, put fire in it, laid incense over it, and offered unauthorized fire before ADONAI – which he had not commanded them. So, fire came out from the presence of ADONAI and consumed them. So, they died before ADONAI.

Yikes! This should have been a time of great celebration. But two of the newly ordained priests are dead!?

How can this be? Isn’t ADONAI a just God full of compassion? He is. But He is also inherently dangerous. Not bad dangerous, like electricity isn’t inherently bad. But, if misused or handled without due respect, electricity can be a shocking and potentially deadly experience.

In 2nd Samuel 6, David and his men were escorting the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.

Verse 6-7 – When they reached the threshing floor of Nahon, Uzzah reached out to the Ark of God and grasped it for the oxen had
stumbled. Then the anger of ADONAI was kindled against Uzzah. God struck him down there for his irreverence, so he died there beside the Ark of God.

God gives us specific instructions on how He wants us to behave. In the case of the Ark, Exodus 25 gives specific instructions for building the Ark. It was constructed with two rings on each side for poles to carry the Ark.

Numbers 7:9 - To the sons of Kohath, he did not give any (carts) because their responsibility was to carry the holy items on their shoulders.

To keep people safe, Adonai specifically instructed that the Ark was to be transported on the shoulders of Kohathites. Uzzah was not a Kohathite and the Ark was being transported on a cart, not shouldered.

So, is this just a case of a vengeful God executing judgement on a man for not following specific instructions? Something uniquely “Old Testament?”

Matthew 7:21-23 – Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy, drive out demons, and perform many miracles in Your Name?’ Then I will declare to them, I never knew you. Get away from Me you workers of lawlessness.’

Whoa! These are tough words from Yeshua. Not everyone who confesses that Yeshua is Lord gets into heaven. Only those who do the Father’s will. What is God’s will? It’s found in Torah. The prophets remind us. Yeshua demonstrates it. We aren’t expected to follow Torah perfectly. That’s why we need Yeshua. But we are expected to try.

In Judges we get a refrain – In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. Doing something in a
way that is right in your own estimation is not the same as doing something the right way. Open Torah and learn. Acts 15:21 – For Moses from ancient generations…is read in all the synagogues every Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom.

Day 7 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat11-Apr-2026   24th of Nisan, 5786 Shmini
Le 9:17-11:472 Sam 6:1-7:17Ac 5:1-11

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
_______

Day 6 of counting the Omer

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

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

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

Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks.  Isaiah 51:3 For Adonai will comfort Zion. He will comfort all her waste places. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of Adonai. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and a sound of melody.
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Psalms
Psalm 50:22,23 – Part 13

Psalm 50:22 “Now consider this, you who forget God. Or else I will tear you in pieces with no one to rescue you. 23 A sacrifice of praise honors Me, and to the one who orders his way, I will show the salvation of God.”

“Now consider this!”  The conclusion of Psalm 50 starts with an “attention getter.”  It is the equivalent of a loudspeaker blaring, “Now hear this!”  The Hebrew word for “consider” is Bin (Bet-Yud-Nun) meaning, “use your discernment, enhance your understanding, and look deeply into this.”  The verse is an invitation coupled with a threat. Hint: God doesn’t make threats, He makes promises.  “Consider this… or else!”

Do we really want to push God to the “or else” stage of His promise?  God has been speaking in the first person since verse 5.  He first addresses, “My people… O Israel,” and not in a good way.  God is distraught.  Yeshua said this… Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, Torah scholars and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.  28 In the same way, you appear righteous to men on the outside, but are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 

Secondly, God addresses “the wicked” in verse 16, who he accuses of the same problem.  Psalm 50:17 For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you.  The Lord elaborates saying, the wicked habitually break the commandments of God while lying to themselves about it.  As Paul admonishes Timothy… 2Timothy 2:15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as tried and true, as an unashamed worker cutting a straight path with the word of truth.

Now, in these final two verses of Psalm 50, God (still speaking in the first person) addresses those who forget God.  But this is more than having a faulty memory.  These are they who forget to honor God.  That “sacrifice of praise” is a “sacrifice of thankfulness” in Hebrew.  How much trouble do we bring on ourselves through a lack of thanksgiving?  Paul said as much…

Romans 1:21 for even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. Instead, their thinking became futile, and their senseless hearts were made dark. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools.  And, as if that is not enough, Paul follows up with this… Romans 1:25 They traded the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Pretend I’m your waiter, who just arrived at your table to take your order.  “What will you have, death or eternal life?”  Romans 6:23 For sin’s payment is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.  See Yeshua or see death?  Make the wise choice while there is still time.  Honor God and live.  Shalom shalom.   

Day 6 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri10-Apr-2026 23rd of Nisan, 5786 Pesach
Le 9:1-16Isa 42Pr 31Jas 2 (Mt 2)

Shalom,
_______

Day 5 of counting the Omer

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

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

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

Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks.  Colossians 2:6 Therefore as you received Messiah Yeshua as Lord, so continue to walk in Him— 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in your faith just as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness.
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Psalms
Psalm 50:16-21 – Part 12

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

We tend to think that God thinks like us.  Two things about that… first, it isn’t true, God does not think like us.  Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” It is a declaration of Adonai. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Secondly, God thinking like us isn’t enough for us, we want God to BE like us.  God knows we want to conform God into our image, however; just the opposite is happening, we are being conformed into His image.  2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  Did you catch that?  We are being transformed, not God.  

You can disagree with me if you like, but think about these things… How many people try to justify being followers of Yeshua, and at the same time living a homosexual lifestyle?  They lie to themselves about what God clearly says.  

Romans 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to shameful passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for what is against nature. 27 Likewise the men abandoned natural relations with women and were burning with passion toward one another—men committing shameful acts with other men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to recognize God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what is not fitting.

What, you don’t accept Paul’s writings?  Then how about what’s in the Torah?  Leviticus 18:22 “You are not to lie with a man, as with a woman—that is an abomination.  I’m not writing this to condemn anyone, but I am hoping someone will read this and become convicted to repentance.  

And while we’re on the subject of perversion, how many men are lying to themselves concerning pornography?  (Uh oh, what’s he going to say next?)  Adultery is simply defined.  It is “seeking pleasure outside the covenant of marriage.”  I’m going to say this again…  We need to think along with God, and stop expecting God to think along with us.  

1John 2:6 whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.  If we want to know what God is thinking, we must read what He said, as written in the Holy scriptures, and then apply it to our own lives.  Anything less is to live in deception.  Shalom shalom.

Day 5 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu9-Apr-2026          22nd of Nisan, 5786 Pesach VIII
Dt 15:19-16:17, Nu 28:19-25Isa 10:32-12:6Rev 19:11-20:6

Shalom,
_______

Day 4 of counting the Omer

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

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

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

Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks.  2Corinthians 9:10 Now the One who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
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Psalm 50:16-21 – Part 11

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

How many of the Ten Commandments is God addressing to the wicked in theses few verses?  The first reference is to “My laws.”  God follows that with “My covenant.”  The wicked have no trouble “reciting” or speaking (“taking… in your mouth”).  However; the wicked are haters of correction (discipline), throwing off (casting) God’s words.  

Back to our original questions.  How many commandments?  Our response to theft is addressed.  Psalm 50:18a When you see a thief, you are pleased with him….  That’s the eighth commandment.  The second part of verse 18 addresses the seventh commandment….  Psalm 50:18b …your portion is with adulterers.  

Then, in the next verse, transgression of the ninth commandment is condemned.  Psalm 50:19 You have unleashed your mouth for evil and harnessed your tongue for deceit.  In the Hebrew, it literally says, “You send your mouth for evil.”  In verse 20, God says this is even happening within families, yet another violation of God’s commandments.  

1John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that the one who loves God should also love his brother.

The Psalmist is addressing a disconnect between what we know to do and what we actually do do (yes, I said that).  Paul says as much in agreement with the Psalm… Romans 2:21 you then who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal?  The lesson is made clear throughout the Scriptures.  Yeshua’s own words make it clear that it is a “heart thang.”  Matthew 5:37 “But let your word ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’—anything more than this is from the evil one.”

But wait, Rabbi, I thought this was a “mouth thing.”  Matthew 15:18 But the things that proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and those things make the man unholy.  Let’s give Yeshua the last word today….  Matthew 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  Let’s keep our eyes on Him, our hearts pure and speak no evil.  Shalom shalom.

Day 4 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed8-Apr-2026 21st of Nisan, 5786 Pesach VII
Ex 13:17-15:26, Nu 28:19-252 Sa 221 Co 10:1-4

Shalom,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yes, “walk in His ways.”  In Hebrew, “ways” are “Drachot” which takes us to Isaiah 62:10 Go through, go through the gates. Clear the way for the people! Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Lift up a banner over the peoples.  “Remove the stones” means “clear an easy to follow path that leads people to Yeshua.  That leads us all to a harvest of “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Shalom shalom.

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

Shalom,

Shalom again!  Today we’re going to take a break from our series on the Psalms (we’ll pick it up tomorrow), and focus for a moment on “Yom HaBirkurim,” the day of the first fruit offering, aka Yeshua’s Resurrection Day.  1Corinthians 15:20 But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also has come through a Man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah will all be made alive.


As you know, I write these RRs (typically) a day in advance.  For sure I’m writing this on Easter Sunday.  Sometimes Easter Sunday fits the Jewish calendar (as THE resurrection day), but most of the time it does not.  In fact, there are differences even when examining the Jewish calendar itself,  meaning the rabbis don’t all agree and count the same.  (There is always somebody with a “better” calendar.)

Yeshua’s resurrection (whenever you celebrate it) changed everything.  The way we live, and even the way we view eternity.  At the beginning of John’s vision (as related in the book of Revelation) he saw Yeshua, Who said to him, Revelation 1:17b “Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, 18a and the One who lives. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever!” 

Let’s go back to appreciate fully what happened.  Luke 23:54 Now it was the Day of Preparation, and Shabbat was approaching. 55 The women who had come with Him from the Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. But on Shabbat they rested according to the commandment.

On that first resurrection Sunday (following the Friday Passover and the Saturday Sabbath) the women returned to properly prepare Yeshua’s body.… but there was no body to be found.  Luke 24:5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you search for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He is risen!   

Due to the confusion over the exact date, we (as Messianic followers of Yeshua) frequently skip the celebration of His resurrection completely.  Another explanation is that our celebration is so focused on Passover that our community routinely misses His resurrection celebration.  All of this is the sad truth from which we must repent.  Next year (2027) is another year.  Passover again begins on Wednesday night, (April 21, 2027) making it a second year in a row for a Shabbat celebration (April 24, 2027).  

Matthew 12:40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.  Pesach III will be Saturday, April 24, 2027.  That day, also Shabbat Pesach, will also be Resurrection Day for us. The Easter holiday celebrated by mainstream Christianity is set for Sunday, March 28, 2027, a month earlier.  Mark your calendar for a month later and let’s celebrate.  Shalom shalom.

Rabbi’s note: You may disagree with my assessment of the calendar.  I’m sure there are multiple opinions.  The only One Who has no opinion is God.  Let’s worship Him and not the calendar.  Romans 14:5 One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.  I’m sharing what’s on my mind.  You are entitled to what is on yours.  End RN.

Day 2 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon6-Apr-2026 19th of Nisan, 5786 Pesach V 
Ex 22:24-23:19, Nu 28:19-25Isa 40   Pr 29Ac 28(Rev 22)

Rabbi’s Reflections - Sunday, April 5, 2026
Shavuah Tov {{firstName}},

Day 1 of counting the Omer

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

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

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

Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks.  1Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.
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Yeshua Provides a Pattern
By David Harwood

Our Messiah was favored. He has been exalted to the right hand of God. He descended, has been lifted up, and is the only human worthy of the position He holds.

Let’s look at two principles describing the process of exaltation. 

First of all, righteousness provides the foundation for exaltation. We read of this in Proverbs 14:34.

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)

I think it is safe to say that if this is true about a nation, so also would it be a reliable prophetic pattern with an individual.

The next principle has to do with humility. Humility prepares the way for exaltation. 

This proverb was quoted by James/Jacob and Peter. 

Though He scoffs at the scoffers, He gives grace (chen/charis/favor) to the humble (ʿānî). (Proverbs 3:34) 

Here it is in the Septuagint:

The Lord opposes the arrogant, but he gives the humble grace.

The Hebrew word translated humble, ʿānî, has less to do with an inner attitude (humility) as much as it emphasizes the lack of social status, resources, and the ability to help oneself. The humble (ʿānî) are the helpless who were prone to be oppressed by the powerful. They were not humble by choice. They were humbled by circumstances outside their control.

James/Jacob and Peter were amazing servants of Yeshua. They were indispensable people who helped establish the essential relational and doctrinal foundations of the Jerusalem communities of disciples. When we read what they wrote we are looking into the culture of the most spiritually vibrant group of people ever assembled since the Messiah’s resurrection. 

Jacob/James wrote to those who were scattered, disenfranchised, living amongst the nations, without a home base. They needed God’s favor. Jacob/James instructed them as to how to secure it.

But He gives greater grace (charis/favor). Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace (charis/favor) to the humble.” (James 4:6) 

Peter wrote:

... all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace (charis/favor) to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may lift you up at the appropriate time. (1 Peter 5:5b–6)

Those to whom Peter wrote were a persecuted, suffering, powerless people. Although the word “humble” primarily addressed their external circumstances, there was an inner attitude of dependent humility these disciples were called to embrace. That inner humility, a poverty of spirit, an utter reliance upon God for help, was the guarantee of future exaltation.

Please recall that the Jerusalem communities of disciples lacked material resources. Their leaders met with Barnabus and Paul who were asked to remember the poor. 

Realizing the favor (charis/grace) that had been given to me, Jacob and Peter and John ... asked only that we remember the poor—something I also was eager to do. (Galatians 2:9a,10) 

The poor they were to help were members of the Body in Jerusalem. Perhaps these followers of Yeshua had left their resources behind so they might remain in Jerusalem and partake of the unique discipleship opportunities provided by the Twelve and other apostolic leaders. (Although not one of the Twelve, in 1 Corinthians 15:7, James/Jacob was recognized as an Apostle.) 

The poor lived in humble circumstances. These had no enfranchised cultural clout, no economic influence, and were unable to exalt themselves. The Jerusalem communities of believers, many of whom were poor, looked to the ultimate vindication that would be theirs when Yeshua returned. No wonder the promise of eschatological favor (charis) was proverbial amongst them. Peter assured them that they would be lifted “up at the appropriate time.” 

Every disciple is called to fix their eyes on Yeshua the initiator and finisher of their faith (Hebrews 12:2). As they consider Him one thing they may find is that Yeshua provides the ultimate pattern of exaltation. 

He was righteous and thus qualified for exaltation. Yeshua embraced humility. His helplessness reached its apex at Golgotha where He entrusted Himself to Father. 

For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the lowly one. Nor has He hidden His face from him, but when he cried to Him, He heard. (Psalm 22:25) 

Yeshua is the supreme pattern of the righteous humble person who warranted exaltation. God favors (charis/graces) the humble, those who rely upon Him.

Day 1 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun5-Apr-2026 18th of Nisan, 5786 Pesach IV 
Ex 13:1-16, Nu 28:19-25Isa 38-39Pr 28Ac 27(Rev 21)

Shabbat Shalom,

Fellow believers,

Rabbi Michael has kindly offered me the opportunity to share some thoughts on the weekly Torah portion with you. My first writing happens to occur in a week that does not have a typical Torah reading because of Passover. Instead, we have special daily readings rather than a typical weekly Parshah during Passover. For today the reading is from Exodus 33:12-34:26. This is part of Parshah Ki Tisa, which we read for Shabbat March 7 (18 Adar). This reading is the middle section of Ki Tisa.

In Exodus 34:1-9 Adonai tells Moses to, “Carve for yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write upon them the words that were on the first tablets, the ones you broke.” After carving the tablets, Moses gets up early the next morning and heads up the mountain to meet with God. After the Golden Calf incident and Moses smashing the tablets containing the Ten Words, one would expect that the LORD would have a bit of a recalibration session with Moses…but such is not the case.

The first thing the LORD does is to pass before Moses and proclaim His glory through His thirteen attributes. Among God’s attributes are compassion, grace, patience, lovingkindness, truth, and forgiveness. God is a God of restoration. God wants a relationship with us and is willing to forgive our past misdeeds if we repent of our bad behavior and seek forgiveness – then through the Tabernacle/Temple services, now through His Son.

Yeshua came to show us through His example how to represent each of God’s thirteen attributes in our daily life. Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, training us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and righteous and godly in the present age.” Paul is encouraging Titus to seek a closer walk with the LORD through correct behavior.

However, Paul also reminds Titus that deeds alone cannot save us. There is but one way to attain true salvation. Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared – not by deeds of righteousness which we had done ourselves, but because of His mercy – He saved us through the mikveh of rebirth and renewing of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, whom He abundantly poured out on us through Messiah Yeshua our Savior, so that being set right by His grace, we might become heirs with the confident hope of eternal life.”

As we go through the Feast of Matzoh and eat the Bread of Affliction each day, consider all that the LORD has done for you. Seek a closer walk with Him by pushing ungodly activities out of your life and incorporating more God-based activities each day. Remember always, God is a God of restoration…so much so that He gave His only Son to redeem us from our own sins, giving us opportunity to draw closer to Him. Blessings.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat4-Apr-2026   17th of Nisan, 5786 Parashat Pesach III
Ex 34:1-26, Nu 28:19-25   Ez 37:1-14, Song of Songs 1-8  Eph 5:25-33

Rabbi’s Reflections - Friday, April 3, 2026
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are continually before Me. 9 I have no need of a bull from your house nor goats from your pens. 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird of the mountains. Everything moving in the field is Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you—for the world is Mine and all it contains! 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats 14 Offer God a sacrifice of thank offerings, then fulfill your vows to Elyon. 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble. When I rescue you, you will honor Me.”

This is the third day in a row that I’m writing on these same nine verses.  In them, God first commands us to listen to what He is saying.  Then He challenges our intentionality regarding our vows and sacrifices, reminding us that He is beyond any physical need.  Today, let’s examine the final two verses which form a positive invitation to the spiritual and covenantal side of our relationship with God, speaking of “thank offerings” and “vows.”  

“Who ya gonna call?”  (Hint: it’s not ghost busters.)  The final admonition is to call upon God when you’re in trouble.  Then there is a promise; we will be saved (rescued).  This is followed by God’s expectation that our response will be to “honor” Him.  After all, God IS our Heavenly Father.

1Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, through whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

The same Hebrew word for honor is used as in the fifth commandment when we are told to honor our father and mother.  The Hebrew word is “Kavod,” meaning “heavy,” so the connotation is to treat God (our heavenly Father) as well as our parents (earthly father and mother) with gravity, in other words, give their wisdom weighty consideration.  Lastly, neither is optional.  Obedience is a commandment.  

God will never tell you to disobey Himself.  Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

Your earthly parents, however; are not perfect.  Obey your father and mother on earth unless they tell you to disobey God.  Then we must use discernment, and at the same time, we must always give them honor, just as David honored Saul, even though Saul was hunting him down to kill him.

One last comment on honor…  Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Who are your “parents in the Lord?”  If you don’t have any, (which is unlikely) make it a matter of prayer.  Ask God to give you spiritual parents.  Once you know who your spiritual parents are, be sure to give them honor and thus please God.  The kingdom of God is made up of family.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri3-Apr-2026 16th of Nisan, 5786
Pesach II
Le 22:26-23:44, Nu 28:16-252 Ki 23:1-9, 21-25  Mk 16:1-14

Shalom,

Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are continually before Me. 9 I have no need of a bull from your house nor goats from your pens. 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird of the mountains. Everything moving in the field is Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you—for the world is Mine and all it contains! 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats 14 Offer God a sacrifice of thank offerings, then fulfill your vows to Elyon. 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble. When I rescue you, you will honor Me.”

You might expect I would write twice on such a long section of Scripture.  God is speaking and calling upon us to listen, while making it clear there is nothing in our offerings that He requires.  They still have value for us.  Our sacrifices are for our own benefit, but there is a prerequisite called the “thank offering.”  The greater reality is not the physical sacrifice, but the spiritual one.  

A really smart Messianic rabbi wrote the Book of Hebrews… Hebrews 13:15 Through Yeshua then, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name.  What was that, “continually?”  Psalm 135:1 Halleluyah! Praise the Name of Adonai. Give praise, O servants of Adonai.  

Why is it called a “sacrifice of praise?”  Psalm 51:18 For You would not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it, nor be pleased by burnt offerings. 19 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.  The most godly men I have known have continually been broken at deeper levels before God.  

Rabbi Trail:  Moses wrote this in the Torah… Numbers 12:3 Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.  It takes a truly humble man to be so straightforward concerning his own humility.  End RT.

Today (Thursday, April 2nd) is the first day of Passover.  While marking a great historical event, the greater reality (and purpose for the Seder) is to mark our own deliverance and freedom from slavery to sin.  When confronted with such a wonderful outcome, how can we act as if nothing is changed?  Psalm  126:3  Adonai has done great things for us—we are joyful!  Let’s celebrate the Passover!  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu2-Apr-202615th of Nisan, 5786Pesach I
Ex 12:21-51, Nu 28:16-25Jos 3:5-7; 5:2-6:1, 271 Co 5:6-8

Shalom,

Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are continually before Me. 9 I have no need of a bull from your house nor goats from your pens. 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird of the mountains. Everything moving in the field is Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you—for the world is Mine and all it contains! 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats 14 Offer God a sacrifice of thank offerings, then fulfill your vows to Elyon. 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble. When I rescue you, you will honor Me.”

This is a big part (9 verses) of Psalm 50.  God is speaking a word, through the Psalmist, Asaph, to address the reliance on the sacrificial system.  God is saying that He doesn’t need sacrifices for any personal benefit.  His desire is that we would fulfill our vows to Him, and call upon Him when we’re in trouble.  Verse 15 closes with a final lesson, when we honor God, He rescues us from our trouble.

It is interesting how honor works… the more honor you give, the more honor you get.  Romans 13:7 Pay to everyone what is due them—tribute to whom tribute is due; tax to whom tax is due; respect to whom respect is due; honor to whom honor is due.  God wants His people to hear this message, so He starts verse 7 with that command exactly.  “Hear, My people, and I will speak.”

God is testifying against His people, saying they offer continuous sacrifices that are meaningless in themselves.  Every offering is judged by the heart of the one making the offering.  Yes, God values heart intent!  The Lord made this clear to the prophet Samuel regarding the anointing of the shepherd boy, David from among the sons of Jesse.  1Samuel 16:7 But Adonai said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have already refused him. For He (Adonai) does not see a man as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks into the heart.”  

The Hebrew word, “Kavenah,” keeps coming to mind.  It means “intentionality.”  Eitan Shishkoff taught me, “Ani Mit’ka’ven” meaning, “I really mean it.”  When we pray, we must pray with “Kavenah.”  Without heart intention, the words have no power or meaning.  Romans 10:10a For with the heart it is believed for righteousness….

Yeshua said this in leading up to the Lord’s Prayer.  Matthew 6:7 And when you are praying, do not babble on and on like the pagans; for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

So, is it form or substance?  By now it should be clear.  While form has value, that value is only established by a changed heart.  Ezekiel 36:26 Moreover I will give you a new heart. I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the stony heart from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Ruach within you. Then I will cause you to walk in My laws, so you will keep My rulings and do them.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed1-Apr 202614th of Nisan, 5786 Ta’anit Bechorot Erev Pesach
Ex 12:25–28Isa 53Ps 22Mk 15
Ex 32:11-14; 34:1-10; Isa 55:6-56:8

Shalom,

Psalm 50:6 The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Selah

Here, God is calling on heaven to speak as a witness to His righteousness.  Every court needs witnesses.  God is the judge, and the heavens are His witnesses.  After all, they have been here from the beginning to observe His marvelous works.  Unfortunately, when God calls upon heaven to be His witness, it is usually to establish a word of correction.  I say, “Unfortunately,” because it would be better if we didn’t require a word of correction.  But we do….

Deuteronomy 4:26  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that you will certainly be carried off quickly from the land you are crossing over the Jordan to possess. You will not prolong your days on it, for you will certainly be destroyed.

Is that the end for Israel (as some believe)?  Jeremiah provides an answer.  Jeremiah 30:11 For I am with you,” declares Adonai, “to save you, for I will make a full end of all the nations where I scatter you. but I will not make a full end of you. For I will discipline you justly, but will not leave you unpunished.”… 18a Thus says Adonai, “Indeed, I will return Jacob’s tents from exile, and have compassion on his dwellings…. 22 “So you will be My people, and I will be your God.” … 24c …in the last days you will understand it.

The scene is now properly set for God to speak.  Nothing is wasted in God’s kingdom.  Everything God says and does is with purpose.  God always has His end time purpose in mind.  The rest of Psalm 50 (verses 7 through 23) is all God speaking judgment over Israel in the first person. Of course, when God speaks we should listen.  Let’s listen as we unpack God’s prophetic words beginning tomorrow.  Isaiah 45:19c “I, Adonai, speak righteousness, declaring uprightly.”  God speaks the truth.  Shalom shalom.  

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue31-Mar-202613th of Nisan, 5786
Ex 33:20-23Isa 37Pr 27Ac 26(Rev 20)

Shalom,

Psalm 50:6 The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Selah

This sounds so lofty… “The heavens declare His righteousness.”  Again, if we’re being intellectually honest (which is sadly in short supply in the world today), we will finish reading this and be left with more questions than answers.  How do the heavens declare God’s righteousness?  And even before we answer that question, what is God’s righteousness in the first place?

God’s righteousness is His divine will making everything in perfect order.  In other words, God’s righteousness is achieved when everything in creation is satisfying the purpose for which it, he, or she, was created.  

Psalm 147:4 He determines the number of the stars. He gives them all their names.  Psalm 19:2 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky shows His handiwork.

Genesis 1:1a In the beginning, God created….  Everything!  Think about it.  God’s creation is perfect (complete and lacking nothing).  

Rabbi Trail:  The enemy has tried to corrupt God’s perfection, but he and his corruption will lose in the end.  End RT.

In the beginning God set everything in motion, and everything He set in motion is still in motion to this day.  Then, after six days of creation, God rested.  

Genesis 2:1 So the heavens and the earth were completed along with their entire array. 2 God completed—on the seventh day—His work that He made, and He ceased—on the seventh day—from all His work that He made. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it He ceased from all His work that God created for the purpose of preparing.

Rabbi’s note: God didn’t rest because He was tired, He rested to give us a weekly holiday, so we can rest and honor Him, the Creator.  End RN.

Think about it.  The stars that would lead the Maji to the manger of the baby Yeshua were set in motion on day zero.  Now, think about the perfect you.  What, you don’t feel perfect?  Take it up with God, who created you along with everything and everyone else in the world to give glory to His Son.  God loves you!

Romans 3:3 So what if some did not trust? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 May it never be! Let God be true even if every man is a liar, as it is written, “that You may be righteous in Your words and prevail when You are judged.”

Today’s verse ends with “Selah,” meaning, “Meditate on that before moving on to the next thought.”  With that in mind, let’s come back to this tomorrow.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon30-Mar-202612th of Nisan, 5786
Ex 33:17-19Isa 36Pr 26Ac 25 (Rev 19)

Shavuah Tov,

Philippians 3:10-11 “My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death—if somehow I might arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.”

In today’s RR we are continuing to consider the importance of guarding our relationship with the Lord.  As Sha’ul points out so passionately in the above passage, it is our knowing Him—knowing Yeshua and growing in the joy and blessing of relationship with Him, that is one of the great and wonderful gifts of our salvation life.  He saw this “knowing” of the Lord as a process in which we are to be growing over the course of a lifetime.  God’s desire for each of us as Yeshua-followers is that we be growing in our relational walk with Him, learning His ways and receiving from His life-giving presence. Our goal is that we become like Yeshua Himself, and this present life is meant to be a learning ground—a beginning point for us growing into His likeness.  We have been discussing ways in which satan seeks to hinder us in our experience of this relationship with the Lord.  While Yeshua seeks to bring us into a deeper experiencing of this relationship, the enemy seeks to do all that he can to interfere with our walk with God.  Thus, we must see the importance of guarding this relationship from the enemy’s influence.  So far, we have looked at the impact of unbelief & skepticism, fear & anxiety, judgmental attitudes, anger & argumentative tendencies, and victim thinking, all of which appeal to us as demonic narratives, used by the enemy to interfere with our experience and enjoyment of relationship with our Creator.  We must be consciously rejecting these demonic narratives, as the enemy seeks to use them to pull us down and hinder us in our spiritual life.

In today’s RR, I’d like to consider another demonic narrative that we must be guarded against.  I’m speaking of the narrative of hopelessness.  This is a narrative that tempts us at times when we may not yet be seeing answers to our prayers or breakthroughs that are needed in our lives.  There are times when, for any number of reasons, we are tempted to feel like God just isn’t concerned for us or for the situations we may be dealing with.  The enemy will tempt us with hopelessness when things just don’t seem to be working out on our behalf the way we would like.  We can find ourselves wondering if God is concerned for us at all, or if God is doing anything to help us through difficult things we are dealing with in our lives.  Hopelessness can press in when we feel like there are no breakthroughs or solutions in sight.  

At the root of hopelessness is the demonic lie that God doesn’t really care about us.  But nothing could be further from the truth.  Scripture shows us over and over again that God does care and the He is working in our lives.  When hopelessness tries to press into our thinking, we must reject it as a lie from the enemy.  Hopelessness will have the effect of crippling us in our faith and our capacity to believe God for victory and breakthrough.  One of the Psalms that gives us a picture of the battle going on in our minds is Psalm 42, where we find the psalmist experiencing inner turmoil.  But then, he exhorts himself with a powerful exhortation in v. 5: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted with me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (NKJV).  I put the command to “hope in God” in italics for emphasis, because that is truly our answer when tempted with hopelessness.  It’s interesting that we find the exhortation to “hope in God” repeated 3 different times in the psalm, obviously for emphasis.  Hope is not rooted in our circumstances, but rather, it’s rooted in the help that comes from the countenance—the presence—of the Lord Himself.  He is the reason for and the source of our hope.

I’m not suggesting that we won’t at times be tempted with discouragement.  But my point is, we don’t have to stay discouraged, as our trust and our joy are found in our relationship with an awesome God who never changes.  He is an amazing God who does wondrous things, and we never have to buy into the false narrative of hopelessness.  Be vigilant in resisting hopelessness.  It seeks to drag us down and drain us of faith and expectation.  But God’s Word tells us that God Himself is a God of hope, as Sha’ul encourages us with the words of Romans 15:13. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and shalom in trusting, so you may overflow with hope in the power of the Ruach ha-Kodesh” (TLV).

The enemy wants us to lose sight of the truth that God is a God of hope.  Don’t let discouragement rule in your heart to pull you down into hopelessness.  The enemy want us to believe that God doesn’t really care about us.  He wants us to conclude that hopelessness is a reasonable narrative.  This is a false narrative, and it must be firmly rejected as a deception.  Boldly declare, even in the face of difficulty or discouragement, “I will hope in God and praise Him for the help of His countenance!”

May the Lord give us grace daily for a walk filled with hope!

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun29-Mar-202611th of Nisan, 5786
Ex 33:12-16Isa 34-35Pr 25Ac 24(Rev 18)

Shabbat Shalom,

God’s favor was manifest amongst the Corinthians in all speaking and all knowledge.

I always thank my God for you because of God’s favor (charis/grace) that was given to you in Messiah Yeshua. For in Him you were made rich in every way—in all speaking and all knowledge— just as the evidence of Messiah was confirmed among you. So you are not lacking in any spiritual gift (charisma – a manifestation of favor/grace) ... (1 Corinthians 1:4–7a)

The charis they were given originated in the Messiah who exemplified what they received from Him. He was filled with favor and the Ruach of God in a unique way.

Why unique?

Well, He was totally yielded and He loved God more than anyone who ever lived.  

It is written that the Messiah grew in charis/grace/favor (Luke 2:40, 52).  We find in John 1:14 that Yeshua was fully filled with favor (charis/grace) and faithfulness (aletheia/truth-faithfulness). He demonstrated Father’s enabling favor (charis/grace) “in every way—in all speaking and all knowledge.”
When believers partake of this charis it is “the evidence of the Messiah being confirmed among them.” It is revealed:

... of His fullness we have all received, and (favor) upon (favor). (John 1:16)

In Matthew 22 we find five examples of the Messiah speaking in the midst of pressure through the overflow of enabling charis/favor. He chose to respond to people who sought to destroy Him.

Let me reiterate, Yeshua was “rich in every way – in all speaking and all knowledge.” Let’s trace how this wealth was revealed.

First, the Lord was asked about the proper way to relate to secular government. Then, Yeshua was interrogated about the nature of everlasting life. After that, He was tested concerning spiritual priorities. He answered each question according to the fullness of the favor He received. Finally, we find that Yeshua asked Pharisees about the authority of the Messiah.

Yeshua’s adversaries tried to trap him. He was asked about paying taxes to Rome. Here’s how He responded.

But Yeshua, knowing their wickedness, said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they said to Him. Then He said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And hearing this, they were amazed. (Matthew 22:18–22)

That was a demonstration of Spiritually graced, favored speech.

Then some Sadducees sought to ensnare Him in rationalism and refute the reality of the coming Resurrection. They posed the equivalent of a riddle. Yeshua confronted their spiritual bankruptcy and then revealed the nature of those who will partake of the Resurrection of the Righteous.

But answering, Yeshua said to them, “You’ve gone astray, because you don’t understand the Scriptures or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:23–30)

After that, Pharisees and Sadducees found common ground as they tried to trip Him up.

And testing Him, one of them, a lawyer, asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Torah?”

And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:35–40)

His exquisite answer cut to the core of every commandment.

Finally, we find Yeshua, through the wisdom given Him, asked Pharisees about the transcendent nature of the Messiah. This is an example of the Lord not answering a question, but asking one.

“Then how is it,” He says to them, “that David by the Ruach calls him ‘Lord’? ... If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” No one was able to answer Him a word. Nor did anyone dare from that day on to question Him any longer. (Matthew 22:41–46)

The Messiah manifested Father’s enabling favor through His speech.

We are children of God and can expect the same thing.

I suggest that you thank Him for this hope.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 28-Mar-2026 10th of Nisan, 5786
Parashat Tzav Shabbat HaGadol Yom HaAliyah
Le 8:30-36Mal 3:1-4:6 [3:24],Lk 1:13–17, 76–80

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 50:5 “Gather My kedoshim to Me, who cut a covenant with Me with a sacrifice.”

Who are these people who are being gathered?  In Hebrew, they are identified as “Cha’si’day” (plural of “Cha’sid”).  It is a word that identifies a people you could call “saints.”  They are righteous people connected to the word “Chesed” meaning lovingkindness, love, and grace.  And, what’s better?… they are being gathered for a purpose, to cut covenant with God.  In the verse (the original Hebrew), God even calls the covenant “My covenant.”  To finish this up, God says this covenant of His will be cut with a sacrifice.

This creates more questions than it does answers.  To find the answers, we’ll have to look throughout the Scriptures.  Using Scripture to interpret Scripture is the best practice.  What else would you use?  Some man’s opinion?  Better we allow God’s revealed wisdom through His word to explain what appears to be unsolved mysteries.  

Jacob 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me, and I will answer you—I will tell you great and hidden things, which you do not know.”

So, after all that, what is this covenant God is cutting with a sacrifice?  Jeremiah prophesied… Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, days are coming”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”  Read the rest of the chapter for more details about this new covenant.  However; there is still a required sacrifice without much explanation.

To find the answer we turn to Moses… Deuteronomy 18:15 Adonai your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst—from your brothers. To him you must listen.  How do we know this is Yeshua?  How are Moses and Yeshua alike, but different from all others?  Num 12:6 “Hear now My words!” He said. “When there is a prophet of Adonai, I reveal Myself in a vision, I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses. In all My house, he is faithful. 8 I speak with him face to face, plainly and not in riddles. He even looks at the form of Adonai!
 
Yes, Yeshua IS the “form of Adonai!”  John 14:9a,b Yeshua said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you haven’t come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father.  It was always going to take the perfect sacrifice to solve the sin problem perfectly.  Hebrews 10:4 for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 So when Messiah comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.

Yeshua was prophesied by Moses and fulfilled in His first coming.  Hebrews 10:10 By His will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Messiah Yeshua once for all.  Yeshua gave Himself and the blessing is still being poured out for our Shalom.  Let’s give Isaiah the last word today.  

Isaiah 9:5 For to us a child is born, a son will be given to us, and the government will be upon His shoulder. His Name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God My Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. 6 Of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end—on the throne of David and over His kingdom—to establish it and uphold it through justice and righteousness from now until forevermore. The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot will accomplish this.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri27-Mar-20269th of Nisan, 5786
Le 8:22-29Isa 33Pr 24Ac 23(Rev 17)

Shalom,

Psalm 50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

How many times have we said this?… “Faith and fear never exist in the same place at the same time.”  God has called us (from both heaven and earth) to trust in His ways, trust in His love, trust (through obedience) His commandments.  And all that “trust” can also be described as faith.  Therefore; we do not need to FEAR God’s judgment.  Passover is almost upon us.  

Rabbi Trail:  While I’m thinking about it,… if you haven’t already done so, it is not too late to make reservations for our community Seder.  https://subsplash.com/shomairyisraelmessianicj/lb/ev/+8mx4788.  Since the Seder is next Wednesday, April 1st, the deadline to make reservations is this Friday, but why wait?  

1Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old hametz, so you may be a new batch, just as you are unleavened—for Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast not with old hametz, the hametz of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread—the matzah of sincerity and truth.

Passover is on God’s calendar every year.  Exodus 12:14 This day is to be a memorial for you. You are to keep it as a feast to Adonai. Throughout your generations you are to keep it as an eternal ordinance.  The doors open at 5:30, the Seder begins at 6:00.  End RT.

Because Passover is next week, please forgive the Passover analogy.  The children of Israel were saved from judgment in Egypt by a cross of blood.  That is the blood of the lamb on the two doorposts, the lintel, and the basin or threshold (the four places we find blood on the cross).  That was to save their flesh from the angel of death.  

Likewise, we also will be saved, but at another level.  Through faith in the greater reality of the shed blood of the LAMB of God (Yeshua HaMashiach), our spirits will be saved (to spend eternity in the presence of God).  John the Immerser rightly described Yeshua… John 1:29b “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!… 34 And I have seen and testified that this is Ben-Elohim.”  

Put your trust in Yeshua, and He will save you from your sins.  Don’t wait… 1Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying, “Shalom and safety,” sudden destruction comes upon them like a woman having birth pains in the womb—there is no way they will escape…. 9 For God did not destine us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.  Such a great blessing from God, we don’t deserve, but none-the-less, we have it by grace.  May His love reign in our hearts.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu26-Mar-20268th of Nisan, 5786
Le 8:14-21Isa 31-32Ps 23Ac 22(Rev 16)

Shalom,

Psalm 50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.

“Our God (Eloheynu) shall come (Yavo).”  This is the opening phrase of our verse today.  What follows are some descriptions and conditions of His coming.  First, he shall not keep silent.  Then we who are alive (whether in heaven or on earth) must be hearing something.  What will we hear?  (Ma Nishma.)

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

What else do we know about His coming?  “A fire shall devour before Him.”  The purpose of His fire is to consume evil.  1Corinthians 3:12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is.

Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.  Deuteronomy 9:3 But you will know today that Adonai your God is the One who is crossing over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them, and He will bring them down before you, so that you may drive them out and make them perish quickly, as Adonai has promised you.

2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will melt and disintegrate, and the earth and everything done on it shall be exposed.

Lastly in this verse, we learn there will be a tempest surrounding the Lord’s coming.  Joel 3:3ff(2:30ff) I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth—blood, fire and pillars of smoke. 4 The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of Adonai comes. 5 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.”

The Lord is seeking those who will volunteer to be rescued.  All that is required is obedience.  (I almost never quote the same Scripture twice, but here goes.)  John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  To follow Yeshua is to obey Yeshua.  John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”  Hebrews 5:8 Though He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. 9 And once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.  Follow Yeshua and live in the last day.  Shalom shalom.

Rabbi Trail:  I have become convinced from writing these (approximately) 2,500 Rabbi’s Reflections over the last 9 years, that one can preach the Gospel from any verse of Scripture.  Try it!  End RT.

Wed25-Mar-20267th of Nisan, 5786
Le 8:1-13Isa 30Pr 22Ac 21(Rev 15)

Shalom,

Psalm 50:1 A psalm of Asaph. God, Elohim Adonai has spoken and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.

Today we start our study of Psalm 50.  We begin with a burst of God’s names, “El, Elohim, and Yehovah(YHVH).”  Together, they speak to God’s power and authority as the self-existent One, Who first created the universe from nothing.  The poetic form of this is “from sunrise to sunset.” Everything God creates is created with beauty and perfection.

In Hebrew, the word used for “perfection” is “Mich’lal.”  This is the only place in Scripture this word is used in this form.  A similar word is used twice by Ezekiel and 7 times by Ezra meaning completely finished.  First, Ezekiel prophesies over Tyre, first describing its beauty, then its destruction.… Ezekiel 27:3 Say to Tyre,… “Thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘Tyre, you said: “I am perfect in beauty!’ 4b …your builders perfected your beauty.”” (But ultimately it was all for nothing.) 36b …“You have become a horror and will be no more.’”  

Now we can better appreciate the singular use of this word here in Psalm 50.  God is announcing prophetically that He will shine forth from Zion in brilliant perfection.  Now let’s answer this question.  What do we know about Zion?  We find the secular world using Zion (Zionism) in the most negative terms.  I found the following quote on Wikipedia (so it must be true).

“Comparisons between Zionism and Nazism have been made by academics, politicians and public figures, both Jewish and not, since before the establishment of Israel.  Some scholars suggest these comparisons can be rhetorical tools without any specific antisemitic intent.”

I object.  Comparing Zionism to Nazism is always done with antisemitic intent.  Zionism (in simple terms) is the belief that Jews should have a government of self-determination in the promised land (called the land of Israel in Scripture).  Zion itself is synonymous with the promised land.  It’s location is described throughout Scripture (see Numbers 34 in particular).  Descendants of those first Israelites to live in that land have been there continuously for more than 3,000 years.  It is a testimony to God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises which started with Father Abraham.

According to our verses today from Psalm 50, God is coming to Zion, from where His glory will shine forth in complete perfect beauty.  Furthermore, God’s reign from Zion is not only for Jewish people, but for all people.  It is in our weekly Torah service…

Isaiah 2:3 Then many peoples will go and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Adonai, to the House of the God of Jacob! Then He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths.” For Torah will go forth from Zion and the word of Adonai from Jerusalem. (Quoted by Micah 4:2)

Everyone will have to make a decision.  Whose side will you be on?  Joel 4:14(3:14) Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of Adonai is near in the valley of decision….16 Adonai will roar from Zion and give His voice from Jerusalem. Heaven and earth will shudder, but Adonai will be a refuge for His people (from all nations), and a safe place for the children of Israel (His people from, well, the children of Israel).  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue24-Mar-20266th of Nisan, 5786
Le 7:11-38Isa 29Pr 21Ac 20(Rev 14)

Shalom,

Psalm 49:19 Though during his life he congratulates himself, and men praise you when you do well for yourself— 20 He will still join his fathers’ company, who will never see the light 21 A pompous man, without understanding—he is like the beasts that perish.

Today we finish our study of Psalm 49.  It concludes with the same theme it has employed from the beginning.  Pay attention everyone… a rich person cannot save himself, nor can he buy his way into God’s good graces.  The purpose here is to humble the self-righteous.  According to verse 20,… Though he may congratulate himself and receive the praises of men, “He will still join his fathers’ company (and) never see the light.”

I’ve heard it said, “Keep in mind, it’s all going to burn.”  Where does this originate in Scripture?  Actually, there are very few concepts that are quite so pervasive.  Let me offer you just three examples from the hundreds I found.

2Peter 3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire—kept until the Day of Judgment and the destruction of ungodly people.  (This is confirmed twice a few verses later.)

Malachi 3:19(4:1) “For behold, the day is coming—it will burn like a furnace—when all the proud and every evildoer will become stubble. The day that is coming will set them ablaze”—says Adonai-Tzva’ot—“leaving them neither root nor branch.”

1Corinthians 3:13 each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is.

Several times the Scriptures remind us of the flood in Noah’s day, and make the comparison to the fire that is about to consume the earth and everything in it in the last day.  Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, or through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flame burn you. 3 For I am Adonai your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

What follows is the message of salvation from the mouth of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah 43:4a,b,c Since you are precious in My eyes, honored, because I love you, I will give a man in exchange for you,…5a Do not fear, for I am with you.

Do you know why God’s people are not burned in the fire?  The answer is in this verse of Scripture… Galatians 2:19b I have been crucified with Messiah; 20a and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me.  Die to self and live for Yeshua and He will save you through the fire (not from it).  His love never fails.  (1 Corinthians 13:8a)  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon23-Mar-20265th of Nisan, 5786
Le 6:19[12]-7:10Isa 28Pr 20Ac 19(Rev 13)

Shavuah Tov,

Psalm 49:17 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when his house’s splendor increases. 18 For when he dies he takes nothing away. His splendor will not follow him down.

This theme is consistent throughout the Psalm…  “Rich people are likely to have a hard time in eternity.”  Psalm 49:7 Or those trusting in their wealth, boasting about their great riches?…  Then both v.13a & v.21a have the similar refrain… “But the pompous man will not endure….,” except in v.20 “endure” (“Yaleen) is changed to “understand” (“Yaveen”).  

These are refrains that don’t match exactly (which happens from time to time in Scripture).  “Yaleen” means “he will endure.”  I personally believe it is etymologically related to “lunatic.”), while “Yaveen” simply means, “he will understand.”  They are both connected to “Bal” which establishes the opposite outcome.  So, “Bal Yaleen” means “he shall not be left behind (endure) to grumble” and “Bal Yaveen” means “he shall not be filled with understanding.”  

The point is this… it is hard for rich people to depend on God because their riches make it easy for them to depend on, well, their riches.  God wants us to trust (have faith) in Him, and not in our own bank accounts.  When under stress, rich people have a tendency to seek a way to buy themselves out of their trouble, rather than turning to God in prayer for a solution that enriches His kingdom and gives Him glory.  

Some of you may think I’m being hard on rich people.  I’m not!  I’m simply pointing out the additional burdens they face.  All of us must turn to the Lord first!  In every situation of life, we must place our faith in the One Who loves us with perfect love.  No one is able to stay in one place.  All of us are either growing closer to God, or further from Him.  Do that with wisdom and without grumbling.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun22-Mar-20264th of Nisan, 5786
Le 6:8-18[1-11]Isa 27Pr 19Ac 18(Rev 12)