Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, January 24, 2020
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
I want to add to what I wrote yesterday regarding the name “Adonai.” “Adon” in modern Hebrew is how we address a man, like our English word “Mister.” It can also be translated as “Lord” but not usually. It is an honorific title.
Adoni (pronounced A-don-ee) means “my lord” or “my sir” or colloquially “my man.” Adonai is actually a plural structure, “Lords.” Much like “Elohim” is also plural. Elohim is the third word in the Bible (after “B’resheet Bara”). Could it be that God likes to refer to Himself in the plural because He is 3 in one?
Most of the time in the Tree of Life Version (TLV) the word “Adonai” is used as a substitute for the tetragrammaton (Yud-Hay-Vav-Hay). Sometime the Hebrew Scriptures actually use the real word “Adonai” in Hebrew.
Pillar Two – The Kingdom Is Expressed In Worship – Part 3
I am continuing to write on Dan Juster’s book, “The 12 Pillars: A Foundation for Congregations, Ministries, and Five Fold Associations.” Dan makes this statement in Pillar Two, (my comments follow) “Of course I desire that our form be recognizably Jewish. Yet, we must have this content.”
The content to which Dan is referring is “Yeshua centered” content. We have to make Yeshua central in our worship. What did the sign above the cross say? John 19:19 Pilate also wrote a sign and put it on the execution stake. It was written, “YESHUA HA-NATZRATI, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
The rulers tried to have the sign removed or changed, but without success. It was a prophetic sign. Since He is our King, we must keep Him central in our worship. This can be challenging since we also have a commitment to be “recognizably Jewish.”
On many occasions, what is recognizably Jewish is also recognizably anti-Yeshua. We need the “Yeshua lens” to keep on track with that. Sadly, there are many who have missed the mark. When we have Yeshua in His Jewish context, we have more of who He is.
Specifically, if we really want to worship Him, we need to love what He loves, and He loves His people Israel. And that’s what I have to say about that.
Week 4
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.
16 1/20 Monday: Genesis 27-28
17 1/21 Tuesday: Genesis 29-30:24
18 1/22 Wednesday: Genesis 31-32
19 1/23 Thursday: Genesis 33;35
* 20 1/24 Friday: Genesis 37
Question of the day: What were the sons of Jacob thinking?
Answer: Didn’t they know they would become the progenitors of the 12 tribes of Israel? They got started on their walk through eternity by selling their brother into slavery. This was determined by them to be their best option. It was an improvement, when their first thought was to kill him. Then they lied about it to their Dad (Jacob) and they all kept their secret until they were exposed by Joseph who turned out to be the Prince of Egypt. The brothers themselves never told the truth or repented. They just got caught in their lie.
You could also make the case that Jacob was not a good father. I know this isn’t popular to run our Patriarchs down, but really, they all (Abraham included) had issues with telling the truth and having integrity. Integrity means doing what is right, honest and true, even when there are potentially adverse consequences.
I bring this up so that we will all be encouraged. Look what God did through them (even with all their faults). Now we, through faith in Yeshua and the move of the Holy Spirit, place ourselves in those same hands that redeemed our forefathers. Besides, is there a better option out there? No! Then let’s trust in God.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Rabbi Trail: This link is a satirical look at the content of Genesis 37. It is produced by a troupe of players who call themselves “The Jews Are Coming.” Some (okay all) of their material is edgy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-i-DMsFx6o
My favorite video clip by them is the day they invented kissing the mezuzah. One student was missing from Hebrew school that day. Here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seElbA9H9U8