Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, January 11, 2024
Shalom,
Salutations and Summary, part 6 – Romans, part 256
Romans 16:20 Now the God of shalom will soon crush satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Yeshua be with you.
How long Lord? How long? This question is asked of the Lord throughout Scripture. It pops up in Zechariah’s opening vision. Zechariah 1:12 Then the angel of Adonai answered and said, ‘Adonai-Tzva’ot, how long will You withhold compassion on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah? While there is no direct answer, the answer that is given includes these comforting words… Zechariah 1:16 “Therefore,” thus says Adonai, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion. My House will be built there,”
What brings this question to mind today is the statement, “God… will soon crush satan.” We’re reading this in Romans, which was written about 2,000 years ago. From where we are standing (on the earth), that’s not soon, that’s a long time. But from where God is seated, it is soon. Our reference is in years, while God’s reference is in eternity.
However; we walk with God knowing this is true; God will soon crush satan. Paul is bringing it up here to emphasize the point he just made about false teachers. False teachers teach a false gospel in which there is no accountability. Paul is letting us know satan will be crushed and deception removed. The truth will be revealed, so live honorably.
2Thessalonians 2:8 Then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Yeshua will slay him with the breath of His mouth and wipe him out with the appearance of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is connected to the activity of satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with every kind of wicked deception toward those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a delusional force, to lead them to believe what is false. 12 so that they may be judged—all those who did not believe the truth but delighted in wickedness.
Paul’s parting thought is this… Romans 16:20b May the grace of our Lord Yeshua be with you. “Grace” is not the prayer before a meal, it is the way we relate to God. Ephesians 2:8a For by grace you have been saved through faith. Watch how it ties back to our first point. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Don’t be deceived… Romans 6:2b How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Alternatively, we walk in victory. 1John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. Ben-Elohim appeared for this purpose—to destroy the works of the devil. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thursday 11-Jan-24
Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat Exodus 8:11-22[7-18] 2 Samuel 17 Psalm 84 Luke 11:1-28 Ephesians 5:18-33