Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Shalom,
The Value Of Covenant – Romans, part 7
We pick up today in Romans chapter 1, verse 8. Paul is still making his opening remarks to the community in Rome until verse 12, when he says something I want to highlight today.
Romans 1:12 That is to say, we would be encouraged together by one another’s faithfulness—both yours and mine.
God wants us to encourage one another. Simply put, Paul recognizes the value of community. In order for community to be “of God,” it has to be covenantal. God, our Father, is covenantal and He wants His children to be in covenantal communities with Him and with each other.
God cuts covenant throughout Scripture. Beginning with the sin of Adam and Eve, God had to cut covenant with them through the slaying of animals to make their clothing. The ultimate covenant was the shedding of Yeshua’s blood, by which He rose from the dead. This is confirmed near the end of Hebrews.
Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of shalom, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of an everlasting covenant, our Lord Yeshua, 21 make you complete in every good thing to do His will, accomplishing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Messiah Yeshua. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
There is an inseparable link between being in covenant and having authority. Without godly covenant there is no divine authority. To exercise authority, one must be under authority. Even the Roman centurion understood this. (Read Matthew 8:8-10) We cannot bring correction to each other unless we are also subject to correction, and that is done through covenant relationships.
Rabbi Trail: Two quick announcements… this Sunday, January 22nd at 6pm Shomair will have the annual members business meeting. Dinner will be served, so please register before Friday. https://shomairyisrael.churchcenter.com/registrations , Shomair members only, please.
Secondly, next Sunday, January 29th, at 4pm, Keith Henschen and I will be teaching the first of six “Toward Membership Classes.” The other 5 classes will be available on YouTube. We will be teaching from Asher Intrater’s book, “Covenant Relationships.” All are welcome to attend.
It is called “Toward Membership” because you need not decide about membership until after the classes. However; if this is at all interesting, please attend and satisfy your interest with facts. End RT.
The purpose of covenantal relationships is to build each other up. Our mission is to pursue shalom and holiness with each other. Our eternal salvation depends on it.
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue shalom with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
The pursuit of shalom is a vain effort outside of God’s gift of covenant relationships. Each of us is a gift to the rest of the body of Messiah. There is a reward for pursuing Him on His terms. Receive it, in the name of Yeshua. Amen.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 18-Jan-2023 25th of Tevet, 5783
Ex 7:8-8:10 [6] 1 Ki 7 Ps 106 Lk 20:1-26 (Eph 5)