Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, January 23, 2025
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 23:5 – Part 9
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
There are three actions described in this verse. “You prepare a table,” “You have anointed my head,” and finally, “my cup overflows.” We’ll have to take them one at a time over the next three days. Most significantly, this is all prepared and provided by the Lord. It is a picture of grace.
Psalm 23:5a You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies. What does this even mean? A prepared (carefully arranged and ordered) table is significant in itself. In Hebrew it is called a “Shulchan Aruch.” “Shulchan” is a table, but it can also be the meal served on it. After all, such a table is found in the dining room.
Rabbi Trail: There is a book titled “Shulchan Aruch,” subtitled “The Code of Jewish Law.” It was authored by Joseph Karo in 1563 who wrote according to the Sephardic (Middle Eastern or Spanish) tradition.
Rabbi Joseph Karo lived in the city of Safed (which was then part of Ottoman Syria, but is now in Galilee, Israel). Safed is the “city on a hill” to which Yeshua was most likely referring in Matthew 5:14.
Modern printings of the “Shulchan Aruch” include an overlay of the work of Rabbi Moses Isserles, of Poland (1530-1572) who wrote a code of Jewish law according to the Ashkenazi (European) tradition. His nickname among Jewish scholars is “The Rema” (which stands for “Rabbi Moses”) End RT.
This set (arranged and in order) table begins a description of what we call today the communion service, and that communion service begins with bread representing the sacrificed body of our Lord and Savior. It is served to us in the “presence of our enemies,” who are forced to watch from a distance. If they had the power to disrupt the “meal,” they would. However; they have to power on account of the total victory of Yeshua.
Psalm 110:1 A psalm of David. Adonai says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” 2 Adonai will extend your mighty rod from Zion: “Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
At a properly set table, each seat is labeled with a name tag. Yes, on account of Yeshua’s sacrifice and your acceptance of His substitutionary death (we had a death sentence due to sin, but Yeshua paid the price for each and every one of us, “Go and sin no more.”) Yeshua, Himself has written your name, identifying your place at His set table, with the red “ink” of His own blood.
Revelation19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready, 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and clean! For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the kedoshim.” 9a Then the angel tells me, “Write: How fortunate are those who have been invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb!” Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/
Thu 23-Jan-2025 23rd of Tevet, 5785
Ex 8:11-22 [7-18] 1 Ki 3-4 Ps 104 Lk 19:1-27 (Eph 3)