Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, January 25, 2021
Shalom,
A N N O U N C E M E N T
Save the date, Saturday night, March 27, 2021, we will celebrate the Passover together at Rothchild Catering, where we have been for the last 4 years (notwithstanding last year when COVID forced us to cancel).
The worship service includes dinner. Adults $25, children 12 and under $15. Here is the link to register.
https://shomairyisrael.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/704149
1 Corinthians 5:7b for Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. 8a Therefore let us celebrate the feast…
____________________
It’s a new week and I need some help. The paragraph below is a fairly accurate translation of the second paragraph of the Aleynu prayer/hymn which ends practically every Jewish liturgical service (both weekday and Shabbat). We’ve been singing it to start our services for the last 4 weeks. I want to believe this prayer is Scripturally based. Would anyone like to join me in identifying which Scriptures or parts of Scriptures have been used? Please email your responses and we’ll compare notes. Thank you.
“(It is God) Who stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, the seat of Whose glory is in the heavens above, and the abode of Whose might is in the loftiest heights. He is our God; there is none else. In truth He is our King; there is none besides Him; as it is written in His Law, And thou shalt know this day, and lay it to thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”
______________________
Bonus #6 in a series on Psalm 112. Psalm 112:6 Surely he will never be shaken. The righteous are remembered forever. This is the truth. The verse says the one who fears the Lord will never (literally “not for eternity”) be shaken, and his/her memory will last forever. See below for more on “unshakeable.”
____
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 25-Jan-2021 12th of Sh’vat, 5781
Ex 14:9-14 1 Ki 19Ps 119:73-96 Jn 3(1 Th 3)
The Torah reading this week is called “B’Shalach” (Exodus 13:17-17:16). “Shalach” means “he sent.” Of course in Exodus 13:17, Pharaoh is sending the children of Israel into the desert, finally, after 10 plagues. But God did not lead the people on a direct route to the promised land.
I want to pause here for a moment to appreciate what God is doing today. We also have a destiny. Our “promised land” is the kingdom of God, both now and when Yeshua returns. But God is not leading us directly there, but through many trials and challenges (just like the children of Israel spent 40 years in the desert). Why God? He has given us the answer in the same verse.
Exodus 13:17b “The people might change their minds if they see war and return to Egypt.” Today God is building an army made up of His people who will unshakeably and eternally reflect His character. Ephesians 4:11 He Himself gave some to be emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers— 12 to equip the kedoshim for the work of service, for building up the body of Messiah. 13 This will continue until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Ben-Elohim—to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Messiah’s fullness. An army is built (trained) to follow orders and fight as commanded.
God wants us to stand and fight in the day of battle. Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you will prosper and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Adonai’s servants— their vindication is from Me.” It is a declaration of Adonai. Our heritage is our inheritance and our destiny.
Two years ago the theme of Camp Shom’rim Tze’irim (Young Watchmen) was “Unshakeable.” I keep coming back to it as an important word from the Lord for His people today.
Week 5
Memory Verse: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, 21 to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.
* 21 1/25 Monday: Genesis 39-40
22 1/26. Tuesday: Genesis 41
23 1/27 Wednesday: Genesis 42-43
24 1/28 Thursday: Genesis 44-45
25 2/29 Friday: Genesis 46-47
Question of the day: Two chapters today… the first (Genesis 39) is the story of Potiphar’s wife, while the second (Genesis 40) is Joseph in Egyptian jail. What is our take away?
Answer: Sometimes, even when we have God’s favor, things go from bad to worse. However; the latter end will be greater and God is with us throughout. We have this promise from God… Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better the end of a matter than its beginning. Better a patient spirit than a proud one. Interestingly, this verse juxtaposes “patient” and “proud.” We tend to think the opposite of “proud” is “humble.” But this verse says it is “patient.”
Jacob 5:7 So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it until it receives the early and late rain. 8 You also be patient. Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord is near.
Do you appreciate the theme here? Things are never as bad as they seem, because what we don’t see (but believe) is that God is on the throne and His harvest is maturing. Patience!!! And He alone has declared what future will become our history.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship—created in Messiah Yeshua for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them.