Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, October 1, 2022
Shabbat,

Growing in Love for God 36 by David Harwood

What wonderful words:

(I)f we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7a TLV)

This is a principle and a promise. Within this phrase is a description of our common life. We are summoned to “walk in the light of the Adonai (Isaiah 2:5).”

Come house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of Adonai. (Isaiah 2:5 TLV)

Our fellowshipping with one another foreshadows the age-to-come when the Messiah establishes universal peace within the framework of God’s rule and revelation. Here is Isaiah 2:5 within its immediate context:

2It will come to pass in the last days that the mountain of Adonai’s House will stand firm as head of the mountains and will be exalted above the hills. So all nations will flow to it. 3Then many peoples will go and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Adonai, to the House of the God of Jacob! Then He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths.”

For Torah will go forth from Zion and the word of Adonai from Jerusalem. 4He will judge between the nations and decide for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war any more.

5Come house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of Adonai. (Isaiah 2:2–5 TLV)

I believe that everything written in this section of Isaiah will happen. I look forward to it and hope my life, in some small way, is “hastening the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:12 TLV).” At the same time, within the community of Yeshua followers, we experience walking “in the light of the Adonai.” We fellowship within a spiritual, social, cultural environment that is founded upon light that comes from God.

for the kingdom of God is … righteousness and shalom and joy in the Ruach ha-Kodesh. (Romans 14:17 TLV)

God is interested in establishing light houses: Centers of fellowship which light up the atmosphere in the spiritual realm. Yeshua is in the light. We are called to walk in the light. With whom are we in fellowship? The “one another (1 John 1:7a)” can include the Messiah.

John wrote of this. In 1 John we read of the emissary’s invitation to join him in fellowship with the Father and the Son. That was a purpose behind his epistle.

What we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so you may have fellowship with us. Indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Yeshua the Messiah. (1 John 1:3 TLV)

This verse is in close proximity to John’s teaching about sin, forgiveness, and humility. Because of this, walking in the light has often been narrowly interpreted. Many see it as referring to being transparent with one another about our moral and relational transgressions. This interpretation may neglect the reason for relational integrity: We are being called into fellowship with the Father and His Son through the Spirit.

The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14 TLV)

Our relationships with each other are to be maintained within the Light. At times, John equates being in the Light with loving one another.

The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10The one who loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has made his eyes blind. (1 John 2:9–11a TLV)

We were all dominated by this darkness, participating in actions proceeding from hate-filled motivations. When we see that darkness and hating people are closely connected it gives a fresh nuance to John 3:19.

“Light has come into the world and men loved the darkness instead of the light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19b TLV)

We will look at some aspects of walking in the Light. Meanwhile, we have good cause to be grateful. Thank God, we were rescued.

He rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom He loves.(Colossians 1:13 TLV)

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 01-Oct-2022 6th of Tishrei, 5783
Parashat Vayeilech Shabbat Shuva
De 31:14-30 Hos 14:2-10, Mic 7:18-20, Joel 2:15-27 Heb 12:1-17