Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Shalom,
Special Announcement: Wednesday night, October 2nd, we begin our celebration of the fall feasts of the Lord at 7PM with Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah). Bring your Shofar for our community celebration of the Feast of Trumpets. After the service we will eat apples and honey and share sweet desserts. Please bring a dessert that starts with the first letter of your last name. We will conclude the holiday with a similar gathering the next morning, beginning at 10:30. Many synagogues sell tickets to these services, but we do not. All are welcome to attend. End SA.
Psalms
Psalm 18:23, 24(22, 23) – Part 24
Psalm 18:23(22) For all His judgments are before me. I do not put His rulings away from me. 24(23) I also had integrity with Him, and kept myself from my sin.
Judgments are “Mishpatim,” while rulings (aka statutes and/or ordinances) are Chukkim. These are two Hebrew words (Chukkim and Mishpatim) for the same thing, commandments. The rabbis have tried to make distinctions as to why some commandments are referred to as Mishpatim while others are referred to as Chukkim, however; after much discussion on the matter, they ultimately find the lines of distinction are irrevocably blurred. In reality, they are just two different words for the same thing.
In the course of time and throughout history, God has told us (mostly through the Scriptures) what is expected from us as we seek to follow His commands. Obedience is a central part of the character of those who follow the ways of the Lord. Psalm 16:8 I have set Adonai always before me. Since He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. To “set Adonai always before me,” is synonymous with obeying His commandments. John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Being true to God’s word is one way to understand the word integrity (In Hebrew, “Tamim,” which is usually translated as “blameless.”) This is the word used to describe us, as we rise out of the waters of Mikveh (baptism).
That was a short paragraph because I want to pivot on this since Wednesday night, at 7PM, we will begin our celebration of the High Holy Days. These first ten days, that begin with Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah, the Day of the Shout) and end with a day of solemnity, filled with fasting and prayer, called Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) are collectively referred to in Hebrew as “Yomim Noraim,” (Days of Awe).
Jewish people around the world keep these days as a season of repentance, both communally and individually. The Jewish hope is that we will repent well enough to win God’s favor for another year. The motivation is to pray with “Kavenah” (intentionality) to earn God’s favor, so that God will inscribe us in the book of life for the coming year.
Since we have no such belief in Messianic Judaism, how should we celebrate RH and YK along with the 8 days in between? For us, this becomes a season of intercession. We agree with the Scriptures… Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem—“May those who love you be at peace! 7 May there be shalom within your walls—quietness within your palaces.” 8 For the sake of my brothers and friends, I now say: “Shalom be within you.”
And we know that the only true shalom is the shalom found in a personal relationship with Messiah Yeshua. Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been made righteous by trusting, we have shalom with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Paul wrote that to offer the Romans a solution to their troubles. He also wrote this to the Colossians to offer them a similar solution. Colossians 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfect harmony. 15 Let the shalom of Messiah rule in your hearts—to this shalom you were surely called in one body. Also be thankful.
One last note today… Psalm 18, verse 24 concludes “I kept myself from my sin.” This is not David alone, nor is it you or I alone, but all of us, together through the power of Holy Spirit, have the victory. The Hebrew word for “kept,” is a form of the word used to identify God as the “One Who Keeps Israel” Psalm 121:4 Behold, the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The last two Hebrew words of this verse form the name of our congregation, Shomair Yisrael. We pray the Lord will “Shomair Yisrael.” Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
28 Elul Tuesday 1-Oct-24
Deuteronomy 32:13-18 Habakkuk 2 2 Chronicles 20 Acts 13 Revelations 7