Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, October 4, 2024
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Rosh Hashana 5785… Most Jewish people celebrate two days of RH, but at Shomair, we only celebrate one day.  Why is that?  Mostly, it is because on one day of celebration is biblical.  The second day is a rabbinical convention that has now become a tradition.  Notably, Reform Jews generally only celebrate one day also, so we’re not alone in this.

With the demands of the holiday, I had to find some efficiencies for this week, so I copied an RR from two years ago and pasted it below.  I just saved about two hours of my day.  That will give me time to write my message for Thursday.

The Upper Room Discourse (part 40)
Originally published on September 26, 2022

The entire series on the Upper Room Discourse can be found in the archived RRs at www.syknox.org/blog beginning around the end of July 2022.

John 15:21 “But all these things they will do to you for the sake of My name, because they do not know the One who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin.

This breaks my heart, and it is not the first time Yeshua has addressed the issue of unbelief in Israel.  In fact, He addressed it many times.

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate!

But wait, bless the Lord, this is NOT the end of the story.  Yeshua promises to return to His people, most of whom rejected Him 2,000 years ago.  Matthew 23:39 “For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”  That is a literal translation of an idiomatic phrase.  “Baruch Ha-Ba” means “welcome.”  When His people welcome Him, He will appear.

Most Jewish people did not welcome Yeshua’s first coming.  But we will all welcome His second coming.  Isaiah saw this and prophesied over it…

Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God—there is no other. 23 By Myself I have sworn— the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness, and is irrevocable: that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear…. 25 In Adonai all the seed of Israel will be justified and give praise.”

Yeshua came to us 2,000 years ago as a Suffering Servant, so that we would be without excuse.  He will fulfill His promise to return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah and put all darkness under His feet.

Psalm 110:1 A psalm of David. Adonai declares to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

The really good news is that when He is crowned King, we also will share in His coronation.  1 Peter 5:4 When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
2 Tishrei Friday 4-Oct-24 Rosh Hashanah II
Genesis 22; Numbers 29:1-6 Jeremiah 31:2[1]-20[19] 1 Corinthians 15:35-58