Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, November 11, 2024
Shalom,
Happy Veterans Day, and “Thank you,” to our military personnel, for your service.
Psalms
Psalm 19:11(10) – Part 10
Psalm 19:11(10) They are more desirable than gold, yes, more than much pure gold! They are sweeter than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Is that true? Is it true to you that Torah, testimony (Aydut) , precepts (Pikudei), mitzvot (positive commandments), fear of Adonai (Yirat Yehovah), and judgments (Mishpatei), are more desirable than much pure gold? Notice that blessings are not specifically included. Each of these essential elements of the kingdom of God (contrasted with the element of Gold) includes wisdom on how to incorporate God’s blessings into our lives. For example, receive this admonition from Moses…
Deuteronomy 4:40 “You must keep His statutes and His mitzvot, which I am commanding you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you may prolong your days in the land that Adonai your God is giving you for all time.”
Rabbi Trail: Notice the blessing includes “land.” And not just any land, but specific land, the land that God promised our Father Abraham. 500 years later (after 400 years of slavery in Egypt), God brought all the descendants of Abraham’s grandson, Israel, through 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. They crossed the Jordan River (on dry ground) and entered the promised land. God called them to conquer that land, an effort that continues with us until this day. End RT.
Not only are the elements of God’s kingdom more to be desired than gold, but they are also described as sweeter than honey dripping from honeycomb. Honey has become known as a “superfood.” https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/benefits-of-honey/ And yet, according to King David, the elements of God’s kingdom are sweeter than honey (which is essentially liquid sugar).
Rabbi Trail: Some honeys are quite expensive. https://themostexpensive.org/most-expensive-honey/ Certain Turkish honeys can cost up to $300 an ounce. The price seems to be driven by their health benefits. While I am fascinated by this, let’s remember King David’s proposition that the elements of God’s kingdom are more valuable than gold, and sweeter than honey. End RT.
Two verses from Exodus 19 should help us wrap this up today… Moses went up on Mount Sinai and spoke these words on behalf of God, to the elders of Israel before delivering the Ten Commandments. Exodus 19:5 Now then, if you listen closely to My voice, and keep My covenant, then you will be My own treasure from among all people, for all the earth is Mine. 6 So as for you, you will be to Me a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you are to speak to Bnei-Yisrael.”
God gives us His treasure (the elements of His kingdom) so that WE CAN BECOME His treasure. 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/
Mon 11-Nov-2024 10th of Cheshvan, 5785
Ge 18:15-33 Jos 21 Ps 21 Mt 14 (1 Jn 2:12-29)