Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, November 26, 2022
Shabbat Shalom,
Day 22: Morning
Messiah’s Body Grows Through Our Mutual Communication
by David Harwood
I have consistently reiterated what our Messiah called the Greatest Command, the Foremost Command, and added my own description: the Prioritized Command. Why not also consider it as the Spotlighted Command, the Emphasized Command, or the Center-Stage Command? God commanded us to love Him, and Yeshua said that it was the greatest, foremost, first-priority, spotlighted, emphasized command that takes center stage.
Speaking of “center stage,” does heaven have a center? Does the eternal realm have a focal point? We believe that God’s throne is the geographic center of all things, seen and unseen. Also, He is the center of our affections.
God our Father is pictured as sitting on a throne.
behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One seated on the throne. (Revelation 4:2b TLV)
In the middle of God’s throne is His Lamb.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne shall shepherd them. (Revelation 7:17a TLV)
This throne, the center of heaven, is shared by the Father and the Messiah.
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life—bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1 TLV)
By the way, I love the revelation that God’s throne releases life, not domination. Who would have thought that? Not me.
In heaven, His seraphim fellowship with one another in His immediate presence. They communicate about Him, giving Him glory. Some of the most transcendent praise recorded in Scripture is not directed toward Him. It is about Him, before Him.
One called out to another, and said: “Holy, holy, holy, is Adonai-Tzva’ot! The whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3 TLV)
This chant is echoed in Revelation 4.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts, who was and who is and who is to come! (Revelation 4:8b TLV)
Note, this is not “You are holy.” It is “He is holy.” That revelation resonates with the angelic recipient of the call and provokes an antiphonal response. Seraphim, in the direct presence of God’s throne, share their illumination about God with one another. They are fellowshipping.
I would not have been able to make that up. For me, heaven’s worship would always be face to face: “O God! You are so holy.” However, that is not the case, and God dwells in the middle of those who praise Him.
Look at Psalm 22:3.
Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:4 TLV)
One way the Spirit fellowships with us is through one another. It is not vertical fellowship; it is sideways. One nuanced definition of sideways is indirect. God most definitely wants to fellowship with us face to face, heart to heart. He also delights in fellowshipping with His people as they commune with one another.
How many times have believers noticed God speaking with them through the words of others in the midst of casual conversation? If He can do that within that which is unintentional, imagine what He might do while we are intentionally sharing with one another that which God has made real to us about Himself.
Let us listen to what the Lord is revealing to others about Himself. God will make what He has shown your fellow disciples come alive to you, too. As He does, as a result, we get to worship in Spirit and Truth with one another. That worship, that type of worship, to your Creator, is like treasure in a deserted field. It is fellowship with one another and with God in how He sees Himself, what He loves about Himself.
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. These things we write so our joy may be full.(1 John 1:3-4 TLV)
The church is likened to His Body. Within the life of the believing community, each person is like a separate body part. Apparently, our relationships are akin to ligaments. His Body grows through our mutual communication of spiritual reality. Every joint supplies as they share with one another.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all ways into Messiah, who is the Head. From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. (Ephesians 4:15-16a TLV)
Share what you have received. Listen to others. Let’s be built up in our love for God.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarsson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 26-Nov-2022 2nd of Kislev, 5783 Parashat Toldot
Ge 28:5-9 Mal 1:1-2:7 Ro 9:1-16