Rabbi’s Reflections – Sunday, December 17, 2023
Shavuah Tov,
Love Each Other / Glorify God part 10 – Romans, part 235
Romans 15:10 And again it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” 11 And again, “Praise Adonai all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.”
In these two verses, Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 32:43a “Make His people rejoice, O nations.” And Psalm 117:1 Praise Adonai, all you nations! Glorify Him, all you peoples. Now let’s ask the obvious question… “Why would we (Jews and all the other nations) want to rejoice as we all, praise and glorify the Lord?” The answer is that we have good news.
Isa 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces shalom, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Sounds like somebody is planning a celebration. We were all born in rebellion and sin in opposition to the holy and righteous God. It is a problem for all of humanity that cannot be fixed by humanity. Romans 8:3 For what was impossible for the Torah—since it was weakened on account of the flesh—God has done. Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh—…. Why, so we could continue in sin and expect that by grace we will enter into God’s presence for all eternity? Think again… Romans 8:4 so that the requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Ruach.
The mind set on the flesh leads to death, but the mind set on the Spirit has another destiny… Romans 8:6 For the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Ruach is life and shalom. Now the question becomes, “Who doesn’t want life and shalom?” And there you have it, the righteous reason for the party (or celebration). God has fixed our eternal problem by sending His only begotten son to suffer on our behalf. It is a blessing for the whole world that never stops being a blessing. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarsson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun 17-Dec-2023 5th of Tevet, 5784
Ge 44:18-30 1 Sa 22 Ps 62 Mk 14:53-72 (2 Co 3)