Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Shalom *|FNAME|*,

I want to tell you two stories so that you can agree with me in prayer for each of these two situations.  Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer.

First, Lawrence and Monique Welsh are leaders in our sister congregation in Washington DC, Ahavat Yeshua.  Some of you may remember them.  They visited Shomair on the occasion of Avi’s Bat Mitzvah.  They have recently had a very bad report (that has been confirmed) that there are many irregularities regarding Monique’s pregnancy and the way the baby’s organs are developing.  Please pray in every way for God’s divine intervention for this family.

Also, Aaron Mendez and his wife, Zhenya, are the newly appointed leaders at Beth Am Messiah in New York (Rockland County, town of Clarkstown) with Jack Jacobs, delivered a baby girl last week, four months premature.  The baby weighed only 12 ounces at birth.  The baby is in NICU (of course) and has a long road ahead to a self sustaining life.  However; the first week is a big success according to a report I received this morning.  Please pray into this situation also for the growth and development of baby Rephaya Selah (which means “the Lord heals” and “rest in that truth”.) 

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)

Wed 10-Feb-2021 28th of Sh’vat, 5781

Ex 22:27-23:5 2 Ki 13 Ps 138 Jn 12:1-19 (2 Ti 4)

Let me give you commentary on this verse… Psalm 138:7 Though I walk amid trouble, You revive me. You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand delivers me.

The Hebrew has some pointed nuances worthy of more study.  The first phrase in Hebrew could be translated “If I will walk close to (near) trouble.”  An “if” statement requires a “then” statement.  

What then, is to happen if I will walk close to trouble?  The next Hebrew phrase provides the answer.  “You (the Lord) will revive (literally “give life to”) me over the wrath of my enemies.”

The next Hebrew phrase is best translated “You will send your arm.”  In Hebrew a hand and an arm are the same.  There is a different word for palm (of the hand) but it is not used here.  Isaiah asks the question… Isaiah 53:1b To whom is the arm of Adonai revealed?  Throughout Scripture the “Arm of the Lord” is always a reference to Yeshua.  In our subject verse, God is promising to send His Arm (Son) to give us life (revive us so that we are over, on top of, and victorious over the wrath of our enemies).

Then the verse concludes with two Hebrew words, “V’Toshi’ayni Y’minecha.”  Do you see “Yeshua” in “V’Toshi’ayni?”  The same Shoresh is used for both words. And that Shoresh means “salvation.”  “Y’mina” is “right” which is short for “right hand.”  The whole verse is very Messianic and prophetic.  God promises salvation through His Son Who sits at His right hand.

Mark 16:19 Then the Lord Yeshua, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

We count on the promises of God, and this is one of them… Psalm 138:7 When I will walk close to trouble, You will give life to me. You send out Your Arm (who is Your Son) against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand (Who is Your Son) saves me.

Week 7

Memory Verse: Hebrews 9:22 And nearly everything is purified in blood according to the Torah, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

31   2/8     Monday:          Exodus 8-9 

32   2/9     Tuesday:         Exodus 10-11

* 33 2/10    Wednesday:   Exodus 12

34   2/11    Thursday:       Exodus 13:17-14

35   2/12    Friday:            Exodus 16-17

Question of the day:  Why do we celebrate Passover (Pesach)?

Answer:  God commands it.  Exodus 12:20 You are to eat no hametz (leaven); in all your houses you are to eat matzot .”  You might be tempted (certainly not) to say, “That is in the Hebrew Scripture, but I follow the New Testament.”  Well don’t!  1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old hametz, so you may be a new batch, just as you are unleavened—for Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast not with old hametz, the hametz of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread—the matzah of sincerity and truth.

And there it is, right at the beginning of verse 8, “Therefore let us celebrate the feast….”  We celebrate the feast because God commands it… Exodus 12:24 Also you are to observe this event as an eternal ordinance, for you and your children. 

Don’t get caught unaware on that night.  This year we will have a community Seder at Rothchild catering beginning at 6pm on Saturday night, March 23rd.  There is a full dinner on the menu.  Adults $25 and Children 12 and under $15.  Reserve your seats here.  https://shomairyisrael.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/704149  I made my reservations today.  (Yes, I pay too.)