Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, February 10, 2025
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 25:1 – Part 1
Psalm 25:1 Of David. To You, Adonai, I lift up my soul.
Today we begin our meditations on Psalm 25 with verse 1.
Rabbi Trail: This Psalm is an acrostic along with Psalms 9, 10, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145. This is the third in order of those nine Psalms specifically written to help us memorize the words. Each of them uses the Hebrew alphabet as a learning device. However; none of them is a perfect acrostic, with the exception of Psalm 119. It stands alone as the longest chapter of the Bible. It devotes eight verses (exactly), to each of the 22 Hebrew letters (exactly). End RT.
The first verse of Psalm 25 sets the tone for the rest of the the Psalm. I lift up my soul to Yehovah(YHVH). As we read this, we are acknowledging that we are on the earth and God is far above us.
Ephesians 1:21 He (from the context, King Yeshua) is far above any ruler, authority, power, leader, and every name that is named—not only in the olam ha-zeh (this world) but also in the olam ha-ba (world to come).
So there is not only a qualitative difference (Yeshua’s place is more excellent), and a spacial difference (heaven above), but a temporal difference (the eternal world to come). Here is some Scriptural proof for each of these three distinctions.
Paul ends 1 Corinthians, chapter 12 with this phrase… 1 Corinthians 12:31b “And still I show you a far better way.” Which leads into chapter 13, the “love” chapter. The “far better way” of God’s kingdom is love! That’s the qualitative difference. Secondly, God’s ways are higher than our ways. Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” That’s the spacial difference. And finally, God’s kingdom is eternal. Isaiah 9:5(6)a For to us a child is born, a son will be given to us, and the government will be upon His shoulder… 6(7)a Of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end. That’s the temporal difference.
So then, of course we want to put our thoughts on things that are “above” as we focus on God’s kingdom. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things. There is a promised blessing for those who make a practice of dwelling on the things that are true and honorable (from above). Philippians 4:9b …put these things into practice, and the God of shalom will be with you. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 10-Feb-2025 12th of Sh’vat, 5785
Ex 18:13-23 1 Ki 20 Ps 119:97-120 Jn 4:1-30 (1 Th 4)