Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Shalom,
Special Announcement: As you can see from the flyer art above, Paul Wilbur is coming to Knoxville on Wednesday night, February 26th in Farragut. (Need I say more?) The details and address are on the flyer. Anyone receiving this message is invited by the organizers to attend without registration or charge. Just tell the folks at the registration desk you are connected to Messianic Judaism or Shomair Yisrael and they will give you a free name tag. We are truly blessed to have this invitation. Hope to see you there.
Psalms
Psalm 25:6 – Part 9
Psalm 25:6 Remember, Adonai, Your compassions and Your mercies—for they are from eternity.
There is “remember” and then there is “remember,” and they’re not both the same. In Hebrew, “Zachor” is the word we conveniently translate as “remember.” However; there are levels of remembrance, and they’re not all the same.
There is “remember” because someone forgot something. (Calling to mind the phrase never to be spoken, “Don’t you remember, Rabbi?”) But there is also “remember” as in a marker of remembrance or a memorial monument of remembrance. When we call on God to remember, it is not as if He can forget anything. In fact, the subject verse specifically calls upon God to memorialize His promises of “Racham” (or “Rachmanot” in the plural) and His “Chesed,” meaning “lovingkindness or grace.”
Rachmanot and Chesed form an amalgam of God’s love. Rachmanot emphasizes God’s merciful nature (by which He has pity on us), while Chesed is similar, but goes further, featuring God’s justice, also called covenantal love. Psalm 62:13 Also Yours, O Lord, is lovingkindness (Chesed). For You reward a man for his work.
There is more good news, and here it is… that we are the reward for Yeshua’s finished work. Does it get any better than that? 2Timothy 4:8 In the future there is reserved for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not to me only, but also to everyone who has longed for His appearing. He is the good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. John 10:11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. What’s better? 1Peter 5:4 When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
He alone is worthy of our praise. The very last verse of last Psalm agrees… Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that has breath praise Adonai. Halleluyah! We should never hesitate to call upon God to bring forth His covenantal promises. Isaiah 65:9 I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, an heir of My mountains from Judah. My chosen ones will inherit it, and My servants will dwell there. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 19-Feb-2025 21st of Sh’vat, 5785
Ex 22:28(27)-23:5 2 Ki 7 Ps 130-131 Jn 8:31-59 (1 Ti 5)