Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, February 24, 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 25:9 – Part 12
Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.
Psalm 25 (as previously explained) is an acrostic. Each verse starts with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet (Aleph-Bet). However; this, the 9th verse starts with the 10th letter (Yud), so it’s not perfect. The fifth verse starts with the fifth letter (Hey), but the third word starts another thought with the sixth letter (Vav), effectively doubling up. There are 22 letters in the Aleph-Bet, and there are 22 verses in Psalm 25.
How did that happen? The last verse is not part of the acrostic. The 21st verse starts with the last letter (Tav). The 22nd (and last) verse starts with a Peh, the 17th letter, which also starts the 16th verse.
Our subject verse for today (verse 9 above) is a play on words. There are only six Hebrew words in the entire verse, and two of them are used twice, as I’ll explain. Yad’rech (meaning “He will guide”) is the first word. “Darko” (meaning “His way”) is the last word. In Hebrew, a “Derech” is a road (which leads you along the way). The same Shoresh is used for “Madrich” (meaning “tour guide”).
The word for “humble” is used exactly the same twice, “Anavim” (Ayin-Nun-Vav). Not to be confused with “Anavim” (Ayin-Nun-Bet) which means “grapes.” All these Hebrew lessons can be overwhelming, but let’s not miss the point. The Lord delights in the humble. Psalm 149:4 For Adonai takes pleasure in His people. He crowns the humble with salvation. Jacob (James), first leader of the congregation in Jerusalem, agrees… Jacob 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of Adonai, and He shall lift you up.
God wants us to come to Him empty of ourselves, so He can fill us up. Anavim (humble-plural) is actually translated as “poor” in many places. Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This is the trouble that rich people may have; they tend to be self-sufficient. Matthew 19:23 Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “Amen, I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Yes, the Lord promises the blessing of instruction to those who come to Him with a contrite heart. As the Lord speaks through Isaiah… Isaiah 66:2b “But on this one will I look, one humble and of a contrite spirit, who trembles at My word.” God loves it when we depend upon Him. In those moments He can pour out more grace. A blessing so great, we cannot contain it.
Deuteronomy 28:1a “Now if you listen obediently to the voice of Adonai your God, taking care to do all His mitzvot that I am commanding you today,… 2 Then all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you listen to the voice of Adonai your God: 3 “Blessed will you be in the city, and blessed will you be in the field. 4 “Blessed will be the fruit of your womb, the produce of your soil, and the offspring of your livestock—the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 5 Blessed will be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 “Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when you go out.”
Stay humble (and you will receive many blessings), my friends. These “blessings” are “Ashre” in Hebrew, the blessings of gladness. May we all be filled with joy. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 24-Feb-2025 26th of Sh’vat, 5785
Ex 25:17-30 2 Ki 11-12 Ps 137 Jn 11:28-57 (2 Ti 3)