Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Shalom,
Get tickets for Joshua Aaron here… https://www.joshuaaaron.tv/event-details/worship-night-with-joshua-aaron-aaron-shust-yaron-cherniak-1
Get tickets for the community Passover Seder here… https://shomairyisrael.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2157750
The Psalms
An Introduction, Psalms 1 and 2
Part 2, Psalm 1:2
Yesterday, in part 1 (verse 1), we learned how happy one is who has not done three things, walked, stood or sat in the ungodly activities or advice of sinners. Today we are going to learn about going beyond the joy of avoiding sin. There is delight in being obedient to God.
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the Torah of Adonai, and on His Torah he meditates day and night.
Rabbi’s note: I plan to write more about this same verse tomorrow. Can’t get it all in one RR. End RN.
The “delight” of our subject verse is not the “happiness” of the previous verse, nor is it the “simcha” felt at a joyous occasion. It is also not the delight (“Oneg”) of Erev Shabbat (Friday evening, the beginning of the Sabbath Day). It is the “Chafetz,” an inner satisfaction at possessing what one desires. When your longing is satisfied, you have “Chafetz.” The word “Chafetz” is used by King David to describe his own condition on his death bed.
2Samuel 23:5 “Is it not true that my house is with God? For He made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered and secured in all things. Will He not make all my salvation and every desire (“Chafetz”) come to fruition?”
Does this sound too much like “works” to you? We are to “Delight in Law (Torah)?” Where is the grace? We need a paradigm shift. God is calling His people to take delight in His righteous principles. We all have a body and a life, but we don’t seem to be able to manage either of them well on our own. So God, in His wisdom, shared His understanding of how to solve the issues of life without falling into sin. It is called the Torah of God.
Rabbi Trail: (Adapted from the parable of two sons, Matthew 21:28-32) Let me tell you a tale of two sons. Dad asked the older boy for a glass of water. He responded, “Dad, can’t you see I’m watching TV (otherwise focused). I’ll get your water at the next commercial break.” And he did.
A short time later, the same dad asked his younger son for a glass of water. Immediately, the younger son jumped to his feet and ran to the kitchen. As he was returning in haste with the glass of water, he stumbled and spilled it all. He apologized immediately to his father.
Let me ask you, which son pleased his father more, the older son, or the younger one? Of course the younger. We all “spill the water” from time to time. Be sure to ask the Father’s forgiveness and do better at the next opportunity. End RT.
Solomon said this (almost in passing) at the dedication of the Temple. 1 Kings 8:46b “for there is no man that does not sin.” Paul didn’t miss it. He quoted it in Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Just because we have all sinned, is that a reason (or excuse) to continue in sin? Romans 6:2b How can we who died to sin still live in it?
May we all reach the end of this life with the peace of King David, (a man after God’s own heart) who knew his every desire (“Chafetz”) was fulfilled along with the entirety of his salvation. For David it wasn’t one (satisfaction in obedience to God) or the other (salvation in Yeshua), but “both-and.” Amen (so be it) for us as well.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
18 Adar I Tuesday 27-Feb-24
Exodus 33:12-16 2 Kings 11 Psalm 119:145-176 John 15 Hebrews 6