Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, March 13, 2020
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Oh my goodness. We need to pray! Some Chinese decided to eat bats and now we’ve got a worldwide pandemic (or rather are trying to avoid one). Who thought eating bats is a good idea anyway? God never did. The Bible strictly forbids it, putting bats in a category with pork. Ever heard of the swine flu? And shellfish, I find no evidence that shellfish get the flu, but they’re all under water, cleaning the bottom of the ocean. God’s little living recycling centers. But that’s a topic for another day.
Rabbi Trail: The bird flu has many strains. It started with migratory birds and worked its way into domestic poultry. This makes it a bit of an anomaly. In 2014, 30 million chickens had to be slaughtered due to the outbreak. That sounds like a lot until you learn that is only 1/3 of 1% of the 9 billion chickens in the US. End RT.
When I opened my email today, every message concerned the coronavirus (COVID-19). Cracker Barrel, Starbucks, and First Watch were all telling me how my health safety is their first concern. Of course I will probably decide to stay home now that they have scared the pants off of me. Joel Rosenberg reports that there is a run on groceries like everyone is expecting a cat-5 hurricane.
I’m being asked if I have a “plan-B” for my wedding in 3 weeks. I’m glad to report I do. On April 4th I’m getting married, which makes plan-B the same as plan-A. Seriously, please join with the eldership at Shomair in prayer. We are meeting (by Zoom) for prayer at about the same time as this RR is published.
We need to hear from the Lord. We want to act responsibly in leading the congregation. Lord, guide us in wisdom, and keep this pestilence far from us. In Yeshua’s name, amen. I will keep you posted.
Pillar Eleven: The Kingdom is Expressed in Every Life Sphere – part 3
Dan Juster wrote this sentence in the second paragraph of Pillar 11… “The Kingdom (of God) is seen in greater fullness in the quality of marriage and family that is ordered by His presence and power.” I want to unpack that today.
How is it possible for a marriage between a man and a woman to reveal the “greater fullness” of the kingdom of God? I would like to offer you this. I don’t know how anyone can even have a marriage without the presence and power of God. Marriages in America are under attack. Families are under attack. Without God, we will lose the battle and the war.
Our love for each other is a reflection of His love for us. There is yet another marriage in store for all of us. Revelation 19:6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude—like the roar of rushing waters or like the rumbling of powerful thunder—saying, “Halleluyah! For Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot reigns! 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready, 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and clean! For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the kedoshim.” 9 Then the angel tells me, “Write: How fortunate are those who have been invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb!” He also tells me, “These are the true words of God.”
The better our marriages and the healthier our families, the better our witness. We have a calling to be His ambassadors in every situation of life. When we submit to God, we can speak our testimony with authority.
And if you’re kicking yourself because of past poor behavior, don’t. No one is as close to God as one who is broken and repentant. That attitude of submission gives God more glory. Psalm 145:14 Adonai upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for your light has come! The glory of Adonai has risen on you. 2 For behold, darkness covers the earth, and deep darkness the peoples. But Adonai will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, kings to the brilliance of your rising.
Week 11
Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation is there that has gods so near to them, as Adonai our God is whenever we call on Him?
51 3/9 Monday: Numbers 20; 27:12-23
52 3/10 Tuesday: Numbers 34-35
53 3/11 Wednesday: Deuteronomy 1-2
54 3/12 Thursday: Deuteronomy 3-4
* 55 3/13 Friday: Deuteronomy 6-7
Question of the day: Let’s see, the reading today includes the “Shema.” What should I write about today?
Answer: How about I write about the Shema? Better than that, why don’t you read/pray it? We pray Deuteronomy 6:4-9 every week. That is only the first paragraph of the Shema. The entire Shema is taken from 3 sections of Scripture; Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41 are the other two.
The “oneness” of God is the glory of God. Zechariah 14:9 Adonai will then be King over all the earth. In that day Adonai will be Echad and His Name Echad.