Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, March 18, 2021
Shalom,
I’m still in Florida. I took the picture last night (Tuesday) at 8:35. God speaks for Himself. (The people are all those who had gone out on the beach to watch the sunset. Neither you nor I know any of them.)
Rabbi Trail: Sunset or sundown are words spoken in error. The sun isn’t moving, we are. In 1633 the Roman Catholic Inquisition found Galileo Galilei guilty of being “vehemently suspect of heresy” at the age of 69. They ordered him to be imprison in his own home until his death 9 years later. The only reason they didn’t kill him (as they did so many others) is that he recanted that he said the earth revolves around the sun. That statement was in direct contradiction to the Pope, who had said the sun revolves around the earth. Contradicting the Pope was punishable by death.
In effect, Galileo (even though he knew he was right) pleaded his case, saying; “I only offered a theory. You wouldn’t kill a guy for offering a theory, would you?” Apparently, the inquisitors agreed and only sentenced him to house arrest.
A “Rabbi Trail” is intended to be a top-of-mind response to any subject. This RT is what came to mind as I thought about the mis-named sunset. End RT.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 18 Mar-2021 5th of Nisan, 5781
Le 4:1-26 Isa 28 Pr 20 Ac 19 (Rev 13)
I’m still being brief because I’m on vacation. In reading the Aliyah (Torah portion) for today, I just want us to consider the value of repentance. The offerings are commanded AFTER the sin becomes known, both to the congregation and to individuals. The offering is the repentant response after being convicted of sin.
Yeshua is our sin offering. But His blood is dependent on a response of repentance before it is effective in your life. This is contrary to what many churches are preaching these days. “Just receive Him into your heart” they say. But I read in the Scriptures… Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh. And then later in the same book… Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the periods of ignorance, now He commands everyone everywhere to repent.
This is a huge subject. My few comments do not do it justice. I will sermonize on it soon.
Week 12
Memory Verse: Psalm 1:1 Happy is the one who has not walked in the advice of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of scoffers. 2 But his delight is in the Torah of Adonai, and on His Torah he meditates day and night.
56 3/18 Monday: Deuteronomy 8-9
57 3/19 Tuesday: Deuteronomy 30-31
58 3/20 Wednesday: Deuteronomy 32:48-52;34
59 3/21 Thursday: Joshua 1,2
60 3/22 Friday: Joshua 3,4
Question of the day: There is no question today.