Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 26:1 – Part 4
Psalm 26:1 Of David. Vindicate me, Adonai, for I have walked in my integrity, and trusted in Adonai without wavering.
It is said that confession is good for the soul. I must confess, I’m having a good time with this, and I’m not in any particular hurry. The Hebrew word translated as “integrity” is “Tamim.” Strong’s Concordance describes it as “complete, whole, perfect, blameless, without blemish. This word is used to describe our own condition as we rise out of the waters of baptism. From this depth of understanding, additional meanings such as: entire, integrity, and truth are assigned.
God’s “way of walking” or “Halacha” in Hebrew is described as “Yashar” meaning “straight.” Everything else (that is not straight) is “crooked” or “twisted” which is “Akesh” or “P’tal’tol,” as in Deuteronomy 32:3-5 when Moses draws a distinction between God’s righteousness and the sinful generation that came out of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 32:3 For I will proclaim Adonai’s Name, ascribe greatness to our God! 4 The Rock—blameless is His work. Indeed, all His ways are just. God of faithfulness without iniquity, righteous and upright is He. 5 Did it corrupt Him? No! The blemish is His children’s—a generation crooked and twisted.
Our calling is to be without blemish.
Rabbi Trail: As I searched for a verse on the value God places on our being “without blemish,” every place I looked, I found a teaching on the value of marriage. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives just as Messiah also loved His community and gave Himself up for her… 27 Messiah did this so that He might present to Himself His glorious community—not having stain or wrinkle or any such thing, but in order that she might be holy and blameless. And the same goes for wives. Ephesians 5:21 Also submit yourselves to one another out of reverence for Messiah— 22 wives to your own husbands as to the Lord. End RT.
Satan’s ways are twisted. The best he can do is imitate God. God’s ways are straight. Paul makes a clear distinction.
2Corinthians 4:2 Instead (of losing heart), we renounced the hidden shameful ways—not walking in deception or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by the open proclamation of the truth. 3 And even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so they might not see the light of the Good News of the glory of Messiah, who is the image of God.
Jeremiah says we don’t have any capacity to direct ourselves. Jeremiah 10:23 I know, Adonai, that a man’s way is not his own, nor does man, as he walks, direct his (own) steps. Isaiah admonishes us to hear the voice of God, and He will direct our ways. Isaiah 30:21 Your ears will hear a word (the voice of God) behind you saying: “This is the way, walk in it. When you turn to the right, or when you turn to the left.”
Finally, we have this admonition from Paul that we should not be deceived. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived—God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also shall reap. Sow righteousness (God’s straight ways) and reap a harvest of eternity in the presence of the King of Kings. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 18-Mar-2025 18th of Adar, 5785
Ex 35:30-36:7 Isa 9 Pr 7 Ac 7:1-29 (Heb 13)