Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Shalom,
Special Announcement
1 Corinthians 5:8a “Therefore let us celebrate the feast!” Passover begins on Saturday night, April 12th (we begin at 6PM). The public is invited to celebrate with Shomair Yisrael at Rothchild Catering, 8807 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN. The early bird discount expires April 1st, so if you want to pay more (thank you), please wait. Otherwise, make your reservations before April 1st.
This year we are publishing a completely revised Haggadah (that’s the new artwork by Doug Kimball above). Haggadah is the name of the order of the service for the Seder. It tells the story of the Exodus, first from Egypt and then from slavery to sin. Again, it will be full color and provided as a keepsake to each participant. With the early bird discount, the total cost is $35 for adults, including all the ceremonial foods and dinner. Here is the link for more details and registration. https://subsplash.com/shomairyisraelmessianicj/lb/ev/+9ymjzx8
Psalms
Psalm 26:5 – Part 9
Psalm 26:5 I detest the company of evildoers, and do not sit with the wicked.
When I write these “Rabbi’s Reflections” devotionals, I have to pick and choose what to say. Many times writing a book would be an appropriate and thorough response to a subject verse, but brevity is beautiful. Today, verse 5 says what I had hoped to say yesterday about verse 4. Both of these verses remind me of Psalm 1.
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.
Rabbi Trail: Regarding Psalm 1… when I was in the fourth grade, Miss Reeves was our teacher at Montclair Elementary School in Pensacola, Florida. She wanted the entire class to memorize Psalm 1 as an assignment. I was the only Jewish student (I think in the entire school). Since Psalm 1 is in the Christian Bible (we didn’t know anything about the Jewish Bible), I asked to be exempted from the assignment.
Miss Reeve was very smart. She agreed to my request and assigned me to be the “monitor” for all the other students, checking to be sure they said it right. After listening to Psalm 1 being recited thirty times and correcting the other student’s mistakes, I knew it better than anyone. Well done Miss Reeves. End RT.
As we progress through Psalm 26, we find ourselves in the middle of a “sandwich” of what I HAVE done and what I have NOT done, and what I WILL do. (Verse 2) “Test me…” (Verse 3) “I HAVE walked in Your truth…” (Verses 4,5) “I have NOT sat with evil men…” (Verse 6 – but not until tomorrow) “I WILL wash my hands clean.
Today, we continue what we started yesterday. We declare our decision to have no fellowship with evil men. Yesterday, we quoted from Ephesians 5. Here is more for today… Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children;… 15 So pay close attention to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise….17 For this reason do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
This is a high calling from the Lord… Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. The difference between the followers of Yeshua and everyone else in the world is not that we’re perfect, it’s that we want to be.
There is tension in the life of every believer. Tension between the attractions of this world and the standard of righteousness that is the kingdom of God. Let us follow Joshua’s admonition to the Israelites. Joshua 24:25b … choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. Then Joshua makes a bold statement which could be one of our own life verses. Joshua 24:25d… “But as for me and my household, we will worship Adonai!” Let’s choose wisely my friends. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 25-Mar-2025 25th of Adar, 5785
Ex 39:22-32 Isa 17-18 Pr 13 Ac 12 (Rev 6)