Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Shalom,
The Great Ingathering
Yesterday, the RR was titled “The Great Separation.” Today the RR could be called “The Great Un-separation.” (I love it when I get to make up words.) However; a better name would be “The Great Ingathering.” There was a great separation in Jerusalem that excluded everyone, Jewish and non-Jewish people. Every day, every person was excluded from fellowship in the presence of God, all year long, with only one exception. The one man, the high priest, could access the “Holiest of all” once a year, on Yom Kippur afternoon, the Avodah Service on the 10th day of the 7th month. Therefore; access to the “Kodesh HaKadashim,” as it is called in Hebrew, (aka “The Holy of Holies”) was totally exclusive. Nadab and Abihu learned that the hard way.
Suddenly The Curtain Was Split
But something happened… Matthew 27:50 And Yeshua cried out again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. 51a And behold (suddenly), the curtain of the Temple was split in two, from top to bottom. That “curtain” was woven, by many accounts, 12 inches thick. The first phenomenon following Yeshua’s crucifixion is the tearing of the veil of separation. This symbolic act is how God demonstrated the end of the separation from fellowship with Him caused by Adamic rebellion.
The opposite of separation is unification. Before Yeshua’s sacrificial death, there was another level of separation. The chosen people were separate from the rest of the nations. In Hebrew, those other nations are called “Goyim.” This term has taken on negative connotations, but in reality simply refers to anyone not from the nation of Israel.
One New Man
The book of Ephesians says much about this unification. The two are made one in Yeshua. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. 14a For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation.
Does it get any better than that? Yes it does! Let me quote a few more verses for you… Ephesians 2:18 for through Him we both (Jews and non-Jews) have access to the Father by the same Ruach. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners (goyim), but you are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household. That makes me excited.
The Psyche Of Israel
There are historical events that affect the personality of every nation. There have been several such events in the history of the people of Israel. Without reviewing them all, let me focus on the destruction of the Temple. That’s not something we can ever forget. That one event forms the basis for most of our Siddur (Jewish prayer book). We have mourned its destruction and prayed for its restoration for about 2,000 years.
What was the Temple? It was the place of God’s presence. In Messiah Yeshua, God is offering us a healing for that great and hurtful separation, and it has everything to do with our subject today. Ephesians 2:22 In Him, you also are being built together into God’s dwelling place in the Ruach. Do you catch that? I just saw it. “You are being built together.” You, Jews and non-Jews, are being built together into God’s spiritual Temple (dwelling place). The “great coming together” of Jews and non-Jews has a destiny, to become the place of the presence of God.
Be Encouraged
The Scripture commands us to encourage one another. Why? Because increasing trouble is coming to the earth. Do you see this happening today? God’s people need to be resolute in their faith. 1Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. And what words are those? 1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the blast of God’s shofar, and the dead in Messiah shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left behind, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air—and so we shall always be with the Lord. Our shared destiny is eternity in His presence. Get excited.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 30-Mar-2022 27th of Adar II, 5782
Le 13:24-28 Isa 25-26 Pr 9 Ac 26 (Rev 20)
Week 14
Memory Verse: Psalm 19:14 Also keep Your servant from willful sins. May they not have dominion over me. Then I will be blameless, free from great transgression.
66 3/28 Monday: Judges 6-7
67 3/29 Tuesday: Judges 13-14
68 3/30 Wednesday: Judges 15-16
69 3/31 Thursday: Ruth 1-2
70 4/1 Friday: Ruth 3-4