Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Shalom,
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed31 Mar 202118th of Nisan, 5781 Pesach IV
Ex 22:24-23:19 Isa 40 Pr 29 Ac 28 (Rev 22)
The 4th verse of today’s Aliyah contains two distinct instructions.
Rabbi Trail: Are we clear that God’s instructions are commandments and not suggestions? It is a gross misunderstanding to suppose that Yeshua went to the cross so that we could ignore His Father’s instructions. He specifically says so much about this.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Don’t miss this? Reverse the phrase order of the sentence at the end of verse 21. “He who does the will of My Father in heaven, will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Of course, by grace we are saved, but not so we can enter more fully into sin. Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? 2 May it never be!
Righteousness is obedience to the will of God. Romans 10:10 For with the heart it is believed for righteousness, and with the mouth it is confessed for salvation.
Ironically, there is a gross misunderstanding concerning this in much of modern Christianity. It is the chief reason that non-believing rabbis don’t become believing rabbis. They know that the true Messiah will lead His people to obey God and fulfill the commandments, and they just don’t see that in most of Yeshua’s followers today. End RT.
Now, back to our subject verse… Exodus 22:27(28) “Do not despise God, or curse a ruler of your people.” The first command is “Do not despise God.” And the second command is “(Do not) curse a ruler of your people.”
Interesting translation of “T’Kalel” (despise). The Shoresh, “Kuf-Lamed-Lamed” is used for “K’lalah” which is “curse” in many places of Scripture, but I think of it as calamity. It’s not an unusual word. The Shoresh is used over 100 times in the Hebrew Scriptures.
So, the point is, “Don’t curse God.” Did you just read that? Now would be a good time to repent. There are so many ways for us to curse God. It’s not just what we say, but any time we don’t trust God, this is also a curse to Him. Time to repent again. Now it’s time to move on.
Then there is the command to not “curse a ruler of your people.” This curse is another word altogether. “Arar” (Aleph-Resh-Resh) is a standard curse, like in Genesis 3 when God cursed the serpent. The reason it caught my attention is that I see on the internet many of God’s people cursing our leaders in America.
The Hebrew word for ruler is “Nasi.” A “Nasi” is an overseer, head of a tribe, or a president. We should pray for our leaders and not curse them, even when they are making ungodly decisions. We can work against and oppose any ungodly laws, but we should never curse the person, who is a creation of God.
1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore, first of all I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people— 2 for kings and all who are in authority—so we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and respectfulness. 3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Week 14
Memory Verse: Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law— 5 to free those under law, so we might receive adoption as sons.
66 4/1 Monday: Judges 6-7
67 4/2 Tuesday: Judges 13-14
* 68 4/3 Wednesday: Judges 15-16
69 4/4 Thursday: Ruth 1-2
70 4/5 Friday: Ruth 3-4
I’m still on a bit of a rest this week, so I don’t have anything more right now. We saw Jan’s mom, Mildred Manno, last night at the Hospice center. She suffered a stroke about a week ago and has not awakened since. She is resting quietly, but non-responsive in every way. Thank you for your prayers for her peaceful transition from this life to the next.