Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, April 11, 2024
Shalom,
The Psalms
Psalm 5:1-3(1,2) – Part 2
Psalm 5:1 For the music director, on the wind instruments, a psalm of David. 2 Hear my words, Adonai, consider my groaning. 3 Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to you.
Did you catch that last phrase? Here it is again, “Listen… my King and my God, for I pray to You.” You may be wondering where I’m going with this RR. After all, isn’t it obvious that we pray to God. Furthermore; we expect that God is not just listening to (hearing) us, but He is moved to action by our expectation.
1John 5:14 Now this is the confidence we have before Him—that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him.
This is special on so many levels. First, we must believe that God exists. That requires faith, so let’s look to Hebrews 11 (the faith chapter) for the understanding.
Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
The last phrase, “those who seek Him” is understated. In the Greek the word is transliterated “Ekzeteo” (Strongs G1567) “Ek” means “out of” and “Zeteo” is expanded by HELPS Word-studies (© 2021 by Discovery Bible) as, “the outcome intensely and personally desired by the seeker. This seeking is only as valuable (viable) as the motive which drives it.”
So many of us never mature in our prayer life. A child prays a “shopping list” of wants and desires to God. Proper prayer before God should involve more listening than talking. We should get “tuned in” to hearing what’s on God’s mind, rather that taking our prayer time just telling God what’s on ours.
Elijah was zealous for God… 1Kings 19:10 “I have been very zealous for Adonai-Tzva’ot,… and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it!” Elijah had come to the end of himself. As he saw it, he was the last man standing. Then God demonstrated His power… there was wind that shattered rocks, an earthquake and even fire, but God was not in any of that power. Finally, Elijah heard, “there was a soft whisper of a voice.” That was when Elijah heard God.
There are so many Scriptures that instruct us to wait upon God with patience. Challenge God by praying, “I’m not moving on until I hear from You” and then wait and listen. He is able to make His will known to you. Jeremiah knew it… Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope. And so did the writer of Hebrews… Hebrews 1:1 At many times and in many ways, God spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets. 2 In these last days He has spoken to us through a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He created the universe.
Don’t miss this! It’s like the top button of a shirt. Get that right and it makes everything else match up perfectly. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
3 Nissan Thursday 11-Apr-24
Leviticus 13:29-39 Isaiah 30 Proverbs 13 Matthew 2 James 2