Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Shalom,
The Psalms
Psalm 5:8(7) – Part 5
Psa 5:8 But because of your great lovingkindness, I will enter Your House. I will bow toward Your holy Temple, in awe of You.
Most Jewish liturgical worship services start with a verse from the prophecy of Balaam. Numbers 24:5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwellings, O Israel! Immediately following that verse is our subject verse, in the same paragraph. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt5CCezitoU We enter God’s House (Holy Temple) and bow on account of His “great lovingkindness.” Let’s explore that in Hebrew.
In Hebrew, the term is “B’rov Chasdecha.” “Rov” is abundant (It’s where we get the title “rabbi” to indicate one with abundant wisdom.) Rabbi’s Note: Sadly, it is also the source of the Hebrew word for locusts, because there is always an abundance of them. End RN. The prefix “B” means “in.” The next question then, is what is “abundant ‘Chasdecha?’” The suffix “cha” just means “Yours.” (Capitalized since we are addressing God with the pronoun.)
Back to “Chesed,” that’s at the heart of what this devotional is addressing. “Chesed” is the Hebrew word for “grace.” What, you thought grace is exclusive to the New Testament and everything in the Hebrew Scriptures is of works? Granted it is usually translated “lovingkindness” and sometimes “merciful,” but it is still grace, used over 250 times in the Hebrew biblical texts.
Rabbi Trail: I want to draw your attention to Jerry Miller’s book “Grace Beyond Reason.” www.graceempowers.org While I was looking for that link, I found this one. Dr. Tom and Sam are interviewing Jerry on grace (They are all three elders at our sister Tikkun congregation, Kingdom Living, in Kansas City.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT1V3Lv4PI4 Why did Jerry Miller name his book “Grace Beyond Reason?” Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us… “Beyond all that we ask or imagine” is “Beyond reason.”
The first Hebrew word in this verse is plural, “graces.” Lamentations 3:22 Because of the mercies (graces) of Adonai we will not be consumed, for His compassions never fail. In other words, by grace we are not “completely finished off.” We are, however; made whole, complete, and lacking nothing. Jacob 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
We stay faithful and Yeshua does the rest. Paul received this promise, and so should we… 2Corinthians 12:9a But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Let’s receive it today, as we walk in victory.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
8 Nissan Tuesday 16-Apr-24
Leviticus 14:21-32 Isaiah 36 Proverbs 17 Matthew 5:27-48 1 Peter 1