Rabbi’s Reflections – Sunday, April 21, 2024
Shavuah Tov,
The Psalms
Psalm 5:12(11) – Part 9
Psalm 5:12 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice! Let them always shout for joy! You will shelter them and they exult—those who love Your Name.
“But” (the first word of our subject verse) is there to make a contrast between what came before and what comes after. On Friday, in our previous two verses, we called upon God to judge our enemies, who do evil. Now we say, “But…” What follows is a call for us to rejoice and shout for joy, while God provides shelter to all who love His Name.
Today, let’s focus on the Hebrew word translated as “and they exult,” “V’Ya’l’tzu” (Ayin-Lamed-Tzadi). It’s not a commonly used Shoresh (found only 8 times in the Hebrew Scriptures). It is first used by Hannah, after she turns her son, Samuel, over to the priest, Eli, to serve the Lord as she promised God she would. 1 Samuel 2:1 Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in Adonai, my horn is lifted high in Adonai. I smile wide over my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.
Sounds remarkably similar to the Virgin Mariam in her expression of the “Magnificat.” Luke 1:46 Then Miriam said, “My soul magnifies Adonai, 47 and my spirit greatly rejoices in God, my Savior. 48a For He has looked with care upon the humble state of His maidservant. 49 For the Mighty One has done a great thing for me, and holy is His name.
This same joyful magnification of the Name of God is available to everyone who wisely takes refuge in Him. These are the ones (and it could be you) who will rejoice as they (you) shout for joy (Y’ran’ney’nu). Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing for joy to Adonai. Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
13 Nissan Sunday 21-Apr-24
Exodus 12:21-24 Isaiah 41 Proverbs 21 Matthew 9 1 Peter 5