Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, April 22, 2024
Shalom,
Rabbi Trail: May I draw your attention to the “Daily Bread” reading plan at the bottom of this RR. Tonight (Monday night) is the beginning of Passover. (It’s still not too late to buy tickets to our community Seder celebration. www.syknox.org/events ) Do you see the words, “Ta’anit Bechorot?” This identifies a minor fast day (“Ta’annit” means “fast”), the fast of the first born. “Bechor” is one who is brought forth.
It is Jewish tradition that first born males fast during the day before Passover begins. This is because the tenth plague, “Machat Bechorot,” killing of the first born, meant that the lives of all first born males were in jeopardy. Without the protection of the blood of the lamb, the angel of death would have taken their lives.
We must remain thankful every year that God made a provision for life through the Pascal lamb. In Messiah Yeshua, God took that provision to another level through His only begotten Son, who laid His life (body and blood) down, not just to preserve this life, but as an offering for everyone (not just the first born sons) to join Him in His resurrection and enjoy eternal life in the presence of God.
That’s more than we can ask or imagine. End RT.
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The Psalms
Psalm 5:13(12) – Part 10
Psa 5:13 For You bless the righteous, Adonai. You surround him with favor as a shield.
Today we wrap up our study of Psalm 5. As we will see, the Psalms frequently end with positive thoughts. Consistent with that, we call upon God to bless the righteous. The first part of the verse is not a question. It is actually written in the command form (second person, future tense), “You will bless.” The Hebrew word for “bless” is taken from the word for knee. Make this your prayer, “Adonai, you will bless the righteous.”
We are God’s children. In calling on Him to get on His knees, we are inviting Him to receive us into His bosom, as a child would run into his/her parent’s arms. The “surrounding with favor” in the last part of the verse is also significant. In Hebrew, “favor” is “Ratzon.” It means “want, will or desire.” This “favor” is not what WE want, but what God wants.
Lastly, the righteous ones are not made righteous by their own righteousness (for we have none of our own), but by God’s righteousness. Our relationship with God works because He is perfectly righteous. Therefore; He responds to us perfectly at all times (He’s never made a mistake).
As we enter the Passover holiday season, let us be mindful of THE Passover Lamb Who changed everything. John 1:29 The next day, John sees Yeshua coming to him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” There is a healing that started with Yeshua’s crucifixion and is still ongoing, not just to the offeror or even only the Jewish people, but through Yeshua to the whole world.
Long ago, there was a deliverance for the children of Israel. Life was preserved by the sacrifice of a lamb for each family. Yeshua came for another deliverance, deliverance from slavery to sin, and not just for one family or even one people (the Jewish people), but for the salvation of the entire world. This is still the message at the end of Revelation.
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready,
Chag Sameach (happy holiday). Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/
14 Nissan Monday 22-Apr-24 Ta’anit Bechorot Erev Pesach
Exodus 12:25-28; Exodus 32:11-14; Exodus 34:1-10 Isaiah 53; Psalms 22; Mark 15; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8