Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Shalom,
Counting the Omer – Day 3
Here is the proper blessing to be said each day. This is how Jewish people fulfill the command to count.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר
Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav, Vitzivanu Al Sefirat Ha-Omer.
Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and commanded us about the counting of the Omer. Today is no weeks and three days of the counting of the Omer.
Matthew 5:3 – part 3 of 3
How did Yeshua become King of kings? That’s right, He humbled Himself. Philippians 2:8 He humbled Himself— becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name. That is the picture of “poor in spirit.”
We have faith that God is speaking truth into our hearts when we read… 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, “Things no eye has seen and no ear has heard, that have not entered the heart of mankind— these things God has prepared for those who love Him.” And what are “these things?” Nothing less than the inheritance of the Kingdom of heaven. It’s not real estate, it’s spiritual estate. It is the power of God in the presence of God. That is the eternal destiny of those who are poor in spirit.
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Matthew 5:4 part 1 of 2
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
In Franz Delitzsch’s Hebrew translation of the Gospels (a reference book I use often) he has a margin note on Matthew 5:4 with a reference to (Specifically verse 2, but I offer more for context.) Isaiah 61:(1 The Ruach Adonai Elohim is on me, because Adonai has anointed me…) 2 to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, TO COMFORT ALL WHO MOURN [caps added] (3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Adonai, that He may be glorified.)
To “shriek with delight” while mourning seems counter-intuitive. Most of the kingdom of God is counter-intuitive. Much mourning is sadness over the consequences of sin. Yeshua is not talking about such sadness. Yeshua is speaking of godly sorrow over sin itself (and not its consequences). 2 Corinthians 7:10 For the grief that God wills brings a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret. But the world’s grief brings death.
The promise here is for (comfort) healing from sin itself. 1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, removed from sins, might live for righteousness. “By His wounds you were healed.” 25 For you like sheep were going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
This is a great description of the comfort that comes to one who is truly grieving out of a repentant heart. Return to the Shepherd and be comforted.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 26-Apr-2022 25th of Nisan, 5782 3rd day of the Omer
Le 16:25-34 Isa 50 Pr 29 (Mt 15) 1 Jn 5
Week 18
Memory Verse: Psalm 1:1 Happy is the one who has not walked in the advice of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of scoffers.
86 4/27 Monday: Psalm 51
87 4/28 Tuesday: 2 Samuel 24; Psalm 24
88 4/29 Wednesday: Psalm 1; 19
89 4/30 Thursday: Psalm 103; 119:1-48
90 5/01 Friday: Psalm 119:49-128