Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, April 28, 2022
Shalom,
Every evening, before retiring for the night, Jan and I take a few moments to sit together (usually at the kitchen table) with matzah and Shabbat wine. We reflect on the day, specifically, the many ways we have seen the Lord at work in our lives during that day. We are consistently amazed (even awestruck) by His constant love, care and provision for us.
We then say the communion blessings (pictured above) and partake of the body and blood of our Lord. We pray that He will superintend our sleep and take up His holy throne, deep within our hearts. (Colossians 3:15 & Isaiah 9:6) I’m sharing this intimate detail of our life together, not to draw attention to us, but to recommend it to you. Use the “pain or pleasure” principle. If you like it, do it more. If it hurts, stop.
Sometimes the Lord gives us inspiration and fresh revelation. Last Sunday night was one of those times. We exist on several levels simultaneously. We exist physically, emotionally, and spiritually. While it may not seem obvious, the highest level of our existence is spiritual. After all, it alone is eternal.
The Lord’s ministry is to disciple His people. That is to train us up in His ways. This is much more than the “do’s and don’t’s” of commandments. It is being trained up to take on His character; to be His ambassador in every situation of life. He began His “big sermon” with exactly that, a detailed outline of His character. In doing so, He is imparting His character into ours. Receive it and be the blessing you were created to be.
Matthew 5:5 part 1 of 2
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
What’s this? The meek shall “shout out with delight (Ashre)?” Doesn’t sound like meekness to me. The Greek word is transliterated “Praus,” meaning “mild or gentle.” The Hebrew word chosen by Delitzsch is “HaAnavim,” meaning “the humble.” The transliteration looks like the Hebrew word for “grape,” “Anavim.” What we don’t see in the transliteration is the exchange of the “vav” for the “bet” (two sound alike letters) which changes the meaning completely. The “vav” goes with the “humble” meaning, while the “bet” goes with the “grape” meaning.
These first 3 beatitudes form a sandwich of sorts. The top “piece of bread” (Matthew 5:3) is made of the spiritually humble who will inherit heaven. The bottom “piece of bread” (Matthew 5:5) is made of the meek (who are also humble). These humble people will inherit the earth. And what is the middle (meat filling) of this “heaven and earth” sandwich? It is made up of those who are disgusted enough with sin to repent. These people, who hate sin enough to morn over the fact they were even involved in it, shall be comforted.
I may be jumping forward too fast, but the victory of Yeshua is all over this. Two scriptures come to mind (actually many do, but I’m going to stick with these two)…
1 Corinthians 15:23 But each in its own order: Messiah the firstfruits; then, at His coming, those who belong to Messiah; 24 then the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
Daniel 7:27 Then the kingdom, power, and greatness of the kingdoms under all heaven will be given to the people of the kedoshim of the Most High. Their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’
We must remember, Yeshua was speaking to multitudes and disciples at the same time. To the wise, He is speaking life changing wisdom. To everyone else, He is just speaking nice words. The same is true today. Pray the Lord will bless you with wisdom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
Thu 28-Apr-2022 27th of Nisan, 5782 5th day of the Omer
Le 17:8-18:5 Isa 52-53 Pr 31 (Mt 17) 3 Jn
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