Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, April 3, 2020
(Early) Shabbat Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Shabbat Shalom (again) friends and family. I want to make a few brief announcements for informational purposes. (Aren’t all announcements for informational purposes?) Here are three announcements.
1. If you go online to our Shomair website (syknox.org) and click “About Us,” then “Blog,” you will find the link to recommend the RR to your own friends and family (it has already been recommended to my friends and family), https://syknox.org/blog/. You will also find an archive of many but not quite all of the previous (I refuse to call them “old”) RRs.
2. Also, I want to let you know we have changed our online giving portal. We are no longer using “PayPal.” PayPal charged us 3%. The new portal, “Church Center,” (We have asked them to change the name to “Messianic Synagogue Center.” They said they would get back to us on that.) which only charges 2% (good stewardship) and gives the donor the option of paying the fee (which PayPal did not).
I’m glad to report our Shomair offerings have not diminished during the current COVID-19 crisis. I am thankful to all of you who are faithful in giving your tithes and offerings. May you be blessed in your obedience to the Lord. The new link for online giving is…
https://shomairyisrael.churchcenter.com/giving
We are going to be using this app in greater ways over the coming months. You might find it convenient to download the app on your iOS or Android phone and/or tablet. You may also click the link above which can be found on our homepage or the donate page that will take you directly to the App.
3. Reminder Topic: Compassion Coalition Community Wide Prayer Summit
Time: Apr 3, 2020 09:00 AM EDT
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/334181234 pwd=TkZ4SGdRUW94dHpkWk0vMTQycnUvZz09
Meeting ID: 334 181 234 Password: 531453.
One tap mobile. +16465588656,,334181234# US (New York)
Please join us tomorrow morning, April 3rd at 9 am via Zoom. This 30 minute time of prayer will start promptly at 9AM. “Seating” in the Zoom call is limited to 500, if you are unable to enter the live call, a recorded version will be up within 1 hour from when it ends. Go to https://klf.org to listen and pray along with the recording. Thank you and we look forward to joining in prayer with you. End Announcements.
I want to finish this series on Psalm 91 before the beginning of the counting of the Omer on Sunday, April 12th. Therefore; there are 4 days when I will write about 2 verses instead of the usual 1 verse. Today is the first of those 4 days.
How many of us have felt sick in the last few weeks? How many of us have, if even for a moment, have felt like might be coming down with COVID-19, only to find we are feeling fine and doing well after all. 1 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. Amplified Version
We are not called into fear, but into faith. However; faith is not stupid (although some practice stupidity in the name of faith), but “sound judgment.” It seems like “sound judgment” would be a “mind” thing, but it isn’t. Sound judgment is a heart thing.
Psalm 91:5 You will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.
“You will not fear….” Need I write more? No. But the world is gripped by fear. The Bible predicts this will happen… Luke 21:26 People will lose heart from fear and anticipation of what is overtaking the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
However; as bad as that sounds, it is actually the beginning of the second greatest event in history. This event is described in the next verse… Luke 21:27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Just think… every bar and club is closed. Every movie theatre is closed. Abortion clinics are closed (or their activities are severely curtailed). Sports is shut down, and so is the associated gambling. In fact, gambling of all kinds (such as casinos) is shut down.
Things are being shaken that have never been shaken. Hebrews 12:26 His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27 Now this phrase, “Yet once more,” shows the removal of those things that are shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Buckle up buttercup. “You will not fear.”
Week 14
Memory Verse: Psalm 19:14 Also keep Your servant from willful sins. May they not have dominion over me. Then I will be blameless, free from great transgression.
66 3/30 Monday: Judges 6-7
67 3/31 Tuesday: Judges 13-14
68 4/1 Wednesday: Judges 15-16
69 4/2 Thursday: Ruth 1-2
* 70 4/3 Friday: Ruth 3-4
Question of the day: What is a “goel?”
Answer: The Tree of Life Version (TLV) of the Bible we use, uses the word Goel for a savior or redeemer (some translations use the term “close relative”). Naomi knew and Ruth would soon find out that there are God-given lines of authority which may not be usurped.
Boaz got right with the head of his clan and made the path straight to make Ruth his wife. Boaz knew he had to act faithfully and to deal honestly with everyone in authority. This is a great lesson in love and in life.