Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, May 13, 2022
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Short Announcement: This is a big Shabbat as we host Dan and Patty Juster. They will be in the United States for most of the summer. I believe we are the first stop since they arrived. If you don’t usually attend Shomair, please consider a visit on this special occasion. There will be an extra meeting from 4-5:30 on Saturday afternoon. Dan asked for this opportunity to share his heart on Israel, the church and the last days (he wrote a book by that very title). All are welcome to attend that meeting too. End SA.
Counting the Omer – Day 20
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 two weeks and six days of the counting of the Omer.
Matthew 5:8 Part 5 of 5
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Today I’m writing the fifth and final part of the sixth Beatitude.
Rabbi Trail: The first 7 Beatitudes are all revelations of God’s character or personality, coupled with a promised benefit or result for those who partake. Each of these first 7 Beatitudes starts with the English word “Blessed.” It’s a word that is hard to understand because it is spiritually discerned. What I’m saying is that no-one ever went to the store and came home with a pound of blessing. That “blessing” in Hebrew is “Ashre,” meaning to “shriek with delight.” Why would someone “shriek with delight?” I’ll give you clue; it has to do with being fulfilled. End RT.
Note: Some of what I’m about to write is inspired by the book by Mike Bickle, “The Seven Longings Of The Human Heart.” I highly recommend it.
We are all born with something missing. Psychology calls it “self actualization.” The US Army used to say, “Be all you can be,” which was their advertising slogan for more than 20 years. What we’re missing is fulfillment of those “God created” longings. We are created in His image, but without His character.
We all long to love and to be loved. Many people attempt to satisfy their longings through the methods, means, devices and attractions of the world. Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” The creation can never replace the Creator. Only God can satisfy our longings. Romans 1 describes such people who try in vain.
Romans 1:21b Instead, their thinking became futile, and their senseless hearts were made dark. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools…. 25 They traded the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
So, when we read our subject verse, Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” we are calling out the “shriek for joy” of those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. And why are they so fulfilled? Because they know and experience God.
We, who have received Yeshua as our Lord and Savior, know that we are they who do now and forever will receive this blessing. It’s your blessing, and it’s my blessing, and if you’re not sure it’s your blessings, get right with God. Just ask… Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries, “Fellow brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
Eternity is a long time. Don’t miss it. There is a promised blessing… 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left behind, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air—and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. And there is an alternative… Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Give thanks to God for His provision through His Son, Yeshua. Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 13-May-2022 12th of Iyyar, 5782 20th day of the Omer
Le 23:33-44 Jer 3 Job 13 (Mt 26:1-30) Ro 11:1-16
Week 21
Memory Verse: Psalm 17:15 I in righteousness will behold Your face! When I awake, I will be satisfied with Your likeness.
101 5/18 Monday: 1 Kings 16:29-34; 17
102 5/19 Tuesday: 1 Kings 18-19
103 5/20 Wednesday: 1 Kings 21-22
104 5/21 Thursday: 2 Kings 2
105 5/22 Friday: 2 Kings 5; 6:1-23