Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, May 15, 2023
Shalom,
Day 37 of counting the Omer
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 five weeks and two days of the counting of the Omer.
Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks.
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Victory Over Sin part 23 – Romans, part 84
Romans 7:21 So I find the principle—that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I delight in the Torah of God with respect to the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in my body parts, battling against the law of my mind and bringing me into bondage under the law of sin which is in my body parts.
Yes, these are the same verses that we studied last Friday. They are back again because there is way more commentary than can fit in one short RR. Let’s ask Paul (Rav Shaul is his Hebrew name), who wrote this letter to the Romans, a question.
Dear Rav Shaul,
In verse 22 you write, “For I delight in the Torah of God…,” while in verse 23 you write, “…bondage under the law of sin….” Which is it, bondage or delight?” Thank you in advance for your thoughtful response.
In the love of Yeshua,
Rabbi Michael.
Rav Shaul isn’t here to answer for himself, so I’ll do it for him. This is what he might have said. Of course, I’ll have to answer for every word I write, according to Scripture. Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that on the Day of Judgment, men will give account for every careless word they speak.
Letter from Rav Shaul…
Dear Rabbi Michael,
So nice of you to write. I’m glad you’re reading my letter to the Romans. I hope and pray you’re blessed by it. Even though I wrote it to the Romans almost 2,000 years ago, it contains eternal truths that are equally applicable in the world today. You rightfully point out the contrast between delight and bondage, and there is a choice.
We should all look to the Scriptures for God’s answers. The Word is Spirit, and it must be spiritually discerned. King David wrote this about a “happy” man… Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the Torah of Adonai, and on His Torah he meditates day and night. This was my inspiration for my conclusion you quoted in Romans 7.
Rav Shaul Trail: David uses the Hebrew word “Ashre” to describe “happiness” in Psalm 1:1. But you might notice this “Ashre delight” is also translated as “blessed.” I actually believe it is an onomatopoeia (sounds like its meaning). “Ashre” (don’t just say it, shout it) is actually a “shout for joy!” Shout for joy as you take delight in the Torah of Adonai. End RST.
Yes, the contrast between spiritual delight and fleshly bondage both are tied up in God’s righteous commands (called “Torah”). The tension is between the flesh and the spirit. The flesh wants to rule the spirit and the spirit wants to rule the flesh. We are all born into fleshly rule. We are born again, through faith in Yeshua, into spiritual rule. I wrote this to the Galatians also….
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Ruach, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Ruach, but the Ruach sets its desire against the flesh—for these are in opposition to one another, so that you cannot do what you want.
Let me reiterate, don’t be deceived. Yeshua died so that we could become the righteousness of God, not so that we could continue in sin. I also wrote about this to the Corinthians in my second letter.
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
The difference should be clear. The Torah of God doesn’t change. The question is our approach to it. Striving in the flesh, leads to death. If we submit in the spirit, we will attain the victory. 1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility , and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this corruptible will have put on incorruptibility and this mortal will have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
I hope this helps Rabbi Michael, and I hope to hear from you again soon.
In the love of Yeshua,
Your humble servant, Rav Shaul.
That was great. It’s the first time I ever got a personal letter from Rav Shaul. Since he said it all, I have nothing further. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Day 37 of the Omer
Mon 15 May-2023 24th of Iyar, 5783 Day 37 of the Omer
Nu 1:20-54 Jer 7 Job 28 Ro 8 (Mt 26:1-35)