Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, May 17, 2024
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Day 20 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 two weeks and six days of the counting of the Omer.
Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks. Psalm 9:2(1b) I will praise Adonai with my whole heart. I will tell about all Your wonders.
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The Psalms
Psalm 7:18(17) – Part 12
Psalm 7:18 I will praise Adonai for His justice. I sing praise to the Name of Adonai Elyon!
“Praise Adonai!” This is the solution to every problem of life. The very concept of praising Adonai carries within it a heart attitude of gratitude. Those are the seeds of thought around which we will build this RR devotional. Our subject Shoresh is “Yadah” (Yud-Dalet-Hey). It appears in our subject verse as “Odeh” (Aleph-Vav-Dalet-Hey). The “Aleph” in front makes it first person, singular, future, “I will.” How will I declare praises? Immediately the text affirms, “I will sing praise.”
The very first time “Yadah” is used in Scripture is by Leah. Upon delivering her fourth and final son, she made this declaration in naming him Judah. Genesis 29:35 Then she became pregnant again and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I praise Adonai.” For this reason she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. The identity of Jewish people as Jews is from Judah.
Rabbi Trail: In Scripture and historical Jewish culture, names are intended to reflect predominant character traits. We see this dramatically as God changes the names of two of the three patriarchs to reflect their character changes. Abram became Abraham (father of many people), and Jacob became Israel.
The understanding of the name “Israel” is not simple. It is a double entendre. Genesis 32:29(28) Then He said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but rather Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men, and you have overcome.” However; the same arrangement of letters (Yisrael) means, “He will be a prince of God.” So in the name “Yisrael” there is the struggle (and prevailing) with God and men, as well as royal leadership in God’s kingdom.
This is a fitting description of those who will become the Bride of Messiah. It also helps explain how Jewish people get confused in understanding their destiny in the Messiah. Many times the rabbis misinterpret Messianic prophesies as prophesies that apply to the nation of Israel (Jewish people). However; make no mistake, He is the Bridegroom and we, the redeemed, are the Bride. End RT.
I am going to make a sweeping statement here. I believe every problem in life can be traced to an attitude of ingratitude. The pride of life gets in the way of the godly life which is full of thanksgiving and praise. 1John 2:16 For everything in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the boasting of life—is not from the Father but from the world. Let’s be the praisers of God we were created to be. That is essentially what the Psalms are all about. Shalom shalom and again, early Shabbat shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
9 Iyar Friday 17-May-24 20th day of the Omer
Leviticus 23:33-44 Isaiah 63-64 Job 8 Matthew 23 Romans 7