Rabbi’s Reflections – Sunday, May 19, 2024
Shavuah Tov,
In less than 90 seconds, Eylon Levy gets it right. https://www.israelunwired.com/israeli-spokesman-gave-the-greatest-response-to-the-palestinian-refugee-problem/ The problem with the “two state solution” is that there is no Jewish state in it. However Israel is “sliced and diced” under their plan, “from the river to the sea” allows for no Jewish people to live there anywhere. That’s a call for genocide! They mean it, and so do I… Never again!
___
Day 22 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 three weeks and one day of the counting of the Omer.
Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks. 2Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace that is spreading through more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow—to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
___
The Psalms
Psalm 8:1,2(1) – Part 1
Psalm 8:1 For the music director, upon the Gittite lyre: a psalm of David. 2 Adonai our Lord, (Yehovah Adoneinu) how excellent is Your Name over all the earth! You set Your splendor above the heavens.
Psalm 7 ends with two promises, I will praise Adonai, and I will sing praises to His name, “Yehovah(YHVH) Elyon.”
Psalm 7:18 I will praise Adonai (Yehovah) for His justice. I sing praise to the Name of Adonai (Yehovah) Elyon!
Rabbi Trail: God wants His people to know His name. His four (Hebrew) letter name (Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey) is mentioned more than 6,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. The idea that it is ineffable (unmentionable) is a rabbinic invention (originally out of a desire to avoid taking the name of the Lord in vain) that is an affront to the person of God, Who wants a relationship with His people, Israel. And from Israel, to the whole world.
This name comes from the first letter of each word that forms the Hebrew sentence, “He will be, He is, And He was.” I find it interesting that God leads with the future. We are forward thinking, out of the past and into the future, while God is exactly the opposite. Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things of old: For I am God—there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me— 10 declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come, saying, “My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I please.” End RT.
Following David’s promise at the end of Psalm 7, to sing praises to “Yehovah Elyon” (God Most High), he follows up on that promise at the beginning of Psalm 8, declaring God’s excellence, might, and splendor in both the earth and the heavens. In the RT above, we discussed some things “about” God’s name. Now, I want to dive a little deeper into the essence of God’s name.
God’s name is His reputation. Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth, and grace rather than silver or gold. God’s good name is based on the truth. God always tells the truth. God always fulfills His promises. The question is asked, “If God is all powerful, is there anything impossible for God?” (Put another way, can God create a rock too heavy for Him to lift?)
Yes, it is impossible for God to lie. Hebews 6:17 In the same way God, determining to point out more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchanging nature of His purpose, guaranteed it with an oath. 18 So by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
Put your faith in the promises of God. His oath is that he will fulfill them all. Feel free to sing His praises. You will not be ashamed.
Isaiah 54:4 Fear not, for you will not be ashamed. Nor cringe, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and you will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more. 5 For your Maker is your husband—Adonai-Tzva’ot is His Name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called God of all the earth. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
11 Iyar Sunday 19-May-24 22nd day of the Omer
Leviticus 25:1-13 Isaiah 65 Job 9 Matthew 24:1-28 Romans 8:1-17