Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed 26 May 2021 15th of Sivan, 5781
Nu 9:15-10:10 Jer 25 Dan 2 (Mk 10:1-31) 1 Co 8
In the Aliyah today, we learn how God trained the children of Israel to respond to His commands. The commands were simple, go forth or stay put. God was teaching His people to respond to Him. His means of communication were the cloud by day (and pillar of fire by night) and the silver trumpets (one or two, long or short). Today, we are not in one camp, but we are still one people of one God.
Rabbi Trail: That phrase reminds me of the song by Ted Pearce. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRuWvE4gH8o Speaking of Ted Pearce, he will be with us on June 5th ministering during our regular Shabbat morning service. All are welcome at 10:30.
As God’s people, we must be able to hear His voice. Psalm 28:1 Of David. To You, Adonai, I call— my Rock, do not be deaf to me. If You were silent to me, I would become like those going down to the Pit. According to King David, God both hears us and answers us. God speaks to us today in many ways, but we must always be ready to listen. Deuteronomy 6:4 starts “Hear, O Israel.” The syntax could be “Oh Israel, hear God, the Lord is One.”
First, God speaks to us through His word. Has the word of God (the Bible text) ever jumped off the page and into your heart? Hint – If you belong to Him, answer “Yes.” God also speaks to us directly. This is called His “rhema” word. This is a personal word spoken to individuals or groups that can take on many forms. The important thing to remember is that God’s spoken (rhema) word will never contradict His written word (the Bible).
Also, when receiving a word from God (of any kind) be sure to pray over it, meditate upon it, and always ask God for confirmation. There are many biblical examples of this. Notably, Peter had a vision of unkosher animals on a sheet… Acts 10:17a Now while Peter was puzzling about what the vision he had seen might mean…. I don’t really like the TLV on this. Peter was meditating on the vision he had received.
We should be seeking the will of our Father in heaven, who has promised that His own Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. Can we do any better than that?
Week 22
Memory Verse: John 11:25 Yeshua said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
106 5/27 Monday: Jonah 1-2
107 5/28 Tuesday: Jonah 3-4
* 108 5/29 Wednesday: Hosea 1-3
109 5/30 Thursday: Amos 1:1, 9
110 5/31 Friday: Joel 1-3
Question of the day: With all due respect to Hosea and his instruction from God to go and buy a woman who was unable to be faithful to one man. (How many of us would – and should – question God if He gave us that assignment?) Can we unpack this verse today? It’s the last verse of Hosea 3. Hosea 3:5 Afterwards, Bnei-Yisrael will return, and they will seek Adonai their God and David their king. Then they will turn in awe to Adonai and to His goodness in the last days.
Answer: In this story, Hosea is acting out the role of God, while the unfaithful woman is playing the part of unfaithful Israel. At the end of this short chapter, there is a conclusion. It is a great prophesy of God’s enduring love for His people, even though they have been unfaithful to Him. Let’s pray into that “turn in awe to Adonai” prophesied to happen in the last days. BTW – “David their King” is Yeshua, who is King of the Jews.
Hosea builds to this and at the start of Hosea 6 he makes these statements… Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return to Adonai. For He has torn, but He will heal us. He has smitten, but He will bind us up. 2 After two days He will revive us. On the third day He will raise us up, and we will live in His presence. 3 So let us know, let us strive to know Adonai. Like dawn His going forth is certain. He will come to us like the rain, like the latter rain watering the earth.
That third day is the third thousand year day (which is about to dawn). There is a worldwide revival coming and it will be ignited by the salvation of Israel. I’ll have to write more about that soon, because I’m out of time today. Blessings, and thank you for being a faithful reader.