Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, May 28, 2022
Shabbat Shalom,
Growing in Love for God 18 by David Harwood
In our last meditation I asked: Is our praise meaningful to Him, or is it just for the wellbeing of our souls? I offered a partial answer. The reality is that “or is it just” may be changed to “and is”: Our praise is meaningful to God and is beneficial to our souls.
We also stressed wisdom’s relationship to the knowledge of God. If I may follow up on that a bit. What Paul prayed for was for fellowship with the “Ruach of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of” God.
I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers— 17that the God of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, our glorious Father, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in knowing Him. (Ephesians 1:16 TLV)
Now, what is stunning about this is that Paul is praying for fellowship with the Ruach of God. He’s not praying for an attitude, inclination, or spiritual proclivity. Does the Ruach of God have a relationship to wisdom? Is there a Ruach of Wisdom? Can Wisdom be personified? How was Wisdom’s earliest interactions with humanity described? What is Wisdom’s relationship to the knowledge of God?
Does the Ruach of God have a relationship to wisdom? Yes, the Spirit of God imparts wisdom
I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship. (Exodus 31:3 TLV)
Is there a Spirit of Wisdom? Yes, there is a Ruach of Wisdom.
Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So Bnei-Yisrael listened to him and did just as Adonai had commanded Moses. (Deuteronomy 34:9 TLV)
Not only is there a Spirit of Wisdom, but that aspect of the Ruach ha-Kodesh is part of the Messianic anointing.
The Ruach of Adonai will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and insight, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Adonai. (Isaiah 11:2 TLV)
Look at the spiritual impartation that was in Daniel. The prophetic Spirit reveals mysteries. That includes the knowledge of God.
I have heard about you, how a spirit of the gods is in you and how there has been found in you insight, discernment and extraordinary wisdom. (Daniel 5:14 TLV)
Can Wisdom be personified? Yes.
Personified Wisdom is found in the first chapter in the Bible. In the Beginning/Genesis, from the earliest times, before the seas, mountains and springs, before the land, when the heavens were established, when the world was formed and boundaries established, Wisdom, identified as the Ruach of God, was there working with the Father. Please read this:
“Adonai brought me forth, the first of His way, before His works of old.
23From eternity I was appointed from the beginning, before the world began. 24When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth. 26He had not yet made the land, the fields, or the first dust of the earth.
27When He set the heavens in place, I was there. When He inscribed the horizon on the face of the ocean, 28when He established the skies above, when He securely fixed the fountains of the deep, 29when He set the boundaries for the sea, so that the waters never transgress His command, when He laid out earth’s foundations— 30then I was the craftsman beside Him, I was His daily delight, always rejoicing before Him, 31rejoicing in His whole world, and delighting in mankind. (Proverbs 8:22–31 TLV)
And how was Wisdom’s earliest interactions with humanity described? Wisdom delighted in the children of humanity – Bnei-Adam. I think Wisdom delighted in revealing the Creator and teaching us how to live in the light of knowing Him. I believe Wisdom still delights in granting wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God through personally interacting with us. Lest we overlook this, we also read that Wisdom always rejoiced before Him. Wisdom joyously praises God.
I want to fulfill the Great Command which reveals the God’s Great Desire. Do you?
Pray with me: God, grant me the Ruach of Wisdom in knowing You. Show me Your face.
Counting the Omer – Day 35
Here is the proper blessing to be said each day.
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 no days of the counting of the Omer.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 28-May-2022 27th of Iyyar, 5782 Parashat Bechukotai 35th day of the Omer
Le 27:29-34 Jer 16:19-17:14 Jn 14:15-27