Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, May 3, 2024
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Day 6 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 no 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. Php 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything—but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
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The Psalms
Psalm 7:1,2(1) – Part 1
Psalm 7:1 A passionate song of David, which he sang to Adonai concerning Cush, a Benjamite. 2 Adonai my God, in You I have taken refuge. Save me from each of my persecutors, and deliver me.
Here, David addresses this Psalm as “passionate” although we’re not sure exactly what that Hebrew word “Shigayon” means. Most likely it is a reference to the musical style intended, such as “lively and with passion.” This is the only Psalm so identified. However; Habakkuk’s prayer that starts his 3rd chapter begins similarly.
David continues after the introduction with the Hebrew word “Chasiti” meaning “I have sought refuge (in You, Lord).” Several other Psalms begin similarly (11, 16, 31, and 71) while Psalm 141 uses the same word in verse 8. Psalm 141:8 For my eyes are toward You, God my Lord. In You I have taken refuge—do not expose my soul.
David immediately calls upon the Lord for salvation (Hoshiayni). Saved from what? “MiKol Rod’phai” meaning “from all (who) persecute (chase) me.” The question is frequently asked, “Who needs deliverance?” The honest answer is, “Everybody.”
I am amazed at how quickly the entire world has turned on Israel. It seems like it is 1938 in Nazi Germany all over again. This was prophesied more than 2,500 years ago. Zechariah 14:2a I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to wage war. You might ask, “Wasn’t that fulfilled 2,000 years ago? Yes, and God prophesies on many levels, as history repeats itself.
Yeshua spoke these words prophetically for such a time as this. John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But you are not of the world, since I have chosen you out of the world; therefore the world hates you. 20a “Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.”
Never more than now have we ever needed the salvation of the Lord. Let’s all make our subject verses our heartfelt prayer today. With love and blessings, Rabbi Michael.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
25 Nissan Friday 3-May-24 6th day of the Omer
Leviticus 16:25-34 Isaiah 48 Proverbs 27 Matthew 13:31-58 1 John 3