Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Shalom,
Rabbi Trail: Every year I try to be strategic in building my annual calendar. Of course, the Feasts of the Lord go on my calendar first. After all, they’ve been on God’s calendar for more than 3,500 years. The very next thing on my calendar is the Tikkun RESTORE Conference (usually at the end of May or the beginning of June). It is very high quality with my favorite people from Israel and usually a special guest. (In the last 3 years we have enjoyed having Robby Dawkins, Sid Roth and Mike Bickle.)
All that to say this year is different (you knew that before I told you). The conference will be free online, just register (once they publish the online registration link – for now, just save the date) to get the link for participation and viewing. So I highly recommend that you save the date in the announcement below. I will make another announcement in the RR when the link is published. Blessings. Rabbi Michael. End RT.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Save the Date: Virtual 2020 RESTORE Conference
No charge on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30
The virtual conference will have two main sessions (Friday and Saturday nights), both beginning at 8:00 p.m. and one interactive workshop session on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
Sign up and viewing information will be forthcoming. For now, please save the date.
Counting the Omer – Day 24
Here is the proper blessing to be said each day. This is how Jewish people fulfill the command to count.
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 three days of the counting of the Omer.
I’m writing today for the second time on the longing to have intimacy without shame. Most of us are comfortable knowing that Yeshua is the Savior who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Generally, we are less familiar and comfortable with Yeshua, who takes away the shame of the world. This is promised by God as we read in the prophet Isaiah.
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.
“Your Maker is your Husband.” We all read that, but take a moment to appreciate it. The Husband (God) and His wife (His bride) are intimate, and according to verse 4, without shame.
Let’s take some time today to learn the lesson Peter learned. Who had more reason to be ashamed than Peter? Yeshua had prophesied over him… Luke 22:34 But Yeshua said, “I tell you, Peter, a rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” And it happened just like that. Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.’ How do we respond when Yeshua looks straight at us, like Peter? Luke 22:62 And Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Peter was ashamed of himself. He was the fierce defender of Yeshua, yet ashamed he even knew the Savior. There is nothing in this world or in our lives as valuable as our relationship with the Savior. That relationship is dependent upon faith, and faith is the opposite of fear.
We are called to a life of “perfect love” with the Son of God. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and the one who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Peter’s love of Yeshua became perfect in the resurrection. Yeshua brought Peter out of his shame by making him examine his own heart. John 21:17 He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him for a third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You!” Yeshua said to him, “Feed My sheep!”
Peter was delivered from his shame, humiliation, and torment by the love of Yeshua. Grace means Yeshua does not love what we do (much of which has been unlovely), but (against all odds) He loves us, period. Let’s see ourselves through Yeshua’s eyes (and not our own). We must allow Him to define us, and not we, ourselves. Yeshua wants to deliver us too from a life of shame, humiliation and torment. This part of the salvation experience is frequently missed.
Receive this deliverance by agreeing with me in prayer. Father in heaven, I come to you today knowing that I have in times past been a source of disappointment to You. Yet, Your love for me will endure forever. So, right now, I cast out all shame and receive Your warm embrace. While I remain humble before you, I will no longer be humiliated by my previous shortcomings. They are cast into the depths of the sea, never to be mentioned again, by Your finished work on the cross. I receive this deliverance in Yeshua’s name, by the power of the shed blood of Your only begotten Son. Amen.
Week 19
Memory Verse: Psalm 139:1 For the music director: a psalm of David. Adonai, You searched me and know me. 2 Whenever I sit down or stand up, You know it. You discern my thinking from afar. 3 You observe my journeying and my resting and You are familiar with all my ways.
91 5/04 Monday: Psalm 119:129-176; 139
* 92 5/05 Tuesday: Psalm 148-150
93 5/06 Wednesday: 1 Kings 2
94 5/07 Thursday: 1 Kings 3; 6
95 5/08 Friday: 1 Kings 8; 9:1-9
Question of the day: Today our reading is the last 3 Psalms. All 3 are very similar. Go ahead, ask me a question…. So Rabbi, which verse grabbed your attention as you read these Psalms and why?
Answer: I’m glad you asked. Psalm 149:4 For Adonai takes pleasure in His people. He crowns the humble with salvation. The Hebrew is captivating. Let’s look at two words, one from the front section, and one from the back. The Hebrew word translated as “pleasure” is “Rotzeh.” It means God “wants” (b’amo) in His people. Want is connected (in Hebrew) to desire. There it is, God has a desire or longing for us (His people). Rabbi’s note – don’t forget the “flip side,” we want God.
Then He goes beyond all we could ask or think…
Rabbi Trail: Another life verse… Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, 21 to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.
God crowns us with “Yeshua.” But the Hebrew word translated “crowns” has nothing to do with what is worn on a king’s head. The word is “Pa’ar” (pe-aleph-resh) meaning to beautify or bring to preeminence (as in “glorify”).
Welcome to the family of God, where God, Himself, establishes the value of everything that belongs to Him. All we have to do is remain broken (humble) before Him. Jacob(James) 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of Adonai, and He shall lift you up. “Ad Machar” (until tomorrow). Shalom.