Rabbi’s Reflections – Sunday, May 5, 2024
Shavuah Tov,
Day 8 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 one week and one day of the counting of the Omer.
Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks. Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
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Before we continue our study of the Psalms, I want to offer a word for meditation regarding the outbreak of violent anti-Semitic demonstrations taking place in cities and college campuses across our nation. The entire world is being forced into a choice (I believe by God). Of course, every reasonable person desires peace. Where are the demands and demonstrations calling for Hamas to disarm, cease fighting and set the captives free?
Joel 4:14(3:14) Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of Adonai is near in the valley of decision.Those who are wise should expect to be in the minority.
However; this is not a choice between two good options. The wise will align with God’s choice. (God has love for all, and He offers choices.)
Joel 4:17(3:17) So you will know that I am Adonai, your God, dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. Then will Jerusalem be holy, and foreigners will cross through her no more.…. 20 But Judah will be inhabited forever—Jerusalem from generation to generation.
BDS was a tactic against the Jews of Nazi Germany. Never again! Please pray it right now, in alignment with the will of God. Genesis 12:3a My desire is to bless those who bless you.
The Lord blesses those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem—“May those who love you be at peace! Thank you for your prayer. Now, notice how David chose wisely too.
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The Psalms
Psalm 7:2,3(1b,2) – Part 2
Psalm 7:2 Adonai my God, in You I have taken refuge. Save me from each of my persecutors, and deliver me. 3 Otherwise he will rip me apart like a lion, with no one to rescue me.
What does it mean to “take refuge” in the Lord? It is a theme that is pervasive in Scripture. We put our faith in God alone… Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of Elyon, will abide in the shadow of Shaddai. 2 I will say of Adonai, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
In Hebrew we say, “Ayn Li Bre’ra.” It means, “I don’t have a choice.” Is there some other choice? There are other choices, two to be exact, but they’re both bad ones. We could chose “self.” Really, are we going to somehow save ourselves. We are the ones who got us into this “mess.” How can the one who made the problem, solve the problem?
The other choice is even worse. Satan is an option, but hopefully you’ll agree with me, a bad one. Satan is a liar and a deal maker. Everyone should know, you can’t do business with a liar. Satan’s “deals” sound appealing, but they always end in destruction.
That leaves the only wise choice, the Lord God of Israel, the One true and living God. 1Corinthians 8:5 For even if there are so-called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, through whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
Make the same choice as Joshua… Joshua 24:15b “But as for me and my household, we will worship Adonai!” Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
27 Nissan Sunday 5-May-24 8th day of the Omer
Leviticus 19:1-14 Isaiah 49 Proverbs 28 Matthew 14 1 John 4