Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, May 7, 2021
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Counting the Omer – Day 34
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 counting the counting of the Omer. Today is four weeks and six days of the counting of the Omer.
I have moved on (actually as of yesterday) to being inspired by Volume 2 of A.W. Tozer’s “The Attributes of God.” Yesterday we appreciated the value of God being complete in Himself Remember, I coined the word “Omni-omni”? Since God is complete in Himself, He has no creator. He alone is without origin. Everything is made from something, but not God.
So, when we pray to God, we are praying to the source of all life. Yet, too often we treat God like He is our genie in a bottle, hoping He’ll grant our 3 wishes. Our times of prayer become a reading of the latest “shopping list” of prayer requests. My point is that whatever we are asking of God or expecting from God, He is so much more.
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.
“Far beyond,” that’s our God. Let’s open our hearts and open our minds to His resources (which are endless). This is the King of Glory to whom we are addressing our prayers. Psalm 24:8 “Who is this King of glory?” Adonai strong and mighty, Adonai mighty in battle! 9 Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, you everlasting doors: that the King of glory may come in. 10 “Who is this King of glory?” Adonai-Tzva’ot—He is the King of glory! Selah
Yes, He’s more than wonderful. Enjoy this from Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhbzNxeiXVM
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 7 May-2021 25th of Iyar, 5781
Le 27:1-15 Jer 9 Job 30 (Mt 27:1-31) Ro 10
The first 21 verses of Jeremiah 9 speak of severe judgment on Judah. Then in verse 22 we find this warning from God. It is a warning to prepare for the coming disaster. Jeremiah 9:22 Thus says Adonai: “Let not the wise boast in his wisdom nor the mighty boast in his might nor the rich glory in his riches. 23 But let one who boasts boast in this: that he understands and knows Me. For I am Adonai who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth. For in these things I delight.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
To know and understand God; that’s what God says is important. Our new Ark, that we dedicated 2 weeks ago was designed and built by Keith Henschen. It is pictured above. On the mantle across the top it says in Hebrew (transliterated here), “Da Lifnay Mi Ata Omade,” meaning “Know Before Whom You Stand.”
This phrase is often used to remind those who approach the Ark to think before they touch. When we touch the Torah, we are touching the revelation of the mind of God. When we kiss the Torah we are demonstrating our love for God and His word. Psalm 119:103 How sweet is Your word to my taste— yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Rabbi Trail: Speaking of Psalm 119, this Shabbat we are going to continue our popular Hebrew lesson (part 2 of 3) with 8 more letters of the Aleph-bet. You can catch last weeks lesson (if you need to review or catch up) here, at about 1:35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTJx1DSpa5Q End RT.
How do we progress to understand and know God? Read the RR regularly. You know what? Scratch that (although it is a good idea). The RR is just a daily devotional to help us as we read through the Bible each year. Go directly to the source and read the Bible. We are all growing to maturity (with all due respect to Dan Juster’s book by the same title). I’m going to write more on this next week. (Early) Shabbat Shalom (again).
Week 19
Memory Verse: Psalm 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was unformed, and in Your book were written the days that were formed— when not one of them had come to be.
91 5/7 Monday: Psalm 119:129-176; 139
92 5/8 Tuesday: Pslam 148 – 150
93 5/9 Wednesday: 1 Kings 2
94 5/10 Thursday: 1 Kings 3; 6
* 95 5/11 Friday: 1 Kings 8, 9:1-9
Question of the day: What is this? As we read 1 Kings 8, we are reading of the manifestation of God as the Holy Temple is being dedicated by Solomon. What is this?
Answer: Whatever “this” is, we want more of it. 1 Kings 8:10 Now when the kohanim came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the House of Adonai, 11 so that the kohanim could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of Adonai filled the House of Adonai.
Please pray with me… We want more of You, Lord. Bring us to that place of perfect rest in You. Then show Yourself strong and let Your glory fall among your people. Touch and heal those who are in need. Do this so that the world will know that You are Lord of all.
In all this, Lord, we thank You, just for Who You are. You are the only One Who heals the body, so all will know You are the only One Who heals the spirit. You are the One Who meets every spoken and unspoken petition set before You. Bring signs and wonders, so that all will know You, from the least to the greatest. In Yeshua’s matchless name. Amen.