Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, May 9, 2020
Shabbat Shalom,
Before we count the Omer, let me make a quick announcement concerning our worship service at Shomair tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Hebrews 10:25 And do not neglect our own meetings, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another—and all the more so as you see the Day approaching.
- Rule #1: (Do you remember this one?) Don’t argue with the Rabbi.
- Rule #2: Everyone is responsible for his/her own health. Pray and hear from God. May we all remain safe.
- The doors will open at 10 and the service will start at 10:30 as usual.
- Our seating has been set to social distancing standards.
- There will be no “meet and greet” time near the start of the service.
- The Torah will not be processed.
- We will follow guidelines regarding the public serving of communion, but that won’t stop us from having communion as a community. Please bring your own matzah and grapes (or grape juice).
- Beyond all that, please bring yourself, a heart to worship and a voice to sing.
- End of “quick announcement.”
Counting the Omer – Day 28
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 four weeks and no days of the counting of the Omer.
This is my last opportunity to write about the longing for intimacy without shame. This could easily be my favorite longing. Everything we do without God or against God involves shame. Most of the time we don’t think about that (while sinning), it is only afterward that shame is manifest.
To have intimacy without shame forces us into the presence and power of God. The Scripture informs us… 1 Corinthians 13:8a Love never fails…! His love also never defiles…! Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of Adonai brings wealth and He adds no trouble with it.
When God places us at His table, and the meal IS God, this is the highest honor possible. We then become “unshakable.” “Unshakeable” was the theme of our youth camp last summer.
We are established firmly on the rock, which the Psalm says is our Yeshua. Psalm 62:2(1b) My soul, wait in stillness, only for God— from Him comes my salvation. 3(2) He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress—I will never be moved.
Our soul is anchored to God by our hope because we know God cannot lie and we have encouragement from God. In Messiah Yeshua we become a kingdom of priests, fulfilling the prophesy of Exodus 19:6a ‘So as for you, you will be to Me a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation.’ But only the high priest goes beyond the veil, so we must be a kingdom of high priests.
Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, both firm and steady—a hope that enters the inner place behind the curtain. Along with family responsibilities, we must also have family privileges.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a kohen gadol who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all the same ways—yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need. We enter with boldness because Yeshua has removed our shame.
Stay thirsty (for Him) my friends.