Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 10:5-8 – Part 5
Psalm 10:5 His ways (the evildoer’s ways) are secure at all times. He haughtily disregards Your judgments. He snorts at all his adversaries. 6 He says in his heart: “I’ll never be shaken! From generation to generation nothing bad will happen.” 7 His mouth is full of cursing, lies and oppression. On his tongue are trouble and iniquity. 8 He lies in ambush near villages. In hidden places he slays the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for the helpless.
Here, in Psalm 10, David goes to some significant effort to describe the wicked. In just these four verses, David describes the wicked in thirteen different ways. Yes, without any attempt to be empirical, the wicked are wicked. Today we will just get started on these few verses.
He first identifies the “ways of the wicked.” These ways are exactly opposite of the “ways of God.” God has His ways… Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” It is a declaration of Adonai. And Satan, who is the prince of this world, has his ways… Jacob 4:4 You adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
The Hebrew word for “way” is the same word as “road” or “highway.” The word is “Derech.” The Scriptures are full of such illustrations. Isaiah 57:14 Then it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every stumbling block out of the way of My people.” 15 For thus says the High and Exalted One who inhabits eternity, whose Name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, yet also with a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and revive the heart of the contrite.
Yes Lord, deliver us from the ways of the wicked. Colossians 1:11 We pray that you may be strengthened with all the power that comes from His glorious might, for you to have all kinds of patience and steadfastness. With joy 12 we give thanks to the Father, who qualified you to share in the inheritance of the kedoshim in the light. 13 He rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom He loves. 14 In Him we have redemption—the release of sins. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
13 Sivan Wednesday 19-Jun-24
Numbers 9:15-10:10 Jeremiah 26 Job 35 Mark 10:32-52 1 Corinthians 14:1-19