Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, June 28, 2024
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 10:17,18 – Part 13
Psalm 10:17 You hear, Adonai, the desire of the meek. You encourage them and incline Your ear. 18 You vindicate the orphan and oppressed, so that man, who is earthly, may terrify no more.
What is being said here, from the Hebrew, is that God is paying attention (“incline Your ear”), in the second part of verse 17, which is in line with the first part of the verse in which Adonai hears. Now that we know God is paying attention and hearing, what is this all about?
Throughout this Psalm, David has been alternating between making declarations about God and making declarations to God. Here, in these last two verses, he is once again speaking directly to God. That makes this a prayer. “The desire of the meek” is what God is hearing. These “meek” in Hebrew are “Anavim,” spelled with a “Vav” – if it is spelled with a “Bet,” (sound alike) it means “grapes.”
We have previously encountered these “Anavim” (poor, meek, humble) in this Psalm…. In verse 2 when the “poor” are hunted by the wicked. Now, at the end of the Psalm, David is reassured and encouraging these same poor, humble and meek that God hears their cry. Psalm 72 amplifies this…
Psalm 72:12 For he rescues the needy crying for help, also the poor and the one with no helper. 13 He will take pity on the poor and needy, and the souls of the needy he will save. 14 From oppression and violence he redeems their soul, for precious is their blood in his sight.
The Hebrew continues to challenge me. I want to understand what David intends to communicate here. In God’s Kingdom, the earthly man will no longer oppress (cause to tremble) those who are weak and fatherless. Actually, in the Kingdom of God there are no earthly men, only heavenly ones. There are also no fatherless, only heavenly children of God. Someday, even these earthly vessels of clay will be exchanged for heavenly ones.
2Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the tent, our earthly home, is torn down, we have a building from God—a home not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens.
One last section of Scripture for today. Put your hope in the Spirit. The things of this world are perishing. Only God’s Kingdom is eternal.
Colossians 3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised up with Messiah, keep seeking the things above—where Messiah is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Focus your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in God. 4 When Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him, in glory! 5a Therefore, put to death what is earthly in you. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
22 Sivan Friday 28-Jun-24
Numbers 15:17-26 Jeremiah 36 Daniel 2 Mark 15:1-24 2 Corinthians 4