Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, June 4, 2021
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 4 June-2021 24th of Sivan, 5781
Nu 15:17-26 Jer 34 Dan 10 (Mk 16) 1 Co 15:29-58
First, I tried to write on the Aliyah of today, (Numbers 15:17-26) but that was about a community offering when someone from within the community sins inadvertently. Sorry, I wan’t inspired to write about that. So I turned to Jeremiah 34, but that is the prophesy of the destruction of Jerusalem. I could write (and I have written) much on the consequences of disobedience, but again, uninspiring.
Then I arrived at Daniel 10, and surprise, surprise, I am inspired to write about Daniel 10 because that’s where we learn about yet another one of Daniel’s victorious exploits. It hardly makes sense. While Daniel is being more “broken” than ever, he has a world changing experience with God. Daniel has a vision of a man who looks like a man, but is not a man.
His appearance is described in Daniel 10:5,6. Then we read about Daniel’s encounter with this “non-man” man. Daniel expresses weakness. He’s been fasting and praying. He is weak and “running on empty.” Daniel 10:8 So I was left alone to see this great vision. My strength drained from me and my vigor was destroyed; I could not summon any strength.
Daniel 10:19 “Then he said: ‘Highly valued man, do not fear! Shalom to you. Be strong, now! Chazak!’ (Apparently, when God speaks to you, His speech has power.) “Even as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’”
That takes us to the end of the reading for today, but not the end of the lesson. Fasting and prayer may weaken the physical body, but not the spirit. From that position of weakness, our spirit is able to relate to the all powerful God of Heaven and Earth. One last point. When the Scriptures command us to be humble, the translation should be “broken through fasting and prayer.”
Kana (Kaf-Nun-Ayin) is the Hebrew word (there are others) usually translated as “humble.” This is the name of the town Yeshua performed His first miracle. When we humble ourselves, God is able to lift us up to fulfill His purposes. When we are empty, then He can fill us up. May we all be like Daniel.
Week 23
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:23 When He was abused, He did not return the abuse. While suffering, He made no threats. Instead, He kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges righteously. 24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, removed from sins, might live for righteousness. “By His wounds you were healed.”
111 6/3 Monday: Isaiah 6, 9
112 6/4 Tuesday: Isaiah 44, 45
113 6/5 Wednesday: Isaiah 52, 53
114 6/6 Thursday: Isaiah 65, 66
115 6/7 Friday: Micah 1; 4:6-13; 5
Question of the day: Why did the F-260 pick these 8 verses from Micah 4?
Answer: There is a special prophesy about the Messianic Jewish remnant of Israel. Micah 4:7 “I will make her who was limping into a remnant, and her who was banished a mighty nation. Adonai will reign over them on Mount Zion from that time and forever.” This is something to which we look forward with hope and expectation.
And, as usual, there is so much more. Micah 4:10a Writhe and give birth, Daughter of Zion. To whom will this holy Daughter of Zion give birth? None other than WORLDWIDE REVIVAL! When the world watches orthodox (ultra-religious) Jewish people coming to faith in Yeshua, this will bring about the “life from the dead” prophesied in Romans 11.
Romans 11:26 and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Paul (writing Romans) is then overcome with the magnificence of God… Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how incomprehensible His ways! We too, share in that wonder. May the Lord’s blessing be upon us all. Shalom.