Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, June 8, 2020
Shalom,
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!
The Bible prophesies our victory, yet many of us are walking in something less (at least from time to time). Notice the fullness of the prophesy. The victory is given THROUGH Yeshua. Wait a minute; I thought we have liberty in Messiah Yeshua. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Ruach Adonai is, there is freedom (liberty). And don’t forget, the Spirit of God dwells in you… 1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the Ruach Elohim dwells among (within) you?
Rabbi Trail: Here is one place I disagree with the Tree of Life translation. The preposition “in” is used in the Greek text. It can mean “among,” but it is first used to describe the baby “within” the womb of the Virgin Mary. That’s hardly “among.” End RT.
In Messiah Yeshua we are promised liberty. Two things about that… first, we are warned not to abuse our liberty. Galatians 5:13 Brothers and sisters, you were called to freedom—only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. And secondly, the fruit of our liberty (freedom) is victory. And that “victory” is so complete, we are called “more than conquerors.” Romans 8:37 But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
And, what is the evidence of our victory? Nothing less than the repair of our broken relationship with God. Something was lost when Adam and Eve “fell” in the Garden of Eden. Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. (This is only found in some manuscripts of Matthew, as an added footnote.) Yeshua came to restore our broken relationship with God. We take on two new roles, the servants of God and the children of God (and these two are different).
As servants of God, we lay our lives down, (willing to sacrifice everything) holding nothing back. As children of God, we are resurrected unto eternal life, brought into His family and seated together with Him in high places (Ephesians 2:6). Thus we are complete in Him… Colossians 2:10a and in Him you have been filled to fullness. The totality of our victory is put into words in Revelation 3:21 To the one who overcomes I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I myself overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Week 24
Memory Verse: Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no divine vision people cast off restraint, but blessed is the one who keeps Torah.
* 116 6/8 Monday: 2 Kings 17-18
117 6/9 Tuesday: 2 Kings 19-21
118 6/10 Wednesday: 2 Kings 22-23
119 6/11 Thursday: Jeremiah 1-3:5
120 6/12 Friday: Jeremiah 25; 29
Question of the day: What is happening in 2 Kings 17 & 18 (today’s reading) isn’t resolved until 2 Kings 19-21 (tomorrow’s reading). So, can we at least consider what’s happening in today’s reading?
Answer: Yes, the Assyrians are conquering and resettling the kingdom of Israel (the Northern kingdom) which results in the displacement of the “10 lost tribes.” Why did this happen?
2 Kings 17:7 Now it was so because the men of Israel had sinned against Adonai their God,… and had feared other gods. 8a Instead they followed the customs of the nations.
While the Northern kingdom is being led astray by King Ahaz, the Southern kingdom (Judah) is being led into righteousness by King Hezekiah.
2 Kings 18:3 He (Hezekiah) did what was right in Adonai’s eyes, according to all his ancestor David had done.
It took 10 years from the time the Assyrians first marched against Israel (the Northern Kingdom) until they turned their attention to Judah (the Southern Kingdom). Finally, at the end of today’s reading Hezekiah’s messengers bring him the bad news, Assyria is making demands and threatening war. The messengers tear their clothes, a sign of their desire to repent.
What, are they smarter than we are? Do they know something we don’t know? Seeking the blessing of God starts with repentance. Our country is in immediate need of repentance.
Rabbi Trail: This may seem self serving, but listen to my comments from the heart last Shabbat here… https://www.facebook.com/shomair.yisrael/videos/1159371981083788/ . Go to the 45:30 minute mark and listen (it’s less then 10 minutes).
Come back tomorrow and we will learn what God will do for Judah. More importantly, what will God do for us to deliver us from this present distress?
2 Chronicles 7:14 when My people, over whom My Name is called, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.