Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, June 8, 2024
Shabbat Shalom,
Day 42 of counting the Omer
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 six weeks and no days of the counting of the Omer.
Follow up that prayer by remembering a blessing from the Lord and give Him thanks. Col 3:16 Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
___
Adonai’s Chesed-חֶסֶד Can be Celebrated
By David Harwood
Your God’s goodness finds its origin in His love. His favor is the result of His love. His chesed-חֶסֶד is done to favored people. Adonai’s covenant with Israel was cut because of love. This holy love is the fountainhead of the river of His chesed-חֶסֶד.
Recognizing their relationship with this covenant keeping God, remembering all the good He had done, Israel celebrated His chesed-חֶסֶד at His House’s dedication.
Then it came to pass that when the trumpeters and singers joined as one to extol and praise Adonai, and when the sound of the trumpets, cymbals and musical instruments and the praise of Adonai—“For He is good, for His chesed-חֶסֶד endures forever”—grew louder, the Temple, the House of Adonai, was filled with a cloud.
The kohanim could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of Adonai filled the House of God. (2 Chronicles 5:14 TLV)
What was the occasion?
The Temple’s construction was finally completed. It was being dedicated. As Adonai’s faithful chesed-חֶסֶד was celebrated, God drew near. How near? His House was filled with a cloud that manifested His habitation.
Not only was the House prepared for Him, His people were prepared for Him, too. What prepared them?
An important part of their preparation was their Scripturally guided perspective of God. What was the capstone of their theology? We find it in what they sang: “Adonai is good; His chesed-חֶסֶד can always be relied upon.” They were celebrating their relationship with the Creator.
We need this attitude. Do you agree? This praise is a wonderful picture of what draws God. It seems that, in the Bible, He goes where He’s appreciated.
In this story we see that Israel had a plan. They were prepared to exalt the Lord. They couldn’t come up with anything higher than this: they celebrated God’s chesed-חֶסֶד. Amazingly, God responded, and what a response came from heaven! It was overwhelming.
Let’s continue and read about the celebration of God’s, chesed-חֶסֶד.
When all Bnei-Yisrael saw the fire come down and the glory of Adonai above the House, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, prostrating themselves and praising Adonai, “For He is good and His chesed-חֶסֶד endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 7:3 TLV)
Very dramatic.
I wish I was there.
The context of this is that there had been high praise of God’s goodness and chesed-חֶסֶד. Adonai responded and a cloud filled the house. Next, Solomon prayed while the cloud was still there! It’s a deep, reverent, lovely prayer. I encourage you to read it.
This is what happened when the king finished his prayer:
Now when Solomon finished praying the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of Adonai filled the House. The kohanim could not even enter into the House of Adonai because the glory of Adonai filled the House of Adonai.
When all Bnei-Yisrael saw the fire come down and the glory of Adonai above the House, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, prostrating themselves and praising Adonai, “For He is good and His chesed-חֶסֶד endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 7:1–3)
The glory of God filled the house. It was connected to the fire that came down. This helps define the word “awesome.”
We’ll continue to look into the praise of His chesed-חֶסֶד in our next meditation. Meanwhile, may Adonai give us enabling favor to perceive Him as all Israel did at God’s House’s dedication.
He is good and His chesed-חֶסֶד can always be relied upon.
Really?
Yes, just look at Yeshua.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
2 Sivan Shabbat 8-Jun-24 42nd day of the Omer
Parashat Bamidbar Numbers 4:1-20 Hosea 1:10-2:20[2:1-22]