Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Shalom,
One In Messiah part 18 – Romans, part 129
Rom 10:1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for Israel is for their salvation.
Do I really need to go into this? After all, aren’t we united in our love for Jewish people? Maybe “we,” subscribers to the RR, are, but the rest of the world, not so much. Every day there is a new news story concerning the widespread hatred of Jewish people. Let’s resist the temptation to go on a rant against antisemitism, and go on a prayer FOR God’s purposes for His people, Israel.
After all, the Scripture is clear… Isaiah 62:7 And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Let’s pause to meditate on that. Is Jerusalem a “praise in the earth” today? Heavens no! Today, Jerusalem is a battle ground, full of conflict. If the world had its way, Jerusalem would be an “international city.” It would belong to no nation. Let’s now take another moment to meditate on how that would work out. Not well at all. Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem—“May those who love you be at peace!
Rabbi Trail: One day the whole world will be under the administration of the Living God, centered in Jerusalem, but not today. That’s why there is so much conflict over it. Satan knows God’s government will rule and reign from that place.
When Yeshua returns to rule and reign, there will be unity… Philippians 2:9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue profess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord—to the glory of God the Father. Until then, we should not try to administer the world under one government. That was the error of the Tower of Babel. End RT.
Let’s refocus… Paul’s prayer is for the salvation of Israel. That certainly flies in the face of “Dual Covenant Theology.” Dual Covenant Theology (DCT) is the idea that God has a separate manner of salvation for Jewish people. Yeshua said… John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Rabbi Trail: Those who support DCT, do so to curry favor with non-believing Jewish people, offering them a means of acceptance into the family of God without the need to accept the One Who is Lord of all. End RT.
DCT says that Jews get a pass on Yeshua, since they worship Adonai, Who is Yeshua. Makes sense until you come to… Romans 10:9 For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (But we’re not there yet.)
Suppose God answered your prayer and brought the Jewish people you know into a right relationship with the Jewish Messiah. Would you want them to stop practicing Judaism or be recognizably Jewish as a witness to the rest of the world? Ephesians 2:16 and to reconcile both to God in one body through the cross—by which He put the hostility to death.
It’s the hostility that has been done away, not our identity. Non-Jews don’t have to become Jewish to walk with Yeshua and Jews don’t have to become non-Jewish either. 1Corinthians 7:20 Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called.
We join with Paul’s prayer for the salvation of Israel. As we pray, let’s ask the Lord for a focus. It’s good to pray a general prayer. It is better to pray for specific people. Do you know any Jewish people? Might God open the door for you to be a positive witness to the lost sheep of the house of Israel? Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 18 July 2023 29th of Tamuz, 5783
De 1:22-1:38 Ez 23 1 Ch 4 Php 4 (Lk 22:1-38)