Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, July 22, 2024
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 14:1,2 – Part 2
Psalm 14:1 For the music director, of David. The fool said in his heart: “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 Adonai looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Verse 2 only makes sense in the light of verse 1. In verse 2, God is “looking down from heaven.” In verse 1 there is an explanation given of what is going on in the earth upon which God is looking. Then the rest of verse 2 explains the purpose of God’s search. In verse 1 we find “corrupt” and “vile” men who do no good. These are they who are foolishly denying that God exists. Consider for a moment the quote from the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, “God is dead.”
Rabbi Trail: The rest of Nietzsche’s quote is helpful. “… and we killed Him.” Only part two is true. We did kill Him, but not the way Nietzsche meant it. Our sins did cause His suffering and death on the cross, but He rose from the dead and is alive today, and our destiny is to join Him in eternal life. Hebrews 12:2 (selected) focusing on Yeshua,… (Who) has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. And we are destined to be together with Him.
Colossians 3:1a Therefore, if you have been raised up with Messiah,… 2 Focus your mind on things above, not on things on the earth…. 4(selected) When Messiah… is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him, in glory! 5a Therefore, put to death what is earthly in you.
End RT.
Nietzsche was writing in support of atheism which had become popular in Europe following “the European enlightenment” which replaced faith in God with faith in scientific knowledge. There are two trees in the Garden of Eden. The “enlightened” Europeans chose to place their faith in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God wants us to choose the other tree, the tree of life, a life of faith in Him as we trust in His promises and follow His commandments. Spiritually, that choice is called eating from the tree of life. Revelation 2:7b “To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God.”
On that day, when Yeshua’s eyes lock together with yours, and He peers deep into your soul, will He see confident faith or will He see guilty shame? Just as the snake-bitten Hebrews had to look at the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8) we too, as we are “bitten” by sin must look to Yeshua for our healing. Hebrews 12:2 focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/
16 Tamuz Monday 22-Jul-24
Numbers 26:5-51 Ezekiel 12 Ezra 10 Luke 10 Ephesians 5:1-17