Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, July 30, 2020
Shalom,
Today is Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av). If you care about Israel enough to subscribe to this daily devotional, you know why Tisha B’Av is marked as important on the Jewish calendar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tisha_B%27Av
Even more than the one day on the Jewish calendar, Tisha B’Av marks the end of 3 weeks that began on the 17th of last month (Tammuz) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeenth_of_Tammuz .
This 3 week season is also known as the Season of the Basilisk. https://bobjones.bravomarketingagency.com/product/season-of-the-basilisk/ This makes several scriptures come to mind. Chiefly, 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and love and self-discipline. So we don’t have to fear evil. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have shalom. In the world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!”
Of primary importance is that our armor is for defense. Only the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) is intended as an offensive weapon. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the times are evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm then! Buckle the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 Strap up your feet in readiness with the Good News of shalom. 16 Above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Our destiny in Messiah Yeshua is “Yes and Amen.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 For in Him all the promises of God are “Yes.” Therefore also through Him is the “Amen” by us, to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who establishes us with you in Messiah. He anointed us, 22 set His seal on us, and gave us the Ruach in our hearts as a pledge.
Let’s not allow the enemy the privilege of distracting us. In Yeshua’s name. Amen.
Week 31
Memory Verse: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
151 7/27 Monday: Luke 1
152 7/28 Tuesday: Luke 2
153 7/29 Wednesday: Matthew 1-2
* 154 7/30 Thursday: Mark 1
155 7/31 Friday: John 1
Question of the day: Who is going to baptize whom?
Answer: By now we all know John the Immerser baptized Yeshua. We read about it here. Mark 1:9 In those days, Yeshua came from Natzeret in the Galilee and was immersed by John in the Jordan. Sounds simple and straightforward, but it’s not so simple in another account… Matthew 3:13 Then Yeshua came from the Galilee to John, to be immersed by him in the Jordan. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be immersed by You, and You are coming to me?” 15 But Yeshua responded, “Let it happen now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” So John yielded to Him.
John yielded to Yeshua, about Yeshua yielding to him. My point in bringing this up is that the King of kings and Lord of lords submitted to earthly authority “to fulfill all righteousness.” We must learn this lesson too.
I write this today in the hope of making a point. Some people have rightly judged that no man measures up to the stature of Yeshua, so they proudly refuse to submit. After all, anyone to whom we submit will be something less than Yeshua (they think). However; God honors faithfulness. God is the God of covenant. When we, His people, make and keep covenant, we fulfill God’s law. If Yeshua submitted, should we not also follow His example?
We have to read the Bible and then live by what we read. Ephesians 5:21 Also submit yourselves to one another out of reverence for Messiah. Let’s give Yeshua the last word… Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.