Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, July 9, 2021
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Ah yes! I’ve been waiting for this. Today, July 9th, is my wife, Jan’s, birthday. Please join me in wishing her the happiest of birthdays.
This shabbat is a convergence of blessings. Each of these events (including Jan’s birthday) is a blessing in itself, but together they present an avalanche of blessings. Let’s review them… The Shabbat before any new moon (which would occur later that week) is a special Shabbat. But this month the new moon (blessing #1) starts on Shabbat, (extra blessing #2). Any time we read a double portion, we expect a double blessing. This week, “Matot-Masei” is such a double portion week (blessing #3). But wait, there’s more… These are the last two portions of Numbers. We finish the book of Numbers this Shabbat. Blessing #4, double portion. Add to these the blessing of welcoming Baht Rivka and George Whitten (blessing #5).
Now I’ve saved the best for last. Don’t you know the best blessing ever? That’s right, Yeshua HaMashiach gave Himself as our atonement. “At-One-Ment,” Yeshua came so that we might be “at one” with God the Father. Therefore; we have every reason to expect great things.
Come to the service on Saturday, prayed up and full of expectation. Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude—through this we may offer worship in a manner pleasing to God, with reverence and awe.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 9 July 2021 29th of Tamuz, 5781
Nu 34:16-35:8 Ez 23 1 Ch 4 (Lk 21) Php 4
We have in Ezekiel 23 the tale of two sisters. Ezekiel 23:4a Their names were Oholah, the older one, and Oholibah, her sister. It is a sad tale of prostitution, lust and unrequited love. Ezekiel tells us who these sisters represent. Ezekiel 23:4b As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. Samaria is a way of identifying the Northern Kingdom, Israel, and Jerusalem is a way of identifying the Southern Kingdom, Judah. So this is the tale of two kingdoms, Israel and Judah.
It is indeed a sad tale of abominations, pursuing false gods and misplaced loyalties. The judgment of God took several hundred years to execute. The restoration of that judgment took place with the first coming of Yeshua, but it is not yet complete.
It won’t be complete until Yeshua’s words are fulfilled… Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will never see Me until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem Adonai. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
God’s perfect work is finished, but some Jewish people have not responded to it yet. Let’s pray for the fullness of the ingathering. Romans 11:25 For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27 And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins. Let’s join with all the saints for the fullness of the salvation of Israel which is described as life from the dead.
Week 28
Memory Verse: Psalm 101:3 No base thing will I set before my eyes. Twisted behavior I hate— it will not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart will depart from me. I will know nothing evil.
136 7/5 Monday: Esther 5-7
137 7/6 Tuesday: Esther 8-10
138 7/7 Wednesday: Nehemiah 1-2
139 7/8 Thursday: Nehemiah 3-4
*140 7/9 Friday: Nehemiah 5-6
The question of the day: No further comment today. Shabbat Shalom.