Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, August 18, 2023
Shalom,
One In Messiah part 41 – Romans, part 152
Romans 11:8 just as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes not to see and ears not to hear, until this very day.” 9 And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened so they do not see, and bend their back continually.”
Please allow me to address Paul directly in public (you get to listen)…
Wait a minute! Paul, I know that you, King David, and God, for that matter, all love Jewish people. After all, they’re your own people, and David’s too. You even say that Jewish people are your own flesh and blood. This seems like piling on negativity upon negativity. “A spirit of stupor, eyes not to see and ears not to hear” and that’s from yesterday’s RR. Today we add “a stumbling block” and “eyes be darkened.” Lastly, what do you mean “bend their back continually?” We know God loves Israel with an everlasting love. How will this all end?
Does God love Israel? Let me count the ways. Deuteronomy 10:15 Only on your fathers did Adonai set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them—you—from all the peoples, as is the case this day.
Yes, Paul is quoting scripture. Psalm 69:23(22) Let their table before them be a snare, and what should have been for their well-being, let it be a trap. 24(23) Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see and their backs be bent forever. You might think Paul is misappropriating scripture, that is until you look at the previous verse. Then it becomes obvious that this prophesy is all about Yeshua HaMashiach.
Psalm 69:22 They put gall in my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Soon we will see that God is not going to make destruction the prophetic end of Israel. These prophesies are “bumps on the road to Jerusalem” to the leaders of Israel on behalf of the whole world. Before we leave this chapter, God will tell His future plans for His people Israel. This is exactly where we will be when we pick up Monday with Romans 11:11. Until then, keep the faith. Shabbat Shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 18 Aug 2023 1st of Elul, 5783 Rosh Chodesh Elul Day 2
De 19:14-20:9, Nu 28:11-15 Hos 5-6 2 Ch 1 Phm (Jn 16)