Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 18:12,13(11,12) – Part 14
Psalm 18:12 He made darkness His cover, His sukkah all around Him—dark waters, thick clouds. 13 Out of the brilliance before Him passed His thick clouds, hail and fiery coals.
The description continues… In this Psalm, which is poetry, David is telling a story. It’s the story of how God delivered him from his enemies and King Saul. David is using colorful words to describe God’s passionate response when David called upon Him for help. Let’s review…
Psalm 18:7 In my distress I called on Adonai, and cried to my God for help. From His Temple He heard my voice, my cry before Him came into His ears. 8 Then the earth rocked and quaked. The foundations of mountains trembled. They reeled because He was angry.
The Scriptures are full of similar word pictures. When our translation says “His cover,” the Hebrew can also be translated “His secret place.” It’s the same word used in Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter (secret place) of Elyon, will abide in the shadow of Shaddai. Immediately, David invokes the image of a Sukkah. A Sukkah is flimsy, offering no real protection against the elements or predators. If you’re going to take refuge and hide in a Sukkah, you better have God protecting you.
This takes us back to the beginning of the Psalm… Psalm 18:3 Adonai is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in Him I take refuge, my shield, my horn of salvation, my stronghold. Now that’s protection.
Verse 13(12) starts with a Hebrew pun, “Minogah Neg’do,” meaning “from the brightness in front of Him.” These words share some consonants (Nun and Gimel) in the same order, but have totally different meanings. They are purposefully attention grabbing. This is immediately followed by another pun, “Avav Av’ru,” meaning “His thick clouds passed over.” Again, these words share some consonants (Ayin and Bet) in the same order, but have totally different meanings.
Only God can be both brightness and darkness at the same time. David goes back to this imagery to lead into some very well known verses… Psalm 139:11 If I say: “Surely darkness covers me, night keeps light at a distance from me,” 12 even darkness is not dark for You, and night is as bright as day—darkness and light are alike. 13 For You have created my conscience. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise You, for I am awesomely, wonderfully made! Wonderful are Your works—and my soul knows that very well.
But we don’t have to wait until we get to Psalm 139 before David will build on this imagery. Only 15 verses later, in this very Psalm (18) we find this… Psalm 18:29 For You light up my lamp. Adonai my God shines in my darkness. Go ahead, invite God to shine His light in your darkness. Matthew 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
15 Elul Wednesday 18-Sep-24
Deuteronomy 27:1-10 Amos 6-7 2 Chronicles 9 Acts 2 Hebrews 11:20-40