Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 18:20(19) – Part 19
Psalm 18:20 He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me since He delighted in me.
King David’s report is our report! It is a testimony of deliverance from a strong enemy. David’s enemies were not only strong, they were diverse. His own king wanted to kill him. (In those days the king always got what he wanted. Mostly, he wanted David dead.) If that weren’t enough, the enemies of his king also wanted to kill him. (Although, just to add confusion, sometimes they didn’t.)
While our situation is similar, it is also decidedly different. We do have diverse enemies, but one of them is not our King. (We don’t have a king, we have a President – and the “jury” is still out on that.) Our real King, Yeshua, is the One Who rescues us and takes delight in us. “Delight” in Hebrew is “Chafetz.” This is the joy of accomplishment. It is the inner delight that both we and God feel when a deep inner desire is fulfilled. It is that all inclusive joy.
Yeshua takes us to wide open places. The Hebrew word translated as wide open places is taken from “Rachov” (Resh-Chet-Bet) meaning “road or highway, wide open space, or even market place.”
Rabbi Trail: What’s the opposite of wide open places? Being hemmed in or locked up in a jail cell. God’s delight is to put us in open spaces where we can breathe deep as we express our gratitude for His love. End RT.
By the grace of God, we enjoy the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law. There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. So then, what is the meaning of this warning? Galatians 5:1 For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again. The “yoke of slavery or bondage” is salvation by works of obedience. Don’t get tangled up in that.
Well then… Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Torah through faithfulness? May it never be! On the contrary, we uphold the Torah. Amen! Let’s close this out by returning to what delights… Psalm 40:8(7) Then I said: “Here I am, I have come—in the scroll of a book it is written about me. 9(8) I delight to do Your will, O my God. Yes, Your Torah is within my being.”
God takes delight in us, and He wants us to take delight in Him and in His commandments. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
21 Elul Tuesday 24-Sep-24
Deuteronomy 30:7-14 Micah 5 2 Chronicles 14 Acts 7 Revelations 2:1-11