Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, September 26, 2024
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 18:21,22(20,21) – Part 21
Psalm 18:21 Adonai rewarded me for my righteousness. For the cleanness of my hands He repaid me. 22 For I kept the ways of Adonai, and did not turn wickedly from my God.
There are seven Hebrew words in these two verses that will open our understanding. David is trying to communicate something about keeping the “ways of Adonai.” Which brings us to the first two words.
Rabbi’s note: These words are not presented in their order of appearance, but in a logical order to more fully explain David’s intentions when writing. End RN.
The three word phrase is “Shamarti Darkai Yehovah(YHVH),” starts verse 22. The first two words are two of our seven. I have “stood guard, or watched over (as a watchman) the ways of the Lord.” The first followers of Yeshua were not called Christians, but were known as “keepers of the way.” Being a child of God is not a set of beliefs but a set of practices outlined in Scripture.
Deuteronomy 5:30(33) You are to walk in all the way that Adonai your God has commanded you, so that you may live and it may be well with you and you may prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
This commandment is repeated throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. How could it ever be against God to obey God?
1Peter 2:21 For you were called to this, because Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in His footsteps:
WWYD? 1Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth.” How do we know what “sin” is? 1John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. KJV This is not about you feeling good, it concerns making a way of life that models Yeshua’s way of life in obedience to God. We, upon whom the end of the age has fallen, must be those who fulfill the original command to Abraham. When he was 99, The Lord told him to “walk before Me blameless.”
This is more than the lyrics to a song, it’s a way of life… Isaiah 2:3 Then many peoples will go and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Adonai, to the House of the God of Jacob! Then He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths.” For Torah will go forth from Zion and the word of Adonai from Jerusalem. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
23 Elul Thursday 26-Sep-24
Deuteronomy 31:7-13 Micah 7 2 Chronicles 16 Acts 9 Revelations 3