Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, September 16, 2024
Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 18:8,9(7,8) – Part 12
Psalm 18:8 Then the earth rocked and quaked. The foundations of mountains trembled. They reeled because He was angry. 9 Smoke rose from His nostrils and consuming fire from His mouth. Coals blazed from Him.
In order for us to appreciate what is happening here, we must read and understand the context. The Psalm begins by identifying what prompted David to write these things… Psalm 18:1b He chanted the words of this song to Adonai on the day Adonai delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. David is crying out to God for help, recounting years of trouble. 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.
This also raises a question for us…. If God allowed David’s distress, then why is He angry at what is happening to him? After all, our subject verses today give us God’s response to David’s cry for help. At the end of verse 8, we read “They (the earth and the mountains) reeled because He (God) was angry.” The Torah makes God’s protection conditional (if/then)… Exodus 23:22 But if you listen closely to His voice, and do everything I say, (then) I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
But Israel never could fully obey God, so God had to send His Son, Who both could (do all the commandments) and did. Afterward, Paul wrote this to the Thessalonians… 2 Thessalonians 1:6 For after all, it is right in the sight of God to pay back trouble to those who trouble you,… 8 in flaming fire, He will command judgment on those who do not know God and do not heed the Good News of our Lord Yeshua. 9 They will pay the price of eternal ruin, away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power.
So pray for (not against) your enemies… Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for the ones who mistreat you. And may you always enjoy a double portion… Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/
13 Elul Monday 16-Sep-24
Deuteronomy 26:12-15 Amos 3-4 2 Chronicles 7 John 21 Hebrews 10:19-39