Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, September 3, 2020
Shalom,
Song of Songs 1:10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of beads. The beloved is describing the Shulamite in very complimentary terms. It is a difficult thing to express emotional and spiritual things in physical terms, but this is exactly what is happening here.
We have to appreciate that cheeks are part of the face. Can’t you tell everything about how a person (one you already know well) is doing by just one glance at his/her face? In that sense, cheeks are the window of the soul.
Then there is the neck. The neck is a symbol of will; and will can be self will or the will of a willing participant. The neck turns (controls the direction of) the head. The neck determines the direction of the eyes. Remember yesterday we talked about “eye discipline.”
Think for a moment about a well trained horse (that came up yesterday too). A well trained horse is sensitive to the touch of the reigns on his/her neck. The talk about a necklace is emblematic of that self will being submitted to the will of the beloved; not straining or pulling in another direction, but willingly responding to the beloved’s touch.
I found this in my notes which prompted this diatribe. “The Shulamite’s surrender and obedience to the will of the beloved is making her beautiful.” It makes me think of this verse at the end of Proverbs 31 (the section of Scripture called in Hebrew “Ashet Chayil” meaning “A woman of valor.”) Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Adonai will be praised. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What most people see is skin deep (outer layer) beauty, but the deeper (more eternal) beauty is found in a heart devoted to God and His eternal purposes. That is beauty that never gets old. Think of all the energy, money and other resources spent in pursuit of the “fountain of youth.”
Rabbi Trail: Ask Ponce de Leon how that worked out. He died without finding the fountain of youth. It’s official, the internet is ruining everything. Now it ruined what I just wrote. Apparently, Ponce de Leon’s search for the fountain of youth is just a myth perpetrated by some entrepreneurs trying to keep tourists in St. Augustine a little longer with their sulphur smelling well water. The fountain of youth smells like rotten eggs (that’s profound). End RT.
And the “fountain of youth” is right there in front of every person all along. It is available in a relationship with the savior, Who has the power to grant eternal life. Eternal life means you never get old. Is there a better definition of youth? Sign me up, Lord. Write me for good (forever) in the Book of Life.
Week 36
Memory Verse: Luke 23:34 But Yeshua was saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Then they cast lots, dividing up His clothing.
176 8/31 Monday: Matthew 24:32-51
177 9/01 Tuesday: John 17
178 9/02 Wednesday: Matthew 26:47-27:31
* 179 9/03 Thursday: Matthew 27:32-66; Luke 23:26-56
180 9/04 Friday: John 19
Question of the day: Are You the Son of God?
Answer: Does anyone remember Larry King? He was born Lawrence Harvey Zeigler and he is Jewish. For 25 years he hosted his television program Larry King Live in which he interviewed people. Before that, he had a 35 year career in radio doing the same thing.
He was once asked if he could only choose one person throughout time, whom would he most like to interview. Without hesitation Larry answered, “Jesus Christ.” The follow up question was, “And what is the first question you would ask Him?” Larry again responded quickly, “Are you the Son of God?”
The third question and answer surprised me. “What would you ask Him next?” Larry replied, “I don’t know, it would depend on the answer to the first question.”
Here is a message for Larry (and every other Jewish person who is unsure if Yeshua is Who He says He is): Time is short. Don’t wait any longer. We all need the Mashiach, and there is no other savior of the world. This question, “Is Yeshua the Messiah?” has been haunting Jewish people for 2,000 years. It was the same question, even while He was still on the cross, as we see in today’s reading.
Here is the debate that occurred sometime later as recorded in the book of Acts… Acts 5:29 Peter and the emissaries replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Yeshua, whom you seized and had crucified. 31 This One God exalted at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and removal of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these events—as is the Ruach ha-Kodesh, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” These words enraged those who heard Peter… Acts 5:33 Now when they heard this, they became enraged and wanted to kill them. But their rage doesn’t make them right.
Other ancient rabbis affirmed that Yeshua is the Messiah, while still others made no such affirmation. But that’s history. The question today is will each one of us let some long dead rabbis make this decision for us, or should we take responsibility for ourselves and ask the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to enlighten the eyes of our understanding.
Yeshua, Himself, said it best… John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Yeshua can’t be both right and wrong. He either is Who He says He is, or He is not (and a liar at the same time).
Larry King (and all you other “Larry King”s out there), don’t delay, receive Yeshua into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Repent and believe the “good news” 1 Corinthians 15:3b that Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
For those who read this with faith for the first time, be blessed in victory and give me a call at 865-414-4527 so we can pray and get you started in your walk with Him. Shalom.