Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Shalom,
Time for a Hebrew lesson. The term for today is “Yomim Nora’im.” “Yom” means “day,” while “Yomim” is plural (days).
Rabbi Trail: In English, plural means more than one. In Hebrew, plural means more than two. One day is “Yom.” Two days are “Yomayim.” Three or more days are “Yomim.” It is different from English in that there is a set structure for two of anything. In Hebrew, we add the suffix “ayim” to indicate exactly two of anything, while in English there is only a “more than one” plural. End RT.
So, we’ve got an understanding of “Yomim,” but what is “Nora’im?” It is usually translated as “awe,” so “Yomim Nora’im” are “days of awe.” That word is translated as “awesome” in Exodus 15:11 Who is like You, Adonai, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders?
“Yomim Noraim” is the Hebrew term meaning “days of awe” that refers to the 10 days (inclusive) from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. They are also called commonly the 10 days of repentance. Although, as believers in Yeshua, our sins are already forgiven, this season is appointed by God on His annual calendar specifically for repentance. Isaiah 11:6 Seek Adonai while He may be found, call on Him while He is near. Well, He is near during this appointed season.
Would anyone like to object and say, “I have been forgiven, therefore; I have no need of further repentance?” The Bible tells us to do something else… Revelation 3:3a So remember what you have received and heard—keep it, and repent. If forgiveness and repentance were the same thing, there wouldn’t be two different words with different meanings.
Repentance is something that can (and should) be done often. In fact, the minute we become convinced we have nothing over which to repent, BOOM!!! there it is, something to repent over. Pride and arrogance is not of the Lord.
Forgiveness is an acceptable and godly response to repentance. Not all repentance is created equal. We must pursue godly repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:10 For the grief that God wills brings a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret. But the world’s grief brings death.
Repent early and repent often. The 10 days (Yomim Nora’im) began on Friday night.
Friday, September 18th Erev Rosh Hashanah
Saturday, September 19th Rosh Hashanah
Sunday, September 20th Day 2
Monday, September 21st Day 3
Tuesday, September 22nd Day 4
Wednesday, September 23rd Day 5
Thursday, September 24th Day 6
Friday, September 25th Day 7
Saturday, September 26th Day 8
Sunday, September 27th Day 9
Monday, September 28th Yom Kippur
That makes Sunday night, September 27th the beginning of Yom Kippur. That evening is named after the first liturgical prayer, Kol Nidre, meaning “all vows.” I will discuss it further in a future RR. It begins 24 plus hours of prayer and fasting.
- Our Kol Nidre service will start at 7pm Sunday night.
- We will continue in prayer at 10:30am on Monday with our second of 3 Yom Kippur services.
- We will then conclude Yom Kippur with a N’ilah service (meaning “locked” – more about that later too) beginning at 6pm. That service will be followed by a catered dinner (don’t bring anything).
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Okay, I’m not in a very good place to be writing an RR today. I believe Matthew 5:37 and expect Yeshua’s followers will keep their commitments. I started to send this message only to the select few who let Matthew 5:37 fall to the ground. But then, I thought this might be a message for everyone.
Rabbi Trail: You don’t know. You might be one of the few who I am actually sending this to. So if you are one of the few or one of the many, it doesn’t really matter. Take this message to heart anyway and receive a blessing. Besides, people are always thinking my sermons are directed toward them personally. Maybe this time those paranoid people are right. End RT.
Here are some rapid fire questions… What does it mean to be used of God? Is it a big deal? What does it say about our society that we have to put people on a pedestal? What is there in us when we want to be put on pedestals? If and when we are used of God, isn’t it only on account of the gifts that come from Him alone?
Will being used of God get us into heaven? Let’s ask Yeshua… Mathew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’”
How can one be a “worker of lawlessness” and “prophesy and drive out demons” at the same time? The answer is simple. God is love. He loves the oppressed, so he will gladly even use a prideful sinner to bless such a one. There will come a time when God will turn His attention and then deal with the prideful and arrogant.
Rabbi Trail: All sin is rooted in pride. The prideful person thinks he/she deserves better than they got. The prideful person thinks his way is always right. The arrogant person thinks he is better than he is (which is also prideful). End RT.
Need more evidence? Read this… Matthew 5:37 But let your word ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’—anything more than this is from the evil one.” Did I hear that correctly? Lying is satanic? When we give our word about something and don’t keep it, that is evil. What’s worse, when a believer does it, God gets a bad reputation. And those who trusted your “word of truth” are harmed.
Now that you’ve read this, is there anyone other than I with something to repent over? I certainly hope so. Repentance loves company. No it doesn’t, I just made that up. Well, maybe it does. Anyway, what I do know is that this is a season for repentance. God put it on the calendar for our good. Let’s make it our blessing.
Week 39
Memory Verse: James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
191 9/21 Monday: Acts 10-11
* 192 9/22 Tuesday: Acts 12
193 9/23 Wednesday: Acts 13-14
194 9/24 Thursday: James 1-2
195 9/25 Friday: James 3-5
Question of the Day: What if Peter were playing Monopoly® ?
Answer: He would have just received the “get out of jail free” card. The Angel of the Lord woke him up and he thought he was dreaming.
This is the power of prayer. Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer for him was being offered fervently to God by Messiah’s community. Never doubt the power of unified corporate prayer.
We are also being given an opportunity to pray for our nation, this coming Saturday, September 26th from 9am to 9pm. Shomair is an authorized site to broadcast the livestream of worship, prayer and messages from the Mall in Washington D.C. Come and be with us beginning at 9am. Bring something to eat (unless you will be fasting). Here are the details… https://thereturn.org/