Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Shalom,
I’m sure you are all familiar with Jonathan Cahn. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Cahn) On account of his prolific writing, he may be the most well known Messianic Jew in modern times. I just received the link below from a dear friend. There is a national prayer gathering planned for the special Shabbat between RH and YK, on September 26, 2020. Participation starts now. Please inquire of the Lord as to how He would have you participate. https://thereturn.org/?fbclid=IwAR0j25GXOAHVFvXVzjqsZHze5CGPSrcIsbvHp12X0gHtpiD5OCUCLNS5SKE
Every day (except Shabbat) I write an RR. Today I had a conference call concerning the Fields of Wheat vision. It was a fruitful time of prayer for a vision to provide a national home for the Messianic community of Israel. https://www.fieldsofwheat.org/ I’m not complaining, but I am getting a late start on writing today. However; some of what I’m going to write about was, in fact, prayed about, during the conference call. So, being delayed on account of prayer is now a blessing.
In 1 Kings 8:22, Solomon continues praying before the congregation at the dedication of the Temple. He stands before the altar, turns and raises his hands to heaven. Then he addresses his prayer… 1 Kings 8:22b “Adonai, God of Israel, there is no God like You….” Then Solomon asks a question…. 1 Kings 8:27a “So will God really dwell on the earth?” From the context and what follows, I don’t believe Solomon knows what he just prayed. He’s calling for Yeshua to come.
In verse 30 he calls upon God to “hear” and “forgive.” By the time Solomon is praying verse 41, the prayer takes a remarkable turn; it becomes inclusive. Not “inclusive” in the ways of the world (where anything is included and anything “goes”), but “inclusive” of non-Jewish people who turn toward God. 1 Kings 8:41a “Moreover concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel,… 42b when he comes to pray toward this House, 43a then may you hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner asks of You. So all the peoples of the earth may know Your Name, to fear You as Your people Israel do.
What is happening here? Solomon is praying that the kingdom of heaven will be open and available to non-Jewish people for the salvation of the world. This is great. God started out as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but His destiny is to be the God of the whole earth, my God and your God. Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband —Adonai-Tzva’ot is His Name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called God of all the earth.
So be glad, all you children of Zion…. Joel 2:23 So be glad, children of Zion, and rejoice in Adonai, your God. For He gives you the early rain for prosperity, Yes, He will bring down rain for you, the early and latter rain as before.
Now, let’s close the circle. Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return to Adonai. For He has torn, but He will heal us. He has smitten, but He will bind us up. 2 After two days He will revive us. On the third day He will raise us up, and we will live in His presence. 3 So let us know, let us strive to know Adonai. Like dawn His going forth is certain. He will come to us like the rain, like the latter rain watering the earth.
Week 29
Memory Verse: Nehemiah 6:9 For they were all trying to intimidate us, thinking, “Their hands will become weak from the work and it will not be done.” So now, strengthen my hands!
141 7/13 Monday: Nehemiah 7-8
142 7/14 Tuesday: Nehemiah 9
* 143 7/15 Wednesday: Nehemiah 10
144 7/16 Thursday: Nehemiah 11
145 7/27 Friday: Nehemiah 12
Question of the day: What is the “bottom line” of Nehemiah 10?
Answer: Look at the clue I gave you in the question. I put “bottom line” in quotes. What do we read on the bottom line of Nehemiah 10? Nehemiah 10:40b We will not forsake the House of our God. Yes, but what does that mean to us today? What is our commitment to it, and what is our reality of the “House” of our God?
There are a lot more questions than answers in the previous paragraph. Let’s turn to the Hebrew for some of the answer. What does it mean to “forsake” the house…? The Hebrew word “Azav” (Strong’s h5800) means to “leave” more than “forsake.” It is first used in Genesis 2:4 This is why a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife; and they become one flesh. It is also spoken by Yeshua from the cross in Mark15:34 from Psalms 21:1). So the promise (or covenant) of Nehemiah 10 means to never leave, or in the positive, “to cling” to the house of God.
Alternatively, the ancient Israelites had the Temple, but in Nehemiah 10 they were struggling. The Temple had been destroyed. Since I’m such a “bottom line” guy, let me get to it. In our day we cling to the presence of God. We walk with God… Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life. Abundance of joys are in Your presence, eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
We stay in His presence by doing His will (which is called righteousness). 1 John 3:18 Children, let us not love with word or talk, but in deed and truth! 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and set our heart at rest before Him.
Yes, back to the bottom line… Philippians 3:10 My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death— 11 if somehow I might arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.
To be clear, it is not our righteousness, but Yeshua’s that is worthwhile. Philippians 3:8b … that I might gain Messiah 9 and be found in Him, not having my righteousness derived from Torah, but one that is through trusting in Messiah – the righteousness from God based on trust.
Stay righteous for Him, my friends.