Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Shalom,
Back in the day, before Israel was a state, there was a debate around this question… “If we establish the modern State of Israel, are we acting in line with the will of God or are we usurping the will of God?” Today, the question would be slightly reframed… “Is modern Israel a fulfillment of the Scriptural promises made by God to return His people to their land, or should we be waiting for some other divine and miraculous move of God to deposit Jewish people into the promised land?”
I guess you know where I will weigh in on this question. I am a Zionist, in support of modern Israel. A Zionist simply believes that Jewish people belong in the promised land. But that doesn’t really answer our question. Is modern Israel “it,” or is there some other – not yet seen – “it,” yet to come?
I would say (without taking an official poll) that most Jewish people generally support the Jewish state. However; there is a small but vocal group (who, in my opinion, love to hate themselves), at both ends of the spectrum, who are opposed to modern Israel. There is a group of Haredi (ultra-orthodox) Jews who don’t believe Jewish people belong in the land until the Messiah goes there first. At the other end of the spectrum are ultra -liberal Jews who believe modern Israel is an oppressive occupier (apartheid state), persecuting their Arab minority.
Make no mistake, Israel, like any government (or any organization for that matter) is not perfect. But I believe it is the fulfillment of this Scripture… Amos 9:14a Yes, I will restore the captivity (those who were taken away captive) of My people Israel. They will rebuild desolated cities and dwell in them. 15 Yes, I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be plucked up out of their land that I have given to them.” Adonai, your God, has said it.
Still, in modern Israel, God’s work is not yet complete. Jeremiah 31:32 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their God and they will be My people.
Bo Yeshua, bo. Oh Lord, put the spirit of grace (to do the will of God) into those bodies You have brought to life from dry bones. Bring the fullness to those in the land. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
Week 33
Memory Verse: Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—and yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
161 8/10 Monday: Luke 9:10-62
162 8/11 Tuesday: Mark 9-10
* 163 8/12 Wednesday: Luke 12
164 8/13 Thursday: John 3-4
165 8/14 Friday: Luke 14
Question of the day: Yeshua seems to be getting exasperated at the end of a long day of teaching, when He asks… Luke 12:57 Why can’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
Answer: In context, we see the weather pattern and know what to expect. When we see clouds forming, we expect rain soon. We know what seasonal and unseasonal weather is. The final point Yeshua makes in this chapter is that if we would judge rightly, we would have no need to be taken before a court to judge a matter.
What is “right” or correct is that which lines up with God’s word. Psalm 119:160 Truth is the essence of Your word, and all Your righteous rulings are eternal. Yeshua put it more succinctly when He prayed…, John 17:17 “Make them holy in the truth. Your word is truth.”
I know a few folks (thank God, not too many) who seem to lose their minds when they get to know God. God has called us to a sound mind. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (I love that this comes on the heels of Romans 9, 10, & 11.)
The call is to maturity. Maturity contains within it the ability to make adult decisions. Time is short. Today’s reading contains this admonition… Luke 12:37a “Happy are those slaves whose master finds them alert when he comes.” To be “found alert” is maturity.
Doing the right thing at the right time is a pretty good definition of handling responsibility responsibly. 2 Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason, making every effort, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, patience; and to patience, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly love; and to brotherly love, love. 8 For if these qualities are in you and increasing, they keep you from becoming idle and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 9 But anyone who lacks these qualities is blind—nearsighted because he has forgotten his cleansing from past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make all the more effort to make your calling and election certain—for if you keep doing these things, you will never stumble.
The Song of Songs is the journey of the bride of Messiah to maturity. Join us as we enter this journey together, starting Sunday, August 16th from 4-6pm at Shomair, 3811 Boyds Bridge Pike. Come Yeshua, come.