RR Psalm 37:35,36 Part 22
Shalom {{firstName}},
Psalm 37:35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a leafy tree in native soil. 36 But once he passed by, he was no more. Though I looked for him, he could not be found.
As previously discussed, this Psalm is an acrostic. Basically, each second verse starts with the next letter of the Hebrew “Aleph-Bet.” (Notwithstanding some changes made by the writers of the Septuagint.) Today, our subject verses start with the “Resh.” It is the first letter of the word “Ra’iti,” meaning “I have seen.”
Presuming our writer is King David,… (We can’t know for sure. The Psalm simply begins “L’David,” meaning “to David,” but it could also be translated “for David” or “from David.”) what has David seen? He has seen “Rasha” (Resh-Shin-Ayin), meaning “evil,” or as translated here, “a wicked (man),” who is then likened to a substantial tree spreading out.
This “tree” reminds us of the dream King Nebuchadnezzar told to Daniel…. Daniel 4:8 The tree grew large and became strong and its top reached to heaven; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 9 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Beneath it the beasts of the field found shade and birds of the sky lived in its branches, and from it all creatures were fed.
…which Daniel interpreted, and told the king that the tree represented his kingdom which will be cut down leaving a stump (taken from him)…. Daniel 4:22b “…until you know that the Most High is sovereign over the realm of mankind and gives it to whomever He wishes.” The wicked may appear to thrive for a season, but ultimately, God is not mocked.
Psalm 10:2 In pride the wicked hotly hunts the poor. Let them be caught in the plots they have planned. 3 For the wicked one boasts about his soul’s desire. The greedy one curses, reviling Adonai. 4 The wicked one, with his nose in the air, never seeks Him. All his thoughts are: “There is no God.”
According to our verse 36 today, the wicked will be lost (not found). For those of us who know the Lord, we were lost, but now we are found. Hallelujah! Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon27-Oct-20255th of Cheshvan, 5786
Ge 12:14-13:4Jos 15Ps 15-16Mt 11(2 Pet 1)
Psalm 37:35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a leafy tree in native soil. 36 But once he passed by, he was no more. Though I looked for him, he could not be found.
As previously discussed, this Psalm is an acrostic. Basically, each second verse starts with the next letter of the Hebrew “Aleph-Bet.” (Notwithstanding some changes made by the writers of the Septuagint.) Today, our subject verses start with the “Resh.” It is the first letter of the word “Ra’iti,” meaning “I have seen.”
Presuming our writer is King David,… (We can’t know for sure. The Psalm simply begins “L’David,” meaning “to David,” but it could also be translated “for David” or “from David.”) what has David seen? He has seen “Rasha” (Resh-Shin-Ayin), meaning “evil,” or as translated here, “a wicked (man),” who is then likened to a substantial tree spreading out.
This “tree” reminds us of the dream King Nebuchadnezzar told to Daniel…. Daniel 4:8 The tree grew large and became strong and its top reached to heaven; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 9 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Beneath it the beasts of the field found shade and birds of the sky lived in its branches, and from it all creatures were fed.
…which Daniel interpreted, and told the king that the tree represented his kingdom which will be cut down leaving a stump (taken from him)…. Daniel 4:22b “…until you know that the Most High is sovereign over the realm of mankind and gives it to whomever He wishes.” The wicked may appear to thrive for a season, but ultimately, God is not mocked.
Psalm 10:2 In pride the wicked hotly hunts the poor. Let them be caught in the plots they have planned. 3 For the wicked one boasts about his soul’s desire. The greedy one curses, reviling Adonai. 4 The wicked one, with his nose in the air, never seeks Him. All his thoughts are: “There is no God.”
According to our verse 36 today, the wicked will be lost (not found). For those of us who know the Lord, we were lost, but now we are found. Hallelujah! Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon27-Oct-20255th of Cheshvan, 5786
Ge 12:14-13:4Jos 15Ps 15-16Mt 11(2 Pet 1)
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
Recent
Archive
2025
May
RR Psalm 28:5 Part 5RR Psalm 28:6 Part 6RR Psalm 28:7a Part 7RR Psalm 28:7b Part 8RR Psalm 28:7c Part 9RR Psalm 28:7d Part 10RR Psalm 28:8 Part 11Rabbi’s Reflections - Saturday, May 10, 2025 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 28:9 Part 12RR Psalm 28:9 Part 13RR Psalm 28:9 Part 14RR Psalm 28:9 Part 15RR Psalm 29:1 Part 1RR Psalm 29:2 Part 2Favor From a Fooled Philistine By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:3 Part 3RR Psalm 29:4 Part 4RR Psalm 29:5 Part 5RR Psalm 29:6 Part 6RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7Favor/Grace in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:8 Part 8RR Psalm 29:10 Part 10RR Psalm 29:9 Part 9RR Psalm 29:11 Paert 11RR Psalm 30:1,2 Part 1RR Psalms 30:3 Part 2RR Psalm 30:4 Part 3Favor (Chen/Charis) in the Psalms By David HarwoodRR Psalm 30:5 Part 4
June
RR Psalm 30:6 Part 5RR Psalm 30:7 Part 6RR Psalm 30:8 Part 7RR - Psalm 30:9-11 Part 8RR Psalm 30:12,13 Part 9RR Favor (Chen/Charis) in Proverbs By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 31:3 Part 2RR Psalm 31:4 Part 3RR Psalm 31:5 Part 4RR Psalm 31:6 Part 5RR Psalm 31:7 Part 6RR Kohelet By David HarwoodRR “Taking Our Thoughts Captive – Part 2” By Jerry MillerRR Psalm 31:8 Part 7RR Psalm 31:8 Part 8RR Psalm 31:9 Part 9RR - Psalm 31:10 Part 10RR Psalm 31:11 Part 11Zechariah and Favor By David HarwoodRR - Psalm 31:12-14 Part 12RR Shalom SpecialRR Psalm 31:15 Part 13RR Psalm 31:16,17 Part 14RR Psalm 31:18 Part 15RR Psalm 31:19,20 Part 16RR Adonai-Tzva’ot and End-Time Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:21 Part 17RR Psalm 31:22 Part 18RR Psalm 31:23 Part 19
July
RR Psalm 31:24 Part 20RR Psalm 31:25 Part 21RR Psalm 32:1 Part 1Rabbi’s Reflections - Favor and Luke By David HarwoodRR Taking Thoughts Captive Part 3 by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 32:2 Part 2RR Psalm 32:3,4 Part 3RR Psalm 32:5 Part 4RR Psalm 32:5 Part 5RR Psalm 32:6 Part 6Some Nuances of Charis By David HarwoodRR Psalm 32:7 Part 7RR Psalm 32:8 Part 8RR Psalm 32:8 Part 9RR Psalm 32:9 Part 10RR Psalm 32:10 Part 11RR Psalm 32:11 Part 12RR Psalm 33:1 Part 1RR Psalm 33:2,3 Part 2RR Psalm 33:4,5 Part 3RR Psalm 33:6,7 Part 4RR Psalm 33:8,9,10 Part 5Favor In Acts 1 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 33:11,12 Part 6RR Psalm 33:13,14 Part 7RR Psalm 33:15,16 Part 8RR Psalm 33:17,18,19 Part 9RR Psalm 33:20,21 Part 10RR Psalm 33:22 Part 11RR Favor in Acts 2: Stephen by David HarwoodRR “Endurance for the Race” by Jerry Miller
