Posts with the category “rabbis-reflections”

Shalom, Psalm 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but lovingkindness surrounds the one who trusts in Adonai.This verse features a pair of contrasts.  There are the wicked contrasted with those w...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 32:9 – Part 10Psalm 32:9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding, and must be held in with bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”With ...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 32:8 – Part 9Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will give counsel—My eye is on you.Yes, today is the second day in a row for Psal...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will give counsel—My eye is on you.Do you know what a “life verse” is?  Different folks may assign different meaning to ...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Rabbi Trail: As you can see from the “Daily Bread” reading plan below, today is the 17th of Tamuz on the Hebrew calendar (also labeled “Tzom Tamus” (the Fast of Tamuz).  This is 21 days be...  Read More

Some Nuances of CharisBy David HarwoodLet’s briefly survey various ways charis is used in the New Covenant Scriptures.Charis and words with charis at its root are found in different contexts and may h...  Read More

Psalm 32:6 So let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found. When great floodwaters rise, they will not reach him.The object here is to be a “Chosed,” meaning “a godly person.”...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}}, PsalmsPsalm 32:5 – Part 5Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin (Chatah) to You and did not hide my iniquity (Avon). I said: “I confess my transgressions (Pesha) to Adonai,” and Y...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin (Chatah) to You and did not hide my iniquity (Avon). I said: “I confess my transgressions (Pesha) to Adonai,” and You forgave the guilt (Avon) of my sin (C...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Shalom {{firstName}},Psalm 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon m...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the one (man) whose guilt (iniquity) Adonai does not count (impute), and in whose spirit there is no deceit.Naturally, this builds on “Part 1” which is found as the RR for...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Sunday, July 6, 2025Shavuah Tov {{firstName}},Taking Thoughts Captive Part 3 by Jerry Miller2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful throu...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},Favor and LukeBy David HarwoodI’ve been looking forward to transitioning our survey of favor from the Hebrew Scriptures to the Apostolic Writings. If you’ve been following...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 32:1 Of David, a contemplative song. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is pardoned.So, we begin Psalm 32 (one of my all time favorites).  The Hebrew introducti...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Thursday July 3, 2025 Shalom, Special Announcement:  Thursday, July 3rd at 8AM there will be a prayer gathering at the Old Courthouse in downtown Knoxville.  All are invited to a...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 31:24(23) – Part 20Psalm 31:24 Love Adonai, all His kedoshim! Adonai preserves all the faithful, but the proud He pays back in full.This verse has a few “moving parts....  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:23 I said in my alarm, “I have been cut off from Your sight!” But You heard the sound of my pleas when I cried out to You.Take a moment to see the word “alarm” in our verse.  The Hebre...  Read More

Shalom {{firstName}},Psalm 31:22 Blessed be Adonai, for He has shown me His wonderful love in a besieged city.This is a simple, well written, verse.  As it was originally written, it is made up of onl...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Psalm 31:21 In the shelter of Your presence You hide them from people’s plots. You conceal them in a sukkah from the strife of tongues.Based on this verse, we pray this prayer…. Oh Lord ou...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,My intent is to help reveal some of the emotional content of eschatological favor prophesied towards the end of Zechariah. It is the third reference to chen/charis in Zechariah.From the be...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:19 Let the lying lips be mute. For they speak arrogantly against the righteous, with pride and contempt. 20 How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You,...  Read More

Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:18(17) – Part 15Psalm 31:18 Adonai, let me not be ashamed, for I have called upon You. Let the wicked be ashamed—let them be silent in Sheol.Someone is going to be ashamed.  Let ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:16 My times are in Your hands. Deliver me from the hands of my foes and from those who pursue me. 17 Make Your face shine on Your servant. Save me in Your lovingkindness.Whose hand (in...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:15 But I have trusted in You, Adonai. I said: “You are my God.”Why does David say it this way?  Both parts of this verse are written in the perfect form (the Hebrew equivalent of our E...  Read More

Shalom,Oh yes He did!  No, not President Trump… God!  God alone is Shomair Yisrael (the Guardian of Israel).  However; I do believe God spared Donal Trump’s life a year ago so that He could use him fo...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:12 Because of all my adversaries I am the contempt of my neighbors and a dread to my acquaintances. Seeing me on the street, they flee from me. 13 I am as forgotten as a dead man. I ha...  Read More

Shalom,Zechariah and FavorBy David HarwoodI’ve been looking forward to considering chen/charis in Zechariah. There are two clear instances of the use of chen/charis therein, and one ambiguous one. Thi...  Read More

Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:11(10) – Part 11Psalm 31:11(10) For my life is consumed in sorrow and my years in sighing. My strength fails because of my anguish and my bones waste away.Back in verse seven, Da...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:10 Be gracious to me, Adonai, for I am in distress. My eyes waste away with grief, my soul and my body as well.He’s described as a man after God’s own heart, as the priest and prophet,...  Read More

Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:9(8) – Part 9Psalm 31:9 You did not hand me over to the enemy. You set my feet in a wide-open place.Well then, in whose hands are ya?  If we’re not “handed over” to the enemy, th...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:8 I will be glad and rejoice in Your lovingkindness, for You saw my affliction. You knew the troubles of my soul.Yesterday, we studied God’s “Chesed” (grace) response to us, which crea...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 31:8 I will be glad and rejoice in Your lovingkindness, for You saw my affliction. You knew the troubles of my soul.“Gilah V’Simcha,” meaning “rejoice and be glad,” written in the first p...  Read More

Shalom,Rabbi’s note:  For Part 1 - Taking Our Thoughts Captive, by Jerry Miller, please see the RR for Sunday, May 4, 2025.  Jerry has taken a short break from writing every other Sunday.  We are so g...  Read More

Shalom,We’re nearing the end of our survey of the use of chen and charis in the Tanak and Septuagint. We’ve been looking at when the Hebrew, chen, and its Greek equivalent found in the Septuagint, cha...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Friday, June 13, 2025 (Early) Shabbat Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:7(6) – Part 6Psalm 31:7 I detest those who continue to watch worthless idols, but I trust in Adonai.What’s that word, ...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Thursday June 12, 2025 Shalom {{firstName}}, PsalmsPsalm 31:6(5) – Part 5Psalm 31:6 Into Your hand I commit my spirit. You have redeemed me, Adonai, God of truth.Rabbi Trail: Ano...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Shalom,PsalmsPsalm 31:5(4) – Part 4Psalm 31:5 Free me from the net they hid for me, for You are my refuge.Rabbi Trail: I met Rabbi Joseph (see yesterday’...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 31:4(3) – Part 3Psalm 31:4 Since You are my rock and my fortress, You lead me and guide me for Your Name’s sake.Rabbi Trai...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Monday, June 9, 2025 Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 31:3(2) – Part 2Psalm 31:3 Turn Your ear to me, rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a stronghold for my deliveran...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Sunday, June 8, 2025Shavuah Tov {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 31:1,2(1) – Part 1Psalm 31:1 For the music director, a psalm of David. 2 In You, Adonai, have I taken refuge: Let me nev...  Read More