March 31, 2009

• O Elohim, You are my Ěl and I earnestly seek You

  Psalms 63:1-11  A psalm of David, when he was in the desert of Y’hudah: O God, you are my God; I will seek you eagerly. My heart thirsts for you, my body longs for you in a land parched and exhausted, where no water can be found.  (2)  I used to contemplate you in the sanctuary, seeing your power and glory;  (3)  for your grace is better than life. My lips will worship you.  (4)  Yes, I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.  (5)  I am as satisfied as with rich food; my mouth praises you with joy on my lips  (6)  when I remember you on my bed and meditate on you in the night watches.  (7)  For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice;  (8)  my heart clings to you; your right hand supports me.  (9)  But those who seek to destroy my life -may they go to the lowest parts of the earth.  (10)  May they be given over to the power of the sword; may they become prey for jackals.  (11)  But the king will rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will exult, for the mouths of liars will be silenced.

  David recognizes that Adonai is in control of his life, and out of that relationship fellowship is born.

  life – chay – life (abstract emphatic); life; sustenance, maintenance

  How precious is Adonai’s grace to you? Is it better than life?

  Many times we have so much material things, so much outwardly, but spiritually speaking we are dry. David was satisfied in Adonai, he was refreshed in Adonai.

  Problems arise when we don’t follow close behind Adonai, and David found that out first hand. But as we stick by Adonai, He will uphold us and strengthen us.

  James 4:7-10  Therefore, submit to God. Moreover, take a stand against the Adversary, and he will flee from you.  (8)  Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded people!  (9)  Wail, mourn, sob! Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom!  (10)  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

  David could praise Adonai in the wilderness based on Adonai’s love, not his circumstances. Measure Adonai’s grace in your life.  Is it worth more than life to you? If not, perhaps you need to take some more time to look at Adonai’s love for you.

  Ephesians 3:17-21  so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trusting. Also I pray that you will be rooted and founded in love,  (18)  so that you, with all God’s people, will be given strength to grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of the Messiah’s love,  (19)  yes, to know it, even though it is beyond all knowing, so that you will be filled with all the fullness of God.  (20)  Now to him who by his power working in us is able to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine,  (21)  to him be glory in the Messianic Community and in the Messiah Yeshua from generation to generation forever. Amen.

  Romans 8:35-39  Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger? War?  (36)  As the Tanakh puts it, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long, we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”  (37)  No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us.  (38)  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming,  (39)  neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.

  Luke 7:36-50  One of the P’rushim invited Yeshua to eat with him, and he went into the home of the Parush and took his place at the table.  (37)  A woman who lived in that town, a sinner, who was aware that he was eating in the home of the Parush, brought an alabaster box of very expensive perfume,  (38)  stood behind Yeshua at his feet and wept until her tears began to wet his feet. Then she wiped his feet with her own hair, kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.  (39)  When the Parush who had invited him saw what was going on, he said to himself, “If this man were really a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what sort of woman she is, that she is a sinner.”  (40)  Yeshua answered, “Shim`on, I have something to say to you.” “Say it, Rabbi,” he replied.  (41)  “A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed ten times as much as the other.  (42)  When they were unable to pay him back, he canceled both their debts. Now which of them will love him more?”  (43)  Shim`on answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “Your judgment is right,” Yeshua said to him.  (44)  Then, turning to the woman, he said to Shim`on, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house — you didn’t give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair!  (45)  You didn’t give me a kiss; but from the time I arrived, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet!  (46)  You didn’t put oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet!  (47)  Because of this, I tell you that her sins — which are many! — have been forgiven, because she loved much. But someone who has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.”  (48)  Then he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”  (49)  At this, those eating with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this fellow that presumes to forgive sins?”  (50)  But he said to the woman, “Your trust has saved you; go in peace.”

  Do you find yourself identifying more with the sinner woman or with Shim`on the Parush?

  Shalom

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