Commentary - Year 1 Sabbath 22

Genesis 24:42-67   -   Isaiah 12:3-14:2   -   Psalm 20   -   James 4:13-17
 

Elul 6, 5761 / Aug 25, 2001

Elul 4, 5764 / Aug 21, 2004 

Elul 4, 5767 / Aug 18, 2007

Elul 4, 5770 / Aug 14, 2010

Elul 4, 5773 / Aug 10, 2013

Elul 7, 5776 / Sept 10, 2016

Elul 7, 5779 / Sept   7, 2019

Elul 7, 5782 / Sept   3, 2022

V'avo Hayom / So I Came This Day   SCRIPTURES should be read first

Avraham (representing the Heavenly Father) has sent Eliezar (representing Moses) to seek a bride for Yitzchak (representing Yeshua). The prospective bride, Rivqah, represents the church.

The church (Heb. qehal) was in the wilderness (Acts 7:38). Yeshua said that He would build it up, and it would never die out (Matthew 16:18). It was established long before Yeshua’s time on earth, and it never died out to be restarted by some recent prophet: there are several large denominations today that were started by false prophets claiming to have authority to start a new church, in contradiction to Yeshua’s statement.

The church must be qualified for marriage to Messiah.

From last Tuesday night (Elul 1) until Yom haKippurim are 40 special days of repentance – as when John was baptizing with “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” These days are for focusing on:

(1)           Te-shu-vah’ – Repentance,

(2)           Te-fil-lah’    – Prayer,

(3)           Tze-da-kah’ – Charity, and                 (from Tzaddik – literally means righteousness.)

(4)           Te-hil-lim’   – singing Psalms.

We are approaching a time of rehearsals for that which God has told us is coming. It is at once a solemn, awesome, and joyful time.

These rehearsals are for those who have been redeemed by the Passover Lamb, and who have subsequently been betrothed to Messiah as Firstfruits – as rehearsed at Pentecost.

At the coming Day of Trumpeting (rehearsed on September 16 in 2004), believers will rejoice in hearing the shout of the archangel, God’s trump of the shofar, and the return of Yeshua. But for the world of sin, it will be the beginning of the end.

The Day of the Atonements (September 25 in 2004) is a solemn day of repentance, when we consider the various kinds of sin that we are to be overcoming. There does not seem to be overwhelming acceptance of the need of believers to repent, but that is a continual requirement in order to make the Bride fit for the wedding (Ephesians 5:27). Some go so far as to say that this repentance is for unbelieving Israel, but it is for believers! John scolded unbelievers who came to be baptized at this time, but did not have the fruits of faith (Luke 3:7-9).

The seven-day Feast of Tabernacles (September 30 – October 6 in 2004) is a rehearsal for the Marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7): while believers will be rejoicing, the world around will be collapsing – all seventy nations will be falling, and Yeshua will become King of all the earth.

It may be noted that there are no “good” nations, though all are not equal: all will fall, but there will be varying judgments upon each (Isaiah 13, Zephaniah 3:8, Revelation 19:15). As examples, the five cities of the plains (called Sodom and Gomorrah) were destroyed with fire and brimstone; Ninevah repented and was granted a reprieve, but then went back to sin and was destroyed by an army.

Yeshua came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). In Temple times (and before), sin offerings were for the purpose of overcoming sin – for bringing repentance. Repentance means turning from our ways of sin – turning toward God. This is a time for believers to consider what God calls sin, and to repent.

Isaiah:

(V.13:4) “Yahweh of Hosts is mustering the army for battle.” Note that Isaiah does not say “Elohim of Hosts” – the Judging God of Armies; it is the Gracious and Merciful God of Armies who is gathering warriors to battle.

Babylon will wail, for the “Day of Yahweh” is near (v.1, 6). Yahweh will exterminate sinners from the land (v.9). No Arab will dwell in Iraq (v.20), or at least not in the city of Babylon; consider this in light of the current war. Also, no Arab will dwell in Damascus, the capitol of Syria, where terrorism is presently staged against Israel (Isaiah 17:1)!

The God of Grace and Mercy will have compassion on Israel (v.14:1), and give them the land promised to Avraham.

It is by grace and mercy that the righteous will be established in the earth, and sinners will be taken away. This is solemn, and awesome, and joyous! But for sinners, it is to be dreaded (v.13:9).

We should consider seriously the daily prayer (the Shemoneh Esrei):

“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, for we have erred; pardon us, our King, for we have willfully sinned – for You pardon and forgive. Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who forgives abundantly through Yeshua.”

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah; and bring us near, our King, to Your service; and influence us to return in perfect repentance before You. Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who desires repentance.”

“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son” (Revelation 21:7).

Psalm 20:

(V.7-8) “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name Yahweh, our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright.”

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Genesis 24:26-27 Then the man bowed low and worshiped Yahweh. He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Avraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, Yahweh has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brothers.”

V.52 When Avraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before Yahweh.

Isaiah 12:4-6 And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.” Praise Yahweh in song, for He has done excellent things; let this be known throughout the earth. Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 20:5 May Yahweh fulfill all your petitions.

James 4:15 You ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."

See TEFILLAH / PRAYER.

Readings:

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who chose us from among all peoples by giving us Your Torah.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

(Eliezar to Rivqah’s family:)

Reader 1* Amen ⁴² "So I came today to the spring, and said, 'O Yahweh, the God of my master Avraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful; ⁴³ behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar"; ⁴⁴ and she will say to me, "You drink, and I will draw for your camels also"; let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my master's son.'

Reader 2* Amen ⁴⁵ "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rivqah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' ⁴⁶ "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also'; so I drank, and she watered the camels also. ⁴⁷ "Then I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him'; and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists. ⁴⁸ "And I bowed low and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Avraham, who had guided me in the right way to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.

Reader 3* Amen ⁴⁹ "So now if you are going to deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, let me know, that I may turn to the right hand or the left." ⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The matter comes from Yahweh; so we cannot speak to you bad or good. ⁵¹ "Here is Rivqah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as Yahweh has spoken."

Reader 4* Amen ⁵² When Avraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before Yahweh. ⁵³ The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rivqah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. ⁵⁴ Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night.

Reader 5* Amen When they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me away to my master." ⁵⁵ But her brother and her mother said, "Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go." ⁵⁶ He said to them, "Do not delay me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master." ⁵⁷ And they said, "We will call the girl and consult her wishes." ⁵⁸ Then they called Rivqah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."

Reader 6* Amen ⁵⁹ Thus they sent away their sister Rivqah and her nurse with Avraham's servant and his men. ⁶⁰ They blessed Rivqah and said to her, "May you, our sister, Become thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them." ⁶¹ Then Rivqah arose with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rivqah and departed.

Reader 7* Amen ⁶² Now Yitzchak had come from going to Beer-lahai-roi; for he was living in the Negev. ⁶³ Yitzchak went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming. ⁶⁴ Rivqah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Yitzchak she dismounted from the camel. ⁶⁵ She said to the servant, "Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "He is my master." Then she took her veil and covered herself. ⁶⁶ The servant told Yitzchak all the things that he had done. ⁶⁷ Then Yitzchak brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rivqah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Yitzchak was comforted after his mother's death.

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

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"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who selected good prophets, delighting in their words which were spoken truthfully.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,

and the prophets of truth and righteousness."

Isaiah 12:3-14:2

³ Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. ⁴ And in that day you will say, "Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted." ⁵ Praise Yahweh in song, for He has done excellent things; let this be known throughout the earth. ⁶ Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

^13:1 The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. ² Lift up a standard on the bare hill, raise your voice to them, wave the hand that they may enter the doors of the nobles. ³ I have commanded My consecrated ones, I have even called My mighty warriors, My proudly exulting ones, to execute My anger. ⁴ A sound of tumult on the mountains, like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered together! Yahweh of hosts is mustering the army for battle. ⁵ They are coming from a far country, from the farthest horizons, Yahweh and His instruments of indignation, to destroy the whole land. ⁶ Wail, for the day of Yahweh is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. ⁷ Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man's heart will melt. ⁸ They will be terrified, pains and anguish will take hold of them; they will writhe like a woman in labor, they will look at one another in astonishment, their faces aflame. ⁹ Behold, the day of Yahweh is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; and He will exterminate its sinners from it. ¹⁰ For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not shed its light. ¹¹ Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. ¹² I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold and mankind than the gold of Ophir. ¹³ Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the fury of Yahweh of hosts in the day of His burning anger. ¹⁴ And it will be that like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, they will each turn to his own people, and each one flee to his own land. ¹⁵ Anyone who is found will be thrust through, and anyone who is captured will fall by the sword. ¹⁶ Their little ones also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished. ¹⁷ Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them, who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold. ¹⁸ And their bows will mow down the young men, they will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb, nor will their eye pity children. ¹⁹ And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. ²⁰ It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; nor will the Arab pitch his tent there, nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there. ²¹ But desert creatures will lie down there, and their houses will be full of owls; ostriches also will live there, and shaggy goats will frolic there. ²² Hyenas will howl in their fortified towers and jackals in their luxurious palaces. Her fateful time also will soon come and her days will not be prolonged.

^14:1 When Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob and again choose Israel, and settle them in their own land, then strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. ² The peoples will take them along and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them as an inheritance in the land of Yahweh as male servants and female servants; and they will take their captors captive and will rule over their oppressors.

Psalm 20    (To be sung.)  For the choir director. A Psalm of David

¹ May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! ² May He send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion! ³ May He remember all your meal offerings and find your burnt offering acceptable! Selah. ⁴ May He grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your counsel! ⁵ We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May Yahweh fulfill all your petitions. ⁶ Now I know that Yahweh saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. ⁷ Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of Yahweh, our God. ⁸ They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright. ⁹ Save, O Yahweh; may the King answer us in the day we call.

James 4:13-17

¹³ Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." ¹⁴ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." ¹⁶ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.