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Tishrei 26, 5762 /
Oct 13,
2001
Tishrei 24, 5765 / Oct 9, 2004
Tishrei 24, 5768 / Oct 6, 2007
Tishrei 24,
5771 / Oct
2, 2010
Tishrei 24, 5774 / Sept 28, 2013
Tishrei 27, 5777 / Oct 29, 2016
Tishrei 27, 5780 / Oct 26, 2019
Tishrei 27, 5783 / Oct 22, 2022
Vayizchar
Elohim / Elohim remembered
SCRIPTURES should be read first
(V.23)
Rachel conceived and bore a son and said, "Elohim
(the Creator who Judges) has taken away my reproach." 24 And
she named him Yoseph (Increase),
saying, "May Yahweh (the Eternal who is Gracious) give me
another son" – the Messiah (Yelamdeinu P20). The name
of her second immediate son foreshadowed her distant son,
Messiah – Binyamin means “Son of my right hand,” or, as his
mother called him, Benoni, meaning “Son of sorrow.” Yeshua
is the Son of God, who sits at His right hand, and a “Man of
sorrows, acquainted with grief.”
Sons
of Yaacov (Jacob):
Year by Leah - Zilpah Rachel - Bilhah
1 Reuven
2 Shimon
3 Levi
4 Yehudah* Dan
5
Gad Naphtali
6 Issachar Asher
7 Zevulun Yoseph*
(Binyamin)
*
Progenitors of the Messiah – Praiser-of-Yahweh (ancestor of
David) and Increase: hence we get “Messiah ben David” and
“Messiah ben Yoseph.”
(V.25-26) Now it came about when Rachel had borne Yoseph,
that Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, that I may go to my
own place and to my own country. "Give me my wives and my
children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for
you yourself know my service which I have rendered you."
Jacob
prophetically saw Yoseph as Esau’s conqueror; therefore he
could safely return home (Midrash).
(V.27) But Laban said to him, "If now it pleases you, stay
with me; I have divined (by occult practices) that Yahweh
has blessed me on your account."
Laban
selfishly desired to keep Jacob. Upon seeing that flattery
would not suffice, Laban asked what price Jacob would
require. Jacob responded (paraphrased): “What you have, as a
result of my work, is all rightfully yours, in payment for
your daughters. Now, in order to provide for my own family,
I will continue to work for you, for only those animals
(sheep and goats) that are unnaturally colored (small dark
dots or wide dark patches) – what God will miraculously
provide.” Laban readily accepts the generous terms. Taking
no chances, Laban removes his flocks that very day – taking
more than he was entitled to, and putting them in the care
of his sons: Jacob was left with the only poorest of Laban’s
flock in his care.
[Remember Avraham: in their separation agreement, he let Lot
choose first – and Lot chose the fertile land of Sodom and
Gomorrah.]
But
Jacob had been shown in a dream (v.31:12) that spotted rams
would mate with the flock, for his blessing. His timely use
of tree “rods” was apparently a way to incite the desired
stronger animals to mate with spotted ones.
(V.43)
So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large
flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys.
(V.31:1-2) Now Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons,
saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and
from what belonged to our father he has made all this
wealth." And Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it
was not friendly toward him as formerly.
_______________
Acts
13:26 “Brethren, sons of Abraham's family, and those
among you who fear God, to us the word of this salvation is
sent out. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren,
that through Yeshua forgiveness of sins is proclaimed
to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed
from all things, from which you could not be freed through
the Law of Moses. 40 Take heed therefore, so that the thing
spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: 41 ‘Behold,
you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; for I am accomplishing
a work in your days, a work which you will never believe,
though someone should describe it to you.’ ”
Interestingly, John the baptizer (Acts 13:25) was a Levite.
Paul, the speaker here, is a Binyaminite. Yeshua, of whom
they both speak, is a Yehudaite (Jew); all are descendants
of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaacov.
Rachel
desired to be a progenitor of Messiah, as did Eve and Sarah.
Those
who trust in worldly gain may marvel at the work of God, but
they will not believe, even if it is explained to them.
Ultimately, they shall perish.
The
faith that is of God produces results, as we see in Jacob’s
dealings with Laban; a faith that is without results, is not
faith at all – “Show me your faith without works (like,
how?); I will show you my faith by my works;” “Faith without
works is dead.”
Through faith in Yeshua, we may be freed from all penalty
for sin, and ultimately from sin itself. The Law of Moses
shows us the Savior, but the Law is not our salvation.
Animal offerings always were, always are, and always will be
a prophetic or memorial picture of Yeshua; they never did
atone for sin (Heb. 10:11), but always “proclaim forgiveness
of sins” (Acts 13:.38) through Yeshua.
Psalm 25
This Psalm is the first Psalm to
be arranged alephbetically by the first Hebrew letter
of each verse.
In the previous Psalm (24), David
said that the man who may enter God’s Holy Place is one who
has not lifted up his soul to falsehood. Now (v.1)David says
that he lifts up his soul to Yahweh. The idea is offering
his life to God, to glorify God’s Holy Name.
(V.2) David then says that he has
put all of his trust in Yahweh: if he is shamed by God’s
lack of response, then the faith of others would be shaken,
and God’s faithless enemies would be triumphant – let it not
be!
(V.4-5) Here is where we need to
follow David: he says, “Make
me know Your ways, O Yahweh; teach me Your paths. Lead me in
Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my
salvation.” The
orach is a narrow path for the individual that branches
off of the derek – the main public thoroughfare.
Firstly, as believers, we need to know God’s path. We must
study His Word, and be taught its meaning. We must learn
obedience through his leadings and trials. If He has begun
the work of faith in us, then He will work in us to the end
to perfect His salvation (Philippians 1:6).
(V.6-7) David asks to be treated
as a growing son, being trained from small steps to an able
walk. And he asks for forgiveness of sins and rebelliousness
of younger years, before he learned better
–
that God may not remember. Because God is the source
of forgiveness and righteousness, it is for His Name’s sake
that this is requested.
(V.10) For those who keep His
covenant, all of God’s paths are seen as kindness and truth,
even when they have affliction and correction. But, for
willful transgressors, God’s paths are not seen, and there
is stumbling (Hosea 14:10).
(V.22) In the end, David asks
that all of God’s people be delivered from distress. We may
pray daily that God may remember
–
to bring all of us to His perfect fullness and deliver us
from the distress of growing pains.
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."
Reader 1*
Amen. 22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God
gave heed to her and opened her womb. 23 So she
conceived and bore a son and said, "God has taken away my
reproach." 24 She named him Joseph, saying, "May
Yahweh give me another son."
Reader 2*
Amen. 25 Now it came about when Rachel had
borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, that
I may go to my own place and to my own country. 26
"Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served
you, and let me depart; for you yourself know my service
which I have rendered you." 27 But Laban said to
him, "If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined
that Yahweh has blessed me on your account." 28
He continued, "Name me your wages, and I will give it."
Reader 3*
Amen. 29 But he said to him, "You yourself
know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared
with me. 30 "For you had little before I came and
it has increased to a multitude, and Yahweh has blessed you
wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own
household also?" 31 So he said, "What shall I
give you?" And Jacob said, "You shall not give me anything.
If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture
and keep your flock:
Reader 4*
Amen. 32 let me pass through your entire
flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted
sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted
and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages.
33 "So my honesty will answer for me later, when
you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled
and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if
found with me, will be considered stolen." 34
Laban said, "Good, let it be according to your word."
35 So he removed on that day the striped and spotted
male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats,
every one with white in it, and all the black ones among the
sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons. 36
And he put a distance of three days' journey between himself
and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
Reader 5*
Amen. 37 Then Jacob took fresh rods of
poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes
in them, exposing the white which was in the rods. 38
He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks
in the gutters, even in the watering troughs, where the
flocks came to drink; and they mated when they came to
drink. 39 So the flocks mated by the rods, and
the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.
Reader 6*
Amen. 40 Jacob separated the lambs, and made
the flocks face toward the striped and all the black in the
flock of Laban; and he put his own herds apart, and did not
put them with Laban's flock. 41 Moreover,
whenever the stronger of the flock were mating, Jacob would
place the rods in the sight of the flock in the gutters, so
that they might mate by the rods; 42 but when the
flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler
were Laban's and the stronger Jacob's.
Reader 7*
Amen. 43 So the man became exceedingly
prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male
servants and camels and donkeys.
31:1 Now
Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has
taken away all that was our father's, and from what belonged
to our father he has made all this wealth." 2
Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not
friendly toward him as formerly.
"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."
______________________
"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."
1
Samuel 1:11
Reader 8* Amen.
11 And Hannah made a vow and said, "O Yahweh of
hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your
maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your
maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I
will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a
razor shall never come on his head."
Psalm 25
(To be sung.) A Psalm of
David.
To You, O Yahweh, I lift up my soul. 2
O my God, in You I trust, do not let me be ashamed; do not
let my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none of
those who wait for You will be ashamed; those who deal
treacherously without cause will be ashamed. 4
Make me know Your ways, O Yahweh; teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the
God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day. 6
Remember, O Yahweh, Your compassion and Your
lovingkindnesses, for they have been from of old. 7
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to Your lovingkindness remember me, for Your
goodness' sake, O Yahweh. 8 Good and upright is
Yahweh; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. 9
He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble
His way. 10 All the paths of Yahweh are
lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and
His testimonies. 11 For Your name's sake, O
Yahweh, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. 12
Who is the man who fears Yahweh? He will instruct him in the
way he should choose. 13 His soul will abide in
prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The secret of Yahweh is for those who fear Him, and
He will make them know His covenant. 15 My eyes
are continually toward Yahweh, for He will pluck my feet out
of the net. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of
my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive
all my sins. 19 Look upon my enemies, for they
are many, and they hate me with violent hatred. 20
Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for
I take refuge in You. 21 Let integrity and
uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You. 22
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Acts 13:16-41
Reader 9* Amen.
16 Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand
said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17
"The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and
made the people great during their stay in the land of
Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it.
18 "For a period of about forty years He put up
with them in the wilderness. 19 "When He had
destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He
distributed their land as an inheritance-- all of which took
about four hundred and fifty years. 20 "After
these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
21 "Then they asked for a king, and God gave them
Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for
forty years.
Reader 10* Amen.
22 "After He had removed him, He raised up David
to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and
said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My
heart, who will do all My will.' 23 "From the
descendants of this man, according to promise, God has
brought to Israel a Savior, Yeshua, 24 after John
had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to
all the people of Israel. 25 "And while John was
completing his course, he kept saying, 'What do you suppose
that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me
the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'
Reader 11* Amen.
26 "Brethren, sons of Abraham's family, and
those among you who fear God, to us the message of this
salvation has been sent. 27 "For those who
live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him
nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every
Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. 28
"And though they found no ground for putting Him to death,
they asked Pilate that He be executed. 29 "When
they had carried out all that was written concerning Him,
they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.
30 "But God raised Him from the dead; 31
and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him
from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His
witnesses to the people.
Reader 12* Amen.
32 "And we preach to you the good news of the
promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has
fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up
Yeshua, as it is also written in the second Psalm, You are
My Son; today I have begotten You.' 34 "As for
the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to
return to decay, He has spoken in this way: 'I will give You
the holy and sure blessings of David.' 35
"Therefore He also says in another Psalm, You will not allow
Your Holy One to undergo decay.' 36 "For David,
after he had served the purpose of God in his own
generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and
underwent decay; 37 but He whom God raised did
not undergo decay.
Reader 13* Amen.
38 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren,
that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed
from all things, from which you could not be freed through
the Law of Moses. 40 "Therefore take heed, so
that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon
you: 41 Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and
perish; for I am accomplishing a work in your days, a work
which you will never believe, though someone should describe
it to you.'"
"Blessed are You, Yahweh
our God, King of the Universe,
Rock of Ages, righteous
throughout all generations.
You are the faithful God,
promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,
for all Your words are true
and righteous.
Faithful are You, Yahweh
our God, and faithful are Your words,
for no word of Yours shall
remain unfulfilled;
You are a faithful and
merciful God and King.
Blessed are You, Yahweh our
God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."
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