Day 4: The Three pillars

BLESSING FOR COUNTING THE OMER:

Baruch ata Adonai, ELOHEYNU melech ha-olam, asher kiddeshanu bidvarecha v’tzi-va-noo al sifeerat ha-omer. 

Blessed are you, O Adonai our GOD, King of the universe Who has sanctified us by your Word and commanded us concerning the Counting of the Omer.

Today is four days of the Omer.

Shimon the Righteous from the remnants of the Great Assembly stated, "On three things the world stands: on the Torah, on prayer & worship and on acts of lovingkindness."

Pirkei Avot 1:2

Chesed is typically defined as helping or assisting others non-monetarily , while  tzedakah involves helping with one’s money.

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Messiah Yeshua of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6

Old Testament Hebrew describes chesed as Lovingkindness, Devotion, Mercy, Strength, Grace, Purity, Loyalty, Tenderness, and Steadfastness. New Testament Greek in Galatians 5:22 & 23 states “But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control, against such things there is no law.”

 O.T. chesed & N.T agape ultimately describe the fullness of God’s divine loving character. Agape would not exist without chesed. The New Covenant & Holy Spirit are the promise to every believer in Yeshua

 This week’s Parashat lists multiple examples of acts of kindness requiring no funding

  Exodus 22:28       You shall not curse your ruler of your people.

   Exodus 23:1         Do not circulate a false report.

   Exodus 23:2         You shall not follow a crowd to do evil.

  Exodus 23:2         Testify to pervert justice.

   Exodus 23:5         Help your enemy’s ox or donkey.

   Exodus 23:8         You shall take no bribe.

   Exodus 23:9         You shall not oppress a stranger

·      ^“Yeshua answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Mark 12:29-31  

·      LORD today & everyday may your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. May our hearts be changed by the reading of your Torah, our prayer & worship be unceasing, and your Holy Spirit help us love our neighbor as ourselves.