Me First!

Rabbi Ken Alpren Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D. 5/19/12 Leviticus 25:1-4, ‘ADONAI spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai; he said, 2 "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'When you enter the land I am giving you, the land itself is to observe a Shabbat rest for ADONAI. 3 Six years you will sow your field; six years you will prune your grapevines and gather their produce. 4 But in the seventh year is to be a Shabbat of complete rest for the land, a Shabbat for ADONAI; you will neither sow your field nor prune your grapevines.’ G-d cares about the land and how we steward it. He has specific instructions for it’s care. Caring for the land prescribed in this way required self restraint. Although it was harvested for six years, the L-rd commanded it not be harvested or even worked in the seventh year. This was a cause for concern to the people because they were concerned about how they would survive during the seventh year. How would they make it if they obeyed? Leviticus 25:19-21, ‘The land will yield its produce, you will eat until you have enough, and you will live there securely. 20 "'If you ask, "If we aren't allowed to sow seed or harvest what our land produces, what are we going to eat the seventh year?" 21 then I will order my blessing on you during the sixth year, so that the land brings forth enough produce for all three years.’ Wow! No need to worry about obedience! G-d promised them that if they obeyed, He would command a blessing! He would take care of their needs and provide a triple blessing thus giving them enough for the sixth, seventh and even into the eighth year! Isaiah 55:9, ‘"As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ G-d ways are not always our ways. He knows better. The Hebrew word used is this passage for higher is ‘gava’ which means exalted and wiser. His ways are not always sensible to us, convenient or understandable. His ways are perfect! Psalm 19:7-10, ‘The Torah of ADONAI is perfect, restoring the inner person. The instruction of ADONAI is sure, making wise the thoughtless. 8 The precepts of ADONAI are right, rejoicing the heart. The mitzvah of ADONAI is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of ADONAI is clean, enduring forever. The rulings of ADONAI are true, they are righteous altogether, 10 more desirable than gold, than much fine gold, also sweeter than honey or drippings from the honeycomb.’ So in all things whether sensible, convenient or understandable, we are instructed to trust Him! Proverbs 3:5-6, ‘Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him; then he will level your paths.’ This verse tells us to trust towards Him with all of our hearts, to put our face toward Him and go in His direction because if we lean on our own understanding it will collapse! The Sabbath year reminds us that the Earth belongs to the L-rd. The Yovel or Jubilee year occurs every fifty years and reminds us we are but sojourners here. Some of the functions of the Yovel are that it corrects inequality by forgiving debt and giving land back to original owners. It can also alleviate poverty and correct market errors. If one’s lifetime is seventy years and one’s working life spans fifty years, then it is likely that we will experience only one Yovel year per lifetime. G-d is the landlord and we are the tenants; He is the owner and we are the stewards. G-d wants us to live a supernatural life! He gives us instructions and commands which when obeyed will bring about blessings and when disobeyed will bring about curses. Obedience is up to us. Which do we choose? Isaiah 1:19-20, ‘If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you will be eaten by the sword"; for the mouth of ADONAI has spoken.’ If we disobey by refusing and rebelling we are to be eaten by the sword! He is making it clear that our choice should be clear and that we should follow His ways! Haggai 1:5, ‘Therefore here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'Think about your life!’ The portion of this scripture ‘Think about your life!’ actually means ‘Put your heart on your ways’. If we put ourselves first and G-d last, then G-d isn’t happy and we arent’ happy. However, if we put G-d first and ourselves last, then G-d is happy and so are we! Malachi 3:10, ‘Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot. "See if I won't open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs.’ Put Him first! As we walk in the Spirit we are blessed and able to trust. Galatians 5:25, ‘Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day.’ We shouldn’t worry as we trust Him because He is faithful to take care of us just like He did for the widow as recorded in 1 Kings 17. Although she was despairing, G-d sent Eliyahu to comfort her and assure her that she would be provided for and that she wasn’t forgotten. Put Him first! Matthew 6:31-33, ‘"So don't be anxious, asking, `What will we eat?,' `What will we drink?' or `How will we be clothed?' 32 For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. 33 But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’” As we put Him first let us keep our hearts set on Him and remember there will be a final Yovel yet to come when atonement will be completed. Romans 8:21, Acts 3:21.