the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Daily Devotionals
Voice of the Lord
ADONAI is my light and salvation; whom do I need to fear? (Psalms 27:1)
Iwas visiting a local conservative synagogue with my family. At the break, I met some longtime friends, including my former chazzan (cantor, worship leader), who had recently moved to Israel. The chazzan was now working for an organization that promoted Orthodox Judaism among secular Israeli Jews. He was glad to see me ...until I told him I was a Messianic Jew. The rabbi motioned for everyone to be seated, but the chazzan, outraged at my confession, kept turning in his seat to accuse me of betraying my people. I tried answering his accusations, but he grew only more furious and meanwhile, the service was starting. People seated in front of us were looking back. I felt very embarrassed. I also felt afraid. I had never encountered such hostility in a synagogue.
I didn't know what to do, so I silently prayed for the Lord's help. Just then, I heard the rabbi say, "Please turn to Psalms 27." The Scripture served as an anchor for my soul. As I repeated the words, along with the rest of the congregation, my embarrassment left and my fear disappeared. Strength filled my soul. After the service, the chazzan argued even more intensely with me for several hours. He pushed me, spat on me and insulted me in front of my family, but I was able to maintain peace in my heart and respond to him with gentleness and selfcontrol.
Are you ever afraid? The Word of God is a hammer that breaks fear into pieces.
...memorize Psalms 27:1-2 so that I will be able to recall it in times of fear.
DR
The Voice of the Lord, Copyright © 1998 by the Lewis and Harriet Lederer Foundation, Inc. Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers, Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission. No part of this article may be reproduced in print or on the web, or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.