Erev Pesach - The Evening Before Pesach

Tonight we read the Haggadah. You probably already have a copy of it, but if not here is a wonderful free download:

Chabbad Haggadah.

Cleanse your home of leaven and prepare for your Passover Seder. If you are not meeting with a group of people it may be good to go through the Haggadah yourself!

My Thoughts:

Whenever you decide to hold your Pesach Seder meal (either tonight or tomorrow night) you might want to think about what "sacrifice" you can give to Hashem for this. We do not have a Temple and we can not follow those specific Torah instructions for the Pesach sacrifices. But, we can go before Hashem and ask Him what He would want from us today? That is my challenge for you today. Ask Him. Maybe you can do a "mitzvah" or a good deed. Maybe go for a walk and have some personal time with Hashem. Sing some worship songs or just try to be a kind person today to those you love. Remember this. We are to love Hashem with our whole heart, soul and strength. He delivered His people in a miraculous way back then, and He can deliver you and anything you are suffering through -- today. Amen.

Today let’s read:

Exodus 12:21-28

21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, “Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Passover. 22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For Hashem will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two door posts, Hashem will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever. 25 It shall happen when you have come to the land which Hashem will give you, as He has promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 It will happen, when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 that you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of Hashem’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.’”

The people bowed their heads and worshiped. 28 The children of Israel went and did so; as Hashem had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

Pesach - Looking Forward Reading #5

Reading #5

Psalm 37:1-19

There are no Torah Portions this week. So, let’s spend some time in the Psalms. Looking forward to Pesach this Shabbat!

37 Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in Hashem, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Also delight yourself in Hashem, and He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to Hashem. Trust also in Him, and He will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun. 7 Rest in Hashem, and wait patiently for Him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Hashem shall inherit the land. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there. 11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 Hashem will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken. 16 Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Hashem upholds the righteous. 18 Hashem knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Pesach - Looking Forward Reading #4

Reading #4

Psalm 92

There are no Torah Portions this week. So, let’s spend some time in the Psalms. Looking forward to Pesach this Shabbat!

It is a good thing to give thanks to Hashem,

    to sing praises to Your name, Most High,

2 to proclaim Your loving kindness in the morning,

    and Your faithfulness every night,

3 with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp,

    and with the melody of the lyre.

4 For You, Hashem, have made me glad through Your work.

    I will triumph in the works of Your hands.

5 How great are Your works, Hashem!

    Your thoughts are very deep.

6 A senseless man doesn’t know,

    neither does a fool understand this:

7 though the wicked spring up as the grass,

    and all the evildoers flourish,

    they will be destroyed forever.

8 But you, Hashem, are on high forever more.

9 For, behold,Your enemies, Hashem,

    for, behold, Your enemies shall perish.

    All the evildoers will be scattered.

10 But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox.

    I am anointed with fresh oil.

11 My eye has also seen my enemies.

    My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.

    He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 They are planted in Hashem’s house.

    They will flourish in our Elohim’s courts.

14 They will still produce fruit in old age.

    They will be full of sap and green,

15 to show that Hashem is upright.

He is my rock,

    and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Pesach - Looking Forward Reading #3

Reading #3

Psalm 91

There are no Torah Portions this week. So, let’s spend some time in the Psalms. Looking forward to Pesach this Shabbat!

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of Hashem, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
    my Elohim, in whom I trust.”
3 For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His feathers.
    Under His wings you will take refuge.
    His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
    nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6  nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
    nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    and ten thousand at your right hand;
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes,
    and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made Hashem your refuge,
    and the Most High your dwelling place,
10 no evil shall happen to you,
    neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For He will put His angels in charge of you,
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands,
    so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and cobra.
    You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love on Me, therefore I will deliver him.
    I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He will call on Me, and I will answer him.
    I will be with him in trouble.
    I will deliver him, and honor him.
16 I will satisfy him with long life,
    and show him My salvation.”

Pesach - Looking Forward Reading #2

Reading #2
Psalm 2

There are no Torah Portions this week. So, let’s spend some time in the Psalms. Looking forward to Pesach this Shabbat!

Why do the nations rage,

    and the peoples plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth take a stand,

    and the rulers take counsel together,

    against Hashem, and against his Anointed, saying,

3 “Let’s break their bonds apart,

    and cast their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh.

    Hashem will have them in derision.

5 Then He will speak to them in His anger,

    and terrify them in His wrath:

6 “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”

7  I will tell of the decree:

Hashem said to me, “You are My son.

    Today I have become your father.

8 Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance,

    the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron.

    You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

10 Now therefore be wise, you kings.

    Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve Hashem with fear,

    and rejoice with trembling.

12 Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way,

    for His wrath will soon be kindled.

    Blessed are all those who take refuge in Him.

Pesach - Looking Forward Reading #1

Reading #1

Psalm 1

There are no Torah Portions this week. So, let’s spend some time in the Psalms. Looking forward to Pesach this Shabbat!

Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked,
    nor stand on the path of sinners,
    nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in Hashem’s law.
    On His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water,
    that produces its fruit in its season,
    whose leaf also does not wither.
    Whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The wicked are not so,
    but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For Hashem knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked shall perish.

Week #6 - Pesach LOOKING FORWARD

We are looking forward to a week of special Torah portion readings beginning this next Shabbat. Stay tuned!

In the meanwhile, I challenge you to stay in Hashem's word every day -- maybe read a Psalm a day. Prepare your home for Pesach. Clean, clean and clean. Take the leaven out of your home, especially your kitchen. And now look at yourself. How does your mind and heart need to be cleaned today? Confess and repent. Pray for the Mashiach and His Temple to return. Amen.

Psalm