November 1, 2006

• Getting Back on Track

  B"H

  Today I'd like to share a prayer called Hashkivenu (cause us to lie down). This prayer is said every night after the Shema. When my kids were little I used the Hashkivenu as their night time prayer. In our family it was the substitute for, "Now I lay me down to sleep." In recent years I have recited a shorter version with my own changes added in. I will conclude this sharing with that version.

  "Grant, LORD our GOD, that we lie down in peace, and that we rise again, O our King, to life. Spread over us Your shelter of peace, and direct us with good counsel of Your own. Save us for Your name's sake; shield us, and remove from us every enemy and pestilence, sword and famine and grief; remove the adversary from before us and from behind us; shelter us in the shadow of Your wings; for You are our protecting and saving GOD; You are indeed a gracious and merciful GOD and King. Guard Thou our going out and our coming in, for life and peace, henceforth and forever. Blessed are You, O LORD, who guards Your people Israel forever." Amen.

  Besides the beauty of the language and its poetic flow, I like the theme of the Hashkivenu. When we lie down to sleep we are in our most vulnerable state. We close our eyes and shut off the outside world. We become unaware consciously of any and all activity going on around us. If an enemy approaches or if danger is present, we are unable to respond due to our lack of knowledge. In this prayer, we not only call upon GOD to watch over us, but we acknowledge that He is gracious and merciful and therefore we are confident that He will both protect and save us in all situations.

  In the second line of the prayer, "Spread over us Your shelter of peace," the English text doesn't reflect an idea clearly shown forth in the Hebrew. The word sukkat is translated as shelter, but this word could also be rendered as tabernacle. What is significant about this distinction is that the word tabernacle has specific meaning in Jewish history. The tabernacle in the wilderness, the Tent of Meeting, was the place in the camp of the Israelites where the Glory of GOD was physically manifested. Directly over the tabernacle was either the pillar of fire at night or the pillar of smoke in the day. The root of this word tabernacle is the word shochen, which means to dwell. So through the tabernacle GOD was dwelling in the midst of the camp. In the Gospel of John it says,

  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD and the Word was GOD. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled) among us." - John 1:1,14

  Now, in our day and age, we are given the privilege to walk with GOD and to allow Him to set up His tent in our midst. He wants to establish His presence in the world through His people. He, as our GOD, will do great and mighty things for us. Our responsibility is to be faithful to declare His praises as witnesses of His salvation.

  "Grant, O LORD our GOD, that we lie down in peace, and arise, O our King, to life. Spread over us Your tabernacle of peace and direct us with good counsel of Your own. Cause us not to lean upon our own understanding, but to put our trust in You, for You have shown Yourself to be faithful and true."

  Heavenly Father, I thank You for my family and friends. I pray that You will watch over us in our coming and going. May it be that through the words we speak as well as the things we do, You might be exalted and magnified in our midst. We recognize You as LORD in our midst, help us to stay focused on Your love and care, so that we may ever walk in ways that are pleasing in Your sight. You have saved us because of Your great love. Grant us now that we might serve You with pure hearts all the days of our lives.

  Bashem Yeshua (In Jesus name), AMEN!

  Shlomo

  • 5:47 pm
  • 8 Comments