Blessing
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.
Barukh atah, A-donai E-loheinu, Melekh Ha-ʿolam, asher qid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu ʿal S’firat Ha-ʿomer.
Count
Today is forty three days, which is six weeks and one day of the Omer.
Meditation
Exodus 20:14
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
Devotional
The ascent up Mt Sinai into God’s house has begun. Along the way what sets us back, what causes us to fight and what keeps us from God’s presence must be stripped away. Our problems begin with things we come to desire from those around us. We want what they have resulting in rivalry, competition and even violence. Some desires bring us together to enjoy the good things culture brings. But some desires are not to be shared such as the desire for another’s spouse. What we call “sin” is theft, stealing what belongs to others. It begins with stealing their desires in our hearts, when we start wanting what they want and possess. Then we steal the truth when we engage in lying about our rival(s). Then our misguided desires can lead to stealing physical belongings such as property as well as immaterial possessions like respect. Now as we approach God’s presence, we are to lay aside every sin and weight that easily sets us back (Hebrews 12:1-3). The sin of King David exemplifies when the desire for what belongs to another leads to adultery and murder. His sin led to the writing of Psalm 51. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” It is repentance from what we’ve done to others that prepares us for God to speak into our lives (Matthew 6:9-15; James 1:19-25). Unfaithfulness to each other is unfaithfulness to God. As we count up to the last day of the Omer, set your gift at the altar and go reconcile with those you have done wrong (Matthew 5:24).