Daily Omer Counting - Day 18, evening of Wednesday, May 7th

"And from the day on which you bring [the omer], the sheaf of the elevation offering- the day after the Sabbath-you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week-fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the Lord." Leviticus 23:15-16, NJPS This 7-week prayer journey will take you from thanksgiving for the past, to intercession for the future, to a final expression of worship as we contemplate the fulfillment of God’s purposes in Messiah.

Here's how to count the omer:

1. Recite the blessing,

Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al sefirat ha-Omer.

Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us by His commandments and commanded us concerning the count of the Omer.

2. Recite the count of the omer, saying:

"Today is two weeks and 4 days of the omer."

Week 3 May 4-10 (alternate 5/10-5/16): Honoring the Past: God our Provider

Scripture for Day 18:

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits. (Ps. 103:1-2)

Commentary:  

These verses, from a Psalm of David, show us how our body and soul must be bound up together in full devotion to our Creator.  The process of counting the omer from Passover to Shavuot serves the purpose of refining the relationship between our body and soul, for the purpose of presenting ourselves ready at our own personal Sinai.  The omer that we count each night represents a measure of barley that is symbolic of G-d's sustaining hand.  It is worthy to note that this barley that we count was largely used as animal feed in ancient times.   Why all the fuss over fodder?

The verse says "and all that is within me, bless His Holy name!"  These words "within me" may also be translated as "innards."   When we bless G-d, we should bless him with our Soul (which he breathed into us), and with our Innards (which represent the very animal nature within us).  A human being in balance lets his soul rule over his body (his selfish nature).  This puts the Divine spark within us in charge and helps us elevate every intention of our life with Divine purpose.

At the end of our 49 day count, the Torah tells us to bring two loaves made from wheat.  Wheat, unlike barley, is a refined human food.  These days of counting then serve to transform and purify our intentions, symbolized by our transformation from barley to wheat, from body to soul.  Our goal is not to transcend our bodies, but to harness them to do good in the world.   But let us not forget, "all His benefits."  This is the natural result of presenting every ounce of ourselves, soul and flesh to devotion of our Creator.  May we see these benefits multiplied as we model our Mashiach Yeshua who perfectly knit his own body and soul for our benefit.

Rabbi Jason Forbes