Counting the Omer 2021 - Day Four

Day Four

25th of Nisan 5781 – from sundown on April 6th to sundown on April 7th, 2021

Begin by reciting the following blessing:

ברוך אתה יהוה אלוהינו , מלך העולם , אשר קדשנו במצותי

וציונו עלי לספירת העומר

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha'Olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav
v'tizivanu al sefirat ha'omer.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us to count the omer.

Recite the day of the count:

היום  ארבעה ימים לעומר

Hayom arbah’ah yamim la'omer

Today is four days of the omer.

Psalm 67: (Jubilee Bible 2000)

God be merciful unto us and bless us 
and cause his face to shine upon us. Selah.

That thy way may be known upon the earth, 
thy saving health among all the Gentiles. 
Let the peoples praise thee, O God;
let all the peoples praise thee. 
O let the Gentiles be glad and sing for joy, 
for thou shalt judge the people righteously 
and shepherd the Gentiles upon the earth.  Selah.

Let the peoples praise thee, O God; 
let all the peoples praise thee. 
Then shall the earth bring forth her fruit, 
and God, even our own God, 
shall bless us. God shall bless us, 
and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Psalm 119: 25-32: (NKJV)         ד          Dalet

My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.  I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.  Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works.  My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.  Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously.  I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.  I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame!  I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

Prayer for Day 4: 

Avinu B'shamayim - Our Father in Heaven, we implore You, by the awesome power of Your right hand, release the captive. Accept the prayers of your people; strengthen and purify us, Awesome and Mighty King of the Universe, we beseech you, that You guard as the apple of your eye your people Israel. Bless them, cleanse them; bestow upon them forever Your merciful kindness. Powerful, Holy One, in Your abounding goodness, we humbly ask that You preserve and protect Your people who are called by your holy Name. Strengthen us and give us courage to stand against the evil powers of this world and forces of darkness. Heal our land that has been defiled by the shedding of innocent blood and help our nation to turn back to you. Accept our supplication and hear our cry, You who knows the secret thoughts. Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.

Almighty God, Sovereign of the universe, You have commanded us through Moses Your servant to count the days of the omer, in order to purify us from our evil and uncleanness so that the souls of your people may be cleansed from their defilement. Therefore, may it be Your will, Lord our God and God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that in the counting of the omer which I (we) have counted today, I (we) may be purified and sanctified with your unimaginable holiness. And through my (our) obedience to your commandments, may Your abundant bounty be bestowed upon all the world. May it rectify our soul and our spirit from every baseness and defect, and may it purify and sanctify us with all your holiness. 

Abba, father, on this, the fourth day of the counting of the omer, as we remember how through your mighty hand you parted the waters and the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground to safety. I (We) humbly ask that You refine us, help us to always trust only in Your salvation, Your Yeshua. Amen.

After reciting the prayer, remembering that our nation is under attack by forces invisible and visible, continue to pray and meditate on how Pharaoh’s army of 600 chariots and infantry overtook the Israelites while they were camping at Baal Zephon. How the Israelites cried out to the Lord and were angry with Moses. And how the Lord delayed the attack of the Egyptian army until morning by placing a pillar of fire between them and the Israelites and while it was still dark, how Moses, with God’s help parted the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to pass between the walls of water. And how Moses allowed the water to fall on the Egyptians completely destroying them. Reflect on times when you are tempted to fear that God has forgotten or abandoned you. 

Suggested selections for further reading include the special readings for Passover and other related selections from the New Testament writings (B'rit Hadashah): Exodus 14:5-28; 2 Samuel 22:22-30; Psalms 66:5-9; Isaiah 11:10-16; Matt 8:23-27; 1 Cor 10:1-4

Suggested reading from the weekly Torah portion: Shmini – 4th reading: Leviticus 10:12-15
Suggested reading from the Brit Hadashah: John 4:34

The Sefirot for Day Four is: Netzach of Chesed or the Infinite endurance of Loving-Kindness. Suggested activity for today: Do something of worth that requires courage or risk for a loved one or close friend.

Go to Counting the Omer 2021 - Day Five
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