Parasha Nitzavim (and Vayalekh?)

EDIT (9/19/14): I was informed that, despite it being a leap year, Nitzavim is still paired with Vayalekh this year. In light of that, there are no changes to this teaching and you are on your own to study Vayalekh. Have fun. :)

Nitzavim (Standing)

D'varim 29:9-30:20

This is a short Torah portion this week. Normally it is combined with the next portion, Vayalekh, but since this is a leap year, we get it by itself. This is the shortest Torah portion of the year at only 40 verses. While this is a quick read, it should not be assumed that there is little we can learn. As usual, YHVH has given us much to think about at various levels in this short portion.

This parasha continues the final teaching of Moshe before Israel enters the Promised Land. He begins this section by telling us who he was addressing. He says that everyone there is "standing today before YHVH your Elohim". He this lists all who are there from the leaders of Israel down to the foreigner staying in the camp, the man who cuts your wood, and the one who draws the water. He tells the people that they are there to enter covenant with YHVH. But wait! Didn't Israel enter into covenant with YHVH back at Mt. Sinai 40 years ago? Yes and no. The generation who came out of Egypt entered into covenant with YHVH, but they broke the covenant and died in the wilderness. Moshe is now speaking to the second generation who have not made that official declaration of acceptance and commitment.

However, Moshe explains in the next paragraph that he is not speaking only to those who were standing before him. He explains that this covenant is "with him who stands today before YHVH our Elohim, as well as with him who is not here with us today." All of Israel was standing there at the time? To whom else was he speaking? To all future generations of Israel, both natural-born and those grafted into the commonwealth. Some people say that Torah doesn't apply today. Moshe puts the lie to that statement right here.

Moshe then tells them (us) what would happen when the people turned away from Torah. First, the would think that they were okay. "I'll still do what I want and be counted among the righteous." Unfortunately for those who think this way, he tells us that YHVH will not forgive that attitude. All the curses spoken of in the last parasha will be put upon that person and his name blotted out from under heaven. This paragraph is written in singular form, speaking of the sins of an individual. The next paragraph changes to plural form, speaking of the entire nation of Israel.

Torah and it's blessings and curses apply to the individual and to the nation. As Israelites, we are expected to follow Torah and be accountable for our actions. As Israel, we are expected to follow Torah and be accountable for each other's actions. We must police ourselves so YHVH doesn't have to get involved. This is very similar to the way the motion picture industry was designed. At first there were no regulations; no censors, no ratings, etc. The movie makers went beyond what was acceptable and refused to police themselves. The Motion Picture Association of America was formed to take care of these issues. The community began to police itself to avoid government intervention. Those who would not govern themselves individually no had another safeguard in place. The safeguard can still be bypassed; unrated movies and independent releases bypass the MPAA. By doing so, however, the movie makers lose all benefits of membership in the MPAA; promotion, support, etc. How does this apply to us as believers?

If we don't follow Torah properly as individuals, the community is expected to intervene. We are to tell individuals the standards and work with them to stay within those standards. We can still bypass those safeguards by leaving the community, but in so doing, we lose the benefits of membership; blessings, instruction, and a relationship with YHVH. By choosing to stay within the community, a part of the nation of Israel, we are required to adhere to the community standards as set forth by Moshe from YHVH.

Just as there are some who say we don't have to keep Torah (an argument destroyed by Moshe as seen above), there are others who say we can't keep the Torah. It is too difficult. Well, that argument is handled by Moshe as well. In verse 29:28 Moshe tells us that the hidden things belong to YHVH. Some things are not for us to know or understand. We don't need to worry about those things; YHVH will take care of those. But all things that have been revealed belong to us. Therefore Torah belongs to us. We CAN, and indeed must, keep all of it. But what about our human fallacies? We all know that we make mistakes and fail to keep Torah correctly at all times. Doesn't that fit with the argument that we can't keep Torah? Only if you forget about t'shuvah (repentance). YHVH made a way for us to keep Torah even when we are too human to keep Torah. If we make a mistake, we can repent and turn back to the right path. Through Yeshua, we are restored and can retain our righteousness.

There is more in this short Torah portion, but I must leave something for you to study for yourselves. We have already heard from Moshe about the future misdeeds of our people. He knew that we would violate Torah and reap the curses and lose the land we were promised. This section of Torah can get a little depressing because of his comments and prophecies. However, reading the last half of this portion will keep your spirits up and give reason to rejoice. There is a day coming when... well, read it for yourself. I don't want to spoil the ending.

Parasha Re'eh

Re'eh - See
D'varim 11:26-16:17

For this week's teaching, I will be focusing on the first aliyah of the the Torah portion. This parasha begins with a familiar refrain that we will hear repeated throughout the book of D'varim; blessings and curses. But first, let's take a look at what YHVH has Moshe saying to the people.

The parasha starts with the name of this portion, re'eh. Re'eh, like most Hebrew words can be translated multiple ways. The most common is as see or behold. However, it can also mean learn about or understand. I believe in this instance, the meaning is a combination of these. Like the word sh'ma means more than just hear, but hear and do, re'eh means more than just see. It means to see or perceive and understand. Learn the meaning of what is being said and take it to heart. It has both a physical and spiritual component that must be made a part of our very being.

Now let's look at the first line of the Torah portion, "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse...". The first word is singular; it is speaking directly to each individual. Moshe is saying "I am speaking to you personally." The word used for before you, lifneikhem, is plural. In this case, Moshe is referring to the whole nation of Israel. Why the difference? This is Moshe's way of reminding us that each individual has a responsibility to protect the whole. In essence, we can translate this opening (using myself as an example) as "See and understand, Robbie, I am setting before the whole people of Israel a blessing and a curse; you, Robbie, will choose for yourself which to receive as well as being a part of ensuring one or the other for this nation." As you can see, it's much more concise in the Hebrew. Those listening to this in the desert beside the Jordan River knew exactly what Moshe was saying.

The blessing and the curse that Moshe pronounced are two sides of the same requirement. As he states, we receive the blessing if we obey the mitzvot (commandments) of YHVH, and the curse if we do not listen and obey. He continues on to define disobedience as to "turn aside from the way I am ordering you today and follow other gods that you have not known". This last can also be translated as "gods that have not proven themselves to you". This sets them apart from YHVH who has proven Himself repeatedly throughout the last 40 years.

Moshe next commands the people to put the blessing on Mount G'rizim and the curse on Mount 'Eival once we enter the land. Both of these mountains are on the West side of the Jordan, inside the Promised Land. This is a reminder to us that the blessings and curses are a choice for only those who choose to accept the covenant of the land offered to His people. Anyone choosing to remain outside the land, choosing not to accept His covenant, is free from making a choice of accepting the blessing or the curse. This also reminds us that there is a responsibility involved in making the choice. We must take the land before we can get the blessing.

Moshe now lists some of the things we must do upon entering the land. We must destroy all the places where other nations served their gods; on high mountains, on hills, or under a leafy tree. We must break down their altars and smash their standing-stones to pieces. We must burn up their sacred poles and cut down carved images of their gods. We must exterminate their name from that place. Whose names must we exterminate? The gods of the nations. Not only are we to avoid following their gods, we must not even try to learn their ways of worshiping. Many people today will try to use scholarship or understanding of other cultures to justify learning other ways of worship. Even in many seminaries, students are encouraged to learn the ways of others. This is supposed to make us more tolerant and accepting of other religions and beliefs. Unfortunately that also makes us more tolerant and accepting of other religions and beliefs. Accepting that others have a belief is not the same as accepting those beliefs. Too many times, however, our people have blended those two types of acceptance. This is the reason for this command to avoid learning their ways. YHVH knew and still knows our hearts and our weaknesses.

As we study this Torah portion, we must not only see the words. We must understand and accept into our hearts the commands we were given. We must then choose, with open hearts and minds, whether to obey or not; whether to receive the blessings or the curse. May we always choose Mount G'rizim and stay away from Mount 'Eival.

Parasha Re'eh - Devarim 11:26-16:17

Re'eh - see, behold, pay attention

The word re'eh is usually translated into English as "see". However, just like the word shema means more than just "hear", re'eh means more than just "see". Hebrew does not always translate well into English, not through the fault of the language, but through the diffence in mindset. Hebrew is understood with a Near-eastern cultural mindset that is different from our Western mindset. English often uses multiple words to convey a thought that Hebrew will convey with a single word. Shema is a good example. It is most often translated as "hear", but to a Hebrew mind, it means hear and obey. It is a stronger action verb than its common English counterpart. Re'eh is another good example. The Hebrew connotation is see (pay attention) and understand. In this week's Torah portion, it refers to spiritual vision. It is not enough to get the words that Moshe is speaking. He wants all of Israel to have a spiritual understanding of the meaning of the words.

This Torah portion begins like so many in Devarim, with Moshe talking about the blessings and the curses. Considering the blessings and curses are mentioned in almost every parasha in the book of Devarim, do you think they might be important? The common theme of the entire book is a simple promise: Obey and get the blessings of YHVH, disobey and get the curses of Egypt. It's your choice. That sums up the entire book. Since Devarim is a summary of Torah, that sums up one of the central messages of Torah as well. Notice that there is no mention of salvation in the summary. When one of my christian friends or relatives tell me that I can't be "saved by the Law", I tell them they are right! The Law (itself a terrible translation of the word Torah) is not about salvation. It is about obedience for the sake of the blessings of YHVH. You can receive salvation without getting the blessings and conversely, you can get the blessings without receiving salvation. Salvation is only through Yeshua Ha'mashiach (Jesus the Messiah for you Westerners). The blessings come from obedience to YHVH's written word, the Torah. Therefore, to receive salvation and the full blessing requires faith in Yeshua AND obedience to Torah. They are not interchangeable, nor are they contradictory. For too many years, Christianity has tried to say that "Jesus" did away with the law and we don't have to follow it anymore, as if Yeshua's presence can somehow replace Torah. That's the implication that they are interchangeable. Pull out the old part and insert the new improved one. On the other hand, Judaism has claimed that belief in Yeshua means abandoning Torah altogether. This implies they are contradictory. These arguments are two ends of the same lie. Torah obedience and faith in Yeshua are both necessary to receive the fullness of YHVH's blessing and salvation and to fully realize His plan for His redeemed people, Israel.

Moshe tells the people to put the blessing on Mt. G'rizim and the curse on Mt. 'Eival. He reminds the people that the mountains are across the Yarden (Jordan River), so they will have to cross the river to make the choice. If they are unwilling to enter the land, the decision is no longer theirs to make! The mountains are a visible reminder of the choice we must constantly make. It is also necessary for the people to walk on the mountains because of the statement in the last Torah portion, "Wherever the sole of your foot steps will be yours". Devarim 11:24 As soon as the people walked on those mountains to proclaim the blessings and curses, they became property of Israel.

YHVH commands the people to destroy eveything the dispossessed nations used to worship their gods. He tells them to destroy them on the high mountains, on hills and under some leafy tree. He is reminding them that the people in the land had many gods that they worshipped in many places. Unlike the people of Israel, the dispossessed nations had no understanding of the One True Elohim, YHVH. The people were told to tear down the altars, smash the pillars, burn poles, destroy carved images and idols, and exterminate their name from that place. YHVH's name is to be in one place; the place He will choose. The people are not to even try to learn how they worshipped their gods. As I said before, there is a spiritual aspect to all they are being told. We must destroy all the idols and false worship in our own lives. If we make something so important in our life that it is preventing us from worshipping YHVH, it is an idol that must be destroyed. If we have been worshipping falsely and we learn better, we must remove the false worship. As we learn more, we must remove those things we know were learned in error. For example, Christmas, Easter, "tattoos for Jesus". Even if these things were done in the past with a heart for Him, as soon as we know it is wrong, we MUST remove it from our lives.

I could go on with more teaching from this Torah portion, but I'm already late posting it so I'll stop here. I think I covered the most important aspects of the teaching. If you have any questions about what Moshe is teaching in this portion, just remind yourself of the main point. You have a choice, obey and receive YHVH's blessings or disobey and receive the curses. There is no middle ground.

May YHVH bless you and keep you! Shalom.

Parashat Ekev - Devarim 7:12-11:25

Ekev – because; heel; “on the heels of”

Ekev is often translated as because or if. However it also means heel or "on the heels of". This makes sense if you change the words of the opening verse to "On the heels of you listening to these rulings…". By reading it this way you can see that blessings follow “on the heels of” obedience. Picture a mother animal, such as a cow, with her calf right behind. The calf always follows on the heels of the mother. In this same way, if you are obedient to His commandments, you know that the blessings will be following right behind.

Two sections to the portion

This Torah portion is divided into two sections with two different stories. Moshe is using contrast to further the point that he's trying to make.

Chapters 7-8 are one section. This section begins and ends with "because".
Because you are listening…
…because you will not have heeded…

Chapters 9-11 are a separate section. This section begins and ends with defeating nations greater and more numerous than the Israelites.

Parallels and Contrasts between the two sections

Obedience vs Disobedience

Section 1 - Blessings and miracles of YHVH
Because you listened, YHVH blessed you.
Moshe reminds the people of Israel that YHVH blessed them in the desert by providing food and water. Their clothes never wore out and their feet never swelled. As long as they were obedient, the blessings continued. These blessings will continue as they enter the Land if they continue in obedience.

Section 2 - Disobedience of Israel
You rebelled and YHVH wanted to destroy you.
Moshe reminds the people that they often rebelled against YHVH or His appointed messenger, Moshe. Each time they did, YHVH punished them and even considered destroying them completely and starting over with just Moshe and creating a new nation. The people were saved only through Moshe's direct intercession. Moshe destroyed the first tablets containing the Ten Commandments because of the rebellion of the people. When he saw the golden calf idol they had made while he was on the mountain, he refused to give them YHVH’s commandments. It took 40 days of fasting and intercession by Moshe before YHVH agreed to give them the commandments again and not destroy them.

Promised Land

Section 1 - Land of milk and honey
In this section, Moshe describes the Promised Land as a near-paradise that will sustain the people and enrich their lives. The land provides wheat and barley, grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates, olive oil and honey. The stones have iron and the hills have copper. The people will lack nothing in natural resources when they enter the land.

Section 2 - Rain only if YHVH allows it

Moshe tells the people of the rains that will water the fields. The land is a good land through YHVH’s  blessing. He reminds Israel that the fields in Egypt had to be irrigated because it’s flat. The water stays in the rivers and doesn’t get to the fields without help. There are pros and cons to this arrangement;  while it takes more work to get the water to the fields, the Nile River doesn’t dry up between seasons. There is never a shortage of water. On the other hand, the Promised Land has hills so when it rains, the water runs down to the fields without man’s help. However, because the water comes from the hills only when it rains, without rain, the fields will dry up. Rain is a blessing from YHVH. If Israel continues to follow His commandments, He will continue to send rain in its seasons. As He said, He will send the spring rains and the fall rains. If, however, Israel is disobedient, He will stop the rain and allow their fields to wither and die.

Give YHVH Credit in the Proper Manner

Section 1 - Don't give yourselves credit for prosperity
Moshe admonishes the people to remember the commandments so we will remember YHVH. If we are unwilling to keep His commandments, how are we remembering Him? By being obedient and keeping His commandments, we are constantly reminded of Him. We can’t wear tzitziyot or eat kosher and not be reminded of where these statutes originated. Moshe reminds the people again that blessings and prosperity are results of obedience and His blessing. They (and we) are not to tell others and especially themselves that they have prosperity or blessings because of their hard work.  They are to remember that the blessings came from YHVH.

Section 2 - Don't give credit to YHVH for military victory and claim it's because of your piety
In the second section, Moshe discusses giving YHVH credit incorrectly. The people are to give credit to YHVH for their military successes against the people they are driving out of the land. However, they are not to claim they were blessed for their own piety and righteousness. They must acknowledge that it's because of their enemies' wickedness that YHVH has removed them from the land and destroyed them.

Both of these situations indicate boasting and self aggrandizement. The first includes taking credit for being prosperous instead of praising YHVH. The second gives credit to YHVH, but claims credit for deserving it despite being unworthy.

This Torah portion shows us a big change in how Moshe addresses the people. Beginning with 9:1, the "Children of Israel" are now referred to as "Israel". This is Moshe’s way of showing that it is time to be spiritual adults and take responsibility for being obedient to YHVH. The current generation that are about to enter the Land are the generation that were children when they became “the Children” at Mt. Sinai. All of that generation are now adults, both physically and spiritually. They were trained for 40 years as they grew into spiritual adulthood. They no longer have any excuses for disobedience. Moshe continues from the previous Torah portions to remind the people of what has happened during the last 40 years in the desert.

For more on Moshe’s discussion of the 40 years, check out the video of this week’s Torah teaching on the B’nai Israel Messianic Assembly Sermoncast site at www.sermon.net/bima.