Zion's Voice

Torah Reflections    50

Torah Portion                  Deuteronomy  29 : 10  to  30 : 20

Haftarah Portion           Isaiah   61 : 10 –  63 : 9

The Torah of YHWH given to Moses

 In last week’s portion, we read the promises of God contained in the blessings (for obedience), and curses (for disobedience), relating to the commandments and statutes which had been clearly communicated to the people.

Three times previously (Exodus 19:8, 24:3, and 24:7) the whole assembly of the people had affirmed their willingness to accept the instructions of God, spoken by Moses. The Land of Promise is before them. Entry into the Land is a gift of God, guaranteed by His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Occupation of the Land is conditional. It seems to me that at this point in time Moses is now asking them to affirm yet again that they have understood the Maker’s instructions.

The Apostle Paul, a devout and fervent adherent to Torah lifestyle, understood this well. Read Romans 11 in a quiet moment and see for yourself how well he understood the importance of believers living a life of faith in order to remain attached as partakers of the ‘natural Olive Tree’ which is Israel (God’s special treasure). The analogy is that of entry into the Promised Land (free by covenant) and remaining there (conditional on obedience). The question is worth asking our church communities today … Have you read the Maker’s instructions?.

Deuteronomy 29:29 is one of my favourite scripture verses :-

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Please take time to meditate on this verse. It amazes me that we argue and debate things which He has very clearly written for us in His word. God used Moses to communicate His instructions for righteous living. God does not change. Why is there such difficulty understanding that? Or am I the only one with that difficulty?

I do not wish to be misunderstood. I believe that our salvation is free to all who believe by faith. I also believe that “faith without works is dead”. What I believe about ‘works’ is contained in Matthew 5 : 16,17. And if you think that Yeshua had gentile believers in mind when He spoke those words, read it again.  His audience was 100% ‘lost sheep of the House of Israel’. He was calling them back to a lifestyle of correct Torah observance, which had been distorted by the ‘traditions of men’.

I believe that Yeshua was reminding the people of Scriptures like Deuteronomy 29:29 , encouraging them to “do all the words of this law” as was His own lifestyle and that of His disciples. In effect He was saying to them read the Maker’s instructions again.

In Deuteronomy chapter 30 we have a good indication that Moses knew that these folk were going to have difficulty in keeping their promises of obedience. It is an accurately prophetic chapter with a really happy ending.

Verse 4 sees the time when, through disobedience, they will be expelled from the land which they had not yet entered. Moses also foresees the time when they will be again restored to the land (an event we see happening today before our eyes as millions of Jews have made Aliyah in the past 60 years). Beyond that even, Moses sees a future time when God will enter into a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah. (see “Reflection” of Number 47 “Shoftim”)

Then in verses 14 to 16 of chapter 30, Moses makes a final plea. None of these terrible things need happen to you :-

“But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess”.

For your very life’s sake, when you ‘take a stand for the Lord’ take also time to  “read the Maker’s instructions” .

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;  that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, …..”   Deuteronomy 30 : 19,20

Choose life.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Reflections    49  

Torah Portion                  Deuteronomy  26 : 1  to  29 : 9

Haftarah Portion           Isaiah   60 : 1 –  22

The Torah of YHWH given to Moses

“When you come into the Land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it”. Thus opens our parashah this week. The time is now very close. Final instructions were being given, things to remember, and things that must be done. And what is that very first thing? Present the FIRSTFRUITS of the Land to the Lord. And in so doing they were to recite the story of how they were released from slavery in Egypt and brought to this beautiful Land which they themselves had declared to be “flowing with milk and honey”. It was an act of worship. It was something they would DO.

That is an initial lesson for us from this reading. We WORSHIP God by what we DO, not by what we say. We PRAISE God by what we say.

Then the Israelites are given a lesson in tithing. It is quite different to the teaching on ‘tithing’ which most of us receive in our churches today. In our reading it is called a ‘holy tithe’. That is a ‘set apart’ tithe. Being mindful that they were an agricultural community, it is clear that their tithe was of the produce of the Land.  Care for the Levites, who had no Land possession allotted to them. Care for the stranger, the fatherless, the widow. Care for those in real need.  This, my dear friends is the very essence of living righteously before the Lord, and before our fellow citizens. However, there is complementary teaching in Deuteronomy 14 which considers, amongst other things, tithes of money. Read it.

We could well say “This is the day that the Lord has made”, because in it God declared that He would set this people 'high above all nations’. He declared that this people were ‘His special people’. That they would be a ‘holy’ people, in name, in praise and in honour’. Wow!!

What an introduction. But there is more!

In Chapter 27, in addition to the command, yet again, that they must keep all the commandments of God, there is the injunction to set up, in the very centre of the Promised Land, a mound of whitewashed stones, inscribed very plainly, (my Bible says) with the Torah of YHWH. There they were to make sacrifices of burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.

Let us try to apply that to ourselves today.

For all Gentile believers, departure from Egypt is symbolized in the acceptance and trust, by faith, in the atoning death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua. In type, that means leaving Egypt and entering the Promised Land. So looking at the application of our parashah, we receive some instructions about what to do when we arrive. The commandment about tithing, whilst not specifically taught in detail in the Brit Hadashah, may reasonably be taken as a continuing practice amongst the Israelites down through the ages. For Jews today, it is one of many important “mitzvot’ which they continue in their significant acts of benevolence within their community.

The altar, which God commanded be set up for sacrifice is an interesting one. We know that Yeshua’s atoning death (accompanied by the destruction of the Temple) effectively brought an end to the sacrificial system. And so it did in respect of sin atonement. But, our body is ‘the Temple of the Holy Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 6:19), and the Temple is a place of worship as well as sacrifice. And ‘worship’ is what we DO, not what we say.  The Apostle Paul, in Romans 12:1, taught that we should “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service”. 

Close by that altar of sacrifice, in our text, were the whitewashed stones of remembrance, clearly proclaiming the Torah of YHWH. Like a beacon for all who came close, saying this is what we stand by, this is the sure foundation on which we are established. Unshakeable. Permanent.  Is it taking it too far to suggest that our equivalent today may be judged, not by a mound of whitewashed stones, but by our very conduct. The way we act towards others. The way we live. The way we treat the commands of God. The way we treat His ‘special treasure’.

If there is NOTHING for us to learn here, it is just a history lesson. But we know better than that, because “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished into all good works”. God grant that we all may learn that which He wishes to teach us, just as our parashah was for the benefit of those Israelites long ago.                          

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Reflections    48      

Torah Portion                  Deuteronomy  21 : 10  to  25 : 19

Haftarah Portion           Isaiah   54 : 1 –  10

The Torah of YHWH given to Moses

 Moses continues his preparation of the people for entry into the Land of Promise.

For 40 years the people had been guided by the ‘shekinah’ of God through the desert places. They had been provided with fresh ‘manna’ each day. Water was available for all of them and their livestock. The sandals on their feet were 40 years old, and still going strong! It was an amazing experience for those who remained. All those who had lacked trust in God at Kadesh Barnea had died on the journey. Moses was determined to do all he could to ensure that their life together would continue to be fruitful and harmonious. The new fledgling Nation was about to experience life in their own land.

The priorities expressed in this passage are enlightening.

Firstly, the ‘firstfruits’ of their harvest were to be a thanksgiving to the Lord. Before anything else, they were to honour God by worshipping Him with the fruit of their labours, presenting the BEST of the crop, the freshest produce with joy and thanks for all His benefits.

Worship is what we DO not what we SAY.

Then, Moses reminded them of their obligation to tithe the increase of their harvest (we covered this a few weeks ago as we saw that the whole concept of the purpose of tithing has been distorted in modern times). The Levites, who ministered to and with them were to be recipients of the tithe certainly, but also the poor, the widow, the fatherless, the stranger within their gates were all to be invited to eat the tithe of their increase with them in their homes. It’s called hospitality. In Deuteronomy 26:13 it is clear that to do otherwise, was a ‘trespass’ of the commandment. Worship is what we DO not what we SAY.

Moses was instructing them to reach out in support and care for each other, ensuring that the needy in the community were not forgotten. This was the expression of God’s great love for this people He described as His special treasure.(You may care to read the Haftarah portion in Isaiah at this point. It is a prophetic description of the blessing still awaiting this people of God. He has not finished with this people, far from it, but there is still some ‘water to flow under the bridge’ before they come to their place of honour in the world).

Deuteronomy 28 and 29 are the well- known chapters of “blessings and curses”. I have drawn attention previously to the TWO words in Hebrew which are both translated “curse” in English. (see Genesis 12:3 where both words are used in the same sentence). The ‘curses’ in Deuteronomy 29: 16-19 are the “a’rar” the ‘bitter curse’ which is the same as God promised to those who “qalal” ‘treat with contempt’ Israel. So what God is promising these people is a bitter curse if they choose to disobey His commandments and statutes.    We know what happened, don’t we?

Now look at Deuteronomy 28: 23, 24

“And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is

under you shall be iron.

 The LORD will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed”

This is a metaphor for drought, severe, debilitating, drought. It could be called a “bitter curse”.  Mark Twain, in his book “Innocents Abroad” written about 1876, described the land of “Palestine” as a dry, barren, uninhabitable place, even though there were some people living there at the time.  The land known as Palestine had suffered about 1,800 years of debilitating drought. Meaningful rain began to fall again about the mid 1890’s, about the time that Theodore Hertzl convened the First Zionist Congress in Basle Switzerland in 1897. Peaks of more recent rainfall are recorded in 1947 and 1967. Isn’t that interesting?  God is still on the Throne. Hallelujah.

Ezekiel 33 to 36 prophesies (read promises) the return of ‘the lost sheep of the House of Israel’ to the land. “Not for their sake, but for God’s Holy Name’s sake, that the world may know that I am the Lord”.

Be blessed yet again as you read this Torah portion. What your Bible, and mine, call “blessings and curses” are solemn promises of God. He is faithful, righteous and perfect in all His ways. As my old Sunday School teacher used to tell me … “every promise in the Book is true” .. the ones we like, and the ones we wish were not there.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Reflections    47          

Torah Portion                   Deuteronomy  16 : 18  to  21 : 9

Haftarah Portion           Isaiah   51 : 12 –  52 : 12

The Torah of YHWH given to Moses

What amazing insights the LORD gave to Moses in His instructions to the Israelites as they were about to become a Nation with a land to call their own. It was to be a place of righteously living together.

Today these instructions may appear boring and repetitious. And they might well be, if viewed as ancient and out of date rules, with no relevance to modern living. But there is much more to these instructions than first meets the eye. When read with an open heart to learn, they are as precious, relevant, and important for us today, as they were to the Israelites of old.

Moses is told to appoint Judges. Peers of the people, to make judgements and decisions in disputes between those who cannot compromise on an issue of disagreement. This procedure is still in place in Judaism today. Courts of the people are established in many major synagogues. They are called “Beit Din” (House of Judgement), comprising two or three prominent, trustworthy, members of the Synagogue. It was to this ‘Beit Din’ that serious disputes were to be taken in the discourse in Matthew 18:15-20.  It was to the ‘Beit Din’ of “two or three gathered in My Name” that God promised His presence (Matthew 18:20) as they met. It was to the ‘Beit Din’ that the power of binding and loosing (Matthew 18:18) was given. (A serious neglect of the Hebrew roots of our faith, has caused a mal-nourished church to incorrectly interpret and teach the meaning of that Matthew 18 passage today).  There is NO equivalent body of reference established within modern day church structures. Instead we find major disputes taken to secular courts, with disastrous relationship consequences. That was not, and is not, God’s way for ‘brethren to dwell together in unity’

Chapter 17 opens with God being uncompromisingly clear in His condemnation of the people who choose to worship “other gods”. The words seem amazingly harsh to us. But to get the message in perspective, God was intent on building this people as a Nation of priests before Himself as a witness and example to the other Nations with whom they came into contact.

“I am the LORD, I do not change” are the words which ring in my ears as I read this passage. Those who are called to be “joint heirs with Christ” are expected to act and behave in a manner which is worthy of that high calling. Too often, we are indistinguishable in our conversation and actions from anyone around us, our neighbours, our friends, our work colleagues. Our salvation is the free gift of Almighty God, as it was for the Israelites in our Scripture passage. Retention of that salvation before a Holy God required personal life choices and behavioural decisions. For too many, salvation is merely intellectual consent to a belief.

The outstanding promise of God in this passage is in Deuteronomy 18:15. About 1,500 years after God gave this promise to Moses, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach was sent to this earth. He is the ‘promised prophet like Moses’.

It would be a good exercise to list for yourself the characteristics and events in the life of both Moses and Yeshua where it is possible to identify likenesses. You will be blessed as you ponder this thought. But I want to offer a less obvious likeness for your thoughtful consideration.

Moses met with God on the mountain and received the ‘TEN WORDS’ which comprised the initial covenant of God with the people, (“His special treasure”). Moses came down off the mountain and found the people worshipping a manmade golden calf .. idolatry. Moses returned to the mountain, spent another 40 days in the presence of God and came down with a new set of instructions. (Which we call Torah).

Yeshua came ‘down’ from heaven, finding the people observing, not the Torah of God as given by Moses (“the old covenant, which Hebrews 8 tells us is becoming obsolete”), but the traditions of men .. idolatry.  Yeshua returned to His Father in heaven, where He is today seated at the right hand of the Father. There will be a time in the future that He will return to earth as King of kings, with a new set of instructions, a New Covenant. Read carefully and honestly the conditions of that New Covenant to be made “with the House of Judah and the House of Israel”, stated in Jeremiah 31, repeated in Hebrew 8. You might conclude, as I have, that those conditions are not yet with us. They tell of a time when He will be King over all the earth. When we will all live righteously together, under a New Covenant, which cannot be broken. A prophet like Moses!! Think prayerfully about it.                      

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Torah Reflections    46

Torah Portion                  Deuteronomy  11 : 26  to  16 : 17

Haftarah Portion           Isaiah   66 : 1 –  24

The Torah of YHWH given to Moses

The Torah portion this week contains a repetition by Moses of some important commandments and observances which the LORD had given him ‘on the mountain’.

Firstly, Moses declares that these observances are NOT mere suggestions but commandments. He emphasises this fact by foretelling the blessings and the curses which Joshua eventually spoke in the presence of the whole congregation of the tribes at Mt Gerazim and Mt Ebal. (see Deuteronomy 28,29). Conditions to which they all agreed.

He then gets specific in relation to:-

• Breaking down the ‘high places’ of the pagan deities. (we touched on that last week)
• The LORD Himself would determine the place for their worship of Him.
• Testing the ‘spirit’ of prophets. (don’t we need that today?). and what they should do about false prophets.
• Avoidance of heathen practices. (related to the first point above)
• Purpose and manner of tithing (ouch !! we appear to have  changed the rules about tithing haven’t we?)
• The ‘shemitah’ year of release. (2015 was a ‘shemitah’ year)
• The dedication of the ‘first-born’. (still practised today in Judaism)
• Observance of the ‘pilgrimage’ festivals. (Pesach, Shavu’ot and Tabernacles)

We have a veritable feast of teaching available from this passage of Scripture. The real beauty being that the LORD is able to speak directly into our spirit the exact message He wants to convey to us individually as we ponder truth from His word.  My ‘reflection’ this week is from Chapter 13, regarding the prophets amongst us .. and ONE of those prophets in particular.

Yeshua came to this earth 2,000 years ago with a “prophetic” ministry. To that has been added His “priestly” ministry, (after the order of Mechi-tzedek) and in time to come He will be anointed KING . Thus He will be “Prophet, Priest and King”, before whom every knee will bow.

Deuteronomy 13 acknowledges that there will be those in the community who are able to perform miraculous signs and wonders. And that many will be deceived by these events. But in verse 2 (‘serving other gods’) and verse 4 (‘You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him’) Moses provides the test by which that prophet is to be judged.

Yeshua came as “the prophet like Moses” to His own people. (“the lost sheep of the house of Israel” Mathew 10 and 15).  Many thousands of Jews believed Him and worshipped Him as Messiah. Acts 21:20 tells us that “myriads” of Jews had become believers. Hallelujah.

Space does not permit a full explanation here, but by 324 c.e. Rome was ‘top dog’ and Constantine effectively severed all connection between Gentile believers and Judaism. (in my view that division is Satan’s greatest victory over mankind).

That situation persists today. We see anti-Semitism rampant in sections of the modern day church, and there is an even worse consequence. The Jesus who is worshipped in most churches today is unrecognizable to Jews as the Torah observant Yeshua of the Bible. Jews are presented with a Jesus whose principal role in salvation seems to take them away from the very commandments of God that Moses declares in our reading today, as being vital to their relationship to a Holy God, and the conditional promises regarding the occupation of the land of Promise.

There is a parallel here between Yeshua and Joseph of old who was similarly not recognized by his brothers (Genesis 45:1-3) because of the way he was presented to them. Is history is repeating itself again today? Yeshua will make Himself known to His brothers. (Zechariah 12:10)

I close this reflection by reminding ourselves of the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 11 : 18

“Remember that you do not support the root, the root supports you”.

Our actions speak louder than all the words in the dictionary!!  Yeshua said  “If you love me you WILL keep My commandments John 14:15 (correct translation)

Just like Moses said in our portion today !!     

Shabbat Shalom

RS