We have reached the end of Deuteronomy and Sukkot is upon us. Soon it will be Simchat Torah and the Torah reading cycle will begin again.
I have been very busy these past few weeks with the High Holidays, and admit I simply do not have the time to adequately address all four of these remaining parashot for the year as I would like. My hope is to revisit these in early autumn of next year to give a much more thorough look at these passages.
In the meantime, if you have questions about these passages or would like to study further, please do not hesitate to contact me!
Meanwhile, let me leave you with a few thoughts:
Nitzavim
Nitzavim begins by addressing the profound reality of the entirety of Israel standing before ADONAI their God. They are to cross over into the covenant (Deuteronomy 29:11).
V’Yelech
The necessity to make the faith their own – to genuinely embrace the faith was so very critical because as we learn in V’Yelech, Moshe has reached 120 years old! (Deuteronomy 30:2)
Did you know Moses was a songwriter? He taught the children of Israel a song just before his death. It is actually the final song in Torah. Moshe knew many in Israel would fall away and sin, acting “corruptly,” and the song reflects that view:
Honestly, one would expect a more cheerful ending, but . . . speaking of honesty – Moses was honest. He knew how quickly people can choose to betray and go astray. He lived 120 years, so he had seen the lamentable truth that many would not continue in faith.
Ha’Azinu
This song of Moses is a bit enigmatic. Our natural tendency as believers and followers of Messiah is to “look on the bright side.” Find something positive and hopeful. But this song really never gets there and translators debate the true meaning, especially of the final verses.
The LORD so faithfully kept His promises to Moses that He showed him the Promised Land from afar. Moshe died in Moab, but no one knows where (Deuteronomy 34:6). Yehoshua (Joshua) took over as leader from there. Never again in Israel was there another prophet quite like Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10) but One-Greater-than-Moses would arise and change history for ever: Yeshua haMashiach.
I am thankful that you have studied these passages of Scripture with us. I pray you had a wonderful Yom Teruah, and a prayerful Yom Kippur. As we draw near to Sukkot, may your celebrations be full of joy as commanded, and full of peace as well. Shalom!
He did not come to abolish the Torah or any of the other Scripture writings of the prophets. He came to fulfill them . . . so Torah remains important and relevant!
Instructions for Life
I know I have mentioned this before, but for those who may be new to the blog, Torah refers to the first five books found in the Bible, sometimes called the Pentateuch.
In most Christian circles, these books are referred to as the Law.
But the Hebrew word, “Torah” means more than “Law.” In fact, we could say it is softened a bit. Torah is the word for “instruction.” God gave us His instructions to follow.
Ah, but I suppose you are thinking “this is impossible! There is no way we could possibly follow everything written in Torah!”
Right you are, my sister or my brother.
It would be completely impossible for any of us to perfectly keep the commandments in Torah.
We are to strive for perfection, knowing we will fall short – but His grace and mercy are there to wash over us and make us holy. Our works will NOT save us. We are saved by His grace:
Disregarding Torah often leads to Replacement Theology
Replacement theology is an erroneous doctrine.
This doctrine has taught that the church has superseded Israel and that the Law has been abolished.
The danger with replacement theology is that the Hebrew Scriptures (including Torah) ultimately get neglected and the continuum through time of the history of salvation and grace becomes broken and misunderstood. Disregarding Torah can be devastating – antiSemitism has flourished in places where Torah is criticized. We need only remember the Holocaust – how many Bible-believing Christians in Europe actually contributed to (whether directly or through apathy) the extermination of their Jewish neighbors? If you’re interested in reading more on this topic, check out my article on “Replacing Replacement Theology” here:
Preaching today must move beyond motivational speaking
I read an article just last week from Answers in Genesis that caught my attention because in it, the author suggests that the number one reason millennials are leaving the church is due to their lack of understanding of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures).
Have you noticed that so much preaching today has become reduced tospiritual motivational speaking?
When Scripture is sparingly used, young people hearing the Good News do not get the full picture.
They do not understand the powerful continuity between the prophetic nature of the Hebrew Scriptures and the glorious fulfillment shared with us in the New Testament (Brit Chadashah).
If we ignore Torah, we will lose generations to confusion and disinterest.
Torah gives us a solid and balanced foundation for teaching and preaching from the New Testament!
Blessings for Obeying Torah (and the entire Word of God)
D’varim/Deuteronomy 28 assures us that if we “listen obediently to the voice of ADONAI your God, taking care to do all His mitzvot . . .”
We are setting ourselves up for devastation if we refuse to familiarize ourselves with the basic principles found in Torah. The blessings listed above were assured to those who would obey and follow the LORD and His instructions. In like manner, the curses were assured to those who refused to do so. We must acknowledge the seriousness of the issues at stake!
If we determine that Torah is no longer relevant in any way, we are ultimately denying Yeshua (Jesus) as King of Israel! He is One with the LORD, He is God, the God of Israel and we must never deny His divinity and Lordship.
Yeshua, God’s Son, (Jesus) fulfilled Torah because we fall short. But He did not abolish it. There is so much to learn from Torah . . . from the ways of the LORD. His instructions are given so we will know how to live a righteous lifestyle and live in a manner that pleases Him.
Are we free from the curses as followers of Messiah?
If we have genuinely repented, and if we embrace the entirety of His Word, those curses will not fall upon us. We are free from the curse of the law because our Messiah became a curse for us when He died on the cross for our sins:
We are beyond blessed to live in a time when we can connect with other believers so easily and evaluate our posture on positions that the church has taken over the years. More and more followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) are learning about the Biblical lifestyle found in the wholeness of God’s Word and it is an exciting time to be a part of as more and more people take Scripture more seriously!
We are nearing the New Year (Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah) and I pray that you will dedicate time, effort, and most importantly prayer, as you more closely walk with the Messiah of Israel!
Prudence and Safety are prioritized in Scripture by the Guardian of Israel
Have you ever driven on a mountainous road that lacks guardrails?
Or looked off the edge of such a road to see a huge drop-off just a few inches or feet below you?
I have traveled to countries where guardrails appear to be optional!
“I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me.” Psalm 118:13, the Message
Similarly, I have also visited churches where safety does not appear to be a top priority:
Children running wild; old and broken toys, equipment, or safety latches; and poor supervision. The amount of safety and security measures set in place tends to be directly related to the congregational community’s level of affluence and education. I know I am generalizing, but wealthier, more affluent congregations tend to implement stricter safety policies, particularly for the children’s ministry areas while less affluent (and also, typically less-educated) congregations often brush aside safety. Those who take safety less seriously usually have the faith that God will protect the children in the nursery with or without things like functioning baby safety gates.
Yes, the Guardian of Israel can protect us despite our weaknesses, lack of resources, or lack of education.
But, the LORD actually expects us to be prudent.
We should seek to be well-rounded in our education – in that we study Scripture, but we also study and analyze our safety measures!
We should make changes as we become more educated. Just as we ought to study Scripture deeply, we should seek the richness of prudence in the practical aspects of life so we can be an example to the world of what to do versus what not to do!
A “safety-first” posture should be adopted for all children’s ministries (and all ministries in general, of course!)
One of the congregations we pastored was comprised almost entirely of Central American immigrants. Most of these dear brothers and sisters in the LORD spoke different tonal dialects like K’iche’ and Chatino. Because they had grown up in remote villages, many had not mastered the Spanish language – let alone English. Some had been sent into the larger cities as children to learn Spanish and receive education, but others had not received more than about a second grade education. Our brothers and sisters had difficulty with reading the Bible, but they loved the LORD nonetheless.
As the congregation grew, it became necessary to implement a children’s ministry. We expected the people to be joyful that they had reached this important milestone as a congregation. But it was the opposite! There was resistance. Most in this congregation did not want a children’s ministry.
This is why we always say . . . pray for your pastors!
As my husband and I tried to prayerfully discern what the underlying issues were, we came to some realizations:
Worship was the only time during the week when many of these mothers of large families felt they had a break. They did not want to be responsible for a class of more children. The men and women had become so accustomed to the screaming and crying of young children that they must have learned to tune it out. They wouldn’t even attempt to quiet their children during the services, most of the time.
We had to gradually teach the importance of godly discipline and order.
Setting up a standard nursery staffed by the members of the congregation would be a challenge because both the men and the women feared things like background checks due to their immigration status. We realized we would need the partnership of documented individuals, even if they were from another congregation, in order to staff a legitimate nursery/children’s ministry. Thankfully, the LORD sent some young women to fill this role for a time.
It turns out that our situation was not entirely unique. Many ministry leaders of primarily-Hispanic congregations have faced similar issues when it comes to guiding young immigrant parents. Often, the parents are barely entering adulthood themselves and simply need some wise and caring instruction.
Safety had to be a priority. We didn’t want children bumping their heads on hard surfaces or playing with objects that could poke their eyes. And we most certainly didn’t want any infants falling out of an unsecured crib.
We had to be patient, but also firm.
The Guardian of Israel requires Guardrails for safety:
We taught our congregation what the LORD says about safety:
I absolutely love that this provision is in Scripture.
We are to concern ourselves with the well-being of others. We must build into our homes, our lives, and our ministries safety protocols to ensure the safety of everyone.
That said, we must also concern ourselves with the mental health of our people. Those mothers who needed a break needed the reassurance that they wouldn’t be responsible every.single.week for that children’s class. A rotation needed to be implemented to ensure fairness and rest.
The Guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps, but He knows we all need to rest in His presence. Ministry leaders: ensure that your nursery workers are getting time to worship, too.
“Behold, the Guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps.” Psalm 121:4
Don’t slip off the edge
Ministry issues like the one I just described are enough to make pastors feel like they are going bonkers. The children’s ministry issue was just one of so many strange conflicts that we dealt with over the years. The enemy is astute and always seeking to discourage and devour! And sadly, we have heard those reports of ministry leaders who have gone off the edge, either falling into unfathomable sin or taking their own lives.
I am thankful to the LORD for the patient strength of my husband and the persistence and resilience He gave to both of us as we navigated those situations.
See, the world today is about to fall off a cliff.
And the devil wants to run as many people off that cliff as possible.
I heard one colleague describe it so very simply in a recent sermon: “The world has gone insane!”
D’varim/Deuteronomy speaks to the “severely disordered state of mind” of today’s world
Merriam-Webster defines “insane” as “exhibiting a severely disordered state of mind.”
The world has indeed become severely disordered.
Children are growing up being bombarded by all sorts of things we didn’t have to deal with just 30 years ago.
The author of confusion is working hard to mislead and deceive the next generations
Just recently, my two boys were enrolled in a swimming class at the local YMCA.
There was a boy in the class who was wearing boy’s swimwear but with pink goggles and hoop earrings. The child’s mother insisted that the swimming teacher use female pronouns to describe her son, and this young boy (younger than 10) was being called by a girl’s name.
It was a tragedy to witness.
Because my children are homeschooled, we have been somewhat distanced from this very real reality that has become normal outside of our wonderful little homeschool bubble.
The transgender agenda is being pushed upon children and it is a true battle being waged for the souls of the children of our nation. My children expressed great confusion at having a boy in their class who was being called by a girl’s name. Why should children be exposed to all of this nonsense? It really is so sad. I am thankful that my children know the Guardian of Israel, the Guardian of their souls and their eyes are open to what is going on around them.
The world’s agenda is (mal)aligned with the enemy of our souls, and we must be vigilant to detect how and where the enemy is trying to pull our own children toward the depths of confusion.
A few years ago, I was looking for a tie for my husband to go with a new suit. I was in the men’s section of a department store and I kid you not, practically every single tie was floral! Yes, I know some masculine guys can probably pull off a few flowers, but these were mostly all pink. It took me a long time to finally find something suitable (and masculine-looking). The world aims for the feminization of men and the masculinization of women. The reason for this is simple: the devil thrives on disorder.
I read an interesting commentary recently that rightly observed how the women’s section of stores has degraded into selling mostly things like ripped jeans and stringy tops – as though it is a competition to see who can dress the least classy, the least modestly.
I personally choose to wear skirts and it is next to impossible to find nice ones at the stores. The world of today does not want women to embrace femininity. But what does the Bible say?
The Word of God confirms that there are distinct roles intended for men and for women.
But the world chooses to act in defiance to God’s created order.
We see this with the way the LGBTQ+ movement has reappropriated the rainbow for their cause. The rainbow was intended for the LORD’s children – those who are truly His sons and daughters through faith in His Son, who repent of their sins rather than glorify themselves or their pride.
The severely disordered state of mind (what we call “insanity”) that is infecting the world is a mentality that has also quietly seeped into the church.
The fact that Bible-believers are defending claims of stolen elections, fake news, and practically paving the way for a future American dictator demonstrate that even the church itself has gone astray. Politics and the church really don’t mix.
Is it wonderful when we have elected leaders that care about their evangelical constituents?
Of course.
But we have too many elected leaders that use their evangelical constituents. Many don’t actually care a bit about their constituents or their viewpoints so long as they stay in power. Yet too many who claim to follow the LORD have become blinded to this, convinced the politicians actually want to defend their freedoms. Anyone can spout off propaganda that they care about your freedom, but that alone doesn’t make it true. Be discerning.
How many Christians belligerently refused to wear a mask in the beginning of the pandemic, when it was clear lives were at risk and no immunizations were yet available? It had so much more to do with political parties than actual prudence and those who participated in such behavior ought repent.
Belligerence is not a fruit of the Spirit.
Even if we personally don’t see the need for a new crib mattress or larger budget for the children’s ministry, we need to think of the needs of others so we do not act like the reckless, belligerent world.
Regardless of political affiliation and personal preferences, we must demonstrate righteousness judgment, kindness, and compassion.
We must be careful that we do not unwittingly become part of the insanity around us.
We must remain level-headed.
True believers have the mind of Messiah! We must act like it!
En guarde: Are you ready for the battle ahead?
I never had a chance to try fencing, but when I was in about the fifth grade, I got to watch a live presentation on the sport from the local university. I’ve always thought it looks like fun! Now I watch my boys with their toy swords having sword fights and I am convinced they would really love it, too.
No one near us teaches the sport, though, so I guess it is just not for us.
I did study French, though, so I know that a common term in fencing is “en guarde!”
You have to be ready, on guard, so you can win a battle.
Are you “en guarde?” Are you:
Prepared with a strategy?
In the right physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual condition?
Wearing the right armor?
Are you ready to be on the offense when necessary, but able to defend yourself?
Do you have the self-awareness to know when you are too aggressive?
Do you know when to take a step back and guard your tongue?
The world is not going to get any better, in fact, things are only going to take a turn for the worse.
How’s that for uplifting?
I do not intend to get you down today. On the contrary, I want you to be ready.
I want you to be confident and actually quite enthusiastic because the crazier this world gets, the brighter we can shine because we know our redemption is near.
The Guardian of Israel wants to guard you and protect you
Your salvation is near if you have trusted in the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua (Jesus Christ). The Guardian of Israel who neither slumbers nor sleeps is ever so perfectly aware of the world we are living in and He has done all He can so we can be in the world, but not of it. The world will perpetually choose darkness and confusion, but you are placed in this world to show the Light of Messiah, that some perhaps would choose the way of salvation.
The Guardian of Israel will guard you and protect you if you will walk in His ways!
The Word of God is like our safety net:
The world rejects order and discipline.
The world chooses recklessness and darkness.
The world mocks those who would build a guardrail, deriding them by saying they worry too much.
Be a light. Yes, we have faith which triumphs over fear, but we also seek to live prudently so that we will honor the Word of the LORD.
Our homes and houses of worship must be safe places so that everyone may thrive!
Trust in the Guardian of Israel, YHWH, the LORD Most High today!
Is there something from which you particularly need the LORD’s protection today? Have you ever faced a struggle or conflict in ministry? How have you overcome those challenges? Do you have a favorite Bible verse that helps you endure?How can we pray for you or your ministry today? Do you have a testimony that you would like to share about how the LORD has protected you and your family? We’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment/reply below! Also, please consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter so you can keep updated and receive extra resources straight to your inbox! We promise not to overwhelm your inbox.
This passage in D’varim (Deuteronomy) details how the nation of Israel should achieve justice for its inhabitants.
Here we find instructions regarding the appointing of judges, the process through which legal claims should be investigated, as well as the necessity for legitimate witnesses to be present at trial.
Even among God’s chosen people, there would be criminals.
There would be those who would intentionally cheat others.
And surely there would be an Israelite or two who would steal from others.
In extreme cases, one would end up murdering another and undoubtedly a few would turn from the God of Israel to seek after false gods using sorcery and witchcraft.
Rebellion does not have to be the future for your family
Samuel told Saul in 1 Samuel 15:23 that rebellion is as bad as witchcraft and that stubbornness is like idolatry.
The world applauds rebellion and even expects it in their teenagers.
Dear reader, if you are a disciple of Messiah, rebellion does not have to be the future for your children.
Do not accept society’s norms.
Align your lifestyle to the Word of the LORD. Train your children to love the LORD with all their heart.
Show them the calamity that rebellion brings and pray that they will choose obedience and grace over chaos and self-destruction.
Biblical Justice
Sadly, today, the very term “justice” has become obfuscated by those who would pervert justice to suit their own desires and agendas. Some even worship the goddess “justice.”
Yet real Biblical justice is intended to be at the core of our faith!
So we need to understand true Biblical justice.
Biblical justice is about fairness. In the United States, we enjoy a special legal system which attempts to ensure fairness when one is accused. The system is not perfect and those who run the system are certainly fallible, but a high precedent is set and the expectation in our country is that justice can be served.
In many other countries, this is not the case. Tyrants and dictators do not favor due process and corruption prevails. Those of us who live in free nations ought be very grateful, and we must pray for those in authority so that the legal system can be trusted and fair trials ensured.
American Jurisprudence
Did you know that our legal system in the U.S. and procedures for due process are based on Torah?
Indeed, the American legal system was profoundly shaped by the writings of the Hebrew Scriptures. The 14th Amendment, in particular, reflects the concept that all citizens deserve equal protection under the law. Due process is based on this Biblical concept: “Justice, justice, you shall pursue.”
A sacrifice may atone for one particular sin, but if we live consistently in justice and righteousness, there would ultimately be no need for sacrifice because sin would be averted.
We are not perfect; however, and sin does creep into our lives.
There is nothing greater than the sacrifice Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus Christ) made for us. He lived in perfect righteousness and justice and also sacrificed Himself on behalf of us sinners, to make atonement for us.
As believers who have placed our hope and trust in our Savior, the best way we can demonstrate our gratitude is by living as He would – seeking justice and truly pursuing righteousness. We cannot possibly do so perfectly, but we ought to try. We ought to show a rebellious world how wonderful and different life can be when we strive to live in righteousness.
Ways we can seek to live in justice and righteousness
Honoring others, demonstrating love, quieting our attitudes, dressing modestly, reaching out to our neighbors offering help and kindness, minding our tongue so as not to speak judgmentally, offering genuine hospitality, managing our resources with wisdom and prudence, and creating a gentle home atmosphere so that our families live peaceably . . . these are all ways we can seek to live in justice and righteousness.
It isn’t enough to tell a rebellious world that we know a better way. We must show the world that we are different: they will know we are Christians by our love.
We have a new hope today. The criminal can be forgiven. The thief can be restored. The liar can learn Truth. The Messiah of Israel came to this earth to live and to die on behalf of those who would put their trust in His Name. You are not too far gone. Maybe you have lived a life of rebellion. Maybe you think there is no hope for you. What you need to know today is there is a Savior who loves you and He died so that you could live eternally in heaven with Him.
Please, put your trust in Him today. His divine and righteousness justice could have condemned us all for all eternity, but His love is such that He chose to save us, if we will allow Him into our hearts. He is so very just that we are all found guilty, but He chose to forgive us.
Will you trust Him today? We will you allow His righteousness to cover you? He loves you, and He wants to welcome you into His Kingdom as His very own child.
If you have made a commitment to trust in the Messiah, the Savior of the world, Yeshua (Jesus), please let us know! Please leave a comment so we can pray for you as you learn to walk under His righteous covering. You don’t have to fear. He is willing to forgive you, even today.
Shmittah is a year-long Sabbatical for the land. It is intended to allow the land to rest, but also to allow the poor or indebted to rest. It is the year of debt-cancellation. Awesome!
Just for clarification: shmittah can be transliterated in several ways. Some of the more common ways you will see this word spelled include shmitah, shmita, and shemitah.
Shmittah became more well-known to the Christian community in recent years due to a popular book written by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn called “The Mystery of the Shemitah.” He served as a mentor to Rabbi Jason Sobel who wrote “Mysteries of the Messiah,” a book that I reviewed about this time last year. Cahn overelaborates at times and perhaps it is a fair critique that he may be (ironically) overcapitalizing on a topic that has to do with debt cancellation, but I am glad that more people have at least been exposed to the topic and that the Biblical principles of shmittah are becoming more widely known.
Are you worried about Inflation? Learn about shmittah!
I am no economist, but I have read from several sources over the years that there has been a correlation between Shmittah years and cycles of recessions in our nation. Apparently, the stock market often crashes during Shmittah. So, if you’re into investing . . . you may want to research Shmittah years!
Strong’s Concordance defines “shemittah” as “letting drop” or “remission.” It is a “release.” Creditors are required to “drop the issue,” to “forgive the debt” owed to them.
If we took the Bible more seriously, our credit structure in this country would look different. You can see how Biblical cycles did influence our financial system in that credit scores do not report the same way after 7 years, but the Biblical requirement is much more thorough, offering release to the indebted.
When we do not do as Scripture tells us . . . look where it gets us.
A shmittah year occurred from September 2021 and will end in September 2022.
Is the inflation we are experiencing due to the Shmittah year?
Was America spared a worse economic crisis due to certain repentant actions taken during this year such as the stronger restrictions on the sin of abortion?
Will inflation subside as this Shmittah cycle comes to an end?
It is worth praying about.
Our nation as a whole does not observe the precepts of Shmittah, but we like to claim we are still at least loosely Christian. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD . . .” Psalm 33:12. If we claim to seek to be a godly nation, we need to follow the instructions given by Scripture, even when they seem very difficult. Allowing the land to rest for a full year? Cancelling the debts of our brothers? It is a lot to ask! We must pray for our nation to return to the LORD.
Shmittah, the year of release, should be a time when all of God’s children feel refreshed and renewed. Released from burdens and allowed to rest.
Isn’t it wonderful that God has made this provisions in His Word? Wouldn’t more people be in better health if they didn’t have so much stress and could rest from some of their obligations? The LORD has provided for our wholeness and peace, for our shalom, in His Word.
A Worship Song you may enjoy today: Spirit of the Sovereign God: (This is the Year) by Lindell Cooley Brownsville Revival
Spirit of the Sovereign God (This is the Year) Lindell Cooley, Brownsville Revival
Other topics found in this passage that may interest you
What to eat and what NOT to eat
This passage from D’varim/Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 also outlines what animals are considered by Scripture to be appropriate for human consumption. If you are interested in this topic, check out my teaching on The Leviticus 11 Controversy that goes into depth about the dietary laws of the Torah.
Is there an area in your life in which you need to experience a release? Do you long for freedom from a burden? Do you need forgiveness today? The LORD is strong and mighty, full of compassion, and willing to help you. He will bring the victory into your life that you need if you will rest in Him and place your trust in Him today!
He was asking what is known as a sh’eilah – a question regarding the Torah. This Pharisee happened to be a lawyer. As such, he was trying to set up an argument against our Savior, but our LORD All-Wise and All-Knowing answered perfectly:
Yeshua quoted Scripture to answer the Pharisee’s question
Yeshua (Jesus) recited D’varim (Deuteronomy) 6:4-9 to respond to the Pharisee’s question about the Greatest Commandment. Messiah faithfully pointed back to the Scriptures that even the Pharisees knew so well. Rabbi Yeshua couldn’t be accused of “adding” or “inventing” a new faith.
He was pointing out that it was time tolive the faith!
Because in Him, having a living faith would be possible because the Lord Yeshua alone was Perfect and He alone would fulfill Torah, giving us the possibility of new and eternal life if we will trust in Him.
There are many Jewish people who know this passage very well, but have no idea it is the Greatest Commandment according to the Messiah! By reciting it with such passion and dedication, they are actually in agreement with the New Testament (Br’it Chadashah)! The testimony of generations proclaims the importance of Sh’ma, but not everyone has yet realized its fulfillment in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ).
When we speak or sing the words of the Sh’ma, all of us can be reminded of several important truths that I believe can be listed out like note-taking . . .
Important Truths about the Greatest Commandment:
The LORD: YHWH: ADONAI: He is.
The LORD is our God. This is collective. He is the God of our nation and our communities if we will choose to follow Him.
He is One. He has made Himself known as our Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is Elohim (a plural term in Hebrew), but He is also One. There are no other gods. We are not pluralists or polytheists. These verses establish monotheism.
We are Israel. These verses speak to a Holy Nation, a set apart people. Whether native-born or grafted in, those who have chosen to follow Messiah are part of Israel. So these verses are true for you and me.
We are to love the LORD our God. The Sh’ma points back to the First Commandment, which was given just one chapter earlier (D’varim/Deuteronomy 5). The Ten Words (aka “Ten Commandments”) cannot be lived out and obeyed without first loving their Author. Notice, the first four commandments require us to love God. The last six commandments require us to love our neighbor.
Children are valued. The Sh’ma assumes there will be children who must be taught. We are responsible to care for them and to “diligently” teach our children. If we are to do this task, we ourselves must be prepared. Therefore, study is expected and each generation is tasked to continue to teach the next.
We are to discuss the words of Scripture. We are to speak of these good things when we are in our homes but also when we are walking somewhere. We are to speak of the goodness of God when we are going to bed and when we wake up.
Our faith is a part of us – it is to be bound to us. It should be known by your kindness and hospitality that your home is a house where disciples live. Your home should not house idols or worthless things. Your home is a reflection of your faith. Some of us have mezuzot מְזוּזוֹת(plural for mezuzah) on our doorposts – beautiful reminders that contain the words of Sh’ma in them.
Yeshua (Jesus) cited the Sh’ma as the Greatest Commandment!
Yeshua cited the Sh’ma as the Greatest Commandment.
We learn from His example that Jesus came not to abolish the Torah, but to fulfill it.
He shows us the law of love – that we must love God and love our neighbor and He did so by pointing back to the Scriptures and demonstrating it by His way of life.
We are challenged to live out the Greatest Commandments as well.
The Sh’ma in Revelation
Would you be surprised to know the Sh’ma‘s influence is even found all the way in the book of Revelation?
When Yochanan (John), the writer of Revelation, describes New Jerusalem, he describes the river of the water of life and the throne of God. Notice in verse Revelation 22:4, he writes that “His name shall be on their foreheads.” For those who had grown up with the Sh’ma, this would be a very obvious allusion to Deuteronomy 6.
No other book contains so many cross-references and clear fulfillments of its words as the Bible.
When I first became a follower of Messiah, I was truly fascinated by this reality. For so many years, I had been taught lies that the Scriptures (even from their original form) contained errors and that they were not to be fully trusted.
When I discovered for myself, through the study of the original languages, that the Scriptures were most certainly trustworthy and that their testimony proves the Truth of our Savior’s love and sacrifice, I felt free. Scripture is consistent and what I love most is that it proves itself time and time again through God-inspired verses that reveal His Truth.
The Sh’ma being the Greatest Commandment proves the continuity of Scripture.
Let us look to Messiah Yeshua’s example
Messiah Yeshua taught us to know Scripture, believe it, and use it!
When questioned by a Pharisee about the Greatest Commandment or by the devil himself tempting him in the desert, our LORD always had Scripture to use as armor. His responses were right out of Scripture. This is why Scripture memorization is so important!
When we feel that our faith is being challenged, we must look to our Savior’s example. We, too, need the sword of the Spirit to rightly divide the Word of God and stay armed for any spiritual battle. We will not be able to live out the Greatest Commandment to love the LORD our God without dedication to Him and His Word.
Let us love God and love one another, and in so doing, we will fulfill the Greatest Commandments.
What is your favorite aspect about Scripture? Are you familiar with the Sh’ma? What tips can you give to others to help them memorize the Word of God? Leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you!
The book of Deuteronomy is known as “D’varim” in Hebrew, which simply means, “Words.”
D’varim is comprised of 34 chapters, so yes, there are many words!
Our English term, “Deuteronomy” comes from the Greek term in the Septuagint, “deuteronomion,” which means “Second Law.” This is a misnomer; however. The Tree of Life Bible Introduction to Deuteronomy recognizes this and aptly states, “There is no second Torah.” It is a “second telling” of that which has already been told, the law and story of Israel, a recap for the next generation of Israelites.
Just as it was then, it remains important to continue to tell the story – HIStory: the marvelous true story of the LORD’s unfolding plan of salvation.
Do you know that wonderful hymn? It is a great song to remind us of the beauty of the Word of God.
For the full lyrics and even Spanish translation, check out this page on Hymnary. Here’s a recording you might enjoy listening to today:
From stuttering to speech-giving
In D’varim (Deuteronomy), Moshe (Moses) has matured in his ministry role.
We must smile for a moment. Moshe the reluctant stutterer is now providing full speeches! D’varim records three of his speeches addressing the growing nation of Israel.
Moshe overcame his fear of using words!
This is a lesson for us: if we fear public speaking or get nervous sharing the Good News of salvation with strangers, we can overcome those fears and anxieties. Moshe knew that he needed to provide pastoral instruction to the Israelites, just as we are called to live out the Great Commission.
Sometimes we overcome our fears because there is a need. If we place the need above our personal preferences and pray that the LORD by the power of His Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) helps us, we can overcome and be used mightily for the salvation of souls.
Moshe did this and served as a spokesman for God. Then, One-Greater-Than-Moses came: Yeshua (Jesus). Yeshua was also a spokesman for God, but there is a key difference: Yeshua IS God!
HIS Word is so valuable, we must share the Good News that Yeshua has come!
May He help us share the wonderful words of life.
D’var HaShem (Lit.: “The Word of the Name”): The Word of God
I point this out so that you can see a link between Deuteronomy and the Gospels. Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) quoted from Deuteronomy frequently! When He was tempted in the desert(Matthew 4:1-11) He used the words of Deuteronomy to fend off the devil. Why Deuteronomy? It is a very practical book and contains the Sh’ma(Deuteronomy 6:4-9): the prayer that would become central to Jewish religious practice.
The Words, the D’varim, could be used as armor. Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) shows us that if we know the Bible, if we memorize Scripture, we can combat the fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16) of hasatan (satan) – and win!
There is power in those words because they are D’varim HaShem. They are the Words given by God. Divine words that all came together in the person of the Holy Word, the Word Incarnate – D’var HaShem, our LORD and Savior Yeshua (Jesus).
The Prophet Greater than Moses
Moses is so very revered by the Jewish tradition that to say anyone could be greater signifies a great deal. Many Jewish people today do not believe in Messiah because they do not realize that the One Greater-than-Moses has come. Great efforts have been taken to avoid using passages of Scripture such as Isaiah 53 in synagogue services so that Jewish people will not contemplate that the passage is talking about Yeshua of Nazareth. This is tragic! If you are able to befriend a Jewish person, you must share with them the d’varim of Isaiah 53 so they can see how this Scripture has been fulfilled in Messiah.
So share the wonderful words of life with someone today, that you may be an instrument, a spokesperson for the kingdom of God!
Just as the unbelieving Jewish people need to know Messiah, the believing Christians in our world need to know their connection to Israel. How much more deeply can we know our Savior if we understand the Messianic prophecies and His connection to the Jewish nation! May you be blessed today by His Word! Join us in praying for the nation of Israel, that unbelieving Jewish people would come to know their Messiah. We are praying also for Christian believers to learn more about the Jewish roots of their faith! Please leave a comment below and share with your friends!
