Your Daily Pesuk Sept. 7, 2018

Parashat Nitzavim / פרשת נצבים

• Fri, 7 September 2018 = 27th of Elul, 5778
• כ״ז בֶּאֱלוּל תשע״ח

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (4 p'sukim)

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

11 “For this mitzvah that I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in the heavens, that you should say, ‘Who will go up for us to the heavens and get it for us, and have us hear it so we may do it?’ 13 Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross over for us to the other side of the sea and get it for us, and have us hear it so we may do it?’ 14 No, the word is very near to you—in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.

11 כִּ֚י הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם לֹֽא־נִפְלֵ֥את הִוא֙ מִמְּךָ֔ וְלֹ֥א רְחֹקָ֖ה הִֽוא׃

12 לֹ֥א בַשָּׁמַ֖יִם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֤נוּ הַשָּׁמַ֙יְמָה֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃

13 וְלֹֽא־מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיָּ֖ם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲבָר־לָ֜נוּ אֶל־עֵ֤בֶר הַיָּם֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃

14 כִּֽי־קָר֥וֹב אֵלֶ֛יךָ הַדָּבָ֖ר מְאֹ֑ד בְּפִ֥יךָ וּבִֽלְבָבְךָ֖ לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ׃ ס

One of the most beautiful pesukim in all of the Torah are for us today.  Hashem says that His Torah is "NOT" too difficult for us, nor is it far off...

While it is true, that in and of ourselves and our own flesh, our Yetzer Hara (Evil Inclination), compulses us towards sin, and the Torah judges and condemns sin, that is in us.  Just a few days ago the pesukim spoke of the "Curse of the Torah", (cursed are all those who do not perform all the words of this Torah!). 

So on one hand, it is "too difficult" for us alone, but on the other hand, it really is not when we are trusting in "God's Way of making us Righteous".  In other words, God's way of making us righteous is NOT based on our ability to keep the Torah commandments perfectly.  He knows our nature...we are but dust!!!

Psalm 103:14 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
For He knows our frame. He remembers that we are but dust.

There is no righteousness in ourselves.  But, the good news is, that when we fully put our faith in Him and His Way of making us Righteous, then we become that Righteousness of God, and then within His Spirit and His Power - the Torah is close to us, actually in us and in our hearts and we are able to fulfill it.

So how do we come to know God's Way of making us righteous?  First, we NEED TO BE SAVED!

Romans 10:Romans 10 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for Israel is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have zeal for God—but not based on knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Messiah is the goal of the Torah as a means to righteousness for everyone who keeps trusting.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on Torah, “The man who does these things shall live by them.”  6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks in this way:

“Do not say in your heart,
‘Who will go up into heaven?’
    (that is, to bring Messiah down),
7 or, ‘Who will go down into the abyss?’
    (that is, to bring Messiah up from the dead).”

8 But what does it say?

“The word is near you,
    in your mouth and in your heart”
—that is, the word of faith
that we are proclaiming:
9 For if you confess with your mouth
        that Yeshua is Lord,
and believe in your heart
        that God raised Him from the dead,
    you will be saved.
10 For with the heart it is believed for righteousness,
and with the mouth it is confessed for salvation.

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever trusts in Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all—richly generous to all who call on Him. 13 For “Everyone who calls upon the name of Adonai shall be saved.”

So when you first get "Saved" you literally become the righteousness of God, then it is true what the Scriptures say...

Do not think that it is too difficult!  For those who have been saved, it is NOT too difficult.

Philippians 4:13 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.

Just call on the Name of the Lord, trust in Yeshua (God's Way of making us Righteous), and then you'll be SAVED - and then, you will be strengthened in Him, to keep all of this Torah!

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Baruch Hashem!  Shabbat Shalom!

Your Daily Pesuk Sept. 6, 2018

Parashat Nitzavim / פרשת נצבים

• Thu, 6 September 2018 = 26th of Elul, 5778
• כ״ו בֶּאֱלוּל תשע״ח

Deuteronomy 30:7-10 (4 p'sukim)

Deuteronomy 30:7-10 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

7 “Adonai your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. 8 Then you—you will return and listen to the voice of Adonai and do all His mitzvot that I am commanding you today. 9 Adonai your God will make you prosper in all the work of your hand—in the fruit of your womb, and the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your soil—for good. For Adonai will again rejoice over you for good, as He rejoiced over your fathers— 10 when you listen to the voice of Adonai your God, to keep His mitzvot and His statutes that are written in this scroll of the Torah, when you turn to Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

7 וְנָתַן֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הָאָל֖וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה עַל־אֹיְבֶ֥יךָ וְעַל־שֹׂנְאֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רְדָפֽוּךָ׃

8 וְאַתָּ֣ה תָשׁ֔וּב וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֖ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה וְעָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֺתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃

9 וְהוֹתִֽירְךָ֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ בְּכֹ֣ל׀ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֶ֗ךָ בִּפְרִ֨י בִטְנְךָ֜ וּבִפְרִ֧י בְהֶמְתְּךָ֛ וּבִפְרִ֥י אַדְמָתְךָ֖ לְטוֹבָ֑ה כִּ֣י׀ יָשׁ֣וּב יְהוָ֗ה לָשׂ֤וּשׂ עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ לְט֔וֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֖שׂ עַל־אֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃

10 כִּ֣י תִשְׁמַ֗ע בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר מִצְוֺתָיו֙ וְחֻקֹּתָ֔יו הַכְּתוּבָ֕ה בְּסֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֖ה הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֤י תָשׁוּב֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ פ

Yesterday, I discussed "Shuvah" to Return.  Again, today we see this phrase in Pesuk 10, "Hazeh Ki T'shuv El Adonai Elohecha"  When you return to Adonai Your God...

What happens when we return?  The pesukim lists what will happen...

1. Our enemies are cursed

2. We will have prosperity

3. Our children will flourish "wombs" birth...etc...

4. Our livestock even will multiply

5. Our soil will even flourish and produce abundance!  (talk about "Prosperity Gospel"!!!)

6. Adonai will rejoice over us!  (Divine Favor).

Sounds like a good deal.  Notice what the condition is...

10 when you listen to the voice of Adonai your God, to keep His mitzvot and His statutes that are written in this scroll of the Torah, when you turn to Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Do all that is written in the Scroll.  Not always what was "added" later by men, (unless it conforms to what is in the Scroll).  Yeshua taught us how to approach this issue regarding Oral Traditions...

Matthew 23:Matthew 23 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

23 Then Yeshua spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying, “The Torah scholars and Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses. 3 So whatever they tell you, do and observe. But don’t do what they do; for what they say, they do not do. 4 They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their works they do to be noticed by men. They make their tefillin wide and their tzitziyot long.  6 They love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called rabbi by men.

8 “But you are not to be called rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man on earth your father; for One is your Father, who is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Messiah. 11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Some interpreters attempt to take this out of it's "Jewish Context".  Yeshua would never tell anyone to break the Torah by dishonoring one's own father or mother.  Nor is he saying that you should never have a teacher or a rabbi.  We know who our Master is.  There is only One; the Messiah - Yeshua Himself.  He is our Teacher and our Rabbi.  Anyone else is just an "under-shepherd"...

1 Corinthians 11:1 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
11 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Messiah.

This is how we know the good ones from the bad.  Are they following Yeshua?  Are they walking with Him and attempting to be like Him?  That is what we should all do.  He is the Living Torah!

Amen

Your Daily Pesuk Sept. 5, 2018

Parashat Nitzavim / פרשת נצבים

• Wed, 5 September 2018 = 25th of Elul, 5778
• כ״ה בֶּאֱלוּל תשע״ח

Deuteronomy 30:1-6 (6 p'sukim)

Deuteronomy 30:1-6 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

30 “Now when all these things come upon you—the blessing and the curse that I have set before you—and you take them to heart in all the nations where Adonai your God has banished you, 2 and you return to Adonai your God and listen to His voice according to all that I am commanding you today—you and your children—with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then Adonai your God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you, and He will return and gather you from all the peoples where Adonai your God has scattered you. 4 Even if your outcasts are at the ends of the heavens, from there Adonai your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. 5 Adonai your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, and you will possess it; and He will do you good and multiply you more than your fathers. 6 Also Adonai your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants—to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.

30 וְהָיָה֩ כִֽי־יָבֹ֨אוּ עָלֶ֜יךָ כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה הַבְּרָכָה֙ וְהַקְּלָלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ֙ אֶל־לְבָבֶ֔ךָ בְּכָל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִדִּיחֲךָ֛ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ שָֽׁמָּה׃

2 וְשַׁבְתָּ֞ עַד־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֣ בְקֹל֔וֹ כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם אַתָּ֣ה וּבָנֶ֔יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֖ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

3 וְשָׁ֨ב יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ אֶת־שְׁבוּתְךָ֖ וְרִחֲמֶ֑ךָ וְשָׁ֗ב וְקִבֶּצְךָ֙ מִכָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֱפִֽיצְךָ֛ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ שָֽׁמָּה׃

4 אִם־יִהְיֶ֥ה נִֽדַּחֲךָ֖ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם מִשָּׁ֗ם יְקַבֶּצְךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ וּמִשָּׁ֖ם יִקָּחֶֽךָ׃

5 וֶהֱבִֽיאֲךָ֞ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָרְשׁ֥וּ אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֑הּ וְהֵיטִֽבְךָ֥ וְהִרְבְּךָ֖ מֵאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃

6 וּמָ֨ל יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ֖ וְאֶת־לְבַ֣ב זַרְעֶ֑ךָ לְאַהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ לְמַ֥עַן חַיֶּֽיךָ׃

Pesuk 2 says "V'shavta Ad Adonai Elohecha"...  V'shavta has the root word שׁוּב "Shuv", which according to "Strong's Definition: A primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat...

It is so very fitting that these pesukim are read today and during this season, only days away from Rosh Hashanah; as all Israel should be contemplating doing just this... Returning to our God!

There is an equally important promise in these Pesukim, speaking of a time in the prophetic future.  After all the exiles throughout Israel's history, there is going to be a Great Shuvah!  A revival of Israel, that will take place.  Our pesukim says it will happen when we are among the nations, where we have been banished, and we will remember our God.  Then we will "Return".

Returning is a matter of the heart, and the pesukim today call it: "U'mal Adonai Elohecha Et L'vavcha"... וּמָ֨ל יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ֖

U'mal means: "and circumcise".  Adonai our God will be like a "Mohel" (pronounced "moyal"), just like in the ritual of circumcision of the flesh, so too will the barrier of the heart be removed.  This is a heart matter, but also it is a spiritual matter.  It is not something we can do ourselves.  Shuvah happens when our hearts are first circumcised.

Even in the uncircumcision condition of the heart, once can become circumcised, just as Abraham received the favor of God while he was still uncircumcised, as Rav Shaul points out;

Romans 4:9 Is this blessing then only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? For we say, “trust was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”

10 In what state then was it credited? While circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised! 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the trust he had while he was uncircumcised, so he might be the father of all who are trusting while uncircumcised—that righteousness might be credited to them as well. 12 Also he is the father of the circumcised, to those not only circumcised but also walking in the footsteps of the trust of our father Abraham before his circumcision.

The matter of the heart comes when we put our "trust" in God.  True Faith, True Emunah, True Bitachon!  This is indeed the definition of a "REAL JEW"... not just someone circumcised on the 8th day, had a Bar Mitzvah at 13 and never darkened the door of the synagogue again...that is "NOTHING"....

Romans 2:28 For one is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something visible in the flesh. 29 Rather, the Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—in Spirit not in letter. His praise is not from men, but from God.

This circumcision of the heart is what MUST HAPPEN.  A matter of the heart, and when that barrier is removed, and we RETURN... then we can truly see with spiritual eyes that have been opened about who the Messiah really is...and who we really are!  As Rav Shaul continues...

Romans 3:21 But now God’s righteousness apart from the Torah (i.e. "Torah observance", our ability to keep Torah) has been revealed, to which the Torah and the Prophets bear witness— 22 namely, the righteousness of God through putting trust in Messiah Yeshua, to all who keep on trusting. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are set right as a gift of His grace, through the redemption that is in Messiah Yeshua.  25 God set forth Yeshua as an atonement, through faith in His blood, to show His righteousness in passing over sins already committed. 26 Through God’s forbearance, He demonstrates His righteousness at the present time—that He Himself is just and also the justifier of the one who puts his trust in Yeshua.

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith. 28 For we consider a person to be set right apart from Torah observance. 29 Is God the God of the Jewish people only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. 30 Since God is One, He will set right the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the Torah through faithfulness? May it never be! On the contrary, we uphold the Torah.

In other words whether we are "physically" circumcised means little... what really matters is we have the circumcision of the heart, and this is done by the Spirit, not the hand of man, and we put our trust in the Messiah, Yeshua whom God sent into this world.  That is our Salvation, as Shaul taught:

Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision done not by hand, in the stripping away of the body of the flesh through the circumcision of Messiah. 12 You were buried along with Him in immersion, through which you also were raised with Him by trusting in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him when He pardoned us all our transgressions. 14 He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 After disarming the principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross.

Your Daily Pesuk Sept. 4, 2018

Parashat Nitzavim / פרשת נצבים

• Tue, 4 September 2018 = 24th of Elul, 5778
• כ״ד בֶּאֱלוּל תשע״ח

Deuteronomy 29:15-28 (14 p'sukim)

CLICK LINK ABOVE FOR TODAY'S PESUKIM

One pesuk that really stands out today is:

18 “Now when someone hears the words of this oath and in his heart considers himself blessed, thinking, ‘Shalom will be mine, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart’—thus sweeping away the moist with the dry— 19 Adonai will be unwilling to forgive him.

There are many different translations to "moist and dry", some say the "Dry and Watered"  What does "moist with the dry", mean?

Parasha Nitzavim falls on the last Shabbat just before Rosh Hashanah.  During this season when we are all preparing for the holiday and the period of time known at the 10 days of Awe, where traditionally Jews focus on their spiritual life more than any other time…

We come across these words in the pages of our Torah portion that describes this foolish attitude described as someone who lies to himself that he is going to be alright, refuse to repent and keep living stubbornly doing whatever he wants and expect to get blessed in the end.  There are virtually two types of dispositions a person can have towards God.  Either he is like this fool who lies to himself and is stubborn, refuses to repent or turn and acknowledge God’s Sovereignty…which is “The Dry”.  Or a person can choose to have a soft heart, repent of his sin, acknowledge the Lord and be forgiven…which is “The Watered”.  The point of this passage of Torah and the point of this message is to remind you that the Dry will not be added to the Watered.

Delitzsch translates it this way: "“ To sweep away that which is saturated with the thirsty: ” a proverbial expression, of which very different interpretations have been given (see Rosenmüller ad h. l. ), taken no doubt from the land and transferred to persons or souls; so that we might supply Nephesh in this sense, “to destroy all, both those who have drunk its poison, and those also who are still thirsting for it” ( Knobel ). But even if we were to supply ארץ (the land), we should not have to think of the land itself, but simply of its inhabitants, so that the thought would still remain the same.

The "Moist & Dry" are like the "Sheep & Goats"...

Matthew 25:31-46 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

31 “Now when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33 And He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’[b]

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger and invite You in? Or naked and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

40 “And answering, the King will say to them, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’  41 Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Go away from Me, you cursed ones, into the everlasting fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in; naked and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they too will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not care for You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ 46 These shall go off to everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.”

Rosh Hashanah symbolizes the Great Shofar when the Messiah comes, and when He comes, this is what will happen as Yeshua describes it...

• A separation will occur, between the dry and the watered, the sheep and goats.  

• What separates the sheep from the goats? (what they did) (actions they took, not just the creeds they recited)…

• Those who do what God wants – off to eternal life.

We have a choice to make today.  

Let's not lie to ourselves that we can go on sinning and everything will remain as it is today.

Let's not think we can go on living and doing the things we always want to do.

Let’s make 5779 the year we make a commitment to Messiah Yeshua

Let Yeshua into your house and KNOW HIM today.

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Your Daily Pesuk Sept 3, 2018

Parashat Nitzavim / פרשת נצבים

• Mon, 3 September 2018 = 23rd of Elul, 5778
• כ״ג בֶּאֱלוּל תשע״ח

Deuteronomy 29:12-14 (3 p'sukim)

Deuteronomy 29:12-14 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

12 “This is in order to confirm you today as His people. So He will be your God, just as He promised you and just as He swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. 13 Not with you alone am I cutting this covenant and this oath, 14 but with whomever is standing here with us today before Adonai our God and with whomever is not here with us today.

12 לְמַ֣עַן הָקִֽים־אֹתְךָ֩ הַיּ֨וֹם׀ ל֜וֹ לְעָ֗ם וְה֤וּא יִֽהְיֶה־לְּךָ֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֤ר נִשְׁבַּע֙ לַאֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְיִצְחָ֖ק וּֽלְיַעֲקֹֽב׃

13 וְלֹ֥א אִתְּכֶ֖ם לְבַדְּכֶ֑ם אָנֹכִ֗י כֹּרֵת֙ אֶת־הַבְּרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֔את וְאֶת־הָאָלָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

14 כִּי֩ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֶשְׁנ֜וֹ פֹּ֗ה עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ עֹמֵ֣ד הַיּ֔וֹם לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וְאֵ֨ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵינֶ֛נּוּ פֹּ֖ה עִמָּ֥נוּ הַיּֽוֹם׃

Yesterday, we learned that God chose Israel, "AND" all those who attached themselves to Israel, a "mixed multitude", to be His people.  Today, we see that it was not only those standing there that very day... but all of their descendants, the souls of those who would one day be born, and also those "whomever" in the future would attach themselves to Israel!

The Torah teaches us something about this fact.  Whenever we observe the Passover Seder, we are to recount the story to our children, as if we (ourselves) were there personally at Mt. Sinai...

Exodus 13:8 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
8 “You are to tell your son on that day saying, ‘It is because of what Adonai did for me when I came out of Egypt.

The purpose of this, according to the rabbis and sages of Israel, was to treat each generation of Israel, and those attached to Israel, as if it were only (1) single generation removed from being there at Sinai.  To keep the experience fresh in the minds an souls of each generation.  So that no one would ever forget.

It seems fitting then that the Messiah of Israel chose a Seder to reveal the New Covenant, and the words of the New Covenant and the testimonies of the eye witnesses to the Resurrection can speak to us directly, as if we were all there together at His last Seder.

And we can recount this to our children; looking forward to the day when we take our seat at the great Supper of the Lamb!

Revelation 19:9 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
9 Then the angel tells me, “Write: How fortunate are those who have been invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb!” He also tells me, “These are the true words of God.”

Your Daily Pesuk Sept. 2, 2018

Parashat Nitzavim / פרשת נצבים

• Sun, 2 September 2018 = 22nd of Elul, 5778
• כ״ב בֶּאֱלוּל תשע״ח

Deuteronomy 29:9-11 (3 p'sukim)

Deuteronomy 29:9-11 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Parashat Nitzavim

You Are Standing Before the Lord

9 “You are standing today, all of you, before Adonai your God—the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officials, all the men of Israel, 10 your children, your wives, and the outsider within your camp (from your woodchopper to your water carrier). 11 Each of you is to cross over into the covenant of Adonai your God that He is cutting with you today, and into His oath.

9 אַתֶּ֨ם נִצָּבִ֤ים הַיּוֹם֙ כֻּלְּכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם רָאשֵׁיכֶ֣ם שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֗ם זִקְנֵיכֶם֙ וְשֹׁ֣טְרֵיכֶ֔ם כֹּ֖ל אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

10 טַפְּכֶ֣ם נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וְגֵ֣רְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֶ֑יךָ מֵחֹטֵ֣ב עֵצֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד שֹׁאֵ֥ב מֵימֶֽיךָ׃

11 לְעָבְרְךָ֗ בִּבְרִ֛ית יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּבְאָלָת֑וֹ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כֹּרֵ֥ת עִמְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃

There are only 3 pesukim today as we begin a new week and a new Parasha Hashuvah.  Franz Delitzsch comments:

"Summons to enter into the covenant of the Lord, namely, to enter inwardly, to make the covenant an affair of the heart and life.

“ To-day ,” when the covenant-law and covenant-right were laid before them, the whole nation stood before the Lord without a single exception - the heads and the tribes, the elders and the officers, all the men of Israel. The two members are parallel. The heads of the people are the elders and officers, and the tribes consist of all the men. The rendering given by the lxx and Syriac (also in the English version: Tr.), “ heads (captains) of your tribes ,” is at variance with the language.

The covenant of the Lord embraced, however, not only the men of Israel, but also the wives and children, and the stranger who had attached himself to Israel, such as the Egyptians who came out with Israel (Exodus 12:38; Numbers 11:4), and the Midianites who joined the Israelites with Hobab (Numbers 10:29), down to the very lowest servant, “ from thy hewer of wood to thy drawer of water ” (cf. Joshua 9:21, Joshua 9:27)."

The obvious lesson here is that anyone and everyone is invited to join this covenant with Adonai, the God of Israel.  Everyone, Jew or non-Jew, slave or free, male or female.  It matters not who you are or where you come from.  Adonai's mercy and grace are extended to all nations.

We all can enter the covenant through the Blood...

Matthew 26:28 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the removal of sins.

This Brit Chadasha, (New Covenant), must be entered by blood.  Either your own, (in which you pay for your own sins, or it is paid by Yeshua, the Messiah), by trusting in His powerful redemption, by purchasing us with His own Blood.

Just as with the Older Covenant with Moses, Israel and foreigners entered therein...so it is with the New.  It is a covenant made with Israel, and all from the nations, who attach themselves to Israel must be included...

Jeremiah 31:30 “Behold, days are coming”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah—
31 not like the covenant
I made with their fathers
in the day I took them by the hand
to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they broke My covenant,
though I was a husband to them.”
it is a declaration of Adonai.
32 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“I will put My Torah within them.
Yes, I will write it on their heart.
I will be their God
and they will be My people.
33 No longer will each teach his neighbor
or each his brother, saying: ‘Know Adonai,’
for they will all know Me,
from the least of them to the greatest.”
it is a declaration of Adonai.
“For I will forgive their iniquity,
their sin I will remember no more.”

Your Daily Pesuk Sept. 1, 2018

Parashat Ki Tavo / פרשת כי־תבוא

• Sat, 1 September 2018 = 21st of Elul, 5778
• כ״א בֶּאֱלוּל תשע״ח

Deuteronomy 29:1-8 (8 p'sukim)

maf: 29:6-8 (3 p'sukim)

Deuteronomy 29:1-8 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

29 Moses called to all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that Adonai did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land— 2 the great trials that your eyes saw, those great signs and wonders. 3 But to this day Adonai has not given you a heart to know, or eyes to see, or ears to hear. 4 I led you 40 years in the wilderness—your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. 5 Bread you have not eaten and wine and strong drink you have not drunk—in order that you may know that I am Adonai your God.

6 “When you came to this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of the Bashan came out against us to battle, but we struck them down. 7 We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 8 So keep the words of this covenant and do them, so that you may prosper in all that you do.

29 וַיִּקְרָ֥א מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֗ם אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר֩ עָשָׂ֨ה יְהוָ֤ה לְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לְפַרְעֹ֥ה וּלְכָל־עֲבָדָ֖יו וּלְכָל־אַרְצֽוֹ׃

2 הַמַּסּוֹת֙ הַגְּדֹלֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָא֖וּ עֵינֶ֑יךָ הָאֹתֹ֧ת וְהַמֹּפְתִ֛ים הַגְּדֹלִ֖ים הָהֵֽם׃

3 וְלֹֽא־נָתַן֩ יְהוָ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם לֵב֙ לָדַ֔עַת וְעֵינַ֥יִם לִרְא֖וֹת וְאָזְנַ֣יִם לִשְׁמֹ֑עַ עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

4 וָאוֹלֵ֥ךְ אֶתְכֶ֛ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לֹֽא־בָל֤וּ שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ מֵעֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְנַֽעַלְךָ֥ לֹֽא־בָלְתָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל רַגְלֶֽךָ׃

5 לֶ֚חֶם לֹ֣א אֲכַלְתֶּ֔ם וְיַ֥יִן וְשֵׁכָ֖ר לֹ֣א שְׁתִיתֶ֑ם לְמַ֙עַן֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

6 וַתָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַיֵּצֵ֣א סִיחֹ֣ן מֶֽלֶךְ־חֶ֠שְׁבּוֹן וְע֨וֹג מֶֽלֶךְ־הַבָּשָׁ֧ן לִקְרָאתֵ֛נוּ לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה וַנַּכֵּֽם׃

7 וַנִּקַּח֙ אֶת־אַרְצָ֔ם וַנִּתְּנָ֣הּ לְנַחֲלָ֔ה לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖י וְלַגָּדִ֑י וְלַחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֥בֶט הַֽמְנַשִּֽׁי׃

8 וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֗ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַבְּרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֔את וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם לְמַ֣עַן תַּשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֽׂוּן׃ פ

Our week and Parasha ends with a sad commentary on human nature.  Moshe states in our pesukim today a sad fact, that despite all of the miracles and proofs and evidences that Adonai had done for the people of Israel, they still did not have a "HEART TO KNOW"...Him.

The key words in pesuk 3 is לֵב֙ לָדַ֔עַת  Lev L'Da'at.  (a heart of wisdom or knowledge).

Ironically, there is a benediction within the Daily Amidah prayer within the Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book), that asks God to teach us "Wisdom"...

אַתָּה חונֵן לְאָדָם דַּעַת. וּמְלַמֵּד לֶאֱנושׁ בִּינָה: חָנֵּנוּ מֵאִתְּךָ דֵעָה בִּינָה וְהַשכֵּל בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, חונֵן הַדָּעַת:

You graciously bestow knowledge upon man and teach mortals understanding. Graciously bestow upon us from You, wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Blessed are You L-rd, who graciously bestows knowledge.

How is it that one can pray daily for this kind of wisdom, real true spiritual wisdom and still have a heart that doesn't know Him?

Psalm 111:10 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom.

There is worldly knowledge and then there is real spiritual "Wisdom".  That is what is missing.  It was true of the ancient Israelites  and it is true today with every individual.  God can do miracles in front of our eyes and we can even see them and acknowledge them, but then we go right back to doubting Him.  

The reason for this is that there is a "veil" over the eyes, and prevents us from seeing Him and truly knowing Him.  Isaiah the prophet first spoke of it and it was later elaborated on in the Brit Chadasha by Rav Shaul.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, having such a hope, we act with great boldness. 13 We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face in order for Bnei-Yisrael not to look intently upon the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were hardened. For up to this very day the same veil remains unlifted at the reading of the ancient covenant, since in Messiah it is passing away. 15 But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Ruach Adonai is, there is freedom. 18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Romans 11: 25 For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer shall come out of Zion.

    He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

27 And this is My covenant with them,

    when I take away their sins.”

“Adonai, who has believed our report?

To whom has the arm of Adonai been revealed?”

39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah also said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes

    and hardened their hearts,

so they might not see with their eyes

nor understand with their hearts and turn back,

    and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

The Good News is that God is in the business of removing this veil, one person at a time.  That is what Messianic Judaism is; it is a revival of our Jewish people.  As we draw near to the imminent return of Yeshua the Messiah we are seeing Israel be restored, little by little both physically and now spiritually.

Jews are coming to "fear the Lord" and the veil is being lifted!  B"HS!!!

Blessed are You L-rd, who graciously bestows knowledge!

Shabbat Shalom