Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 5:1–22
My Thoughts:
Here is something amazing. Those of you who are Protestant or Catholic -- you may not know this. The first commandment of the Ten Commandments is verse 6, “I am Hashem your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Yes, this is true. It is a command to always remember Hashem and that He is the deliverer. Before following any of the following 9 commandments, you need to obey this one. That your Elohim is Adonai. That He delivered you. When you acknowledge this it places your life in order. It puts the commandments in order. Remember this. Remember Him.
Challenge:
Today’s challenge is this. Go through the Ten Commandments, review them, search your heart and repent to Hashem if you have been in disobedience. Here are the ten commandments and questions:
Do you remember and worship Adonai as your G-d and deliverer?
Have you worshiped any false gods?
Are you respecting and honoring His Name?
Have you honored the Sabbath every week as He has commanded you?
Are you honoring and obeying your parents (and those in authority over your life/job/family)?
Have you murdered anyone?
Have you committed adultery (pornography, or imagination)?
Have you stolen anything -- intentionally or unintentionally?
Have you lied about someone you know?
Have you coveted (desired) things that are not yours?
Reading #4 - Deuteronomy 5:1–22
5:1 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears today, that you may learn them, and observe to do them.” 2 Hashem our Elohim made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Hashem didn’t make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive today. 4 Hashem spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, 5 (I stood between Hashem and you at that time, to show you Hashem’s word; for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn’t go up onto the mountain) saying,
6 “I am Hashem your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
7 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 8 “You shall not make a carved image for yourself—any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 9 You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, Hashem your Elohim, am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate Me; 10 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
11 “You shall not misuse the name of Hashem your Elohim; for Hashem will not hold him guiltless who misuses His name.
12 “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Hashem your Elohim commanded you. 13 You shall labor six days, and do all your work; 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Hashem your Elohim, in which you shall not do any work— neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Hashem your Elohim brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Hashem your Elohim commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
16 “Honor your father and your mother, as Hashem your Elohim commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you.
17 “You shall not murder.
18 “You shall not commit adultery.
19 “You shall not steal.
20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
22 Hashem spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice. He added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me.
