Nitzavim - Vayelech
Torah Portion:
Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30
Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9
Shabbat: Deuteronomy 31:20-30
31:20 For when I have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break My covenant. 21 It will happen, when many evils and troubles have come on them, that this song will testify before them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten out of the mouths of their descendants; for I know their ways and what they are doing today, before I have brought them into the land which I promised them.”
22 So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.
23 He commissioned Joshua, the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to them. I will be with you.”
24 When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, 25 Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of Hashem’s covenant, saying, 26 “Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of Hashem your Elohim’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against you. 27 For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against Hashem. How much more after my death? 28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days, because you will do that which is evil in Hashem’s sight, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”
30 Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.
Today’s Meditation:
Moses seems anxious about how the Israelites will fare after his death. In verse 29, he says, “For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves.” How sad is this? After 40 years of substantial miracles and witnesses of Hashem’s power and glory, the chosen people are still disobeying Him. What is it about humankind that just can’t seem to get it together? How could they have looked upon the pillar of the cloud in the day and the pillar of fire at night? Wouldn’t that miracle alone (His presence) be enough in your life to want to stay on your knees day and night? Why are we so weak? Even today, look at the world. It is crazy. Right is wrong and wrong is right. We are so upside down. Those of us who profess to know Hashem and love Him still disobey Him and sin. The beauty of it all is teshuvah. We must repent and turn around. When we turn around, we don’t look back. We must become lights for Hashem for the rest of the world. So that He wants to send the Mashiach.
Today’s Challenge:
The book of the Law in verse 25 reminds them (us) about how we are to live. It is a witness. That’s why they carry it in the ark. It needs to be with them at all times. Just like now. We need the Torah by our side every day. It needs to be in plain view where we can study it and learn from it. That is the advantage of doing the daily reading schedule. It is always in your life, every day. And that is my challenge to you today. Make a promise to yourself that as the new Torah cycle begins (after Sukkot), you will immerse yourself. Pick a time every day to study, and if you happen to miss a study, make it up. Get yourself a journal to record your thoughts. Let the Torah speak to you in powerful ways each day. Remember, it is life.
This Week’s Haftarah - Isaiah 61:10-63:9
61:10 I will greatly rejoice in Hashem!
My soul will be joyful in my Elohim,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation.
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth produces its bud,
and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring up,
so Hashem Adonai will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation is like a burning lamp.
2 The nations will see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory.
You will be called by a new name,
which Hashem’s mouth will name.
3 You will also be a crown of beauty in Hashem’s hand,
and a royal diadem in your Elohim’s hand.
4 You will not be called Forsaken any more,
nor will your land be called Desolate any more;
but you will be called Hephzibah,
and your land, Beulah;
for Hashem delights in you,
and your land will be married.
5 For as a young man marries a virgin,
so your sons will marry you.
As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so your Elohim will rejoice over you.
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem.
They will never be silent day nor night.
You who call on Hashem, take no rest,
7 and give him no rest, until He establishes,
and until He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
8 Hashem has sworn by His right hand,
and by the arm of His strength,
“Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies,
and foreigners will not drink your new wine, for which you have labored,
9 but those who have harvested it will eat it, and praise Hashem.
Those who have gathered it will drink it in the courts of My sanctuary.”
10 Go through, go through the gates!
Prepare the way of the people!
Build up, build up the highway!
Gather out the stones!
Lift up a banner for the peoples.
11 Behold, Hashem has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your salvation comes!
Behold, His reward is with him,
and His recompense before him!’”
12 They will call them “The Holy People,
Hashem’s Redeemed”.
You will be called “Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken”.
63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom,
with dyed garments from Bozrah?
Who is this who is glorious in his clothing,
marching in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I who speaks in righteousness,
mighty to save.”
2 Why is your clothing red,
and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?
3 “I have trodden the wine press alone.
Of the peoples, no one was with Me.
Yes, I trod them in My anger
and trampled them in My wrath.
Their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
and I have stained all my clothing.
4 For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And the year of My redemption has come.
5 I looked, and there was no one to help;
and I wondered that there was no one to uphold.
Therefore, My own arm brought salvation to Me.
My own wrath upheld Me.
6 I trod down the peoples in My anger
and made them drunk in My wrath.
I poured their lifeblood out on the earth.”
7 I will tell of the loving kindnesses of Hashem
and the praises of Hashem,
according to all that Hashem has given to us,
and the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
which he has given to them according to His mercies,
and according to the multitude of His loving kindnesses.
8 For He said, “Surely, they are My people,
children who will not deal falsely;”
so He became their Savior.
9 In all their affliction He was afflicted,
and the angel of His presence saved them.
In His love and in His pity, He redeemed them.
He bore them,
and carried them all the days of old.
Today’s Haftarah Meditation:
I was thinking about verse 63:7 and about how good He has been to me, “…according to all that Hashem has given to us.” Sometimes, as we study His Scriptures, we get caught up in history, or poetry, or the people of the Bible, and we tend to forget all He has done for us. When I look back on my life and see all the amazing and wonderful things Hashem has done, I am amazed and grateful. Thank you, Hashem, for all You do for us and for Your loving kindness. Try to trust in Him today for all that is going on in your life. He loves you and is being kind.
Today’s Haftarah Challenge:
The first verse in this Haftarah is “rejoice in Hashem”. So, what does that look like to you? Are you experiencing joy today because of who He is in your life? Are you rejoicing about Him through your prayers of thanksgiving? Are you so happy and full of joy that others see that in you? I challenge you today to reflect on your life. Make sure you are displaying His love in all you do and say. If not, make it a point to improve. We are to be lights to the nations.
