Nitzavim-Vayelech
Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30
Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9
Apostolic Scripture: Luke 24:1-43
Reading #7: Deuteronomy 31:20-30
My Thoughts:
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. Right?
Challenge:
The book of the Law in verse 25 reminds them (us) about how 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) that 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!
Deuteronomy 31:20-30
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.
Haftarah - Isaiah 61:10-63:9
My Thoughts:
I was thinking about verse 63:7 and about how good He has been to me, “ to all that Hashem has given to us.” Sometimes as we study His Scriptures we get caught up on history, or poetry, or the people of the Bible and we tend to forget all He has done for us! For me! 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 Your loving kindness. Trust in Him today for all that is going on in your life. He is loving you and being kind. Amen.
Challenge:
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 our life. Make sure you are displaying His love in all you do and say. If not, make it a point to improve and be better. We are to be “lights” to the nations!
Haftarah - Isaiah 61:10-63:9
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 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 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 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 speak 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 redeemed 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.
Apostolic Writing: Luke 24:1-43
My Thoughts:
A curious story, indeed - how Yeshua was resurrected from the dead and meets up with some disciples on the road to Emmaus. What is so cool is that he reflects on the Scriptures pertaining to the Messiah. Their hearts are “burning” and when they break bread their eyes are opened. Then he “vanishes”. I have often thought that people “missed” the truth about Yeshua because they weren’t familiar with the Word of Elohim. And could we miss when he comes again - because we don’t study the Word and prepare. Something to think about.
Challenge:
In verse 32 we read, ““Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?” My challenge to you is to really reflect on this verse. Does your heart “burn” when you read the Bible? Should it? You (and I) should be so filled with the Holy Spirit through prayer and worship that when we read Scripture that should literally touch our hearts with His power and revelation! We should be burning with “truth” in our whole being. If this isn’t happening to you - you may want to ask why? Get closer to Hashem today. Study His word everyday - including the daily Torah Portion. Guaranteed the “light” in your life will begin to “burn” brighter.
Apostolic Writing: Luke 24:1-43
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They entered in, and didn’t find the L-rd Yeshua’s body. 4 While they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. 5 Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth.
They said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He isn’t here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again?”
8 They remembered his words, 9 returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles. 11 These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened.
13 Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. 14 They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. 15 While they talked and questioned together, Yeshua Himself came near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. 17 He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”
18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?”
19 He said to them, “What things?”
They said to Him, “The things concerning Yeshua, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before Elohim and all the people; 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb; 23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. 24 Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
25 He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, He explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 They came near to the village where they were going, and He acted like He would go further.
29 They urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.”
He went in to stay with them. 30 When he had sat down at the table with them, He took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, He gave it to them. 31 Their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, then He vanished out of their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while He spoke to us along the way, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 They related the things that happened along the way, and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
36 As they said these things, Yeshua Himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
37 But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See My hands and My feet, that it is truly Me. Touch Me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, He said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 He took them, and ate in front of them.
