Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parasha #51 Deuteronomy (D’varim) Nitzavim (Standing) 29:9-30:20
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 61:10-63:9
B’rit Chadashah: Romans 9:30-10-13, Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 12:14-15
As we continue the countdown to G-d’s judgment on America and the rest of the world for rejecting G-d in every way including His commands and laws, the validity and reliability of G-d’s Torah, the blessings and the curses are becoming more apparent with each day. Just as a photographer chooses a subject for a photograph, calculates the surroundings, and adjusts the focus for optimal clarity, YHVH/Yahshua provided the future scenario, what our surroundings/society will look like just before His return. We are warned numerous times that we have been given a choice to choose life through loving obedience to G-d’s Word, or the second death for continued transgression of G-d’s Law (1 John 3:3-5). In His loving mercy, G-d clearly defines sin. We cannot rationalize, minimize, or justify any thoughts or behaviors that are not consistent with G-d’s Torah. This includes attempts to label antinomianism and abominations defined in G-d’s Torah (Prov. 6:16-19; Prov. 26:25; Rev. 21:8; Ezek. 5:11) as tolerance and inclusion. Comparing the modern secular meaning and context of these two terms to G-d’s definition we soon discover there is no comparison. The paradigm of “anything goes” and whatever someone believes is “right” must be accepted and supported under the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution. For a true believer to attempt loving rebuke of such thinking, speech, and actions, means taking a risk of being persecuted for “indoctrination of radical fundamental ideals which are in fact G-d’s Word.” Those who preach and teach G-d’s instructions, his laws, and rulings are increasingly being accused of “hate speech,” intolerance, and “brain washing.” Yet, this should not come as a surprise to any true believer. Yahshua forewarned us that true believers, are being sent out as sheep among wolves and who will be hated and persecuted for His Name’s sake (Matt. 10:16-19). Those who lovingly follow YHVH/Yahshua are given comfort and encouragement that the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) will not leave them but will be saved (Matt. 10:22). Notice that the scripture uses a future tense of the word “saved.” This is a progressive process that requires perseverance, trust, submission to G-d and His will, and faith in Yahshua’s sacrifice as our Paschal Lamb.
While we are discussing the term inclusion, let us refer to our parashah for clarification. In D’varim 29:9 through verse 28 G-d makes a point to include everyone, men and women, every economic class, every age, and even those who are not born yet! Everyone is included in making an oath to enter the covenant with G-d. This requires obedience to G-d’s instructions/commands, and rulings. How do we know He will not include those who continue their own way and expect that G-d will make exceptions to His rules? Let us read 29:17-20: “So let there not be among you a root bearing such bitter poison and wormwood. If there is such a person, when he hears the words of this curse, he will bless himself secretly, saying to himself,’ I will be all right, even though I will stubbornly keep doing whatever I feel like doing; so that I, although “dry,” [sinful,] will be added to the “watered” [righteous].’ But Adonai will not forgive him. Rather, the anger and jealousy of Adonai will blaze up against that person. Every curse written in this book will be upon him. Adonai will blot out his name from under heaven. Adonai will single him out from all the tribes of Israel to experience what is bad in all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the Torah.”
Unfortunately, there are many clergy people who teach that G-d is all love, and that this scripture is outdated, that Yashua is a G-d of all love and that the Old Testament was written for the Jews only. This is a severely errant ideology that will lead its followers to suffer the second death and eternal separation from G-d. This ideology is not biblically based or even implied. Let us look for a parallel text in the B’rit Chadashah for those who disregard the Old Testament truths of G-d and/or who believe the Christian Church is the “New Israel.” First, I will point out that if you believe in church replacement theology, then you must admit that G-d clearly states in our parashah this week that He is speaking to all Israel who were living at that time, and all future generations. So if you consider yourself within a group of people called “the new Israel” how do you reconcile these opposing ideas? Perhaps you were taught that all of G-d’s commands and laws were “nailed on the cross.” If this is the case, I invite you to read John chapter 14, Romans 1-3, and the Seven-fold Witness found in the Book of Revelation (see rabdavis.org and search “teachings” You will find “definition of a true believer”)
Now, let us read Revelation 22:1219 “Pay attention! [says Yahshua,] “I am coming soon, and my rewards are with me to give each person according to what he has done [works]. I am the “Alef” and the “Tav, ’the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. How blessed are those who wash their robes [repent] so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city! Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
But what of true believers? We have already learned that G-d will never leave or forsake us as we read in Matthew 10. Our parashah compliments this truth in 30:1-6. The Israelites were told that if they repent [all of us are sinners] and follow G-d’s Torah that He will show them (and us), his mercy. G-d’s people will be gathered from wherever we have been scattered and we will be brought back into the land. This gathering of G-d’s people continues today with the culmination to occur when Yahshua returns. Chapter 29:6 reads:
“Then Adonai your G-d will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your children, so that you will love Adonai your G-d with all your heart and all your being, and thus you will live.” Parallel scriptures include Romans 1-3 and Deuteronomy 6:4-11.
We are assured that we can follow the commands of G-d; it can be done, and He expects us to develop a “Torah nature” with the assistance of the “new nature” Yahshua made possible through His sacrifice. Like anything else with which we may desire to become proficient, we can learn to overcome our human/animal nature with humble, consistent reading, learning, and application of G-d’s Torah in all that we think and do. Conceptually this means continuing to ask, seek, and knock (Matt. 7:7-8).
As we continue to witness global degradation of social values and norms toward the One World Order and the beginning of the curses of which G-d warned would and will occur for those who stubbornly choose not to partake in the covenant between G-d and man, let us consider the gravity of this reality and pray that G-d would examine our hearts daily and reveal our sins to us for correction. May our names be found in the Book of Life at the final Yom Kippur.
Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9
This is the seventh and final installment of a series of seven “Haftarot of Consolation”. Isaiah begins on a high note, describing the great joy that we will experience with the Final Redemption, much like the joy of a newly married couple. Isaiah then declares his refusal to passively wait on the Redemption: “For Zion’s sake I will not remain silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be still, until her righteousness emerges like shining light…” Then the haftorah recounts G-d’s oath to eventually redeem Zion, when the Jews will praise G-d in Jerusalem. There is also the description of the punishment G-d will mete out to Edom and the enemies of Israel to their final destruction.
Brit Chadashah: Hebrews 12:14-15: The consistency of G-d’s Torah is again proven in these verses. We are admonished to keep pursuing shalom the whole peace of G-d) and to see to it that no root of bitterness springs up causing trouble and thus contamination to many. It recalls the story of Esau who exchanged his right as the firstborn for a single meal and then changed his mind to no avail. There is a “point of no return” when all the whaling and crying in those who continually rejected G-d’s Torah will be for naught. We must seek wisdom from above and pray for a heart attuned to the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit’s) promptings concerning sins in our lives that we may “wash our robes” [repent] and continue our journey on the “King’s Highway” until our “Groom” (Yahshua) comes to take us as his bride to the Father’s House. May it be in our lifetime!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart