{"id":2485,"date":"2013-08-25T12:14:32","date_gmt":"2013-08-25T12:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=2485"},"modified":"2013-08-25T12:14:32","modified_gmt":"2013-08-25T12:14:32","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parshiot-nitzavim-and-vayelech-how-important-is-circumcision-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parshiot-nitzavim-and-vayelech-how-important-is-circumcision-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parshiot Nitzavim and Vayelech, How important is Circumcision today?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This weeks reading is from Parshiot Nitzavim and Vayelech (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30<\/em>), Moshe writes of the future when the people are scattered to the nations because of their rebellion, and come to their senses, and the Lord will remember the covenant and have compassion (mercy, \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d7\u05b2\u05de\u05b6\u05da\u05b8<\/span>) and restore them from captivity by gathering them from all the nations. (30:1-3<\/em>)\u00a0 According to the Scriptures, in this repentant-remembrance of the Lord God, the Lord will circumcise their hearts according to Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 30:6<\/em>, \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05dc \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d1 \u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05b6\u05bc\u05d9\u05da\u05b8<\/span> 30:6 \u2018Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 The scriptures use the term \u201cuncircumcised heart\u201d<\/em> as a reference to those whose stubbornness and pride make it impossible to obey God\u2019s Commandments.\u00a0 The uncircumcised heart does not submit to God\u2019s will and it is the person\u2019s uncircumcised heart, his flesh, which guides and directs the will.\u00a0 God\u2019s promise to circumcise the heart of His people results in an inward change that facilitates the removal of the \u201cflesh centered will\u201d<\/em> in order to allow the Spirit of God to lead, guide, and direct.\u00a0 The Scriptures also say that the Lord will cross over into the Promised land ahead of the people and Joshua will lead the people to take the Land (\u05d5\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05dd \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05e9\u05bb\u05c1\u05e2\u05b7 \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05e2\u05b9\u05d1\u05b5\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05e0\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05d3\u05b4\u05bc\u05d1\u05b6\u05bc\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4<\/span>) indicating the people\u2019s role in taking the land.\u00a0 Examining these verses regarding circumcision and taking possession of the Land of Promise, how important is circumcision for us today?<\/p>\n

\u05db\u05ea\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d5\u05d3\u05e9 \/ The Holy Scriptures<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05dc<\/strong><\/span>
\n\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05dc \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d1 \u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05b6\u05bc\u05d9\u05da\u05b8:<\/span><\/p>\n

Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 30:6<\/em><\/strong>
\n30:6 \u2018Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. (NASB)<\/em><\/p>\n

Reading through this week\u2019s double portion we are told that the Lord will circumcise our hearts (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 30:6<\/em>) whereas earlier we read in Parashat Ekev that Moshe told the people to circumcise their own hearts (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 10:16<\/em>).\u00a0 Studying the context, in Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 10:16<\/em>, Moshe is retelling the story of the children of Israel who sinned before the mountain of Sinai with the golden calf, and God tells Moshe to make two more stone tablets.\u00a0 Moshe then says in Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 10:12-15, 10:12 \u201cNow, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 10:13 and to keep the Lord\u2019s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? 10:14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. 10:15 Yet on your fathers did the Lord set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day. (NASB)<\/em> Israel is a unique people and therefore they are to fear the Lord, to serve the Lord, and walk in His ways.\u00a0 In Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 30<\/em>, Moshe is explaining to the people the blessings and the curses that will come if they do not love and obey.\u00a0 The Lord God Almighty will transform (cut away at) their hearts so that they will love the Lord their God and not depart from His commandments.\u00a0 At the end of the book of Leviticus in Parashat Bechukotai, the Lord says in Vayikra \/ Leviticus 26:40-42, 26:40 \u2018If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me 26:41 I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity, 26:42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land. (NASB)<\/em> The Scriptures indicate that if the people repent the Lord will remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and save them.\u00a0 According to these Scriptures, repentance is also a part of this heart circumcision process.\u00a0 Moshe said in Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 10:16 \u201d… and stiffen your neck no longer,\u201d<\/em> meaning be humble before God.\u00a0 In Vayikra \/ Leviticus 26:41<\/em>, Moshe speaks of people who have uncircumcised hearts and if they would humble themselves the Lord would return them to the land.\u00a0 In addition to this, prophetically speaking (Jeremiah 31:30<\/em>) the purpose of the New Covenant, made by faith in Yeshua the Messiah, was so that God would circumcise our hearts.\u00a0 The way this would be accomplished is by the Lord writing His Law upon our hearts (see Jeremiah 31<\/em>) so we would desire to obey Him.\u00a0 According to these verses, it appears that it is the Lord God who enables us to love Him with all of our heart, mind, and strength (\u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05da\u05b8<\/span>) just as we are supposed to do according to Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 6:4-5<\/em>.\u00a0 Under the covenant of Moshe we brought the sacrifice of atonement before God; whereas under the new covenant, the Lord God Himself brought atonement for our sins in His Word, according to His Word, and by His Word (John 1:1-14<\/em>).\u00a0 This understanding is so essential for us today, the Lord is telling us that He will circumcise our hearts, to illustrate the inward transformation that He will implement when we seek to draw near to Him in true repentance and in the Messiah Yeshua.\u00a0 In addition to this, in Psalms 25:4-5<\/em>, David says 25:4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 David seeks the Lord to cause him to know his ways, this is beyond an individual seeking to know God\u2019s ways, he is asking the Lord to actively participate in His life to make him know God\u2019s ways.\u00a0 Have you ever asked the Lord to work in your life so that you can know His ways and draw nearer to Him?\u00a0 Do we seek the Lord like David did?\u00a0 The take home point for this week is to seek the Lord\u2019s help, that He would purposefully lead us into his truth so that we might know the Salvation that He has made available to us in Yeshua the Messiah.\u00a0 A life filled with resurrection power! BTT_Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech-2013<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This weeks reading is from Parshiot Nitzavim and Vayelech (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30), Moshe writes of the future when the people are scattered to the nations because of their rebellion, and come to their senses, and the Lord will remember the covenant and have compassion (mercy, \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d7\u05b2\u05de\u05b6\u05da\u05b8) and restore them from captivity by gathering them […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2485","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2485"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}