{"id":3192,"date":"2014-08-10T11:14:13","date_gmt":"2014-08-10T11:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=3192"},"modified":"2014-08-29T19:09:54","modified_gmt":"2014-08-29T19:09:54","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-ekev-encouraged-by-the-faithfulness-of-our-father-in-heaven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-ekev-encouraged-by-the-faithfulness-of-our-father-in-heaven\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Ekev, Encouraged by the Faithfulness of Our Father in Heaven"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VxcJ9dI92Ho\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In this weeks reading from Parsahat Ekev (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25<\/span><\/em>), Moshe says \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 | \u05e2\u05b5\u05e7\u05b6\u05d1 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05df \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b6\u05e1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05ea\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">7:12 \u2018Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you His covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Is this a statement that one must earn their right to be in the covenant?\u00a0 Note that when studying the Hebrew text, Moshe explains the Lord God will keep the covenant, the mercy and grace (\u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b6\u05e1\u05b6\u05d3) that He swore to our fathers and that the Lord will bless the people in the land if they remain faithful to Him (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">7:12-16<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 These warnings are contrasted with the mighty works God did to preserve His people in the wilderness.\u00a0 The major concepts brought out in this week\u2019s Torah portion is having a humble heart before God, and a hunger for Him, and God\u2019s provision of Manna (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cbread from heaven\u201d<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 In <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 8:1-3<\/span><\/em>,\u00a0 Moshe writes <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cman does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord does a man live.\u201d\u00a0 Matthew 4<\/span> <\/em>records Yeshua using these Scriptures to answer Satan during the temptation, drawing his words into the context of the Torah.\u00a0 Yeshua laid claim to the Torah as having authority over his life.\u00a0 Today, can we lay the claim that the Torah is for each and every person who places their faith and trust in Yeshua the Messiah for their salvation?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d6<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05d9\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 | \u05e2\u05b5\u05e7\u05b6\u05d1 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05df \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b6\u05e1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05ea\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8: \u05d9\u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d4\u05b5\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b5\u05e8\u05b7\u05db\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b5\u05e8\u05b7\u05da\u05b0 \u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d1\u05b4\u05d8\u05b0\u05e0\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e4\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05ea\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d3\u05bc\u05b0\u05d2\u05b8\u05e0\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05e8-\u05d0\u05b2\u05dc\u05b8\u05e4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b9\u05ea \u05e6\u05b9\u05d0\u05e0\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05ea\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b6\u05ea \u05dc\u05b8\u05da\u05b0: \u05d9\u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05da\u05b0 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0-\u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05e2\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05d4\u05b6\u05de\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05da\u05b8: \u05d8\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b5\u05e1\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d7\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05de\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05d5\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b8\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05de\u05b8\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05da\u05b0 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc-\u05e9\u05b9\u05e0\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 7:12-16<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 7:12 \u2018Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you His covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers. 7:13 \u2018He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. 7:14 \u2018You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle. 7:15 \u2018The Lord will remove from you all sickness; and He will not put on you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will lay them on all who hate you. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Based upon the words from this week\u2019s portion and from Yeshua in the Gospel of Matthew, are we faced with the question of how important are the words of the Torah for us today?\u00a0 The Apostle Paul told us in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 7:14<\/span><\/em> saying <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cFor we know that the Law is spiritual&#8230;\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The Torah is spiritual?\u00a0 If the Law is spiritual, how relevant is the Torah for our lives today?\u00a0 Throughout various locations within the text of the five books of Moshe, we find a statement like the one we read in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 8:1-3<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 8:1-3<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 8:1 \u2018All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers. 8:2 \u2018You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 8:3 \u2018He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05d5\u05bc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05df \u05dc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b9\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d7\u05b0\u05d9\u05d5\u05bc\u05df \u05d5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05d0\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05ea\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd: \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d6\u05b8\u05db\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05db\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d6\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e2\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05d3\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05e2\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b9\u05ea\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05e1\u05bc\u05b9\u05ea\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d4\u05b2\u05ea\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05d5 [\u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5] \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0: \u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05d1\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0-\u05d9\u05b8\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b8\u05d3\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05ea\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05bc\u05b6\u05d7\u05b6\u05dd \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d7\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b8\u05d0 \u05e4\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d7\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>God is telling His people that the commandments are meant to enable one to live and multiply in the land he\/she will be living in (Israel), the land that He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.\u00a0 This is a very important statement.\u00a0 As a result of this statement and others, these questions come to mind: <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cHow is the Torah spiritual?&#8221;\u00a0 \u201cCan the non-Jewish peoples lay claim to the Torah?\u201d<\/span><\/em> and <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cIf gentile believers can not lay claim to the Torah, are the patriarchs consider our fathers?&#8221;<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 In light of the doctrine of Supersessionism (replacement theology), these Torah verses are not to be considered as applicable for us today, right?\u00a0 The Lord did all of these things and He continues to do these things because had sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and He continues doing for His name\u2019s sake.\u00a0 According to both Yeshua and Paul we are the sons of Abraham.\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cDo Paul\u2019s words refer to a spiritualization of the Torah?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cDoes literal physical lineage overrule spiritual fatherhood?\u201d<\/span><\/em> and <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cis there a connection between the physical and the spiritual in the context of the covenant of grace we have in Yeshua?\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 These are important questions for us today with regard to the relevance of the commandments in our lives.<\/p>\n<p>Studying the Hebrew Scriptures, the word Torah (\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4) means <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cinstruction\u201d<\/span><\/em> or <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cteaching.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The meaning of this word is a very important concept because the five books of Moshe were not designed to be used simply as a story or history book.\u00a0 This is best understood by contextualizing the meaning of the Torah in our own lives.\u00a0 For example, are you able to say that God\u2019s Law is the primary source of <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cinstruction\u201d<\/span> or <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cteaching\u201d<\/span><\/em> in your life?\u00a0 To bring this into greater context, here is a short (non-exhaustive) list of some areas in our lives that we have the most concern for.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Areas of Concern in our Lives<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Marriage and dating<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Career and money<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Happiness<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Health<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Children<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Recreation and fun<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Personal development<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Education<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Politics<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Friends, family, and relatives, etc&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Based upon this short list of topics, ask yourself <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cDo I view the Torah as \u2018instructional\u2019 or as \u2018teachings\u2019 to personally apply in these areas of my life?\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 If\u00a0 you are unable to associate the five books of Moshe to these real-time every day events listed above, then a major portion of the Scriptures has become irrelevant for your life.\u00a0 If God\u2019s Law becomes irrelevant, there is a significant gap between what is intended in our lives and what is actually taking place.\u00a0 Yeshua found the Torah to be very relevant for his life and similarly we should too.\u00a0 This is why we go through the Torah every year.<\/p>\n<p>Based upon these Scriptures and Moshe\u2019s warning <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cto keep and to do\u201d<\/span><\/em> the commands, the rabbis wrote a parable of two gems referring to the commandments according to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Devarim, Parashat 3, Part 7<\/span><\/em> (\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d2 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d6):<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Devarim, Parashat 3, Part 7<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> Another explanation, THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL KEEP FOR YOU THE COVENANT AND THE MERCY.\u00a0 R. Simeon son of Halafta said, This may be compared to a king who married a noble lady, who brought with her into the house two gems, and the king too had two corresponding gems set for her.\u00a0 The lady lost her gems, whereeupon the king took away his.\u00a0 After some time she arose and set herself right with him by bringing back the two gems.\u00a0 Thereupon the king too restored his.\u00a0 The king decreed that a crown should be made of both sets of gems and that it should be placed on the head of the noble lady.\u00a0 So you find that Abraham gave his children two gems (to guard), as it is said, For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him to do righteousness and justice (Bereshit \/ Genesis 18:19).\u00a0 God too set up corresponding to them two gems, namely, lovingkindness and mercy, as it is said, God will keep for you the covenant and the mercy, and it further says, And He will give you mercy, and have compassion on you (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 13:18).\u00a0 Israel lost theirs, as it is said, That you have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (Amos 6:12).\u00a0 God thereupon took away His, as it is said, For I have taken away My peace from this people says the Lord, even mercy and compassion (Jeremiah 16:5).\u00a0 Israel then arose and set themselves right with God and restored the two gems.\u00a0 Whence do we know this?\u00a0 For so it is written, Zion will be redeemed with justice, and they that return of her with righteousness (Isaiah 1:27).\u00a0 God too restored His.\u00a0 Whence this?\u00a0 For so it is written, For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but My kindness will not depart from you, neither will My covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord that has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:10).\u00a0 And after Israel had restored theirs and God had given back His, God will say, Let both pairs be made into a crown and be placed on the head of Israel, as it is said, And I will betroth you unto Me forever, yes, I will betroth you unto Me in righteousness and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in compassion.\u00a0 And I will betroth you unto Me in faithfulness; and you will know the Lord (Hosea 2:21).<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The rabbis compare the commands of God to a king and his bride and two sets of gems.\u00a0 The wife lost her gems.\u00a0 This suggests a certain amount of carelessness with regard to the very precious gift of the king.\u00a0 These gems appear to be something that draws the king and queen together, notice how the gems of the queen are dependent for the gems of the king to be brought near.\u00a0 The wife then finds the gems, and the king decides to make a crown with both sets of gems set into the crown that may be placed upon his wife.\u00a0 The gems are known as \u201crighteousness and Justice.\u201d\u00a0 The parable is paralleled to Israel who lost her gems because she walked away from righteousness and justice.\u00a0 Because of God\u2019s kindness, mercy, and grace, He is constantly working to restore His relationship with His bride.\u00a0 The Torah describes what pleases God, how we are to live in righteousness and justice.\u00a0 This is why the Apostle\u2019s spoke so often about doing what is right, serving God and others (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">maasim tovim<\/span><\/em>), being merciful to everyone and even our enemies.\u00a0 We need to\u00a0 merge the Torah into the context of our lives so that we can be a reflection of our Savior Yeshua the Messiah and this occurs only with the help of the Holy Spirit of God.<\/p>\n<p>Considering the warnings that Moshe gives in the Torah portion, the warnings are contrasted with the mighty works God did to preserve His people which is illustrative of God\u2019s faithfulness to His people.\u00a0 Considering the faithfulness of God who extends His mercy and grace to an unfaithful people, we are encouraged with the hope and trust in our Father in Heaven because of what our Lord Yeshua the Messiah has done on our behalf.\u00a0 Despite the fact that often we are unfaithful, we sin, and we let Him down, He will never go back on what He has promised.\u00a0 It is within this context of God\u2019s continual faithfulness that we are able to lay claim to the Torah for our lives.\u00a0 We who are grafted into Israel, are partakers of both an earthly blessing as well as the coming heavenly blessing because of what the Messiah has done for each one of us.\u00a0 These things God does are based upon the promises that are listed in the Torah which we are to continually keep in mind so that we are able to Praise His Name regardless of what happens in our lives.\u00a0 By God\u2019s mercy, grace, and faithfulness we are saved every day and this Salvation is built upon a solid foundation of the Torah, which describes the character of a loving God.\u00a0 What a wonderful God we serve and wonderful Salvation we have in Yeshua the Messiah!\u00a0 Can you say an AMEN to that! <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/BTT_Parashat-Ekev-2014.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Ekev-2014<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this weeks reading from Parsahat Ekev (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25), Moshe says \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 | \u05e2\u05b5\u05e7\u05b6\u05d1 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05df \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b6\u05e1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05ea\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 7:12 \u2018Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3248,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3192","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3192","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=3192"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3192\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}