{"id":3200,"date":"2014-08-17T11:53:37","date_gmt":"2014-08-17T11:53:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=3200"},"modified":"2014-08-29T19:01:52","modified_gmt":"2014-08-29T19:01:52","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-reeh-why-does-scripture-always-draw-us-back-to-the-land-the-place-and-the-people-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-reeh-why-does-scripture-always-draw-us-back-to-the-land-the-place-and-the-people-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Re&#8217;eh, Why does Scripture always Draw us back to the Land, the Place, and the People of God?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VSbrn9BI_Bs\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In this weeks reading from Parsahat Re\u2019eh (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17<\/span><\/em>), Moshe says \u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b5\u05df \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05db\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4: meaning <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cSee, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Moshe says the blessing comes if we <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201clisten and obey.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The curse comes to those who turn aside from the way God has commanded.\u00a0 The blessing is for those who remain <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cwithin\u201d<\/span><\/em> the covenant with God and the curse are for those who remain <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201coutside\u201d<\/span><\/em> of the covenant suggesting that those who turn away from the way the Lord wants one to live is synonymous to turning away from the covenant.\u00a0 Those inside the covenant live inside of the Promised Land, walk according to the commands, and enjoy the blessing and protection of God.\u00a0 Those outside have no part in God\u2019s promises and do not regard God\u2019s word as a guide for life.\u00a0 In this week\u2019s reading, remaining within the covenant is emphasized as Moshe continues to speak to the people stating over and over again, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cBut you shall seek the LORD at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 According to these scriptures, God is establishing His name in the Land, the Place, and the People of His choosing.\u00a0 Today, in Yeshua the Messiah, the Lord has established a place for His name in us.\u00a0 With this in mind, does the Land and the Place remain as important to us as it did to Israel in the days of the giving of the Torah?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d9\u05d0<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05db\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b5\u05df \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05db\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4: \u05db\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05db\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05d5\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd: \u05db\u05d7\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05e7\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e1\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05d5\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05dc\u05b8\u05dc\u05b6\u05db\u05b6\u05ea \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e8\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05b5\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd:\u00a0\u00a0 \u05e1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05db\u05d8\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d0\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b8\u05d0-\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05db\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d6\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e7\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05d1\u05b8\u05dc: \u05dc\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d4\u05b2\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0-\u05d4\u05b5\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b5\u05d1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05b5\u05df \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e8\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d3\u05bc\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b0\u05d1\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b6\u05de\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e2\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05bc\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc \u05d0\u05b5\u05e6\u05b6\u05dc \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b9\u05e8\u05b6\u05d4:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 11:26-30<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 11:26 \u2018See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 11:27 the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; 11:28 and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known. 11:29 \u2018It shall come about, when the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, that you shall place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. 11:30 \u2018Are they not across the Jordan, west of the way toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh? (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Reading through Moshe\u2019s statement of the blessing and the curses, the question I have is <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201chave we lost a tangible aspect of the covenant today that is found within the the list of blessings and curses?\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 In Midrash Rabbah Devarim, Part 4, Part 1 (\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d3 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d0) the rabbis speak of the issue of dividing up the public readings with regard to the list of curses.\u00a0 The reference is made specifically to the section of Scripture that contain the curses that are pronounced when one chooses to disobey God\u2019s word.\u00a0 The midrash states the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Devarim, Parashat 4, Part 1<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 1.\u00a0 Halachah: Is it permissible to divide up the public reading of the Curses amongst several persons?\u00a0 Our Rabbis have learnt thus, The curses must be read without interruption, one person only reading them all.\u00a0 Our Rabbis have taught us, Why is it not permitted to interrupt the reading of the curses?\u00a0 Rabbi Hiyya son of Gamda said, Because it is written, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither spurn (takotz) you His correction (Mishley \/ Proverbs 3:2).\u00a0 This means, Do not make the Rebukes appear as if cut in pieces (kotzin), but one person must read them all.\u00a0 Another explanation, Why is it not permitted to break up the reading of the curses?\u00a0 Rabbi Joshua of Siknin said in the name of Rabbi Levi, The Holy One Blessed Be He, says, I have written concerning Myself, I will be with him in trouble (Tehillim \/ Psalms 41:15), it would not be fair that my children should be cursed and I be blessed.\u00a0 How could this come about?\u00a0 Should the reading of the curses be frequently interrupted then every one called to the reading would have to recite two benedictions, one before it and one after it; therefore, one only should read them all.\u00a0 The Rabbis say, God said, I do not give them (Israel) the Blessings and the curses for their hurt but only to show them the good way which they should choose in order to receive reward.\u00a0 Whence this?\u00a0 From what we have read in the context under comment, BEHOLD, I SET BEFORE YOU THIS DAY, etc (11:26).<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The main objective of this midrash is to ask the question on whether it is right to divide up the Torah reading across multiple persons with the possibility that multiple persons would read through the curses.\u00a0 The problem is that if this happened one would recite a blessing before and after a curse.\u00a0 The rabbis ask whether this would be OK to do?\u00a0 Midrash Rabbah Devarim, Parashat 4, Part 1 ends with God saying that He did not give the blessings and cruses for Israel\u2019s hurt, but so that they would choose to receive reward and blessing over against the curse and destruction.\u00a0 The point is doing what is right is not something that just come naturally.\u00a0 We are to consciously choose to do what is right because we love God and the Lord gives us the strength to do just that in our daily lives.\u00a0 The Torah principle of doing what is right, walking in truth, and in faith, is connected to walking in the covenant as we read in this week\u2019s portion.\u00a0 Righteousness, truth, and faith, according to the Scriptures, is always connected to the Lord God Almighty, the Land, the Place, and the People of God.\u00a0 The reason being God dwells in the midst of His people.\u00a0 According to the Apostolic Writings, in Yeshua the Messiah, the Lord dwells in our midst, in our hearts, and we have that connection to the Lord being graft into Israel (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 11<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 But today, have we lost that tangible connection to the Land, the Place (Zion), and the People that is based upon a modern interpretation of the Bible?\u00a0 To help understand this question, let\u2019s look at Midrash Tehillim 48, Part 1.<\/p>\n<p>Midrash Tehillim 48, Part 1 opens with the Dibur Hamathil (\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc) saying <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cA song; a Psalm of the sons of Korach.\u00a0 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain (Tehillim \/ Psalms 48:1-2).\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The homiletic introduction (\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0, Petihta) to the Midrash states <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cThe ministering angels said, From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name will be great among the nations (Malachi 1:11)&#8230;\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Here, the Psalm speaks of the name of God being great whereas Malachi chapter 1 speaks of the disobedience of Israel.\u00a0 The people would take the sick and diseased, the blind and the lame animal for the sacrifice before the Lord which is in itself an act of unfaithfulness and disobedience to the command that the animals chosen for sacrifice are to be perfect and without blemish (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 12:5, Vayikra \/ Leviticus 22:24, Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 17:1<\/span><\/em>, etc).\u00a0 Here Israel is described as walking in their unfaithfulness in the sacrifices, by bringing blemished animals as an offering to the Lord.\u00a0 Throughout the Scriptures the relationship that is described between Israel and the Lord is that of the marriage relationship.\u00a0 (Note that this relationship is carried forward into the NT by the apostles.)\u00a0 When Israel goes off to worship false gods, the relationship is spoken of as one of infidelity (e.g. <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Ezekiel 16<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 In most instances, the act of idolatry was considered the adulterous affair before God, e.g. the infidelity of Israel.\u00a0 However, when thinking on infidelity, does infidelity always necessarily refer specifically to sexual relations?\u00a0 The idea of infidelity is typified by the phrase: <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cWhen the relationship has to be kept secret from your partner it is wrong. Otherwise you could bring the person in and sit them down in the living room and visit like a friend!\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 A November 14, 2012 article posted on <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201ccnn.com\u201d<\/span><\/em> discussed a survey regarding infidelity and what people today believe constitutes infidelity in a marriage relationship.\u00a0 Drawing the line at sex was actually the second most popular choice, but it only got 20% overall.\u00a0 The other forms of unfaithfulness involved touch like kissing (13%) and hugging (less than 1%).\u00a0 There were some who drew the line at flirtatious behavior (11%).\u00a0 A few readers stated that fantasizing was an important aspect of infidelity (8%).\u00a0 The overall conclusion was that the readers seemed to place a lot of power in the mental aspect of love.\u00a0 The point that can be taken from the survey is that infidelity comes first as a mental aspect of love and the Lord God desires that all of our mental facilities be devoted to Him.\u00a0 The people in the days of Malachi felt the command could be fulfilled by bringing a sacrifice but it was not done out of a love for God, and for the commandments; the sacrifices were chosen from the worst of the flock to give to God.\u00a0 Today do we choose from the worst of what we have to give to the Lord?<\/p>\n<p>The Midrash goes on to say the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">the sons of Korach said, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain.\u00a0 Does this mean that our God is great only in His city?\u00a0 No, the sons of Korach really meant, in His sanctuary.\u00a0 So too, Scripture says, The Lord is great in Zion; and He is high above all the peoples (Tehillim \/ Psalms 99:2) (Midrash Tehillim 48, Part 1)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The sons of Korach praise the name of the Lord and the rabbis ask whether God\u2019s name is great only in His city?\u00a0 Here we are drawn back to the Land, the Place, and the People in the minds of the rabbis based upon the Scriptures (the Psalm of David).\u00a0 The conclusion is that Korach really meant God\u2019s Sanctuary, that His name is praised in His Sanctuary.\u00a0 The Lord being great in Zion places Him high above all the peoples.\u00a0 Based upon this line of reasoning, the midrash states:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">If He has done such a thing to His city, how much more will He do to the peoples of the earth, for it is said, Lo, I begin to bring evil on the city, upon which My name is called, and should you be utterly unpunished?\u00a0 You will not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, says the Lord of hosts (Jeremiah 25:29). (Midrash Tehillim 48, Part 1)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The point is that the Lord has brought judgment down upon Jerusalem because of her infidelity, her unfaithfulness to God.\u00a0 The rabbis discuss the idea that if God has done such a thing to His city, how much more will He do to the peoples of the earth?\u00a0 The point is that those who do not believe in the God of Israel will one day be held accountable to the God of Israel by reason of His being the creator of all things.\u00a0 Faith can get you into right standing with the Lord, but can it keep you from His wrath if you live in open disobedience to His commands?\u00a0 What do the apostles have to say about this topic?\u00a0 The writer of Hebrews and the apostle John have the following to say:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Hebrews 10:26-31<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 10:26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 10:27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 10:28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 10:29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 10:30 For we know Him who said, \u2018Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.\u2019 And again, \u2018The Lord will judge His people.\u2019 10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">1 John 1:5-10<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The author of Hebrews speaks of willful sin after having received the truth.\u00a0 Willful sin leads to one not having atonement but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and fury with fire that consumes the adversaries as described in the Torah (e.g. Parashat Korach).\u00a0 He speaks of those who <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cset aside the Law (Torah) of Moshe,\u201d<\/span><\/em> and dying without mercy.\u00a0 The midrash states that the wicked will not go unpunished; all of the inhabitants of the earth will be accountable before the Lord.\u00a0 Scripture says that even we who are in Yeshua the Messiah will be accountable for what we have done.\u00a0 John says that if we walk in darkness, we do not practice the truth, we speak a lie.\u00a0 The person John is speaking of is he who says he has no sin, he do not confess his sins, and he says he walks in the light but in truth he walks in darkness.\u00a0 Does this fit the concept of infidelity as described in the rabbinic midrash?\u00a0 The concept of <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cinfidelity\u201d<\/span><\/em> as described earlier, we know today that it is very easy to be unfaithful, not only to our spouses (i.e. internet, television, etc), but also to the Lord God of Heaven.\u00a0 Unfaithfulness can come in the form of what we do, the way we talk to people (flirtatious) what we look at (internet or TV), what we listen to, and where we consider our treasure to be (sports, house, cars, etc) in heaven or hear on earth?\u00a0 By these things do we trample the blood of Christ under foot by the uncleanness of our lives which have been sanctified in His blood like the author of Hebrews is saying?\u00a0 The Scriptures state (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Hebrews 10:30<\/span><\/em>) that the Lord says <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cVengeance is Mine,\u201d<\/span><\/em> and this is what we are seeing in the midrash which says <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cYou will not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, says the Lord of hosts (Jeremiah 25:29)\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The Midrash concludes saying <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cAnd so, the sons of Korach really mean, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, because of the city of our God, because of His holy mountain.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Throughout the Scriptures, as well as the Psalms, we are consistently drawn back to the Land, the Place, and the People, because of the actions of the Lord to make a place for His name to reside.\u00a0 We see even today He is saving the Land and His People, and these things are greatly to be praised.\u00a0 The midrash states <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cGreat is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, because of the city of our God, because of His holy mountain.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Not just because of what He has done in the past as we read in the Torah, but also because we know that <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cHe is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness\u201d<\/span><\/em> in Yeshua the Messiah.\u00a0 Halleluia!<\/p>\n<p>In Parashat Re\u2019eh, the curse come by those who turn aside from the way God has commanded and the blessing comes for those who turn towards the way God commanded.\u00a0 As we have read, all of Scripture draws its authority from God\u2019s Torah and ultimately we are being directed to His Messiah Yeshua.\u00a0 The reason God draws us back to the Land, the Place, and the People in the Scriptures is for the purpose of having good reason (the knowledge of) to give God the praises for what He has done and continues to do in our lives.\u00a0 It is in this way we are able to see how the Lord has worked in the past and how he is working in our lives even today.\u00a0 His faithfulness is forever and now we too are to remain faithful to Him because of what He has done for us and what He continues to do daily in our lives.\u00a0 The importance of the Land, the Place, and the People is Historical, Prophetic, and Eschatological.\u00a0 We see what God has done in the past, we know what He is doing in the present, and we live with the expectation of what He is going to do in the future.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that just the greatest blessing of all?\u00a0 Praise the Lord! <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/BTT_Parashat-Re\u2019eh-2014.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Re\u2019eh-2014<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this weeks reading from Parsahat Re\u2019eh (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17), Moshe says \u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b5\u05df \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05db\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4: meaning \u201cSee, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse.\u201d\u00a0 Moshe says the blessing comes if we \u201clisten and obey.\u201d\u00a0 The curse comes to those who turn aside from the way God [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3200","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\/3200","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=3200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}