52. Par'shah Vayelekh (He went)

[alon]

This week is a two-fer, and since Mark finished his first I'll go ahead and post it:

This week’s readings: Par’shah 52
Date of reading: 8 September 2018/28 Elul 5778
Name of Par’shah: Vayelekh (He went)
Par’shah: D’varim 31:1-30
Haftara: Yesha’yahu 61:10-63:9
Brit Chadashah: Romans 9:30-10:13; Messianic Jews 12:14-15

D’rash: In this reading the Israelites forty-year wanderings in the desert is almost complete, and Moshe, whose life and ministry is coming to an end, makes final preparations for the next chapter of God’s chosen people: He encourages the people to be strong and bold, commissions Y’hoshua as the new leader and exhorts him to take courage and completes writing the that has been and will be their moral and spiritual guide and standard in the land that will be their new home. He also prophesies of future times regarding what will become of the people and their future leaders:

D’varim 31:16b---“But this people will get up and offer themselves as prostitutes to the foreign gods of the land where they are going. When they are with those gods, they will abandon me and break My covenant which I have made with them.”

D’varim 31:20, 21b---"For when I have brought them into the land I swore to their ancestors, flowing with milk and honey; and they have eaten their fill, grown fat and turned to other gods, serving them and despising Me, and broken My covenant;…For I know how they think even now, even before I have brought them into the land about which I swore.”

To the L’vi’im and leaders he warns,

D’varim 31:27-29---"For I know how rebellious and [determined (BAV)] you are! Here, even while I am still alive with you today, you have rebelled against Adonai; so how much more will you do so after my death? Assemble for me all the leaders of your tribes and your officials, so that I can say these things in your hearing, calling heaven and earth to witness against them---because I know that after my death you will become very corrupt and turn aside from the way that I have ordered you, and that disaster will come upon you in the acharit-hayamim (latter days), because you will do what Adonai sees as evil and provoke him by your deeds.”

We see here a war that we all contend with, to gravitate towards sin in varying degrees (Romans 7:19; Galatians 5:17). Assuming we have the foundation of love and dedication towards G-d (D’varim 6:4-5) and His way of salvation (Romans 10:5-13), the process of becoming transformed towards a godly and holy life is the renewing of our minds and spirits with the truth (Y’hoshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2-3, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23-24, Colossians 3:10). It is important to know that the word “transform” in the Brit Chadashah takes on at least two meanings:

Metamorphoo – (Strong’s Greek 3339; referencing Romans 12:2): change, transfigure, transform. This word speaks of a change to one’s very essence. The word we are familiar with in English is metamorphosis and the best known example is when a lowly caterpillar undergoes a complete change into a magnificent butterfly.

Metaschematizo— (Strong’s Greek 3345; referencing 2 Corinthians 11:13-15): to transfigure or disguise; fig. to apply (by accommodation): transfer, transform (self): to change. This speaks of merely disguising or masquerading the outer appearance, sometimes to deceive (as in the scripture reference where hasatan masquerades as an angel of light and his workers as servants of righteousness).

Which category do we fall under? Metaschematizo speaks of changing the outer appearance which can be for a for a variety of reasons: a desire for a holy life without understanding the need for a personal relationship with the Living G-d (Romans 10:1-3 could apply here); increasing in knowledge strictly for academic reasons leading to pride (1 Corinthians 8:1-3 ) ;or to disguise or hide false doctrine, sin or a life of evil (Mattityahu 7:15-20, 21-23).

Metamorphoo speaks of change in the inner man brought about by the Ruach Hakodesh, who brings life to the truth, which in turn becomes our very life (D’varim 32:45-47). Read Psalm 119 for the ideal heart expression for the truth. In the par’shah reading, Moshe commanded that every seven years during the Festival of Sukkot, in the year of sh’mittah (release of debts), when the whole nation would gather at the place of Adonai’s choosing, the would be read to everyone (D’varim 31:10-13). This would be one way to get it in the minds of the people. However, when they were in their towns and cities, on a day-to-day basis, D’varim 6:6-9 would apply:

“These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates.

Our Rabbi S.C. taught us that we are as close to G-d as we want to be. If we really desire to be closer to G-d, will we pay the price to make a priority and a delight, along with diligent obedience? Psalm 119:165---Those who love your have great peace; nothing makes them stumble.

References: The Complete Word Study New Testament, compiled and edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., copyright 1991 by Spiros Zodhiates and AMG International, Inc. D/B/A AMG Publisher; Scriptures taken from The Complete Jewish Bible, copyright 1998 by David H. Stern

MRD


I'll have mine (Nitzavim) up here soon ... I promise!   Dan