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Nitzavim “You are Standing”

Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20

Isaiah 61:10-63:9

Rom.10:1-13

 

VayYelech   “And He Went”

Deuteronomy 31:1-30

Hosea 14:2-10

Joel 2:11-27

Micah 7:18-20

Rom. 7:7-12

This week is less then one week before the Fall Feasts that begin with Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah). Also this weeks Torah portion is a double portion.

The focus of Yom Teruah is the call of G-d thru the blowing of the Shofar.  This is to remind us of our need to do Teshuva (return or repent).

In Deuteronomy 31:16, G-d tells the people that when Moses will rest with his fathers, the people will commit adultery with the foreign gods of the land they are entering.  They will abandon Me and break the covenant I have made with them, declares the Lord.

But this does not end here, for we see that 1500 years later Shaul (Paul) tells us in 1 Timothy 4:1, that some would depart from the faith and go into devil worship. They would mock about the last days (2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18). People would love pleasures more than G-d (2Timothy 3:1, 2, 4).

Also at that time in the future, the book of Revelations 3:16 tells us that the body of Messiah would become lukewarm.

For us the message should be clear.  We must return totally to G-d.  If we have veered away from G-d’s commandments or His Word, which brings life to all.

In Leviticus 6:12, the Word tells us, “And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning.”  In Romans 12:1 we are told, “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of G-d, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to G-d; this is your spiritual worship.”

So, this is our challenge today, especially during this season of return/repentance.  2 Chronicles 7:14 states, “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

The Bible tells us that when we submit to G-d with sincere prayer of repentance, then the end result will be revival in our land.

This then is the road to revival/renewal for our nation and our people. Then we will see the love of G-d increase and rejection of idolatry, which brings G-d’s blessings to His people, as He has promised in His Torah.

Shanah Tova U’Metukah, Happy and Sweet New Year

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

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