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NITZAVIM “You are standing”

24 SEP 2011

VAYELECH “And he went”

This week there is a double portion.

Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

Isaiah 61:10-63:9

Isaiah 55:6-56:8

Rom.7:7-12

Rom.10:1-13

NITZAVIM

Deut 29:9-Renewal of the Covenant

29:15-Warning against Idolatry: even though people may know right from wrong, there is a temptation to rationalize the “enjoyment” of evil and immorality (John 1:5-22)

30:1-Eventual Repentance and Redemption: the blessings that come with obedience to GOD and will be fulfilled in the Messianic Era.

30:11-The Torah is Accessible

30:15-Choose Life: choose between life (repentance leading to redemption) or death

VAYELECH

31:1-Moses takes leave after “sealing” the covenant with all members of the nation as he prepares to die.

Moses summons Joshua in front of all of Israel to “transmit the covenant” to the next generation

31:9-The King reads Deuteronomy

31:15-Prophetic warning: the people will stray after other gods.  Participation with harlots will occur, or as some translations state it, fornication.

31:17-Israel is warned that He will forsake and conceal His face from them for a short while only.

Isaiah 40:1-comfort, comfort My people

Isaiah 54:7-for a brief moment I forsake you

31:19-A song to remind them- as a witness against them

31:24-26-Torah to be written as a testimony, just as GOD commanded Moses and Joshua

Times would come when the words of the Torah would be forsaken and the peoples would be drawn after the cultures of the surrounding societies, but the written Torah would remain as a constant reminder of Israel’s roots and the unchanging focus of its devotion.  Every seventh year, the law is to be read at the end of the Sabbatical Year-BY THE KING.

31:20-30-Warnings NOT to rebel against GOD

In Deut. Chap.31:19-30; GOD gave Moses this song to teach the people so that so that they would learn to love and obey Him.

This week we have a double portion for this Shabbat reading.  In the plains of Moab, Moshe has gathered together the children of Israel from the least to the greatest (Deut 29:9-12).  “You are standing today, all of you, before HaShem, your GOD.  The heads of your tribes, your elders and officers, all the men of Israel; your small children, your women, and your proselyte who is in the midst of your camp, from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water, in order to establish you today as a people to Him and that He be a GOD to you….”

GOD is telling us that He has established a relationship, a covenant, with us.  At this time of year, we are given a time of deep introspection.  We think about where we stand with HaShem, with our family and our neighbors.

With the High Holy Days in mind, let the Scriptures speak!  “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm!” (Joel 2:1).  Rend your hearts and not your garments and return to the Lord, your GOD, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness.

This should be a time of reflection in knowing that we have to be aware that our time here could be taken at any moment (Ecclesiastes 9:12).  We must come to HaShem now.  This time and season tells us to rend our heart and come to Him who loves us and cares for us.  This is not only for us who are called by His name but also the entire world (John 3:16).

At this time we need to come to Him and declare total devotion to love GOD with all of our hearts.  We must share the love of HaShem, (love our neighbors) and share His light (1John 1:5).  We should invite those that GOD brings to us and who have a true, searching and caring heart, to His banquet (Luke 14:12-15).

During this time of introspection and promise, let us pray for ourselves and for one another.  Our nation needs to turn back to GOD (Teshuvah).  We need to share love and kindness with those HaShem brings across our path.  Our desire is that this coming “Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah) would be a time of deep reflection and of showing sincere love and care for all.

Shavua Tov and L’Shanah Tova
 

Rabbi Z.

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