V’Zot HaBrachah (And This is the Blessing) D’Varim (Deut.) 33-34

Torah Portion: V’Zot HaBrachah(And This is the Blessing) D’Varim (Deut.) 33-34

Haftorah Reading: Joshua 1:1-9

Today I want us to spend our time together discussing the last two chapters of Deuteronomy. This will be the last Torah portion of the year. This portion is usually read on Simchat Torah, a celebration that is held at the end of Succot. However, we will not be together on that day so rather than miss this reading, I want us to look at it today.

H’azinu (Hear) D’Varim (Deut.) 32:1-52

H’azinu(Hear) D’Varim (Deut.) 32:1-52

Haftorah Reading: II Sam. 22:1-51

Today we look at the words of Moshe in this next to last chapter of Deuteronomy. In this chapter Moshe has words of rebuke and warning for the people. G-d calls heaven and earth as His witness to the words He is about to share with His people. These words have much to say to us in our present day as well.

Vayelekh (He Went) D’Varim (Deut.) 31:1-30

 Vayelekh(He Went) D’Varim (Deut.) 31:1-30
 
Today, as we draw near to finishing our yearly reading of the Torah, we study this portion called Vayelekh. Also, this Sabbath is known as Shabbat Shuva or the Sabbath of Turning or Repentance. However, I want to look at another important subject in this short portion.

Nitzavim (Standing) D’Varim (Deut.) 29:9-30:20

Nitzavim(Standing) D’Varim (Deut.) 29:9-30:20

Haftorah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9

I read a very interesting essay about our Torah portion this week. I would like to share with you some of the thoughts that arose from this reading.

What do you believe is the point of our faith? Is it life on earth or death and being in heaven? There is a famous quote from a book about Sherlock Holmes that might help us find an answer to my question. “I draw your attention”, he said to Dr. Watson, “to the curious incident of the dog at night.” “But the dog did nothing at night,” said Watson. “That,” said Holmes, “is the curious incident.” Sometimes to know what a book is about you need to focus on what it does not say, not just on what it does say.

Ki Tavo (When you come) D’Varim (Deut.) 26-29

Torah Portion: Ki Tavo(When you come) D’Varim (Deut.) 26:1-29:8

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 60:1-22

Messianic Scripture  Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 21:1-4; Acts 28:17-31

Today we read a Torah portion that takes place on the east bank of the Jordan river. It contains some of Moshe’s remark’s to the people that are meant to sustain them after they cross over the Jordan.  I believe all of us can take comfort in these words as we walk through our days.

I would like to begin with the words of Deut. 26:5-8, “And you shall declare before the L-rd your G-d, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. Then we cried to the L-rd, the G-d of our fathers, and the L-rd heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. And the L-rd brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.”

Ki Tetze (When you go out) D’Varim (Deut.) 21-25

Ki Tetze(When you go out) D’Varim (Deut.) 21:10-25:19
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 54:1-10
Messianic Scripture  Matthew 5:31-32; Mark 10:2-12, 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38
 
This Sabbath we read a Torah portion that contains more commandments than any other portion read during the year. When reading this portion it is tempting to skim over the verses without taking the time to really grasp what they are saying to us.
 
However, when we take the time to contemplate the verses we can see an overall subject. This subject, how we treat our fellow man, seems to be the dominant message of these commandments. There is a wide range of subjects ranging from a woman taken in battle down to how to deal with interest on a loan.

Shoftim (Judges) D’Varim (Deut.) 16-21

Torah Portion: Shoftim (Judges) D’Varim (Deut.) 16:18-21:9

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 51:12-53:12

Messianic Scripture  Matthew 5:38-42; Acts 3:13-26; I Timothy 5:17-22

Today I want us to look at a couple of scriptures from our Torah portion this week. Much of my material will come from an article I read this week called, “The Mysterious Prophet” from First Fruits of Zion.

In Deut. 18:15 we read, “The L-rd your G-d will raise to you a prophet from your midst, from your brothers, like me, to him shall you listen.” We need to look also at Deut. 34:9-10 where we see the same promise of a prophet to come whom the L-rd knew face to face. So who is this person, this prophet?

Re’eh (See or Behold) D’Varim (Deut.) 11:26-16:17

Torah Portion: Re’eh (See or Behold) D’Varim (Deut.) 11:26-16:17
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 54:11-55:5
Messianic Scripture  I Cor. 5:9-13; I John 4:1-6
 
Today we look at our Torah portion and find it covering many different topics. It covers the food laws and the three holidays when Israel is to congregate in Jerusalem. We also find the setting up of a central place of worship once the people cross over the Jordan and conquer the land. All these topics point to one central fact, G-d’s people were to be different from those around them. The people were being called to see with spiritual eyes the benefits of being and living as the people of G-d. They were being challenged to see with spiritual eyes the world around them. We have that same challenge today.

Ekev (Because) D’Varim (Deut.) 7:12-11:25

Torah Portion: Ekev (Because) D’Varim (Deut.) 7:12-11:25

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 49:14-51:3

Messianic Scripture  Matt. 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13, James 5:7-11

In our portion today we see Moshe begin to prepare the people of Israel for their new experience of entering the land of Israel, their land of promise. Everything they see and experience will be new for them. There will be battles to be fought and victories to be celebrated. No longer will they be wandering in the desert but now they will be free people in their own land.

Va’etchanan (And I Pleaded) D’Varim (Deut.) 3:23-7:11

Torah Portion: Va’etchanan (And I Pleaded) D’Varim (Deut.) 3:23-7:11
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 40:1-26
Messianic Scripture  Matt. 4:1-11,22:33-40; Mark 12:28-34
 
Today we read the Torah portion, “And I pleaded.”  The Haftorah reading is from Isaiah 40:1-26. It is from this reading that this Shabbat is known as the Shabbat of Comfort. The first verse of Isaiah 40 says, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people! Says your G-d.” This statement should speak to all of us today. As believers we have the responsibility to comfort the Jewish people. It should move each of us to do whatever we can to stand up for Israel and to comfort the Jewish people today in an increasingly hostile world.