Ki Tavo (When You Come In) Deut. 26:1-29:8 HafTorah: Isaiah 60:1-22
1.In this Torah portion we again read the blessings and curses. A Warning of many heavy curses are listed for sins committed. Look at Deut.28:47-48 which says, “Because you did not serve the L-rd your G-d with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the L-rd will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.” Why do you think there was such a heavy penalty for lacking joyfulness or gladness of heart? What is the message to us?
Moses seems to be saying throughout Devarim – if you came through the trials and torments of Egyptian slavery, the long years of wandering through the desert, and the battle to establish yourselves as a nation in your land, if having come this far you lost your way within sight of the destination. How can it be that when you have everything to thank G-d for, you forget to thank him?
Everything we have is G-d’s blessing, not something we made ourselves.
Throughout times of hardships: exile, expulsions, forced conversions, ghettoes and pogroms, Jews prayed to G-d, studied His word, kept His commands, handed on His message to their children, and held fast to their identity as Jews.
When Jews are not persecuted – when, as now, they have reached the heights of affluence and achievement and have become a “new elite” – Jews are abandoning Judaism in unprecedented numbers.
G-d is warning the people of Israel that this is a very serious sin –
the sin of forgetting what G-d did for them.
Believers in the Messiah in America have never had to struggle to live out their faith.
I think that can cause us to be asleep at the wheel.
We have so much.
We have freedom to worship.
We do not go to bed hungry.
We are blessed abundantly.
Question: Are we rejoicing before the L-rd daily and showing Him our gratefulness for all He has done for us, for all He has entrusted to us?
Perhaps this explains the first of the priestly blessings:
“May G-d bless you and protect you.”
It is when we are most blessed that we are in need of protection –
May our blessings not turn into curses because we forget where our blessings come from.
2.Also in the Torah portion what did the scene look like as each person brought their first fruits to the L-rd. What was the procedure? What is it teaching us?
1.They took of the first fruits of all their produce to the L-rd’s dwelling place
2.They gave their offering to the Priest and said, I declare today to theL-rdyour G-d that I have come to the land theL-rdswore to our ancestors to give us.”
3.The priest would set the basket down in front of the altar.
4.The person would declare, Deut. 26:5-10
“My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. Then we cried out to the L-rd, the G-d of our ancestors, and the L-rd heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. So the L-rd brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, L-rd, have given me.”
5.Then everyone, the person bringing the offering, the Levites and the foreigners were to rejoice in all the good things the L-rd has given them and their household.
6.Next they were to give this first fruits offering to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they could eat and be satisfied.
The significance of the first fruits declaration is that it was not about nature.
Israel’s neighbors worshiped their gods of nature.
In their declaration they recounted history and praised the One True G-d who had provided for them.
The declaration was recited by everyone.
It was recited in the first person (my father). So that made it personal.
What was the purpose of these steps?
First they were to bring the first and best of their produce.
They did not eat some and then bring leftovers.
They set their offering in front of the altar
they recounted their history of how G-d saved them and brought them into the land.
They declared that all they had was given to them from the L-rd.
This reminded them every year of how G-d had blessed them and all that they had was from Him.
The last step was giving this offering to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Scripture said these people in need could eat until they were satisfied.
Giving of the offering would remind them that all they have comes from the L-rd and His desire was for them to share with the Levites and people who needed help.
What does it teach us? This is an example of how we should live and what we should do with the things G-d gives us. He does not bless us so we can be richer and have more and more each year. He blesses us so we can bless others.
On a personal level
When we approach the Father what offering to we bring Him?
As we enjoy His goodness and blessings and approach Him with gratitude we are to step out in faith and bring Him our most valuable in return.
G-d requires the very best.
To each individual that’s a different thing.
For the Israelites it was the first fruits of their crops each year.
Ask yourself are you giving G-d your best or asking Him to settle for B quality?
Deut 26:1-15, “When you have entered the land the L-rd your G-d is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it,take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the L-rd your G-d is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the L-rd your G-d will choose as a dwelling for his Name and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the L-rd your G-d that I have come to the land the L-rd swore to our ancestors to give us.” The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the L-rd your G-d. Then you shall declare before the L-rd your G-d: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. Then we cried out to the L-rd, the G-d of our ancestors, and the L-rd heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression.So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, L-rd, have given me.” Place the basket before the L-rd your G-d and bow down before him. Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the L-rd your G-d has given to you and your household.
When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the L-rd your G-d: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the L-rd my G-d; I have done everything you commanded me. Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
3.D’Varim/Deut. 28:9 and read, “The L-rd will establish you as His Holy people, as He swore to you if you do His commandments and walk in His ways.” How do we walk in His ways daily?
To walk in His ways a person of G-d must do His will.
To walk in G-d’s ways we must first know what they are.
What are the ways of G-d?
He is merciful, just, loving and faithful.
So, to walk in His ways means these qualities should be evident in our own lives.
Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Deut 10:12-13, “ And now, Israel, what does the L-rd your G-d ask of you but to fear the L-rd your G-d, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the L-rd’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.”
Yeshua walked in the ways of the L-rd.
John 8:28-29, “So Yeshua said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
John14:9, “Yeshua answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
A classic passage of the Talmud explains how we can walk in His ways:
Rabbi Chama son of Rabbi Chanina taught, “What does it mean, ‘You shall walk after the L-RD your G-d?’ Is it really possible for a human being to walk after the Shechinah; for has it not been said [in Deuteronomy 4:24], ‘For the L-RD your G-d is a consuming fire?’ It must mean to walk in the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He. Just as He clothes the naked, as it is written [in Genesis 3:21], ‘The L-RD G-d made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them,’ so too should you also clothe the naked. The Holy One, blessed be He, visited the sick, as it is written [in Genesis 18:1], ‘Now the L-RD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre’ [while he was still recovering from circumcision], so too should you also visit the sick. The Holy One, blessed be He, comforted mourners, as it is written [in Genesis 25:11], ‘After the death of Abraham, that G-d blessed his son Isaac,’ so too should you also comfort mourners. The Holy One, blessed be He, buried the dead, as it is written [in Deuteronomy 34:6], ‘And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab,’ so too should you also bury the dead.” (b.Sotah 14a)
Therefore, the commandment to “walk in the ways of G-d” includes clothing the naked, visiting the sick, comforting mourners, and burying the dead, but the commandment is not limited to those five deeds of loving kindness. He is also the G-d who feeds the hungry, assists the poor, has mercy on the sinful, rescues the perishing, heals the brokenhearted, restores homes and families, and does good to all. He is the G-d of absolute integrity, truth, holiness, and justice. He is righteous in His every decision.
We are to be imitators of the Father.
That is really what discipleship is all about.
It is our first fruits offerings that we bring to the Father.
Discipleship in itself is not the end product. Discipleship should lead us to know G-d more and to serve Him more. In all that we do, knowing the Father more should be our goal. We can say these things I have done for you. I am holy because you are holy.
4.Our Haftarah reading for this week is Isaiah 60. Study these verses and tell me what do you think Isaiah is talking about and when will it take place? What details do we find in these verses on how the world will look at that time.
Who is Isaiah talking to?
The Hebrew language distinguishes between male and female. The verbs (in Hebrew) in Isaiah 60 are addressing a feminine “you.” He is speaking to Zion or Jerusalem.
What will take place according to Isaiah?
Verse 1“Arise! Shine!” the prophet calls to her, summoning Zion to bear witness both to the wonder of G-d’s sudden appearance as well as to her own renewal and restoration.
Verse 14 This verse names whose light will attract many nations. “And they will call you City of G-d, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”
Verse 3 When the L-rd lifts up His glorious light over Israel, the Gentile nations will see it and be attracted to the light. Even kings will be attracted to the brightness of Israel’s rising.
Verse 4 Possibly every Jewish person remaining on the earth will be gathered to Israel from every nation on earth. The present-day regathering we have witnessed in Israel is only a preview of this ultimate and complete regathering.
Verse 5 The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you: Not only will they receive the treasure of their people, but also the literal treasure of the Gentiles shall come to Israel. The nations will willingly give them their wealth, much as the Egyptians willingly gave the Israelites riches when they left Egypt (Exodus 12:35-36).
Verse 11 So much will be given that they will need to keep the gates of the city open continually.
They shall bring gold…. their silver and their gold with them: Why will the nations bring their riches to Israel? First, they recognize that they thereby give it to G-d. They bring their silver and their gold with them, to the name of the L-rd your G-d, and to the Holy One of Israel. Second, they do it because they see the work of G-d in Israel: because He has glorified you. So they willingly give to and serve Israel
Verse 10 (The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you).
The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you: Those who previously persecuted Israel, and specifically Jerusalem, will have a different heart and mind. Then they will come bowing to Jerusalem; they will recognize it as The City of the L-rd.
Verse 18 Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise:
What a transformation! From the violence and unrestrained bloodshed of Isaiah 59:6-8, to walls called Salvation and gates called Praise.
Verse 21”Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever.” Israel will then be the light to the nations they were called to be.
Isaiah 60:19, “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the L-rd will be your everlasting light, and your G-d will be your glory.
This verse is repeated in Revelations 21:23, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of G-d gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”