Sermon Tone Analysis

Vezot ha’ Bracha

This is the Blessing

Introduction

Torah Portion

This Torah Portion goes from Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12

But will only cover from Verse 1 to 29

Last Torah portion we spoke about the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32

We spoke about GIVE AN EAR

Give EAR

Requirement of our repentance - its prophetic significance for both Israel and us

God = Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient

How God is faithful and does not forget His covenant to us and to Israel

We have been discussing most of our Torah portions in the concept of the Covenant

We also talked about The Hebrew Blood Covenant:

Take off Coat/ Robe

Take Off Belt

Cut the Covenants

Raise the Right Arm/Mix w/blood

Exchange Names

Make a Scar

Give Covenant Terms

Eat a Memorial Meal

Plant a Memorial/tree

.

First Born

We talked about how this song tells a story

Moses required to have the whole assembly hear the words of his song from beginning to end, as witnesses

We talked about part of that story and how it gives a coordination of eternal life

Just as the song recognizes the total harmony of God: past, future and the present, without conflict, in complete synchronization, the covenants of God also do not conflict or replace each other but add clarity to one another.

All covenants stand with God

The song of Moses an invitation to covenant

In this week’s Torah portion we will continue to explore the significance of Moses’ legacy and the eternal work of God

Our Torah portion now includes a prayer after the song

Moses prays a blessing over each one of the children of Israel

My hope is that we understand the the prayer and the blessings of God

What they mean

And the prophetic nature of the blessings

Presentation

What does the Prayer of Moses tell us?

BLESSING OF MOSES

Deuteronomy 33:1 (NKJV)

Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

Moses continues tradition which began with Jacob - blessed the tribes before his death

Genesis 49:28 (NKJV)

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them.

And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.

This is a common and typical designation of a Prophet

Deuteronomy 33:1 (NKJV)

Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

1 Samuel 2:27 (NKJV)

Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?

1 Samuel 9:6 (NKJV)

And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass.

So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”

The man of God

The same title that applies to Moses in

Joshua 14:6 (NKJV)

Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal.

And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea.

The man of God who knew the words of God

Title: A prayer for Moses the Man of God

For Moses, That is, a prophet.

This designation suggests that Moses’ remarks about the tribes have the power of prophetic predictions and prayers.51

1 Jeffrey H. Tigay, Deuteronomy, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1996), 318.

These final words a combination of Blessing and Prophecy

The blessing for each tribe according to its national responsibilities and individual greatness

ןזאת הבְּרָכָה= These are the blessing

Is the way Jacob ends his blessing and the way Moses starts his

This is implies that this blessing is a continuation from Jacob’s

Blessed from the beginning of their existence to the beginning of their life in Eretz Yisrael.

This is also the word he uses in

Deuteronomy 4:44 (NKJV)

Now this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel.

Torah

ןזאת - teaching

This is the law - to remind them that the way to achieve the blessings of its Patriarch and Teacher is by studying and observing the Torah, learning from his own walk:

Because he was also told he would die because he failed to sanctify God’s name in the presence of the nation, remember?:

The leader is not only strong, wise, with principles, but he also needs to be saintly and kindly- able to sanctify the name of God

Able to be a Man of God

Next Verse

Deuteronomy 33:2 (NKJV)

And he said: “The Lord came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.

The Lord came

Moses praises God by recalling what makes Israel worthy of His blessing: God revealing Himself to Israel at Mount Sinai to give them the Torah

The Bible describes God surrounded by radiance and glory:

Beams of Glory

Deuteronomy 33:2 (NKJV)

And he said: “The Lord came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.

And dawn on them from Seir (where Esau’s descendants live)

And shown forth Mount Paran (where the Ishmaelites dwelled)

Deuteronomy 33:2 (NKJV)

And he said: “The Lord came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.

And He came with 10 thousands of saints

His holy angels came with Him.

He is the lord of hosts

Deuteronomy 33:2 (NKJV)

And he said: “The Lord came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.

He came with a “fiery law to them”

Because it caused thunder and lightning every time He said something

2 Cor 3:7-9

Notwithstanding those awe-inspiring symbols of Majesty that were displayed on Sinai, the law was really given in kindness and love, as a means of promoting both the temporal and eternal welfare of the people.