Parsha Nitzavim 2023

TORAH: DEUTERONOMY 32:1-52

PROPHETS: HOSEA 14:2-10; MICAH 7:18-20; JOEL 2:15-27*

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 18:21-35*

Deuteronomy 32 starts off with Moses calling Heaven and Earth as witnesses to his song. The reason being that the Heavens and Earth would outlive all of us, so their witness stands “forever”.

Deuteronomy 32:2 “Let my teaching fall like rain and my speech settle like dew, like gentle rain on new growth, like showers on grass.”

Torah means “Instruction/Teaching”. The Bible is similar. They are your B.I.B.L.E.

Question: Why is the Torah often times referred to as Water? Water is soft… yet, if you give it enough time, it can break down the toughest of stone… It was Water in fact, that helped motivate Rabbi Akiva (1st Century) to learn Hebrew and Study Torah even though he was already in his 40s… (learning Hebrew in a kindergarten class in his 40s) he was struggling… and one day he sat near a well and noticed a hole in one of the stones… so he asked, “Who hollowed out this hole?”. Somebody told him, “it’s from the water drippings that fall out of the bucket as they collect water”. So he made this conclusion from this saying, “if water, which is soft, can cut through stone, so the Word of God, which is like a fire, can cut through mans Heart which is flesh and Blood”. And from that moment on, he went on to become one of the Greatest Rabbis in the World.

Question: Why does Moses say in verse 2, “May my teaching trickle like the dew, my words like rain showers on new growth, and like spring showers on grass.”? Because there are 3 levels of Believers, and each level has a particular approach in learning. Often times people say when they talk to unbelievers about God saying, “We planted a Seed in their Heart”… Amen. What’s the Next Step? Give them.... WATER. But remember, there’s 3 levels of Believers… there’s the Seed in the Dirt, the Tender plants(Sprouts), and the Grass. Which level is that Non-Believer hearing about God for the first time?

1: If they are simply a Seed in the dirt, what does the Torah say about watering dirt according to verse 2? it says, “May my speech settle like Dew...”. We are simply speaking to them about God, not trying to teach them Torah… because prior to that it says, “Let my Teaching fall like Rain...”. That comes later. So after that Non-Believer accepts God and His Covenant, then they start to grow… eventually they reach Level 2, which is what? Read Verse 2

2: “Like Gentle Rain on new Growth...” - Now the believer let the Word of God water that seed, and they’re starting to come to Shul, they’re beginning to learn Torah, which means that the intensity of the water on them can be a little harder… Dew is like condensation, you can’t feel it… sometimes you hold a can of soda, and the cold can causes water to condense, and before you know it, your hand is wet from the water… and most of the time, you don’t feel it! Now when you step outside and it’s a cloudy day, then all of a sudden, you feel some sprinkles of rain… it’s a little harder than dew right? But it’s not too destructive. You’re not really running for cover when it sprinkles… in the same way, that believer’s seed sprouts like new grass, but if you get carried away, too much water can harm/destroy that new grass… which means that our approach when we teach Torah to them is to still be soft… they stumble here and there, they’re still dealing with bad habits, not as precise about coming on time to service, but we’re still able to get some information across to them. then eventually they reach Level 3. what’s Level 3?

3: “Like showers on grass...” - At this point, the roots are grown deeper, the grass has grown sufficiently where if there’s a hard wind, or rain hitting them, the grass remains upright… That’s a believer who has already had experience and growth where they can stand on their own. They’ve already ministered to non-believers, if they’re questioned about the Torah or about God, they can answer them clearly and directly… and it’s spoken from the heart, and not through a prepared script… Since we know that Torah is like water… people are like various sized vessels. some are wide, some are narrow… When you give them the proper application of Torah, it’s like water filling that vessel… Because not every Torah case is Black and White… some circumstances affect the application of Torah… but if you try to put a general Torah application on a circumstantial Torah case, it’s no longer like water, it’s more like Ice… it might fill the vessel a little bit, but there’s still a lot of space that isn’t getting filled. Ideally, we want those vessels to fill every space that is in it. That’s why, when we are knowledgeable in Torah and have a solid understanding on how it can be applied to everyday cases, then we’re able to pour water instead of ice into those vessels that need it.

Story about the rabbi and “Why do you sound like a tape recorder?”

1 more thing about the Showers on Grass is that they can handle rebuke and correction better… because sometimes, in order to properly penetrate that seasoned believer’s heart, you have to be stronger… Why? Because you’re supposed to know better!! Why are you prioritizing your own plans over Gods timing? Why are you acting like the World when you’re supposed to be a Light to the World??

Another point I want to talk about. If we look in the Song of Moses as well as in the New Testament, it speaks about “provoking Israel to jealousy”… for Example, in

Deuteronomy 32:20-21, “He said: “I will hide My face from them; I will see what will be their end. For they are a perverse generation— children of unfaithfulness. They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.”

Also in the New Testament, we hear Paul saying in Romans 11:-14, “11 I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12 But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! 13 I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.”

Now lets try to understand this practically… according to the Song of Moses, Israel will be provoked to jealousy by, “by those who are not a people”, and “by a Nation without understanding.”… If we read a little higher, it talks about Israel annoying God with that which is not a God, and provoking Him with their Idols… Judaism today states that you can be whatever religion you want and still be a Jew.... You can be a Pagan, worshipping Norse Gods, and you’ll still be considered a Jew… However… God forbid… if you’re a Jew and you believe in Yeshua, then you’re not considered a Jew anymore… and there’s a couple of reasons for that… but how are we going to provoke them to Jealousy?? Think about it for a second… If you’re a Jew who believes in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, you’re no longer a Jew… so how are we to provoke them?? Because saying that you believe in Yeshua is not going to provoke them… saying you’re in the “New Covenant” is NOT going to provoke them… so what will? Nowadays, we have so many secular Jews in this World, and many Jewish people who have stopped following the God of Israel… now imagine a Secular Jew, who’s no longer walking in Torah, and all of a sudden, they see a Gentile wearing Tzitzit (Maybe a Yarmulka too)… that Gentile is keeping Kosher, that Gentile is observing the Biblical Feasts which people consider to be called the “Jewish Feasts”… and that Gentile understands Hebrew and speaks Hebrew… what do you think is going to go through that secular Jews mind?? “Wow, this Gentile is more Jewish than me.. What am I doing with my life?”… Do you understand? This is why now, more than ever, we need to stop dividing… “Messy-Anic Movement” because believers would rather stay in their little home fellowships and break Torah, rather than join together as a community and as scripture says, “Reason with one another”… Back then, there was only one synagogue in a city, which meant that if you didn’t like someone in the synagogue, tough luck Pal, learn to get along, and talk through your differences… We need to unify… so that God willing, our example will help our Jewish brothers and sisters come back into Covenant with God if they’ve stepped away, and learn about their Messiah who is coming to deliver them, and us...

Revelation 15:2-4 “2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name were standing by the glassy sea, holding harps from God. 3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God All-Powerful; righteous and true are your ways, King of the ages! 4 Who would never fear, Lord, and glorify your name? For only you are holy, because all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous deeds have been revealed.””

Question: Why are the Saints singing the Song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb in the Last Days??? Because the Torah is still very alive and important and active today!! We are commanded in Torah to learn and even memorize this song… why? Because it’s a timeless song… from the time of Moses until the last days, this Song stands as a witness, a testimony, and a prophetic picture of what is to be… And if we take to heart the “Teaching”, then we will grow into that Blessed Man in Psalm Chapter 1 who is like a Tree planted by streams of water, who yields fruit in its season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in everything that they do.

Amen!