Devarim (דברים) - These are the words (Deuteronomy- Second giving of the law) Audio Podcast Aug 13, 2022
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Introduction
Introduction
Torah Portion
This Torah Portion goes from Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
Devarim defined in different ways. Consider 3
These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
1- Devarim = These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel
2- English: Deuteronomy
Deuteronomion, whence it came to the Latin Vulgate and then to English as “Deuteronomy
Jeffrey H. Tigay, Deuteronomy, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1996), xi.
Misunderstanding of the verse
“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.
where the phrase first appears but actually means “a copy of the Teaching.” Nevertheless, it is an apt designation for the book, which recapitulates the teachings of Genesis through Numbers.
Jeffrey H. Tigay, Deuteronomy, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1996), xi.
3- The Law of Moses
Meaning Moses gave the laws to Israel in a more expanded way.
The law was given at mount Sinai and then again 40 years after they came out of Egypt.
These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.
Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him as commandments to them,
after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.
On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying,
The law is widely know as the Law of Moses:
Luke 24:44 (NKJV)
Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
In our Torah Portion, I hope to address a few things regarding “the giving of the law”
Is it the Law of Moses or the Law of God?
The purposes of the Law in the Wilderness
Presentation
Is it the Law of Moses or the Law of God?
Deuteronomy 1:1–7 (NKJV)
These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.
Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him as commandments to them,
after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.
On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying,
“The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.
Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates.
There are some who believe that only the 10 Commandments came from God, everything else was given to Moses for Israel in a specific time period.
See examples
as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.
And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
There are other examples
But look at the following contrast
So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.
Are the Law of Moses and the Law different?
Was the Law of Moses never intended to be the law of God?
And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess.
Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.’
Only for Israel?
Only for the time given to them?
Moses was the messenger
One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord.
One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who dwells with you.’ ”
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,
How about Numbers 29 all the chapter is about the Fall Feast
So Moses told the children of Israel everything, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
Who commanded them?
God/ Not Moses
this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.
On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Nehemiah 8:1 (NKJV)
Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel.
Nehemiah 8:8–9 (NKJV)
So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
Nehemiah 8:17–18 (NKJV)
So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.
Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.
The Law of God includes the Feast of Sukkot as detailed in Leviticus 23 and it was mentioned earlier in Numbers 29
How is it possible that the Law of God is only the 10 commandments and that we should not keep the feasts?
MOSES WAS THE MESSENGER (who foreshadows the angels of end times)
Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.
Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.
The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.
The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire.
I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said:
Why is “the giving of law of God” so important?
Purposes of the Law in the Wilderness:
1- The law describes who He is more tangible in the Wilderness, on this side of Journey
Characteristics of the Law of God
God is The Law is
Lk 18:19 Good Rom 7:12
Isa 5:16 Holy Rom 7:12
Deut 32:4 Just Rom 7:12
Matt 5:48 Perfect Ps 19:7
1 Jn 4:8 Love Rom 13:10
Exodus 9:27 Righteous Ps 19:9
Deut 32:4. Truth. Ps 119:142; 151
1 John 3:3 Pure. Ps 19:8
John 4:24. Spiritual. Rom 7:14
Malachi 3:6. Unchangeable. Matt 5:18
Gen 21:33. Eternal. Ps 111:7-8
2- The Law reassures us of His covenant more in the Wilderness and on this side of the Jordan
See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them.’
The Lord your God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude.
And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
Consider again Genesis 13-16
Genesis 13:16 (NKJV)
And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
To multiply them AS the stars - not as the dust
Wilderness dust is rubbish
It is just ashes
In fact, the serpent was call to eat this dust
So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.
How is it possible that God is promising Abraham that He is going to make his descendants “DUST” that will be eaten by the serpent?
Is God saying He is done with Abraham and His descendants when the Lord reminds us of His Gospel of Promise to Abraham?
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”
So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
He gives His Law in the Wilderness not only to show us who He is, or to reassure us of His promise, but also to prepare us to receive His promise.
This word DUST is in the Hebrew: AFAR
Afar
עָפָר (109 ×): cs. עֲפַר, sf. עֲפָרוֹ; pl. cs. עַפְרֹ(וֹ)ת:—1. dry, fine particles of dirt, dust: ʿafar hāʾāreṣ Gn 13:16;—2. loose soil Is 34:7;—3. rubble 1 K 20:10;—4. (disintegrated) coating or plaster of wall of a house Lv 14:41; dust of an idol that has been ground up (DEAD) Dt 9:21; (gold-)dust Jb 28:6;—5. ʿāfār = realm of the humble & undeserving 1 K 16:2;—6. ʿāfār = realm of what is perishable & transitory Gn 3:19.
William Lee Holladay and Ludwig Köhler, A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Leiden: Brill, 2000), 279.
This dust needs to go through a transformation/ a refining
A refined dust that is pleasant to God
The Lord will return to seek for His bride
In the 11th hour, the prophets are the watchers of when the Lord is going to come. We saw this 11th hour in Deut 1:2-3, before crossing the Jordan, on this side of the Journey
SOS 3:1-5?
Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders?
Avaqa
Strongs HB 86
86 אֲבָקָה (ʾǎḇā·qā(h)): n.fem.; ≡ Str 81; TWOT 11b—LN 6.205–6.212 powdered spice, i.e., aromatic, scented powders made from any of various roots, plant leaves, bark, etc. (SS 3:6+)
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Comes from Strongs HB 85
85 אָבָק (ʾā·ḇāq): n.masc.; ≡ Str 80; TWOT 11a—1. LN 14.73 soot, fine dust, i.e., a soot-like substance from a furnace, a product of burning (Ex 9:9+); 2. LN 2.15 fine dust, i.e., a kind of earth (Dt 28:24; Isa 5:24; 29:5; Eze 26:10; Na 1:3+), note: dust can have different associative meanings
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.
And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3- The Law changes us in the Wilderness from dust to a pleasing sweet smelling aroma to the Lord, to prepare us for the other side
“And I spoke to you at that time, saying: ‘I alone am not able to bear you.
How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints?
Consider Jacob
Genesis 32:22–30 (NKJV)
And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”
And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
Jacob wrestled with God - ELOHIM
ELOHIM judges him righteous
This gives Jacob his aromatic power: the right to bless his 12 tribes
Soon after this event, he tabernacles in Shekem
Wrestle
Avaq
Strongs HB 84
84 אָבַק (ʾā·ḇǎq): v.; ≡ Str 79; TWOT 12—LN 50 (nif) wrestle, struggle, i.e., have a physical engagement (by grabbing and holding) with an opponent, possibly hostile, which is characterized by physical contact, and gaining advantage through leverage holds and moves, and so control the opponent by manipulations as contrasted with striking and hitting as in boxing (Ge 32:25[EB 24],26[EB 25]+)
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
4- The Law changes us in the Wilderness by having us wrestle with Him on this side of the Jordan
Deuteronomy 1:12–15 (NKJV)
How can I alone bear your problems and your burdens and your complaints?
Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’
And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have told us to do is good.’
So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.
Heads of 1000s, 100s, 50s, 10s, tribes
5- The Law changes us in the Wilderness by bringing order out of chaos, on this side of the Jordan
We are in the 11th hour being prepare for the Mishkan, for the tabernacle.
This also gives Moses the right to set Authority over the 12 tribes.
Deuteronomy 1:16–18 (NKJV)
“Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.
You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’
And I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do.
The judges are not always men
Judges are called to judge righteously
The the judgement is God’s
Elohim - Just like in Gen 32:28, where Jacob wrestles with God
Capital E, or small e - for elohim?
Genesis 33:10 (NKJV)
And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.
Elohim
But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”
Leaders are referred as to Angels in the book of Revelation, especially in the end times.
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
In fact, Jacob wrestle with an angel who judged him righteously
And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Soon after this encounter, remember, Jacobs tabernacles at Shekem
It is all about the Mishkan
Angels: Divinely appointed Majesty
Which have Authority over us.
We wrestle with this idea in North America
6- But God puts authority over us to be judged righteously and learn to judge righteously, with His law, to prepare us for judgement in this wilderness for the time we get to the other side of the Jordan
See what Peter thinks about angels and authorities
especially those who follow their old natures in lust for filth and who despise authority. Presumptuous and self-willed, these false teachers do not tremble at insulting angelic beings;
whereas angels, though stronger and more powerful, do not bring before the Lord an insulting charge against them.
For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.
The same way Jacob was given aromatic power: the right to bless his 12 tribes
The 12 tribes will be given the 12 gates of Jerusalem to judge at the millennial reign
Israel failed the first time they were given the law to judge righteously, but will be restore to authority on the other side of the Jordan, during the second giving of the law
We have seen so far:
1- The law describes who He is more tangible in the Wilderness, on this side of Journey
2- The Law reassures us of His covenant more in the Wilderness and on this side of the Jordan
3- The Law changes us in the Wilderness from dust to a pleasing sweet smelling aroma to the Lord, to prepare us for the other side
4- The Law changes us in the Wilderness by having us wrestle with Him on this side of the Jordan
5- The Law changes us in the Wilderness by bringing order out of chaos, on this side of the Jordan
6- God puts authority over us to be judged righteously and learn to judge righteously, with His law, to prepare us for judgement in this wilderness for the time we get to the other side of the Jordan
Now our last point is the Judgement of the end times:
How many know the judgement of the end times will be executed by angels?
Israel was ordered in 4 different ways in their camp (N, S, E, W) with three tribes on each side
Numbers 2:17 (CJB)
“Then the tent of meeting, with the camp of the L’vi’im, will set out, with the other camps in front and behind. They will go in the same order as their camps are set up—each man will go forward in his position, under his banner.
Deuteronomy 1:33 (NKJV)
who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.
The tribes for order like this is 4 ways, 4 corners of the world (NSEW), or 4 winds, where the angels will come
Only Messiah can appease these winds
The 4 ways or 4 winds are found in Zechariah
And the angel answered and said to me, “These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
Angel
Angels are not multitaskers - single minded
They follow through
They are divinely appointed
They are called messengers of God
They judge
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
End times bring tribulation and suffering, but it also brings dried bones
7- We need to learn to work together as a unity, following the law, right here, in the wilderness, before passing over the Jordan to the promised land, being single minded, in the dominion He has given us.
Lastly, you have heard me talk about the River (Jordan). It is very difficult to go against God, swimming against the current. Position yourselves in the Water Gate and let the Lord direct you. Isn’t that what Yeshua referred to by the HS being a “river of living water?”
Shabbat Shalom