Text Box: I know it seems I keep beating the same drum but here we are again with the admonition in the scripture to keep and do the commandments of G-d. To just know the commandments is far from what G-d desires. He wants us to put our knowledge into action. He wants us to know scripture and use it as a reference for decisions that come up on our lives. Our ability to be blessed by G-d is dependent upon our following His commandments. Whoa, what’s that? There are so many preachers out there who are teaching that G-d is just waiting to bless us and all we have to do is ask for His blessing. He is a loving father who will gladly give us whatever we ask because He wants us to be happy. Well, that’s a nice idea, but it’s just not true. You see, when you take something that is true and twist it just a little or leave just a little bit out, you end up with corrupt doctrine. G-d has made his blessing dependent upon our actions. We must accept the gifts of His blessings, and those come with required actions. The relationship with G-d is much like a marriage. A Jewish wedding has a ketubah. That’s ketubah, not katyusha. A ketubah is a marriage contract. A katyusha is a rocket that terrorists like to throw at Israel. We are called to a level of purity that does not permit pity upon those who choose to worship false G-ds. It calls for a level of purity that does not allow anything used for the worship of false G-ds into our homes. No idols, even if we know they are false G-ds with no power; no Ouija boards. No playing with things of false G-ds and false religions. We serve a jealous G-d who demands our 100% purity and devotion to him. Verse 8:3 tells us one of the lessons learned during the time in the desert, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the L-rd.” Whether you believe in Jesus as messiah or not, Jesus showed us how much we are to study scripture. As reported in Matthew 4:1-4, Jesus replies to Satan’s temptations with quotations of scripture. The blessing received after the temptation would not have been received if we were not living within the teachings and studying scripture to refer to when temptations came our way. Verse 8:11 states things in an interesting way. “Beware that you do not forget the L-rd your G-d by not keeping His commandments.” Not keeping G-d’s commandments is equated with forgetting G-d. Think about that. Our relationship with G-d is similar to that of a wedding contract The ketubah, the wedding contract, was drawn up outlining what the responsibilities were on each part of the relationship. My daughter, Roseanna, pointed out in our Parasha study this week how verse 9:10 points out that the Ten Commandments were heard by all of Israel prior to Moses ascending the mountain and G-d’s writing the commandments with His own hand, and giving the Oral instructions to Moses that have been passed down over the years. The ketubah is read out loud to everyone prior to the wedding and then it is formalized and signed to make the relationship contract. G-d’s relationship with us was handled in the same way. The contract was heard by all and then formalized and delivered as written in G-d’s own hand. This last point I wish to expound upon this week is that the following of G-d’s commands is not seen as a hard thing. Verse 10:12 states, “What does the Lord require of you, but to fear the Lord your G-d, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the L-rd and His statutes which I command you today for your good?”. This has been said to be the greatest of all commandments. There is something here that people conveniently forget when they quote this commandment. They stop after saying to love the L-rd your G-d with all you heart, mind, and resources. The rest of the verse is forgotten to those who don’t study scripture, and that is to keep the commandments of the L-rd. You see our blessings and our relationship are based upon a contract with G-d and we are to keep our part in doing what the L-rd commands of us, then and now. Selah.

This week’s Parasha

Standing Strong

A Messianic Jewish Congregation with an outreach to Believers in Israel

 Aug 4,  20 Av — As a result

Deut 7:12-11:25

Isa 49:14-51:3

With additional readings for Christians

Luke 4:1-15

Heb 4:12-16