Standing Strong |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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Parasha for Simchat Torah—The Joy of the Torah
Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12—Genesis 1:1-2:3 |
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There is an old folk tale that says Satan said to G-d, “They will never read your Torah.” But we did. So then Satan stated, “They may read it but they will never finish it.” As we approached the end of Deuteronomy Satan stated, “They may finish it but they will never read it again to study it for even more meaning.” So on Simchat Torah we immediately upon finishing Deuteronomy, state the blessing, “Chazak, Chazak, v’Nit Chazek” and start immediately into Genesis to keep the cycle going , never closing the Torah as if it was finished.
This portion must have some very special significance in that I have never personally seen so many mistranslations through different printing so of scripture. If one looks at the New King James, New American Standard, Stone Edition, New Revised Standard, and Septuagint, there are verses that each translation treats differently. For this reason I found my study partner and I often going to the original Hebrew to determine what was the original per the Mesoratic text. One of the first items of note is Deut 33:2. While some versions leave it out completely the original language clearly states that the Fiery Torah came from Hashem’s right hand. We know that salvation comes from the L-rd. That we are saved by his right arm. We know that Yeshua is the Right arm of G-d, thus He is the fiery Torah. The word made flesh and the embodiment of the Torah lived out perfectly.
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The next point of interest to me was verse nine that states that the Levites are to put the word of the L-rd before father and mother, before brothers or children. This was paraphrased by Yeshua when He stated as recorded in Mathew 10:37 “The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple.” Realizing that Yeshua is the Torah lived out perfectly we can easily see the relationship of these verses.
One of the greatest insights this year comes from verse Deut 33:10. “They shall teach Jacob Your statues and Israel your Law.” Aren’t Jacob and Israel the same person and is there a difference between statutes and Law? This examination reveals much to the student seeking truth. Jacob and Israel while physically the same body can hardly be said to be the same person. Jacob is the name prior to wrestling with the angel of the L-rd. After refusing to let go until getting G-d’s blessing, even at the sake of a permanent physical hardship, had him receive the name Israel as a changed person. Jacob, prior to this transformation is taught the statutes, the things we are to do and how to do them. He might even know how to tell when someone is breaking a statute. Once he is transformed to seek the L-rd even at the point of personal harm, then he is taught the Law, the Torah. To observe the laws does not require understanding of any depth, but to learn the law one changes from the ability of a police officer to that of a well studied attorney. Prior to our personal encounter with the L-rd we can observe the mitzvot and this is good. But, when we have entered the point of pursuing the L-rd with all we have then we can be taught the Torah and the subtleties therein achieving a much better understanding of the creator and L-rd of the universe. This mirrors the Jewish way of life: that through doing we gain understand and that it is not required to have understanding prior to practicing the commandments and mitzvot. It is often through doing we find that personal encounter with the L-rd which is the beginning of our being taught the Torah for a fuller understanding and relationship with Hashem. Selah. |
