Joy in the Messiah

דְּבָרִים
Devarim / Words
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
HafTorah Portion Isaiah 1:1-27
Brit Chadasha  1Timothy 3:1-7

     This Shabbat we begin the final book of the Torah, Devarim/ Words. ‘Eleh ha devarim’ – ‘These are the words.’ Devarim is often called ‘The Book of the Covenant’, in other words, apart from Moses’ song and blessing of the tribes, where Moses’ life come to an end, the entire book of Devarim is a covenant on a huge scale.
     This covenant is not made between man and man, but God and man; a statement that should cause us to humbly come before Him and His Words – as one of the parties is God Himself! The idea that God would bind Himself to human beings, linking their destiny to His Divine Words, making them party to His Covenant is something hard to totally understand.  Second, the other party to the covenant is not, as it was in the ancient world, the king or ruler of the relevant nation, but the people as a whole. Every Israelite, as in Exodus 19 and 24, and throughout Deuteronomy, is party to the covenant, given a choice to choose life or death.
     In Devarim, which takes place about a month before Moshe passes on, he recounts the journeys of the Israelites, rebuking them for their rebellion and reminding them of their eternal heritage.
     We have read, discussed and learned about the journeys, the words we speak or don’t speak and our rebellion.  This first sentence in this parsha is a reminder of The Words that He speaks. They are Divine Words, not originated by man, and they represent a Divine conversation bringing us into a Divine Covenant.
     How can we, mere mortals go through life knowing there is a God, yet rationalizing His Words, changing His Words, or doing away with His Words?  Cause and effect would be that we move towards His Divine Covenant and into His Kingdom, or we move away from His Divine Covenant and enter into the desert, alone to wander. 
     Hebrews 4:12 states: ‘The Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two edge sword.’  Revelation 2:12 references the above verse and tells us who has the two edge sword of which the author of Hebrews speaks of: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword…’ He/Yeshua has the two-edged sword…He has…the very Word of God.
    A double edge sword would have dual purposes. Isaiah 55:11 tells us that God always fulfills His purpose: ‘So shall My Word by that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.’
     God’s Word has a purpose – a Divine purpose for Him. We can choose to live in His Words or live in our own words, yet do our words have a purpose? Do we speak life or do we utter death?  Do we uplift people? Or do we flippantly without even realizing it, cut people down, tell untruths and spread gossip?
       Joshua 1:8 gives profound instruction: ‘This Book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.’
     This Torah portion ends in chapter 3 with Moshe recounting the events with Joshua and how he will succeed; ‘And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so will the Lord do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you.’ Deuteronomy 3:21-22.
       2 Chronicles 20:15 reiterates this: ‘And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’
     Exodus 14:13-14 ‘And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
     For God to fight the battles, we fight with Him using Torah as the armor of God, which is a representation of His Divine Word.
      Ephesians 6:10-18 ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…’
     Ephesians tells us to put on the whole armor of God, not just part, but the complete. This is His total Word, His Divine intervention, His Divine conversation and covenant.
    Eleh Ha Devarim…    

 דְּבָרִים   Devarim ~ The Words
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22
HafTorah Portion ~ Isaiah 1:1-27
Brit Chadasha~ 1 Timothy 3:1-7
      This Sabbath we begin Devarim/Words, the book of Deuteronomy, which reads like a farewell speech to the children of Israel from Moshe. Devarim 1:1 starts out with “These are the words which Moses spoke ….” Hebrew for Deuteronomy is Devarim, meaning “words,” which is the plural form of devar, meaning “word, speech, a matter or thing, a commandment, a report, a message, or promise.” 
    The Greek word used for devar/word is logos, which is used in John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.” 
     These words devar/logos prove that Yeshua is the Word of both the Torah and the Brit Chadasha. He is the message of the entire Bible.
     Farewells follow a pattern. As a father gathers his children, so do the spiritual leaders in the Scriptures, announcing that they are about to die and encouraging the people to be strong and courageous. They often predict future events, trials and tribulations, but in the end, there will be joy.   
     Moshe says in Deuteronomy 31:6 ‘Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”  As Joshua in Joshua 1:6-9 ‘Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ 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. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth…’
     King David to his son Solomon in 1 Kings 2:1-3 ‘Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: ² “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. ³ And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn..’
     Yeshua says in John 14:27 ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’  John 16:33. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
       In chapter 2, Moses recaps instructions regarding the descendants of Esau, the tribe of Moab, and the people of Ammon.  With each case, the instructions are to: ‘not harass, contend or meddle with.’ Harass / to plot, to pester, annoy.  Meddle / to interfere, tamper with, intrude.  Contend is also used/ Strongs #1624 garah – to grate, to meddle, to stir up, to cause strife, to get involved with. 
     For each of the three instructions, God gave His ‘why’ – Concerning Esau ‘…for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.’ Concerning Moab ‘…for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’ And concerning Ammon ‘for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’   God’s words are rightly spoken.
     This Torah portion ends with the remembrance of words that encouraged; ‘And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so will the Lord do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. ²² You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you.’ Deuteronomy 3:21-22. 
     Balak and Balaam tried to use words for destruction and curses, but God put in words of blessings. Korach used words to puff himself up and turn renowned Israelites against Moshe. Miriam spouted words to slander. Cain’s words were of anger and rage, then murder. Absolom used his words to anoint himself.  Jezebel used words to distort and steal. Ananias and Saphira’s words were lies. The brothers of Joseph used their words to fabricate and deceive.  The 10 spies used their words to intimate and frighten. Deliah used her words to seduce, take and conquer. HaSatan uses words to confuse, flatter, delude, and discredit. 
      David wrote words of praise and love for God in the Psalms.  Solomon used his words to ask for wisdom. Hannah uttered words for a child.  Caleb and Joshua used words to edify and encourage. Rabbi Shau’l at first used his words for death, then used his words for life. The Apostles used their words for edification, truth and love. Yocanan used his words for the future as did Ezekiel. Jeremiah used his words for warnings. Hosea and Obidiah used their words for prophecy. Haggai and Malachi used words to express an allegiance to Torah. Elijah and Elisha used words for miracles, and Yocanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) used his words to prepare the ‘way’.  And God created the universe with His Words. 
    Yeshua is The Word, not a word, or some words, but The Word. He is The Word of God, and no man can come to Abba Father but through Him – The Word. 
    Our words will launch us forward or bring us down into a stagnant nonproductive season.     In Numbers 14:34 God specifically states that they will wander for "a year for each of the forty days" that the spies explored the land of Canaan as a consequence of their lack of faith. This was due to the words that the 10 spies spoke to discourage God’s people; Numbers 32:6-12. The Israelites were stagnant for 40 years. Words have consequences; for the spoken and the heard.  May our words be seasoned with salt. Colossians 4:6 ‘‘Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.’ 

‘The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.’ Psalm 46:6