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Parasha Ekev
by Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber
The Scripture readings for the Shabbat of August 7, 2004/20 Av 5764 are: Devarim/Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25; Yeshayahu/Isaiah 49:14-51:3; Romim/Romans 8:31-39. One With Israel Devarim {10:12} Now, Yisrael, what does HaShem your G-D require of you, but to fear HaShem your G-D, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve HaShem your G-D with all your heart and with all your nefesh (soul), {10:13} to keep the Mitzvot (Commandments) of HaShem, and his statutes, which I command you this day for your good. {10:14} Behold, to HaShem your G-D belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein. {10:15} Only HaShem had a delight in your avot (fathers) to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. {10:16} Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked. {10:17} For HaShem your G-D, he is G-D of gods, and L-RD of lords, the great G-D, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn't regard persons, nor takes reward. {10:18} He does execute justice for the 'abless (fatherless) and widow, and loves the sojourner, in giving him food and clothing. {10:19} Love you therefore the sojourner; for you were sojourners in the land of Mizrayim (Egypt). {10:20} You shall fear HaShem your G-D; him shall you serve; and to him shall you cleave, and by his name shall you swear. {10:21} He is your praise, and he is your G-D, who has done for you these great and awesome things, which your eyes have seen. {10:22} Your avot went down into Mizrayim with seventy persons; and now HaShem your G-D has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude. {11:1} Therefore you shall love HaShem your G-D, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his huchim (judgements), and his mitzvot, always. I have given you this entire section of Scripture to read because I feel that it is critical for us, as believers in Mashiach Yeshua, to understand that HaShem is talking to us here. Yes even you, though you were not born Jewish. Many believers discount the Torah because they do not believe, or they are taught, that Torah does not apply to them; “This is for the Jews,” they are told. Those of you who are believers and are from among the nations (non-Jews), I have news for you! You have been grafted into the olive tree which is Yisrael, you are in fact as Shaul (Paul) put it: Galitim / Galatians {3.29} And if you be Mashiach's (Messiah’s), then you are Avraham's (Abraham’s) seed, and heirs according to the promise. To be Avraham’s seed, would automatically make you part of Yisrael. Yes HaShem is specifically speaking to the natural branches in Parsha Ekev, however what He is saying has implications for all believers. I can say this; first because of what I have just spoken about above and second because of the content of the verses I quoted. They mirror, to the tee, what we are told in the Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant). I would like to present some examples of this. In Devarim {10.12} above we are told to fear G-d. Here are a number of Scriptures in the Brit Chadasha where we are told to do the same thing: Mar Lukos / Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you who shall you fear: Fear Him, which after He has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say unto you, Fear Him. The next Scripture I will present not only speaks of fearing G-d but it also mirrors Devarim {10.14}. Hitgalut / Revelation {14.7} Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. The next thing we are told in the portion of Scripture I have chosen from Ekev is that we are to walk in G-d’s ways. Following is just one of the Scriptures in the Brit Chadasha that tells us the exact same thing: Yochanan Bet / 2 John {1.6} And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. What “beginning” is Yochanan talking about? May I suggest that he is referring to the beginning at Har Sinai (Mount Sinai)! where HaShem gave Torah to Yisrael. In Devarim {10.12} above we are told to serve G-d. Here is a corresponding Scripture from the Brit Chadasha which tells us the same thing: Ivrim / Hebrews {12.28} Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve HaShem acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Devarim {10.12} goes on to say “with all your heart and with all your nefesh.” (soul)Is that not what Yeshua told us in: Mattityahu/Matthew {22.37} Yeshua said unto him, You shall love HaShem your G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Now let us take a look at another portion of Scripture from this week’s Parsha; Devarim {10.16}. This Scripture speaks about circumcising the foreskin of our hearts. In its context, Yisrael was performing physical circumcision but they were still stiff-necked when it came to their heart relationship with HaShem. So from what is being said here it is easy to understand that HaShem is telling Yisrael that it is not physical circumcision that brings them closer to Him, but rather the circumcision of one’s heart. Is that not what Saul repeated to the Corinthians and the Galatians in the Brit Chadasha? Korintim Alef/1 Corinthians {7.19} Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of G-d. Galitim/Galatians { {6.15} For in Mashiach Yeshua neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Flesh circumcision should always come only after heart circumcision, this has always been the way a new believer took full hold of his nachala (inheritance) [From Gentile-Pagan to a sojourner within Israel, see Shemot / Exodus 12:49] and this is what I believe Rav Shaul is trying to convey. Finally, I would like us to look at the last Scripture I have chosen for this commentary; Devarim {11.1}. I am going to quote it again because I believe it is so significant to my topic. Devarim {11:1} Therefore you shall love HaShem your G-D, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his huchim (judgements), and his mitzvot, always. Compare this Scripture to what Yeshua told us: Yochanan {14.15} If you love Me, keep my commandments. There is nothing new about the Brit Chadasha. Torah is as relevant today as it was when it was given thousands of years ago. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,a peculiar people: that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:Which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." Kefa Alef / I Peter 2:9,10 Compare with Shemot 19:6 & Devarim 26:18 Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber is the spiritual leader of Congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, Canada. Copyright 2004
- Romans 1:16, NIV |