Jimmie
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- Mar 5, 2005
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Parashat: Ekev" (because, follow). Our weekly scripture reading is from Deuteronomy 7:12 to 11:25. Here are some highlights to focus on.
“Now, O Israel, what does Adonai your Elohim ask of you? Only to fear Adonai your Elohim, walk in His Ways, Love Him, and Serve Him, with all of your heart and all of your soul” (10:12)
What does this mean? Is this only for the Israelites, or is it also for all those who have been grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel? Does this include ALL born- again believers all over the world? I would say YES. We all need to love the LORD with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But how do we express this love, this "Agape" love that the LORD wants from us all?
The first part is to "Fear" the LORD. This "fear" in the Hebraic sense is not something "scary, horrible, frightening" rather; it is "reverence, honor, awe; respect. Just as we would reverence a king or a president, treating that dignitary with honor, so should we honor our LORD and God, our Redeemer and Savior. Yeshua said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15) He was at the beginning of time, and even before that, and was "One with the Father" He was at Mt. Sinai when the commandments were given. Here are some other questions to ask yourself concerning our love towards God.
Would you risk your life for another life? Even for a street bum? Are material things very important in your life? Or too important? Would you risk losing them? Would you give them up to follow the Master? Do you let anger loose in your life? Or do you have it in check?
Do you look forward to studying the Bible every day, not just on the Sabbath and on Sundays? If we love the LORD, then we should be into His Word all the time, even listening to Bible broadcasts on radio and TV and on the Net.
Many say “I love God with all my heart,” but the fruits don’t jive with the words. I am speaking to myself as well. It is just something to think about the next time you say; “I love God with all my heart.” What is "walking in his ways?" The word "Ekev," which is the title of this Torah/Bible study, can mean "because" and also "heel". When we look at the symbolism of "Ekev" as "heel," we are reminded that the "heel" is the back part of the foot, and where the foot goes, the heel has to follow. So, if we love the LORD, we will "follow in his ways" We will try to imitate his lifestyle and follow his commandments. When we "serve" others, our neighbor, our fellow man, we are "serving the LORD." We serve HIM by serving others, as Yeshua came to serve, not to be served.
Moses starts out by reminding and giving Israel assurance that “because (ekev) ye harken unto these ordinances and keep them, and do them…YHVH shall keep with thee the covenant…. He starts on a positive note; however, we know that history reveals that Israel did NOT keep the covenant, but broke the covenant, and went after strange gods, idolatry, etc. Perhaps this was an incentive to obey, and they would reap the blessings of obedience…IF…they would obey. Again, God wanted Israel to "follow" his commandments and as a result, he would give blessings in the form of "children, increase in flocks and cattle, grain, fruit from trees, etc.. Have we been blessed in this day and age? Do you have more than one pair of shoes? Do you have a house? a family? children? money in the bank? a job? health? food on the table? We need to count our blessings one by one.
God blessed the food they ate and the food we eat as well. There is a list of those foods in chapter 8:8-10. And also, we must "Thank the LORD" AFTER we have eaten. This is where the "After-meal blessing/prayer is recited. It is the "Birkat Hamazon": and it goes like this:
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the world, who provides food for the entire world in His goodness, with grace, kindness and mercy. He supplies bread for all living beings, for His kindness is everlasting. Because of His great goodness, we have never lacked food, nor will we ever lack it on account of His great name. For He is God who nourishes and sustains all, and is good to all, and who supplies food for all His creatures which He created. Blessed are You, God, who provides food for all. Amen"
In this study, there is a repetition of the words “if” and “then”. We are talking about a conditional covenant. ALL covenants are conditional. The word “life” itself contains the word “if” right in the middle. We can sum up “life” as many experiences where we need to choose how we handle them and react to them.
“If” we react in one way, “then” the result will follow, either negative or positive. IF we repent and accept Yeshua as our Redeemer and LORD, “THEN” we will receive the gift of salvation which follows. Salvation is a gift for all mankind, yet we must receive it through a repentant and contrite heart, a willingness to turn “Shoov” and follow the Master. Our master is like our father who loves his children very much. We must have a "circumcised heart." Moses writes in chapter 10:16, "Circumcise your heart and be stiff-necked no longer." "Take away" that pride, arrogance, rebellion, and learn to submit and serve the LORD, and love the LORD. We can only accomplish this through being "born-again"
We all continue to have a rebellious heart at times, many times walking in the flesh, disobeying His commandments, yet we have life; we are not struck down. He forgives our trespasses through Yeshua, whose blood paid for all of our sins, past, present, and future. We just have to learn to walk in His commandments, trusting Him as Messiah and LORD. Trusting in HIM seals the covenant personally; walking in HIS commandments is a result of the first. Our salvation is based on FAITH and FAITH ONLY, and not on our obedience to the commandments, yet obedience to the Torah comes as a result of our relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach. (Jesus Christ)
The message in this study is "Hear and obey," "walk in HIS ways." "Shema" is "Hear," which comes from the Hebrew verb "Shamar" (to guard) . So, to “Shema,” the commandments of Adonai is to “remember, observe, put into action, and guard, not only “hear and listen to”. Yeshua repeated Deuteronomy 6:5 and added: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." This is important for us to remember. When we love God, we will also love our fellow man and look to serve and help when help is needed. Let us go forth with a renewed heart, and show our love to God by loving and obeying his WORD, and by loving our neighbor as ourselves. Let us look forward to his return.
Shalom
“Now, O Israel, what does Adonai your Elohim ask of you? Only to fear Adonai your Elohim, walk in His Ways, Love Him, and Serve Him, with all of your heart and all of your soul” (10:12)
What does this mean? Is this only for the Israelites, or is it also for all those who have been grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel? Does this include ALL born- again believers all over the world? I would say YES. We all need to love the LORD with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But how do we express this love, this "Agape" love that the LORD wants from us all?
The first part is to "Fear" the LORD. This "fear" in the Hebraic sense is not something "scary, horrible, frightening" rather; it is "reverence, honor, awe; respect. Just as we would reverence a king or a president, treating that dignitary with honor, so should we honor our LORD and God, our Redeemer and Savior. Yeshua said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15) He was at the beginning of time, and even before that, and was "One with the Father" He was at Mt. Sinai when the commandments were given. Here are some other questions to ask yourself concerning our love towards God.
Would you risk your life for another life? Even for a street bum? Are material things very important in your life? Or too important? Would you risk losing them? Would you give them up to follow the Master? Do you let anger loose in your life? Or do you have it in check?
Do you look forward to studying the Bible every day, not just on the Sabbath and on Sundays? If we love the LORD, then we should be into His Word all the time, even listening to Bible broadcasts on radio and TV and on the Net.
Many say “I love God with all my heart,” but the fruits don’t jive with the words. I am speaking to myself as well. It is just something to think about the next time you say; “I love God with all my heart.” What is "walking in his ways?" The word "Ekev," which is the title of this Torah/Bible study, can mean "because" and also "heel". When we look at the symbolism of "Ekev" as "heel," we are reminded that the "heel" is the back part of the foot, and where the foot goes, the heel has to follow. So, if we love the LORD, we will "follow in his ways" We will try to imitate his lifestyle and follow his commandments. When we "serve" others, our neighbor, our fellow man, we are "serving the LORD." We serve HIM by serving others, as Yeshua came to serve, not to be served.
Moses starts out by reminding and giving Israel assurance that “because (ekev) ye harken unto these ordinances and keep them, and do them…YHVH shall keep with thee the covenant…. He starts on a positive note; however, we know that history reveals that Israel did NOT keep the covenant, but broke the covenant, and went after strange gods, idolatry, etc. Perhaps this was an incentive to obey, and they would reap the blessings of obedience…IF…they would obey. Again, God wanted Israel to "follow" his commandments and as a result, he would give blessings in the form of "children, increase in flocks and cattle, grain, fruit from trees, etc.. Have we been blessed in this day and age? Do you have more than one pair of shoes? Do you have a house? a family? children? money in the bank? a job? health? food on the table? We need to count our blessings one by one.
God blessed the food they ate and the food we eat as well. There is a list of those foods in chapter 8:8-10. And also, we must "Thank the LORD" AFTER we have eaten. This is where the "After-meal blessing/prayer is recited. It is the "Birkat Hamazon": and it goes like this:
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the world, who provides food for the entire world in His goodness, with grace, kindness and mercy. He supplies bread for all living beings, for His kindness is everlasting. Because of His great goodness, we have never lacked food, nor will we ever lack it on account of His great name. For He is God who nourishes and sustains all, and is good to all, and who supplies food for all His creatures which He created. Blessed are You, God, who provides food for all. Amen"
In this study, there is a repetition of the words “if” and “then”. We are talking about a conditional covenant. ALL covenants are conditional. The word “life” itself contains the word “if” right in the middle. We can sum up “life” as many experiences where we need to choose how we handle them and react to them.
“If” we react in one way, “then” the result will follow, either negative or positive. IF we repent and accept Yeshua as our Redeemer and LORD, “THEN” we will receive the gift of salvation which follows. Salvation is a gift for all mankind, yet we must receive it through a repentant and contrite heart, a willingness to turn “Shoov” and follow the Master. Our master is like our father who loves his children very much. We must have a "circumcised heart." Moses writes in chapter 10:16, "Circumcise your heart and be stiff-necked no longer." "Take away" that pride, arrogance, rebellion, and learn to submit and serve the LORD, and love the LORD. We can only accomplish this through being "born-again"
We all continue to have a rebellious heart at times, many times walking in the flesh, disobeying His commandments, yet we have life; we are not struck down. He forgives our trespasses through Yeshua, whose blood paid for all of our sins, past, present, and future. We just have to learn to walk in His commandments, trusting Him as Messiah and LORD. Trusting in HIM seals the covenant personally; walking in HIS commandments is a result of the first. Our salvation is based on FAITH and FAITH ONLY, and not on our obedience to the commandments, yet obedience to the Torah comes as a result of our relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach. (Jesus Christ)
The message in this study is "Hear and obey," "walk in HIS ways." "Shema" is "Hear," which comes from the Hebrew verb "Shamar" (to guard) . So, to “Shema,” the commandments of Adonai is to “remember, observe, put into action, and guard, not only “hear and listen to”. Yeshua repeated Deuteronomy 6:5 and added: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." This is important for us to remember. When we love God, we will also love our fellow man and look to serve and help when help is needed. Let us go forth with a renewed heart, and show our love to God by loving and obeying his WORD, and by loving our neighbor as ourselves. Let us look forward to his return.
Shalom
