Parashah 44: D’varim (Words) 1:1-3:22

Parashah 44: D’varim (Words) Dt 1:1-3:22

A word of caution: Read slowly and use it “time” wisely. In light, of things, and words, importance is directed towards remembering.

Remembering God’s blessing and being led by them is the structure of this weeks reading.

It has been bought to the writer’s attention the words of Ps 62:10(9). “Ordinary folks are merely a breath and important people a sham; if you lay them on a balance scale, they go up – both together are lighter than nothing”.

Hence, learning to remember and remembering to learn is just a saying or is it. Another saying; say what you mean, mean what you say. Or, don’t be mean in what you say, could also be added.

Moshe wanted the people to remember the things that were really important for self, the community and the nation. Remembering who they were, where they came from, what God had done for them.

If we, like them, were able to remember these facts, we too can enter into our destiny triumphantly, defeat the enemy, avoid dangerous temptations and enjoy the inheritance God already prepared.

Moshe highlighted the mind and heart of God. Each law, ceremony, prohibition and memory of past events pointed to God. Through the deeds of power, and gracious truth, the Lord revealed his nature and character. The knowledge of God and our continual relationship with Him is life’s most important knowledge, it is life itself.

Seven points of remembrance are balanced throughout D’varim. For people of all time keep the following points in mind while future reading. God’s amazing design unfolds;

1. Remember the Lord – Dt 8:18
2. Remember you were slaves – Dt 5:15
3. Remember how God led you – Dt 8:2
4. Remember Mt Sinai – Dt 4:9-13
5. Remember how you provoked God – Dt 9:7
6. Remember your enemies – Dt 25:17
7. Remember what happened to Miriam – Dt 24:9

This week we focus on point one. Remember the Lord.

People in any time period aren’t any different to now. People are still searching and living in a world of superstitious idolatry in which there are many gods. One difference, some people believe in the One. Emphasising the point of being becareful not to worship someone or something as a god.

The Lord is faithful, who keeps His word and will not be false to His people. God loves his people and He wants them to love and obey Him. In His mercy, He will forgive if people repent and return to Him, while remembering rebellion isn’t tolerated. He expects all to listen, remember the Word, His word. We cannot know the will of God or worship and serve acceptably if He is not first and accepted as the only deity.

Everything we need is found in the Word (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Tim 3:16-17). There are two consuming questions that can be asked. How do you cleave to a consuming fire? And the second, what passions are being fulfilled?

In Dt 18:22, Moshe points out, “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken (Dt 18:22). The first prophecy in Dt is 1:35-40 fulfilled, Num 14:23-35; Josh 3:5.

Wandering through Ammon Dt 2:19-23, several branches of giants are mentioned in Deut. Avims Dt 2:28-29; Num 13:26-33. Anakims, Emims (terrible ones), giants (Rephaim), Horims, Zamzummins (loved ones), and Avims (1:28, 29; 2:10-12, 20-23, 3:11-13. People may be of an opionion of where they came from. The point the writer is establishing here is, God told His people not to fear them Dt 1:28, 29. There are spiritual giants in lives today, point is, do not fear them.

• 2:20 Zamzummims prounounced (singular) zam-zome = “plotters”.
• 2:21 Anakims pronounced (singular) an-aw-kee = “long-necked”. A tribe of giants, descendants of Anak, which dwelled in southern Canaan.
• 2:23 Avims = “ruins” located in the southwest corner of the seacoast.
• 2:23 Hazerim pronounced khats-ay-reem = “villages”. Settlements of Ishmaelites.
• 2:23 Azzah prounced az-zaw = “the strong”. Another name for ‘Gaza’, a city located in the extreme southwest of close to the Mediterranean.
• 2:23 Caphtorims pronounced (singular) kaf-to-ree = “a crown”. Cretans as the inhabitants of Caphtor.
• 2:24 Arnon = “rushing stream”. Forms the border between Moab and the Amorites.
• 2:24 Sihon prounced see-khone = “warrior”. Amorites king at the time of the conquest and defeated by Moses in Transjordan.
• 2:24 Heshbon pronounced khesh-bone = “stronghold”. The capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located on the western border of the high plain and on the border line between the tribes of Reuben and Gad.

Dt 2:24, 25 Second prophecy fulfilled v 26-37; Num 21.

• 2:26 Kedemoth pronounced ked-ay-mothe = “eastern”. One of the towns in the district east of the Dead Sea allotted to the tribe of Reuben and given to the Merarite Levites.
• 2:29 Esau = “hairy”. Eldest son of Isaac and Rebecca and twin brother of Jacob; sold the birthright for food when he was hungry and the divine blessing went to Jacob; progenitor of the Arab peoples.
• 2:29 Seir = “hairy” or “shaggy”. Patriarch of the Horites. The land of Edom, south of the Dead Sea.
• 2:29 Ar pronounced awr = “a city”. A city of Moab located south of the Arnon river; perhaps the capital.
• 2:29 Jordan pronounced yar-dane = “descender”. The river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
• 2:30 heart obstinate/harden (heart) אמץ amats prounced aw-mats. To be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard, to be determined. As with all words and intentions, they can be positive or negative.
• 2:24/31 Sihon = “warrior”. Was an aggressor, Num 21:23; Judg 11:20.
• 2:32 Jahaz/Jahzah= “trodden down”. A place in Reuben east of the Dead Sea.
• 2:37 Ammon was located west and a little north of the kingdom of Sihon, south-west of Og (another giant), near the river Jabbok which separated Sihon and Og. It was on this river bank that Jacob wrestled with a Yehovah (gen 32:22-32).
• 3:1 Og (another giant).

Dt 3:2 is the third prophecy fulfilled in Dt 3-13; Dt 2:24-25, v 26, 37 is the second fulfilled prophecy of Num 21.

Dt 2:26 Before making war, Moshe had given the Amorites the opportunity of avoiding it by permitting Israel to go through their land; and he had made a promise to stay on the highway not disturbing or plundering on either side of the road, and paying for whatever the people needed (v 26-28). Moshe cited two examples – the Edomites and Moabites whose country Israel had passed around without giving them trouble (v 29). But Sihon refused, which made war (v 30-37).

• 3:9 Hermon = “a sanctuary”. Sirion = “breastplate“. And Shenir means coat of mail (v 9). Senir/Shenir = “snow mountain”. The Amorite name for Mount Hermon.
• 3:10 Gilead “rocky region”.

Fourth prophecy in Dt 3:21, 22 fulfilled; Josh 2:1-12:24.

Isaiah 1:1-27

Isa 1:5 poses a question: Why do people wilfully destroy themselves and endure the effects of sin when they could have the God’s blessings? (v 18 ; 41:17-20; 55:1-13; 58:1-14;  Jn 3:16; 7:37-39; 10:10; 14:12-15; Acts 1:4-8). It’s also the first prophecy in Isaiah 1:5-9 that is fulfilled.

Isa 1:13 vain שׁוא shav pronounced shawv or שׁו shav pronounced shav. Meaning emptiness, vanity, falsehood, nothingness, emptiness of speech, lying
worthlessness (of conduct). Iniquity און aven pronounced aw-ven.

Isa 1:13 oblations מנחה minchah pronounced min-khaw. Gift, tribute, offering (to God), present, oblation, sacrifice, meat, grain offering.) A gift offering to secure favour, and could be either a blood (Gen 4:3-5), or bloodless gift (Gen 32:13-21).

Isa 1:18 חטא chet pronounced khate. sin, faults, grievously, offences. To miss the mark.

Only Godly living brings blessing.

Continuing on from Moshe, Isaiah states, “To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Is 8:20). Isaiah was not afraid to let God’s light shine through him.

Isaiah’s name means salvation of the Lord. Salvation (deliverance) is the key theme of the book. The deliverance of the Lord is held in the key verse of Isaiah in 1:18. “Come now”, says ADONAI. “Let’s talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool…”

One outline can be viewed as follows, which he wrote concerning the different acts of deliverance that God would perform;

1. Sermons against Judah and Israel 1-12
2. Burden’s of judgement against the Gentiles 13-23
3. Songs of future glory 24-27
4. Woes of coming judgement from Assyria 28-35
5. Historical interlude 36-39
6. Hezekiah delivered from Assyria 36-37
7. Hezekiah delivered from Babylon 37-38

The prophet Isaiah identified himself seven times as “the son of Amoz,”  not to be confused with ” Amos. (see 1:1; 2:1; 13:1; 20:2; 37:2, 21; 38:1).

John 15:1-11

This section of the book of John, like the others mentioned, highlights relationships and responsibilities.

The I AM statemens of Yeshua the 7th and last are recorded in John’s gospel. The branches – we must abide (Jn 15:1-11) shows four elements in this allegory that Yeshua gives as an teaching illustration. The vine, the branches, the vinedresser and the fruit.

The vine representing the life and economy. There are three different types of vine recorded in scripture. Past, future and present. The past vine was the nation of Israel (see Ps. 80:8-19; Isa 5:1-7; Jer. 2:21; Ezek. 19:10-14; and Hosea 10:1). What could been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it?”, God asked (Isa. 5:4). But the vine produced wild grapes! Instead of practicing justice, it practiced oppression; instead of producing righteousness, it produced unrighteousness and cries of distress from the victims. Unfortunately lasting results were seen in Matt 21:33-46, where Yeshua came to the vineyard and was cast out.

The future vine “the vine of the earth” is described in Rev 14:14-20, where the world system is evident. Believers in the Messiah versus the people of the vine of the earth relying on their sustenance and satisfaction on this world.

The present vine is the true vine the Messiah, and includes the branches. Our union with Him bears fruit.

The branch, of itself is weak and useless. It’s good for either bearing or burning, but not for building (read Ezek 15). The branch cannot produce its own life; it must draw that life from the vine. Its the communion with Messiah through the Spirit that makes possible the bearing of the fruit. Many images are given of the union and communion. The body and its members (1 Cor 12). The bride and the bridegroom (Eph 5:25-33). The sheep and the shepherd (Jn 10). Daily love and devotion maintains the communion. The shepherd brings the sheep into the flock, the sheep follow in order to have protection and provision.

When we know our weaknesses and confess our need for His strength we form relationship and abide in Him. The key word is abide; its used eleven times in Jn 15:1-11. “continue” in Jn 15:9 and “remain” in Jn 15:11. Letting nothing hinder Jn 15:3. It involves obeying Him and loving Him Jn 15:9-10. Submitting in His righteousness. When a person abides in Messiah good fruit will be evident Jn 15:2.  This also entails pruning to bear more fruit Jn 15:2. Believers who abide in Him have prayers answered Jn 15:7 according to His will. They also experience a deepening love for Messiah and for other believers Jn 5:9, 12-13, and experiences of Joy Jn 15:11.

Abiding also entails worship, meditation on God’s word, prayer, sacrifice of time, and service.

The vinedresser, is in charge of caring for the vines. He prunes the branches in two ways; he cuts any dead wood that can breed disease and insects, and he cuts away living tissue so that the life of the vine will not be so dissipated that the quality of the crop is jeopardized, all for a higher quality. God desires quality and quantity. Some vineyards invest in two or three years in training the “pruners” so they know where to cut, how much to cut, and at the correct angle to cut. The pruning process hurts; but there is rejoicing when better quality of fruit is produced.

How does He prune? Sometimes used; the Word convicts and cleanses. The word purge in Jn 15:2 is the same as clean Jn 13:10; Eph 5:26-27. Sometimes chasten Heb 12:1-11.

The fruit, is not robotic mechanisms, but the living organisms producing good fruit. It has been asked, “how can I know if it is of God or not?” The reply is, “Look at the fruit, and the lasting benefit of it”. The enemy of the soul cannot produce good fruit, there may be imitation, even distortion, but it will not be of any lasting benefit, the fruit will be bought into the light and exposed. The deception is eventually detected, for real spiritual fruit has in it the seeds for more fruit. Man-made results are dead and cannot reproduce themselves. Many counterfeit are open doors of distruction, that lead many astray and waste life and God given time.

Branches do not eat the fruit, others do. We are not producing fruit to please ourselves, but to serve others. Feeding others with words of life and works. The lips of the righteous feed many Prov 10:21. We are part of a harvest Jn 4:35-38. As we grow in obedience and holiness we are bearing fruit. Rom 6:22. The fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22,23 is a characteristic that glorifies God. Our works/service grow out of our abiding life Col 1:10. The praise that comes from our hearts is fruit to the glory of God Heb 13:15.

A true branch, united with the vine will always bear good fruit. Not every branch bears a bumper crop, just as not every field has a bumper harvest Matt 13:8, 23, but there is always fruit where there is life.

It is unwise to build a theological doctrine on a parable or allegory. Yeshua was teaching one main truth – the fruitful life of a believer. Our abiding in Yeshua certainly should produce love, joy and peace in our hearts. It is stated in Jn 3:35 that The Father has placed all things into the Son’s hand, and has revealed all things to the Son Jn 5:20. The same love that was personally experienced by the disciples can be experinced in believers too Jn 17:26. This leads to Yeshua used the picture of “the friend”. The two pictures of the believer being the branches and friends reveal both our privileges and responsibilities. As branches we have the privilege of sharing His life and the responsibility of abiding. As friends we have the privilege of knowing His will and the resposibility of obeying.

Staying close to God abiding in Him, is a central theme of these scriptures mentioned. It all about getting back to the garden of eden, the promised land of inheritance, and wholeheartedly loving God. Not mindlessly embracing the counterfeits of this world, which leads to hard heartedness. Each person must assume the burden of his own disbelief and face the giants of their own soul. It requires boldness to uncover and dispossess idolatry in its many forms. ‘”Dont be afraid because ADONAI your God will fight on your behalf” (Dt 3:21-22). Repent and be lead by righteousness (Is 1:27).

Affliction on the poor, needy and oppressed is not tolerated by the Lord. He hears the cries of them. Hardening from the effects of sin across genrations leads to stiff necked people with uncirumcised hearts and ears. This continually opposes the Ruach haKodesh. Idolatry in any form will be destroyed. It must also be remembered we don’t fight against flesh and blood, but of principalities, rulers and powers. What and how we use words will echo in eternity. Through it all, “Do not be afraid”. Live a balanced life in righteousness.