WORDS OF LIFE IN A WORLD OF DEATH

“Behold the storm of HaShem: A rage shall go forth, a tempest shall seek rest; it will rest upon the head of the wicked. HaShem’s burning wrath will not recede until He has accomplished it, and until He has upheld the plans of His heart. In the End of Days you will be able to understand it. At that time, the Word of HaShem, I will be a Elohim for all the families of Israel, and they will be a people for Me.” Jeremiah 30:23-25

Trouble is certainly the word which best describes the days and times we currently live in! The powers of darkness are no doubt working double time against the people of HaShem! While we struggle to hold onto life, the world around us seems to run that much faster, defiantly towards destruction and death! Some may be asking why HaShem would be allowing this to happen?

As I put this Op together, it is 14 March 2022, just a few days before the biblical celebration of Purim begins in which we celebrate HaShem rescuing Israel from the evil plans of Haman! A very prophetic picture of HaShem rescuing Israel once more at the end! May it be so very soon in our days!

HaShem, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of Israel, is in absolute control over all things, and over all things, nothing is beyond His gaze, His ears nor His grasp. So, how do we effectively hold onto Him in this time of trouble? I hope to examine this question further in this Op.

As always, before we get into the nuts and bolts of this Op, always remember the following eternal characteristics of HaShem:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13

There are some astounding verses HaShem gave in Mishlei (Proverbs) 4:20-27 which I want to examine as it relates to the theme of this Op, i.e. words of life in a world embracing death!

Mishlei 4:20 says “My child, be attentive to my speech; incline your ear to my words. Let them not depart from your eyes; safeguard them in your heart.” King Solomon may have spoken these words, but we know they are from HaShem, therefore, we must ask, what are the words of HaShem as referenced here? Mishlei 4:4 says “He taught me, and said to me, ‘Let my words sustain your heart; observe my commandments and live.'” We know then the words of HaShem are His Torah!

This verse absolutely shows us, studying and applying His Torah in each of our lives is vital to our survival in this world, but the words He uses in this verse also show it is NOT easy! To be attentive, to incline our ears to His words and to safeguard them, denotes, there is great opposition we will have to choose and commit ourselves to overcome! While it definitely requires effort and discipline, there is great reward!

Mishlei 4:21 says “Let them not depart from your eyes; safeguard them in your heart.” We have to constantly be on guard to not let His words be drowned out or smothered by the trials and troubles of this world! Point is, yes it takes effort, but the reward is beyond our imagination!! For the record, I am NOT talking about earning salvation or anything like that…I am referring to our walk with HaShem in this evil, vile, wicked, violent and war torn world we currently live in!

****This is the key verse: Mishlei 4:22 says “For they (The Words of HaShem i.e. Torah) are life to him who finds them, and healing for all his flesh.” How profound is this verse especially in light of the world we live in today? The commentary on this verse is very interesting. It says: “Just as there are two aspects to Torah i.e. its outer and inner facets, so, too, there are two aspects of the person i.e. his body and his soul. Study of the secrets of Torah, its inner essence, provides vitality to one’s inner self i.e. the soul; while the study of the outer words of Torah in its revealed state provides physical healing to the external encasement of the soul i.e. the body. Thus, the 248 words of the Shema prayer (Derived from the Torah) correspond to and provide a healing for each of man’s 248 bodily organs.”

Is it just a coincidence there are 248 words which comprise the Shema and it just so happens there are 248 organs in the human body? Nothing is a coincidence with HaShem! For further information on the Shema, refer to the Op ‘The Greatest Commandment’ – https://torahandtempleinvestigations.com/2021/12/07/what-is-the-greatest-commandment/

The commentary on this verse continues which says “This verse specifies that the words of Torah will be a source of life to one who finds them i.e. to one who toils and labors until he succeeds in attaining them. One cannot expect to attain something without investing time and effort. This verse implies that a person must avoid the trait of laziness, if he is to succeed.” Nothing of value comes easy! There is always a great price to be paid!

The commentary continues “The Talmud suggests another interpretation which can be read ‘Those who enunciate them’ meaning to take out, express, verbalize. One who studies Torah audibly is far more likely to retain what he learns than one who studies silently, and he will also merit long life.”

The following excerpt is from Tractate Eiruvin 54a from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli which says “One who feels pain in his head should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: ‘For they shall be a graceful wreath for your head.’ One who feels pain in his throat should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: ‘And chains (Necklace) about your neck.’ One who feels pain in his intestines should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: ‘Shall be health to your navel’ per Proverbs 3:8. One who feels pain in his bones should engage in Torah study as it is stated: ‘And marrow to your bones’ per Proverbs 3:8. One who feels pain in his entire body should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: ‘And health to all their flesh’ per Proverbs 4:22.”

This Tractate says further “What is the meaning of that which is written: ‘For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, let them be firmly attached together to your lips’ quoting Proverbs 22:18? When are words of Torah pleasant? When you keep them within you and know them. And when will you keep them within you? When they will be attached together to your lips i.e. when you articulate them audibly and expound them. It is proper to study Torah out loud, as in this way one’s studies will endure and will not be quickly forgotten.”

“But the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it per Deuteronomy 30:14. When is it very near to you? When it is in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it i.e. when you articulate your Torah study.”

“You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips, Selah per Psalms 24:3. When have You given him his heart’s desire? When You have not withheld the request of his heart’s desire? When have You not withheld the request of his lips, Selah, i.e., when he converses in words of Torah.”

The commentary finishes with “The Talmud cites this verse in recommending Torah study to one suffering from a bodily ailment. Indeed, the Talmud notes that the tonic of Torah study remedies the entire body, unlike conventional medicines, which cure only one malady but may also cause side effects.”

The Book of Mishlei from Judaica Press concerning this verse says “The one who finds the wisdom of the Torah will find that it is life for him and healing for all his flesh.”

Mishlei 4:23 says “More than you guard anything, safeguard your heart, for from it are the sources of life.” This is a very important verse to quickly explore. The commentary on this verse is very revealing as it says “More than anything he protects, a person must be careful to guard his heart (Thought life) from improper thoughts, for one cannot contemplate using the heart, the very vortex of life, to harbor thoughts that are inimical to life. The physiological centrality of the heart as ‘King of the body’ that distributes man’s lifeblood, symbolizes its preeminent role as the source of spiritual life in the Hereafter, for it inculcates Torah thought and commitment to the service of HaShem. This leads each of the person’s limbs to perform its specific commandment. Realizing its importance, one must be careful to guard his heart as well.”

Again, I need to stress, this is not talking about earning one’s salvation per se. Even Tractate Sanhedrin 106b from the Talmud Bavli says “The Holy One, Blessed be He, seeks the heart, and the barometer of greatness is devotion of the heart and not the amount of Torah that one studies, as it is written ‘But the Lord looks on the heart’ quoting I Samuel 16:7.”

I Samuel 16:7 says in its fullness “But HaShem said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his tall stature, for I have rejected him. For it is not as man sees, man sees what his eyes behold, but HaShem sees into the heart.'”

Mishlei 4:24 says “Remove from yourself distortion of the mouth and distance perversity of lips from yourself.” The commentary on this verse says “Beware of acting in a manner that will cause others to twist their mouth or widen their mouths concerning you, i.e., to speak badly of you. The previous verse’s noble intentions of the heart cannot suffice when others perceive your behavior as ignoble, for that results in a desecration of HaShem’s Name. Therefore, even when your intentions are pure, avoid acting in a manner which may arouse suspicion of wrongdoing on your part. According to the Midrash, distortion of the mouth refers to gossip, which can cause such harm that it is comparable to murder. Perversity of lips refers to duplicitous speech, treating one’s fellow in an outwardly friendly manner while inwardly harboring animosity towards him.”

Mishlei 4:25 says “Let your eyes look ahead, and your eyelids will straighten your path before you.” The commentary is very interesting and important. It says “Your eyes should look for truth and for uprightness in order to find the proper path. That to which a person exposes his vision can be an extremely potent factor in his spiritual ascent or, HaShem forbid, his decline. In spiritual matters, a person’s eyes should be open to observe HaShem’s deeds and the manifestations of His greatness, and to enable one to walk in His ways.”

Now, again let me reiterate, this has nothing to do with securing salvation! We live in this world, and as such when we sin i.e. break His Torah as this is the definition of sin, there are punishments and chastisements we must endure in this life, just as there are rewards He bestows upon us when we walk in His Torah in this life. Okay, moving forward.

Mishlei 4:26 says “Weigh the course of your foot, and all your ways will be established.” From the Perkei Avos (Ethics of Our Fathers) 2.1 it says “Which is the right course that a man should choose for himself? One which is a credit to the person who chooses it and which also earns him respect from his fellow man. Be careful to perform a minor mitzvah (Commandment) in the same manner as a major one for you do not know the reward for each mitzvah. Consider the loss incurred in the performance of a mitzvah against the reward secured by its observance, and the gain received from a sin against the loss which will be suffered. Reflect upon three things and you will not come into the clutches of sin: Know what is above you i.e. An Eye that sees, an Ear that hears, and a book in which all your deeds are recorded.”

The Mishnah Perkei Avos 2.1 expounds this further and says “Know what is above you, and be constantly aware that high in heaven there is: 1. A seeing Eye from which nothing is hidden, as it is written in Job 34:21 ‘For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He sees all his steps,’ and from Proverbs 5:21 ‘For the ways of a man are in the sight of the Lord, and He ponders all his goings;’ 2. A listening Ear which hears all you say, even the murmurs within your heart, as it is written in Psalms 94:9 ‘He who planted/created the ear, shall He not hear?’ 3. And all your deeds are written in a book.'”

I am adding the following verse concerning the books which is recorded in Revelation 20:12 which says “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to their works.” This verse in Revelation is from Daniel 7:10 which says “A stream of fire flowing forth from before Him, a thousand thousands serving Him and myriad myriads standing before Him, the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” On a side note, again we see there is NOTHING new in the Apostolic Writings and again whatever is written in the Apostolic Writings MUST be found in the Tanakh, for there is nothing new under the sun! I digress.

Mishlei 4:27 says “Do not deviate right or left; remove your foot from evil.” The commentary on this verse says “Though the previous verse teaches the methods to correct one’s course and regain the medium road, ideally a person should have been careful not to veer right or left off this road. In this way he will have removed his foot from evil.” In other words, no matter how difficult it gets or how frustrating or scary it becomes, we, myself included, must grab hold of HaShem and His Torah, study, learn and apply these principles to our own lives if we are to survive this awful, wicked, world we live in!

Yeshua Himself said we are to imitate Him as He lived in this world and how did He live? He was a Torah Sage, He walked, talked, ate, worked and slept the Torah of HaShem. So, if we are to imitate Him, we must learn HaShem’s ways i.e. His Torah.

Know Torah, know Yeshua!

No Torah, No Yeshua!

May it be so very soon in our days!

SOURCE MATERIALS

• Artscroll Tanach Series Mishlei (Proverbs)
• The Book of Proverbs by Judaica Press
• The Scriptures by Institute for Scripture Research
• The Illuminated Perkei Avos by Artscroll
• Kehati Mishnah
• Tractate Eiruvin from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
• Tractate Sanhedrin from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli