THE ROCK! OUR PLACE OF REFUGE!

“For HaShem alone my soul waits silently, because from Him is my hope!” Psalms 62:6

Its becoming more difficult by the day to ignore the plight of this old, wicked and corrupt world. I see constantly people and television personalities who are working harder and harder each day to try and ignore the giant elephant in the room i.e. the world as we have known it is finished and rapidly collapsing!

Foundations built upon economics, religion, entertainment, medical, etc, they ALL are failing now. Nothing is withstanding the pressures coming to bear upon the world. We all see and we all are experiencing it first hand! Whether it be economic difficulties to medical difficulties, everyone is experiencing the collapse around us 24/7!

People attempt to ignore and distract themselves from the glaring fact of the state of the world with entertainment, sports, etc, and from the look on their faces, its absolutely obvious its not working anymore! People are having to accept the state of the world and many do not know how to handle it. Many, unfortunately, are turning to idolatry and false religious systems, which may distract for a moment, but even in that, the idolatry will eventually fail them and they will be left with the same glaring questions they had at the beginning i.e. “What do I do now? Who can I turn too for help?”

As such, nothing is a coincidence with HaShem! Everything, even down to the most miniscule, insignificant element in existence has a specific purpose for which He placed in its specific spot, for a specific reason. Absolutely nothing is just because or an accident with HaShem! Keep this in mind as we proceed.

As I put this Op together, it is 8 October 2022, the final Shabbat before Sukkot begins. The Torah portion for today is the last Torah portion before Sukkot and it is ‘Ha’azinu’ which is found in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 32:1-52. The Haftarah is found in 2 Samuel 22:1-52. The Psalm for Shabbat today is Psalms 71. Let’s examine these for a bit and see what HaShem is telling us today amidst this collapsing world around us. But, before we do so, never forget the following unchanging 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
• He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5

The Song of Moshe, which is found here in today’s Torah portion says beginning in Devarim 32:1-6 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop like the rain, may my utterance flow like the dew; like storm winds upon vegetation and like raindrops upon blades of grass. When I call out the Name of HaShem, ascribe greatness to our Elohim. THE ROCK! Perfect is His work, for ALL His paths are justice; a Elohim of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He. Corruption is NOT His, the blemish is His children’s, a perverse and twisted generation. Is it to HaShem that you do this, O vile and unwise people? Is He not your Father, your Master? Has He not created you and firmed you?”

It is interesting, the commentary on describing HaShem as our Rock from the Chumash says “HaShem’s justice applies so broadly that nothing escapes His system of reward and punishment. Someone who claims that HaShem will overlook sins is dangerously mistaken. By making such a claim, he influences others to sin, since they will think that there is no punishment for their actions. Therefore, anyone who claims that HaShem disregards our sins will have his own life disregarded.”

What is the one thing the world is collapsing over? In my opinion, it is injustice! There are multiple levels of justice being executed on people depending on their level of wealth, status in the community, entertainment status, social status, etc. Instead of having an unbiased level of justice applied equally to all persons, now its corrupted and what is the end result? Societies and nations collapse! Moving on.

Devarim 32:7-10 says “Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation. Ask your father and he will relate it to you, your elders and they will tell you. When the Supreme One gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of man, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the Children of Israel. For HaShem’s portion is His people; Yaakov is the measure of His inheritance. He discovered him in a desert land, in desolation, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He granted him discernment, He preserved him like the pupil of His eye.”

So, here we see it is HaShem Who sets the borders of the nations based upon the number of the Children of Israel! This indicates it is the twelve tribes of Israel which help hold up the world! We further see it is from HaShem Who encircled His people, granted discernment and preserved Yaakov i.e. Israel! Keep this in mind!

Devarim 32:11-14 says “He (HaShem) was like an eagle arousing its nest, hovering over its young, spreading its wings and taking them, carrying them on its pinions. HaShem alone guided them, and no other power was with them. He would make him ride on the heights of the land and have him eat the ripe fruits of my fields; He would suckle him with honey from a stone, and oil from a flinty rock; butter of cattle and milk of sheep with fat of lambs, rams born in Bashan and he-goats, with wheat as fat as kidneys; and you would drink blood of a grape like delicious wine.”

The analogy of HaShem like an eagle is amazing. Read the following from a commentary from Ohr HaChaim: “An eagle approaches its nest gently, so as not to overwhelm its young by appearing in the nest too suddenly; in addition, it does not rest its weight upon its young but hovers over them. Likewise, when HaShem appeared to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, He appeared in a manner that they could bear, designed so as not to overwhelm them.”

Unfortunately, too much of a good thing tends to make us get lazy, complacent, take for granted and as a whole end up rebelling against HaShem.

Devarim 32:15-27 says “Yeshurun (Another name for Israel) became fat and kicked. You became fat, you became thick, you became corpulent, and it deserted HaShem its Maker; and was contemptuous of the Rock of its salvation. They would provoke His jealousy with strangers; they would anger Him with abominations. They would slaughter to demons without power; gods whom they knew not, newcomers recently arrived, whom your ancestors did not dread. You ignored the Rock Who gave birth to you, and forgot Elohim Who brought you forth. HaShem will see and be provoked by the anger of His sons and daughters, and He will say, ‘I shall hide My face from them and see what their end will be, for they are a generation of reversals, children in whom there is no loyalty. They provoked Me with a non god, they angered Me with their vanities; so shall I provoke them with a non people, with a vile nation shall I anger them. For fire will have been kindled in My nostrils and blazed to the lowest depths. It shall consume the earth and its produce, and set ablaze what is founded on mountains. I shall accumulate evils against them, My arrows shall I use up against them; bloating of famine, battles of flaming demons, cutting down by the noontime demon, and the teeth of beasts shall I dispatch against them. On the outside, the sword will bereave, while indoors there will be dread, even a young man, even a virgin, a suckling with the gray haired man. I had said, ‘I will scatter them, I will cause their memory to cease from man’ were it not that the anger of the enemy was pent up, lest his tormenters misinterpret; lest they say, ‘Our hand was raised in triumph, and it was NOT HaShem Who accomplished all this!'”

All of this sounds extremely harsh by HaShem towards His people who rebelled against Him, but consider if He will do this to His own people, how much more will He act against the nations who have never known Him and embrace all sorts of debauchery, filth, idolatry and sins! Further, the nations He brings down upon Israel, often think it was by their own hands, skills, superiority, etc, that allowed them to prevail over HaShem’s people, when in fact, they are just a tool in HaShem’s Hand! Again, showing the mastery of HaShem over His creation and how all things work to His purposes! Finally, remember HaShem brings about these harsh judgments, not only just for purposes of justice and righteousness but also to motivate teshuvah (Repentance) i.e. returning to HaShem and His Torah! It is HaShem’s desire that none perish, but that all come to repentance!

Consider what HaShem says in Ezekiel 33:11 which says “Say to them, ‘As I live, the words of my Master, HaShem/Elohim, I do not desire the death of the wicked one, but the wicked one’s return from his way that he will live. Repent, repent from your evil ways; why should you die, O family of Israel?'” This is reiterated in 2 Peter 3:9!

Devarim 32:28-31 says “For they are a nation bereft of counsel, and there is no discernment in them. Were they wise they would comprehend this, for they would discern it from their end. For how could one pursue a thousand, and two cause a myriad to flee, if not that their Rock had sold them out, and HaShem had delivered them? For not like our Rock is their rock, yet our enemies judge us!”

The commentary from Ohr HaChaim on these verses says “For they are nation bereft of counsel. It means that these idolatrous nations do not have the nature to make such an observation; they are bereft of such counsel, and will not assume that the Jewish people were destroyed on account of their sins. Moreover, the verse continues, and there is no discernment in them, meaning that even if these nations would recognize that what happened to the Jewish people was a result of their sins, they lack the ability to discern one thing from another and to infer that if the Jews were punished so severely, then surely the idol worshiping nations will be destroyed on account of their greater sins!” Again, the perfect explanation for why Replacement Theology Christendom is so extremely dangerous and destructive, because its doctrine is exactly as is explained here i.e. “G-d hates Israel, ‘Jesus’ destroyed the Torah, and everything has either been changed or replaced while sin is just a concept from the past with no fear of punishment or judgment!” Moving on.

Devarim 32:32-35 says “For their (Israel’s) vineyard is from the vineyard of Sedom (Sodom) and from the fields of Amorah (Gemorah); serpents venom is their wine, the poison of cruel vipers. Is it not hidden with Me, sealed in My treasuries? Mine is vengeance and retribution at the time their foot will falter; for the day of their catastrophe is near, and future events are rushing at them.“

HaShem is referring here to the Day of Judgment which is the era we are currently fast approaching!

Devarim 32:36-41 here Israel is comforted by HaShem despite the judgments decreed: “When HaShem will have judged His people, He shall relent regarding His servants, when He sees that enemy power progresses, and none is saved or assisted. He will say, ‘Where is their god, the rock in whom they sought refuge?’ The fat of whose offerings they would eat, they would drink the wine of their libations? Let them stand help you! Let them be a shelter for you! See, now, that I, I am He, and no god is with Me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and there is no rescuer from My hand. For I shall raise My hand to heaven and say, ‘As I live forever; if I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand grasps judgment, I shall return vengeance upon My enemies and upon those that hate Me shall I bring retribution.“

Ohr HaChaim expounds and says “It will thus gird itself in judgment to return vengeance upon the enemies of HaShem, who are in fact none other than the enemies of the Jewish people, for they hate us for no reason other than our attachment to HaShem. When the verse concludes and says, and upon those who hate Me I shall bring retribution, it is referring to those who are in the class of people that incite the Jewish people to transgress the Torah.”

Devarim 32:42-43 says “I shall intoxicate My arrows with blood and My sword shall devour flesh, because of the blood of corpse and captive, because of the earliest depredations of the enemy. O nations, sing the praises of His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants; He will bring retribution upon His foes, and His earth will atone for His people.”

There is a prophetic verse found in Psalms 144:15 which says “Praiseworthy is the people for whose Elohim is HaShem.” The point is, HaShem will punish and judge His people, but the judgment which will fall upon the nations who never knew Him will be far more severe and in the falling of this judgment, in the end of days, the nations will realize who Israel is in relation to HaShem!

Devarim 32:44-47 says “Moshe came and spoke all the words of this Song in the ears of the people, he and Hoshea (Joshua) son of Nun. Moshe concluded speaking all these words to all Israel. He said to them, ‘Apply your hearts to all the words that I testify against you today, with which you are to instruct your children, to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah, for it is not an empty thing for you, FOR IT IS YOUR LIFE, and through this matter shall you prolong your days on the Land to which you cross the Jordan to possess it.”

Again, HaShem reiterates the Torah is our life! It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it! Even if we read His Torah and have zero idea or understanding what exactly we are reading, it still is having an effect in that His Word is getting into our hearts and minds! If we ask Him, He WILL give us discernment and help us to understand and how to apply this to our daily lives!

Devarim 32:48-52 says “HaShem spoke to Moshe on that very day, syaing, ‘Ascend to this mount of Abarim, Mount Nevo, which is in the land of Moav, which is before Yericho, and see the land of Canaan that I give to the Children of Israel as an inheritance, and die on the mountain you will ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aharon your brother died on Mount Hor; and was gathered to his people, because you trespassed against Me among the Children of Israel at the waters of strife at Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Tzin; because you did not sanctify Me among the Children of Israel. For from a distance shall you see the Land, but you shall not enter there, into the Land that I give to the Children of Israel.'”

There is a giant prophetic element to these verses in that even though Moshe was not allowed to enter the Land then, in the future redemption, Moshe WILL be resurrected and WILL enter the Land then!! May it be so very soon in our days! So, I hope you can see HaShem IS our Rock and our place of refuge, safety, protection, provision, etc from this Torah portion? Now consider what David says in the Haftarah from 2 Samuel 22!

The Haftarah is pretty self explanatory so I won’t comment on it. Just pay attention to how HaShem is described by David!!! 2 Samuel 22:1-51 says “Then David spoke to HaShem the words of this song, on the day when HaShem had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said: “HaShem is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer; The Elohim of my strength, in whom I will trust; My Shield and the Horn of my Salvation, My Stronghold and my Refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon HaShem, Who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”

“When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon HaShem, and cried out to my Elohim; He heard my voice from His Temple, And my cry entered His ears. ‘Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet. He rode upon a cherub, and flew; and He was seen upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness canopies around Him, dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him Coals of fire were kindled.”

“HaShem thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His Voice. He sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning bolts, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered, at the rebuke of HaShem, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils. ‘He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but HaShem was my Support.”

“He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. ‘HaShem rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of HaShem, and have not wickedly departed from my Elohim. For all His judgments were before me; and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore HaShem has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His eyes. ‘With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; with a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.”

“For You are my lamp, HaShem; The Master shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; by my Elohim I can leap over a wall. As for Elohim, His way is perfect; the word of HaShem is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. ‘For who is Elohim, except HaShem? And who is a Rock, except our Elohim? Elohim is my Strength and Power, and He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”

“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me; so my feet did not slip. ‘I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. And I have destroyed them and wounded them, so that they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I destroyed those who hated me. They looked, but there was none to save; even to HaShem, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I trod them like dirt in the streets, and I spread them out.”

“You have also delivered me from the strivings of my people; You have kept me as the head of the nations. A people I have not known shall serve me. The foreigners submit to me; as soon as they hear, they obey me. The foreigners fade away, and come frightened from their hideouts. “HaShem lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let Elohim be exalted, The Rock of my Salvation! It is HaShem Who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O HaShem, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your Name. ‘He is the tower of salvation to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore.’”

Now consider what He says in Psalms 71 i.e. the Psalms for this Torah portion!

Psalms 71:1-22 says “In You HaShem, I have taken refuge, let me not be shamed, ever. In Your righteousness rescue me and deliver me; incline Your ear to me and save me. Be for me a sheltering Rock to which to come always; in the past You commanded my salvation, for my Rock and my Fortress are You. My Elohim, deliver me from the wicked one’s hand, from the palm of the schemer and the violent one. For You are my hope, O Master HaShem/Elohim, my security since my youth.”

“I relied on You from my birth, You with drew me from the innards of my mother; of You is my praise always. When I became an example to the multitude, You were my mighty refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise, all day long with Your splendor. Do not cast me off in time of old age; when my strength fails, forsake me not. For my foes speak of me, and those who watch for life consult together, saying, ‘Elohim has forsaken him, pursue and catch him, for there is no rescuer.’ O Elohim, be not far from me; O my Elohim, hasten to my assistance.”

“Let the adversaries of my soul be shamed and consumed; let those who seek my harm be enwrapped in disgrace and humiliation. As for me, I shall always hope, and I will yet add to all Your praise. My mouth shall recount Your righteousness, all day long Your salvation, though I know not their numbers. I shall come with the mighty deeds of the Master, HaShem/Elohim, I will mention Your righteousness, Yours alone. O Elohim, You have taught me from my youth, and until this moment I declare Your wonders. And even until old age and hoariness, O Elohim, forsake me not; until I proclaim Your strength to the generation, Your might to all who will yet come.”

“And Your righteousness, O Elohim, is unto the high heavens; You, Who have done great things, O Elohim, who is like You? You, Who have shown me many and grievous troubles; revive me again, and from the depths of the earth raise me again. Increase my greatness, and turn back to comfort me. I shall also thank You on the stringed instrument for Your faithfulness, my Elohim; I shall sing to You on the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall rejoice when I sing to You, as well as my soul that You have redeemed. My tongue, too, shall utter Your righteousness all day long; for they are shamed, for they are humiliated, those who seek my harm.”

Can you see the theme of this weeks Torah portion? HaShem IS the ONLY Rock we have and there is no other….Baruch HaShem!! He is ALL we need and to walk in His Ways i.e. His Torah is what facilitates our relationship with Him! In HaShem we take our refuge, especially now in the midst of this vile, cruel, wicked and debaucherously corrupt world!

One final thought and then I will close this Op. The following is from a book published by Artscroll by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin titled ‘My Father My King’ discussing the topic of fear which says “When you experience fear, hear your Father, your King, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, saying to you: ‘My child, let Me help you over come your fears. Any experience of fear provides you with an opportunity to become closer to Me. When you feel a strong need for Me, your words to Me will be more intense and will come from a deep place within you. When your fear brings you closer to Me, you benefit spiritually, even as your fear diminishes.”

“How would you feel if you knew I was always with you? Permit yourself a greater awareness that I am always with you. Feel yourself becoming calmer. A total awareness that your loving Father and powerful King is with you will give you feelings of serenity and courage. Along with King David, you will be able to say, ‘Even when I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.'”

“When you feel courage and inner strength, you will be free from fear. Imagine hearing Me saying to you, ‘I am giving you courage.’ Feel this courage permeating your entire being. Feel this courage entering every cell and every muscle. Feel this courage filling every part of your brain. Think of what it would be like to have this courage now. And this courage is a gift to you whenever you need it.”

“Think of various people who have courage. I have sent those people to you as role models to increase your own level of courage. Whenever you need more courage, imaging that you are one of the most courageous people you have ever encountered. The power of imagination I have given you enables you to do this.”

“Breathe slowly and deeply, My child. This will diminish your fear and begin to make you calmer. Appreciate each breath. Feel Me helping you become calmer with each breath you take. Every time you exhale, exhale fear. Every time you inhale, inhale courage. Never do anything to needlessly cause any of My other children fear. Do everything you can to help My children overcome their fears. Let your own experiences of fear give you more compassion for the fears of others. When you learn to overcome your own fears, you will be able to do chesed (Kindness) by helping others do the same.”

Its an interesting concept Rabbi Pliskin discusses here about fear and I thought it might be helpful especially in light of today’s world!

So, in closing this Op, today’s Torah portion reinforces HaShem is our Rock and our Shield in every way possible, but also our Provider for all of our needs. We have to live one day at a time, one step at a time, literally one breath at a time and pray to our compassionate, kind, forgiving Great King that may today be the day of our great final redemption and until we get to that point, may He grant us the strength and stamina to hold onto Him tightly one more day!

Much to consider!

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS

• The Milstein Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud by Artscroll
• The Psalms by Artscroll
• My Father, My King by Artscroll