TORAH AND TEMPLE INVESTIGATIONS

ISRAEL’S ENEMIES – AMALEK

“Make me understand, so that I may cherish Your Torah, and I will keep it with all my heart. Lead me on the trail of Your commandments, for that is my desire.” Psalms 119:34-35

Shabbat Shalom All! As I put this short Op together, it is Shabbat, 8 November 2025. The war in Gaza continues its very unstable ceasefire, while the tensions in the north with Hezbollah rapidly escalates. Point is, the war is continuing even if the bullets and missiles have subsided for the moment.

All over the world, HaShem’s people who are striving to walk with and stay close to Him are continuing to be crushed. The enemies of Israel are like snakes, coming out of their dens seeking whom to devour! I won’t lie, it does appear to be a very disturbing time as the darkness encroaches the entire world!

Life is extremely tough right now! War, economics, health, etc, are all being shaken! Each of us is being challenged in ways we never thought we would have to face! We are being challenged in ways which is literally wearing us all out physically and spiritually! The number of our enemies is countless, not only do they want to extinguish our physical presence in this world, but more than this, they seek to destroy our spiritual walk with HaShem!

This is what I want to quickly discuss in this Op is how do we counter our enemies and how do we prevail? But first, always remember the following scriptures assuring us HaShem and His Word is unchanging and is set forever:

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 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 one book of the Tanakh which is my absolute favorite is Shir HaShirim (Song of Solomon) simply because it is about HaShem, Who even though is separated from His bride (Israel), still watches over her and protects her with the promise He WILL redeem her at the Final Redemption! May it be so very soon in our days!

The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book discusses an aspect of warfare which is very interesting as it is discussing the true struggle and what it actually is. It says “The Sages say that the Temple was called the House of David because he dedicated his life for it. David’s physical wars and tribulations were the worldly guise of a spiritual struggle. When a human enemy sets itself up as an enemy of the Jewish nation, or of so supreme figure as David who is the embodiment of the people, force of arms is the superficial aspect of the struggle. THE TRUE STRUGGLE IS SPIRITUAL. That is why our Sages speak constantly of the Angel of Esau, the Angel of Egypt, the Angle of the Sea, these spiritual forces of evil were attacking Israel’s spiritual will for good. If Israel’s spirit were defeated, its armies would collapse. If its spirit remained strong, its mortal enemies would be vanquished.”

Point is, when we are being attacked today, not only is the goal of our enemies to literally obliterate us off the face of the earth, but more importantly, to destroy our spiritual walk with HaShem and cut us off from Him! Keep this in mind as we proceed.

The commentary continues. “When Amalek attacked Israel soon after the Exodus, Joshua led Israel on the battlefield while Moses went up to the hilltop to pray. This is recorded in Exodus 17:11 which says ‘And it came to pass that when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.’ It was not Moses’ hands which prevailed or lost the battle. He raised his hands in prayer to inspire Israel’s eyes to rise to heaven and its hearts to be dedicated to its Father in Heaven. When he lowered his hands, Israel turned its attention from HaShem back to the human enemy. During those moments when they fought Amalek instead of fighting their own baseness, they were beaten back.”

“Jacob, too, was a great warrior on the battlefield with his sword and his bow. But there are other battlefields and other kinds of swords and bows than material ones. Shortly before his death, Jacob awarded Joseph the city of Shechem, quoting Genesis 48:22 ‘Which I took from the Emorites with my sword and my bow.’ After Simeon and Levi killed the male inhabitants of Shechem, the neighboring Emorites assembled to avenge the decimated city. Jacob donned his sword and bow to fight them off.”

“Targum (Writings in the Oral Torah) renders the words ‘Sword and bow’ as ‘With my prayers and supplications’. Some might see Jacob as the powerful warrior, the mighty man who could single handedly remove large stones that a group of shepherds could not budge per Genesis 29:7-10. Eye witnesses could report on his defense of Shechem with a flailing sword and powerful bow. But Jacob knew that his sword was lethal because BEHIND IT WAS A PRAYER; that his bow was invincible because behind it was a supplication. And he knew that just as a bow shoots more powerfully the tighter it is drawn, the greater the intensity of its devotion and concentration, the more a prayer can accomplish.”

So, consider the picture, we Israel is engaged in warfare against Amalek and Moses is praying. When his hands are lifted up in prayer towards HaShem, it inspires all of Israel to repent and draw closer to HaShem, thus Israel prevails. But, when Moses gets tired, worn out and his hands begin to lower, Israel begins to let go of HaShem and Amalek subsequently begins to prevail. Can you see the concept here? When we stay devoted and connected to HaShem in our prayers, Torah study, observances of His Shabbat and His Feasts, striving to stay close to Him according to His way, not our own, we will prevail over Amalek! Not because of who we are, no not a chance, but solely because of Who He is as our Great King!

Now on a side note, let me quickly interject what is so important to know about our enemy Amalek! Per Tractate Rosh HaShanah 29a from the Talmud Bavli it describes Amalek as the following: “The battle with Amalek was no ordinary war, and thus could not be waged by the usual miraculous means. In any other war, even if Israel had not been worthy, HaShem Himself would have fought for them in the merit of Moshe, the great sage of the generation. But the battle against Amalek is one that Israel must fight for itself!”

So, right off the bat we can see there is much more to Amalek than just some physical enemy which we have to contend with. The commentary continues and says “Amalek’s purpose and unique ability is to try by any means to turn Israel away from HaShem, to undermine their emunah (Faith) in HaShem, and to thereby achieve dominance over Israel. Since this is the nature of the war with Amalek, the only way Israel can triumph is to do the exact opposite, to double and redouble their emunah, and to return to HaShem with all their hearts and souls. This directly negates the power of Amalek, which dissipates like smoke in the wind.”

How many right now are tired, worn out and discouraged after the constant spiritual and even physical beatings which people are having to endure right now? It is Amalek once again attempting to get us to lower our arms and let go of HaShem, even when we are committed to Him, but we still find ourselves, unintentionally, due to circumstances having lowered our arms and let go and Amalek begins to prevail. So, how do we counter Amalek and keep our arms raised up? We pray like David did!!!

Remember from a previous Op I cited II Samuel 22? Read what David said in this chapter:

“David spoke to HaShem the words of this song on the day that HaShem delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Shaul. He said, ‘HaShem is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Rescuer, for me. The Elohim of my Rock in Whom I take shelter, my Shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold and my Refuge. My Savior, You save me from violence (The Hebrew word here for violence is Hamas! Consider what is currently going on in Israel today especially regarding Hamas/Gaza!!!!). With praises I call unto HaShem, and I am saved from my enemies. When the pains of death surrounded me and torrents of godless men would frighten me, the pains of the grave surrounded me, the snares of death confronted me, in my distress I would call upon HaShem, and to my Elohim I would call; and from His abode He heard my voice, and my cry was in His ears. Then the earth quaked and roared, the foundations of the heavens shook; they quaked when His wrath flared. Smoke rose up in His nostrils, a devouring fire from His mouth, flaming coals blazed forth from Him. He bent down the heavens and descended, with thick darkness beneath His feet.”

“He mounted a Keruv (Cherub) and flew, He appeared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness into shelters around Him, a sieve of water are the clouds of the heavens. From out of the brilliance that is before Him burned fiery coals. HaShem thundered from the heavens, the Most High gave forth His voice. He sent forth arrows and scattered them; lightning, and He terrified them. The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the earth were laid bare by the rebuke of HaShem, from the blowing of the breath of His nostrils. He sent from on high and took me, He drew me out of deep waters. He saved me from my mighty foe, and from my enemies, when they overpowered me. They confronted me on the day of my misfortune, but HaShem was support to me. He brought me out into a broad space; He released me, for He desired me. HaShem rewarded me according to my righteousness; He repaid me befitting the cleanliness of my hands. For I have kept the ways of HaShem, and I have not departed wickedly from my Elohim. For all His judgments are before me; and I shall not remove His decrees from myself. I have been perfectly innocent with Him, and I was vigilant against my sin. HaShem repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, according to my purity before His eyes.”

“With the devout You deal devoutly, with the one who is strong in his wholeheartedness You act wholeheartedly. With the pure You act purely, and with the corrupt You act perversely. You save the humble people, while Your eyes are upon the haughty to lower them. For You are my lamp, HaShem; HaShem illuminates my darkness. For with You I smash a troop, with my Elohim I leap over a wall. The Elohim! His way is perfect; the promise of HaShem is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is Elohim besides HaShem, and who is a Rock besides our Elohim? The Elohim! My Fortress of strength; He cleared my way, with perfection. Who straightened my feet like the hinds, and stood me upon my heights. Who trained my hands for battle, so that a copper bow could be bent by my arms. You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your humility made me great.”

“You have widened my stride beneath me; and my ankles have not faltered. I pursued my foes and eradicated them, and returned not until they were destroyed. I destroyed them and struck them down so that they did not rise, and they fell beneath my feet. You girded me with strength for battle; You brought my adversaries to their knees beneath me. And my enemies you gave me in retreat; my antagonists, and I cut them down. They cried out, but there was no savior; they turned to HaShem, but He answered them not. I pulverized them like dust of the earth; like the mud in the streets I crushed them and trampled them. You rescued me from the strife of my people; You preserved me to be the head of nations; a people I did not know serves me. Foreigners lie to me; as soon as they hear, they will obey me. Foreigners become terrified from within their fortified enclosure.”

“HaShem lives! Blessed is my Rock! Exalted is Elohim Who grants me vengeance and subdues nations beneath me, and You extricate me from my enemies! You raised me above my adversaries; from the man of violence (Hamas) You rescue me. Therefore, I shall give thanks to You, HaShem, among the nations, and to Your Name I will sing. He is a tower of His king’s salvations, and does kindness to His anointed one, to David and his offspring, forever!”

David prays in Psalms 119, the longest chapter in the Tanakh comprised of 176 verses, in the first three verses: “Praiseworthy are those whose way is wholesome, who walk with the Torah of HaShem. Praiseworthy are those who cherish His testimonies, whole heartedly they seek Him. Indeed, they do no wrong, they walk in His ways!”

David says in Psalms 119:28 “My soul melts from sorrow, sustain me in accordance with Your word.” The Artscroll commentary on this verse says “David laments, ‘No year has passed without a calamity, no month has elapsed without news of fresh sorrow, no day has gone by without tragedy. While it is true, as noted above, that affliction can be beneficial, that is the case only if one utilizes his affliction to purify his baser instincts. Unrelieved and uncomprehended sorrow, however can sap a man’s resolve. Therefore, my soul melts away from sorrow. I am lost and bewildered, blinded by incessant tears. My entire world threatens to disintegrate around me; only Your encouraging word of reassurance can sustain me and strengthen my resolve to carry on.”

David is being crushed from not only the physical wars but also the spiritual wars which are having an effect in bringing him discouragement and figuratively his hands are lowering. But he reaffirms his faith in HaShem and he states in verses 30-32 “I have chosen the way of faith, I have submitted to Your judgments. I clung to Your testimonies, HaShem, put me not to shame. I will run on the way of Your commandments when You will broaden my understanding.”

David is about to end Psalms 119 and he sums it all up in verse 165 which says “There is abundant peace for the lovers of Your Torah, and there is no stumbling block for them.”

Consider the Psalm for today’s Torah portion ‘Vayera’ (Genesis 18:1-22:24) which is Psalms 11. It says “For the Conductor; of David. In HaShem I took refuge. How dare you say to me, ‘Flee, bird, to your mountain!’ For behold the wicked bend the bow, ready their arrow on the bowstring, to shoot under darkness at the upright of heart. You have torn down the foundations, what has the righteous man done? HaShem is in His Holy Temple, HaShem’s throne is in heaven, His eyes scrutinize, His pupils examine mankind. HaShem examines the righteous one, but the wicked and the lover of violence He despises. He will rain down upon the wicked fiery coals and brimstone, a burning blast is their allotted portion. For HaShem is righteous, and He loves the righteous man. The upright will behold His face.”

My point for this short Op is now more than ever, we all have to be mindful of getting worn out and tired and as such letting our hands, figuratively lower and Amalek gains the upper hand. We have to, myself included, proclaim our devoted faith, trust and commitment to HaShem, our Great King, Whose Word is forever, unchanging and the only truth there is! Amalek is crafty and uses our own words and emotions against us to get us to lower our hands. We have to stay ever vigilant especially now in these days as the world collapses around us more and more. HaShem is faithful, good, kind, compassionate and ever watching over each of us and when we submit to Him and His Torah, it is us who prevails and His enemies who are scattered into oblivion!! May the Final Redemption be so very, very soon in our days!

Something to consider!

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

Artscroll Shemos (Exodus) with the teachings of the Talmud
Artscroll Tractate Rosh HaShannah from the Talmud Bavli
Artscroll Tehillim (Psalms)
Artscroll Shir HaShirim

THE TEN SONGS OF THE TANAKH

“I am I Who is your comforter. Who are you that would fear mortal men, the son of man who is as grass?” Isaiah 51:12

So, here we are. Today as I attempt to put this Op together it is 25 Oct 2025, the world is celebrating as Israel has signed off on and agreed to a President Trump inspired cease fire plan with Hamas and bring an end the two year long war in Gaza.

Is it a good thing for the war to end and to bring about the release of the remaining Israeli hostages who are still alive? Of course it is a good thing, however, there is also a great amount of caution as Hamas in no way, shape or form can be trusted. The entire reason for their existence is the complete and total annihilation of every Jew in the world and the absolute destruction of Israel, as stated by their own words. In my opinion, the only reason for Hamas to agree to the terms of this ceasefire is not to end the war, but because they are close to being completely destroyed by Israel and as such they need time to regroup, resupply, refill their arms stores and develop new terror tactics to use against Israel.

On a side note, what is so amazing to hear from the reports in Israel of the live hostages who were returned to Israel, they are all stating they were captured while being very secular in their personal walks, not giving the time of day to HaShem. Then during their captivity for the last two years they are saying while being held underground, undergoing extreme physical and psychological torture by their Hamas captors, they could suddenly feel HaShem’s Presence and they knew He hadn’t abandoned them and was with them during the entire nightmare. Now, when these hostages are returning home, they have an extremely passionate desire to keep their relationship they developed with HaShem going. This is having a miraculous affect across all of Israel and as a response people are making Teshuvah (Repentance) and returning to HaShem upon hearing their stories….just as He prophesied would happen in the End of Days!

This being said, no doubt now, we are one step closer to the Final Redemption as the world declares peace and safety!! One step closer to all of Israel singing THE SONG after the Final Redemption has been accomplished by HaShem!! May it be so very soon in our days!!!

I thought it would be interesting to quickly explore what the ten songs referenced in the Tanakh are and why they were sung to HaShem! It is important we know these songs because they each teach us and reveal more about HaShem to us! As with every Op, never forget the following eternal verses:

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 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

Before we delve into the ten songs of the Tanakh, I thought it would be prudent to understand the significance of the number ten in His Word and why He uses it so often!

Per the Artscroll published book ‘Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers’ it explains the number ten represents the complete set. It says “Ten is synonymous with wealth, as all the physical needs of a wealthy man are provided for. In this respect, such a person can be considered to have reached a state of completion in the physical realm. The innate quality of ten as a complete set finds ample expression through the Divine act of Creation, the unfolding of Jewish history from Adam to Avraham, and the miraculous wonders of the Exodus leading to the giving of the Torah at Sinai.”

In other words, ‘ten’ represents something or someone which is complete, whole and fulfills what it was created to function in HaShem’s universe!

For example, consider there are Ten Utterances recorded for us in HaShem’s Torah corresponding to Creation as we see in Bereshit (Genesis):

“In the beginning HaShem created the heaven and the earth”
“Let there be light”
“Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters”
“Let the waters be gathered into one area”
“Let the earth sprout vegetation”
“Let there be luminaries in the firmament of heaven”
“Let the waters swarm with living creatures”
“Let the earth bring forth living creatures”
“Let Us make man”
“Behold, I have given to you all the herbage yielding seed”

Psalms 33:6 reiterates “By the word of HaShem the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.”

Additionally, there are ten generations from Adam to Noah and another ten generations from Noah to Abraham! “None of them began to fulfill the purpose of Creation. Indeed, they left no lasting impression upon Creation. Only in the merit of Abraham was the whole of Creation established.”

There were the Ten Tests of Abraham which tested every aspect of his character and his devotion to HaShem. “He faced every test humanly possible, from hiding from Nimrod who threw him into the fiery furnace, to being ready to sacrifice his beloved son to attest to the degree of his love of HaShem.”

There were the Ten Plagues which HaShem used against Egypt to free His enslaved people:

Blood
Frogs
Lice
Wild animals
Pestilence
Boils
Hailstones
Locusts
Darkness
Death of the Firstborn

Then after the redemption of Israel from Egypt, HaShem makes His eternal covenant with Israel and gives us the Ten Commandments which encapsulates the “Ideological basis for all the Commandments (Torah), or as the categories under which all the other precepts are included.”

On the TENTH day of the biblical month of Tishrei is Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day of the year. In the Temple during the Temple Service, the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) would utter the ineffable four letter Name of HaShem TEN times and then he would enter the Kodesh HaKodashim (Most Holy Place).

There are TEN levels of Kedusha (Holiness) recorded in Tractate Kelim 1.6-9 in the Mishnah beginning with:

The Land of Israel is more sanctified than any of the other lands
Cities in Israel surrounded by a wall are more sanctified than this
Within the walls of Jerusalem is more sanctified
Har Habayit (The Temple Mount) is more sanctified
The Cheil is more sanctified than this, for Gentiles, and one rendered impure by a corpse, may not enter
Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women) is more sanctified than this
Ezrat Yisrael (Court of Yisrael) is more sanctified
Ezrat Kohanim (Court of the Priests) is more sanctified
The Hekhal (The Sanctuary Building of the Temple) is more sanctified
The Holy of Holies (The Throne of HaShem on earth) is more sanctified as the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) is only allowed to enter once a year on Yom Kippur

The TENTH letter of the Hebrew Alphabet is the letter ‘Yud’ which is the smallest letter in the entire 22 letter alphabet! It has a unique shape in it looks like a person bent over, bowing in prayer! It is the only letter in the Hebrew alphabet when it is combined or joined with a Hebrew verb, it turns this verb into a FUTURE TENSE! This letter is connected to the prophecies of the World to Come, “The time will be an everlasting state where the universal picture of all existence is revealed. Just as the number ten represents the complete set, so too, in the World to Come all aspects of Creation successfully integrate into one grand tapestry that, in harmony, proclaims the eternal Glory of HaShem!”

Finally, consider there are 613 Mitzvot (Commandments) in the Torah of HaShem! Take the number 6 + 1 + 3 = TEN! The entirety of His Torah is the complete set! Another reason why Replacement Theology of Christendom will NEVER be valid or accurate! I digress.

So, I hope you can see just how important the number ten is to HaShem and how we each need to pay close attention to whenever it comes up in our studies because HaShem is saying something very important and we need to pay close attention!

Now, since we have quickly explored the importance of the number ten, we can now quickly address the ten songs of the Tanakh!

Just to clarify, there are literally thousands of songs recorded in the entire Tanakh, but these ten are the primary ones which tell a story which I hope you will see shortly.

THE TEN SONGS

Psalm 92 – Adam sung when his sin was forgiven and the Shabbat came! This is the Psalm we recite each Shabbat! We will cover it further coming up shortly.
Exodus 15:1 – Sung by Moshe and Israel when HaShem split the sea during the exodus from Egypt.
Numbers 21:17 – Sung by the Children of Israel when a well of fresh water was provided to them by HaShem.
Deuteronomy 32:1-43 – Sung by Moshe just before he died.
Joshua 10:12 – Sung by Joshua while in battle and he called for the sun and the moon to stand still to give him the time needed to destroy Israel’s enemy!
Judges 5:1 – Sung by Barak and Deborah when HaShem delivered Sisera into their hands!
I Samuel 2:1 – Sung by Hannah when HaShem granted her a son!
II Samuel 22:1 – Sung by David for all the miracles HaShem performed to save and redeem Israel!
Song of Solomon in its entirety – Sung by Solomon the day the Temple construction was completed!
Isaiah 30:29 – Prophetic song to be sung by all of Israel when HaShem redeems ALL of Israel at the Final Redemption!

Let’s look a little deeper into Psalm 92 the Shabbat Psalm! It says “A song with musical accompaniment for the Shabbat day – It is good to thank HaShem, and to sing praise to Your Name, O Exalted One. To relate Your kindness at dawn, and Your faith in the nights! Upon the assor (Ten stringed instrument which produced ten different tones – This in itself is a prophecy referring to the World to Come as the harp in the Temple had seven strings. During the Messianic times the harp in the rebuilt Temple will have eight strings – Another example we have to pay very close attention to the details!) and upon the neivel, with singing accompanied by a harp. For You have gladdened me, HaShem, with Your deeds, at the works of Your hands I will sing glad song. How great are Your deeds, HaShem; exceedingly profound are Your thoughts. A boor cannot know, nor can a fool understand this. When the wicked bloom like grass and all the iniquitous blossom, it is to destroy them till eternity. But You remain exalted forever, HaShem. For behold! Your enemies, HaShem, for behold! Your enemies shall perish, dispersed shall be all doers of iniquity. As exalted as a re-eim ( A horned animal) shall be my pride, I will be saturated with ever fresh oil.”

“My eyes have seen my vigilant foes; when those who would harm me rise up against me my ears have heard. A righteous man will flourish like a date palm, like a cedar in the Lebanon he will grow tall. Planted in the House of HaShem (His Temple in Jerusalem), in the courtyards of our Elohim they will flourish. They will still be fruitful in old age, full of sap and freshness they will be. To declare that HaShem is just, My Rock in Whom there is no wrong.” This Psalm is about Israel in the past but it is also very much applicable to you and I today and is a promise from HaShem for the future after the Final Redemption! May it be so very soon in our days!!

Now consider the song sung by Moshe when HaShem split the sea as recorded in Exodus 15! “I shall sing to HaShem for He is exalted above the arrogant, having hurled horse with its rider into the sea. The might and vengeance of HaShem was salvation for me. This is my Elohim and I will build Him a Sanctuary; the Elohim of my father and I will exalt Him. HaShem is Master of war, His Name is HaShem. Pharaoh’s chariots and army He threw in the sea, and the pick of his officers were mired in the Sea of Reeds. Deep waters covered them; they descended in the depths like stone. Your right hand, HaShem, is glorified with strength; Your right hand, HaShem, smashes the enemy. In Your abundant grandeur You shatter Your opponents; You send forth Your wrath, it consumes them like straw. At a blast from Your nostrils the waters were heaped up; straight as a wall stood the running water; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide plunder; I will satisfy my lust with them. I will unsheathe my sword, my hand will impoverish them.’ You blew with Your wind, the sea enshrouded them; the mighty sank like lead in the water. Who is like You among the heavenly powers, HaShem! Who is like You, mighty in holiness, too awesome for praise. Doer of wonders!”

“You stretched out Your right hand, the earth swallowed them. With Your kindness You guided this people that You redeemed; You led with Your might to Your holy abode. Peoples heard, they were agitated; terror gripped the dwellers of Philistia. Then the chieftains of Edom were confounded, trembling gripped the powers of Moav, all the dwellers of Canaan dissolved. May fear and terror befall them, at the greatness of Your arm may they be still as stone; until Your people passes through, HaShem until this people You have acquired passes through. You will bring them and implant them on the mount of Your heritage, the foundation of Your dwelling place that You, HaShem, have made, the Sanctuary, my Master, that Your hands established. HaShem shall reign for all eternity! When Pharaoh’s cavalry came with his chariots and horsemen into the sea and HaShem turned back the waters of the sea upon them, the Children of Israel walked on the dry land amid the sea.”

Can you see the emerging theme among these songs thus far? HaShem is truly Master of Legions and the Master of war Who will save His people from His enemies!

Let’s continue and jump down to eighth song David sang in II Samuel! When you read this consider the events going on today not only in our own lives but to Israel as a whole from the rapidly growing hostility against Israel from the nations of the world to include America!

Can you see how important II Samuel 22 is especially with regards to today? And the use of the word ‘Hamas’ throughout this song is astounding! The sunrise is coming if we are paying close attention, figuratively speaking!

Now let’s sum up this Op quickly discussing the future Tenth Song to be song upon the Final Redemption as it says so in Isaiah 30:29 “The song will be to you as on the night when the festival has been sanctified, and the heartfelt joy as the one who walks with the flute to come to the mountain of HaShem, to the Rock of Israel.”

What festival is being referenced here? It is Pesach (Passover) and the Hallel Psalms (113-118) which is sung during the Pesach seder! Proves Pesach will still be observed in the time of the Final Redemption!! Further, what is being referenced when this verse speaks of the heartfelt joy as the one who walks with the flute to come to the Mountain of HaShem? This is speaking of the Bikkurim (The Seven Species of ground or tree produce) when all of Israel will bring their First Fruits of the land to the Temple in Jerusalem!

Tractate Bikkurim from the Mishnah explains further and points out when the person comes to the Temple to give their Bikkurim they recite the following in gratitude to HaShem “A wandering Aramean was my father until and now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land which You, O Master, have given me.” It is a prayer of thanksgiving “For graciously delivering us from Egypt and bringing us into the a Land flowing with milk and honey!” Again, further proves our destiny is to go the Land of Israel at the Final Redemption and there to serve HaShem, keep His Torah and go up to His Temple! May it be so very soon in our days!

As horrible as things are happening in each of our lives right now, believe me, no one is having it easy right now, everyone I know is getting throttled in some fashion or another and it is a time we all are to be crying out to HaShem! May we draw closer to Him each day and realize His Torah, His Temple, His Feasts and His Shabbat are for us as well and without Him and His Ways, we will not survive!

Hope this short Op was beneficial to someone…

Shalom!!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

Artscroll The Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud
Kehati Mishnah Bikkurim
Artscroll Tehillim (Psalms)
Artscroll The Prophets Joshua with the Teachings of the Talmud
Artscroll the Prophets II Samuel with the Teachings of the Talmud

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY? PART 2

As I put this Op together, it is 4 October 2025, we have just come through Yom Kippur and are preparing for Succos. It is safe to say, this year i.e. 2025 on the Gregorian calendar, has been one for the record books. The turmoil, death, chaos, war, health problems and calamities across the world are literally affecting every single person. Not one person alive today is not being affected in some way or another. Suffice to say there is MUCH to be concerned about.

Is there still hope? Is there still something to look towards and hold onto in the midst of all the chaos? Or is it all over with and life has pretty much stopped and we are just waiting to die? I will admit in the last few months, my hold on HaShem has waivered in some areas as my family and I are pounded and crushed. On every natural level it appears life is pretty much over and we are just living what few days we have left anticipating when it will all end. I know its pretty depressing. But, HaShem has shown me recently, there is still hope, there is still faith and as we prepare for Succos there is still the anticipation of joy and redemption. It is NOT over yet!!

This being said, I thought it would be a good time to put together Part 2 of why should we pray series. In order to examine and research the topic of this Op, we will need to delve deep into the Service of the Temple and the Korbonos (Offerings). There is a Tavnit (Blueprint) for how and when we can approach HaShem and bring our petitions before our King. Does this by default mean He isn’t available at all times? Not in the least, but it does mean He is especially available to hear our petitions when we approach Him at the appointed times! Keep this in mind as we proceed.

If you recall from Part 1, our prayers will substitute for the daily Tamid offerings in the Temple: Hosea 14:3 says “Take words with you and return to HaShem; say to Him, ‘May You forgive all iniquity and accept good intentions, and LET OUR LIPS SUBSTITUTE FOR BULLS.’” The commentary on this verse from the Artscroll Twelve Prophets book Hosea, page 109 says “Those offerings that we should be bringing (In the Temple) to You we will replace with the appeasing words of our lips. Indeed, our words of repentance are preferred by You to our offerings, since offerings are of no value if not accompanied by words of confession.” Keep this in mind!!

As always, never forget how HaShem, His Word and His Torah are eternal, never changing and will never pass away despite all the rhetoric which permeates from Replacement Theology! Here is a list of just a few scriptural references stating this fact:

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 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

There is a profound excerpt from the Perkei Avos commentary (Ethics of our Fathers) book which discusses in great detail how we are to walk with HaShem, apply and study His Torah to our lives and what the effects will be. The excerpt says “Every letter of Torah brings life. In interpreting this phrase, every letter of the Torah is a source of life for those who exposit and study its profound teachings. It is well known that the 613 mitzvot (Commandments in the Torah) correspond to the 613 components of the human body. By delving into the teachings of every one of these mitzvot, we infuse each of these organs with life. As the Torah itself says, ‘Rather by everything that emanates from the mouth of Elohim, the Torah, does man live’ quoting Devarim (Deuteronomy) 8:3.” The Torah is a tree of life to those who take hold of it per Proverbs 3!

This said, it is in the Torah, specifically Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:1-8 where we are commanded to bring an Olah (Burnt) korbonot (Offering) of a lamb to HaShem: “HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying ‘Command the Children of Israel and say to them, My offering, My food for My fires, My satisfying aroma, shall you be scrupulous to offer to Me IN ITS APPOINTED TIME. And you shall say to them, ‘This is the fire offering that you are to offer to HaShem, male lambs in their first year, unblemished, TWO A DAY, as a continual Olah offering. The one lamb shall you make IN THE MORNING and the second lamb shall you make IN THE AFTERNOON, with a tenth ephah of fine flour as a minchah (Bread/meal offering), mixed with a quarter hin of crushed oil. It is the continual (Tamid) Olah (Burnt) offering that was done at Mount Sinai, FOR A SATISFYING AROMA, a fire offering to HaShem. And its (Wine) libation is a quarter hin for the one lamb, to be poured on the holy Mizbe’ach (Altar), an intoxicating libation for HaShem. The second lamb you shall make in the afternoon; like the minchah offering of the morning and like its libation shall you make, a fire offering for a satisfying aroma.'” Notice the Olah korbonot is NOT for atonement!! It is simply to be a satisfying aroma to HaShem!! I will address the purpose of the Tamid further in this Op.

It is interesting to note how important it was/is for the morning Tamid!! A Kohen (Priest) who was selected via lots, would go up to a high place on the Temple, and would look towards the east, waiting to see signs of the sun rising (Gee, sound like a prophetic picture?). Per Tamid 3.3 in the Mishnah, it says “The appointed one (Kohen) said to one of the Kohanim, ‘Go out of the Chamber of Hewn Stone and up to a high place in the Temple, and see whether the time for the slaughter of the tamid has arrived. If the time had arrived, the one who saw it says ‘There is light!'” The note on this says regarding seeing the light, “The Kohen waited until just before sunrise when a glow of light could be seen in the east, and then announced that dawn had come!”

On a side note, per Mishnah Tamid 3.3, twelve loaves of bread were baked and placed on the Shulchan (Table) in the Temple Sanctuary. “They remained on the Table until the next Shabbat, when twelve new loaves replaced them. The old loaves, which miraculously remained fresh, were eaten by the Kohanim per Vayikra (Leviticus 24:5-9).” I digress.

The Tamid lambs, offered twice a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, are male, unblemished lambs in their first year. The entire lamb is burnt upon the fire on the Mizbe’ach (Altar) and none of it is eaten! All of it goes to HaShem!

It should be noted, the daily Tamid korbonot, like every animal korbonot brought to HaShem, is to have the one who brought it, witness its slaughter and being offered upon the Mizbe’ach. So, how can this happen if the daily Tamid, is on behalf of all Israel, can all of Israel be there and witness its slaughter and offering?

Tractate Tannis 26a from the Talmud Bavli addresses this question: “Since it is stated in reference to the Tamid offering per Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:2 ‘Command the Children of Israel and tell them, My korban, My food, etc, which shows that all Israel is obligated to offer the Tamid, the question arises, ‘How can a person’s korban be offered when he is not present? Someone who brings a korban to the Beis HaMikdash (Temple) must stand by it and watch over it. Therefore, since the korban Tamid is incumbent on all Israel, every Jew should be in the Courtyard of the Beis HaMikdash during its service. This is physically impossible. To solve this problem, the early prophets instituted twenty four Mishmaros i.e. groups comprised of the Kohanim (Priests) and the Leviim into twenty four groups that served in the Beis HaMikdash one week at a time. And corresponding to each and every mishmar there was a maamad in Yerushalayim consisting of Kohanim, Leviim and Yisraelim, who would stand by the Tamid offering AS AGENTS of the rest of the people.'”

Do you recall in my past Ops I discussed how Yeshua is/was the Agent of HaShem? It is impossible Yeshua can be HaShem in the flesh, but He can be HaShem’s Agent! It is the same concept here with the maamad who are the agents representing all of Israel before HaShem! Additionally, every year all Jewish men were required to donate one half shekel to buy a share in the Tamid offerings and the other communal offerings that are brought throughout the year per Tractate Menachos 52a from the Talmud Bavli. This based upon Shemot (Exodus) 30:12-16 which states “HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying ‘When you take a census of the Children of Israel according to their numbers, every man shall give HaShem an atonement for his soul when counting them, so that there will not be a plague among them when counting them. This shall they give, everyone who passes through the census a half shekel of the sacred shekel, the shekel is twenty geras, half a shekel as a portion to HaShem. Everyone who passes through the census, from twenty years of age and up, shall give the portion to HaShem. The wealthy shall not increase and the destitute shall not decrease from half a shekel, to give the portion of HaShem, to atone for your souls. You shall take the silver of the atonements from the Children of Israel and give it for the work of the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting/Later the Temple); and it shall be a remembrance before HaShem for the Children of Israel to atone for your souls.'”

The 24 Mishmarot are listed in order per I Chronicles 24:7-18 (On a side note look at Luke 1:5):

Jehoiarib
Jedaiah
Harim
Seorim
Malchijah
Mi-jamin
Hakkoz
Abijah
Jeshua
Shecaniah
Eliashib
Jakim
Huppah
Jeshebeab
Bilgah
Immer
Hezir
Happizzez
Pethahiah
Jehezekel
Jachin
Gamul
Delaiah
Maaziah

So, why are we commanded to bring the daily Tamid offerings to HaShem twice a day? Mitzvah #401 from the Book of the Mitzvos by Artscroll explains with the following commentary: “We are commanded to do this continual service of the Tamid, which is obligatory twice each day, when the sun rises in the morning and as it declines in the afternoon to bring on evening, so that we should be awakened through the twice daily performance of this action and should direct the entirety of our hearts and all of our thoughts to attach ourselves to HaShem, blessed is He. A person is affected and his nature is awakened according to the actions in which he engages. Therefore, since the nature of a person is such that he must prepare food for himself at least twice daily, evening and morning, he is commanded to set his focus and his routine to likewise be engaged in the service of his Creator no less than twice daily, by offering the Tamid once in the morning and once toward evening, so that the service that the servant does for himself should not exceed the service that he performs for his Master. And what is the purpose of all this? Why indeed is it important that man consistently engage in the service of his Creator? In order to constantly awaken his intellect and his emotions to remember his Creator, for through this he will improve his actions and will merit to receive blessing from Him. HaShem has specifically instructed us in this regard, for He desires kindness, ‘Who is a Elohim like You, Who pardons iniquity and overlooks transgression, for the remnant of His heritage? He does not maintain His wrath forever, for He desires kindness per Micah 7:18’. It is His Will to bestow kindness upon His creations.”

The commentary further explains “When Scripture states that the Tamid offering will be a fire offering, a satisfying aroma to HaShem, it means that HaShem, so to speak, says ‘It is satisfying to Me, for I said that the offering should be brought and My Will was done.’ This means to say that the only true portion for the Most High in every offering is nothing other than the fulfillment of His desire, in that the servant has done what HaShem commanded him in order that he should become suitable to merit His generosity, blessed is He.”

With all this said, I want to quickly address what some of the prayers are which we pray two or three times day to HaShem! There are three prayer services each day, connected to the Temple Services:

Shacharit – The Morning Service: The Shema and Shemoneh Esrei (The Amidah)
Mincha – The Afternoon Service: Shemoneh Esrei
Maariv – The Evening Service: The Shema and Shemoneh Esrei

The Shema prayer is the foundation of our prayer to HaShem. It is comprised of three parts derived from the Torah:

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:4-9
Devarim 11:13-21
Bamidbar (Numbers) 15:37-41

Here I have copied and pasted the Shema from the Chabad website in English:

“Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G‑d, the L-rd is One.

Recite the following verse in an undertone:

Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.

You shall love the L-rd your G‑d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.

And it will be, if you will diligently obey My commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, to love the L-rd your G‑d and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, I will give rain for your land at the proper time, the early rain and the late rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine and your oil. And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be sated. Take care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray and worship alien gods and bow down to them. For then the L-rd’s wrath will flare up against you, and He will close the heavens so that there will be no rain and the earth will not yield its produce, and you will swiftly perish from the good land which the L-rd gives you. Therefore, place these words of Mine upon your heart and upon your soul, and bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, to speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates – so that your days and the days of your children may be prolonged on the land which the L-rd swore to your fathers to give to them for as long as the heavens are above the earth.

The L-rd spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to attach a thread of blue on the fringe of each corner. They shall be to you as tzizit, and you shall look upon them and remember all the commandments of the L-rd and fulfill them, and you will not follow after your heart and after your eyes by which you go astray – so that you may remember and fulfill all My commandments and be holy to your G‑d. I am the L-rd your G‑d who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G‑d; I, the L-rd, am your G‑d. True.”

It is the declaration of faith in HaShem: “Shema (Hear), O Israel, the Master is our Elohim, the Master is One.” Per the Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer on Pages 294-295 it confirms per the Torah, the Shema is “Read twice every day, in the morning at Shacharit and in the evening at Maariv. Reading the Shema twice daily is a precept of the Torah, as it is written, ‘And you shall speak of them…and when you lie down and when you rise up, which is interpreted to mean in the night and in the morning‘” per Devarim 6:7.

At the heart of every service however, is the Shemonei Esrei (The Amidah – Meaning ‘Standing’)! The book ‘To Pray as a Jew’ by Rabbi Donin, it says on page 69 “The Shemonei Esrei is the heart of every service. It contains the basic components of prayer: Praising HaShem, petitioning Him, and thanking Him. Whenever the Talmud refers to Tefilah (Prayer), it means the Shemoneh Esrei, and not any other blessing, supplication or psalm. It is THE PRAYER! It is recited three times a day. Shemoneh Esrei simply means ‘Eighteen’. The prayer is so called because the original version consisted of eighteen blessings.”

Below, like the Shema above, I have copied and pasted the translated version of the Shemoneh Esrei from the Chabad website

While praying, concentrate on the meaning of the words and remember that you stand before the Divine Presence. Before beginning the Amidah, take three steps back, then three steps forward. Recite the Amidah quietly — but audibly to yourself — while standing with feet together.

My L-rd, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.

Bend Knees at “Blessed”; bow are “You”; Straighten at “L-rd our G‑d”:

Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, G‑d of Abraham, G‑d of Isaac and G‑d of Jacob, the great, mighty and awesome G‑d, exalted G‑d, who bestows bountiful kindness, who creates all things, who remembers the piety of the Patriarchs, and who, in love, brings a redeemer to their children’s children, for the sake of His Name.

During the Ten Days of Penitence add:Remember us for life, King who desires life; inscribe us in the Book of Life, for Your sake, O living G‑d.

Bend Knees at “Blessed“; bow are “You“; Straighten at “L-rd our G‑d“:

O King, (You are) a helper, a savior and a shield. Blessed are You L-rd, Shield of Abraham.

You are mighty forever, my L-rd; You resurrect the dead; You are powerful to save.

In summer say: He causes the dew to descend. In winter say: He causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall.

He sustains the living with loving kindness, resurrects the dead with great mercy, supports the falling, heals the sick, releases the bound, and fulfills His trust to those who sleep in the dust. Who is like You, mighty One! And who can be compared to You, King, who brings death and restores life, and causes deliverance to spring forth!

During the Ten Days of Penitence add: Who is like You, merciful Father, who in compassion remembers His creatures for life.

You are trustworthy to revive the dead. Blessed are You L-rd, who revives the dead.

When the Chazzan repeats Amidah, Kedushah is recited here.We will hallow and adore You as the sweet words of the assembly of the holy Seraphim who thrice repeat “holy” unto You, as it is written by Your prophet: And they call one to another and Say, (Cong. and Chazzan🙂 “Holy, holy, holy is the L-rd of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Chazzan:) Those facing them offer praise and say, (Cong and Chazzan:) “Blessed be the glory of the L-rd from its place.” (Chazzan:) And in Your holy Scriptures it is written thus: (Cong. and Chazzan:) The L-rd shall reign forever; your G‑d, O Zion, throughout all generations. Praise the L-rd.

You are holy and Your Name is holy, and holy beings praise You daily for all eternity. Blessed are You L-rd, the holy G‑d. (During the Ten Days of Penitence substitute: the holy King.)

You graciously bestow knowledge upon man and teach mortals understanding. Graciously bestow upon us from You, wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Blessed are You L-rd, who graciously bestows knowledge.

Cause us to return, our Father, to Your Torah; draw us near, our King, to Your service; and bring us back to You in whole-hearted repentance. Blessed are You L-rd, who desires penitence.

Pardon us, our Father, for we have sinned; forgive us, our King, for we have transgressed; for You are a good and forgiving G‑d. Blessed are You L-rd, gracious One who pardons abundantly.

O behold our affliction and wage our battle; redeem us speedily for the sake of Your Name, for You G‑d are the mighty redeemer. Blessed are You L-rd, Redeemer of Israel.

Heal us, O L-rd, and we will be healed; help us and we will be saved; for You are our praise. Grant complete cure and healing to all our wounds; for You, Almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer. Blessed are You L-rd, who heals the sick of His people Israel.

Bless for us, L-rd our G‑d, this year and all the varieties of its produce for good; and bestow (During the summer season say:) blessing (During the winter season say: dew and rain for blessing) upon the face of the earth. Satisfy us from Your bounty and bless our year like other good years, for blessing; for You are a generous G‑d who bestows goodness and blesses the years. Blessed are You L-rd, who blesses the years.

Sound the great shofar for our freedom; raise a banner to gather our exiles, and bring us together from the four corners of the earth into our land. Blessed are You L-rd, who gathers the dispersed of His people Israel.

Restore our judges as in former times, and our counsellors as of yore; remove from us sorrow and sighing, and reign over us, You alone, O L-rd, with kindness and compassion, with righteousness and justice. Blessed are You L-rd, King who loves righteousness and justice. (During the Ten Days of Penitence substitute with: the King of judgment.)

Let there be no hope for informers, and may all the heretics and all the wicked instantly perish; may all the enemies of Your people be speedily extirpated; and may You swiftly uproot, break, crush and subdue the reign of wickedness speedily in our days. Blessed are You L-rd, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.

May Your mercies be aroused, L-rd our G‑d, upon the righteous, upon the pious, upon the elders of Your people, the House of Israel, upon the remnant of their sages, upon the righteous proselytes and upon us. Grant ample reward to all who truly trust in Your Name, and place our lot among them; may we never be disgraced, for we have put our trust in You. Blessed are You L-rd, the support and security of the righteous.

Return in mercy to Jerusalem Your city and dwell therein as You have promised; speedily establish therein the throne of David Your servant, and rebuild it, soon in our days, as an everlasting edifice. Blessed are You L-rd, who rebuilds Jerusalem. Speedily cause the scion of David Your servant to flourish, and increase his power by Your salvation, for we hope for Your salvation all day. Blessed are You L-rd, who causes the power of salvation to flourish.

Hear our voice, L-rd our G‑d; merciful Father, have compassion upon us and accept our prayers in mercy and favor, for You are G‑d who hears prayers and supplications; do not turn us away empty-handed from You, our King, for You hear the prayer of everyone. Blessed are You L-rd, who hears prayer.

Look with favor, L-rd our G‑d, on Your people Israel and pay heed to their prayer; restore the service to Your Sanctuary and accept with love and favor Israel’s fire-offerings and prayer; and may the service of Your people Israel always find favor.

On Rosh Chodesh and Chol HaMoed, (Our G‑d. . . may there ascend) is recited here.Our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, may there ascend, come and reach, be seen, accepted, and heard, recalled and remembered before You, the remembrance and recollection of us, the remembrance of our fathers, the remembrance of Mashiach the son of David Your servant, the remembrance of Jerusalem Your holy city, and the remembrance of all Your people the House of Israel, for deliverance, well-being, grace, kindness, mercy, good life and peace, on this day ofOn Rosh Chodesh: Rosh ChodeshOn the holiday of Passover: the Festival of MatzotOn the holiday of Sukkot: the Festival of Sukkot. Remember us on this [day], L-rd our G‑d, for good; be mindful of us on this [day] for blessing; help us on this [day] for good life. With the promise of deliverance and Compassion, spare us and be gracious to us; have mercy upon us and deliver us; for our eyes are directed to You, for You, G‑d, are a gracious and merciful King.

May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy. Blessed are You L-rd, who restores His Divine Presence to Zion.

We thankfully acknowledge that You are the L-rd our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers forever. You are the strength of our life, the shield of our salvation in every generation. We will give thanks to You and recount Your praise, evening, morning and noon, for our lives which are committed into Your hand, for our souls which are entrusted to You, for Your miracles which are with us daily, and for Your continual wonders and beneficences. You are the Beneficent One, for Your mercies never cease; the Merciful One, for Your kindnesses never end; for we always place our hope in You.

On Chanukah and Purim, the following is added.And [we thank You] for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders which You have wrought for our ancestors in those days, at this time —On Chanukah continue here:In the days of Matityahu, the son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, when the wicked Hellenic government rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will. But You, in Your abounding mercies, stood by them in the time of their distress. You waged their battles, defended their rights and avenged the wrong done to them. You delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and the wanton sinners into the hands of those who occupy themselves with Your Torah. You made a great and holy name for Yourself in Your world, and effected a great deliverance and redemption for Your people to this very day. Then Your children entered the shrine of Your House, cleansed Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holy courtyards, and instituted these eight days of Chanukah to give thanks and praise to Your great Name.On Purim continue here:In the days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, when the wicked Haman rose up against them, and sought to destroy, slaughter and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to take their spoil for plunder. But You, in Your abounding mercies, foiled his counsel and frustrated his intention, and caused the evil he planned — to recoil on his own head, and they hanged him and his sons upon the gallows.

And for all these, may Your Name, our King, be continually blessed, exalted and extolled forever and all time.

During the Ten Days of Penitence add:Inscribe all the children of Your Covenant for a good life.

And all living things shall forever thank You, and praise Your great Name eternally, for You are good. G‑d, You are our everlasting salvation and help, O benevolent G‑d. Blessed are You L-rd, Beneficent is Your Name, and to You it is fitting to offer thanks.

Bestow peace, goodness and blessing, life, graciousness, kindness and mercy, upon us and upon all Your people Israel. Bless us, our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your countenance. For by the light of Your countenance You gave us, L-rd our G‑d, the Torah of life and loving-kindness, righteousness, blessing, mercy, life and peace. May it be favorable in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel, at all times and at every moment, with Your peace.

During the Ten Days of Penitence add: And in the Book of life, blessing, peace and prosperity, deliverance, consolation and favorable decrees, may we and all Your people the House of Israel be remembered and inscribed before You for a happy life and for peace.

Blessed are You L-rd, who blesses His people Israel with peace. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, L-rd, my Strength and my Redeemer.

My G‑d, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceitfully. Let my soul be silent to those who curse me; let my soul be as dust to all. Open my heart to Your Torah, and let my soul eagerly pursue Your commandments. As for all those who plot evil against me, hasten to annul their counsel and frustrate their design. Let them be as chaff before the wind; let the angel of the L-rd thrust them away. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me. Do it for the sake of Your Name; do it for the sake of Your right hand; do it for the sake of Your Torah; do it for the sake of Your holiness. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, L-rd, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Before reciting the following verse one should bow, and in this bowed position, take three steps backward. While still bowing, he should turn his head to his left saying, “He who makes peace in His heavens”; bow forward, saying, “may He”; turn his head to his right, saying, “make peace for us”; and finally bow forward, saying, “and for all Israel; and say, Amen”.

He who makes peace (During the Ten Days of Penitence say: the peace) in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

May it be Your will, L-rd our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, that the Bet Hamikdash be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah.

I know there is a ton of information I have posted in this Op, but I felt it is necessary to show exactly what praying to HaShem looks like especially now, more than ever, in this world which is crumbling apart all around us each hour of each day!!

I will close this Op out with the following excerpt from a favorite book of mine “My Father, My King” by Rabbi Pliskin which says the following:

“Transform discouragement into hope and courage. Hear your Father, your King, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, saying to you: ‘Let your awareness of My love for you help you transform feelings of discouragement into feelings of hope, courage and empowerment. If you ever feel discouraged, realize that I have the ability to change a situation around in a moment. If it is in your total best interests, I can save you in the twinkling of an eye. So have hope, My beloved child.”

“In the beginning of the Torah, you will find the words, ‘Yehi Ohr’, meaning ‘Let there be light’. This is to teach you that with just two words, total darkness can be transformed into light. Let the light of the world serve as a reminder that even in the darkest moments there can be a hope which shines forth. Let the light of the world give you inner strength. Even if it appears to you that all is lost, even if everyone has already given up hope, even if you feel totally disheartened and discouraged, DO NOT GIVE UP. Hope creates an inner power. Allow yourself to feel that inner power right now!”

“Especially when it comes to learning Torah, doing a good deed, or working on a positive trait, never give up hope. Your effort has immense value regardless of the outcome. Hear My words of encouragement and let feelings of energy and empowerment permeate your entire being. Hear Me telling you, ‘Keep on going with renewed strength!’ It is easier to have courage when someone believes in you. I believe in you!”

I pray this will be a little encouraging for people and maybe help each of us to be strong and courageous because we know HaShem is with us and He goes before us and we are NOT alone!!

May the Final Redemption speedily happen soon in our days!!!

Shalom!!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

To Pray as a Jew by Rabbi Donin
The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer by Macy Nulman
The Book of the Mitzvos by Artscroll
The Talmud Bavli by Artscroll
The Chumash by Artscroll
My Father, My King by Rabbi Pliskin

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY? PART 1

“Evening, morning, and noon I pray and moan, and He hears my voice.” Psalms 55:18

As I put this Op together, it is 26 July 2025, Shabbat and the first day of the fifth biblical month of Av! The world continues to spiral into chaos and destruction and Israel continues to be forced fight in a seven front war which began on 7 Oct 2023, with no end in sight.

We are witnessing natural disasters erupt from earthquakes, to sudden flash flooding events in areas which normally do not see much rain. Meanwhile society continues to embrace debauchery, perversion of every abomination amidst increasing and more violent anti-Semitism. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, violence and war consuming the world, HaShem IS making Himself known and His Hand IS being revealed, for those who are paying attention and are searching for Him!

It is for this reason, after reading through this weeks Torah portion and subsequent Haftarah portion i.e. Jeremiah 2:4-28; 4:1-2 and Isaiah 66:1; 23-24, I can see a theme emerging, i.e. PRAYER! Why should we pray and do we pray whenever, wherever and however we want or has HaShem set up specific times of the day for us to approach Him? Is there significance to entering into the Biblical Month of Av in the year 2025? We will discuss these topics further in this Op, but as always, never forget the eternal aspects of HaShem or His Torah listed below:

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 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

Why am I inserting these photographs of violent, devastating tornado’s in this Op? In my opinion, these tornado’s are a very good illustration for the chaos and destruction in the world we live in today! Nothing is normal anymore and while tornado’s occur during severe thunderstorms, they form usually without much warning and their severity ebbs and flows throughout its lifecycle. One minute it can be a simple tornado swirling in an empty field and the next it can suddenly grow into a massive cloud of swirling death moving into a city. Likewise global events can ebb and flow and sudden massive events and wars can erupt and engulf the entire planet.

With all this in mind, what is the one action we can take to help us walk through the storms of life and survive? Clearly it is our prayer life when we seek out HaShem and His Heart! I want to insert a quote here from the Artscroll Tehillim (Psalms) Tanakh Series book on page 698 discussing the importance of prayer in our lives. It says “Prayer sustains the soul, just as food nourishes the body. The blessed influence of one prayer endures until the time of the next, just as the strength derived from the morning meal lasts until dinner. The further the soul is removed from the time of prayer, the more it is darkened by coming into contact with the mundane world.”

How true this description of prayer truly is! How many of you have felt empty, depressed and literally dry inside and then you approach HaShem, and you suddenly feel better akin to drinking a glass of cold water on a hot, dry, burning day? How much more we are blessed when we pray unto HaShem, Master of the Legions of Heaven, using the prayers He gave, at the times of the day He set and in the manner He determined via what He taught Israel and the tavnit (Pattern/blue print) he gave to David for the Temple and the Temple services per I Chronicles 28? Where do we find these prayers? In the Siddur!!!

This is precisely why we must study and learn the Temple of HaShem and every single millimeter of its layout, how it functions and especially all the Temple services! Isaiah 66:1 says “So did HaShem say: ‘The heavens are My throne, and the earth My footstool. Where is the house (Temple) that you would build for Me, and where is My resting place?'”

On a side note, Acts 7:49 from the Apostolic Writings repeats this question citing Isaiah 66 “The heaven is My throne, and the Earth is My footstool. What house shall you build for Me? Says HaShem, or what is the place of My rest?” Again, reaffirming there is nothing new in the Apostolic Writings, those writings just quote the Tanakh! I digress.

The commentary from the Artscroll Rav Schwab book on Yeshayahu (Isaiah) on page 721 discussing this verse says “Do you think the Beis HaMikdash (Temple) is My residence? Can you possibly build a house that is big enough for Me? Why, the entire universe is My throne, and the planet Earth is My footstool. The Beis HaMikdash was not intended to be My resting place for people to come and visit Me, and then leave and continue with their misguided way of life. Rather, it was intended to be the place that is dedicated to the ideals set forth in My Torah, which is its centerpiece, and from where the people are to take these ideals home with them and put them into practice!”

Consider what King Solomon prayed at the dedication of the First Temple as recorded in I Kings 8:27-30 which says “Would HaShem truly dwell on earth? Behold, the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain You, and surely not this Temple that I have built! But, may You turn to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O HaShem my Elohim, to hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant prays before You today: That Your eyes be open toward this Temple night and day, to the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ to hear the prayer that Your servant shall pray toward this place. And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Yisrael, which they shall pray toward this place; may You hear from the place of Your habitation in Heaven, may You hear and forgive.”

In other words, HaShem doesn’t need the Temple, because the entirety of creation belongs to Him. He does, however, command the Temple to be built so as we will participate, learn and apply to our own personal lives how to walk and serve HaShem the right and only way! HaShem is not a manmade deity which is appeased by the animal ‘sacrifices’ as is so commonly believed, especially within much of Christendom and its aversion to the Temple; on the contrary, the animal korbanos are what allows us to ‘draw near’ to HaShem in humility and purity of intentions and heart. When there is no Temple standing in Jerusalem, we then take the portions of the animal, bread and wine korbonos and do them today via our prayers! This is again precisely why we MUST learn everything about His Temple!

Hosea 14:3 says “Take words with you and return to HaShem; say to Him, ‘May You forgive all iniquity and accept good intentions, and LET OUR LIPS SUBSTITUTE FOR BULLS.'” The commentary on this verse from the Artscroll Twelve Prophets book Hosea, page 109 says “Those offerings that we should be bringing (In the Temple) to You we will replace with the appeasing words of our lips. Indeed, our words of repentance are preferred by You to our offerings, since offerings are of no value if not accompanied by words of confession.”

This is what HaShem admonished Israel before because they had the Temple, brought their korbonos (Offerings) daily as required by the Torah, but their hearts were not in it. They did it out of rote, because it was their job, not because they wanted too or truly desired to draw near to HaShem.

Isaiah 66:23-24 says “And it will happen (A reference to the future Messianic Age), that month upon month, and Shabbat upon Shabbat, all flesh will come to prostrate themselves before Me, says HaShem. And they will go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against Me; their worms will not die, and their fire will not be extinguished, and they will remain an abhorrence to all flesh.”

The commentary from Rav Schwab on Yeshayahu (Isaiah) page 740 discussing verse 23 says “The world will flock to Yerushalayim to come in close proximity to HaShem’s palpable presence there and to worship Him there. They will come in groups; every week of every month will bring new people to worship HaShem in Yerushalayim.” It is interesting, we must pay close attention to the words used because this verse says ‘All flesh’ not ‘All mankind’. What is the difference?

Tractate Sotah 5a from the Talmud Bavli explains “A person’s prayers are not heard unless he makes his heart soft like flesh i.e. he is humble. In this verse (Isaiah 66:23), people are called ‘flesh’, thus only the prayers of those who are soft like flesh will be heard.”

Consider now what the meaning of Ezekiel 36:26-30 says regarding the future Messianic Age “And I shall give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh; and My spirit I will put within you, and I will cause that you will go by My decrees and guard My Torah and perform them; and you will dwell in the land which I gave your fathers, and you will be to Me a people, and I shall be your Elohim; and I shall save you from all your contaminations, and I shall summon the grain and increase it, and I shall not place famine upon you; and I shall increase the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field so that you longer accept the shame of hunger among the nations.”

Hebrews 8:10-11 reiterates this “Because this is the covenant that I shall make with the House of Israel after those days, says HaShem, giving My Torah in their mind, and I shall write them on their hearts, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. And they shall by no means teach each one his neighbor, and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know HaShem’, because they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.”

An excerpt from Tractate Taanis 2a from the Talmud Bavli explains prayer as follows: “Our Gemara (Explanation) understands the phrase ‘To serve Him’ as a reference to prayer. Indeed, Scripture and Rabbinic writings often refer to prayer as ‘A service’ which parallels, and in our days, substitutes for the holy service that was performed in the Beis HaMikdash (Temple). In fact, the Gemara teaches that the three daily prayers were instituted to correspond to the three daily services in the Beis HaMikdash, and that the Mussaf prayers were composed to parallel the Mussaf offerings. Moreover, the very fact that prayer is called an ‘Avodah’ (Service) sheds light on the true meaning and significance of prayer.”

It continues “Prayer is referred to as avodah because it is a form of accepting HaShem as one’s Master, and declaring oneself HaShem’s servant. This can be seen in the word avodah as it is used in its classic sense, as referring to the Temple Service. When a person offers a korban to HaShem, he is in effect stating that he belongs to HaShem. All his property is truly his Master’s, just as a slave’s possessions belong to his owner. He thus FREELY gives his animal back to HaShem, its true Owner, as an offerings. The same is true of prayer. Although we pray to HaShem we do ask for our own needs, it is also an admission that all we have comes from Him. We are entirely dependent on HaShem and His generosity. And when a person acknowledges his total dependence on HaShem, he is in effect accepting HaShem as his King and Master. Prayer is thus an expression of the ultimate avodah.”

Now with all this said, as we are entering into the Biblical Month of Av, this time of year has an enormous significance attached to it, because it is typically a time of great trial, destruction and war for Israel. In fact the Ninth day of Av, is the most solemn day of year because it is the day the First and Second Temple’s were destroyed and the exile began.

I cite this because as this year, 2025, has been an unprecedented year of trial, death, destruction and difficulties, unlike other times in history, we MUST pay very close attention in the coming days and weeks. As such, we all, including myself, need to ensure our motivations for praying to HaShem are pure and we do not in any way approach Him in complacency or out of rote behavior. We are going to need to depend upon Him unlike any other time in our lives in the coming months. Life is extremely difficult as it is, and only HaShem, in His infinite mercy, compassion and forgiveness can get us through to the other end.

Just like Abraham and Daniel in the Tanakh, HaShem may not deliver us from these extremely trying times, but He will get us through them to the other side because He is there with us, when we call out to Him. Then as we grow closer to the appointed time and the Final Redemption, we will see the Hand of HaShem move, and Israel will rise up like a roaring lion! May it be so very soon in our days!

Something to consider!

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS

The Artscroll Bamidbar (Numbers) With Teachings of the Talmud
The Scriptures
Artscroll Psalms
Artscroll The Twelve Prophets
Artscroll Isaiah
Artscroll Jeremiah
Artscroll Ein Yaakov Aggadah of the Talmud
Judaica Press Isaiah
Rav Schwab Yeshayahu

UPDATE FOR LACK OF POSTING AND THE SHABBAT PSALM

It has been FAR too long since my last posting and for this I apologize!! This will be just a short Op. Life has hit like a category five tornado in the last few weeks and months and thus most of my time has been spent on these family and personal emergency medical issues! It isn’t lost on me how everyone I know who are striving to walk with HaShem are being absolutely throttled in their own lives whether it be health or other means suddenly striking them! No doubt, life is extremely difficult for everyone right now! The Adversary, may his name be blotted out forever, it seems has taken the gloves off and striking unmercifully against HaShem’s people! But, be encouraged because today as I compile this Op, it is Shabbat, 5 April 2025, and today’s Psalm of the Day is Psalms 92! Why is this important? Consider the following excerpts from Psalms 92:

Psalms 92 verse 8 says “When the wicked bloom like grass (Able to flourish and function unopposed and unrestrained) and all the doers of iniquity blossom, IT IS TO DESTROY THEM TILL ETERNITY!” The commentary on this verse sums it up so very well. It says “The success of the wicked in this world and when they prosper is so that HaShem can legally compensate them for their few merits before He utterly destroys them forever.” So, when the wicked flourishes, it means HaShem is legally rewarding them for their few merits just before He will utterly wipe them out, forever!

Psalms 92 verse 12 says “My eyes have seen my vigilant foes; when those who would harm me rise up against me, my ears have heard.” In other words, I have heard of the wicked and their prophesied downfall and HaShem has proclaimed no matter how they try, those who rise up against me will NEVER annihilate me!

Psalms 92 verse 13 says “A righteous man will flourish like a date palm, like a cedar in the Lebanon he will grow tall.” So, we see the wicked are compared to dry grass which will do nothing other than be utterly consumed by fire as compared to the righteous who are compared to a date palm or a cedar tree! Why is this important? Consider the explanation from the commentary on this verse:

The palm tree is a symbol of virtue and righteousness because the palm tree grows straight, without bending, just as a righteous man remains upright and honest.
The wood of a palm tree is free of knots, just as the righteous man is free of flaws.
The palm tree’s shady leaves and fronds are far off the ground, at the very top of the tree. Similarly, the reward promised the righteous is not immediate, but is reserved for the distant future of the World to Come.
Every part of the palm tree is useful. Its fruits are eaten, its leaves and fronds used in thatching, and its wood is used for construction. Similarly, each righteous person fulfills a special purpose.
The cedar symbolizes virtue and righteousness. Furthermore, the unique properties of the cedar compensate for any deficiencies in the palm tree.
When the palm tree is cut down, its trunk dries in the ground. When the cedar is felled, however, its roots and stump remain alive, and a new cedar shoot will sprout in its place. Similarly, righteousness is indestructible; if a righteous man is harmed, he will only grow stronger. If he is cut down, another righteous man will rise to take his place.

Amazing! HaShem is comparing His people to palm and cedar trees and if we examine these trees carefully we can see what characteristics He is trying to teach us! We can get knocked down, we can even be cut down, BUT, because He is faithful and eternal and the source of all life, He can restore, refresh, renew and strengthen us to get up and keep going forward!

This is my prayer for everyone striving to walk with HaShem, may we reach out and grab hold of Him and hold onto Him even tighter than we did yesterday and may we not be seduced into following after our own desires, fantasies and delusions!

Ultimately in Psalms 92 He says in verse 14 “Planted in the House of HaShem (His Temple), in the courtyards of our Elohim they (His people) WILL flourish!” Again, notice the wicked do flourish but are compared to dry grass which again amounts to nothing but fuel for the fire, but His people are compared to palm and cedar trees, PLANTED in the courtyards of His Temple and will flourish for eternity!

Finally He says in verses 15-16 of Psalms 92 “They will still be fruitful in old age, vigorous and fresh they will be, to declare that HaShem is just, MY ROCK in Whom there is no wrong!” Its a prophecy of the Messianic Age when His people will only grow stronger and healthier as they age! What is considered to be old age today will only be considered to be equal to a child in the Messianic Age. May it be so very soon in our days!

So, with this said in this quick Op, we all, myself included, have to be encouraged and strengthened. It is VERY tough for all of us right now, but like a palm and cedar tree, we will only grow stronger if we choose to hold onto HaShem and His Torah!

As a final note, always remember the below list of eternal characteristics of HaShem and His Torah:

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 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

I hope to post more often in the days and weeks. Remember, next weekend is Pesach (Passover)! We have to make our preparations this upcoming week for the Seder!

Shabbat Shalom!

LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND SEE THE HEAVENS

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth below, for the heavens will dissipate like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die, as well, but My salvation will be forever and My righteousness will not be broken.” Yeshayah (Isaiah) 51:6

As I put this Op together, it is 18 October 2024, the second full day of Sukkot. The world is in chaos, wars and rumors of wars are erupting across the globe, economic stability is quickly collapsing while men and women obsessed with acquiring power and wealth dominate each and every day as we quickly approach the time of voting in America.

Additionally, Israel has been at war on seven fronts for over an entire year now as the world grows more disgusted and irritated by Israel’s continued military victories, only brought about by the Hand of HaShem, the Guardian of Israel! We are truly watching biblical prophesies come to pass almost on a daily basis now!

The ones who are striving to walk with HaShem and learn and apply His Torah to our lives, are facing unprecedented troubles today, unlike any other time before! Truly it is a time of great heartache and trouble and no one is immune…we all are in the midst of a very great time of trouble and only holding onto HaShem and His promises are going to see us through to the other side! It all does seem to be very bleak and hopeless at the moment, but this is NOT reality! Below are a partial list of His promises:

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 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

“To whom can you liken Me that I should be his equal? says the Holy One. Raise your eyes on high and see Who created these things! He brings forth their legions by number; He calls to each of them by name; by the abundance of His power and by vigor of His strength, not one is missing!” Yeshayah (Isaiah) 40:25-26

The purpose of this Op is to reiterate what HaShem has stated to humanity from the beginning, when things look bleak and hopeless, look up to the sky, especially at night, see the stars, the galaxies, the comets, the moon, the planets, etc, and know every single one has a specific name, a specific function and a specific purpose!

Consider the following excerpt from one of my favorite books published by Artscroll titled ‘My Father, My King’ authored by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. Chapter 55 is entitled ‘Lift up your eyes’ and says the following: “Hear your Father, your King, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, saying to you: ‘Lift up your eyes and see the heavens that I created. Let this fill you with awe and love. Lift up your eyes and contemplate the vastness of what is above you. Think about the size of your solar system. Think about the size of your galaxy. Think about the size of all that is already known about outer space and the multitudes of galaxies and about the galaxies as yet unknown. Realize that all this I have created for you!

When you are feeling low, lift up your eyes and remember that I am with you. When you need a spiritual boost, lift up your eyes and feel the energy flowing from the entire universe into your soul. When you need strength to conquer your yetzer hara (Evil inclination), lift up your eyes and feel your strength intensified.

When you want inspiration, lift up your eyes and hear your loving Father and powerful King ennobling you. For that is the purpose of this Creation. Lift up your eyes and see visions of greatness. Lift up your eyes right now!”

So, when we are feeling overwhelmed, weak and crushed from whatever the times of trouble are currently sitting on each of us, HaShem has given us something we can easily look too…all we have to do is look up into the sky and see HaShem’s vast Creation i.e. the Sun the Moon the Stars, etc. Tehillim (Psalms) says it best in Tehillim 8 “When I behold Your heavens, the works of Your Fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place…What is the frail human that You should remember him? And what is the son of mortal man that You should be mindful of him?”

The commentary on these verses from Tehillim 8 says “To HaShem, the creation of a colossal star is no more difficult than the creation of a tiny gnat. Rav Saadiah Gaon writes ‘We find the term ‘Finger’ of HaShem regarding the creation of three things i.e. the stars and planets, the Tablets of the Covenant and the plague of lice.’ The stars represent the greatest of all physical masses, for no creation exceeds their size. The lice are among the smallest and most despicable of creations. The Tablets of the Covenant are smaller than the stars yet far greater in splendor. Although these three differ vastly, they are all described with the identical Hebrew word to emphasize HaShem’s effort in creating all three was equal to Him.”

The point of this short Op is just as a reminder to each of us, myself included, lift up your eyes to the heavens and see the One Who created it all, is very much involved in our lives and wants to help each of us through our times of trouble. He is the Only One Who can see us through! Its an especially good reminder during this time of Sukkot, taking shelter under the protection of HaShem and rejoicing in His promises which are and will come to pass just as He said it would!

Something to consider!

SOURCE MATERIALS

My Father, My King book by Artscroll
Tehillim (Psalms) Artscroll Tanach Series
Isaiah Artscroll

FIRE GOES BEFORE HIM – A REMINDER OF HOPE

“Behold the Guardian of Israel will neither slumber or sleep!” Psalms 121:4

As I compose this Op, it is Shabbat, 31 August 2024! The world has and is continuing to spiral into madness and insanity. Confusion and chaos are running amok and the tyranny which will be the foundation for the government of the False Messiah is quickly being laid and solidified. I know, you are probably thinking what a great and hopeful opener for this Op (Sarcasm)! Believe me there is a reason I am opening this Op in such a way so stay tuned.

This weeks Torah portion is ‘Re’eh’ which is found in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 11:26-16:17. The Haftarah is found in Isaiah 54:11-55:5. Each Torah portion has a specific Tehillim (Psalm) assigned to it and this weeks Tehillim is Tehillim 97! This is what I want to focus on for this Op.

Before we jump into this Tehillim, always remember the following verses which constantly reaffirm HaShem and His Word are unchanging and eternal as those whose voices are refuting these eternal truths of HaShem are growing louder and louder each day:

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 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

We are currently living in a world where right is wrong and wrong is right. It appears wickedness and sin are growing stronger by the day and for those of us who are striving to survive in this world and conduct our lives, if you are like me are growing more and more exhausted, worn out and discouraged by the moment!

But once again, this is where the Sovereignty and Wisdom of HaShem come into reality and why it is so vitally important each of us read and study His Torah portions on Shabbat because He gives an explanation of the state of things! This is what I want to quickly explore in this Op discussing Tehillim 97 so get your Bibles or Tanakhs out and follow along. There are 12 verses in this Tehillim so it isn’t very long.

Now please understand this Tehillim is one of prophecy but in HaShem’s Word, many times, not always, prophecies are presented in past tense, why is this? Because He reveals the end from the beginning and He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets!

Tehillim 97:1 “HaShem has reigned, let the world rejoice; let the numerous islands be glad.” This verse is one of actuality for in it we see HaShem has reigned and is currently reigning and will still be reigning in the future and in the future all the nations of the world will rejoice and run to serve Him! May this day be so very, very soon in our days! It is also a verse which points to the Messianic Era when Messiah will be reigning as The Agent of HaShem from Jerusalem! Remember the Law of Agency which we have discussed in previous Op’s in which the agent sent by the Principal acts, speaks and makes decisions on behalf of the Principal so when a person sees an agent, they are seeing the Principal. In this case, HaShem is the Principal Who has sent His Agent Yeshua (Not the Jesus of Replacement Theology), to act, do, speak and rule according to what HaShem commands, thus when we see Yeshua, we have seen HaShem! Does NOT mean Yeshua is literally HaShem, which is NOT possible, but this is a later discussion. Moving on.

The Judaica Press Book of the Psalms commentary specifically identifies the wicked here as Amalek and his descendants! This is very important to understand because Amalek is the bitter, violent, immeasurably cruel adversary of Israel! To use the term from the Terminator movie from the 1980’s which describes the attributes of the Terminator, which I thought was very apt for Amalek, modified for this Op, “You cannot reason with it (Terminator/Amalek), you cannot bargain with it, it doesn’t know pity, remorse or fear and it absolutely will not stop, ever, until Israel is completely annihilated and erased from the planet.)

Amalek is who we are witnessing today arise once again, and not just in the Middle East, but more importantly within Christendom and its Replacement Theology doctrine!

Tehillim 97:2 “Cloud and dense darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His Throne’s foundation.” This term ‘Cloud and dense darkness…’ is a reference to the destruction He promises to bring upon the wicked in this world! It appears the wicked are being rewarded and being allowed to flourish today, but in reality, He is allowing them to flourish in order to cut them down and utterly destroy them at the appointed time! Further, when those of HaShem are striving to walk according to His Torah in this world today, while being consumed and crushed under the wickedness, confusion, chaos, etc, we will probably end up questioning HaShem’s equity! But, and here is the good part, here in this verse, where He speaks of how righteousness and justice are His Throne’s foundation, He is promising His people will witness the ultimate destruction of the wicked, and His people will all attest to the truth, righteousness and justice truly are the foundation of His Throne!! Again may it be so very soon!!

Tehillim 97:3 “Fire goes before Him and consumes His enemies all around.” This is a prophetic verse discussing the War of Gog and Magog in the end which will precede the arrival of Messiah. If we see the state of the world today with all the wars and rumors of wars erupting all over, the rising tensions between NATO/US/Europe vs Russia/China/North Korea/Iran/Venezuela/Cuba is truly bringing us to the literal brink of World War III! Each day the war in Ukraine escalates in ferocity and each day we grow closer to all out war with Russia. It is not being dramatic to say we have never been closer to all out nuclear war today than at anytime in previous history! China vs the Philippines an China vs Taiwan is drawing America into conflict in the Pacific theater. HaShem is drawing out His enemies and like a chess board is placing His pieces on the table!

Consider Ezekiel 38:22 which in reference to the Gog and Magog war states “I will punish him with pestilence (Viruses, injuries, plagues) and with blood (War, violence, lawlessness, cruelty); torrential rain and hailstones will punish him (Floods, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes), fire and sulfur (Wildfires, volcanoes, earthquakes) will I rain upon him.” Are we not already witnessing every single one of these today?

Isaiah 11:4 says “He will strike the wicked of the world with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.” This is a direct reference to how Messiah will deal with the wicked once He shows up! The flames of His destruction will completely surround His enemies and none of them will escape!

Tehillim 97:4 “His lightning bolts lit up the world, the inhabitants of the earth saw and tremble.” His lightning bolts apparently have two fold affects on the world. One is to intimidate the wicked into rejecting idolatry and rebellion and finally realize and confess HaShem IS the King and the other is His lightning bolts temporarily light up the path for each of us, figuratively speaking. We all are walking in darkness but when His lightning bolts strike and shine, they illuminate the area, temporarily anyways, and we get a very brief glimpse of where we should be walking. Its also a promise to His people which basically says in the World to Come we will live in His Sight and thus at this time all doubts and misconceptions will be forever banished! Again, may it be so very soon!

Ezekiel 38:19 in reference to this verse in Tehillim says “Surely there will be a great earthquake on that day (The Day of Judgment, the beginning of the Birth Pains) in the Land of Israel. And at My presence, the fishes of the sea will quake….”

Tehillim 97:5 “Mountains melted like wax before HaShem, before the Master of all the earth.” This is an allegory for all the nations of the world who reject HaShem and instead are confident in their military and economic power to save them, will absolutely melt like wax before HaShem and when this happens, their arrogance and pride will be broken and they will submit and acknowledge HaShem is The King of all the creation! Ezekiel 38:20 says “And the mountains will be thrown down, and the cliffs will fall.”

Tehillim 97:6 “The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples saw His glory.” Basically this is stating when all the wicked on the earth are pounded with torrential rains, storms, hailstones, earthquakes, wars, etc, they will admit they were wrong and submit to Him!

Tehillim 97:7 “Humiliated will be all who worship idols, who pride themselves in worthless gods; bow to Him, all you powers.” When the pagans, who have fashioned man made objects to represent something HaShem has created such as the sun, moon, stars, etc. The pagans attribute any success to these false deities! They trust in these man made objects and reject HaShem, Who fashioned all of creation! They deny HaShem exists! An interesting excerpt from Tractate Yerushalmi Avodah Zarah 4:7 discusses the future and says “In the future, all the idols will kneel before HaShem; then they will vanish. Their worshipers will recognize the truth, and they, too will prostrate themselves before the true King, HaShem, Master of Legions!” A cross reference to Isaiah 2:18 says “And the idols will completely pass away.”

Tehillim 97:8 “Zion (Jerusalem) heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah exulted because of Your judgments, HaShem.” The commentary from the Tehillim book published by Artscroll says “When the thunder and lightning roar and the fiery hailstones crash, all the nations will be terrified. But the inhabitants of Zion (Israel) will rejoice, because HaShem is judging their tormentors.” Further, the reference to the daughters of Judah is again pointing to the time when Messiah arrives and since He is a descendant of Judah, all the cities of Judah will rejoice.

Tehillim 97:9 “For You, HaShem, are supreme above all the earth; exceedingly exalted above all powers.” Again, another prophetic promise for when all the idolaters are wiped out and all the pagans have recognized HaShem is the true King, then the whole world will finally be at peace!

Tehillim 97:10 “O lovers of HaShem, despise evil! He guards the lives of His devout ones, from the hand of the wicked He rescues them.” Someone who is striving to walk with HaShem and keep His Torah, is likened to a garden and as such to use the allegory of the Artscroll Tehillim commentary, “A man who seeks to implant the love of HaShem in his heart must uproot every trace of evil from his personality.” It is akin to constantly working to uproot the weeds which keep growing in our gardens. Now, none of us can do this on our own, we MUST have the assistance of HaShem! These weeds are too strong for us to try and handle in our own strength and wisdom. Which is why HaShem promises here He guards the lives of His devout ones, from the hand of the wicked He rescues us! As long as we are devoted to Him and strive, not perfectly, but strive to walk in His Torah, He will see us through to the end!

Tehillim 97:11 “Light is sown for the righteous, and for the upright of heart, gladness.” This here is again another prophecy of the World to Come where the world will return to the state it was at the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, BEFORE Adam sinned……it is here at this time we will finally be at rest and full of gladness.

Tehillim 97:12 “Be glad, O righteous, in HaShem, and give grateful praise at the mention of His Holy Name.” This here is another prophecy for those who belong to HaShem, will give Him praise, and not just any type of praise, grateful praise to Him for not only defeating His enemies, but also for the Final Redemption when Israel is released from the exile!

So, in closing this is just a very quick Op, to hopefully show a little encouragement in a world going utterly mad and tyrannical! HaShem has it all under control and He is quickly moving His pieces on the board in order for the Final Redemption to be completed! May it be so very soon in our days!!

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCES USED:

Artscroll Tehillim
Judaica Press Tehillim
Tractate Avodah Zarah Talmud Yerushalmi by Artscoll

SHIR HASHIRIM – THE VOICE OF THE BRIDEGROOM PART 8 – THE END

“A man’s steps are from HaShem; but what does a man understand of his way?” Proverbs 20:24

Well, we have finally arrived!! The final chapter in Shir HaShirim! WOW…what a ride it has been! It has been a few years since we started this journey! There is SO much to unpack in this seemingly insignificant book of the Tanach!! The detailed description of the Bridegroom i.e. HaShem, the Master, Sustainer and Creator of all the universe eagerly awaiting the day when He can be joined to His bride i.e. Israel is astounding!

On a side note, I am including pictures of the universe to once again, hopefully, remind everyone the greatness and vastness of HaShem since His word says in Psalms 8:4-5 “When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is the frail human that You should remember him?” Keep this in mind!

What message of hope is more crucial for each of us today, especially in a world not only collapsing all around us but also erupting into complete lawlessness and war? It all seems very hopeless and lost at the moment. The world is very quickly turning against Israel, the nation in the Middle East, for simply defending herself from annihilation!

This is why I thought it was important to begin this Op with the opening verse from Proverbs to remind each of us, our steps are ordered by HaShem, even the steps in which we get frustrated with Him and let our guard down, because He is able to take that which was intended for evil and turn it to the good!

Tractate Chullin 7b from the Talmud Bavli states “A person does not stub his toe down below, on Earth, unless it has been decreed from Above (HaShem).” The commentary on this Proverbs verse asks “What is man’s task? He must understand the proper path and set out in that direction. Then HaShem will help him because, as Tractate Shabbos 104a from the Talmud Bavli states, ‘When a person comes to purify himself, he is aided by HaShem in doing so.'”

Chapter 6/1 from the Perkei Sholom book follows up on this concept from our opening verse from Proverbs: “Whoever engages in Torah study for its own sake merits many things; furthermore, the creation of the entire world is worthwhile for his sake alone. He is called, ‘Friend, Beloved.’ He loves the Omnipresent, he loves His creatures, he gladdens the Omnipresent, he gladdens His creatures. The Torah clothes him in humility and fear of HaShem; it makes him fit to be righteous, devout, fair, and faithful. It moves him away from sin and draws him near to merit. From him people enjoy counsel and wisdom, understanding and strength, as it is said ‘Mine are counsel and wisdom, I am understanding, mine is strength.’ The Torah gives him kingship and dominion and analytical judgment; the secrets of the Torah are revealed to him; he becomes like a steadily strengthening spring and like an unceasing river.”

Just something to keep in mind as we proceed into Shir HaShirim chapter eight. As always, never forget the following eternal attributes of HaShem and His Torah:

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 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

Shir HaShirim 8:1 says “If only, despite my wrongs, You could comfort me as Joseph did, like a brother nurtured at my mother’s breasts, if in the streets I found Your prophets, I would kiss You and embrace You through them, nor could anyone despise me for it.”

Israel, the bride, continues to long for closeness to HaShem! This verse encapsulates the allegory of Israel pleading with HaShem to remove all the obstacles so Israel could serve HaShem and could study His Torah freely and unmolested. He plea to be comforted by Joseph, is a reference to when the brothers, who sold Joseph into Egyptian captivity, were reunited and Joseph, now the Viceroy over all Egypt, comforted his brothers and assured them he had no intention to punish or exact revenge upon them.

Israel’s comment wishing HaShem was likened as a brother, is not a desire to be on a familial level with Him, but in Israelis society to be brother meant primarily the brother had the responsibility to be a protector! This is what is being referenced here!

While Israel is scattered into the world in exile, the nations scorned and ridiculed Israel for keeping Shabbat and HaShem’s Feasts and constantly attempted to lure Israel away from HaShem’s Torah. It was in striving to keep His Torah which distinguished Israel i.e. the Bride of HaShem from the rest of the nations. Our great hope is when the exile finally comes to an end, all the obstacles will be once and for all removed out of the way and the nations will cease their ridicule! May it be so very soon in our days!

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary is very revealing. It says “In continuity, HaShem had earlier expressed His desire to rest His Shechinah (Presence) upon His people once again. They now continue their response of 7:10-14 with a longing plea for His aid and comfort.”

The cross references cited in this commentary help explain what Israel is asking. Bereshit (Genesis) 50:21 when Yosef (Joseph) revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt he told them “So now, fear not, I will sustain you and your young ones. Thus he comforted them and spoke to their heart.” Keep this in mind!

The commentary goes on “This verse is to be understood as an intensely emotional utterance of a maiden (Israel) who craves for freedom of expression to her Beloved (HaShem) to suit the purity of her affection; ‘O that in the eyes of men You would be only a little brother to me, one who still nursed at my mother’s bosom! Then I could openly display affection for You, and no one would look askance. Allegorically, ‘O that all the obstacles toward serving You wholeheartedly would be removed. I would then be able to indulge unmolested in Your Torah and precepts wherever I went!'” To have all our needs met to such an extent where we didn’t need to be distracted with jobs, bills, health, etc, and be able to devote our time studying, learning and applying His Torah to our lives motivated out of love, devotion and loyalty to Him! This is what the Olam Haba (The World to Come) will be like! May it be so very soon in our days!

Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:45 says “I will remember for them the covenant of the ancients, those whom I have taken out of the land of Egypt before the eyes of the nations, to be Elohim to them, I am HaShem.”

Eichah (Lamentations) 1:7 says “Jerusalem recalled the days of her suffering and sorrow, all the treasures that were hers in the days of old. With the fall of her people into the enemy’s hand and none to help her, her enemies saw her and gloated at her downfall.” The commentary expounds “The Jews observed the Sabbath and Sabbatical years in exile though they had not done so while in their own country. Their captors laughed at them saying ‘Fools! In your own country you did not observe them; now, in exile you are observant?'” Point is, HaShem’s enemies are watching us very closely just for this exact reason! Are we just talk or will we strive to walk in His Torah and be set apart from the world to Him?

Consider what another cross reference says from Mishlei (Proverbs) 2:6-8 “For HaShem will grant wisdom; from His mouth are knowledge and discernment. He will secure the eternal Torah for the upright; it is a shield for those who walk in innocence, to safeguard the paths of justice, and He will protect the way of His devout ones.”

So, you may be wondering why is this verse seemingly focusing on a change of status of relationship between HaShem and His bride i.e. Israel, to a relationship between brothers? The explanation is actually more profound when we again understand the culture. A husband and wife, in Israel, do not show public affection for each other, not even a kiss in public! However, the relationship between a brother and brother or a brother and a sister is very different. They can show affection for one another much more openly in public. This is one of the reasons for the verse in Shemot (Exodus) 4:27 which says “HaShem said to Aharon, ‘Go to meet Moshe, to the Wilderness.’ So, he went and encountered him at the Mountain of HaShem (Sinai), and he kissed him (Moshe).” The point being made is Israel has such an intense affection for HaShem, she wishes He were like her brother because then she could publicly show her affection for Him!

The Steinsaltz Five Megillot Shir HaShirim chapter eight commentary reinforces this. It says “Kissing a brother in public is not considered an undignified act. The young woman yearns to openly display her love for her Beloved in such a natural manner.”

There is a ton to glean out of this one verse alone with regards to the relationship between HaShem and His bride i.e. Israel! Let’s now go into verse number two!

Shir HaShirim 8:2 says “I would lead You, I would bring You to my mother’s Temple for You to teach me as You did in Moses’s Tent, to drink I’d give You spiced libations, wines like pomegranate nectar.”

Here is another verse from Shir HaShirim where we must know and understand the Temple of HaShem in order to fully grasp what He is saying here! What is one of the primary purposes of the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem? Not only is it the Place where His Presence dwells but it’s the place where we go to draw near to HaShem but its the Place we go to learn His Torah!

The Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse says it best “After I find You, my Beloved, I would bring You to the rebuilt Temple so that You can teach me how to serve You, as You did when we were united in the Wilderness. Wine symbolizes the pleasure and stimulation of Torah study, and the large number of seeds in a pomegranate symbolizes the 613 commandments. Thus, Israel declares to its Beloved that when they are reunited in the Temple, the nation will serve Him with alacrity. In exile I cannot serve You properly, but when You redeem me I will bring You the gratification of loyal service.”

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim book commentary on this verse explains “The Targum interprets these words as being addressed to the Messiah in reference to the time of Redemption ‘I will lead you, O King Messiah, and bring you up to my Temple; and you will teach me to fear the Master, and to walk in His way. There we will partake of a feast of Leviathan, and drink old wine which has been preserved in the grape since the days of Creation, and eat of pomegranates and fruits which have been prepared for the righteous in the Garden of Eden.‘” Wine is symbolic of the Torah

Now what must be understood is there was a twice daily wine libation (Nesachim) which was offered at the same time the two daily Tamid korbonot were offered, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. These daily Tamid korbonot were lambs which were designated as being an Communal Olah Korbonot (Burnt) offerings in that these korbonot were not eaten but were wholly burnt on the Mizbe’ach (Altar) as a pleasing aroma unto HaShem!

The Wine Libation was very specific according to the Torah of HaShem! Per Numbers 28:7 it says “And its libation is a quarter hin for the one lamb, to be poured on the holy Mizbe’ach (Altar), an intoxicating libation for HaShem.” The wine was poured by a kohen onto the top of the Mizbe’ach and drained into the Shissin, an open space beneath the Mizbe’ach, where it collected for many years and eventually congealed.

Tractate Sukkah 49a from the Talmud Bavli says “There was a small gap between the ramp and the altar west of the ramp, and once in seventy years young kohanim would descend there and gather from there congealed wine left over from the libations that set over time, which resembled round cakes of dried and pressed figs. They would then come and burn it in sanctity in the Temple courtyard, as it is stated ‘In sanctity shall you pour a libation of strong drink unto the Master’ per Numbers 28:7.”

Per Rambam Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 2.11 from the Mishneh Torah, it says “There were two holes in the southwest corner of the Altar’s base resembling two thin nostrils. They were called Shittin. The blood which was poured onto the Altar would run off through them and be mixed together in the drainage canal in that corner. From there, it would flow out to the Kidron River. Because of the large amount of blood that would flow into that river, its water was sold as fertilizer.”

I could go on further with more details of this wine libation being offered. Mostly I just want to try and convey to you just how much detail HaShem has inserted into His House and His Services! Moving on.

Again we see the reference to a pomegranate in this verse!

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 8.1 explains the allegory: “I would give You spiced wine to drink is an allusion to the Mishnayos i.e. the foundation of the Oral Torah. The juice of my pomegranate, this is an allusion to the Aggadic (Allegorical) portions of Torah, whose taste is like that of a pomegranate. Just as one is tempted by the sweetness of a pomegranate, so is he drawn to the pleasantness of Aggadic teachings. Another interpretation likens these elements to the garments of the High Priesthood, as it states regarding the Robe worn by the High Priest, that it was adorned with pairs of a gold bell and a pomegranate per Exodus 28:34.”

Tractate Sanhedrin 37a from the Talmud Bavli further explains “Your temples are like a pomegranate split open, which teaches that even the empty people among you are as full of mitzvot as the pomegranate is full of seeds.” In other words, the pomegranate and its seeds is analogous to the Torah of HaShem!

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse says “Before the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden, and later when the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and then the Holy Temple existed, there was a resting place for the Shechinah (Divine Presence), on this earth. Man’s sins below make the earth inhospitable to the Divine Presence. The Talmud, Tractate Rosh HaShanah 31a, speaks of the ten travels by HaShem as He left Holy Temple as it was being destroyed. The Shechinah left from its place on the cover of the Ark, and from there to the further reaches of the Temple, to the courtyard, the mountains, and beyond. The Shechinah even waited for six months in the desert; perhaps the Jewish nation would repent and HaShem would not have to remove His Presence. Here, we ask HaShem to return once more, with our commitment to fulfill our role as the beloved nation of HaShem.”

Per Tractate Rosh Hoshanah 31a from the Talmud Bavli it discusses the ten journeys HaShem’s Presence took when departing the Temple as it was being destroyed:

From the Ark cover to the Cherub
From one Cherub to the other Cherub
From the second Cherub to the Threshold of the Sanctuary
From the Threshold to the Courtyard
From the Courtyard to the Altar
From the Altar to the Roof
From the Roof to the Wall of the Temple Mount
From the Wall to the city
From the city to a mountain close to Jerusalem
From the mountain close to Jerusalem to the Wilderness
From the Wilderness it ascended and rested in its place in Heaven

Hosea 5:15 says “I will go, I will return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My Face; in their distress they will seek Me.”

Shir HaShirim 8:3 says “Despite my laments in exile, His left hand supports my head and His right hand embraces me in support.”

This statement isn’t so much of Israel expressing her status in exile as it is a message from Israel to the nations of the world who keep mocking and pursuing Israel’s destruction. The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book says “Know, you nations, although I complain and lament, my Beloved holds my hand and is my support throughout my exile!”

HaShem has not and will not ever let go of His bride, Israel, even in exile among the nations! Rashi comments on this verse and says it very well, he says “Though I have lamented my diminished stature when I am in exile, you nations should not gloat over me, because even in the dire straits, my Beloved does NOT let me fall. He supports me and embraces me.”

Shir HaShirim 8:4 says “I adjure you, O nations destined to ascend to Jerusalem, to what vain purpose do you dare cause hatred or disturb this love while it yet gratifies?”

Here Israel is again warning the nations who constantly attempt to separate Israel from HaShem and the futility in their efforts!

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary says “Your (The nations) attempts to sway His love from me are in vain for the time will yet come when you yourselves will witness the public manifestation of His love for me, He will cause His Shechinah (Divine Presence) to dwell among me in love and warm embrace (In the Temple in Jerusalem). It is for this reason that I have already adjured you against these futile attempts. I have already acquired His love FOREVER!”

The futility of the nations attempting to separate Israel from HaShem is eternal! The irony is its not HaShem Who separates from Israel, but in reality it is the nations who will ultimately see the truth and realize HaShem’s staunch and unwavering support for Israel is eternal and they in turn repent and turn to HaShem! Then the Temple of HaShem will be what He intended from the beginning, a place of worship for ALL the nations of the world!

The commentary explains further “These verses (Shir HaShirim 8:3-4) describe the period immediately preceding the Redemption, when delivery is imminent and there need no longer be real fear of what harm the nations may plot. The wording of this adjuration is, therefore, different from the earlier adjuration in 2:7 where they are threatened and adjured by gazelles or by hinds of the field. Being so close to Redemption this adjuration carries no threats; its purpose is not to frighten the nations, but to make them know that whatever they plot their efforts to disturb HaShem’s love for Israel are in vain!”

The wording of these verses makes me think there is a subtle connection to Pesach (Passover) in here! Israel is scattered into the world in exile, basically slaves to the world order, an order who absolutely despises HaShem and Israel and would love nothing more than to first separate Israel and then destroy her! In reality it is HaShem Who rescues and redeems Israel just like He did from Egypt and Pharaoh at Pesach!

There is a reference in the commentary concerning these verses here in Shir HaShirim 8 connecting them to Shemot (Exodus) 14:13-14 which says “Moshe said to the people, ‘Do NOT fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of HaShem that He will perform for you today; for as you have seen Egypt today, you shall not see them ever again! HaShem shall make war for you, and you shall remain silent!'”

These two verses here in Shemot are absolutely Pesach verses and what must always be remembered is He reveals the end from the beginning! This is why we observe Pesach each year because if He rescued His people Israel once before, He will do so again!

Shir HaShirim 8:5 says “How worthy she is who rises from the desert bearing Torah and His Presence, clinging to her Beloved! Under Sinai suspended above me, there I roused Your love, there was Your people born a mother to other nations, there she endured the travail of her birth.”

This verse is HaShem and Israel talking to each other. HaShem is saying to Israel “How very worthy she (Israel) is, she who ascended from the desert bearing wonderful gifts from HaShem; there she was raised up spiritually through the giving of the Torah and cleaving to the Shechinah (Presence of HaShem). Her friendship was obvious to all and professing her love for her Beloved while she was still in Exile in Egypt.”

Israel responds in this verse “Seeking HaShem’s love, Israel interrupts and recalls how beneath Mount Sinai, which was suspended over my head like an apple. This is derived from the Midrashic account that HaShem uprooted Mount Sinai and suspended it above their head as it says in Deuteronomy 4:11 ‘And they stood beneath the mountain.'”

What is the significance of HaShem using the term “Born a mother to other nations, there she endured the travail of her birth?” The reference is an allegory to allude to the pain of child birth. “The travails indicate the enmity Israel experienced on the part of the heathen world as a direct result of receiving the Torah and thereby being elevated to its new status and responsibility.”

Tractate Shabbos 89a from the Talmud Bavli explains why Mount Sinai was named ‘Sinai’: “It is because it is a mountain upon which hatred for the nations of the world descended because they did not accept the Torah.” Per the Torah, HaShem offered the nations of the world the Torah, but they refused. He then offered it to Israel and she accepted, thus the nations from that point on have hated Israel!

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah expounds on this verse and says “Clinging/leaning on her Beloved. It means she who will be relieved of her unresolved questions regarding chapters of Torah, and of the parts of the yoke of her subjugation to foreign kingdoms, in the Messianic Future. Thus, the verse is alluding to the End of Days, when Israel will find the answers to her unanswered questions in Torah matters and will also be relieved of the yoke of her subjugation to foreign kingdoms.”

We can see this verse in Shir HaShirim once again is referencing the End of Days and guess what? Nothing has changed! Replacement Theology Christendom does NOT exist when Messiah will come and rule the world from the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem!

Shir HaShirim 8:6 says “For the sake of my love, place me like a seal on Your heart, like a seal to dedicate Your strength for me, for strong till the death is my love; though their zeal for vengeance is hard as the grave, its flashes are flashes of fire, the flame of Elohim.”

The Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim commentary explains “Israel appeals to her Beloved to recall her former love and seal it on His heart, never to forget it. The seal on the heart represent permanent love; the seal on the arm represents manifestation of that love in actual practice.”

The significance of the statement ‘For strong till the death is my love’ means “My love for You is so strong that I would rather die than give it up. It is because my love is boundless that I ask You to seal me in Your heart, as it were.”

The statement ‘Though their zeal for vengeance is hard as the grave’ this is again referencing how the nations of the world view Israel and their absolute rage and hatred for her which is at its core based upon jealousy! The nations of the world could have accepted the Torah when HaShem offered it to them, but they willfully refused and rejected it, but again when Israel accepted it, they became enraged because they suddenly realized what they gave up! “Its flashes are flashes of fire, the flame of Elohim.” The commentary goes on and says “The flashes of the nations hatred are as torrid and damaging as the flames of Gehinnom.”

A cross reference verse to this verse in Shir HaShirim is Psalms 44:23 which says “Because for Your sake we are killed all day long, we are considered as sheep for slaughter.” Another cross reference is from Lamentations 1:21 “They heard how I sighed, there was non to comfort me. All my enemies heard of my plight and rejoiced, for it was You Who did it. O bring on the day You proclaimed and let them be like me!”

To get into the heart of this verse in Shir HaShirim, let’s look at what the Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary reveals! “Place me like a seal on Your heart. This is a reference to the tefillin worn on the arm. We are asking HaShem to always place us before Him, as the Talmud says per Tractate Berachot 6a, HaShem wears tefillin, as it were. What does it say in the tefillin of HaShem? Who is like Your people, Israel, one nation in the land? When we place tefillin on our arm and on our head, we affirm our love and connection to our Creator; we ask HaShem to reciprocate that intense love for His people, always recognizing our positive qualities.”

So, you may be asking what are Tefillin?

Tefillin consists of two small boxes and a long strap. One box is affixed to the forehead and the other is affixed to the left arm on the upper bicep with the strap being wrapped from the head to the arm: Tefillin Shel Rosh (Head Tefillin) and Tefillin Shel Yad (Arm Tefillin). What is the reason for the Tefillin? Exodus 13:9 says “And it (Tefillin) shall be for you a SIGN on your arm and a reminder between your eyes, so that HaShem’s Torah may be in your mouth, for with a strong hand HaShem removed you from Egypt.” The commentary on this verse says “Our pasuk (Verse) tells us that the purpose of tefillin is for us to have a sign that we are upholding HaShem’s Torah.”

Tractate Menachos 34b from the Talmud Bavli explains further: “Both boxes of the tefillin contain the four scriptural passages which mention the mitzvah of tefillin”:

Sanctify Me found in Exodus 13:1-10
And it shall come to pass, when HaShem brings you found in Exodus 13:11-16
Hear O Israel found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9
It will be that if you hearken found in Deuteronomy 11:13-21

The Head Tefillin has four compartments each containing one of the four verses (Listed above). The Arm Tefillin has a single compartment and all four verses are placed inside.

Scripture refers to the Head Tefillin three times as ‘Totafos’ which is Hebrew and means ‘Ornamental Headgear’:

Exodus 13:16
Deuteronomy 6:8
Deuteronomy 11:18

Per Tractate Sanhedrin 44a from the Talmud Bavli it says “Tefillin connotes ‘Demonstration’. Since Tefillin demonstrate to the world Israel’s union relationship with HaShem.” Where in the Torah is the command to put on tefillin? It is in the Shema prayer which we pray twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon! The Shema is the foundation of our relationship with HaShem!

The Shema says:

“G-d, trustworthy King. Hear, O Israel, HaShem is our G-d, HaShem, the One and Only. Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all eternity. You shall love HaShem, your G-d, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your resources. Let these matters that I command you today be upon your heart. Teach them thoroughly to your children and speak of them while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise. BIND THEM AS A SIGN UPON YOUR ARM AND LET THEM BE TEFILLIN BETWEEN YOUR EYES. And write them on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.”

“And it will come to pass that if you continually hearken to My commandments that I command you today, to love HaShem, your G-d, and to serve Him, with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will provide rain for your land in its proper time, the early and late rains, that you may gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil. I will provide grass in your field for your cattle and you will eat and be satisfied. Beware lest your heart be seduced and you turn astray and serve gods of others and bow to them. Then the wrath of HaShem will blaze against you. He will restrain the heaven so there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its produce. And you will swiftly be banished from the goodly land which HaShem gives you. PLACE THESE WORDS OF MINE UPON YOUR HEART AND UPON YOUR SOUL; BIND THEM FOR A SIGN UPON YOUR ARM AND LET THEM BE TEFILLIN BETWEEN YOUR EYES. Teach them to your children, to discuss them, while you sit in your home, while you walk on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates. In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the ground that HaShem has sworn to your ancestors to give them, like the days of the heaven on the earth.”

“And HaShem said to Moshe saying ‘Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them that they are to make themselves tzitzis (Fringes) on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations. And they are to place upon the tzitzit of each corner a thread of techeiles (Sky blue wool dyed thread). And it shall constitute tzitzis for you, that you may see it and remember all the commandments of HaShem and perform them; and not explore after your heart and after your eyes after which you stray. So, that you may remember and perform all My commandments; and be holy to your G-d. I am HaShem, your G-d, Who has removed you from the land of Egypt to be a G-d to you. I am HaShem your G-d, it is true.”

“And certain, established and enduring, fair and faithful, beloved and cherished, delightful and pleasant, awesome and powerful, correct and accepted, good and beautiful is this affirmation to us forever and ever. True the G-d of the universe is our King; the Rock of Jacob is the Shield of our salvation. From generation to generation He endures and His Name endures and His throne is well established; His sovereignty and faithfulness endure forever. His words are living and enduring, faithful and delightful forever and to all eternity; for our forefathers and for us, for our children and for our generations, and for all the generations of Your servant Israel’s offspring.”

“Upon the earlier and upon later generations, this affirmation is good and enduring forever. True and faithful, it is an unbreachable decree. It is true that You are HaShem, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, our King and the King of our forefathers, our Redeemer, the Redeemer of our forefathers; our Molder, the Rock of our salvation; our Liberator and our Rescuer, this has ever been Your Name. There is no G-d but You.”

What some may not know is Yeshua Himself adhered to The Shema as we see in the Apostolic Writings! Matthew 22:36-40 says “Rabbi, which is the great command in the Torah? And Yeshua said to him, ‘You shall love HaShem your Elohim with all your heart, and will all your being, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great command. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.” Yeshua is quoting The Shema which as you can see twice HaShem instructs us to wear tefillin! This means Yeshua not only prayed The Shema twice a day, but He also wore tefillin and tzitzit as HaShem commands! Quite a bit different from all the pictures Christendom has created over the centuries of this effeminate, long haired, white, pasty faced, blue eyed young guy wearing Roman senatorial garments with a red or blue sash? I digress.

So, the seal being spoken of here in Shir HaShirim 8:6 is referencing the Tefillin which both HaShem and His bride wear to demonstrate to the world Israel belongs to HaShem! Could it be something akin to a wedding ring? The wedding ring is to demonstrate to the world this person is in covenant relationship with another and is off limits. The Torah of HaShem is the marriage covenant between Him and Israel and the Tefillin is the wedding ring per se. And HaShem says they are eternal! This all said, when someone comes along and tries to tell you Christendom’s Jesus ended the Torah, changed the Feasts and destroyed the Temple, only one character in the Bible does those things i.e. the Man of Lawlessness or the Man Without the Torah AKA the False Messiah! Keep this in mind!

Shir HaShirim 8:7 says “Many waters of heathen tribulation cannot extinguish the fire of this love, nor rivers of royal seduction or torture wash it away. Were any man to offer the treasure of his home to entice you (Israel) from your Love (HaShem), they would scorn him to extreme.”

This verse is even more important today as I put this together as Israel is currently in the midst of fighting its two front war against Hamas and Hezbollah and in addition to the combat, Israel is being pressured by America to end the war or face economic and defense consequences! Again, the rest of the world is crashing down on Israel to try and separate her from HaShem and what do these verses here in Shir HaShirim keep reiterating? These nations WILL absolutely fail in their agenda to separate Israel from HaShem!

Consider what the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah commentary on this verse says: “The verse employs two seemingly similar metaphors – that of the many waters attempting to extinguish the love between Israel and HaShem, and that of the rivers seeking to wash it away. There is a significant difference between them. It is the nature of water to extinguish fire, so if a fire is exposed to a sufficient amount of water the fire will go out. But the river’s ability to wash away that which is in its path is not an inherent quality of its water. Still water can be quite gentle; it is the mighty force of the river’s flow that makes it destructive. Hence, many waters, represents the idolatrous nations, for as it is a rule of nature that water extinguishes fire, it is also a rule of nature that man is influenced by his environment. When the Jews are in exile, living among idolaters, it would only be natural that they be affected by the behavior of their neighbors. One would expect that in the course of time their devotion to HaShem would dampen and that eventually they would abandon their faith. But the verse tells us otherwise. The love between Israel and HaShem is so powerful and so intense that despite centuries of exile among the many waters of the nations, that love will not be extinguished and Israel will remain steadfast in her faith.”

“The oppressive kingdoms, the rivers, present a different kind of threat. They do not rely on natural processes taking their toll on the Jewish people’s loyalty to HaShem and His Torah. Rather they seek to use their overpowering force to coerce Israel to forsake HaShem. They employ persecutions and pogroms, threats of imprisonments and of death, in their attempts to convince the Jews to give up their religion. Yet the verse tells us that they too will prove unsuccessful. Israel’s love of HaShem is so strong that the mighty rivers with all their persecutions will not be able to wash it away, for Israel would rather face death than be disloyal to HaShem!”

“The three clauses in the verse correspond to the characterizations of the love one should have for HaShem as delineated in the first passage of The Shema i.e. You shall love HaShem, your Elohim, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your resources, per Deuteronomy 6:5. Loving HaShem with all your heart means with an intense and overwhelming love. That corresponds to, many waters cannot extinguish the love, for a love that is truly strong and intense will prove immune to the influences of the many waters of the nations. With all your soul means one should be willing to give up his soul, i.e. life, for his love of HaShem. That corresponds to, and rivers cannot wash it away, for it was such fierce devotion to HaShem that allowed the Jewish people to resist the persecutions of the rivers. The verse concludes, if a man would give all the substance of his house in exchange for the love, he would surely scorn it. That corresponds to the final aspect mentioned in The Shema, to love HaShem, with all your resources, meaning that one should be willing to surrender all his financial resources, all his earthy possessions, for the sake of HaShem.”

How very important is this understanding for us today in the midst of a world erupting not only into hostility towards the Jews and Israel, but also the attempts and agendas of the nations to coerce and entice Israel away from HaShem? We, now more than ever, must understand this for our own lives because it is a fact, all of us, will at one point or another, face being persecuted, threatened and/or coerced and enticed to walk away from HaShem and His Torah!

There are two cross reference verses from Isaiah 17 which connects here to our verse in Shir HaShirirm. These cross reference verses say from 12-13 “Woe to the tumult of the many nations, who are as tumultuous as the tumult of the seas; and to the uproar of the nations, who roar like the uproar of powerful waters. Nations roar like the roar of many waters, but He will rebuke them and they will flee far away; they will be pursued like the chaff of mountains before the wind, and like pollen before a stormy wind.”

Shir HaShirim 8:8 says “Israel desires to cleave to us, the small and humble one, but her time of spiritual maturity has not come. What shall we do for our cleaving one on the day the nations plot against her?”

The glaring question we must ask and answer in this verse is who or what is the reference to ‘Israel desires to cleave to US?’ The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse points to a term referred to as ‘The Heavenly Tribunal.’

Daniel 7:9-10 says the following “I watched till thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days sat, His garment white as snow, and the hair of His head like clean wool; His throne fiery flames, its wheels blazing fire; a stream of fire flowing forth from before Him, a thousand thousands serving Him and myriad myriads standing before Him, the judgement was set, and the books were opened.” The term ‘The books were opened’ is a direct reference to the Fall Biblical Feast of HaShem Rosh HaShanah when the three books are opened and examined by HaShem and His tribunal to determine where each living person on earth, according to their deeds will have their names sealed in on Yom Kippur. On a side note its interesting as the Book of Revelation in the Apostolic Writings, chapter 4 discusses the 24 Elders, sitting on 24 thrones around the Throne of HaShem! Keep this in mind!

The Judaica Press Shir HaShirim translation of this verse is very interesting! This translation says “We have a little sister who has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?” The commentary explains “In the lower realms, who is united and joined and desirous to be with us, and she is small and humbles herself more than all the other nations, as it is stated per Deuteronomy 7:7 ‘Not because you are more numerous, etc’ for you are the smallest of all the peoples.”

Referring to Israel as a ‘Sister’ is a Hebrew expression of ‘Joining together, stitch’. For further reference, I have previously addressed this issue in my Shir HaShirim Chapter 5 Op. An excerpt states the following:

So, why does HaShem refer to Israel as His ‘Sister’ or His ‘Bride’? Per the Shir HaShirirm Midrash Rabbah it tells us HaShem refers to Israel as His sister because Israel clung unto HaShem during the exile. He refers to Israel as His bride because Israel was decimated for Him while in exile and quotes Psalms 44:23 which says “Because for Your sake we are killed all day long, we are considered as sheep for slaughter.” In the Messianic future HaShem will refer to Israel as His sister because Israel will be fully attached to Him. He will refer to Israel as His bride because of Lamentations 2:15 which says “All who pass along the way clap hands at you; they whistle and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, ‘Could this be the city that was called Perfect in Beauty, Joy of All the Earth?’” The nations here realize how incredibly destructive for the world it was for them to destroy the Temple and Jerusalem and had they known just how destructive it was going to be, they wouldn’t have done so.

What is very interesting is the Midrash again discusses this verse and explains another aspect of HaShem’s relationship to Israel. It says “When HaShem divided mankind into seventy nations in the generation of Dispersion, He drew lots by which each of the seventy angels surrounding His Throne of Glory was assigned to become the celestial prince of one of the newly created nationalities, WHEREAS HASHEM HIMSELF WOULD CONTROL ISRAEL.”

So, each nation has an angelic prince assigned to watch over it in accordance with HaShem’s decrees but Israel itself is watched over by HaShem Himself! Another reason why the world is so infuriated by Israel and seeks to destroy it at every chance it can get!

The reference here in this verse to Israel being likened to a sister with no breasts, is an allegory to denote Israel is not yet spiritually mature. The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse explains further and says “Ramban interprets this phrase as ‘She (Israel) is bereft of her source of nourishment for she has been exiled from the Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel), the Land of Life, separated from the place of Torah, as it says per Isaiah 2:3 ‘For Torah shall go forth from Zion,’ whereas in Exile, Scripture says per II Chronicles 15:3 ‘For a long time Israel had been without the true Elohim, and without a teaching priest, and without Torah.’ She presently has no great leaders, like Moshe or Aaron to fend for her.”

But I would point out HaShem IS awakening His people and they are repenting and returning to Him and His Torah! They are realizing, through His help, all we had inherited i.e. our religious upbringing, etc, was all idolatry and completely useless! Then we grab onto His Torah, just a tiny drop of water size amount and we suddenly realize the difference and realize HaShem Himself and His Torah are the truth and is the life we have been searching for! Then we can truly see Messiah Yeshua for Who He truly is! I digress.

The commentary continues and says “How will we comport ourselves toward her when the nations plot against her and she seeks our protection? As Rashi explains, when the heathens murmur against her to cut her off as it is written per Psalms 83:5 ‘They say, come let us destroy them as a nation.’ By what means can we sustain her and give her hope while in Exile? This verse echoes the words of the Jews who, upon reflecting upon the promise of imminent Redemption are concerned about the fate of their brethren, the ten tribes still scattered about the countries of their captivity. The ten tribes, quite unprepared for Redemption, had not had leaders and prophets to nourish them with the milk of wisdom of Torah. By what merit Israel asks, will they become deserving of Your deliverance at the pre destined time? All depends upon how they comport themselves and answers the question in verse nine.”

Shir HaShirim 8:9 says “If her faith and belief are strong as a wall withstanding incursions from without, we shall become her fortress and beauty; building her City and Holy Temple; but if she wavers like a door, succumbing to every alien knock, with fragile cedar panels, shall then enclose her.”

This is a very interesting verse when we examine it deeper! The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary expounds and says “If Israel will gird herself with faith and act toward the nations as if fortified with walls of brass per Jeremiah 1:18, which they cannot infiltrate i.e. if she will neither intermarry nor intermingle with the nations. Then we will build upon her a turret of silver i.e. we will become unto her a fortified city, a crown and adornment, and we will rebuilt the Holy City (Jerusalem) and Temple. But if she be a door which revolves on its hinges and opens whenever someone knocks. Similarly, if her conduct is such that she is open to all blandishments, then, we will enclose her with panels of cedar i.e. rather than fortifying her with non corroding silver, we will line her doors with wood panels which rot and are eaten away thus leaving her exposed to danger and pillaging.”

So, we see if Israel’s commitment, affection and loyalty is to HaShem and His Torah, He will protect and fortify her from outside influences and corruption. But, if she doesn’t remain committed and loyal to HaShem and His Torah, and opens up for everyone and acts like the nations, then His protection will not be in place and she will be pillaged and torn asunder! She will remain exiled if she conducts herself as the commentary says ‘licentiously‘.

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim says “What is the proof that the Jewish nation has remained steadfast and resolute, preparing itself for the Final Redemption and not succumbing to the entreaties of the heathen nations? The test will be her faith, the emunah in HaShem and His Torah, the ability to be a firm wall, impervious to the attacks and the enticements that hoped to distance us from our Beloved. If we have demonstrated our faithfulness by not intermingling with the other nations, by yearning and longing to return, then HaShem will build upon her a silver crown, the Holy Temple. HaShem looked to see how we presented ourselves during the exile; strong and resolute like a wall, or weak and frail, unable to withstand the onslaught of the nations.”

Shir HaShirim 8:10 says “(Israel speaking) “My faith is firm as a wall, and my nourishing synagogues and study halls are strong as towers! Then, having said so, I became in His eyes like a bride found perfect.”

The commentary explains this verse very well. Remember this is all an allegory! It says “I comport myself (Israel) not like the door, but like the wall You mentioned, strong, in the love of my Beloved, and though You thought me not ripe for Redemption, know that I am quite ripe. My bosom i.e. my synagogues and my study houses, which nurture Israel with words of Torah, are like towers i.e. fortifying and serving as towers of strength for all.”

“I am strong as a wall in the performance of the Torah’s precepts, and my sons are stout as a tower. Then will the Assembly find favor in the eyes of HaShem, and all the inhabitants of the earth shall seek her welfare. Homiletically, the Talmud comments: ‘I am a wall, refers to the Torah which protects Israel like a wall; my bosom is like towers which refers to scholars who nurture the people of Israel their Torah wisdom.'”

An excerpt from Tractate Pesachim 87a in the Talmud Bavli says “I am a wall and my breasts are like towers. Rabbi Yohanan said: ‘I am a wall’; this is a reference to the Torah. ‘And my breasts are like towers’; these are the Torah scholars, who, by disseminating their Torah and influencing the masses protect them like watchtowers. And Rava said, ‘I am a wall’; this is the Congregation of Israel. ‘And my breasts are like towers’; these are the synagogues and study halls in which the Congregation of Israel is nurtured by the Torah, from which it draws its spiritual strength.”

On a side note, consider the current state of the nation of Israel today, in June 2024 (As I input this section). Israel is currently engaged in a seven front war against Iran and all of their allies. The effect is Israel is more united than ever before and many Israelis are now turning to HaShem and returning to His Torah! Keep this in mind!

Here is an excerpt from the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah on this verse. The note is very interesting because it expounds concerning the End of Days with the following thought “If you see an abundance of Babylonians and Persians ascending to the Land of Israel for battle, know that the Messiah’s arrival is imminent.” Consider today with the war raging in Israel on seven fronts there is Persia i.e. Iran and all their allies attempting to slaughter and annihilate Israel, and there is Babylon i.e. America and her allies also operating in Israel. While America isn’t outright fighting against Israel, it is diplomatically friendly with Persia and working against Israel via diplomacy and economically! Is it then possible this is another indicator Messiah’s arrival is imminent? Again, keep this in mind!

Shir HaShirim 8:11 says “Israel was Shlomo’s (Solomon’s) vineyard in populous Jerusalem. He gave His vineyard to harsh, cruel guardians; each one came to extort his fruit, even a thousand silver pieces.”

This verse is Israel reminiscing on the circumstances of her current plight while in exile. The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary expounds on this verse and says “Rashi explains that vineyard is an allusion to Israel, as in the verse per Isaiah 5:7 ‘For the vineyard of HaShem of Hosts is the House of Israel.'”

Throughout history, there have been four major world powers which have subjugated Israel under harsh rulership i.e. Babylon, Media, Greece and the most fiercest of all was Edom. Babylon destroyed the First Temple and it was Edom who destroyed the Second Temple. We still see the effects of Edom’s cruel rulership today! But in order to explain this we need to see just who is Edom!

Per the Jewish Encyclopedia Edom is defined as being Rome i.e. the Roman Empire, i.e. the birthplace of Christianity! It is a fact Christendom has been the most fierce, cruel and vile subjugators of Israel over the last several thousand years! I digress!

Lamentations 4:21 says “Rejoice and exult, O daughter of Edom, who dwells in the land of Uz; to you, too, will the cup pass, you will become drunk and you will vomit.” This verse is an almost sarcastic statement made towards Edom as if to say “Rejoice while you can because you will not escape punishment for your sins.”

Psalms 137:7 says “Remember, HaShem, for the offspring of Edom, the day of Jerusalem, for those who say ‘Destroy! Destroy! to its very foundation.'” Per the commentary from the Artscroll Psalms book on this verse, it explains “The day of Jerusalem is the day of its destruction…..The First Temple was not completely destroyed; the Babylonians merely burned the roof, leaving the walls intact. The Second Temple, however, was razed to its very foundation. The fact the destruction of the Second Temple was more extensive proves that the people’s iniquity was more extensive.”

There is a Midrashic parable which further explains this Shir HaShirim verse. It says “HaShem is here likened to a King Who was angry with his son and handed him over to his servant. The latter (Servant) thereupon began beating the son with a tick, saying, ‘Don’t listen to your Father.’ The son said to him ‘Stupid fool! The only reason why my Father handed me over to you was because I did not obey Him and you say to me ‘Don’t listen to your Father!’ So, too, when in consequence of Israel’s iniquities the Temple was destroyed and the children of Israel were exiled to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Do not listen to the Law of your Father in Heaven, but you shall fall down and worship the image that I have made.’ The Jews said to him, ‘Stupid fool!’ The only reason why HaShem has delivered us into your hand is because we bowed down to an image, and you say to us, ‘Fall down and worship the image which I have made!’ Woe to that man! Thereupon HaShem said, ‘My vineyard which is Mine, is before Me.’ i.e. My nation is again before Me, and speaks up in defense of Our love!”

Keep all this in mind as it will lead into the next verse!

Shir HaShirim 8:12 says “(HaShem speaking) The vineyard is Mine! Your iniquities are before Me! The thousand silver pieces are Yours, Shlomo, and two hundred more to the Sages who guarded the fruit of Torah from our designs.”

This verse is even more relevant to us today in 2024 as the world piles judgment and rejection upon Israel as it is currently engaged in a seven front war for their very survival. The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary on this states “HaShem will NOT forever countenance this injustice. On the Day of Judgment, He will proclaim to the nations ‘My vineyard (Israel) is Mine, is before Me! Although I transferred it to you (The exile), it is nevertheless Mine. I am the sole Owner. All the injustices you perpetrated by plucking their fruit for yourselves are before Me; nothing that you have filched from them eludes Me.'”

What is the significance of the one thousand pieces of silver and two hundred more added? Again we have to know the Torah of HaShem because He established in Leviticus 27:27 and I will quote the commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirirm book which says “One who benefits unjustly from consecrated property must repay the principal plus a penalty of an additional fifth. Israel is consecrated to HaShem and per Jeremiah 2:3 ‘All that devour it shall be held guilty’, and hence the nations are making the gesture of returning the principal i.e. the thousand pieces of silver they are accused of filching plus an additional fifth of two hundred.” Remember this Shir HaShirim verse is speaking of the very end of days and we see the Torah is still in place and has not been tossed aside as Replacement Theology Christendom teaches because of the Halachah (The rulings of the Sanhedrin on how to walk in the Torah) are still being observed and in place as proof HaShem is directing the nations restore to Israel what they stole and add a fifth! His Torah is forever!!! Baruch HaShem!

The Judaica Press Shir HaShirim commentary explains further and says “My vineyard which is Mine is before Me for on the day of judgement, the Holy One, blessed be He, will bring them (The nations) to justice, and He will say, ‘My vineyard, even though I delivered it into your hands, is Mine, and before Me is all that you seized for yourselves, its fruit. And that which you collected from them is not hidden from Me.’ And they (The nations) will say ‘You, O Solomon, shall have the thousand, ‘The thousand pieces of silver that we collected from them, we will return everything to You.’ And those who watch its fruit, two hundred, and we will add much more of our own, and we will give it to them, to their heads and their sages, as it is stated in Isaiah 60:17 ‘Instead of copper I will bring gold.’ Who watch its fruit, these are the Torah scholars, and those payments are for the Torah scholars, as it is stated per Isaiah 23:18 ‘But those who sit before the Master shall have her commerce’ and her hire, i.e. that of Tyre. And it can also be explained and two hundred for those who watch its fruit according to the law of a person who derives benefit from consecrated objects, who pays the principal and a fifth. We too will pay for per Jeremiah 2:3 ‘Israel is holy to the Master, the first of His grain,’ the principal and a fifth, a fifth of the principal, and two hundred is a fifth of a thousand.”

The Artscroll Five Megillos Shir HaShirim commentary further explains “HaShem will not forever tolerate the persecution of His people. When the Day of Judgment arrives, He now admonishes His enemies ‘The vineyard is Mine! Your iniquities are before Me!’ Although I gave you mastery over My children, they remained Mine. I am aware of your depredations and everything you stole from them.”

Now more than ever we need to see this with the whole world turning against Israel today in 2024!! HaShem knows exactly what is happening and He WILL exact justice at the time of the Final Redemption!

Shir HaShirim 8:13 says “(HaShem speaking) O My beloved dwelling in far flung gardens, your fellows, the angels hearken to your voice of Torah and prayer. Let Me hear it that they may then sanctify Me.”

Again we see HaShem speaking to His bride i.e. Israel. The commentary explains “You who are dispersed (Exiled) in the Diaspora, tending the gardens of others, and who dwell in the synagogues and study houses. The Ministering Angels your companions hearken, and congregate to listen to your voice i.e. prayers and sound of Torah study in your synagogues.”

What do we see once again with regard to the Torah of HaShem? It is still the Ketubah i.e. the marriage contract between HaShem and His bride Israel! Keep this in mind as we continue!

“Let Me hear it, for after you are finished, they will commence to sanctify Me. As the Midrash comments it is written per Job 38:7 ‘When the morning stars sang together’, this refers to Israel; and only after that ‘And all the sons of HaShem’ shout for joy, this refers to the Ministering Angels. This is in consonance with the Talmud which states ‘Israel is dearer to HaShem than the Ministering Angels, for the Ministering Angels do not begin to sing praises in heaven until Israel has sung below in earth per Tractate Chullin 91b.”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirirm records a parable for this verse and it states “A king was angry at his servants and ordered that they be incarcerated. He took his officers and other servants to listen to the statements of those whom he had put in jail. He heard them saying ‘Our master, the king, we praise him, for he is our life. May we never be deprived of our master, the king!’ The king, obviously pleased with what he heard, asked the imprisoned servants to raise their voices, to let their other friends hear it as well. The Jewish people are downtrodden and weary during the days of the week, yet come to the synagogues and study halls on Shabbat. They raise their voices in praise to HaShem, unified in their thoughts and deeds. HaShem, as it were, calls the ministering angels who sit in the heavenly gardens to hear their praise.”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah gives more insight and says “The Midrash implies that when there is dissension among the Jews, the ministering angels condemn them for not involving themselves in the Torah. This is hard to understand. Even if a community is weak in the area of neighborly relations, it could well be very strong in other areas of Torah life. Why should its divisiveness, though admittedly sinful and destructive be tantamount to a wholesale abandonment of HaShem’s Torah? To answer this question, we need to understand that shalom, peaceful relations and harmonious cooperation lies at the heart of HaShem’s prescription for human life. A failure to maintain shalom is not an isolated flaw in our spiritual development; it frustrates HaShem’s primary aim in giving us the Torah.”

“Great is shalom’, writes Rambam in a homiletic digression in his Mishneh Torah, for the entire Torah was given in order to make shalom in the world, as it is written in Proverbs 3:17 ‘Its (Torah’s) ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its pathways are peace.'”

So, again we see, toss out the Torah of HaShem and everything goes into instant chaos and destruction! Another shining example of why Replacement Theology Christendom is NOT of HaShem! The Church is NOT the bride! It is impossible!

Shir HaShirim 8:14 says “(Israel speaking) Flee, my Beloved, from our common Exile and be like a gazelle or a young hart in Your swiftness to redeem and rest Your Presence among us on the fragrant Mount Moriah, site of Your Temple.”

We have finally reached the end of this very long study as this is the final verse of the entire book of Shir HaShirim!!! Look at this verse very closely as it is Israel, the Bride, speaking to HaShem, her Beloved, and she is imploring Him to come out of the Exile with her as He has been with her in the entire Exile and to return to Jerusalem, the Temple Mount i.e. Mount Moriah and rebuild His Temple! Remember the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem is the fullest expression of the marriage relationship between HaShem and His bride Israel! The rebuilt Temple is NOT demonic, satanic, or solely for the False Messiah as Christendom likes to teach. The Temple of HaShem is His House and His dwelling place on earth! I digress.

The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary explains further “Who has accompanied us throughout every exile! And let us leave this Exile together and hasten the Redemption and cause Your Shechinah to abide among us. Mount Moriah and the Holy Temple, may it be rebuilt speedily in our days!”

The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah sums it up with the following Midrash “The message of this verse is analogous to a king who made a feast and invited the guests. Some of the guests were eating and drinking and blessing the king, but some of them were eating and drinking and cursing the king. The king discerned what this second group was doing and sought to introduce a commotion among them during his feast and to disturb it. A noblewoman entered and offered defense of the unruly guests; she said to the king, ‘My master the king, before you look upon the ones who are eating and drinking and cursing you, look upon the ones who are eating and drinking and blessing you and praising your name!’ Similarly, when the people of Israel eat and drink and bless, praise, and acclaim the Holy One, blessed is He, He listens to their voice and He is appeased. But when the nations of the world eat and drink and blaspheme and insult the Holy One, blessed is He, with the matters of sexual immorality that they discuss, at that time, the Holy One, blessed is He, contemplates even destroying His world. And the Torah enters and offers defense and says, ‘Master of the Universe, before You look at those who blaspheme and cause anger before You, look at the people of Israel, who bless, praise, and acclaim Your great Name through Torah, through songs, and through hymns!’ And the Divine Spirit i.e. the Torah cries out to HaShem, ‘Flee, my Beloved, meaning, flee from the nations of the world and cling to the people of Israel!'”

I hope throughout this entire study of these eight chapters, you can clearly see HaShem is absolutely and completely committed to Israel? He has NOT tossed Israel aside and He certainly hasn’t replaced Israel with a Torahless entity such as the Church! He remains the same and His Word is firmly established and will never pass away!

I want to add this one final prayer which is recited after reading and studying Shir HaShirim for your consideration on how important this Book is in relation to the rest of Scripture! Remember, Shir HaShirim is the Holy of Holies of the entire Scripture!

“Master of the Worlds, may it be the will before You, HaShem, my Elohim and the Elohim of my forefathers, that in the merit of Shir HaShirim which I read and learned, which is Holy of Holies, in the merit of its verses, and in the merit of its words, and in the merit of its letters, and in the merit of its vowels, and in the merit of its cantillations, and in the merit of its Names and combinations and allusions and holy secrets, pure and awesome, which emanate from it, that this hour be an hour of mercy, an hour of attentiveness and listening, that we may call out to You and be answered; that we may beseech You and You may respond to us. May our reading and learning of Shir HaShirim ascend before You, as though we had achieved all of its wondrous and awesome secrets which are sealed in it, in all its conditions. May we merit to reach the place from where the souls are hewn, as if we have done all that it is incumbent upon us to achieve, whether in this incarnation or in another one. May we be among those who ascend and merit the World to Come, with other righteous and pious individuals. Fulfill all the desires of our hearts for goodness, and may You be with our hearts and the utterances of our mouths at the time of our thoughts, and with our hands at the time of our efforts. May You send blessing and success and expansiveness in all the works of our hands, and raise us up from the dust and exalt us from the ash heaps of our poverty, and return Your Divine Presence to Your Holy City, speedily and in our days, Amen!”

Shalom and may it be so very soon in our days!!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
Song of Songs by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Jeremiah by Artscroll
Tehillim by Artscroll
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
The Milstein Edition Shemot of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Vayikra of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Bamidbar of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Devarim of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov
Tractate Menachot, Kehati Mishnah
The Early Prophets Joshua/Judges by Artscroll
The Book of Ruth by Artscroll

SHAVUOT – THE BETROTHAL TO THE BRIDE

“There is abundant peace for the lovers of Your Torah, and there is no stumbling block for them.” Psalms 119:165

As I review and update this Op, it is 11 June 2024, just a few hours before the great Feast of Shavuot arrives…Baruch HaShem! Now more than ever, with all that is going on around us in the world especially with the seven front war against Israel, the explosion of anti-Semitism here in America, etc, it seems like we need to truly understand His Feasts and what they represent because the major prophetic events we read about in His Word all occur on or around His annual Feasts! The term we hear used in His Word i.e. ‘The Early and Late Rains’ is a Hebrew idiom referring to HaShem’s annual Feasts…the Spring Feasts i.e. Pesach, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Shavuot and then the Late Rains i.e. Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Keep this in mind as we progress in this Op.

On a side note, I know I bash Replacement Theology constantly in my Op’s, again it is NOT directed at the people, it is solely directed at the doctrine that has been regurgitated through the centuries, unfortunately leading so many to their ruin. Baruch HaShem, He is ending this reign of deception and leading people out of the captivity to Replacement Theology just as He promised He would do in the very End of Days! So while I will frequently highlight the differences between Replacement Theology and the Word of HaShem in this Op, it is not a slap at the people. It is meant solely to hopefully get some to stop, think, analyze, reason and search out His Word for themselves and with the help of HaShem, break off that veil over their hearts and eyes so they too can see how awesome and how wonderful He and His Torah truly are.

Now, always remember when you proceed further into this Op, despite the claims of many in Replacement Theology, the Temple Services i.e. the procedures which the Kohanim, Levites and Israelites in the Temple adhere too i.e. the Tavnit (Blueprints), are NOT man made! They were given to Moshe and David by the Ruach (Spirit) of HaShem per Shemot (Exodus) 25 and I Chronicles 28!

So, with this all said, the Feast of Shavuot (erroneously referred to as Pentecost), is a VERY, VERY important Feast, one of the three pilgrimage Feasts in which all the men of Israel are required to appear before HaShem in His Temple and bring korbonot (Offerings). This Feast is so important I will go ahead and give you a little hint as to what this Feast and what this Op will entail…..this Feast is what sets apart the Bride!! No Shavuot….no Bride!!! Again, keep this in mind!

Now we can jump into this, but before we do, always remember the following because they never, ever change:

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

Remember Yeshua is the AGENT of HaShem…please read the article from the Jerusalem Encyclopedia defining the ‘Law of Agency’. Here is an excerpt: “The Law of Agency deals with the status of a person (known as the agent) acting by direction of another (the principal), and thereby legally binding the principal in his connection with a third person. The person who binds a principal in this manner is his agent, known in Jewish law as sheluaḥ or sheliaḥ (one that is sent): the relation of the former to the latter is known as agency (sheliḥut). The general principle is enunciated thus: A man’s agent is like himself (Ḳid. 41b).” – http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/894-agency-law-of

This means, Yeshua, can ONLY act, teach, do and say ONLY what HaShem i.e. The Principal Who charged His Agent i.e. Yeshua to act on His behalf. John 5:19 says “Therefore, Yeshua, responded and said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is able to do none at all by Himself, but only that which He sees the Father doing, because whatever He does, the Son also likewise does.” Or John 8:28 says “So, Yeshua said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Adam, then you shall know that I am He, and that I do none at all of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, these words I speak.'” Finally, John 12:49-50 says “Because I spoke not from Myself, but the Father Who sent Me has given Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life, what I should say and what I should speak.”

Is it then possible for the Messiah to come and teach a doctrine that is the complete opposite to what HaShem established in the beginning? Can the Messiah come teaching a doctrine of ‘Change’ and still legitimately claim to be from HaShem?

Before we examine the depths of Shavuot, we need to first lay the foundation for the Feast. Shavuot is on the sixth day of the Biblical month of Sivan i.e. the Third month of the year beginning with Nissan. This Feast is considered to be a continuation of Pesach (Passover). It is the 50th day after Pesach in which we have been Counting the Omer between Pesach and Shavuot.

On a side note, those who object to using the names for the Biblical months, there is biblical precedent for the names of the months as we see in the book of Esther 8:9 specifically refers to the month of ‘Sivan’ in Scripture, however, I am NOT looking to engage in arguments over the calendar issue…that is between HaShem and yourselves.

What is very interesting concerning the month of Sivan, i.e. the Third Month, is that it is in the Third Month HaShem brings Israel to Sinai and presents His marriage proposal i.e. His Torah. An excerpt from the book ‘The Book of Our Heritage’ by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov, it says “Just as marriage can survive only if there is peace and love, so too the Torah, the instrument of betrothal between HaShem and Israel, could only be received when these conditions prevailed. The Torah is referred to as ‘Morashah’ (A Heritage) per Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:4 which says ‘The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Ya’akov.’ This word ‘Morashah’ is better understood as ‘Me’orasah’ meaning ‘Betrothed.'” We will discuss this much deeper coming up shortly in the Op.

To better understand Shavuot, we must understand the concept of Kedusha (Holiness)! Kedusha is very well defined by my teacher in the following statement: “The time, space and objects that are limited to us through the agency of kedusha (Holiness) are signs that as HaShem’s covenantal partners, we must relinquish some control in every sphere of our existence and reserve those elements for His service!” Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries – Jerusalem Temple Study.

Tractate Kelim 1.6-9 from the Mishnah gives us a very good example by listing locations in ascending order of severity: “There are ten sanctities – Eretz Israel (Land of Israel) is more sanctified than any of the other lands. And what is its sanctity? That we may bring from it the omer and the first fruits and the Two Loaves of bread, which we may NOT bring from any of the other lands.”

“Cities surrounded by a wall are more sanctified than this, for we send the metzora’im (Those with biblical Leprosy) out of them, and they may carry a dead body around within them until they decide (To take them outside the walls for burial, once they go outside the wall, they may not re-enter until going through the ritual purity process for having contact with a corpse). Once out, they may not bring it (The corpse) back (Inside the walls).”

“Within the walls is more sanctified than these, for we may eat there Kodashim Kalim (Offerings of minor degree of holiness) and Ma’aser Sheni (Second Tithes). Har Habayit (Temple Mount) is more sanctified than this, for zavim and zavot, niddot and yoldot (Ritually impure due to bodily discharges) may not enter there. The Cheil is more sanctified than this, for Gentiles, and one rendered impure by a corpse, may not enter there. Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women) is more sanctified than this, for a tevul yom (One who has gone through the ritual purity process and has immersed in a mikvah, but must wait until sun down for their purity to be restored) may not enter there, but they are not liable to a sin offering for it. Ezrat Yisrael (Court of Israel) is more sanctified than this for one lacking atonement may not enter there, and they are liable to a sin offering for it. Ezrat Kohanim (Court of the Priests) is more sanctified than this, for Israelites may enter there only at a time when they are needed; for laying hands, for slaughtering, for heaving.”

“Between the Ulam (Outer portico of the Sanctuary building) and the Altar is more sanctified than this, for those with a blemish and those with wild hair (Uncut for thirty days) may not enter there. The Hekhal (The Sanctuary building) is more sanctified than this, for one may not enter there without washing hands and feet. The Holy of Holies is more sanctified than these, for only the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) may enter there, on Yom Kippur at the time of the service.”

Can you see the progression of severity as it pertains to the concept of Kedusha? Again, I ask the question, so now HaShem, Who says He never changes and His Word is firmly established for eternity, suddenly now changes His mind and says a group of people, i.e. Replacement Theology, which teaches everything about HaShem is now tossed aside and replaced and now this group of people who eat unclean, observe pagan feasts, rejects the Torah, embraces idolatry, and decides for themselves what is right and wrong, are now exactly what He has wanted from the beginning? Keep this in mind!

Shavuot has several names in His Word:

Feast of Reaping per Shemot (Exodus) 28:16
Feast of Shavuot per Shemot 34:22
Feast of Bikkurim (Firstfruits) per Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:26

The Feast of Shavuot is a Korbon Feast meaning HaShem requires animal and grain offerings be brought into His Temple. These korbonot are listed in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:17 which tells us two minchah (Bread) offerings along with what is called an ‘External Chatat (Sin)’ korbonot of a young male goat. It is called an ‘External’ korbonot because it designates where the blood will be sprinkled, in this case on the external Mizbe’ach (Altar). Further this korbonot is also referred to as a ‘Communal’ obligatory korbonot in that this goat is offered up as a Chatat for ALL of Israel.

Additionally, per Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:26-27, two bulls, one ram and seven lambs are offered up as Olah (Burnt) korbonot, which means no one eats the meat as the meat is completely burned on the Mizbe’ach as a sweet aroma to HaShem.

One of the main korbonot brought to the Beis HaMikdash (Temple) is the Two Loaves (Shtei HaLechem) which is a Minchah korbonot i.e. a Bread Offering. Now when studying HaShem’s Word and utilizing the tools He gave us to study and learn, i.e. His Oral Torah (Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, Etc), it is always very important to pay very close attention to the details! The Shtei HaLechem is no difference!

Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:17 says “From your dwelling places you shall bring bread that shall be waved, two loaves made of two tenth ephah, they shall be fine flour, they shall be baked leavened; first offerings to HaShem.”

The following excerpt from the Book of the Mitzvot #307 says “The Omer offering, a special Minchah (Bread) offering made of barley, is brought, in the Beis HaMikdash on the second day of Pesach (Passover). It permits consumption of the new crop of grain, any grain, that had taken root during the period of the preceding year’s Omer offering and this one. Fifty days later, on the Festival of Shavuos, we are commanded to bring another special Minchah. This offering, which is made of wheat, is known as the offering of the Two Loaves, Shtei HaLechem.” Notice the Minchah offered on Pesach is made of barley, but the Minchah offered on Shavuos is made from wheat?

Note #2 from the Book of the Mitzvot excerpt clarifies “As a general rule, offerings (Minchah) may not consist of leavened bread (Chametz). However, there are two offerings that are required to be made of chametz. These are the Two Loaves offering of Shavuos and ten of the forty loaves of the Todah (Thanksgiving) offering of Vayikra (Leviticus) 7:13. The Two Loaves offering is a form of thanksgiving to HaShem for this new harvest, and therefore shares this aspect with the Todah offering.”

Tractate Menahot from the Mishnah describes the Two Loaves: “The Two Loaves brought on Shavuot, thus Vayikra 23:15-17 ‘Until the morrow after the seventh Shabbat shall you number fifty days, and you shall offer a new meal offering to the Lord. You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth measures, they shall be of fine flour…’ The above were eaten by the Kohanim.”

Tractate Menahot 5.6 from the Mishnah says “…How does he (Kohanim) proceed with the waving of the of the Two Loaves and the two lambs? He puts the Two Loaves on the two lambs. According to the Gemara (Talmud Commentary), he puts them beside the two lambs, ‘on’ actually signifying ‘near’ and puts his two hands underneath, and swings forward and backward in all four directions, and upward and downward, as it is written in Shemot (Exodus) 29:27: ‘Which is waved and heaved up’, ‘waved’ meaning forward and backward, and ‘heaved’ upward and downward. The above account of Aaron’s and his sons’ induction into the priesthood serves as a model for other waving’s”

Then, per Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:19 there are two male sheep offered up as a Shelamim (Peace) korbonot. It should also be noted all of these korbonot are considered to be ‘Communal’ and obligatory meaning they all are on behalf the entire people of Israel! This should be causing you to ask yourself some questions as it pertains to what we all were taught in Replacement Theology, which I will address shortly.

The biblical reference for Shavuot is found beginning in Shemot (Exodus) 19:1, which says “In the third month (Sivan) from the Exodus of the Children of Israel from the land of Egypt, on this day, they arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai. They journeyed from Rephidim and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the Wilderness; and Israel encamped there, opposite the mountain.

Moshe ascended to Elohim, and HaShem called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘So shall you say to the House of Ya’akov (Jacob) and relate to the Children of Israel. You have seen what I did to Egypt, and that I have borne you on the wings of eagles and brought you to Me. And now, if you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples, for Mine is the entire world. You shall be to Me a kingdom of ministers and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Children of Israel.

Moshe came and summoned the elders of the people, and put before them all these words that HaShem had commanded him. The entire people responded together and said, ‘Everything that HaShem has spoken we shall do!’ Moshe brought back the words of the people to HaShem.”

Very interesting! So we see Israel arrived in the Wilderness of Sinai on the first day of Sivan and it was then HaShem made the proposal to Israel on the 2nd day of Sivan! “IF you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, THEN you shall be to me the most beloved treasure of all the peoples, for Mine is the entire world.”

Consider this from an excerpt from the ‘Book of Our Heritage’ which says “The verse from Shir HaShirim (Song of Solomon) 2:2 states: ‘Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is My beloved among the sons.’ Just as the apple tree gives fruit fifty days after blossoming, so too did Israel receive the Torah fifty days after their departure from Egypt!”

I have to stop here and address this point…I hear constantly from the adherents of Replacement Theology that anyone striving to keep the Torah is attempting to earn their salvation and thus are derived from the Kingdom of Satan for teaching lies and deceit. Well, these verses here once more prove them wrong…how do we know? Because the picture HaShem has shown is FIRST He ‘saved’ or ‘redeemed’ Israel from the bondage of Egypt due to no merit of their own and THEN He brings Israel to Sinai and we will see shortly it is AFTER He redeemed Israel that He gives His Torah and says and I will paraphrase “Now that I have redeemed you, here is My Torah to know how to live as My people!” Point is, FIRST comes salvation/redemption THEN comes the Torah to be set apart to HaShem as His Own by faith i.e. live it out, practice, study, learn and apply it, all of which are the biblical definition of faith in HaShem! Remember ‘Faith WITHOUT works i.e. Torah is dead’ per Ya’akov (James) chapter 2 in the Apostolic Writings! Okay, back on point.

So, we can see HaShem offered His proposal to Israel here on the 2nd day of Sivan, in which Israel responds with “Everything that HaShem has spoken we shall do!” Meaning Israel accepted His proposal!! Moshe then brings the response to HaShem on the 3rd day of Sivan. Baruch HaShem!

It should be noted that it is recorded HaShem did offer the Torah first to the Gentile nations, but they all refused Him. Israel is the only nation who accepted His proposal…which accounts as to why the world hates Israel so much since then to include today. This concept is derived from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:2 which states “He said: HaShem came from Sinai, having shone forth to them from Seir, having appeared from Mount Paran, and then approached with some of the holy myriads, from His right hand He presented the fiery Torah to them.” The commentary on this verse from the Talmud Bavli Tractate Avodah Zarah 2b says “With regard to the Revelation at Mount Sinai, our verse says, ‘HaShem came from Sinai, having shone forth to them from Seir, having appeared from Mount Paran.’ Seir is the homeland of the descendants of Eisav (Esau), and the descendants of Yishmael live on Mount Paran. This teaches that BEFORE HaShem gave the Torah to Israel at Mount Sinai, He offered it to the other nations of the world, and they all rejected His offer.”

Okay, moving on. So, now that Israel has accepted His proposal, He then tells Moshe in Shemot 19:9-15 “HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Behold! I come to you in the thickness of the cloud, so that the people will hear as I speak to you, and they will also believe in you forever.’ Moshe related the words of the people to HaShem (On the 3rd day of Sivan). HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Go to the people and sanctify (Kedusha/Kadosh/Set apart) them today and tomorrow and they shall wash their clothing. Let them be prepared for the third day, for on the third day HaShem shall descend in the sight of the entire people on Mount Sinai (6th day of Sivan). You shall set boundaries for the people roundabout saying, ‘Beware of ascending the mountain or touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain shall surely die. A hand shall not touch it, for he shall surely be stoned or surely thrown down; whether animal or person he shall not live; upon an extended blast of the shofar, they may ascend the mountain.’ Moshe descended from the mountain to the people. He sanctified the people and they washed their clothing. He said to the people, ‘Be prepared after a three day period; do not draw near a woman.’”

These verses are just astounding!! Remember HaShem reveals the end out of the beginning!! Here HaShem keeps reiterating ‘On the THIRD DAY!’ What is so significant about the THIRD DAY? Because HaShem established the pattern from the third day of creation that something or someone is revealed! On the third day dry land appeared during the week of creation! So, here on the THIRD DAY, HaShem will come down to Sinai and reveal Himself to Israel!

Consider that to HaShem a thousand years is but a day per Psalms 90:4 and 2 Kepha (Peter) 3:8, which again adds a prophetic element to this account and here is why: Hosea 6:1-2 says “Come, let us return to HaShem for He has mangled and He shall heal us; He has smitten and He shall bandage us. He will heal us AFTER TWO DAYS (Two thousand years of exile after the second Temple destruction); on the THIRD DAY He will raise us up and we will live before Him.” Remember HaShem has given mankind 7,000 years and then the World to Come. The first six days i.e. six thousand years mankind makes a mess out of things. Then on the Shabbat i.e. the Seventh Day or the last thousand years, Yeshua will rule and reign and we will rest in Him. So, how long has it been since Israel was scattered into the world after the destruction of the Temple by Rome? Approximately two days i.e. two thousand years! On the third day after the exile began, He will raise us up i.e. the resurrection of the righteous and the Gathering to HaShem on that Rosh Hashanah which begins on His calendar the seventh day i.e. the Day of HaShem! The point I am striving to drive home is that HaShem is completely consistent and unchanging…Yeshua changed NOTHING despite what Replacement Theology teaches!

We also see how HaShem gives Israel three days to purify themselves i.e. sanctify themselves….remember sanctification has nothing to do with salvation/redemption, it is all about being set apart to Him for service unto Him. Is it a coincidence then that when a person is being purified from corpse impurity during the SEVEN day purification process that the ashes the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer) are sprinkled on the person on the THIRD and SEVENTH days and then are clean before HaShem? Point is, pattern…consistency…He never changes! Moving on.

Then we see from these verses in Shemot HaShem establishes boundaries because of the kedusha issue. When one draws closer to HaShem, the level of kedusha increases…such as we see in the Temple. For example, Gentiles can only go so far in the Temple, they cannot cross the Soreg (Lattice worked wall). If they do, there is a death penalty. Israelite women can go only as far as the Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women), if they violate this, there is a death penalty. Israelite men can only go to the Court of the Israelite’s. The Kohanim (Priests) can only go so far and then finally the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) can only enter the Most Holy Place one time a year on Yom Kippur. If he violates this, then he will die by the Hand of Heaven in that year. Further, no one is allowed to turn their back towards the Most Holy Place anywhere in the Temple…to do so is a death penalty. No one is allowed to enter the Temple with their heads uncovered…again it is a death penalty…why? Kedusha!! Point is, HaShem is kadosh, and He commands we as His people are to be kadosh like Him.

With this all said, to be His people means we MUST have boundaries in our lives and MUST be kadosh…which is best defined by my teacher, Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries, who defined kedusha as: “The time, space and objects that are limited to us through the agency of kedusha (Holiness) are signs that as HaShem’s covenantal partners, we must relinquish some control in every sphere of our existence and reserve those elements for His service!” Can we be His people when we toss His Torah out and declare it null and void as Replacement Theology teaches? Nope! It is utterly impossible! This is why Replacement Theology doctrine is so tremendously dangerous as it is leading people to their utter ruin and they, in most cases, have no idea they are running headlong into a speeding freight train, figuratively speaking. I digress…moving on.

So, then on the THIRD DAY what happens? Per Shemot 19:16-24 says “On the THIRD DAY when it was morning, there was thunder and lightning and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the sound of the shofar was very powerful, and the entire people that was in the camp shuddered. Moshe (Remember Moshe is a picture of Messiah Yeshua!) brought the people forth from the camp toward Elohim, and they stood at the bottom of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was smoking because HaShem had descended upon it in the fire; its smoke ascended like the smoke of the furnace, and the entire mountain shuddered exceedingly. The sound of the shofar grew continually much stronger; Moshe would speak and Elohim would respond to him with a voice.

HaShem descended upon Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain; HaShem summoned Moshe to the top of the mountain, and Moshe ascended. HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Descend, warn the people, lest they break through to HaShem to see, and a multitude of them will fall. Even the Kohanim who approach HaShem should be prepared, lest HaShem burst forth against them.’ Moshe said to HaShem, ‘The people cannot ascend Mount Sinai, for You have warned us, saying, ‘Bound the mountain and sanctify it.’ HaShem said to him, ‘Go, descend. Then you shall ascend, and Aharon with you, but the Kohanim, and the people, they shall not break through to ascend to HaShem, lest He burst forth against them.’ Moshe descended to the people and said it to them.”

Again, HaShem is reinforcing the concept of kedusha! This is why it makes my blood boil every time I hear Replacement Theology go on and on about how ‘The veil is torn in two, now all of us have access to the Most Holy Place and go in whenever we want, however we want and answer to no one…’ No, no, no!!! Very, very, very wrong concept….think of how many people Replacement Theology would send to their deaths if the Temple were standing in Jerusalem today and people just waltzed in and tried to enter the Heichal (Sanctuary)? There would be piles of corpses laying around the place! Again can you see just how deadly Replacement Theology truly is?

So, now HaShem has descended onto the mountain and He then says in Shemot 20:1-14 says “Elohim spoke all these statements, saying: ‘I am HaShem, your Elohim, Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. There shall not be to you the gods of others in My presence. You shall not make yourself a carved image nor any likeness of that which is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth. You shall not prostrate yourself to them and you shall not worship them, for I am HaShem, your Elohim, a jealous Elohim, Who visits the sin of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations, for My enemies; but Who shows kindness for thousands of generations to those who love Me and observe My commandments (What did Yeshua, the Agent of HaShem, reiterate? ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments!’ Means again NOTHING changed!) You shall not take the Name of HaShem, your Elohim, in vain, for HaShem will not absolve anyone who takes His Name in vain.

Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it. Six days shall you work and do all your labor; but the seventh day is Shabbat to HaShem, your Elohim; you shall not do any work, you, your son, your daughter; your slave, your maidservant, your animal, and your convert within your gates, for in six days HaShem made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. Therefore, HaShem blessed the Shabbat day and sanctified it.” So, what gives Replacement Theology the authority to declare HaShem’s Shabbat day now is null and void and any ole day can be Shabbat? The answer is, they CANNOT change what HaShem has decreed to be sanctified! Another reason why He will destroy Replacement Theology in the End!.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days will be lengthened upon the land that HaShem, your Elohim gives you. You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness against your fellow. You shall not covet your fellow’s house. You shall not covet your fellow’s wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your fellow.”

So, again we see HaShem is giving the terms of the proposal to Israel i.e. He is giving Israel the Torah! In other words, HaShem, Who is the prospective Groom proposes to Israel i.e. the prospective Bride. She accepts His proposal and then He presents to her on the 6th day of Sivan what is called the ‘Ketubah’ i.e. the marriage contract, which stipulates everything the Groom will do and is responsible for taking care of His Bride and the responsibilities the Bride has to the Groom! Folks, understand, the Torah of HaShem IS the Ketubah which means Israel IS the Bride and it is on Shavuot, the 6th day of Sivan, He gave His Ketubah!

Does this change your perception of the Torah now? Can the so called ‘Church’ of Replacement Theology be the bride? Not a chance in Hades! Why? Because the Church has tossed out the Torah declaring it ‘Bondage, dung, human feces, deception, shackles of death, destruction, etc!’ I am not exaggerating either…many, many people in Replacement Theology really do believe this and claim Paul said these things in his letters, which is utter garbage and blasphemy! So, can there be a bride when the prospective bride claims the marriage contract has been tossed out? Or to put it another way, how can there be a wedding when the bride refuses to show up and has by default married someone else i.e. Replacement Theology/Torah Abolishing ‘Jesus’ whose entire doctrine is ‘Change’ culminating with the Torah is tossed out? I digress.

Consider a prophetic verse of the End of Days which is found in the book of Shoftim (Judges) 21:25 which says “In those days (Biblical idiom to reference the End of Days) there was no king in Israel; A MAN WOULD DO WHATEVER SEEMED PROPER IN HIS EYES.” In other other words, Torahlessness i.e. Lawlessness was the way people lived in the End. People spit on HaShem and embraced what was pleasing in their own eyes and thus would decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong, hence there was no king. This verse, in my opinion, sums up Replacement Theology and the devastating effects this Satanic doctrine has had on the world. Something to consider.

Additionally, during Shavuot, it is a part of the Feast for us to read the Book of Ruth. Why the Book of Ruth? Per the Book of Ruth Artscroll Commentary the Book of Ruth is indicative of being a picture of HaShem taking things which are impure and withdrawing purity from it! Job 14:3 says “Who can withdraw purity from impurity?” Further, the Bamidbar Midrash 19:1 says “Abraham came from Terach, Hezekiah from Achaz, Yoshiah from Omon, Mordechai from Shim’i, Israel from the nations, the World to Come from this world. Who could do this? Who could command this? Who could decree this? No one but HaShem, the only One on earth!” Keep all this in mind!

THE JEWISH WEDDING PROCESS

I am going to quickly discuss the Jewish wedding process because it relates to us today.

The Groom is required to “Pay the Bride Price” for the prospective bride. This MUST be something of value such as property, money or other forms of wealth. In this case, HaShem gave His Torah, something of immeasurable value for the Bride!

It is interesting to note that on Shavuot in the synagogues, a Ketubah is read and the date ‘6th of Sivan in the biblical year 2448’ (The number of years from Creation) is the date of the Betrothal between HaShem and Israel! Further, it is acknowledged that the Torah is the Bride Price that was paid for her!

There are TWO phases to a Jewish wedding:

Erusin = The Betrothal Phase – The husband and wife are technically married, but they do not live under the same roof together, they do not partake of marriage sexual relations, but if either party wants to end the relationship, or if either party violates the terms of the Ketubah, they will need to obtain a divorce document called a ‘Get’. Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 3:8 says “And I saw that despite the fact that I (HaShem) divorced wayward Israel because of her adultery (Idolatry) and gave her a bill of divorce to her, unfaithful Judah, her sister, was not afraid; she too went and committed adultery.” So, HaShem DID divorce Israel………..BUT, there is hope! Since it is forbidden in His Torah for a man to remarry his divorced wife who married another man per Devarim 24:4, HaShem legally cannot remarry Israel….or can He? Again, this is where understanding the role of Yeshua comes into play as the ‘Agent of HaShem’. Yeshua comes on the scene, and what does He do? He offers Himself up and dies on Pesach, thus releasing HaShem from the prohibition of Devarim 24:4. HaShem then resurrects Yeshua on the THIRD DAY, the Ketubah is restored and renewed, and now HaShem can resume being in the Erusin stage of the marriage betrothal process! Does this change your perception of Yeshua’s role? If the Ketubah had been done away with as Replacement Theology teaches, then there is NO Marriage whatsoever! So, who is this Replacement Theology’s ‘Jesus’ married too? No one! There are no terms of marriage i.e. no Ketubah!
Nissuin = Full Marriage – This will happen on the Rosh HaShanah HaShem has designated when Yeshua will be crowned King and then the Wedding Ceremony takes place. Remember Yeshua is the ‘Agent of HaShem’, and as HaShem’s Agent, will be the One to literally marry Israel. Just before the Nissuin ceremony the Groom must agree to the terms of the Ketubah in the presence of two witnesses, whereupon these two witnesses sign the Ketubah. Is it possible then that Moshe and Elijah i.e. Torah and the Prophets, present at Yeshua’s transfiguration in Matthew 17 are the two witnesses?

The Nissuin ceremony takes seven days in which the couple spends those seven days secluded. Again we see the picture emerging of the seven years where the new couple is secluded in the Heavenly Temple during the seven years of the Birth Pangs here on earth, erroneously called ‘The Tribulation’ period. It is here Yeshua begins His reign as King and then at the end of the seven days, He and the Bride emerge, and on that Yom Kippur, He and His Bride return to the earth where He marches into Jerusalem, defeats and destroys the False Messiah and His Replacement Theology doctrine. Then on that Sukkot, five days later, the greatest celebration ever experienced by humanity takes place for those seven days as all of HaShem’s enemies are wiped out and obliterated.

Now with this said, consider what HaShem says in Hosea 2:18-25 which says “And it shall be on that day (An idiom to mean the Day of HaShem in the End), declares HaShem, you (Israel) will call Me, ‘my Husband’ and you will no longer call Me, ‘My Master.’ And I will remove the names of the Baal idols from her mouth and they will no longer be remembered by their name. And I will seal for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky and the creeping things of the ground; and the bow, the sword, and war I will eradicate from the land, and I will lay them down in safety. And I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME FOREVER, AND I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WITH JUSTICE, BENEVOLENCE AND MERCY. AND I WILL BETROTH TO ME WITH FAITH, AND YOU WILL KNOW HASHEM. And it will be on that day, I will answer, declares HaShem; I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth. And the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel (Specific location in Israel where crops are grown). And I shall sow her to Me in the land, and I will have mercy upon the unpitied one, and I will say to those who are not My nation, ‘You are My nation’ and he shall say, ‘You are my Elohim.’” Whelp, this just destroyed Replacement Theology once and for all!

Consider what He says in Song of Songs 3:11 which says “Go forth and gaze, O daughters distinguished by loyalty to Elohim, upon the King Shlomo adorned with the crown His nation made, on that day, His Torah was given and HE BECAME ONE WITH ISRAEL, and on the day His heart was gladdened by His Tabernacle’s consecration.”

Also consider the interesting verses in Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 23:5-6 which says speaking of Messiah Yeshua “Behold, days are coming, the Word of HaShem, when I will establish a righteous sprout from David; a king will reign and prosper and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. THIS IS THE NAME PEOPLE WILL CALL HIM – ‘HASHEM IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”“

Now read this in contrast Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) 33:15-16 which says “In those days, at that time, I will cause a sprout of righteousness to sprout forth for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in security; AND THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WILL CALL JERUSALEM – HASHEM IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

What is so special about these verses? These verses show there was a wedding that took place and now both Messiah and His Bride i.e. Israel are called “HaShem is our righteousness!” Again I have to ask, can there be any truth to Replacement Theology and its doctrine the Ketubah/Torah have been tossed aside and replaced? Again not a chance in Hades!!

So, with all this said, Shavuot IS the date we celebrate as entering into the Erusin phase of the marriage between HaShem and Israel! The giving of the Torah is the Ketubah of this marriage and thus each Shavuot we acknowledge we re-dedicate ourselves to the Ketubah i.e. the Torah of HaShem.

Now consider, Yeshua dies on Pesach, is in the grave and HaShem resurrects Him on First Fruits. He is seen for the next 40 days and then what does He tell His Talmidim to do in preparation for Shavuot as is recorded in Acts 1:4? It is recorded “And meeting with them (His Talmidim), He commanded them NOT to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father which you have heard from Me.” So, Yeshua is telling them to stay in Jerusalem, go up to the Temple on Shavuot as required by the Torah, which remember requires animal korbonot to include Chatat (Sin) korbonot, and then wait for the Ruach i.e. the Promise of the Father. Why is this significant? Because this is Shavuot, the re-dedication to the Ketubah, which Yeshua just restored, renewed, and HaShem, like before, He gives His Ruach to His people to strengthen them to rebel and become a Lawless/Torahless bunch as Replacement Theology teaches? No, of course not, but His Ruach will help us KEEP His Torah i.e. the Ketubah and remain faithful to Him, leading us into all righteousness.

If Yeshua had ended everything to include the animal korbonot, then here would have been the perfect time to tell His Talmidim NOT to stay in Jerusalem and to go to another place…but instead, He tells them to keep the Torah! Again, nothing changed!

I hope and pray you can see the importance of Shavuot and why we WANT to keep this appointment with HaShem!! We WANT to rededicate ourselves to His Ketubah as His people and His Bride! If we truly love Him, then we will want to walk according to how He said to live…remember first comes salvation/redemption THEN the Ketubah/Torah as the means to express our faith, love, devotion and loyalty unto Him….not perfectly as that is unfortunately not possible right now, but striving for that. All I can say is, ‘May it be SO VERY, VERY soon in our days!!!’

Much to consider.

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
Song of Songs by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Jeremiah by Artscroll
Tehillim by Artscroll
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
The Milstein Edition Shemot of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Vayikra of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Bamidbar of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
The Milstein Edition Devarim of The Chumash with the Talmud by Artscroll
The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov
Tractate Menachot, Kehati Mishnah
The Early Prophets Joshua/Judges by Artscroll
The Book of Ruth by Artscroll

TOILING IN THE TORAH – THE WAY OF LIFE IN A WORLD OF CORRUPTION AND DEATH!

“Frail man, his days are like grass, like a sprout of the field, so he sprouts. If a wind passes over it, it is gone, and its site knows it no more. But the kindness of HaShem is forever and ever upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness upon children’s children. To those who keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commands to fulfill them.” Psalms 103:15-18

As I put this Op together it is Shabbat, 1 June 2024! What a week leading up to this Shabbat it has been! Truly historic in witnessing another giant fall of America with the conviction of Pres Trump. Like or dislike Trump doesn’t matter. All Americans should be outraged and highly concerned at what has taken place with such an obvious corrupt and manipulated trial. Again, its a giant indicator America is falling just as HaShem said it would in the very end just before the Final Redemption!

Is it a coincidence at the same time of all this judicial corruption being exposed we see America voicing its utter disdain, contempt and outright hatred for Israel while Israel is literally in a battle to defend its very existence in a seven front war? HaShem warns, touching Jerusalem and His nation of Israel whether in words or deeds will result in severe consequences! And here we are today!

Further, is it a coincidence the month of May 2024 we witnessed a record amount of severe weather alerts and tornados which ripped apart the Midwest of the United States? The National Hurricane Center released their forecast for the hurricane season 2024 which begins today, 1 June 2024, and they are saying because the ocean waters are at record heat temperatures, to expect to see a record number of storms and catastrophic hurricanes to strike America this year! Again, there is no such thing as a coincidence with HaShem!

Is it a coincidence the more America voices its hatred of Israel, our economy is crumbling and the value of the US dollar is being dumped by nation after nation across the globe? Inflation is skyrocketing and now today we each have to figuratively speaking take a loan out from the bank just to pay the bills and buy the groceries! Its very, very concerning!

The more America plots and seeks to disrupt Israel’s ability to defend herself, the faster America will fall! So, how do we as HaShem’s people living in America today deal with this? Life is no doubt extremely difficult and full of concerns so much so it is utterly impossible to try and prepare for each possible scenario! Catastrophe can literally come upon each and every one of us at a moments notice now! We truly are in the End of Days, literally moments from the beginning of the Birthpains of Messiah!

Keep this in mind and as I always include in my Op’s never forget the following eternal attributes of HaShem and His Torah:

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 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

This weeks Torah portion address this very topic of this Op! It is the last Torah portion of the book of Leviticus ‘Bechukosai’ which is found in Leviticus 26:3-27:34! This Torah portion begins with the very first verse which says “If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them…”

So, what does this very first verse tell us? Look at the wording HaShem begins with? He begins with ‘IF’, which denotes the decision is up to each of us! We get to choose each and every day which way we will walk. Its not an issue of Replacement Theology which teaches the Torah has been done away with and tossed out so it is no longer any concern, just the opposite, we are to choose even today and this Torah portion tells us what happens when we choose HaShem and what happens when we choose to walk away!

HaShem says when we follow and toil in our study of His Torah and perform His commandments, the following blessings will be bestowed: “Then I will provide rains in their time, and the land will give its produce and the tree of the field will give its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your bread to satiety and you will dwell securely in your land.”

So, we see He will provide the rains at their proper time and in proper quantity. The produce the land will be enough with much left over. Everyone will eat to satiety and none will be hungry or dissatisfied and we will dwell securely in the land, which means no crime, no violence, no corruption and ultimately no war!

He continues in verse six: “I will provide peace in the Land, and you will lie down with none to frighten you; I will cause wild beasts to withdraw from the Land, and a sword will not cross your Land. You will pursue your enemies; and they will fall before you by the sword. Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand; and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. I will turn My attention to you, I will make you fruitful and increase you; and I will establish My covenant with you.”

Do we see today peace in the land? Does anyone today lie down to go to sleep with nothing to be concerned about or frighten us? Is the sword i.e. violence/war, just something from a Hollywood script we occasionally consider? Is the effectiveness and fear of the US military amongst our enemies keeping the peace or is the growing weakness of the US military emboldening our enemies around the globe today?

HaShem continues in verse 10: “You will eat very old grain and remove the old to make way for the new. I will place My Sanctuary among you; and My Spirit will not reject you. I will walk among you. I will be Elohim unto you and you will be a people unto Me. I am HaShem your Elohim, Who took you out of the land of Egypt from being their slaves; I broke the staves of your yoke and I will lead you very high.”

Are we eating like we did twenty years ago here America today? Not a chance! How many times do you go the grocery store and common items are now out of stock? Just yesterday in the news it was discussing how another chicken farm in America was destroyed by fire in which millions of chickens were destroyed. The week before a chicken farm culled tens of millions of chickens because of bird flu. Point is, our food supply is rapidly diminishing!

Now, here is where HaShem says what will happen if we do NOT walk in His Torah: “But IF (Again our choice) you will NOT listen to Me and will not perform all of these commandments; if you consider My decrees loathsome, and if your being rejects My ordinances, so as not to perform all My commandments, so that you annul My covenant, then I will do the same to you; I will assign upon you panic, swelling lesions, and burning fever, which causes eyes to long and souls to suffer; you will sow your seeds in vain, for your enemies will eat it. I will turn My attention against you, you will be struck down before enemies; whose who hate you will subjugate you, you will flee with no one pursuing you.”

How often do we hear from the Replacement Theology groups just how much they utterly abhor and loathe HaShem’s Torah? I see and read it all the time now. The outright hatred and disdain for HaShem and His Torah is at levels I have never seen before! What is the effect on the land? One word encapsulates it i.e. LAWLESSNESS! We see law and order swirling down the drain now. Its a free for all and the powerful, wealthy and elite have all the power and are exempt from being held accountable!

Interesting HaShem says He will assign panic to the society who tells Him to take His Torah and get lost. Are we witnessing this today in America? Are we planting our fields with seeds and either the seeds do not sprout or those fields have already been promised to be given to our enemies! How about the millions of illegals who have poured into our country, many are adversaries of America who are here for nefarious and very dangerous reasons, and what is happening? They are being given the benefits, support, healthcare, housing and food which should be being provided to American citizens. Those who hate America will subjugate us and we can truly see this has happened today!

Its curious HaShem talks about how we will flee with no one pursuing us! Was America defeated and expelled out of Afghanistan or did America defeat itself and chose to expel ourselves in shame and dishonor? Was anyone overwhelming us in Afghanistan? No, again we chose to do so and it was broadcast over the entire globe the humiliating defeat of America. I could go on and on showing the examples of what is right in front of us today proving HaShem’s Word is absolutely true and we as a nation are reaping what we have sown!

So, what do we do here and now in this life in America 2024? The Midrash Rabbah for this weeks Torah portion has a very interesting commentary. It says “Why did King David go to the synagogues and study halls when he had planned on going elsewhere? Some understand that these detours were spontaneous; he was simply drawn away from his mundane itinerary by the inexorable pinings of his soul. However, David’s actions were premediated. Before attending to his mundane affairs, he would go to the synagogue to pray for success, and then he would enter the study halls to delve into the Torah and map out the proper way to go about his tasks. Thus, David said that when ‘I considered my ways, this is, when I contemplated my everyday affairs, I returned my feet to Your testimonies’, I prepared myself by going to the synagogues and study halls. The routine became so habitual, adds our Midrash, that even without any forethought, ‘my feet would lead me’ to these holy places.”

“This glimpse into King David’s methods provides a model for those who seek to lead their lives in the path of Torah. Before any worldly activity, one should pray for Divine assistance and consult the Torah for evaluation and guidance, evaluation of the activity against the standards of Torah law, and guidance on how to navigate difficult situations and how to withstand the moral challenges that are sure to come his way.” Are we today being inundated with shall we say difficult moral challenges with all the immorality, depravity and perversions we are constantly being smothered with?

The last paragraph from this Midrash says “For this reason, our verse does not say, ‘if you will observe My decrees, but if you will go in the path of My decrees.’ The chosen wording indicates that HaShem expects us to do more than perform the commandments as they come our way. He wants us to prepare for such observance by going to the synagogue and asking for His help, and by going to the study hall to determine how best to perform the commandment. And if that is true for commandment endeavors, it is surely true for personal or business matters, which must be examined even more closely under the Torah’s light.”

In other words, we strive to make Torah study a priority in our lives. Now I must pause here and reinforce, HaShem knows none of us are Torah scholars or sages and He knows where we live, what we have access too and our abilities i.e. health issues.

When we read HaShem wants us to study His Torah, we do the best we can do, where we are at and with the resources we have! Further, studying His Torah has nothing to do with obtaining salvation. This has been accomplished by the real Messiah Yeshua. Salvation is secure and striving and toiling in His Torah is how we walk and live in the likeness of Messiah Yeshua. Remember: Know Torah, Know Messiah Yeshua. No Torah, No Messiah Yeshua!

Back on track. The commentary from Or HaChaim on this Torah portion, points out “How shall I interpret, ‘If you will follow My decrees?’ Its meaning is ‘IF YOU WILL TOIL IN THE STUDY OF TORAH.’ Having established that ‘Following My decrees’ refers to studying Torah, Or HaChaim analyzes why the verse refers to Torah study as a ‘Decree’, a term that usually denotes a mitzvah (Commandment) whose purpose is unknown. The purpose of Torah study, however, seems obvious, to promote Torah knowledge and observance.”

“The reason that the verse calls toil in Torah study a decree, is because the mitzvah to study Torah includes an obligation to learn even subjects that a person has already learned two or three times and are already known to him. This obligation exists because HaShem wants His children to be engaged in Torah study at all times, regardless of how much it adds to their knowledge; it is a decree that He has ordained, to be followed even when it does not serve the obvious purpose of increasing knowledge. You will find, in fact, that the Sages, of blessed memory, said, that to ensure that a person will always learn Torah with enthusiasm, the wisdom of HaShem, blessed be He, ordained that a person shall learn and forget, so that he is forced to review his learning again and again, and thus will be constantly engaged in Torah study.”

Consider what the Haftarah says for this weeks Torah portion which is found in Jeremiah 16:19-17:14. This is just the first few verses: “HaShem, my Strength, my Stronghold, and my Refuge on the day of distress! To You nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, ‘It was all falsehood that our ancestors inherited, futility that has no purpose. Can a man make gods for himself? They are NOT gods!’ Therefore, behold, I inform them at this time, I shall let them know of My hand and My strength; and they shall know that My Name is HaShem!”

The point is, in the end, the nations will finally realize all the religious idolatry and garbage they held onto was absolutely futile and worthless. They will finally realize HaShem is the One true Elohim and there is no other and His Torah is the ONLY way to walk, the only truth there is and is the only way to have success in life! So, is it a coincidence HaShem attaches these verses from Jeremiah to this week’s Torah portion? Again, nothing is a coincidence with HaShem!

In summary, we are to toil in the study of His Torah, and in doing so, we can put into practice, as best as we can, His Torah, just as Messiah Yeshua did, and in doing so, we will be protected, supplied, and most of all maintain our sanity in a world gone mad with corruption, violence and immorality.

Just a quick Op to hopefully give someone a little sliver of hope in a hopeless world. May our redemption be so very, very soon in our days!!

Shabbat Shalom!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

Or HaChaim Vayikra by Artscroll
Midrash Rabbah Vayikra by Artscroll
The Chumash Vayikrah by Artscroll