PORTION “PARASHA” OF THE WEEK SHOFTIM – DELIVERIES - 7 OF 7 By Julie Parker - Copyright © - Deuteronomy 16:18 to 21:9 - Isaiah 51:12 to 52:12 - Matthew 5:38-42, 18:15-20 - Acts 3:13-26; 7:35-53 - 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 - 1 Timothy 5:17-22 - Hebrews 10:28-31 Cities of Refuge - Deuteronomy 19:1-14 Yahweh set cities of refuge aside for people to flee to if they had unintentionally killed anyone either by accident or other traumatic situation. There they found safety from those avenging the blood of their slain relative. The three cities of refuge on the east side of the Jordan River are: Kedesh (meaning holy) now called Kedes, 20 miles from Tyre in Naphtali territory Shechem (meaning shoulder) now called Nablus Hebron (meaning fellowship) now called El-Khalil In total six refuge cities are listed, three on each side of the Jordan, which were studied earlier in the study Masei (Numbers 35). Of all the refuge cities, only one is in Jewish hands today, that city is Kedesh. The land of Israel designated here in Scripture is only a portion of the size promised in the Covenant to Abraham. If the Children of Israel obey and keep Yahweh’s Words, He will increase their land and release the assigned refuge cities. As yet, this has not happened. Yahweh’s Covenant still stands today and we are heirs of that Covenant. He is faithful to fulfill His Word to believers if we return to the Gospel/Song of Moses. Our calling is to rebuild David’s fallen tent (Covenant). Yeshua fulfilled all the Words spoken to Moses and gave believers His indwelling Presence, which guides us to walk in His power and authority called the paths of righteousness. We are no longer in a non-legal status but are carriers of His Covenant. The key is to love our neighbor as ourselves and to walk in His holy ways called Life/Chaim! (Amos 9:11). Going to War - Deuteronomy 20:1-9 The next realm of Yahweh’s Kingdom that Moses reiterated was the blessings and curses of going to war. The importance of any successful mission is based on the fact that we serve in a heavenly kingdom first, not an earthly kingdom. Here they were reminded to take courage and remember Yahweh was on their side. Even if they the enemy was physically bigger than themselves they were not to fear; Yahweh would go into the battle before them. 2 Kings 6:15-18 “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Yahweh, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, ‘Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.’ And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.” If Scripture says that Yeshua was slain from the foundation of the world, then satan would have been defeated then also (Revelation 13:8). For it is Yahweh who fights for us and gives us victory over our enemies (physical and spiritual), as Scripture says, “Not by might nor by power but by My spirit, says Yahweh” (Zechariah 4:6). “It is hard to imagine an ordinary nation’s constitution announcing that in the case of a general mobilization, before the military call-up takes place, all those who do not feel they have the necessary courage to face the enemy will be exempted. It would also seem strange for officers to send back to their homes all those who want to return, all newlywed men and all recently established cultivators of the land. Yet the Torah legislates exactly these measures” (TCT) Israel depends first and foremost upon its moral integrity and its bond with Yahweh. Only in a mood of calm and confidence can a war serving the cause of good be waged. The establishment of homes, the good will of its people – these are among the values that must be preserved in all circumstances. Only those hearts that were truly focused on Yahweh were to enter into battle. This was for the safety of all the men going to war. “Let your heart not be faint; do not be afraid, do not panic.” Rambam declares that whoever feels strong to fight in Hashem’s battle, and commits himself to do so should immediately put all his trust in Hashem and know that he is fighting in His Name. He should be courageous and not be afraid in any way... Whoever loses that focus, and begins to worry about the repercussions, transgresses the commandment of this verse. The lives of his fellow soldiers depend on him. If he does not strive for victory, if he does not fight with all his heart and soul, it is as if he was shedding the blood of his fellows. The prophet Jeremiah declared (48:10): “Cursed be the one who does Hashem’s work in bad faith; cursed be he that keeps back his sword from blood!” (Reproduced from ‘The Call of the Torah,” by Rabbi Elie Munk, with permission of ArtScroll / Mesorah Publications, Ltd.) All of us have spiritual enemies and fight spiritual battles. Remember Israel is a great people who are strong in thought and action. Yeshua has given us the victory and He is mighty to deliver! Revelation 2:7 “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:11 “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’” Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 2:26-28 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations - He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potters vessels’ - as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 21:7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” Taking the Land - Deuteronomy 20:10-18 When marching to attack a city that was located outside the borders of the Promised Land, the Israelites were to first offer the inhabitants peace. If the offer was not accepted, they were to attack and kill all the males but permitted to keep the women and children as slaves, the livestock and everything in the city as plunder for themselves. Of the cities in the Land that Yahweh was about to give them, nothing was to be kept of the inhabitants, livestock or goods; all were to be destroyed. This was how the land was to be taken, cleansed and kept free of pagan influences. Haftarah Isaiah 51:12 to 52:12 I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, that you forget Yahweh your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth? For where is the wrath of the oppressor? I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand - I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’ Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed. At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them and now what do I have here? My people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock, all day long my name is constantly blasphemed. Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Luke 2:10-12 “But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, because I am here announcing to you Good News [the living Torah/Gospel – Yeshua] that will bring great joy to all the people. This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord [Yahweh].” (CJB) Romans 10:14-17 “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news [Gospel] !’ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news [Gospel]. For Isaiah says, ‘Yahweh, who has believed our message [the Gospel]?’ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message [Gospel] is heard through the word of God [Yeshua].” Isaiah 52:8-11 “Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When Yahweh returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for Yahweh has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. Yahweh will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God (Yeshua – Strong’s #3444 means: salvation; our deliverance, welfare, prosperity, deliverance, victory). Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of Yahweh.” 2 Corinthians 6:16 -7:1 “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says Yahweh. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” Isaiah 52:12 “But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for Yahweh will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Shabbat Shalom,
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 22:43:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015