הַעִידֹתִי בָכֶם הַיּוֹם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ הַחַיִּים וְהַמָּוֶת נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַבְּרָכָה וְהַקְּלָלָה וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה אַתָּה וְזַרְעֶךָ׃ לְאַהֲבָה אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקֹלוֹ וּלְדָבְקָה־בוֹ כִּי הוּא חַיֶּיךָ וְאֹרֶךְ יָמֶיךָ לָשֶׁבֶת עַל־הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב לָתֵת לָהֶם׃
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Deut. 30:19-20 NASB95
לֹא־יֵאָמֵר לָךְ עוֹד עֲזוּבָה וּלְאַרְצֵךְ לֹא־יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שְׁמָמָה כִּי לָךְ יִקָּרֵא חֶפְצִי־בָהּ וּלְאַרְצֵךְ בְּעוּלָה כִּי־חָפֵץ יְהוָה בָּךְ וְאַרְצֵךְ תִּבָּעֵל׃ כִּי־יִבְעַל בָּחוּר בְּתוּלָה יִבְעָלוּךְ בָּנָיִךְ וּמְשׂוֹשׂ חָתָן עַל־כַּלָּה יָשִׂישׂ עָלַיִךְ אֱלֹהָיִךְ׃
“It will no longer be said to you, ‘Forsaken,’ Nor to your land will it any longer be said, ‘Desolate’; But you will be called, ‘My delight is in her,’ And your land, ‘Married’; For the LORD delights in you, And to Him your land will be married.
“For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you.”
Isaiah 62:4-5 NASB95
In certain years, Torah readings נִצָּבִים Nitzavim (“standing,” Deut. 29:10–30:20) and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“he went,” Deut. 31:1–30) are combined.
Nitzavim
- Deuteronomy 29:10–30:20
- Isaiah 61:10–63:9
- John 12:20–50
- John 15:1–11
Discernment in a deceptive age: How to sharpen our spiritual senses (Deuteronomy 29–30)
The Torah readings of נִצָּבִים Nitzavim and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (Deuteronomy 29:10–31:30) confront us with a stark choice — life or death. Yet this is no mere intellectual exercise, for the decision before us demands a profound internal transformation via Heaven’s tag-team Comforters, the Word and the Spirit. In this study, we’ll see that these ancient yet ever-more-relevant words speak to the very core of our being, calling us to align our thoughts and desires with the ways of the Almighty. In a world that tempts us with the allure of secret knowledge and the false security of human systems,…
‘Living water’ from God slakes the spiritual thirst that destroys people and nations (Deuteronomy 29–31; John 4, 7)
In the dual Torah readings נִצָּבִים Nitzavim and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“standing” and “he went,” Deut. 29:9–31:30), Moses warns the second post-Egypt generation Israel in Deuteronomy 29:14-21 that if they reject the LORD as their God and King their rejection will cause not only a physical drought in the land, but a spiritual drought too.
In this study, we explore John 4, where the apostle John records Yeshua’s meeting with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well near Shechem. Although the conversation starts with a conversation about the water in Jacob’s well, it ends with Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) offering her “living…
Choose life: Live with nothing to hide (Deuteronomy 29–30; John 12)
Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) taught that the life choices that are truly profitable long-term aren’t obvious to those with the worldview of the now (John 12:25).
That teaching parallels the main theme of the Torah reading נִצָּבִים Nitzavim (“standing,”Deut. 29:9-30:20): “choose life.” One would think that choosing life over death would be a no-brainer, but we learn that this command is simultaneously easy and extremely difficult.
Choose a selfless life for the salvation of the world (Deuteronomy 29–30)
Moses said effectively, “Choose life, not death” (Deut. 30:19-20). It sounds like such an easy thing to do. But the truth is that it’s easier to walk the path of death than it is to walk the path of life. Our “flesh” drags us to follow our own inclinations, what we think is right rather than what God thinks and what He has taught us is right. In the Torah portion נִצָּבִים Nitzavim (“standing,” Deut. 29:9-30:20), Moses tells us that the Torah is not too hard for us, but it can be immensely difficult for us if we are not…
Deuteronomy 29–30: Is circumcision of the heart too much to bear?
It should be an easy choice: life vs. death. Unfortunately many people willingly choose death rather than life because they don’t want to submit their hearts, souls and minds to God.
It’s important to understand that following Torah is our free choice. It is easy to fall into analysis paralysis of learning God’s instructions, and Deuteronomy 29-30 (Torah reading Netzavim) can bring us back to our center when we fall into that trap.
Deuteronomy 29–30: Keep, do, prosper. It’s not as hard as we make it
Choosing life over death seems like an easy choice, but it can be hard for some people. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41; Mark 14:38).
In Moses’ third address to the second generation of Israel post-Egypt, recorded in Torah reading נִצָּבִים Nitzavim (“standing,” Deut. 29:9–30:20), he tells them (and us) they have a choice between life and death. He implores us to choose life.
We are also told that the Torah isn’t difficult, if it’s in your heart and in your mouth. Men make it difficult, but God doesn’t.
Deuteronomy 29:9–31:30: Hungry to get close to God?
We don’t have to go to Heaven ourselves to learn God’s Law; we don’t have to die to keep it. God’s Law is so close to us, we can taste it. That’s a key lesson in the dual Torah reading נִצָּבִים Nitzavim (“standing,” Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20) and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“he went,” Deuteronomy 31:1–30).
The book of Deuteronomy applies to us, regardless of where we come from, whether we are born Israelites or grafted into Israel (Romans 11).
Deuteronomy 30-31: Prelude to the Song of Moshe
Revelation fortells of a time when those who trust completely in God and aren’t fooled by the beast, his image and the number of his name will sing “the song of Moses” and “the song of the Lamb” (Rev. 15:2–4).
We know of the “song of the Lamb” from Revelation 5. There’s the “song of Moshe” in Exodus 15 just after God saves Israel and destroys the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. There’s also another “song” of Moshe in Deuteronomy 32, and understanding it helps us understand apostle Paul’s terms “under [the] law” and “under grace.”
Deuteronomy 29: Agape-love the LORD with all your heart, soul, strength
We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. That love is to be an agape, selfless love, not a selfish “feeling” kind of love.
Those who “follow their hearts” against God’s Torah are running headlong into stubbornness and rebellion and will reap a curse.
Deuteronomy 30: Bringing the nations near God so they can ‘choose life’
The Law of the LORD, or Torah, is as difficult to follow and indecipherable as we make it — simply, choose the lifestyle that leads to life. The LORD over time aligns our emotions, desires and reason in that direction.
Deuteronomy 29: ‘New Covenant’ isn’t entirely so new
This chapter points out that the “New Covenant,” or “New Testament,” isn’t so new and doesn’t replace deals cut between God and Adam, Noach (Noah), Abraham, Moshe (Moses), David, etc. The LORD intended the Torah from the very beginning to be “written” on the hearts (emotions) and minds (reason) of His people.
Vayelech
- Deuteronomy 31:1–30
- Isaiah 55:6–56:8
- Matthew 18:21–35
- Matthew 28
- Romans 10:1–17
‘Living water’ from God slakes the spiritual thirst that destroys people and nations (Deuteronomy 29–31; John 4, 7)
In the dual Torah readings נִצָּבִים Nitzavim and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“standing” and “he went,” Deut. 29:9–31:30), Moses warns the second post-Egypt generation Israel in Deuteronomy 29:14-21 that if they reject the LORD as their God and King their rejection will cause not only a physical drought in the land, but a spiritual drought too.
In this study, we explore John 4, where the apostle John records Yeshua’s meeting with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well near Shechem. Although the conversation starts with a conversation about the water in Jacob’s well, it ends with Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) offering her “living…
2 steps to repentance: Turn away from what’s bad; turn toward Who’s good
The Shabbat (Sabbath) between Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is called the Shabbat Shuvah, or Sabbath of Restoration/Return.
Traditional readings for this day from the prophets Hosea, Micah and Joel warn us that when our spiritual eyes are opened, He will show us where our community, our nation has veered away from Him, just as He will show us where we have turned away from Him on a personal level.
During this time of preparation for God’s judgement, we have an opportunity to see where have we gone off the right path. We should…
Deuteronomy 31:1-30: Shabbat of Repentance
In the final chapter of Deuteronomy, God tells Moses (and Moses tells the children of Israel) that he’s going to die and that shortly thereafter, everything Moses has worked for the last 40 years to accomplish will go right into the rubbish bin. On the surface, it is the most depressing message ever.
It’s quite fitting that the Shabbat when Torah reading וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“he went,” Deuteronomy 31) often falls on is the “Shabbat of Teshuvah” (Sabbath of Repentance). It’s planted between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, because it’s a calling back, a call to turn around and return to God….
Deuteronomy 29:9–31:30: Hungry to get close to God?
We don’t have to go to Heaven ourselves to learn God’s Law; we don’t have to die to keep it. God’s Law is so close to us, we can taste it. That’s a key lesson in the dual Torah reading נִצָּבִים Nitzavim (“standing,” Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20) and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“he went,” Deuteronomy 31:1–30).
The book of Deuteronomy applies to us, regardless of where we come from, whether we are born Israelites or grafted into Israel (Romans 11).
Deuteronomy 30-31: Prelude to the Song of Moshe
Revelation fortells of a time when those who trust completely in God and aren’t fooled by the beast, his image and the number of his name will sing “the song of Moses” and “the song of the Lamb” (Rev. 15:2–4).
We know of the “song of the Lamb” from Revelation 5. There’s the “song of Moshe” in Exodus 15 just after God saves Israel and destroys the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. There’s also another “song” of Moshe in Deuteronomy 32, and understanding it helps us understand apostle Paul’s terms “under [the] law” and “under grace.”
Deuteronomy 31-32: Song of Moshe
Moshe (Moses) predicts Israel’s idolatry and apostasy. He also writes a song to remind Israel of what the LORD has done for them, what they did against Him, what happened to them as a result and how the LORD will reconcile them back to Himself.
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