23 Elul 5993 / 9 September 2023
Day 252 Reading
NITZAVIM (You are Standing) / Vayelech (And He Went)
Deuteronomy 29:9(10)–31:30, Isaiah 61:10–63:9
“You are standing [nitzavim] today in the presence of the Lord your God…. You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 29:10, 12)
Torah: Nitzavim-Vayelech, 7th Portion Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:20-30
20 For when I have brought them into the land I swore to their ancestors, flowing with milk and honey; and they have eaten their fill, grown fat and turned to other gods, serving them and despising me, and broken my covenant; 21 then, after many calamities and troubles have come upon them, this song will testify before them as a witness, because their descendants will still be reciting it and will not have forgotten it. For I know how they think even now, even before I have brought them into the land about which I swore.” 22 So Moshe wrote this song that same day and taught it to the people of Isra’el.
23 Adonai also commissioned Y’hoshua the son of Nun with these words: “Be strong and full of courage; for you are to bring the people of Isra’el into the land about which I swore to them; and I will be with you.”
Haftarah Vayelekh: Hoshea (Hosea) 14:2(1)–10(9); Mikhah (Micah) 7:18–20; Yo’el (Joel) 2:15–27
Israel Restored at Last
Hosea 14
1 O Israel, return to the Lord your God,For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;2 Take words with you,And return to the Lord.Say to Him,“Take away all iniquity;Receive us graciously,For we will offer the sacrifices[a] of our lips.3 Assyria shall not save us,We will not ride on horses,Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.’For in You the fatherless finds mercy.”
4 “I will heal their backsliding,I will love them freely,For My anger has turned away from him.5 I will be like the dew to Israel;He shall [b]grow like the lily,And [c]lengthen his roots like Lebanon.6 His branches shall [d]spread;His beauty shall be like an olive tree, And his fragrance like Lebanon. 7 Those who dwell under his shadow shall return;They shall be revived like grain,And [e]grow like a vine. Their [f]scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 “Ephraim shall say, ‘What have I to do anymore with idols?’I have heard and observed him.I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me.”
9 Who is wise?Let him understand these things.Who is prudent?Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right;The righteous walk in them,But transgressors stumble in them.
Micah 7:18-20
New King James Version
18 Who is a God like You,Pardoning iniquityAnd passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever,Because He delights in mercy.[a]19 He will again have compassion on us,And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all [b]our sinsInto the depths of the sea.20 You will give truth to JacobAnd [c]mercy to Abraham,Which You have sworn to our fathersFrom days of old.
Joel 2:15-27
New King James Version
15 Blow the [a]trumpet in Zion,Consecrate a fast,Call a sacred assembly;16 Gather the people,Sanctify the congregation,Assemble the elders,Gather the children and nursing babes;Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,And the bride from her dressing room.17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,Weep between the porch and the altar;Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,And do not give Your heritage to reproach,That the nations should [b]rule over them.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’ ”
The Land Refreshed
18 Then the Lord will be zealous for His land,And pity His people.19 The Lord will answer and say to His people,“Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil,And you will be satisfied by them;I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.
20 “But I will remove far from you the northern army,And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,With his face toward the eastern seaAnd his back toward the western sea;His stench will come up,And his foul odor will rise,Because he has done [c]monstrous things.”
21 Fear not, O land;Be glad and rejoice,For the Lord has done [d]marvelous things!22 Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;For the open pastures are springing up,And the tree bears its fruit;The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.23 Be glad then, you children of Zion,And rejoice in the Lord your God;For He has given you the [e]former rain faithfully,And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain,And the latter rain in the first month.24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming [f]locust has eaten,The crawling locust,The consuming locust,And the chewing locust,My great army which I sent among you.26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,And praise the name of the Lord your God,Who has dealt wondrously with you;And My people shall never be put to shame.27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:I am the Lord your GodAnd there is no other.My people shall never be put to shame.
B’rit Hadashah suggested reading for Parashah Vayelekh:
Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 13:5–8;
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.What will man do to me?”
7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the [a]result of their way of life, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.
Luke 24:1–12/Luke 24:13–43
36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40 [j]When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish [k]and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
Bible Study Together
Deuteronomy 28:49-68
58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses.
Mark 8:1-10
1 In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus summoned His disciples and *said to them, 2 “I feel compassion for the [a]people because they have remained with Me for three days already and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.”
365 Daily Kingdom Living
No God
Sometimes we confuse education with wisdom. Someone with a Ph.D. in a scientific discipline declaring ‘there is no God’ can still be a ‘fool’ when it comes to spiritual matters. The head of a university, business, or country can be smart, but still be corrupt and vile if they leave God out of the equation. Wisdom starts with a heart humbled before almighty God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, give me a discerning heart today. Worldly wisdom might lead to worldly success, but it can be corrupt and wicked, which bring no true prosperity. Kingdom wisdom starts with fear and awe of God. Walking in the spiritual way brings joy and peace. Help me to see clearly the difference between good and evil, wisdom and foolishness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture
Isaiah 3
Isaiah 4
Isaiah 5
2 Corinthians 11:1-15 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Psalms 53
1 The fool has said in his heart,“There is no God.”They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;There is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.3 Every one of them has turned aside;They have together become corrupt;There is none who does good,No, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge,Who eat up my people as they eat bread,And do not call upon God?5 There they are in great fearWhere no fear was,For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;You have put them to shame,Because God has despised them.
6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!When God brings back [b]the captivity of His people,Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
Proverbs 22:28-29
28 Do not remove the ancient [a]landmarkWhich your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man who [b]excels in his work?He will stand before kings;He will not stand before [c]unknown men.
Dear AVI,
O GOD MY GOD YOU are the GREAT I AM, the HOLY ONE of Israel and I bless YOU today forever, I cling to YOU O KING of Glory, KING over all the Universe reigning in power and majesty! YOU rule the galaxies and I am but an insignificant being who is depending on YOU for love, food, shelther, support, strenght, courage,life, and the will to face each day's troubles. O GOD My GOD, YOU know our difficulty and all our hardships, I know YOU are trying to teach my younger siblings, even my parents, even me, forgive us LORD because we are not perfect before YOU, a HOLY GOD, but we are righteous because of YESHUA and LORD, forgive my parents for disobeying rules in the land, forgive Atty Sheiryl for her pride and arrogance. Forgive us all O GOD because we have failed YOU and fallen short of YOUR glory, forgive my siblings for being complacent, forgive me for I was also complacent before YOU have awakened me, for being selfish, for being ungrateful, for many things that have hurt YOU O GOD. Please KING JESUS have mercy on us all we need YOU so much O GOD, encourage us with YOUR WORD and direct our steps and take full control over everything going on. Refresh everyone on this blessed Sabado O GOD refresh us all. May I enjoy this blessed Shabbat with YOU and protect me from harm, from any traitor or betrayal. Protect me from anxiety, fear and worry, protect me O GOD and have YOUR way in my heart, mind and soul and send forth YOUR chosen man to take care of me as a husband, the One YOU Promised born in Zion. O GOD send forth and prepare us for the future because the pain of childbearing has increased in this world for YOU are coming soon. Help me to make a difference to the ministries O GOD, YOU have entrusted to us all, be in business or in church. O GOD, I believe and have hope in YOUR WORD because it is YOUR Promise that I will see the goodness and kindness and grace of the LORD in the land of the Living. I will enjoy this life even though it is full of troubles because KING JESUS YOU RULE OVER MY LIFE and My husband's too. Toda Raba for the peace and hope YOU have given me today, breaking through from all my anxious thoughts and cares of this world. For YOU deserve all the glory and the honor and power and thanksgiving and praises only YOU O GOD, only YOU! Come LORD JESUS, come!!!
Ba HaShem YESHUA HaMalkizadik Amen!