Thoughts on Torah for Week.
 
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Deuteronomy 29-30
In this parsha, we see the Lord essentially stating that he will make His covenant with anyone who desires it.   The Lord says, “It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant, but with whoever is standing here with us today before the LORD our God, and with whoever is not here with us today.” 29:14,15.    Why would anyone want to make this covenant with God?  One important reason is to repair their lives by receiving God’s blessings. In Judaism, a "repairing" of the world is called Tikkun Olam. Moreover, wounded hearts can be healed/repaired by receiving the unconditional acceptance of God.  In this review, we’ll look at the healing power of both God and the Law.

​Thoughts on Torah for Last Week.
 
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Deuteronomy 26-29
This parsha contains the proverbial blessings and cursings for Israel whether they observed or violated the Lord’s commands. When the Lord decrees blessings on the faithful, there is an inheritance.  We see this in both the Torah and Brit Hadashah/New Testament.  But the conditions for receiving an inheritance seem to be different – sort of a paradox.  We’ll reconcile these differences in this review and see how blessings and inheritance fit into the broader view of the Lord’s mandate to be perfect.  But first let’s review the mitzvot/commandments in these chapters.  Go to Part 19 at time mark 54:15 - HERE.

Thoughts on Torah for Last Week.

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​Deuteronomy 21-25
The parsha for last week seems to be a collection of miscellaneous commands.  These commands can be viewed in the larger context for creating order.   Moreover, this order can be further organized into different types of government in society.  In our review of the parsha last week, we discussed the responsibility of each person to govern their own actions and how these actions affect the stability of a free society.  John Rushdoony wrote in the Institutes of Biblical Law, “We must recognize that as Christians for us the first and most basic government is the self-government of the Christian man.  Without this, we have nations of slaves.” This week we move forward to explore the second basic form of government – the family.  But before we continue, lets review the mitzvot/commandments in this parsha.  Go to Part 18 starting at time mark 44 minutes - HERE.

Thoughts on Torah for Last Week.
 
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Deuteronomy 16-21
This parsha logically moves us into the justice system that God gave to Israel.  Insuring that a free society remains free, requires that that society must be fair and just. Essentially, God’s justice system is based on the principle of restitution as its standard, but this standard does not preclude us from going beyond that standard to help one another – to love our neighbor may require exceeding that standard (Leviticus 19:18).  But there is another critically important principle that this parsha alludes to. In order to maintain a free society, personal righteousness is an indispensable support.  But before we continue, let’s review the mitzvot/commandments in these chapters.  Go to Part 17 at time mark 39:25 minutes - HERE.