Re'eh: See — ראה

Thoughts on Torah for Last Week.
 
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Deuteronomy 7-11
In this parsha,  we see the Lord warning the Israelites of the problem of pride – Deuteronomy  8. Pride is a reoccurring malady of the human condition.  Man begins  to forget  that it was God and His law which blessed them and takes the credit for their prosperity, which then starts a downward chain of events.  We’ll take a look at the Cycle of Pride and how to avoid it.  But before we do, let’s review the mitzvot/commandments in these chapters.  Go to Part 15 at time mark 52:45 minutes - HERE. 

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The Biblical Concept of Pride
The best way to get a sense of what the Lord is warning the Israelites is to review His words.  Here is what the Lord said about pride in chapter 8:
 
“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God,"
 
"Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers,"


The Cycle of Pride
A cycle is a reoccurring sequence of events.  We looked at the Cycle of Apostasy and Restoration in parsha Va’era in which God gives His law to His people who then corrupt it, lose its blessings, who then repent and return to God’s Law.   At the core of this Apostasy/Restoration Cycle, is the human weakness of Pride.  The Cycle of Pride follows in a similar sequence to the Apostasy/Restoration Cycle.  Using chapter 8, our Cycle of Pride looks like this:

​Consider this excellent teaching from Lord Rabbi Sacks about this topic.

The Antidote for Pride
In Rabbi Sacks teaching on avoiding pride which is a result of affluence, he instructs us that in order from keeping a society from growing old - or falling into to decline - he teaches us three important principles:

1.  Never forget who you were and where you came from - for Israel it was slavery in Egypt.  For us, it is the prospect of bondage and curses if we violate God's Law.

2.  Create a society based on Justice, the Rule of Law, Caring for the Poor and Making sure everyone has dignity.

3.  Recognizing a power greater than yourself - always remember God.

An Endtime Zion Breaks the Cycle of Pride
One key event in Isaiah's Endtime prophecy is that their is a remnant of Gentiles and Jews, whom God calls Zion, that breaks this Cycle of Pride by repenting and returning to God's Law. Dr. Gileadi comments:

​"Several depictions of Zion exist in the scriptures. Zion is the “citadel” David captures from the Jebusites that becomes the “City of David” (1 Chronicles 11:4–7). The “holy hill of Zion” is the place where Jehovah dwells (Psalms 2:6; 9:11). Isaiah’s literary devices reveal his definition of Zion. Forty instances of the name Zion in the Book of Isaiah, for example, show a pattern associated with the name Zion consisting of (1) God’s destruction of the wicked from the earth; (2) his deliverance of a righteous remnant of his people; and (3) the presence of a Davidic king, whom Isaiah identifies either directly by name or indirectly under one of several aliases."
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"Contextually, Zion consists of God’s people Jacob or Israel who “repent” (swb) of transgression (Isaiah 1:27; 59:20). Zion is also the place to which they “return” (swb) from among the nations in an end-time exodus when the wicked perish (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11). In the Book of Isaiah, Zion, together with Jerusalem, is one of seven spiritual levels or categories of people. They consist of persons who ascend from the Jacob/Israel level to the Zion/Jerusalem level. They receive a remission of their sins when they prove their covenantal allegiance to God. In the end, the whole world divides into spiritual categories affiliated with either Zion or Babylon."

Hebrew Study

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Isaiah Chapter 45
Jehovah’s servant resembles David and Cyrus in restoring Jehovah’s people and routing their enemies.

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Resource Links for this Week's Portion

TORAH: Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
GOSPELS: John 6:35-51

Listen and Read the Portion
First Fruits of Zion

Torah Pearls with Nehemia Gordon

HAFTARAH: Isaiah Chapter 46

Commentary with Avraham Gileadi, PhD