Highlights: Devarim: 7: 12 ‘And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform, that the Lord, your God, will keep for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers,’
Moshe speaks the thoughts of Hashem and his relationship with Israel. Here Israel is reminded of every good thing that Hashem has done and will do for them.
Commentary: VeHayah Ekev (it shall come to pass-as a consequence of).
Complete within this phrase is the raison d’ètre for the entire Torah. Here in the midst of a recounting of Hashem’s purpose for us we dive deeply into the heart of life and our relationship to Hashem. If this were a manual for an appliance of any sort this would be the part after “turn on the appliance” where it says, “here is how everything works…”
Demonstration after demonstration is illustrated to prove the faithfulness of Hashem to Israel and also to give Israel instructions on how to use the manual. It is imbedded within these instructions at every turn that everything we do measures and metes consequences. Therefore if we do what is right in terms of mitzvoth we will in turn enjoy all the good portions that Hashem has promised us.
Highlights: Devarim: 8:10. ‘And you will eat and be sated, and you shall bless the Lord, your God, for the good land He has given you.’
At the end of this section the promise is fulfilled. As a result of being blessed by Hashem you return the blessing. In a sense it is a closed loop of promise and fulfillment followed by gratitude. This is the divine pattern of earthly progression.
Highlights: Devarim 8:11. Beware that you do not forget the Lord, your God, by not keeping His commandments, His ordinances, and His statutes, which I command you this day,
Commentary: Now that we are reminded of the pattern we are also reminded again of what will happen if we deviate from the commandments of Hashem. It is easy to think when things are going well that everything has happened because of our talents and yet we must always remember that nothing occurs without Hashem in our lives. If we forget then we might proceed without remembering that divine connection which is imperative for the success of all our endeavors.
Highlights: “4. Do not say to yourself, when the Lord, your God, has repelled them from before you, saying, "Because of my righteousness, the Lord has brought me to possess this land," and [that] because of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord drives them out from before you.
Moshe tells Israel that it isn’t because of anything that Israel has done or the people they are conquering haven’t done that is the reason for Hashem supporting Israel. It is because of the covenant he established with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He reminds them that they have been a stiff-necked people and have many times angered Hashem.
Moshe tells them that many times he stood in for Israel to save them from destruction because of their sins with the golden calf, their murmuring along the way, and their refusal to enter the Promised Land when the spies brought back an evil report.
Commentary: The rebellion Moshe speaks of is the denial of our good nature. Basically he is telling us to listen to Hashem and not our doubts.
Highlights: Devarim 10:1. At that time, the Lord said to me, "Hew for yourself two stone tablets like the first ones and come up to Me onto the mountain, and make for yourself a wooden ark,
Commentary: Despite everything Israel is given the holy Torah and Moshe leads them to the Promised Land. The Torah may be otherwise known as the truth of the way. The pattern of earthly progression spoken of above is a template for both fulfillment and worship.
Highlights: Devarim 10: 12. And now, O Israel, what does the Lord, your God, demand of you? Only to fear the Lord, your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, and to worship the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul,
Commentary: Follow the pattern and listen intently keeping always to the ways of Hashem. Once again why should we do this?
Highlights: Devarim 11: 9. ‘and in order that you may prolong your days on the land that the Lord swore to your forefathers to give to them and to their seed a land flowing with milk and honey.’
Commentary: The consequence is reiterated. Long life with abundance is promised.
Highlights: Devarim 11; 13. ‘And it will be, if you hearken to My commandments that I command you this day to love the Lord, your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul…’
Commentary: Serve Hashem, which means that in all that we do we must remember Hashem and tread the pattern of awareness that focuses hearts and minds on our divine connection.
Highlights: Devarim 11:22. For if you keep all these commandments, which I command you to do them, to love the Lord, your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave to Him,
Commentary: Parts of the SHMA are repeated here and the previous portion. The message is the same as the opening call to consequence. Remember Hashem, walk in his ways and reap the Promised Land.
Summary: If someone told you that all you needed to do was to press a certain button and all would be revealed to you would you have to be told twice? What is of paramount important to anyone? It is their life and the experiences that life has to share with us.
When we adhere to our connection to Hashem in all the ways we may through mitzvoth, prayer, tzedakah, doing the right thing, etc, then our lives are assured of a good report.
Israel is told time and again about this pattern of the unfolding of life experience. They are shown on numerous occasions the results of this process and still as Hashem says they are rebellious, ‘sticknecked’ to the point of even losing their own lives.
The lesson here is to listen for our good. Listen to Hashem 24/7. Everything else in terms of doubts is really literally a dead end.
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I am so grateful for your writing and how you break it down. WOW
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