Parashot Devarim

Few people in sports history have had the impact of Vince Lombardi. Lombardi took his National Football League team out of the slums in the ratings and into many Super Bowls through his colorful leadership and knowledge of the game. He coached the Green Bay Packers to nine phenomenal winning seasons and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1971.

One reason for his success is that Lombardi understood the importance of the basics. Every year when his team would first come together for training Lombardi would start their training the same way. All-stars, rookies, and veteran players would all gather to watch Lombardi raise a pigskin football in the air and say, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” This greatest coach in football history would start every season teaching the basics of the game. Lombardi understood the importance of understanding the fundamentals of the game.

Like Lombardi, in the book of Devarim, Moshe HaNasi raises his voice and reminds his listeners about the nuts and bolts of living as YHWH’s set apart nation. In fact the whole scroll of Devarim is pretty much a review of the rest of Torah, as just seventy new laws are presented in the whole book.

Instead of bringing lots of new ideas, the foundation of Hebrew faith is presented as Moshe acts as the speaker in Deuteronomy. Here Moshe addresses the nation as they are poised to enter into the Promised Land. In a series of three speeches he reminds them of their past, reviews their laws, and challenges the nation to live up to their high calling. This is great reading!

The first Torah reading section is named “Devarim” like the entire scroll itself. “Devarim” means “words” and is derived from chapter one verse one, “These are the words that Moshe addressed to all Yisra’el on the other side of the Jordan.” The English name Deuteronomy comes from the Septuagint and literally and correctly means “second law.” The entire book is also referred to in Judaism by an ancient Rabbinic title, “Mishneh Torah.” This is just like most ancient middle-eastern manuscripts, which receive their name from some of the first opening phrases. Even the Torah reading portions are usually named after the first important word or phrase used.

For example, the section on the evil king Balak and the evil prophet Bilaam is titled “Balak.” And the first parasha in the Torah is called “Beresheet” after the first Hebrew word found in the Torah, which means “beginning.” The Torah is the “basics” of Biblical faith and reading, the Torah is one of the most vital parts of having an abundant faith. To help with reviewing the basics, the Torah has been divided into 54 sections called “parashot.”

The Hebrew term “parasha” literally means “portion or section,” and Judaism has used an annual reading cycle for over two thousand years. Reading each week’s parasha will walk you through the five books of Moshe within a year.

Some say that Moshe instituted reading the Torah in a year’s time, but early history teaches that in Yisra’el the Torah was divided into 155 portions and took three years to read. Some groups, like the Reformed Jews, still use this triennial cycle of smaller sections. Most believers have adopted the annual cycle that at least dates back to the Babylonian exile. The annual cycle begins and ends near the holy day of Simchat Torah. Simchat Torah is a festive celebration of the Torah and the Torah reading cycle, which is promoted in the places of worship or synagogues. Sometimes two portions are read to complete the cycle in a year, because of leap years and holy day readings. When one completes the reading of one of the five books it is customary to stand and say the phrase, “Chazak, chazak, v’nit chazak” which means, “Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened.” This is an encouragement to continue the reading cycle.

Some congregations have huge Torah scrolls that are paraded around the building and read from in Hebrew, while other groups read the English sections in home settings, podiums, or dinner tables. Traditionally a B’racha or blessing is spoken before and after the Torah reading and a small portion from the rest of Tanakh is also usually read. The Brit Chadasha has also been separated into corresponding parashot for those who desire to read from it as well as the Torah. There is great freedom when it comes to reading the Torah parashot – the essential point being that the Torah is read aloud.

In the book of Devarim Moshe spoke the Torah aloud as an example. He told Yisra’el that they should read the Torah aloud on Yom Tov, Rosh Chodesh, and Feast days. Later Ezra the Scribe would institute reading the Torah aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat Afternoons (Nehemiah 8:1, Megillah 4:1). The Brit Chadasha continues this theme when it teaches that “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of Elohim.” Without the Torah being read aloud it is difficult for faith to truly set in. “Give attendance to the reading of Torah, to exhortation, to teaching,” says First Timothy 4:13 in the Restoration Scriptures. Yahshua the Moshiach set an example for all believers when he attended the synagogue for Torah reading on many occasions. (Surprisingly he never went to church to hear a sermon!) “And He came to Natzareth, where He had been brought up: and, according to his practice, He went into the synagogue on Shabbat, and stood up to read,” Luka 4:16, Restoration Scriptures. Yahshua never stopped the Torah reading in the synagogue to do miracles or teach. He read from the Torah and things just started to happen!

Some may say that the “Spirit should lead” what is done during worship services and that is perfectly fine. The Spirit of Truth or “Ruach V’Emet” will certainly lead as the Debar YHWH (word of YHWH) is presented. “All Ketuvim are given by the inspiration of YHWH, and are profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, as Torah in righteousness: that the man of YHWH may be perfect, fully equipped to all tov mitzvot,” Timteous Bet 3:16,17. We are to worship in Spirit and in Truth says the Messiah. “Elohim is Ruach: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Ruach and Emet,” Yochannan 4:24. The Ruach HaKodesh will minister and move as we first delve into the Emet or Truth of YHWH.

The Torah is the basics of the faith. The rest of the Scriptures are just commentaries on the first five books, and Devarim is a “commentary-like” review of the first four books. Get ready to read through the rest of Devarim with an open heart and an opened Bible. Review the basics and raise your voice as you read.

*for all things Biblical go to www.emetministries.com