Bechukotai - Reading #4

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #4 - Leviticus 27:1–15

My Thoughts:

Verse 14 is about dedicating your home to Hashem. “‘When a man dedicates his house to be holy to Hashem, then the priest shall evaluate it, whether it is good or bad.” The point is the person wants his home - all of it - to be holy. Do we want our homes to be holy? Do we dedicate our homes to Hashem? It might be something to think about. Wouldn’t you just love it if your home was so holy that when people entered they immediately felt the presence of Hashem and His peace. That people could be healed and set free. Maybe take your spouse or friend and make a plan to have a special time to pray and devote your house to Hashem. It’s really His anyway.

Challenge:

We learn today when we bring any animals, houses and even people before Hashem – we go to the priest. The priest has the authority (in Temple times) to accept or reject the gifts/offerings. The priests were selected by Hashem and in an orderly way. People must have had a huge trust in the authority of the priests. It makes me wonder what we have that is comparable today? We have rabbis and pastors but do we really respect their authority? Should we? I think if we are certain the rabbi/pastor is authentically spiritual and that they are trying their best to serve Hashem (and have proven through experience their understanding of Scripture) – we would respect and honor their decisions and influence. Pray today about your pastor or rabbi. Ask Hashem to show what level of respect and honor you should give them. Listen and obey. 

Reading #4 - Leviticus 27:1–15

27:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘When a man consecrates a person to Hashem in a vow, according to your valuation, 3 your valuation of a male from twenty years old to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 4 If she is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. 5 If the person is from five years old to twenty years old, then your valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels. 6 If the person is from a month old to five years old, then your valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver. 7 If the person is from sixty years old and upward; if he is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. 8 But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall assign a value to him. The priest shall assign a value according to his ability to pay.

9 “‘If it is an animal of which men offer an offering to Hashem, all that any man gives of such to Hashem becomes holy. 10 He shall not alter it, nor exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good. If he shall at all exchange animal for animal, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy. 11 If it is any unclean animal, of which they do not offer as an offering to Hashem, then he shall set the animal before the priest; 12 and the priest shall evaluate it, whether it is good or bad. As the priest evaluates it, so it shall be. 13 But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of it to its valuation.

14 “‘When a man dedicates his house to be holy to Hashem, then the priest shall evaluate it, whether it is good or bad. As the priest evaluates it, so it shall stand. 15 If he who dedicates it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall be his.

Bechukotai - Reading #3

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #3 - Leviticus 26:10–46

My Thoughts:

In today’s reading we learn about the wrath of Elohim. If His people are not obedient His punishment is severe. Remember the Israelites have not yet entered the Land. He is preparing them to think about all the consequences there will be if they are not obedient in the new Land and follow the sin of the natives! And yet this is also prophetic, because this is exactly what does happen in the Land and the people are disbursed and taken out of the nation. But, in His love and mercy He wants to warn them. This is what can happen – so don’t let it! And it applies for today. Simply said, if we obey we are blessed. If we disobey, the blessings are taken away. What life do you want?

Challenge:

Verses 40 to 45 bring hope. Hashem says if we repent and turn our hearts back to Him, then He won’t break His covenant with us. He may allow us to suffer a while, but in the end He will hold up His promises. That is a very faithful Elohim. Let us remember that. Let us remember that there are consequences for what we do that is not of G-d. But, in the end He will remember us. Ask Hashem for forgiveness today, turn away from your sin and follow Him. Accept your consequences, yet know He will never leave or forsake you. Amen!

Reading #2 - Leviticus 26:10-46

26:10 You shall eat old supplies long kept, and you shall move out the old because of the new. 11 I will set My tent among you, and My soul won’t abhor you. 12 I will walk among you, and will be your Adonai, and you will be My people. 13 I am Hashem your Adonai, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. I have broken the bars of your yoke, and made you walk upright.

14 “‘But if you will not listen to Me, and will not do all these commandments, 15 and if you shall reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances, so that you will not do all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will appoint terror over you, even consumption and fever, that shall consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away. You will sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you, and you will be struck before your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you; and you will flee when no one pursues you.

18 “‘If you in spite of these things will not listen to Me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins. 19 I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your sky like iron, and your soil like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain; for your land won’t yield its increase, neither will the trees of the land yield their fruit.

21 “‘If you walk contrary to Me, and won’t listen to Me, then I will bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins. 22 I will send the wild animals among you, which will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number. Your roads will become desolate.

23 “‘If by these things you won’t be turned back to Me, but will walk contrary to Me, 24 then I will also walk contrary to you; and I will strike you, even I, seven times for your sins. 25 I will bring a sword upon you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant. You will be gathered together within your cities, and I will send the pestilence among you. You will be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread again by weight. You shall eat, and not be satisfied.

27 “‘If you in spite of this won’t listen to Me, but walk contrary to Me, 28 then I will walk contrary to you in wrath. I will also chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 You will eat the flesh of your sons, and you will eat the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and cast your dead bodies upon the bodies of your idols; and My soul will abhor you. 31 I will lay your cities waste, and will bring your sanctuaries to desolation. I will not take delight in the sweet fragrance of your offerings. 32 I will bring the land into desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it will be astonished at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you. Your land will be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. 34 Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land. Even then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, even the rest which it didn’t have in your Sabbaths when you lived on it.

36 “‘As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf will put them to flight; and they shall flee, as one flees from the sword. They will fall when no one pursues. 37 They will stumble over one another, as it were before the sword, when no one pursues. You will have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 You will perish among the nations. The land of your enemies will eat you up. 39 Those of you who are left will pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers they shall pine away with them.

40 “‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against Me; and also that because they walked contrary to Me, 41 I also walked contrary to them, and brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity, 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also will be left by them, and will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; and they will accept the punishment of their iniquity because they rejected My ordinances, and their soul abhorred My statutes. 44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly and to break My covenant with them; for I am Hashem their Adonai. 45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their Elohim. I am Hashem.’”

46 These are the statutes, ordinances, and laws, which Hashem made between Him and the children of Israel in Mount Sinai by Moses.

Bechukotai - Reading #2

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #2 - Leviticus 26:6–9

My Thoughts:

This is an incredible portion. Hashem is promising extreme protection for His people in the land. He will go before them and take care of wild animals and destructive people. He will give them a special power to defeat the enemy. It’s like He is making them super heroes. Taking out evil in the land. And He is the leader! The “Hashem of armies”! How blessed they were and how blessed we are to serve such a caring and protective Elohim!

Challenge:

In verse 9 we read that Hashem will have “respect” for His people and make them fruitful. I believe He does this in bad times and in good times. When we are obedient and disobedient. Yes, there are consequences for when we disobey Torah and sin. But, He gives us good instructions on how to repair this. Repent, teshuvah and make reparations. He is full of mercy and grace. Maybe the “respect” comes when we try with all our heart to follow, worship and obey Him. Maybe He understands our “shortcomings” and we know He is an Elohim of second chances. Get your second chance today. Repent and beg for forgiveness from Hashem and from those you have hurt. Start over today. You can do it!

Reading #2 - Leviticus 26:6–9

26:6 “‘I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one will make you afraid. I will remove evil animals out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7 You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

9 “‘I will have respect for you, make you fruitful, multiply you, and will establish My covenant with you.”

Bechukotai - Reading #1

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #1 - Leviticus 26:3–5

My Thoughts:

I have a friend who does metal detecting. Her and her husband go everywhere. They have found some very valuable jewelry, like wedding/engagement rings. The thing is they don’t attempt to find the owners, they keep what they find. Finders keepers, right? I was really interested in doing this, but then I read Torah and felt guilty about keeping anything that I found. In all reality, if you found a ring on the beach it would be impossible to find the owner. But, maybe not. Maybe you could report it to the park and maybe the people who lost it had filed a notice with the park. My point is – maybe we need to be careful about what we find and what we keep. Let’s try to find the owners first!

Challenge:

Specifically today Hashem is talking about things lost and then the person who found it lies. He teaches about restoration and reparation. We aren’t really taught about these things in our society. But, if we were taught, imagine how different society would be. Maybe people would not be quick to lie or steal. Maybe even the crime rate would go down if there was personal restitution required. You and I know how hard it is to make something right when we have wronged someone. It can be painful. That is my challenge to you today. If you have done something wrong like this – even if you feel innocent – go to the person and make it right. It will help to repair relationships and the world.

Reading #1 - Leviticus 6:3-5

6:3 "...or has found that which was lost, and lied about it, and swearing to a lie—in any of these things that a man sins in his actions— 4 then it shall be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or any thing about which he has sworn falsely: he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. He shall return it to him to whom it belongs in the day of his being found guilty.

Bechukotai - Week #15

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14

Apostolic Writings: Matthew 16:20-28

1.1 First reading — Leviticus 26:3–5

1.2 Second reading — Leviticus 26:6–9

1.3 Third reading — Leviticus 26:10–46

1.4 Fourth reading — Leviticus 27:1–15

1.5 Fifth reading — Leviticus 27:16–21

1.6 Sixth reading — Leviticus 27:22–28

1.7 Seventh reading — Leviticus 27:29–34

Behar - Reading #7

Behar - On the mountain  בְּהַר

Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-26:2

Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27

Apostolic Writings: Luke 4:14-22

Reading #7 - Leviticus 25:47–26:2

My Thoughts:

Again we learn about redeeming the Jewish “brothers” that are sold into slavery. Hashem is very clear that one day they will have the right to be free. He helps us to remember that once all of His people were in slavery in Egypt and he chose to redeem them and bring them to freedom. It seems He wants a “fairness” of how to negotiate this redemption and payment according to the calendar of the upcoming Jubilee. Just as Hashem is fair and just, so should be. Think about that.

Challenge:

Some groups have done Bible research and say that “keep the Sabbath” is mentioned over 172 times (in both the Old and New Testaments). It would seem with this kind of acknowledgment that following Sabbath must be pretty important. And yet how many of us actually do this. Do you completely rest with your family on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). Do you resist going out shopping, banking, to get gas, or going to a restaurant? Are you “sloppy” about keeping the Sabbath? I know there have been many times that I have been. I use the excuse that we are not in a Jewish or Messianic community so I don’t have the support to follow many of the commandments. Really there is no excuse for not honoring the blessed Shabbat that is given to us each week. So my challenge to you today is that you start to do this. That you consciously make a point to make the Sabbath a holy day in your life. If you are struggling with this then seek Hashem for help. I will try to do this too.

Reading #7 - Leviticus 25:47–26:2

25:47 “‘If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, 48 after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family may redeem him; or if he has grown rich, he may redeem himself. 50 He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year that he sold himself to him to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale shall be according to the number of years; he shall be with him according to the time of a hired servant. 51 If there are yet many years, according to them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 If there remain but a few years to the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according to his years of service he shall give back the price of his redemption. 53 As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight. 54 If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee: he and his children with him. 55 For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Hashem your Adonai..

26 “‘You shall make for yourselves no idols, and you shall not raise up a carved image or a pillar, and you shall not place any figured stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am Hashem your Adonai..

2 “‘You shall keep my Sabbaths, and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am Hashem.

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

So Hashem is instructing Jeremiah as in Torah about the redeeming of land. A word comes to Jeremiah from Hashem to purchase the land. The transaction is completed and Jeremiah praises Hashem for all He has done and continues to do. I don’t really understand all of this regarding redemption, but I believe they were in a time where getting the land back was really important. And for this Jeremiah is grateful. Just as we should be when Hashem helps us through difficult times.

Challenge:

I love the name “Hashem of armies” in verse 18 (and many other Scriptures). I believe He is called that because of the angels He is in charge of in the heavenlies. Can you imagine the countless amount of angels that He has created. And all of them to His service. They are His army and He is the commander. To me, that is a very comforting thought. I have mentioned this in other blogs. That we should be grateful for the angels that Hashem set charge over our lives. They have most likely been life saving at times we were unaware. And comforting in other situations. Right now take a moment to thank Hashem for His ministering angels in your life. Amen! 

Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27

32:6 Jeremiah said, “Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 7 ‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.”’”

8 “So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to Hashem’s word, and said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.’

“Then I knew that this was Hashem’s word. 9 I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. 10 I signed the deed, sealed it, called witnesses, and weighed the money in the balances to him. 11 So I took the deed of the purchase, both that which was sealed, containing the terms and conditions, and that which was open; 12 and I delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of the purchase, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the guard.

13 “I commanded Baruch before them, saying, 14 Hashem of Armies, Adonai of Israel says: ‘Take these deeds, this deed of the purchase which is sealed, and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last many days.’ 15 For Hashem of Armies, the Adonai of Israel says: ‘Houses and fields and vineyards will yet again be bought in this land.’

16 Now after I had delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to Hashem, saying,

17 “Ah Hashem Adonai! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you. 18 You show loving kindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them. The great, the mighty Elohim, Hashem of Armies is Your name: 19 great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings; 20 who performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, both in Israel and among other men; and made Yourself a name, as it is today; 21 and brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, with wonders, with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm, and with great terror; 22 and gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They came in and possessed it, but they didn’t obey your voice and didn’t walk in your law. They have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do. Therefore you have caused all this evil to come upon them.

24 “Behold, siege ramps have come to the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, of the famine, and of the pestilence. What you have spoken has happened. Behold, you see it. 25 You have said to me, Hashem Adonai ‘Buy the field for money, and call witnesses;’ whereas the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”

26 Then Hashem’s word came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 “Behold, I am Hashem, Adonai of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?

Apostolic Writings

My Thoughts:

In verse 16 we read that it was Yeshua’s “custom” to read in the synagogue. That is because He was a rabbi. Not many people teach this because if they did they would have to admit that He taught the Torah, believed the Torah, followed the Torah and some believe He IS THE TORAH (the Word spoken by Elohim). If you would like to learn more about this go to my blog: Jesus Was a Rabbi .

Challenge:

Verse 21 says that the Scripture He read from Isaiah has been fulfilled by Him. That He is the Mashiach who has come to set His people free. Only we killed Him. He was unable to usher in the Messianic Era. The great news is that many people think He will be the returning Mashiach! Regardless, we need to be praying every day that the Mashiach sent by Hashem will come soon! That He will rule and reign from Jerusalem, from the Temple. Proclaiming the Torah!

Apostolic Writings: Luke 4:14-22

14 Yeshua returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15 He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

16 He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. He entered, as was His custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of Hashem is on me,

    because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted,

    to proclaim release to the captives,

    recovering of sight to the blind,

    to deliver those who are crushed…”.

19  and to proclaim the acceptable year of Hashem.”

20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Behar - Reading #6

Behar - On the mountain  בְּהַר

Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-26:2

Reading #6 - Leviticus 25:39–46

My Thoughts:

We are learning today about rules regarding slaves. Interestingly enough, the Israeli slaves were released with their families in the year of Jubilee. But, alien slaves were bought and passed on to the following generations. Why the difference? We don’t live in a time of “formal” slavery so it may be hard for to understand this type of statute. I’m thinking that Hashem is making a very common point and part of His “theme” to take care of your “brothers” or fellow Jews in a special way. Do not neglect them. Other slaves who are not Hebrew do not receive such a special consideration. Hashem is never wrong, even though we may not understand some of His rules. In the Olam Haba, things will be made clear to us!

Challenge:

In verse 43 we read, “You shall not rule over him (fellow Jewish slaves) with harshness, but shall fear your Elohim.” First of all, no abuse or harsh treatment for slaves. Remembering that the Hebrew people were recently in slavery. And secondly, they were to “fear” Hashem. To me that means, “Listen to what I am telling you. I am the Elohim of everything, everywhere.” Nobody is more powerful than Him! We must fear, respect and honor Him and all He tells us to do. Are you doing that today? Do you fear Hashem? When the day comes in the Olam Haba when we are even blessed to catch a glimpse of Hashem – we will then know what “to fear” means. Until then walk in faith that you must follow every commandment to the best of your ability.

Reading #6 - Leviticus 25:39–46

25:39 “‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him to serve as a slave. 40 As a hired servant, and as a temporary resident, he shall be with you; he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers. 42 For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. 43 You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your Elohim.

44 “‘As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. 45 Moreover, of the children of the aliens who live among you, of them you may buy, and of their families who are with you, which they have conceived in your land; and they will be your property. 46 You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession. Of them you may take your slaves forever, but over your brothers the children of Israel you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.