Recap from last week…
God called Moses up Mount Sinai where he stayed 40 days and 40 nights and received the Torah (The Law), the 10 commandments and the oral law (chapters 21- 24) written on two stones that in Jewish tradition were carved out of pure sapphire from the throne room of God as described in Ezek 24:9-11 when Moshe, Aaron, Nadav, Avihu and 70 elders went up the mountain on a second occasion.
“23 Under the dome, each creature had two wings that were stretched out straight, touching one another. Each creature had two wings that covered its body. 24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings. The sound was like the noise of rushing water, like the thunder of the Almighty, like the commotion in an army camp. When the creatures stood still, they lowered their wings.
25 A voice came from above the dome over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered. 26 Above the dome over their heads was something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. On the throne was a figure that looked like a human. 27 Then I saw what he looked like from the waist up. He looked like glowing bronze with fire all around it. From the waist down, he looked like fire. A bright light surrounded him. 28 The brightness all around him looked like a rainbow in the clouds. It was like the Lord’s glory.” (Ezek.1)
This description matches the text from last weeks parasha from Ex.19.
During that period, God made a promise to him:
“This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites, 4 ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to my mountain. 5 If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine. 6 You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.” (19:3-6)
God’s love and care was demonstrated for Israel as described that He bore them on ‘eagle’s wings’. An eagle doesn’t carry her young in her claws like other birds but the eaglets attach themselves to the back of the mother eagle so are protected as they are carried. Any arrow from a hunter must pass through the mother eagle before it could touch the young eagle on her back.
God’s intention was for Israel to be a special treasure unto Him, not JUST a people with a unique place in His eternal purposes, or a people of infinite value but those who experienced the riches of His glory from walking in obedience to His commands.
Paul longed the same for every believer that they would know what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Eph1:17-18). “17 I pray that the glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Christ better. 18 Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit. 19 You will also know the unlimited greatness of his power as it works with might and strength for us, the believers.” and in 1Peter 2:9-10: “ 9 However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10 Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.”
The Israelites initial response to the words of God and His condition for blessings upon them was enthusiastic! “Everything Adonai has said, we will do!” (19:7) So what went wrong? The Hebrew word “Shema” means “Hear and do” is active not passive. But let’s look at this more closely as we come to this weeks parasha, “Mishpatim” (Laws).
Ex. 21:1 – 24:18; God told Moses: “These are the commandments (Mishpatim) that you are to set before them.”
Most people balk at the thought of being commanded what to do because we live in an age of free thinkers where godly law and orders been replaced with self-interest and rebellion. God’s laws upon which the structure of society has been based in the Western world for centuries is being replaced by anarchy or evil dictatorships. (2Tim3) The Spirit expressly says that the acharit-ha-yamim will be characterised by people (believers) who will turn from the truth and be self-loving, arrogant, disobedient, ungrateful, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, uncontrolled, brutal, hateful of good, traitorous, headstrong, swollen with pride, loving pleasure rather than the creator, denying an outward form of religion but denying the power.
The reaction of many believers to God’s laws can also be conditioned through ignorance of the true meaning of the Hebrew word, “TORAH” with a false negative understanding relating it to repression instead of freedom. A better translation of the word ‘Torah’ would be God’s instructions which have consequences. It’s His blueprint for providing us with the best in life; abundance instead of lack; life instead of death.
The Israelites had just emerged from centuries of exile in Egypt where they had been enslaved under the worst form of repressive regime without rights or free choice in anything.
But now they had the freedom to embrace a set of instructions that would transform their lives and allow them to build a close and holy relationship with God. This is in reality the greatest freedom offered to a person which Yeshua offers us when He declared: “Whoso the Son shall set free shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Has Yeshua abolished the Law? No! he has fulfilled it! (Matt. 5:17)
The Laws that are laid out in this parsha covered everything that the Israeites needed to be blessed – one could not pick and choose! It ranged from the penalty for murder, kidnapping, physical assault, theft, to the mistreatment of foreigners: to instructions for celebrating the Feasts, freewill offerings, the kosher dietary laws, and justice by the courts of law.
Many believers are resigned to obeying God’s laws rather than delighting in them as opposed to what we read in the Word, (eg,. Ps. 1). “ 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come [to the throne]; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40) And in Ps. 119:
“You’re only truly happy when you walk in total integrity, walking in the light of God’s word.
2 What joy overwhelms everyone who keeps the ways of God, those who seek him as their heart’s passion!
3 They’ll never do what’s wrong but will always choose the paths of the Lord.
4 God has prescribed the right way to live: obeying his laws with all our hearts.
5 How I long for my life to bring you glory as I follow each and every one of your holy precepts!
6 Then I’ll never be ashamed, for I take strength from all your commandments.
7 I will give my thanks to you from a heart of love and truth. And every time I learn more of your righteous judgments,
8 I will be faithful to all that your word reveals— so don’t ever give up on me!
9 How can a young man stay pure? Only by living in the word of God and walking in its truth.
10 I have longed for you with the passion of my heart; don’t let me stray from your directions!
11 I consider your word to be my greatest treasure, and I memorize them and write them on my heart to keep me from committing sin’s treason against you.
12 My wonderful God, you are to be praised above all; teach me the power of your decrees!
13 I speak continually of your laws as I recite out loud your counsel to me.
14 I find more joy in following what you tell me to do than in chasing after all the wealth of the world.
15 I set my heart on your precepts and pay close attention to all your ways.
16 My delight is found in all your laws, and I won’t forget to walk in your words.
17 Let me, your servant, walk in abundance of life that I may always live to obey your truth.
18 Open my eyes to see the miracle-wonders hidden in your word.
19 My life on earth is so brief, so tutor me in the ways of your wisdom.
20 I am continually consumed by these irresistible longings, these cravings to obey your every commandment!
21 Your displeasure rests with those who are arrogant, who think they know everything; you rebuke the rebellious who refuse your laws.
22 Don’t let them mock and scorn me for obeying you.
23 For even if the princes and my leaders choose to criticize me, I will continue to serve you and walk in your plans for my life.
24 Your commandments are my counselors; your word is my light and delight!
These are just 24 out of 176 verses!
The Psalmist understood that God’s laws give Life and protection from all that is evil and seeks to destroy us.
The Israelites were initially filled with optimism at the provision of God’s laws: “We will do everything God commands us.” Three times in this parsha, the Israelites promised to follow God’s Torah faithfully. (Ex 19:8; 24:7;) but things are not always the same when we have to apply them in our lives!
Following His resurrection, Yeshua asked Peter three times the question: “Do you love Me?” What correlation has this to do with God’s Torah? (To love God (Deut 6:5) is the fulfilment of the Law) We demonstrate how much we love Him by the manner in which we take His yoke upon us and allow the dust of His sandals to cover us.
This is primarily an issue of the heart as David with all his weaknesses cried out to God: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23-24) The closer we grow in love for the Lord the more acutely aware we become of our imperfections!
In John 15, towards the end of His public ministry, Yeshua told His disciples: “You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning.” (John 15:15)
To be a servant of the Living God is an honour beyond imagination. But it runs short of the best that He has for us.
Throughout the NT the word slave, or servant is used metaphorically to someone absolutely devoted to Yeshua. Paul, Timothy, James, Peter, and Jude all describe themselves as “Servants of Yeshua” (Rom 1:1; Phil 1:1; James 1:1; 2Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1). They had servant hearts that were entirely “owned” by their Divine Master
So when Yeshua spoke to His disciples about friendship, He said something staggering. Friends place their trust and confidence in each other. Not so a slave. We confide in Him and He confides in us because this is what friends do.
Those who love Him more than life itself embrace the ‘fellowship of His sufferings’ not just His resurrection power; trusting Him completely in every circumstance.
“7 Yet all of the accomplishments that I once took credit for, I’ve now forsaken them and I regard it all as nothing compared to the delight of experiencing Yeshua as my Lord! 8 To truly know him meant letting go of everything from my past and throwing all my boasting on the garbage heap. It’s all like a pile of manure to me now, so that I may be enriched in the reality of knowing Yeshua and embrace him as Lord in all of his greatness.” (Phil 3)
Raphael ben Levi
