{"id":19189,"date":"2021-07-20T06:22:52","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T13:22:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=19189"},"modified":"2021-07-20T06:23:00","modified_gmt":"2021-07-20T13:23:00","slug":"deep-wisdom-from-deuteronomy-3-and-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2021\/07\/20\/deep-wisdom-from-deuteronomy-3-and-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Deep Wisdom from Deuteronomy 3 and 4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Deuteronomy 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 3:22, Must fear them. <\/em>Know Elohim, No Fear; No Elohim, Know Fear.<\/strong>The Scriptures reveal an interesting, and counter-intuitive spiritual principle that humans have a hard time wrapping their heads and hearts around. It is this: When we fear Elohim, we will not fear our enemies, and we will be blessed by Elohim. When we do not fear Elohim, we will fear and be tormented by our enemies and we will not be blessed by Elohim (Ps 34:9; Acts 9:31).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is it to fear Elohim? It is to walk in the wisdom of his commandments or his loving instructions in righteousness (Deut 10:12). Rebellious humans have a hard time doing this, since their sin nature is opposed to submitting to YHVH legal instructions (Jer 17:9; Rom 8:7). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once, however, one gets their sin nature under control with the help of Yeshua, and one begins to love and fear Elohim by keeping his commandments, suddenly the physical things they once feared no longer have any hold on their hearts and minds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having defeated the greatest enemy of all\u2014one\u2019s sin nature\u2014with Elohim\u2019s help effectively empowers and emboldens the saint. He no longer fears what other people think about him because, in the long run, all that matters is what Elohim thinks. He no longer is concerned about his future physical needs and well-being because Elohim promises to take care of us when we trust and obey him. He no longer fears those who attack and persecute him, because he knows that with Elohim\u2019s help, he can overcome any enemy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 3:23, Pleaded with YHVH. <\/em><\/strong>YHVH forbids Moses from fulfilling his life-long dream of entering the Promised Land. What was Moses\u2019 repsonse? Did he cry, pout and pitch a fit, or did he accept YHVH\u2019s will for his life? What can we learn from this? Do you have so much love for and faith in YHVH that you would be willing to let go of your greatest dream\u2014even your life on the altar of faith and trust in YHVH and obey him no matter the outcome? Though YHVH were to slay you, will you like Job still love and trust him (Job 13:15)? If your entire life was devastated, you lost all your money, the land was desolate and your life become a desert, would you like Habukkuk still praise YHVH (Hab 3:17\u201319)? Selah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deuteronomy 4:2<\/strong>, You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor shall you subtract\/diminish from it. <\/em><\/strong>YHVH warns his people against adding or subtracting from his written word elsewhere as well (Deut 12:32; Rev 22:18\u201319). Men seem inclined to ignore YHVH\u2019s command in this regard. In fact, whole religions have been founded based on disregarding this prohibition. Some claim to be Bible-based (e.g. Mormonism with their Book of Mormon<\/em> and rabbinic Judaism with its Talmud<\/em>), and some have supplanted the entire Bible with their own book (Islam with its Quran<\/em>). This doesn\u2019t even include the numerous unbiblical traditions and man-made doctrines that many traditional churches and denominations have constructed out of whole cloth and patched into the teachings of the Bible. This cannot be pleasing to Elohim!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is the author of and real power behind adding to and subtracting from or twisting YHVH\u2019s Word? It is Satan the serpent. (See Gen 3:1ff and Matt 4:3ff.) Make no mistake, adding or subtracting from the Word of Elohim is to fall for the lie that the devil told the first humans at the tree of knowledge that the Word of Elohim can be molded and formed to fit men\u2019s ways of  thinking instead of Elohim\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did Yeshua warn the religionists of his day against in this regard? He said, \u201cThus have you made the commandment of Elohim of none effect by your tradition\u201d (Matt 15:6) and, \u201cHowbeit in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men\u201d (Mark 7:7). What are some examples of traditions and theologies in the modern-day Christian and Jewish religions where YHVH\u2019s word has been superseded by man\u2019s traditions? What are some traditions and doctrines of men you have turned away from in order to bring yourself into greater alignment with YHVH\u2019s Word? How is your life better for it? What has been the reaction of those around you in response to your aligning your life more closely with the truth of YHVH?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the Bible ends with a warning to those who would add to the word of Elohim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, Elohim will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Rev 22:18\u201319)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this passage says \u201cthis book,\u201d which book is it talking about? The book of Revelation or the entire Bible? To err on the side of caution, it is prudent to assume that John is referring to the whole Bible, since Revelation is the last book of the Bible. Why do I assume this? Simply because I personally do not care to experiences any of Elohim\u2019s curses; life is already difficult enough as it is!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deuteronomy 4:2<\/strong>, Observe the commandments of YHVH.<\/em><\/strong> The word observe <\/em>(RNA\/shin-mem-resh<\/em>)is a common Hebrew verb meaning \u201cto keep, guard, give heed, watch, protect, have charge of.\u201dIn its noun-form, shamar <\/em>means \u201ca watchman.\u201d According to The TWOT<\/em>, the basic meaning of shamar <\/em>is \u201cto exercise great care over something.\u201d One of the most frequent uses of this verb in Scripture is how it is used in this verse. YHVH commands his people to shamar <\/em>his Torah-commandments some 30 times in the Torah alone. What does this mean to you? Are you learning to not only \u201chear,\u201d but \u201cto do\u201d his commands (the Hebrew word shema<\/em>)? How has your life changed and what are the resulting blessings? Though YHVH clearly commands his people \u201cto keep\u201d or \u201cto guard,\u201d what is commonly taught in most Christian churches in regard to \u201cthe law\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Deuteronomy 4:6,<\/strong> Keep. <\/em><\/strong>Keeping Torah (YHVH\u2019s instructions in righteousness) was the means for YHVH\u2019s chosen people to be salt and light to the surrounding nations. Torah is literally a \u201cwitnessing tool.\u201d What kind of righteous witness are you (via your Torah lifestyle) to those around you who are lost in spiritual darkness?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wisdom [Heb. chokmah] and understanding [Heb. biynah]. <\/em><\/strong>What is the biblical definition of wisdom and understanding? Let\u2019s explore this subject to see what we can learn from the word of Elohim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chokmah <\/em>means \u201cintelligence, skill (in war); wisdom (in administration); shrewdness, wisdom; prudence (in religious affairs); wisdom (ethical and religious). It derives from the verb chakam<\/em> meaning \u201cto be wise, to be or become wise, act wisely; to make wise, teach wisdom, instruct; to show oneself wise, deceive, show one\u2019s wisdom.\u201d According to The TWOT, chokmah <\/em>and its root verb represents a manner of thinking and attitude concerning life\u2019s experiences including matters of general interest and basic morality. These concerns relate to prudence in secular affairs, skills in the arts, moral sensitivity, and experience in the ways of YHVH. In the Tanakh, chokmah<\/em> is used in relationship to the whole gamut of human experiences whether it be technical artisan skills, military tactics or political and administrative leadership. It is expressed in shrewdness as opposed to foolishness or silliness. Prudence is another aspect of chokmah<\/em> as it relates to how one speaks, uses his time carefully and in the practical affairs of life. The Bible reveals that Elohim is the source of all wisdom, and wisdom is not to be found in human speculation. Elohim alone provides wisdom for man\u2019s guidance, so that he can live the best possible moral and ethical life (ibid.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biynah <\/em>means \u201cdiscernment or insight\u201d or \u201cthe ability to understand something, comprehension, the power of abstract thought, an individual\u2019s perception or judgment of a situation.\u201d According to The<\/em> TWOT<\/em>, biynah<\/em> refers to knowledge that is superior to the mere gathering of data. It is necessary to know how to use the knowledge one possesses, and this is where biynah<\/em> or perception and judgment comes into play. One must properly interpret the data and make wise and discerning decisions as to how to act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Torah is your wisdom in the sight of the nations.<\/em><\/strong> Consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n