Come with us day as we dive into Deuteronomy, chapter 6 from the Hebrew translation

Morning devotional

Psalms 52 reading and morning prayer

Greetings,

come, join us as we continue to dive into chapter 5 of Deuteronomy, have a little bit of intimate and family, relationship, discussions, and as we step into Torah for a deeper understanding.

Cleaning things up it wasn't Jeremiah. It was Elijah that came against the prophets of Baal.

Do not bow to them, and do not serve them, for I am Adonoy, your God, jealous Almighty, Who reckons the sin of parents for [rebellious] children and for the third generation and for the fourth generation of My enemies, [when the children continue to sin after the fashion of their fathers,]; thou shalt not worship them or do service before them; for I am the Yahuah your Yah, a jealous and avenging Yah, taking vengeance in jealousy; remembering the sins of wicked fathers upon rebellious children to the third generation and to the fourth of them that hate Me, when the children complete to sin after their fathers;

Transliteration: "Qa-NA"Meaning: To protect.Comments: This child root is to gaurd (often translated as Jealous). A bird watches over the eggs and young with jealousy and will defend them from the enemy and prevent any other bird from entering the nest. Just as a bird watches over her eggs from predetors, God also watches over his children in his nest protecting them from predetors - other gods. Definition: ProtectionReference: This is the picture that the Hebrews had of God as in Exodus 34.14; "Do not worship any other god, for yhwh (the

Hebrew Word for Hate

“Sane' ” (saw-nay') is the Hebrew word that is often translated as hate. The ancient pictographic letters for “sane” are a thorn and a seed. The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible explains this:

The pictograph is a picture of a thorn, then is a picture of seed. Combined these mean “thorn seed.” The thorn, (the seed of a plant with small sharp points) cause one to turn directions to avoid them.” (“The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible,” by Jeff A. Benner. ISBN 1-58939-776-2.)

God's Character

This understanding can directly affect our view of God's character. If this true, consider a couple common scriptures in a whole new way:

And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb (Genesis 29:31; KJV)

Some translations use “un-loved” here instead of hated. There is nothing in the Scriptures that would suggest that Jacob was aggressive towards her. From what we can read, he mostly stayed away from Leah. This may have been due to his desire for Rachel. Or perhaps because Leah reminded him of Laban's deceptions (Gen 29:21-25).

Jacob possibly avoided Leah, since their relationship was complicated to say the least. Yet, out of God's compassion for Leah's constant rejection, He gave her children.

Greetings,

come, join us as we dive into chapter 5 of Deuteronomy, have a little bit of relationship, discussions, and as we step into Torah for a deeper understanding.

The study of Torah is a mitzvah like any other. The principle of this commandment, as apparent in the text, is designed to teach the individual how to fulfill this commandment. The Torah repeats the commandment to study in several places, as the Rambam specifies in Sefer ha-Mitzvot, citing the biblical text: “And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk on the path, and when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7); “ . . . that you may learn them, and observe to do them” (Deuteronomy 5:1); “ . . . that they may learn” (Deuteronomy 31:12). The book of Joshua states, “You shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein” (1:8). Shimon ha-Tzaddik, a member of the Great Assembly, reveals the value and importance of the Torah in his statement: “The world is based on three things – Torah, divine service, and the practice of kindliness.” After the destruction of the Second Temple, when the Torah was construed as the only supreme value, the Sages determined that “The study of Torah outweighs them all

DEUTERONOMY HOLDS A UNIQUE POSITION, AND SPEAKS WITH A UNIQUE VOICE, IN THE literature of the Torah. Up to this point, through the first four books, we have encountered a powerful mixture of literary genres; indeed, the books owe their characteristic stamp to the way in which they incorporate these genres.

That time, in the opinion of most biblical scholars over the past two centuries, was the middle of the reign of King Josiah (ruled 640–608 B.C.E.) of Judah, the southern kingdom (Israel, the north, had been overrun by Assyria a century previously). The Assyrian Empire, dominant in the region for three hundred years, was on the wane, and Josiah took advantage of this decline of power to expand his kingdom northward. He also—at about the time of the death of Ashurbanipal, the last powerful king of Assyria—began a wide-ranging reform that consisted largely of destroying the local “high places” of pagan worship that had figured so prominently in the reign of his grandfather, the notorious Manasseh (ruled 687–642). II Kings 23 describes the purge in great detail, noting both places and priests that were now rendered inoperative in favor of the centralization of the cult in Jerusalem.

It is within this setting that Chapter 22 reports the dramatic discovery of a scroll “of the Torah.”

The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.” … Shaphan then read it aloud to the king. When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded … saying: “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD … because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (22:8, 10–13, New Revised Standard Version)

An ancient name for Deuteronomy, mishne tora—which means “copy of the Torah,” but which was erroneously understood as “second Torah”—would seem to indicate more of the same combining of genres, and a not-too-close reading would support the idea of a rehashing of narrative, covenant-making, law, and poetry. But the reader who takes the time to weigh what stands before him or her will find much more. In its structure, style, content, and intent, Deuteronomy goes beyond what has preceded it. The image of Moshe addressing the assembled people on the Plains of Moab—the central setting of the book—provides the occasion for not merely a retelling, but a recasting of Israel's mission and destiny. No book of the Torah is truer to the idea of “instruction” (Deuteronomy uses the term numerous times), including an emphasis on teaching and learning, with assembled and yet-to-be-born children as much the audience as “elders.”

Sorry, didn't mean to post the wrong audio file it's been corrected.

BLESSED is the man that walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the Torah of Yahuah; and in his Torah he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. The wicked are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For Yahuah knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the wicked shall perish. TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 1:1-6 את CEPHER

Gary Chapman, a marriage counselor in the 1980s, wrote a book that suggested that every person has a primary language for communicating and feeling most loved. He broke these into five basic languages. Chapman's original five love languages are physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, and receiving gifts. These are all pretty self-explanatory. But, we'll break them down just a little. After all, there was an internationally best-selling book written about it, with a modest 20 million copies sold.

Physical Touch

Everyone automatically assumes this is every man's first love language. It's a bit more complex. The first thing Chapman mentions in the book is how babies respond to physical touch. Parents of NICU babies are encouraged to touch their children to promote healing and better development. Children who are hugged and kissed by their parents are said to develop a healthier emotional life than those who aren't. Then, of course, there is physical touching in a romantic relationship. We show love with hand holding, putting our arms around one another, and sexual activity. If this is how you feel most loved, the idea is that Physical Touch is your love language.

Quality Time

If Physical Touch is for the men (and we're not saying it is), this one is for the women. Quality Time is all about giving your time to your partner. Chapman is specific with this one, that he's not talking about watching TV together. He's talking about the mushy kind of quality time. The staring deep into one another's eyes, contemplating the universe together kind of quality time. This is undivided, you're the only person here, kind of attention. Let's be honest, everyone wants this at some point in their relationship. But, if you want this regularly to feel most loved, Quality Time may be your love language.

Words of Affirmation

“I can live for two months on a good compliment.” – Mark Twain

This is how Chapman opens the chapter on Words of Affirmation in his book. It is a rather poignant quote and applies simply to any relationship. Say nice things to people. Whether it's a romantic relationship, parental, sibling, professional, or otherwise, giving compliments is a no-brainer way to show love. But, what if that's not their way to feel love? Take Amy for example, Words of Affirmation doesn't do it for her. She was raised to say thank you and telling someone when their hair looks nice is just second nature to her. So, for Amy, giving people a compliment or verbal appreciation is just something people should do. It's not really anything extra for her. Words of Affirmation is not her love language. Someone who does love to hear these things regularly though, someone like Mark Twain who could live two months on a good compliment, they may be able to claim Words of Affirmation as their love language.

Acts of Service

Another one that is a bit more complex than it sounds is Acts of Service. Acts of Service are expressed by doing things to show your love. As far as marriage or couples counseling goes, this is a love language that can be easily missed by a couple who is having trouble connecting. This is the everyday, the nitty-gritty, the life part of the life you live together. It's when he empties the dishwasher without being asked or when she takes care to fold his laundry how he likes. It's the stuff that can so easily go unnoticed without trying. The idea is that it becomes an Act of Service when we go out of our way to do these things specifically for our partners, not just because they must get done to be checked off the to-do list. If you feel most loved when your partner takes a task off your plate for you, Acts of Service may be your love language.

Receiving Gifts

There really are not any complexities to this one. However, Chapman does make a point to mention that the gift itself does not matter and that it can also be a “gift of your presence.” You can give money, a stick (an example from the book), expensive diamonds, extravagant well-thought-out gifts, or just the gift of yourself being there (not to be confused with quality time). No matter, what the gift is, it is a visual representation of your love. If you feel most loved by receiving gifts, this may be your love language.

What are the New Seven Love Languages?

In efforts to be more inclusive and current, Truity, a company that offers a variety of online personality quizzes, released its list of 7 new love languages earlier this month (February 2022). Truity surveyed over 500,000 people in their study and came up with this list: activity, appreciation, emotional, financial, intellectual, physical, and practical. The below definitions are directly from Truity's site:

Activity

People who focus on the Activity love language feel special and valued when their partner takes an interest in their hobbies and activities and makes an effort to enjoy hobbies and interests together.

Appreciation

People who focus on the Appreciation love language feel loved when their partner gives them compliments, praise, and thanks. They appreciate hearing explicitly what their partner likes and admires about them.

Emotional

Those who focus on the Emotional love language feel loved when their partner is able to connect with them and support them through difficult and scary emotions. Being present for the highs and lows is very important to those with the Emotional love language.

Financial

People with the Financial love language feel loved when their partner is generous with resources, and sees value in spending money to bring their partner pleasure and joy. This love language may be expressed through gifts, or just making space in the family budget for your partner's enjoyment.

Intellectual

People with the Intellectual love language like to connect through the mind. They feel loved when their partner values their intelligence, respects their opinion, and takes part in thoughtful discussion of important issues.

Physical

People with the Physical love language feel loved when they receive physical affection—hugs, holding hands, and snuggles. They want their partners to show they're attracted to them and initiate loving touch.

Practical

People with the Practical love language feel loved when their partners chip in with everyday duties and responsibilities. They feel cared for when their loved ones do chores and offer help.

AND Mosheh called all Yashar'el, and said unto them, Hear, O Yashar'el, the commandments and the judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, guard them, and do them. Yahuah Elohaynu cut a covenant with us in Chorev. Yahuah cut not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. Yahuah talked with you face to face in the Mount out of the midst of the fire, (I stood between Yahuah and you at that time, to show you the Word of Yahuah: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the Mount;) saying, I am Yahuah Elohayka, which brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, from the house of bondage. You shall have no other elohiym before me. You shall not make you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: You shall not bow down yourself unto them, nor serve them: for I Yahuah Elohayka am a jealous El, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and guard my commandments. You shall not take the name of Yahuah Elohayka in vain: את for Yahuah will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. Guard the day of the Shabbath; to sanctify it as Yahuah Elohayka has commanded you. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Shabbath of Yahuah Elohayka: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your ass, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates; that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a servant in the land of Mitsrayim, and that Yahuah Elohayka brought you out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore Yahuah Elohayka commanded you to observe the day of Shabbath. Honor your father and your mother, as Yahuah Elohayka has commanded you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahuah Elohayka gives you. You shall not kill. Neither shall you break wedlock. Neither shall you steal. Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor. Neither shall you lust after your neighbor's woman, neither shall you lust after your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's. את These words Yahuah spoke unto all your assembly in the Mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them on two caphire stones, and delivered them unto me. And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; And ye said, Behold, Yahuah Elohaynu has showed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that Elohiym talks with man, and he lives. Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Yahuah Elohaynu anymore, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living Elohiym speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? Go near, and hear את all that Yahuah Elohaynu shall say: and speak you unto us את all that Yahuah Elohaynu shall speak unto you; and we will hear it, and do it. And Yahuah heard the voice of your words, when ye spoke unto me; and Yahuah said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto you: they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and guard all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! Go say to them, Get you into your tents again. But as for you, stand here by me, and I will speak unto you את all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. Ye shall guard to do therefore as Yahuah Elohaykem has commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which Yahuah Elohaykem has commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess. DEVARIYM (DEUTERONOMY) 5:31-33 את CEPHER

Today's podcast is me talking about why I've decided to stay single and spend some time loving on myself. As well as go over chapter 4 of Deuteronomy.

And all the sons of men then assembled to him, for all who desired this thing went to Chanok, and Chanok reigned over the sons of men according to the Word of Yahuah, and they came and bowed to him and they heard his word. And the Ruach Elohiym was upon Chanok, and he taught all his men the wisdom of Elohiym and his ways, and the sons of men served Yahuah all the days of Chanok, and they came to hear his wisdom. And all the kings of the sons of men, both first and last, together with their princes and judges, came to Chanok when they heard of his wisdom, and they bowed down to him, and they also required of Chanok to reign over them, to which he consented. And they assembled in all, one hundred and thirty kings and princes, and they made Chanok king over them and they were all under his power and command. And Chanok taught them wisdom, knowledge, and the ways of Yahuah; and he made peace amongst them, and peace was throughout the earth during the life of Chanok. And Chanok reigned over the sons of men two hundred and forty three years, and he did justice and righteousness with all his people, and he led them in the ways of Yahuah. And these are the generations of Chanok, Methushelach, Eliysha, and Eliymelek, three sons; and their sisters were Melcah and Nahmah, and Methushelach lived eighty seven years and he begat Lemek. And it was in the fifty sixth year of the life of Lemek when A'dam died; nine hundred and thirty years old was he at his death, and his two sons, with Chanok and Methushelach his son, buried him with great pomp, as at the burial of kings, in the cave which Elohiym had told him. And in that place all the sons of men made a great mourning and weeping on account of A'dam; it has therefore become a custom among the sons of men to this day. And A'dam died because he ate of the tree of knowledge; he and his children after him, as Yahuah Elohiym had spoken. And it was in the year of A'dam's death which was the two hundred and forty third year of the reign of Chanok, in that time Chanok resolved to separate himself from the sons of men and to secret himself as at first in order to serve Yahuah. And Chanok did so, but did not entirely secret himself from them, but kept away from the sons of men three days and then went to them for one day. And during the three days that he was in his chamber, he prayed to, and praised Yahuah Elohayu, and the day on which he went and appeared to his subjects he taught them the ways of Yahuah, and all they asked him about Yahuah he told them. And he did in this manner for many years, and he afterward concealed himself for six days, and appeared to his people one day in seven; and after that once in a month, and then once in a year, until all the kings, princes and sons of men sought for him, and desired again to see the face of Chanok, and to hear his word; but they could not, as all the sons of men were greatly afraid of Chanok, and they feared to approach him on account of the Elohiym like awe that was seated upon his countenance; therefore no man could look at him, fearing he might be punished and die. And all the kings and princes resolved to assemble the sons of men, and to come to Chanok, thinking that they might all speak to him at the time when he should come forth amongst them, and they did so. And the day came when Chanok went forth and they all assembled and came to him, and Chanok spoke to them the words of Yahuah and he taught them wisdom and knowledge, and they bowed down before him and they said, May the king live! May the king live! And in some time after, when the kings and princes and the sons of men were speaking to Chanok, and Chanok was teaching them the ways of Elohiym, behold an angel of Yahuah then called unto Chanok from heaven, and wished to bring him up to heaven to make him reign there over the sons of Elohiym, as he had reigned over the sons of men upon earth. When at that time Chanok heard this he went and assembled all the inhabitants of the earth, and taught them wisdom and knowledge and gave them divine instructions, and he said to them, I have been required to ascend into heaven, I therefore do not know the day of my going. And now therefore I will teach you wisdom and knowledge and will give you instruction before I leave you, how to act upon earth whereby you may live; and he did so. And he taught them wisdom and knowledge, and gave them instruction, and he reproved them, and he placed before them commandments and judgments to do upon earth, and he made peace amongst them, and he taught them everlasting life, and dwelt with them some time teaching them all these things. And at that time the sons of men were with Chanok, and Chanok was speaking to them, and they lifted up their eyes and the likeness of a great horse descended from heaven, and the horse paced in the air; And they told Chanok what they had seen, and Chanok said to them, On my account does this horse descend upon earth; the time is come when I must go from you and I shall no more be seen by you. And the horse descended at that time and stood before Chanok, and all the sons of men that were with Chanok saw him. And Chanok then again ordered a voice to be proclaimed, saying, Where is the man who delights to know the ways of Yahuah Elohayu, let him come this day to Chanok before he is taken from us. And all the sons of men assembled and came to Chanok that day; and all the kings of the earth with their princes and counselors remained with him that day; and Chanok then taught the sons of men wisdom and knowledge, and gave them divine instruction; and he bade them serve Yahuah and walk in his ways all the days of their lives, and he continued to make peace amongst them. And it was after this that he rose up and rode upon the horse; and he went forth and all the sons of men went after him, about eight hundred thousand men; and they went with him one day's journey. And the second day he said to them, Return home to your tents, why will you go? perhaps you may die; and some of them went from him, and those that remained went with him six day's journey; and Chanok said to them every day, Return to your tents, lest you may die; but they were not willing to return, and they went with him. And on the sixth day some of the men remained and clung to him, and they said to him, We will go with you to the place where you go; as Yahuah lives, death only shall separate us. And they urged so much to go with him, that he ceased speaking to them; and they went after him and would not return; And when the kings returned they caused a census to be taken, in order to know the number of remaining men that went with Chanok; and it was upon the seventh day that Chanok ascended into heaven in a whirlwind, with horses and chariots of fire. And on the eighth day all the kings that had been with Chanok sent to bring back the number of men that were with Chanok, in that place from which he ascended into heaven. And all those kings went to the place and they found the earth there filled with snow, and upon the snow were large stones of snow, and one said to the other, Come, let us break through the snow and see, perhaps the men that remained with Chanok are dead, and are now under the stones of snow, and they searched but could not find him, for he had ascended into heaven.