28 Sept - Nitzavim Vayelech - Discussion led by Peter

In the first part Peter led us through the portion. As we delve into this week's parasha, centered around Yom Teruah, we are reminded of the profound significance of "standing"—both physically as we prepare to blow the shofar and spiritually as we present ourselves before God.

In this moment of standing, there is an inclusive gathering of all—without exceptions—from the smallest to the greatest, transcending time itself. We connect the past, present, and future, weaving a timeless tapestry of faith. Even if some may not see eye to eye, there is an inherent unity in our collective journey, walking in parallel with the Divine, acknowledging that we are all part of this sacred narrative in God's sight.

This synopsis discusses a parasha that highlights the interconnectedness of all people, regardless of their individual journeys. It emphasizes that, although individuals may not be aligned, they share a collective experience.

In a vibrant community, every individual brings a unique perspective, reminding us that we are richer for it. To truly understand our shared experience, we must learn to see through each other's eyes, uncovering insights that might elude us on our own. This collective exchange restores balance, allowing us to support and uplift one another. We are called to be transparent, sharing our perceptions openly, so that together we can create a more comprehensive and inclusive vision of our world. Embracing this openness enables us all to grow and thrive as one.

The text reflects on the mystery of God's ways, reassuring readers not to worry about the unknown. It acknowledges human tendency to stray but reassures that God's understanding and love will bring people back. The themes of choice, life, and death are explored, drawing parallels to the Garden of Eden. The covenant is articulated, witnessed by heaven and earth, with a focus on the future through Joshua's leadership. The parasha encourages trust in the transition rather than panic and underscores the importance of returning to the Torah for guidance. Lastly, it highlights the unifying power of music in the introduction of Moses' "song" and the parralells from creation through Abraham and Moses to the Messiah and beyond.

This message resonates with profound wisdom about the inevitability of death. God meticulously prepared Moses for his passing, just as Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 12, prompts us to reflect on our own lives and mortality. Paul echoes this sentiment in 1 Corinthians 13:12, reminding us that the only treasures we can take with us are faith, hope, and above all, love—the greatest of all. It is this love, rooted in our relationships, that assures us a meaningful future. Like Jacob, who thoughtfully planned for his death with the brothers, we are called to embrace the reality of our mortality with grace and preparation, understanding that it is the love we cultivate that endures beyond this life.

We are reminded that it is God who goes before us, not Moses. As Moses passes the mantle of leadership to Joshua, we are reassured that God is the one leading the way. Standing on the banks of the Jordan brings to mind their previous experience at the shores of the Red Sea; while they may be in a different place, they face familiar fears. Yet, there is also a shared solution to those fears. Just as God parted the sea and led them with cloud and fire before, He will do so again in this moment. We are encouraged to remember this truth and apply it to our current reality.

The children of Israel have undergone a transformative process, often resisting God's intentions for their growth. Now, they must mature in their understanding and take on community responsibility to follow God's ways. Every community reaches a pivotal moment where individuals must grow up and accept responsibility, marking a significant shift. We may find ourselves at that very juncture. Is God pushing us out of the nest? In Exodus 19, the nations are depicted as being carried on eagle's wings, but in the upcoming portion, we will see that God desires for them to fly on their own. What a profound transition we are witnessing!

The purpose is for us to enter into a covenant with Adonai. At the end of the parasha, it states, “clinging to him, for this is the purpose of your life.” It begins with us standing together to enter the covenant, and why? So we can collectively cling to Him. This is the essence of the covenant and the path we are meant to follow—loving, paying attention, and then clinging. This is the river in which the covenant desires for us to reside.

1 Samuel 17 discusses David and Goliath, where David exclaims, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?” This refers to the sign of the covenant, implying that Goliath stands against David without that covenantal backing. David questions why he should fear someone who is uncovenanted. We must learn to adopt this perspective; David's boldness stemmed from his understanding of the covenant's power. If we could truly grasp this, we would recognize the strength of the covenant in our own lives.

David didn’t pre-plan what he would say to Goliath; he found those words in the moment. God is a God of now, and we encounter Him in the present. The antidote to fear might be entering into the “now” with God in covenant, even when experiencing the pain of exile or battling conditions like Parkinson's. From that place, we can engage with the covenantal “now” moment with God.

“See, I have set before you today life and death.” It is only truly found in “today”—today, today, today. That’s the secret.

How does fear grip us? Often, we find ourselves fearful of things we've imagined. Our minds are skilled at generating fear. However, we can share our fears with one another and open up to the greater understanding of the community, which can effectively diffuse our fears into a balanced reality.

In chapter 29, it states, “and walk in stubbornness,” which some translations render as imagination. The Hebrew word suggests strands of cord that make it difficult to break free. If we're not careful, a cord of three strands is not easily broken—even in a negative sense!

In chapter 30, God tells the people that they will fall away, using the term "turning around" seven times. This is the first introduction of the word "turn" in Hebrew, and it comes when we are called to remember what God has done.

At the start of the portion, we are asked to circumcise our hearts, which reflects God's desire for us. At the end, after exile, God states that when you begin to turn, that is the circumcision happening to you, a circumcision made by God. Often, our makeup may require exile for that inevitable circumcision to occur.

Sometimes we think of abundant life within our own context and understanding, but the life God desires for us is likely beyond what we can visualize or imagine. So, when we turn from our place of exile, we turn to God—not back to what we know, but to the One who knows.

The beginning of exile occurs when the blessings, represented by seven specific fruits, start to disappear. Each fruit may symbolize aspects of fear gripping us; as we hold onto fear, the land's fruits die. Fear blocks the spiritual fruits, leading us to slip away. The fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5 contrast with the preceeding verses that can possibly be described as "fruits of fear" manifesting as contention and immaturity within the community. Ultimately, these fruits of fear describe the state of our world, characterized by hatred and even murder, but the fruits of the Spirit are the fruits of the covenant, which aims to bring us to a place of communally clinging to God. This presents a powerful picture for us to meditate on!

To leave something that is a big issue in your life requires strength, perseverance, and courage. When the Israelites marched around Jericho, it may have been discouraging not to see the walls come down after the first day, but they had to keep going. It took 40 years of process for Israel to reach this point! Often, exile is necessary to prepare us to take on the covenant and receive the blessing.

The spiritual is like thought—it's instant; for instance, you think about being in America, and you're there in your mind, but it takes an 8-hour flight to get there physically. We need to understand that God is already there! What He is doing is aligning our physical reality with where He wants us to experience His presence physically. There is a physical experience of where He is that He wants to bring you into, so have patience and bring yourself to Him. It’s amazing to be alive and to say, "Yes, Lord" from that context! Even if you have to march around Jericho for 7 days seemingly seeing no result.

In the face of impossible challenges, where resources seem scarce, we are called to summon strength and courage. Paul’s thorn in the flesh remained for a purpose—so he could fully experience God’s grace, loving kindness, and strength, learning to rejoice even before his circumstances shifted. God desires this deep lesson for all of us, encouraging us to draw near and collectively cling to Him. Through this connection, we unlock the covenantal blessings He offers, allowing the abundant life to flow to us, and then from us as a divine on-passing of Gods blessing to the nations—an existence far beyond our wildest dreams. This is the pattern set before us, so let’s embrace the moment and invite His kingdom into our lives now!