Torah: Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11
PROPHETS: Isaiah 40:1–26  
APOSTOLIC WRITINGS: Matthew 23:31–39

The devotional below is designed to help you dive deeper into God’s heart by exploring Torah as the gateway into transformational Bible reading.

SUNDAY

Torah 1 & 2

Torah 1: 
Pleading With God For Entry
Deuteronomy 3:23–4:4

Still preaching to the new generation of Israelites camped just east of the Jordan River, Moses recounts his pleading with God to allow him personal entry into the Promised Land (3:23–29; cf. Numbers 20:8–12). He then pleads directly with Israel, pleading for them to follow God and live in covenant faithfulness—trusting the promises of the covenant and obeying the obligations of the covenant. Moses pleads with Israel for fidelity to God based on:

(a) their recent past experience (4:1–4; cf. Numbers 25)…

Torah 2:
Pleading With Israel For Fidelity (Faith–Based Obedience)
Deuteronomy 4:5–40

(b) the resulting testimony of greatness that will glorify God (vv. 5–8)

c) their distant past experience at Horeb/Sinai (vv. 9–24; knowing and following the one true God means fleeing idolatry)

d) their future experience of grace (vv. 25–31)

e) their unique relationship with God, whereby He freed them from slavery, covenanted with them at Sinai, and is now beginning to grant them their Promised Land (vv. 32–40; cf. Psalm 147:19–20)

Application

What do you plead with God for in prayer (cf. James 4:3)? How faithfully are you pleading with those with whom you live and work to know and follow God in covenant fidelity?

MONDAY

Torah 3 & 4

Torah 3: 
Israel’s Law of the LanD 
Deuteronomy 4:41–49

4:41–43
Moses sets apart three Trans-Jordanian cities as safe havens for people who unintentionally spill their neighbor’s blood (cf. Genesis 9:6). This system supports establishing true justice in the land by limiting unjust bloodshed by relatives seeking revenge for the unintentional death of their loved one (cf. Numbers 35:12).

4:44–49
Moses then gives a brief historical review of recent events, pleading with Israel to see God’s covenant faithfulness and respond in kind. 
 

Torah 4:
God’s Obligations of the Heart
Deuteronomy 5:1–21 [18 Heb]

God’s obligations are part of His covenant (5:1–21). These obligations, however, are only dead works of the flesh if not fueled by faith (cf. Rom. 14:23). Messiah Yeshua spoke of these very same obligations with His followers with the same goal as Moses: calling people to covenant fidelity and instructing them in how to do that in relationship with a holy God (cf. Matthew 5:17–48). These obligations can be summarized in terms of loving God and loving people.

application

Which one of the ten specific obligations is the most difficult for you? Talk to Yeshua about it in prayer and follow Him and His example in pursuing God’s obligations—trusting the Father and bringing Him glory in every way and at all times.

TUESDAY

torah 5 & 6

Torah 5: 
God Leads Through His Word
Deuteronomy 5:22 [19 Heb]–6:3

5:22–27
Moses recounts God’s awesome Presence at Mt. Sinai as well as the people’s fearful response. God had intended to arouse this kind of response and had informed Moses of His intentions beforehand (cf. Exodus 19:9 and 20:20).

5:28–29
God’s intention was to instill in His people a holy fear that would serve as the foundation upon which He could build a long-term loving covenant relationship (cf. Proverbs1:7a).

5:30–6:3
That relationship was to be nurtured through God’s chosen and appointed mediator (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15–18 and Acts 3:22; 7:7:37).   
 

Torah 6: 
We Are Called To Follow In Covenant Faithfulness (Sh’ma Yisra’el) 
Deuteronomy 6:4–25

6:4–15
The Sh’ma (“Listen,” v. 4) and v’Ahavta (“and You shall love,” vv. 5–9) continue to call God’s people to exclusive covenant fidelity and steadfast love (vv. 10–15).

4:16–25
Obedience to God’s instruction and following Him alone is the only Way of blessing and life.

application

Sing or say the Sh’ma and v’Ahavta right now (preferably out loud, unless you are on a commuter train or something!) as a way to call your own heart to see God for Who He really is (6:4), and then commit yourself afresh to total fidelity (6:5–9)! Listen for His response…