Vayelech - September 11, 2021

Torah Portion:
Vayelech - September 11, 2021
Torah: Deuteronomy 31:1-30
Haftarah: Hosea 14:2(1)-10(9), Micah 7:18-20, Joel 2:15-27
Vayelech - September 11, 2021
Torah: Deuteronomy 31:1-30
Haftarah: Hosea 14:2(1)-10(9), Micah 7:18-20, Joel 2:15-27
Portion Summary:
—Moses’ final farewell to the people.
—The Lord prepares Moses for his death.
Devotional by Janet Cothrell:
—Moses’ final farewell to the people.
—The Lord prepares Moses for his death.
Devotional by Janet Cothrell:
CHAZAK!
“Chazak! Be courageous! Do not be afraid or tremble before them. For ADONAI your God—He is the One who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (TLV)
Here Moses uses his last act as their leader to encourage the people. He’s reminding them to stand in strength of faith and courage before the enemies that they will encounter, and that they are to be a people who rely on God to give them victory.
The term Chazak may be familiar to you if you read Torah or have been following these blogs. At the end of each book, the phrase, “Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazek!” is recited, and given the translation, “Be strong, be strong and be strengthened!” Chazak has meanings of strengthening, hardening, prevailing, being firm or resolute. This term is used mainly in Exodus 13 to describe the hand of the Lord. This would imply that the strength does not come from our own bodies or intestinal fortitude, but from looking to the One who gives us strength.
As we study the Word of God, we must have the tenacity to continue. As we follow the path He has set before us, we will need to draw on His strength to continue to make progress. The phrase at the end of each Torah book repeats the word Chazak three times. Some say this is to signify that He was, He is, and He will be with us, supplying His strength for the road ahead. In light of this: Chazak! Be strengthened!
Lord God,
I thank You for Your unlimited strength and tenacity. I can be weak and want to quit and take what seems an easier path, but I know that without You, every path in this life can become too hard to bear. Infuse me with Your strength so that I may finish, and finish with honor.
In Yeshua’s name, amen.
Here Moses uses his last act as their leader to encourage the people. He’s reminding them to stand in strength of faith and courage before the enemies that they will encounter, and that they are to be a people who rely on God to give them victory.
The term Chazak may be familiar to you if you read Torah or have been following these blogs. At the end of each book, the phrase, “Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazek!” is recited, and given the translation, “Be strong, be strong and be strengthened!” Chazak has meanings of strengthening, hardening, prevailing, being firm or resolute. This term is used mainly in Exodus 13 to describe the hand of the Lord. This would imply that the strength does not come from our own bodies or intestinal fortitude, but from looking to the One who gives us strength.
As we study the Word of God, we must have the tenacity to continue. As we follow the path He has set before us, we will need to draw on His strength to continue to make progress. The phrase at the end of each Torah book repeats the word Chazak three times. Some say this is to signify that He was, He is, and He will be with us, supplying His strength for the road ahead. In light of this: Chazak! Be strengthened!
Lord God,
I thank You for Your unlimited strength and tenacity. I can be weak and want to quit and take what seems an easier path, but I know that without You, every path in this life can become too hard to bear. Infuse me with Your strength so that I may finish, and finish with honor.
In Yeshua’s name, amen.
Recent
Archive
2023
February
2022
2021
January
February
March
April
May
14 Days of Devotion - Day 1: Why Count the Omer?14 Days of Devotion: Introduction14 Days of Devotion - Day 2: When We’re Weary, He Speaks Life14 Days of Devotion - Day 3: He is Risen, Just As He Said14 Days of Devotion - Day 4: PurifiedBehar/Bechukotai - May 8, 202114 Days of Devotion - Day 5: Stop Doubting and Believe!14 Days of Devotion - Day 6: The Master’s Plan14 Days of Devotion - Day 7: Child's Play14 Days of Devotion - Day 8: Oh Yes You Can!14 Days of Devotion - Day 9: Where You Go, I Go14 Days of Devotion - Day 10: One People, One Direction14 Days of Devotion - Day 11: DON’T Follow Your Gut!Bamidbar - May 15, 202114 Days of Devotion - Day 12: Putting Down Roots14 Days of Devotion - Day 13: As One14 Days of Devotion - Day 14: The Next StepIn-Person Shabbat Gatherings Starting May 22Nasso - May 22, 2021Beha'alotcha - May 29, 2021
June
July
August
September
2020
March
April
May
21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 1: Nothing Can Separate You From God's Love, Not Even A Mask21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 2: Be Ready No Matter What!21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 3: We Will Rise21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 4: Don’t Follow Your Gut!21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 5: Bringing It All Into Focus21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 6: Prayer Works!Will Restoration Ever Meet Again?!21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 7: What It’s Like to Hear God’s Voice21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 8: The Shema & the V'ahavtah21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 9: Repentance Purifies Us21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 10: The New Normal, Part 121 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 11: The New Normal, Pt. 221 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 12: Unity in a Pandemic???21 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 13: Punk'd, Pt. 121 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 14: Punk'd, Pt. 221 Days of Fasting & Prayer — Episode 15: Now I Get It (Hindsight is 20/20)