11th Month: Shevat 5784 (Jan-Feb 2024)
Parashah Project (Exodus 6:2-20:26 [Heb:23]); Hebrew Treasure (Daleth from Psalm 119:25-32)
*This post is coming out late and the dates for the portions below are now past. I am still sending it out, however, as a resource to help promote a Tanachian worldview and help you connect with God’s heart by engaging His Word — even if a little out of sync with the biblical calendar cycle rhythm. I will send out the current month’s resources soon…
This is the fourth monthly newsletter organized around the Biblical calendar and lunar months. We are now in the month of Shevat (שְׁבָט)! This is the 11th month that includes the next four portions in the book of Exodus (#2-5). Additionally, the minor Jewish holiday commemorating New Year for Trees falls in the middle of the month and in Hebrew is called Tu Bishvat.
The epic story of stories continues by God appearing to Moses through a non-consuming burning bush. The first portion begins when God reveals Himself by disclosing His unique Name claiming, “‘and I appeared’ to your forefathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and now I’m appearing to you! This revelation of Himself is for the purpose of making Himself known to Israel and Egypt and eventually all the nations of the world.
The next portion picks up with the 8th plague on Egypt where God’s superior power is displayed through locusts. God tells Moses to “Go to Pharaoh!” and repeats the ultimate purpose. The Hebrew word for “Go…!” can also be translated “Enter!” meaning that Moses should enter into Pharoah’s presence and declare God’s purpose through plagues to “perform these signs” so “you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians” and ultimately “that you may know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 10:1-2).
God desires not that we just know about Him. He desires that we know Him intimately and personally. That is why He has appeared in the past…and He has not changed. Relational depth for Kingdom breadth!
As God’s “arm twisting” continues through the final kingdom crushing plague, Pharoah finally relents. Immediately after the spectacular Passover instructions in chapter 12, the next portion picks up “when Pharaoh lets go” and the children of Israel are saved. These sons and daughters of the Patriarchs miraculously cross through a sea on dry land and experience Divine deliverance. This deliverance is for a unique purpose that will eventually touch every nation.
In the final portion for this month, God will bring a rag-tag group of emancipated immigrants to the foot of a mountain and enter into an enduring covenant designed to last until the end of this age. This portion is introduced with divine—yet extremely practical—wisdom through “Jethro” who is the father of the gentile woman that Moses married (i.e., a Midianite, see Exodus 2:15-22).
The links below will take you to devotional commentary designed to help you dive deeper into God’s heart by exploring Torah as the gateway into transformational Bible reading.
1/13/24 – VA’ERA (וָאֵרָא) “And I Appeared”
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for VA’ERA.
Torah: Exodus 6:2–9:35
Prophets: Ezekiel 28:25–29:21
Apostles: Acts 7:23–39, 55–60
1/20/24 – BO (בֹּא) “Enter!”
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for BO.
Torah: Exodus 10:1-13:16
Prophets: Jeremiah 46:13-28
Apostles: Romans 9:14-29
✡ 1/25/24 – Tu B’Shevat (טוּ בִּשְׁבָט) New Year for Trees
1/27/24 – B'SHALACH (בְּשַׁלַּח) “When He [Pharaoh] Let Go”
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for B’SHALACH.
Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16
Prophets: Judges 4:4-5:31
Apostles: Revelation 19:1-20:6
2/3/24 – YITRO (יִתְרוֹ) “Jethro (Abundance)”
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for YITRO.
Torah: Exodus 18:1-20:26 [23 Tanach]
Prophets: Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:6-7 [5-6 Tanach]
Apostles: Mathew 5:8-20
This is the fourth installment of Hebrew Treasure from Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible. Each month I will be mining nuggets of gold from the original Hebrew and my goal is to make the riches of God’s Word more accessible to you—even if you don’t know any Hebrew!
25. My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
26. When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27. Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28. My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29. Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
30. I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
31. I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame!
32. I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?
If a dear friend invited you to a party, your first question might be, where is it? Secondly, if you wanted to go you would need to decide how to get there. Derech (דֶּרֶךְ) is the Hebrew word meaning “the way, path, or road” and begins with the letter daleth (ד). The treasure here, however, is found not by seeking to answer the "where" or "how" questions, but to prioritize savoring the answer to the question of "who."
Derech is the root of the opening word in five (vv. 26, 27, 29, 30, 32) of the eight verses in this stanza. “The way” typically refers to a person’s manner of living or the path of their life. The psalmist describes telling God the "how" of his living in verse 26 and commits himself to pursuing God's "how" for a faithfully obedient life that is pleasing to Him in the remaining four verses. Thomas, the disciple who needed more explicit revelation to believe (Jn. 20:25), posed the "where" question to Jesus, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (Jn. 14:5) to which, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way'..." (Jn. 14:6). The Messiah is the way. By fixing our eyes on Him, we are led to each "where" God has for us in life whether those circumstances are pleasant or unpleasant. Furthermore, by fixing our eyes on Jesus we continually learn the "how" of faith-fueled obedience. Beloved, keep your eyes on Jesus, the One who alone knows where and how to lead you deeper into the Father's love.
Hebrew Treasure excerpt written by Thomas Boehm.
From The Psalm 119 Journey by Steve Allen, ©2022.
Used with permission.
Shabbat Shalom!
Thomas