Nitsavim (You Are Standing) / VaYelech (And He Went)
8/9) Deuteronomy 29:10 [9 TANACH]–31:30
[Due to the High Holy Days, and the intensity of my schedule, this post is a little off the traditional calendar schedule.]
After meeting Yeshua almost 30 years ago, I prayed a prayer that changed my life. Specifically, I asked God for “the gift of rhythm and song that I could use those gifts to serve Him.” Within a week of that prayer, someone put a dumbek—a middle eastern drum—into my hands and thus began my journey deeper into they joy of music.
Music brings me joy. Specifically, rhythm brings my soul into deep joy. There’s “life” in it for my soul. The Hebrew word for “life” is Chi and looks like this:
You may have seen these letters on a necklace or bracelet. Additionally, this word shows up in the words of a common toast when clinking glasses and saying “L’Chaim” — which means “To Life.”
True life brings true joy when aligned with God’s purposes.
After this life-changing prayer almost 30 years ago, I found myself playing music all over the country and even in two European countries. I then found myself back in school to study the Scriptures—from Genesis to Revelation—in their original languages. I learned to draw life from God’s Word. I also expanded my musical repertoire from playing percussion to also playing the guitar!
I took this picture of two instruments that are very meaningful to me. My wife gave both of them to me and each has its own story of how she surprised me. (My wife is an amazing woman and in the days ahead she may have things to write and share in this newsletter!) The drum is an African jembe. The guitar is a unique hand-made Omega brand guitar. My wife bought the guitar from a friend who wrote a song linked below.
Music, especially rhythmic music, brings me intense joy. Rhythm in music (and dance) brings me chi, brings me life. This week is the final double portion of the year. In the first of these two portions is a prophetically significant chapter—Deuteronomy 30. Linger there.
Seriously…linger in chapter 30 and revisit often. Much of my writing I consider to be “scriptural scaffolding” designed to draw you not to my ideas but to God’s Presence—accessed through His Word.
God has spoken. God continues to speak. Through His Word—the Bible—and by His Spirit in His “still small voice” (see 1 Kings 19:11-12). Here is a key verse in this amazing chapter in Deuteronomy where God speaks through Moses.
I call the heavens and the earth to witness about you today, that I have set before you LIFE and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore CHOOSE LIFE so that you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Choosing life means choosing to follow God on His terms, not ours.
Choosing life means choosing to follow God on His terms. One of the many reasons I adore my wife is that she loves God more than anything else—even me! She radiates the love of God because she is steeped in the fear of God. A holy fear that drives her to choose life over and over again. Choosing life leads to love. Always.
Choosing life leads to love. Always. Choose Life!
The guitar pictured above used to belong to a friend who bought it from someone who had it personally commissioned and handmade for him. My friend was the second owner. I am thus the third owner of the guitar. The second owner was my friend Steve Wiggins who started the band Big Tent Revival. One of their big hits was inspired from Deuteronomy 30, and specifically the passage above challenging us all to “Choose Life!” You can listen to this song using either the YouTube or Spotify link below.
I hope you enjoy the music—a blast from the past—and that it inspires to to check out Deuteronomy 30 and the rest of one or both of the weekly readings. The devotional commentaries are linked below to the Parashah Project. Enjoy…and Choose Life!
Readings for the Week (Double Portion):
Torah: DEUTERONOMY 29:10 [9 TANACH]–30:20
Prophets: ISAIAH 61:10–63:9
Apostolic Writings: ROMANS 10:1–13
Torah: DEUTERONOMY 31:1–30
Prophets: NONE
Apostolic Writings: ROMANS 10:1–17
Click on the pictures above or the title name here for the online Parashah commentary for Nitsavim and VaYelech.
Shalom,
Thomas