Parsha “V’zot HaBerakhah” (Deuteronomy (chapter 33 through the End of the Book, and the entire Torah) is the final reading in this cycle, and the life of Moses.
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there:
This Sabbath Day midrash comes during the week of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles — not only the actual time of the birth of the Messiah, but the heart of the yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecies of the Greater Exodus, the Revelation, and the Wedding Feast. It’s also when the annual Torah cycle readings conclude, and begin again.
V’zot HaBerakhah: This is the Blessing – the Cycle Begins Anew
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Ha’azinu” (Deuteronomy (chapter 32) is the second-to-last reading in the Torah, and the life of Moses. It is, specifically, the second “Song of Moses,” that he sings, as a “witness against” them, and us, immediately prior to his death.
It’s also a warning that hits as close to home now as it ever has.
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there:
This Sabbath Day midrash comes just after the ‘most holy’ day of the year, Yom Kippur, and right before the final, climactic week of the Fall Feasts, the time of Sukkot, aka the Feast of Tabernacles, or booths, or even ‘mangers.’ Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa notes that the confluence of this reading, and the Song of Moses, at this time at the heart of the Fall Feasts should suggest two major admonitions from Scripture: “Know the times and the seasons,” and that, furthermore, “NOW is the time!”
Sukkot is almost certainly the time when the Messiah, Yahushuah, was actually born. But how many of us have heard, “I don’t care – I love Xmas anyway,” and similar excuses for accepting what we “know or should know” is a lie. Is this the year to stand on Truth?
We also know, or should, that the word “jesus” never even existed until about 16 centuries as the Messiah walked the earth after that birth. No one EVER, not once, called Him by that name. And it thus cannot be (Acts 4) the “only name” by which we can be saved. Does that matter? Most of us have again heard, “I don’t care,” or “what difference does it really make?”
So, if His birthday doesn’t really matter, nor does His real Name, what about His Doctrine? Did He “do away with the law,” or is that – as Mark strongly suggests – perhaps the Biggest Lie in all of human history?
Does His Doctrine matter? Did He change it? Did He really change His Instruction about His moedim [appointed times], His Sabbaths, food, money, marriage – and just about anything else men decided they didn’t like from His Word?
Ha’azinu: When Does it Finally START to Matter?
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Vayelekh” (Deuteronomy (chapter 31) is one of the final chapters in the Torah, and the life of Moses. It includes the ‘charge’ given to Yoshua/Joshua as he prepares to take over leadership of the mixed multitude, to “Kazakh!” – or, “Be strong, and of good courage.”
It’s also a poignant warning about the “End of Days” – arguably, now.
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there, and also sets the stage for the final “Song of Moses”:
During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa focuses on a prophecy that now seems to be at minimum, ‘in-progress’: “You will do evil in the sight of YHVH, and provoke Him through the work of your hands.”
But it is no coincidence that this portion is read during the time of His Fall Feasts, and we are now – or should be – preparing for the singular moed of His Appointed Times about which He warns so clearly, do it – or else!
Warning: Some will again be offended. They will say His Feasts are ‘old’, and “done away with.” As if He preferred the pagan replacements, and couldn’t manage to say so. YHVH certainly made the reason for His anger, and our continued exile, abundantly clear. And in this case, the warning and importance could not be clearer. Even if we have been lied to about it!
Vayelekh: This is the Year to Make SURE you ‘Know the Season’
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Nitzavim” (Deuteronomy (29:9-thru chapter 30) is the parsha that Mark Call almost always says is not only a vital, undeniable, and not-yet-fulfilled, prophecy of our future, but contains the most succinct two-word summary of His Torah in the Bible.
And it begins with that enigmatic introduction, “Nitzavim,” or “you are standing” – all of you, THIS DAY, before YHVH your El…
…and here we are now, THIS DAY (ha yom) doing exactly that – again.
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there, and the specifics, to set the stage:
During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa begins with a theme that has been on many of our minds this last week or two, and the phrase “doctrines of demons,” from Paul’s first letter to Timothy, 4:1.
It is certainly encouraging that Charlie’s execution/martyrdom has encouraged many people to look at his lifetime body of work, and his testimony for faith in the Living Elohim. No doubt many – particularly young and college-aged people – are considering a ‘turn’ toward the teachings of Scripture.
And yet, Mark suggests, the popular reaction of just “go back to church,” is but a pitiful small step in what might be the right direction. After all, many LEFT ‘the church’ because of it’s demonstrated, Scripturally-condemned, failure to “teach my people the difference,” between the holy and profane, clean and unclean. Simply returning to what already failed, and got us here, is not a real solution.
And yet, Deuteronomy 30 gives us both a clear razor for Truth, and a bold promise of why we MUST turn!
Warning: Some will be offended. YHVH certainly made the reason for His anger, and our continued exile, abundantly clear. But so is the Promise.
Nitzavim: BOTH The Blessing AND the Curse
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Ki Tavo” (Deuteronomy (26:1-29:8) is almost certainly the most famous, and foreboding, set of blessings and cursings in the Bible. But, notably, it begins with “when you have come into the land,” and a set of instructions, such as the ‘Bikkurim’ or offerings of First Fruits, that are to take place there.
But we remain in exile, have been “shalach”-ed for cause. So what does that mean about those curses?
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there, and the specifics, to set the state:
During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa addresses exactly that question. But it begins with an observation:
The plagues are certainly – undeniably – “well deserved,” not just by the US, but the world. And many, at least, already seem to be in progress.
Yet we are told, repeatedly, in Scripture, to “have no fellowship,” with the unfruitful works of darkness. To “flee from idolatry.” And not to ‘keep company’ with, or even eat with, the kind of people who commit the kind of perversions we routinely see promoted on CNN. Or taught in the public ‘schools.’
Mark argues that we have been told to “come out of her,” to not participate with those sins, so as to – hopefully – avoid the promised plagues. The prophet Amos tells us that, unless they are agreed, it’s difficult for two people to “walk together.” And we saw this week there are, unquestionably, a large demonic army of people with whom reasoned dialogue, discourse, debate, and now arguably even peaceful coexistence have been demonstrated to be impossible.
So, do those plagues in Deuteronomy 28 still apply? Or not?
Isn’t it relevant that the FIRST three plagues in Egypt hit everyone? But, during the fourth, of flies, YHVH “put a difference,” made a distinction, between the pagan Egyptians and His people?
The promised plagues are here, and we’re already in exile. So what now?
Ki Tavo: The Plagues are OPTIONAL
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Ki Tetzi” (“When you go forth” – to battle) — Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) begins with another VERY ‘politically IN-correct’ prescription. Which tells us, right up front, why this is one worth paying attention to.
Because we’ve been told it “doesn’t matter” any more, is “done away with,” or worse. Lied to about, in other words.
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there, and includes what amounts to a great summary of just why that is:
During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa explains why “miscellaneous mitzvot,” or commandments, are nothing of the sort. They’re certainly not “done away with,” but the fact that so many are SO ‘politically-INcorrect’ speaks volumes about a world jonesin’ fer judgment.
But what really stands out in THIS environment, today, is that they are intended for human beings, created in His image. Not corporations, and not “AI,” or any other creation of mere men.
Ki Tetzi: Miscellaneous Mitzvot – Not ‘PC’ – Not ‘done away with’ – but FOR HUMANS
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Shoftim” (Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9) may be the most utterly “timely” commentary on the World Today, and what is so UTTERLY WRONG — given events of the last week — that we could ask for.
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship contends in this week’s reading and midrash that the totality of the major themes in this one — from ‘REAL judges’ as opposed to ‘black-robed priests of Satan,’ to the plague of liars being “perverted witness” (and lying in oaths), to ‘false prophets’, to what it means to “put away the Evil from among you,” and what happens when society not only FAILS to do so, but promotes that evil.
If there was ever a parsha that helps clarify what it must mean to “come out of her,” and why it is now a matter of life and death – this is it!
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there, and includes what amounts to a great summary of just why that is:
We have seen in the last few portions the more than one admonition against idolatry, including <em>”don’t even bring the idol into your house.”</em> We have seen why He prescribes a death penalty for idolatry. And this week, both in the news, and in the Bible, we have seen what happens when that Evil among is is not exterminated, but subsidized, taught, and even mandated in the Whore Church and public cesspools.
There are a myriad of important themes in here. But, ultimately, they all relate to just one: ‘They’ HATE YHVH. WARNING: This exposition will no doubt offend some. It should. But Scripture is very blunt. And so are the effects – about which we were warned.
<strong> Shoftim: “REAL Judges, Real Men, Fake gods, and Extermination of the Evil from Among You”</strong>
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Re’eh” (for “See!,”Behold!,” or even “Check it out” — Deuteronomy 11:26-16:18) begins with a blessing, and a curse. And, as Mark points out up front, the fact that even the significance of the distinction there is so often missed is a major indicator of why there is “no power in the [modern] ‘church’.”
The Erev Shabbat reading begins there, and includes what amounts to a great summary of just why that is:
Last week, the parsha told us, “Do not even bring an abomination into your house,” lest you be accursed like it.
This week, the admonition is to utterly destroy anything and everything associated with them. And as for false prophets, who try to get us to serve those fakes? Scripture prescribes — in no uncertain terms — a death penalty.
How is it that a ‘church’ which claims to worship ‘him’ has fallen into exactly that trap?
During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa answers that question, as He does.
And as for —
Re’eh: “Other gods not known to you? “
…now they’re taught in ‘sun-god day’ school. Even though the idolatry is soft-pedaled.
It is a fact that, once seen, cannot be un-seen. But it certainly must not be ignored.
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Ekev” (for “Because,” or “it follows,” Deuteronomy 7:11-11:25) is
The Erev Shabbat reading includes that, and more:
During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa muses about the ‘giants’ (Rephaim, Anakim, Zamzuzim, et al) that Moses warned the mixed multitude they would deal with in the land. And HOW, since they were promised to prevail.
They were big and scary, but just how intelligent were they? Arguably, perhaps more so than we might think.
The theme again has idolatry at heart, and His hatred of it. “Do not even bring an abomination into your house,” lest you be accursed like it.
Could it be that He is also talking about the newly created AI gods, made of a different form of stone — silicon? But the lesson is the same, although the threat is greater.
Ekev: “Ekev Big Scary Giants – Then and Now…But were they Smart, too?”
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
Parsha “Vaetchanan” (for “And I pleaded,” Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11) is arguably THE portion that contains some of the most important “statutes and commandments” in the Bible. Not only “the Ten,” but also the one known often simply as “The Shema,” for the first word, and the fact that Yahushua called it the Greatest Commandment of all, ‘Hear, O Isreal…YHVH Elohenu, YHVH Echad.” And you shall YHVH with “all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.”
The Erev Shabbat reading includes that, and more:
During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship suggests that there are several elements in the ‘theme’ of this parsha that are not only central to our understanding, but also must serve as a basis for some of the most important questions – and the tests that will answer them! – that explain what has gone wrong with a nation, and a world, that has not only forgotten Him – but apparently HATES Him.
And they are fundamental to what we must ‘come out of,’ and thus Who we serve.
This portion is, at least in part, about idolatry, and certainly obedience to His “statues, judgments, and commandments.” And He says THREE TIMES, in this parsha alone, that He is the ‘Jealous God,’ literally, “El Kana.” There is an important connection in that theme.
And Mark suggest that He has told us EXACTLY what we need to know in order to “rightly divide the Word,” and discern the difference between the fake and the Real. Both “adding to,” and “subtracting from” His Word, as Written, are flashing red warning signs that there is Major Deception Afoot. And Exile was, and remains, the result.
Vaetchanan: “A Jealous El Kana – don’t Add To, or Subtract From”
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
