Leviticus 26:3-27:34
(In a regular year, read with Parashah 32; in a leap year read separately.)
“If you live by my regulations, observe my mitzvot and obey them; then I will provide the rain you need in its season, the land will yield its produce, and the trees in the field will yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:3-4).
Excerpt:
“Listen, children, to a father’s instruction; pay attention, in order to gain insight” (Proverbs 4:1).
When the children of Isra’el disobey His rulings, Adonai will discipline them “seven times over” in all manner of ways so they return to Him. The word ‘discipline’ comes from the Latin word for ‘pupil’ or ‘disciple.’ The dictionary defines discipline as ‘the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior.’ In Hebrew, the word ‘discipline’ is musar and means ‘chastening.’ When someone is being disciplined, they are being trained to obey rules, learn self-control and develop godly character.
“God is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father? All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer [born out of wedlock} and not a son! Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness. Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness” (Hebrews 12:7-11).
Some of Adonai’s disciplinary action against Isra’el includes terror, wasting disease, and chronic fever that will blind them and make them weak. He will break their pride. They will sow seed for their enemies to eat. The land will not produce nor will their trees. He will make the sky like iron and their soil like bronze. He will set His face against His people so their enemies will defeat them; they will flee when no one is chasing them.
He will bring a sword against them which will execute the vengeance of His covenant. They will huddle in their cities, sick and without bread. He will make them eat the flesh of their own sons and daughters. He will lay waste to their cities and desolate the sanctuary. He will disperse them among the nations until the land has paid its sh’mittahs and Yovel. Those who live in the lands of their enemies will waste away with guilt over the misdeeds of their ancestors as well as their own.
“But if their uncircumcised hearts will grow humble, and they are paid the punishment for their misdeeds; then I will remember my covenant with Ya‘akov, also my covenant with Yitz’ak and my covenant with Avraham; and I will remember the land” (Leviticus 26:41-42).
Sun-god Worship
“I will destroy your high places, cut down your pillars for sun worship and throw your carcasses on the carcasses of your idols” (Leviticus 26:30).
The Hittites worshiped the sun-god as Hepa; the Egyptians worshiped the sun as Ra. The Romans and Constantine worshiped the Sol Invictus while the Greeks called the sun-god, Apollo. Surya was the Hindu sun-god, and Utu was worshiped as the sun-god in Mesopotamia. These are only a few of world’s cultures that worshiped the sun as it rose on the eastern horizon.
Sunday, the first day of the week, has Roman roots as it was named after the Sol Invictus and originally called the ‘Venerable Day of the Sun.’ The Roman catholic church authorized Sunday as the ‘new’ sabbath based on the decision by the Council of Laodicea. With this monumental change from the practices of the first-century church, the Sol Invictus was worshiped, not HaShem of the Hebrew Scriptures. Every denomination that observes Sunday is the Sabbath has embraced this catholic mandate; even more deceived into believing it is the weekly holy day to remember Jesus’ resurrection.
In the following quotation, note that the catholic church states that the Sabbath is the third, not the fourth commandment. The third commandment about idols was removed and the tenth commandment was divided in order to have Ten Commandments.
“All of the doctrines the church accepts as Biblical truth are written in the catholic catechism for the third commandment.”
The Tabernacle and Temple faced east because Yeshua will arrive from that direction and put an end to sun-god worship. Those in Isra’el who worshiped the sun-god faced east with their backs toward the Temple. Sun-god worship is a disgusting practice that fills the land with violence.
“He brought me into the inner courtyard of Adonai’s house; and there, at the entrance to the temple of Adonai, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of Adonai and their faces toward the east; and they were worshiping the sun toward the east. He asked me, ‘Human being, have you seen this? Does the house of Y’hudah consider it a casual matter that they commit the disgusting practices they are committing here, thus filling the land with violence, provoking me still more? Look! They are even putting the branch to their nose! Therefore I will act in fury, my eye will not spare, I will have no pity. Even if they cry loudly right in my ears, I will not listen to them’” (Ezekiel 8:16-18).
For a complete copy of this Torah portion, the readings from the Prophets, gospels, letters, and study questions, please purchase Open My Eyes: Wonders of Torah.
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