Shalom V’milchamah

0:00 I'd like to invite Rabbi Sean to come to the stage and share with us. A Venus shabasha my Father in Heaven Lord. I Thank you for Rabbi Sean. I think you for the moyer family Lord. I Thank you for everything that you have done in their lives. Lord I pray that you would continue to pour out your grace upon the family Lord and I ask that you would Minister to us today through Rabbi Sean. We bless you and praise you and yeshua's name. am En now I gotta talk, huh? All right. It's a blessing. David

0:46 hey, David. When you were three years old. You came to me to tell me that you found a snake. We were living in California in those days. And I asked you how big is the snake? And then you walked from one end of the couch. To the other end. Halfway in disbelief. I followed you outside. To see the most massive snake I've ever encountered. It was stretched along the backside of our house. Although the snake was aware of us. Thankfully. It was preoccupied with a task. It was halfway through swallowing a large iguana.

1:32 head first The tail was sticking out. We stood in Marvel that the large creature slowly slithered backwards inches at a time until it had exited our yard through a hole in the fence. There were three three things. Excuse me. That impressed me about that event, David. First was that you came and told me. You would find all kinds of Critters bugs and beasts. And you seem to have a good sense about when you're encounters warranted my attention. Admittedly, I am probably unaware of most of your encounters. However, every time you called me it warranted my attention. second you were bold enough to face and assess

2:19 a situation that most people would run from Perhaps it was prophetic that when your mom was pregnant with you. She was studying marine biology. I accompanied her class as one of the van drivers down to the Florida Keys where we spent two weeks camping on the beach. Your mom's belly was so big that we could not even consider scuba diving. However, we were snorkeling every day, encountering Barracuda sea turtles and the most colorful and diverse life I have ever seen. As she was eight months pregnant. She could not take an emotion sickness medication when we were on the sea for hours at a time.

3:05 I set out to join her in this commitment. However We spent one afternoon together leaning over the side of the boat feeding entire schools of yellow-tailed snapper. After this encounter, I told your mom I was sorry, but I could no longer keep my commitment and I purchased some Dramamine to keep my stomach while we were out on the ocean. Thankfully we were both able to immensely enjoy the remainder of the trip. Yet I always think twice before ordering yellow-tailed snapper. In any case even before you were born you were having Wildlife encounters. I was impressed that you had the boldness and knowledge to

3:53 stay calm and not run from the snake while at the same time. You knew that the situation was serious enough that you notified me. You waited for me to come out and together. We watched this substantial serpent slip away. Your Torah portion is a Kev. Which means as a result of or because of as you mentioned. It deals with consequence. This word can also mean heal. In the sense that one event occurs on the heels of another. This word a Kev is used only one other place in the Bible. in Genesis 22 in what is known as the Acadia? Abraham is challenged by God to offer up

4:40 his only son. Abraham doesn't quite understand yet. He obeys God. When God sees Abraham's faithfulness, he stops Abraham and shows him a ram caught in the bushes by his horns. on that day Abraham received two new shofars and a crazy story to tell it parties. God tells Abraham that he would bless him and multiply his descendants like the Sands of the seashore and the stars of the heavens. Genesis 22:18 says through your seed all of the Nations will be blessed. A Kev here's where it comes because you obeyed my voice.

5:25 This word a Kev invokes strong associations of yielding to the god of Israel and allowing him to establish the way forward. The title of my message is Shalom the milhama. In seminary my Hebrew teacher used to greet us with this phrase. On the one hand. He was simply telling us the name of one of his favorite novels by Leo Tolstoy War and Peace. On the other hand, he was offering us a common greeting shalom. While also challenging us to embrace the battle mil Hamas. He was one of my toughest professors. Yet he uniquely equipped me for the challenges that I would face in the coming years.

6:13 I will be looking at the opening verses of your portion a Kev and Val. I left my Bible down there if you don't mind bringing that for me. This runs from Deuteronomy chapter 7 verses 12 through 26. And I would like to show you. three concepts from this text first. Thank you, Rabbi re First I want to encourage you to walk in Covenant with the god of Israel David. Second I desire to embolden you to pursue the enemy in your path. And thirdly I want to appeal to you to wait upon the Lord to establish the way. Ultimately as your father, it is my desire for you that you would walk in the way of God's instruction and allow him to establish your

7:01 life. I will be reading Deuteronomy chapter 7 verses 12 through 26 from the Tree of Life version the tlv. My outline can be found on the YouVersion app. I will begin with verses 12 through 15, which read as follows. Then it will happen as a result of your listening to these ordinances. When you keep and do them. That Adonai your God will keep with you the Covenant kindness that he swore to your fathers. He will love you bless you and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your soil your grain and your new wine and your oil the increase of your herds and the young of your flock in the land that

7:48 he swore to your fathers to give you. From All Peoples you will be blessed. There will not be male or female Barren among you or your livestock. I don't know I will remove all sickness from you and he will not inflict on you any of the terrible diseases of Egypt that you knew but will inflict them on all who hate you. walk in Covenant with the god of Israel As a teenager I once found myself in a crowd of people who seemed like giants. I went to my friend's house and his older brother was having a party. It was a Rowdy scene. And as I heard the words of these teenagers, they made it clear that they were anti-Semitic. I felt threatened in this company and extremely uncomfortable.

8:37 I only knew one person in the room and it was becoming clear that if he wasn't anti-semitic himself, he was surely willing to tolerate it. I felt outnumbered and sense that I was in danger. At one point the crowd turned to me and asked if I was a Jew. Let me pause here and give you some context. As a child, although I took part in Passover and pour him and Hanukkah and had Hebrew lessons. I didn't have faith in the god of Israel. To me. These were just old customs and things that I had to do. Sometimes they were fun. Sometimes they were boring. Sometimes relative where more relatives were more religious. Sometimes they were less.

9:22 in any case at that point in my life They were merely externalities. They didn't mean much to me on the inside. Therefore if being Jewish meant that I might get curb stomped by a crowd of skinheads. I was willing to set aside my identity in order to save my own hide. So when they asked if I was a Jew I said no. The crowd took their eyes off of me at that point and They carried on with their foolishness. I knew that I needed to get out of this house as soon as I could. I made it home safely. As a kid, I did not feel guilty about denying my heritage. Even as an adult, I can understand the ethica Dilemma ethical dilemma that I was facing as

10:10 as a teenager. Telling the truth to that hostile crowd would have carried severe consequence. Ironically by denying my own Jewish identity. I saved one Jewish person myself. At the same time. I'm not proud of what I did. I don't feel bad about deceiving those anti-semites. Perhaps my regret is that I didn't know the god of Israel. I can see that God knew me and that his hand was on my life. Yet I did not become aware of this until College. David as you begin this journey of adulthood. I want to encourage you to walk in Covenant with the god of

10:56 Israel. Don't be ashamed of your Jewish identity. As you put on the Talib. Be aware that you are in a covenant relationship with the god of Israel. Who is the creator of the universe? He will be faithful to walk with you. I challenge you to be faithful in your walk with God. Verses 12 through 15 discuss God's covenant faithfulness with his people Israel. While God is faithful to his Covenant. Our faithfulness is the question. Yet the passage takes a positive tone. God reminds Israel that as they walk in his ways. They will experience his Blessing. in context

11:42 the blessing of God included children Remember God's word to Abraham. The last time that the word akev is used. God desired to multiply Abraham's descendants and this would come about through human reproduction. Although your mom is a biology teacher. There are mysteries about the creation of human life that none of us can fully comprehend. God allows us to partner with him to create life, but ultimately he is in control. He is the author and creator of life. This blessing also included land and its fruitfulness. Again, we can partner with God. We can till the soil we can plant the seed we can water.

12:27 But God provides the increase. We are at his Mercy. We do not control the rain the Sun or the wind. We do our part and then we wait upon God for the result. God states that he will bless the produce of their soil their grain their new wine and their oil. This implies that they would obtain their own land Vineyards and Olive presses. There would be room for their flocks and the herds would increase upon the land that the Lord swore to their fathers to give them. There are there are a couple of Concepts that I would like to clarify here. First in order for us to partake in God's covenant with us. We must walk in his ways.

13:12 In marriage husband and wife must be faithful to their Covenant. Although we have the freedom to question our creator. We are the ones with the sketchy track record. To walk in Covenant with the Lord is a daily decision. When we fail, we must acknowledge our wrong turn from it and pursue the way of life once again. Next I want to bring Clarity to a common misperception. Since there is blessing that comes with obedience to the Lord. We might assume that if anything bad happens to us, it is a result of some wrong that we have done. While it is true that God rewarded Israel for faithfulness and punished Israel for Disobedience. It is also true that there are times

13:58 when the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper. Scripture has much to say about this. God suffers because of our unfaithfulness Yeshua suffered for our sins Israel suffered for the sins of wicked people throughout history correlation is not causation. Consider job and the trials he underwent as a righteous person. However, he also received blessing from the hand of the Lord. There is universal kindness that we experience the ability to breathe to eat our senses the ability to have relationships and experience. The beauty of God's creation are nearly Universal.

14:44 likewise challenges pain natural disasters disease and death are also Universal. with that said we can add blessings upon our lives through obeying the Lord we can experience his favor and acceptance. Relationship with God and the good consequences that come from obeying his voice. Likewise we can experience the added measure of hardship disease and dysfunction that come as a consequence of disobeying the word of the Lord. There are things which we can control and things that we cannot. Rather than judging our neighbor. Let's be introspective about our own lives.

15:29 Are there are areas in your life where you have the ability to do right, but choose not to. David just like in family. You are my son. I am your father this cannot be changed. Yet the dynamic of our relationship will be determined by how we walk with one another. There is nothing I could do that would stop me from being your father. Yet if I wish to be faithful as your father. There are things that I must do. For each of us there is a relationship in place, but we must choose to walk with one another each day. David as you step into adulthood I encourage you to walk in Covenant with the god of Israel.

16:15 Next I want to encourage you to pursue the enemy. Deuteronomy chapter 7 verses 16 through 21 read you will devour. All the people's Auto now your God gives over to you. Your eye is not to pity them. You are not to serve their gods. For that would be a snare to you. Suppose you say in your heart. These nations are more numerous than I how can I drive them out? You are not to be afraid of them. You are to be sure to remember what Adonai your god did to pharaoh and to all Egypt the great trials that your eyes saw the signs and wonders and the

17:00 mighty hand and outstretched arm by which Adonai your God brought you out. So will Otto now your God do to all the peoples you fear. Moreover I don't know your God will send the Hornet against them until the survivors and those in hiding perish before you. You should not be terrified of them since Adonai. Your God is in your midst a great and awesome God. I must admit. When I considered what passage I wanted to choose from your Torah portion. This section was the one I wish to avoid the most. However, Rabbi Ari reminded me. That I once told him that if one finds a

17:46 passage to be troubling they should press on into the awkwardness and discomfort. So the very thing that I did not wish to speak about became the sign that this is the passage that I should address. Why do I have trouble with this section? God is telling Israel to wipe out the inhabitants of the land. As I consider North American history as well as the Crusades. This idea of lands being claimed in the name of God is highly problematic and Rife with ethical issues. If we are claiming lands and Killing In The Name Of Our God, what is the stop another group from doing the same? Isn't this how we ended up in this big mess in which

18:31 we find ourselves today? Well, I do not have the ability to settle these issues clearly. I would like to make a few observations. first as an aside when David and I were studying this portion together and he was considering ideas to discuss in his draws. I thought I would offer these questions to him as areas. He could consider this way. I can maybe learn from him and avoid these difficult verses myself. However, he did not seem bothered by the questions like I was. Therefore it became clear that I should probably set aside my own fears and just jump into the passage myself. So it's important. To note a few things first. Israel was rather unenthusiastic about God's instruction

19:18 here. And they did not fully Wipe Out the inhabitants of the land. Furthermore as God warned Israel, they were influenced by the evil practices of the people and were themselves Israel. Driven out from the land four times in later exiles. next it must also be noted that God himself would be driving and have inhabitants out from the land. A hornet infestation is just one of the ways that these people would be convinced to move along. Furthermore. It must also be noted that the inhabitants of the land were committing great evil in the eyes of the Lord. There are also other historical instances that might come to mind where

20:05 the sins of a nation became so great that other nations were then compelled to intervene. Understanding military conquest though not familiar for a civilian like myself. Is it difficult reality? That must be understood through a different lens? the people of Israel were oppressed by Egypt escaped miraculously and had historical claims upon the land. It is important also to understand the perils and difficulties that would affect a nation wandering through the wilderness. As long as they did it's quite miraculous. Perhaps it is easier to understand a picture where squatters have taken ownership of your home.

20:51 Surely it should be returned to its rightful owner. Please understand these thoughts do not make the passage easy for me to grasp. However, God is not required to run his agenda by me for approval. before I move on it can be helpful to consider the modern role of police officers. They vow to honor a code and are given authority to punish those who violate the law. Yet the police themselves must honor this very same code of law if they wish to abide in peace. I realized that these are all thin and limited illustrations. But at some point I think we should allow our understanding to be challenged by scripture and also realize

21:37 the limitation of our own understanding one day. We will see clearly, but for now we see through a glass Darkly. I do think that Israel may have been hesitant to drive out the inhabitants of the land because they realize that they were also sinful beings in the hands of a holy God. in the words of Yeshua I think Tupac said this to those who live by the sword will die by the sword. If God was now judging the Canaanites for their sinfulness who is to say that his anger could not also be turned against the people of Israel in response to their own misconduct. Now that we have discussed some of the thorny issues concerning

22:22 the physical challenges facing the nation of Israel in that time. I would like to press onward into what I think is the crucial issue for the people of Israel. each of you each of us and even you David God is challenging us to pursue the Enemy Within. Proverbs 16:32 tells us that it is better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior. One who controls his temper is better than one who conquers a city? The ability to control our own impulses is the greatest battle that we face. As I stand before you at nearly 40 years old. I

23:08 can say that the impulses I struggle with today are the same ones I struggled with when I was your age. I can also say that I was oblivious to this teaching when I was 13. I wonder if I could have become better at managing my own impulses if I took it seriously when I was your age. I was talking with my mother recently about the yetzer Hara and the yetzer hatov. This is the understanding that within us. There are certain drives that compete with one another. One is the impulse to do evil and the other is the impulse to do good. My mother joked that at age 13 the evil impulse is at its peak. It was just a joke, but it does reflect the nature of

23:55 what is happening in a young man at age 13. Without getting into too much detail or calling Val up for a Biology lecture. You have to face impulses that are new. You have not yet learned how to manage them for instance you now face higher levels of testosterone. The proverb uses the temper as an example and as an example of the evil impulse. Some people are more mild-mannered by Nature. While others are pretty intense. You are an intense person. That's not a bad thing. In fact, it can be a wonderful thing. You can be a blessing to humanity. The question comes down to your ability to manage your own impulses.

24:42 I can't help but wonder if I would have had more control of my own Spirit if I had been more intentional about spiritual formation when I was your age. Unfortunately, I didn't even think about these Concepts until I was in college and by that time it was very difficult to unlearn habits that had solidified in my adult life. The prophet Isaiah says that the Lord is the Potter and we are the clay. If that is the case, David. I encourage you to place yourself upon the potter's wheel and to allow your character to be shaped by the Lord. The longer that Clay is exposed the more solid it becomes. Therefore the more impulses that you are able to learn to

25:27 master as a Young Man the more powerful and effective you will be for the remainder of your life. I encourage you to embrace spiritual disciplines in your life such as meditating on scripture. prayer journaling reflection and service These practices will help you to overcome your greatest. Enemy the Enemy Within. Your portion makes it clear that God is active within Humanity. He makes alliances with people and we have the opportunity to become a friend or an enemy of God. Your middle name Emmanuel means God is with us. We must each make a choice whether we will align ourselves

26:12 with his purposes. We're fight against them. Scripture tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So what does it mean to fear the lord? Typically, you will hear that the fear of the Lord is manifested through showing reverence and honor to God and that's true. However, I don't think that we should shy away from the plain meaning of the phrase. If someone is afraid of the dark, they are terrified at what might happen if they are unable to see what is in front of them. It is more than just respecting or showing honor to the darkness. It is a response that we feel. People who are afraid of the dark are actually terrified when

26:58 the lights go out. This is a visceral response. For the Canaanites who opposed the ways of God they would face literal Terror. The challenge to Israel God's chosen people was that They too had to choose Alliance or enmity with God. David each of us is faced with the same choice. God is good. God is loving God is able to heal and forgive sin yet. God is holy God is all powerful. God knows the content of our hearts. That should make us feel something. And seeking to walk with the creator of the universe. We must remember that our choices can align us

27:44 with God's purposes or separate us from God. the Paradox of this portion Is that the fear of God would indicate that Israel did not fear their enemy? conversely the fear of the enemy would indicate that Israel did not fear God. The people of Israel were being tested and had to choose their Alliance. There were no easy options. However There was a path of wisdom and a path of folly that laid before them. Yaakov, Jacob the father of all Israel was given a name that was related to this Hebrew term akev. Yakov Comes from that word. when Jacob emerges from the womb

28:31 he grabs the heel of his twin brother Esau. He sought to pull himself ahead of Esau in order to be the firstborn. Jacob was a crafty man, and he did deceive his brother later in life in order to obtain his Birthright. Jacob was accustomed to striving with other people in order to obtain what he wanted. He finally met his match. Jacob was terrified of his brother Esau. He feared that Esau would take revenge for all that. Jacob had done to him earlier in their lives. It was there that God confronted Jacob. In a shocking passage of the Torah God confronts Jacob in the form of a man. even before the New Testament imagine that

29:18 this mysterious God man wrestles Jacob Jacob puts up a good fight. He's a tough guy. Finally after many hours. God strikes and dislocates Jacob's hip socket putting an end to the wrestling match. rather than being upset Jacob seems to realize the gravity of the situation and ask the Lord to bless him. The Lord does bless Jacob though in an unexpected way. He tells him his name will no longer be Yakov. heel grabber rather it will be Israel meaning wrestles with God.

30:05 God tells him he has struggled with God and man and has overcome. I've always been baffled by God telling this to Jacob. It's Choice seemed to me like God won that match. And surely he did. However, Jacob had such a drive that he was able to wrestle God for hours. Put up a good fight and remain Relentless even after suffering the dislocation of his hip. The newly named Israel. Now a man of wisdom experience and humility would walk on now with a limp. He would be reconciled with his brother Esau. This man David is our spiritual forefather.

30:53 You have always loved to wrestle. In fact, one of my favorite stories is when you're about five years old. You would jump on my back and always wanted to take me down. even today you're a tough little guy, too. Instinctively I picked you up and flung you down on my bed. You bounced up and were so full of joy wanting to get another shot. The harder I threw you down the more you laughed and enjoyed it. I put more blankets and pillows on the bed so that I could throw you down harder and add further to your joy. At one point your mom entered the room and was quite upset with me warning me that it looked like something bad was about to happen.

31:41 Yet neither of us had any intention of stopping. We were both in on the action and the testosterone was flowing. At one point I lifted you as high as I could and I threw you down into this mountain of pillows and blankets your knee came up and struck you in the mouth knocking out your front tooth. Your mother came in right on the heels of this. Now very upset that I had ignored her warning just minutes before. I felt horrible and I wondered if you would go through life missing your front tooth and explaining to everyone that your father was too rough. I heard an earful from your mom. And by the by the time that your bedtime came a couple hours later,

32:29 I felt like a worm and not a man. I went through our normal bedtime routine of reading you a story and singing a song Over You. As I bent down to kiss your head you grab me around the neck gave me a kiss and said you're the best dad. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. Just no David. You'll never beat me in an arm wrestle. Now we have discussed the importance of walking in Covenant with God the god of Israel and the importance of pursuing the enemy the Enemy Within. Lastly I want to encourage you to wait upon the Lord for the things that you desire. Deuteronomy 7 versus 22 through

33:15 26 read as follows Adonai your God will drive away those Nations before you little by little you will not be able to put an end to them all at once or else the beasts of the field will multiply on you. But I don't know your God will give them over to you and he will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed. He will hand over their kings to you and he will blot out their name from under the heavens. No man will stand up to you until you have destroyed them all. The carved images of their gods you are to burn with fire. You are not to covet the silver or gold on them or take it for yourself. Where you could be snared by it for it is an Abomination to Auto. Now your God you are not

34:02 to bring an Abomination into your house. For you like it will be a band thing. You must utterly detest and utterly abhor it for it is set apart for Destruction. David pursue goodness and wait upon the Lord Even though the people of Israel had been promised the land they had to wait upon the Lord for the timing of this reception. They would acquire at little by little as they followed his guidance and he drove out the inhabitants from before them. If they moved too fast god assured them that they would be overcome by the beasts of the field. It seems like you have been striving toward adulthood since

34:48 you were born. And now you are finally entering in. Take up your adult life in Covenant with the god of Israel eliminate the obstacles to your growth and wait upon the Lord to Grant you the things that you desire. Things may come along your path that seem good in your eyes, but the Lord wants you to be Discerning about what to hold on to and what you release. when your mother and I were dating she discovered a gold ring that had been given to me by a girl before I Met Your Mother. It was made of fine gold and was even customized for me. Although that relationship was over. I kept the ring in a drawer because I didn't know

35:34 else what else to do with it and it was made of gold. When your mom discovered this ring? She immediately threw it out. I thought we probably could have made a few bucks for it at a pawn shop perhaps. However, as I reflect back on that time your mom wanted to make a statement. She did. You see David? Her love for me was so intense. That she could not bear the thought of anyone or anything else. Whether past present or future infringing upon our intense bonds. joking aside I appreciated her Zeal and I admittedly sought to it that every one of her male friends that she had

36:21 that she had when she met me were driven out from the land. David it is good to fight for the right things. When when you were born for the occasion of your circumcision? I felt led to write a song for you called maybe said of you of what you heard a little bit of this morning as a teaser for the album drop. Of all the songs that I've written in my life. This one means the most to people. It may also be the simplest song I've ever written. It was inspired by a Neil Young song called Thrasher. I have been asked to play it at weddings and funerals and other occasions.

37:07 the final verse has the following lyrics may it be said of you that you had a Heart of Courage just like David to pursue the enemy. May it be said of you that you poured your heart out honestly to God and walked in humility. As I watch you grow. I see you becoming a man of Courage wisdom and humility. I am proud to be your father and grateful that you are my son. I look forward to seeing what the Lord does with your life as you continue to follow his path. walk in Covenant with the god of Israel David pursue the enemy or anything that would hinder your walk with God. Wait upon the Lord and allow him to establish you.

37:53 Mazel Tov David on becoming a bar mitzvah Shalom the milk hamah Rivera Hado neither yeesh merah Yeah, eradonai panavaleha feehuneka. Isadonai panaville. The assembler has shall Oh, yes. I do not have Elijah. They are similar hashal. the Shem Yeshua mishekhenu in the

38:39 name of our Messiah Yeshua shabbat shalom