Whom Do You Serve?

0:00 So Luke, you have completed the easy part of the bar. Mitzvah. Now you have to sit through an hour of me speaking. But seriously, though. The Lord blessed you with a cold front today. And this morning was amazing. It was only like 77 degrees. It was just glorious this morning. And today it's only supposed to be like 99. By the way for everybody who's new to, Texas. This is pretty standard Fair. So just be used to it or don't be used to it, but Thank the Lord that we have air conditioning now. Unlike, you know in 1980 when

0:48 we did not. And decades before anyways. Luke Mazel telephone becoming a bar mitzvah. You did an excellent job. Today is a joyous and a special day for both you and your family. I'm going to make no promises, but I'm going to try to be quick. Keyword try to I guess that's keywords different words plural. We're gonna take today a look Luke at Deuteronomy, by the way, just for everybody else's understanding. I generally speak to the bar mitzvah boy

1:35 the rest of your love are welcome to listen in to our private conversation. Which is not being streamed around the world. We're going to take a look Luke today at you know, I considered consider continuing our series on the Book of Luke and then I thought no it's this is important one to to talk about the your Torah portion. And then I realized I am considering the Luke series. I just happen to be talking to Luke. And not reading from The Book of Luke. So today that's three failed jokes in a row today. We yeah, that one was a success that one today. We'll be taking a look at Deuteronomy chapter 1 Verses 5 through 8 and then we're also going to take a

2:20 look at your off tour portion, which is from Isaiah chapter 1 verses 1 through 3, and then we're going to sprinkle in a few other verses as we continue our conversation. Let's take a look first at Deuteronomy chapter 1 verses 5 through 8. across the Jordan in the land of Moab Moses began to explain this Torah saying I don't know. I Our God spoke to us at horib saying you have stayed here long enough at this mountain. Turn Journey on and Into the Hill Country of the amorites and all their neighbors in the aravah in the Hill Country the lowland the Negev and by the seashore. The land of the Canaanites and the Lebanon as far as

3:05 the Great River the river Euphrates. See I have set the land before you enter in possess the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob to give them to give to them and to their descendants after them. What we see here in this In. This passage is Moses is recounting. The beginning of the steps of their journey and and you read another part. It's actually referring back to one of my favorite Torah portions. It's one of those tour portions that you love and also hate at the same time parashat shalak in numbers. But what we see Moses do is he recounts the

3:50 different stages or the different places along their Journey where the Lord was able to direct them or the people didn't allow them to direct them. And so there are memorable points along the way. but before he even does any of that what Moses says Moses recounting to the people and he says to the people. the Lord said you have stayed here long enough. at this mountain what mountain is that says in this text Mount Horeb which by the way is in Deuteronomy is the name for the mountain that we see everywhere

4:37 else called Mount Sinai. So they're there if you remember I don't know if you'll remember but I hope you will. If you remember the people come and they camp at the base of the mountain. And then the Lord comes down the mountain. and thunder clouds envelop the mountain and there's lightning. Perhaps there's fire. And there's there's a that's interesting. There's there's Thunder or there's a multitude of voices present in the people are at the base surrounding the mountain and the people cry out in fear, and they say Moses. We don't want to hear from

5:23 God. We want to hear. From God through you like we're terrified. They're there. The people are terrified that but they've been there. They also recognize that this is a place of provision. From the Lord in their lives is the place where they receive the Ten Commandments. All of these other things have happened and they're just camping there. It's just a now they're in a place of sustenance, you know, maybe they're starting to get cared for they're they're beginning to eat mana and quail to the point where they don't like Quail anymore, but you have to go back and reference a different Tor portion for that one. But they're there and and then he says finally the Lord said enough. Don't be here anymore.

6:08 because sometimes What we'll get to the application. We'll get the application a little bit. But he doesn't want them to get comfortable. while while in a place That is in between where he where the Lord brought them from and where he's taking them to. He doesn't want them to get comfortable and that middle spot. because he delivered them from bondage and he's Sending them to freedom, but there's this middle spot and and the people are getting comfortable and he says enough don't get comfortable here. It's time to Journey on it's time to this is what he says turn. Journey on and enter and possess the land that the

6:54 Lord swore to your fathers. Let me say it a different way. instead of turn Face what lies before you Set out on the next stages of the journey because it's not complete. And then enter and possess the promises of the Lord. We're going to come back and make some applications. I'm going to leave it hanging there for a few minutes and then we're going to turn right now to Isaiah. chapter 1 Which is your Hof door portion and this is how it this is what it says the vision of Isaiah some of Amos. Which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah jotham.

7:39 a Haas and Hezekiah Kings of Judah So this is the vision so he says here's the vision who is who's saying it and so on here's a vision listen. Oh heavens and hear o Earth. For the Lord has spoken. Sons I have raised and brought up But they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner and the donkey, it's Manger. But Israel does not know and my people do not understand. This is the vision that Isaiah saw. So it's helpful for us to have a little bit of context. The vision is is from that is a vision that Isaiah saw was given to him from the Lord concerning Judah

8:25 and Jerusalem is all in the introductory sentence concerning Judah in Jerusalem. When is it? Well, he says also he says in the days of Uzziah jotham ahaz and Hezekiah so for for the rest of us, Who don't know offhand when that is? That's about the 700s or the eighth Century BCE. Isaiah particularly Minister from about 7:40 to close to 700 so it gives us some ideas here. We're it's good to have some context in our mind in terms of Location and what's going on and other pertinent details? So 700 is before

9:12 586. So 586 is right. Like that's I think simple timeline management. It's It's before the destruction of the Southern Kingdom the destruction of the Temple. Which occurs in 586? And so he's speaking to Judah and to Jerusalem. By the way, just an interesting tidbit. It has nothing to do with the message that I found in my study. There is a tradition. that King Uzziah who's the first one mentioned? King Uzziah Was the brother of Amos who

9:59 is Isaiah's father? so this would make Isaiah a part of the Royal Family. So it's just very interesting for me to hear that because we often think about profits who come in and talk in chastise the people as being Outsiders. Which most of the prophets ended up being pushed outside because the they were speaking what the people didn't want to hear. But he's as almost Insider as you can get he is related to the king of Israel. Okay. So this is this is the vision this is really where I want to spend some time for a few minutes.

10:46 the heavens and the Earth This is what this is what Isaiah says he says listen. Oh heavens and here. Oh Earth for the Lord has spoken. The heavens and the Earth are called to Bear witness to Israel's unnatural conduct. You see what's you see? What's interesting here the heavens and the Earth are in the natural. They know how the natural behaves and they're called to Bear witness to the unnatural conduct. of the people of Judah and Jerusalem Why is this why is it why are the heavens and they're called to Bear witness? Because the Torah tells us it requires two witnesses for such accusations. In the Lord calls two witnesses the heavens and

11:32 the Earth. The Lord has raised. Here's the accusation Lord raised and brought up Sons. But they have rebelled against him in other words. It seems today. Let me before I say the in other words. It seems today the natural thing for children to rebel against parents. and to rebel against that Authority the reality is it's actually the unnatural thing. It's a it's something that has been passed down. from from the beginning But it's not natural. The natural thing is for the the children to be brought up into respect into. Oh, yes. He the Dad's getting in on this one to be brought up to respect into to appreciate what

12:18 their parents have done for them. Don't worry. I went through it also. He continues on the ox knows its owner and the donkey its manger. So we go from the heavens and all of the earth now to an ox and a donkey. The ox knows the one whom it serves. You know oxen are used to plow ground. and they're often strapped to one another maybe impairs to go into pull a plow through the Through the through the pasture if you will. But they know who it is who's back there guiding them directing them who to plow what to

13:04 what to plow not who to play. What's a plan? the Donkey the donkey the donkey knows where it comes from each day. It knows it surroundings. It's home. It's Manger. The place from which it comes. And then Isaiah continues on but in contrast you see we're given one set and now we're given in contrast, but in contrast Israel does not know. My people do not understand. They Israel do not have knowledge of the Lord. And unlike the ox Israel does not know their master. Maybe I should use Jerusalem and Judah in this in this

13:52 case, but you understand my My intent here Hosea also prophesied during this relatively same period as Isaiah, but he prophesied in the northern kingdom. And Hosea says he finds that the lack of the knowledge of the Lord is the source of all moral evil. So when we don't know when we lack knowledge of the Lord. That's the time when moral evil begins to rise up. In fact Proverbs says The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. But fools despise wisdom and discipline. Isaiah continues on his people don't understand themselves.

14:40 They don't know themselves as individuals and they don't know themselves as a part of the people of Israel. They don't know where it is from which they come. They're not taking the time to know themselves. And they're not taking the time to know from where they come and what is that? That is an expression of ingratitude. Why is that? Because if we took the time to study ourselves and where we come from we would become exceedingly grateful. For God and His creative Ingenuity. So now let me run you through an exercise here Luke. Let me give you an example without the Lord. And everyone else you wouldn't be here today.

15:28 Without the Lord you wouldn't have woken up this morning. The Lord is faithful to restore us in the morning and it should cause an expression of gratitude within us. Without your parents you wouldn't have been able to get dressed this morning. And all of a sudden you think I could get dressed without my parents. I'm a man now. Yes, that may be true. But I suspect I don't know but I suspect that your parents paid for that suit. So you wouldn't have been able to get dressed without your parents this morning. Without your parents you wouldn't have been able to be here in person this morning. Why they drove you? Without your teachers now, I will say you did at the end of everything. Give all express your gratitude.

16:15 So I'm just I'm just reemphasizing this for everyone else's sake. Without your teachers you wouldn't have been able to make Aliant to the tour this morning. They taught you everything that you know about Hebrew and cancellation up to this point. Now, let me give you one more. without your siblings siblings are sometimes difficult to Express gratitude for but without your siblings you wouldn't have been able to stand up here and not get distracted by everyone else because they prepared You by trying to distract you for the last six months. Yes, your siblings are nodding. you see all of that distraction that they've tried has actually prepared you for being on stage to not get

17:00 distracted by all the things that go on in the same room. Each of these are good examples of a situation that should produce gratitude within a person. unfortunately gratitude is extremely lacking in our society today. And as such we find people. I don't know how else to say it, but they're just mean. and people can just be mean today and you know what? It's because they're not grateful for anything. As soon as someone we is reminded of to be Greatful for something. It just takes one thing actually.

17:45 Then it it makes them realize that they're not the source of their provision. Actually the source of everything. comes from the Lord Unfortunately, our people also had the same issue. I think it might be a people issue. I don't know. Maybe I'm not sharing too much. That's unknown. But our people rebelled against the Lord. And it caused them to experience deep sorrow and grief. Today in your family is a joyous day. But in the history of our people

18:31 today. Is a is a sorrowful day. Today is Tisha bahav. It's the 9th of Traditionally marked in the Jewish Community by fasting and mourning. But because today is Shabbat the fasting and mourning is Delayed thank you is delayed until in it doesn't start until this evening. It's observed tomorrow. So traditionally this day has carried great sorrow with it. and it dates back to What you read? And your Torah portion today? It starts with the bad report. That the 10 scouts or spies bring

19:16 back. And by doing that they demoralize the people and they cause the people to rebel against the command of the Lord. But that's generally not what Tisha Bob is remembered for Tisha baav. It also marks the day of the destruction of Solomon's Temple and 586. It also marks the destruction of the second temple. of Nehemiah and Ezra's Temple and as a rubble in 70 CE and the scattering of the Jewish people into Exile from the land of Israel. It also marks the crushing of the Barca Revolt in 135 and

20:03 following the barcode flow Revolt. Rome plowed the sight of Jerusalem the site of the temple and the surrounding area so that no stone was left upon another And there are numerous other things that have happened in the history of our people. on today But I'm going to stick with these because to me these are the are the most prominent but but man, there's been a lot that has happened today. The destruction of the temples are so devastating not because they were the destruction. It was the destruction of buildings. Though it is reported that Solomon's Temple was the most beautiful. building to have ever been

20:51 and that people came from around the world just to see it. But the sorrow of today is not because of the destruction of a building. It's because of the destruction of the physical connection between Heaven and Earth as it was represented in the temple. When the temple was destroyed. This is from Sarah Rigler. When the temple was destroyed the palpable divine presence removed itself from our world. It was a loss as real and as searing as death. Now there is some scriptural evidence Ezekiel note points

21:38 to the cloud. The presence of the Lord lifting and going with the Exiles into Exile in Babylon. And then in Luke now here, I'm going to quote your namesake and Luke chapter 19. Verse 41 yeshua's Drawing Near. It's just it's a few days. before Yeshua was crucified he's coming into Jerusalem and he's coming in and just imagine this he's riding on a donkey. And he looks and he sees them one of the most beautiful buildings in all of the world. And he sees it and he has a prophetic vision of what is going to happen. to this Temple

22:24 and Yeshua wept He wept because of the destruction. Of the temple that he was seeing in the future. He wept because he saw the Deep sorrow that was going to take place in all of his people. Because they rebelled against the Lord. Yeshua the Messiah Is the living stone that is the Cornerstone? Which the builders rejected? Upon which the spiritual house is built. You can go find this in First Peter.

23:10 But Yeshua is the the living place of connection between Heaven and Earth. So when we come to Yeshua, we're coming to the temple. You see he's the Cornerstone and actually as we come to him all of us become living stones that are built up in the temple is slowly built up. with our presence Yeshua is the living connection between Heaven and Earth So Luke, what does that mean for you? And me and the rest of us here at Brook Hashem? I want to draw a couple conclusions from from this passages that I mentioned and give you one more.

23:58 From Isaiah chapter 1 verses 2 through 3, even the animals know their master. So who is it that you serve? It's important to know. Who is it that you serve? Where is your place within the people of Israel? And what is our history, you know, even the ox knows who it serves and the donkey knows from where it came. So Luke, who is it? Who you serve whom you serve? But more than that understand who you are in your place. in our history Be grateful to the Lord. That he made you. And your heritage? And he has been faithful through everything.

24:49 Joshua 24 says this now therefore fear the lord and worship him in sincerity and Truth get rid of the gods that your father's worship to beyond the river. Like can I paraphrase this just that one line for you? Remove the obstacles that are preventing you from coming? to the god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob get rid of the gods that your father's had worship beyond the river and in Egypt and worshiped the Lord. If it seems bad to you to Worship the Lord then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. Whether the gods that your father is worshiped that we're beyond the river or the gods of the amorites and whose

25:34 land you are living. But ask for me. in my house We Will Worship the Lord Luke that is something that you will need to carry with you from now forever. It's a decision that you have to make every day. Why because obstacles rise up every day to distract us from whom it is that we serve. And where it is that we come from? Deuteronomy chapter 1 verses 5 through 8. You have stayed long enough in this place the place of your childhood. I'm drawing. I'm gonna I'm gonna make a shift here that maybe just a forewarning for everybody may not be the

26:22 the best way to approach scripture. In terms of Life Application, but I'm going to do it anyways. You have stayed long enough in this place this place of childhood. It's now to fate it's now time to face what is set before you? And set out on the next stages. Of the journey as you look toward the promises of the Lord in your life. so today Becomes a marker. When you train when you when you made the the jump from Boyhood? And you had to do all of this preparation to make Aliyah to come up to the Torah and you make this jump and today you walk through the doorway. Your father mentioned this in his talk. Well you walk

27:09 through the doorway into manhood. Manhood is complicated. like in society doesn't make it any easier for us. But manhood is complicated and it's something that you need to find older men. To help you understand how it is to walk into that. How it is that you can begin to follow the lord as a man. today Okay, you know what? You're not quite. A man, but you know what you're in the doorway like that's you already you already gave your ticket to the ticket collector you made it into the game. You're going into the door. Now you're you're here and now it's

27:55 time to chart the rest of your course. Set your face forward. And see what it is in front of you. On the next stages of your journey May today be a marker in your memory for the rest of your life. You see when I when I had my bar mitzvah. Now, I don't know that we've done this. In a long time, maybe since me but when I had my bar mitzvah, which was 25 years ago. my goodness It's 25 years ago. My hair is byway Still Still colorful mostly.

28:40 What we did is all of the men that came to the men's group at that point gathered around me and prayed. Over me. And in fact, most of them even wrote words down in a in a book. My mother found that book was that a year ago. Something like that in returned it to me. And I started reading through it. I got to tell you there are some amazing things. That the Lord will encourage you through through other men in your life. And I can tell you some of those men are still here in this room. at probably at least a dozen. I mean just glancing around the room at least a dozen.

29:27 But let men of God speak into your life. and let them help you see what it is that the Lord has before you. If you try to take on. teenagehood on your own it's gonna be painful. Even with Godly men, it's still going to be painful. But at least there's a hope of getting through. Mark today In your memory for the rest of your life may today be the mark of the beginning of a new stage in your relationship with the god of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

30:15 Avinash Sebastian Mayim Our Father in heaven Lord we come to you today. Lord we Come to you we know. That you are a father who carries us as yours as your children. Lord but still We need help to draw near to you. Lord May today be a moment when Luke and the rest of us continue to turn to you. and to seek your face and to follow you with all of our hearts our minds and our bodies. We bless you and We Praise You In yeshua's name.

31:04 I mean may the Lord bless you and keep you may the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Give our recognize. Yeah, I don't even like her movie who? never car he saw tonight. Hello be sure.

31:51 Can you in the name of our Messiah Yeshua? amen shabbat shalom Mazel, Tov Luke