Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Joy of Torah - Simchat Torah

Immediately following Sukkot, is a day celebration in which the annual Torah (Gen—Deut) reading cycle is completed with the last verses of Deuteronomy, and is immediately restarted with the first verses of Genesis. It is not a biblical feast, but one not to be missed, as the people rejoice over the Word of YHWH.

On this special day, one can walk into a synagogue anywhere in the world and find a joyous scene. All the scrolls of the Torah are taken from the ark, an ornate cabinet, and carried in procession around involving the entire congregation with happy songs of praise and dance to YHWH. It is in this celebrated Torah that we find YHWH’s appointed feasts. If you have never celebrated these feasts, we suggest you to consider reading Leviticus 23 and ask YHWH if this is something He would like you to begin doing.

Since Torah occupies a central place in the Scriptures (including the Apostolic Writings) it is very appropriate to set aside a day to celebrate Torah although one can celebrate Torah all year round. But how many of us does it? The Psalmist said, “I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Thy precepts, and have respect for Thy ways. I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy word….Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from the Torah. I am a stranger in the earth. Do not hide Thy commandments from me.”

As we know Yeshua did not come to abolish Torah, as He made clear in Mathew 5:17-19. Torah remains a very important part of the New Covenant as promised in Jeremiah 31: 31-33 and repeated by the author of Hebrews (who we believe to be Rav Sha’ul-that is Paul, the ‘Author of Liberty’) The Law does brings liberty. Torah isn’t used to ‘get redeemed.’ Torah is YHWH’s instructions for those who are already redeemed. If we use the LAW lawfully, it should be to put away our lawlessness, not to abandon Torah

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