09/04/2026
Are you looking for a community that puts the Bible above doctrine? Who follow and teach Bible things in Bible ways? Who walk in the understanding that all the law and the prophets hang on (or are classified under) the two greatest commands and are not done away by them? Who want to show Yahveh’s love through evangelism, locally and beyond?
Then join us this sabbath as we do just that!
Due to the memorial service on Sunday for Pastor RC and the upcoming fall feasts, we will not have a fellowship meal this month.
Friday at 7pm: Music, Prayer, and Potential Bible Studies
Saturday at 10:30am: Music and Torah Study; No Fellowship Meal
Sunday at 10am: Memorial Service for Pastor RC Sandifer
We begin our last four Torah portions this week! This portion begins with the declaration that the covenant renewal Yahveh was making with Israel was offered broadly. The covenant didn’t end with Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. And it didn’t end with the group of people gathered ahead of entering the promised land. Moses says Yahveh made it “…with him who stands here with us today before יהוה our Elohim, as well as with him who is not here with us today” (Deuteronomy 29:13). Thats us! If we choose to forsake our own ways, sin, and any other deity and enter into the covenant Yahveh offers. Yahveh then speaks of when His people will inevitably forsake Him and follow after other gods, but even then, He calls for repentance, for return, and promises the blessing that comes with keeping Yahveh’s commandments.
Deuteronomy 30:9-10 (TS2009) “And יהוה your Elohim shall make you have excess in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground for good. For יהוה turns back to rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, if you obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim, to guard His commands and His laws which are written in this Book of the Torah, if you turn back to יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being.”
The Hebrew word “shuv” is used six times in Deuteronomy 30 (in verses 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10). It’s translated as “return” or “turn back.” Even when we inevitably turn away from Yahveh, choosing to follow after worthless idols, whether that be to other elohim or to money, power, self, or any other thing, Yahveh continues to beckon us back to Him. He does not want any to perish. He wants us to return, to turn back, to abandon our sin, to detest our sin, and to cling to Him and His ways. And praise Yahveh, His command “is not too hard,” “nor is it far off.” It is “very near you, in your mouth and in your heart - to do it” (see Deuteronomy 30:11-14). Hallelujah!
Isaiah’s words speak of a future time when a communal return does take place, when the city and people of Yahveh will be adorned with righteousness. When the deliverer of Zion shall come, haven trod the winepress of those who walk contrary to Him, bringing down their self-made strength. Yet in His love and compassion, Yahveh redeems His people, lifts them up, and carries them all the days of old.
And in Romans, Paul speaks of the “Torah of righteousness” and the “righteousness of faith.” Some take from this passage that these two types of righteousness are opposites, that the former is of the Old Testament that leads to death and the latter is of the New Testament that leads to life. But that does not seem to be what Paul is actually writing here. Backing up a few verses into chapter nine, Paul writes that Israel (here denoting the group to which the Mt. Sinai Torah was given) followed the Torah of righteousness but had not arrived at the Torah of righteousness. He poses the question, “Why?” and also delivers the answer. Because those “of Israel” were not doing it by faith but instead by works and stumbled at the Stone of stumbling. In other words, they believed the Torah was the way of salvation, even in the face of Messiah himself, who declared He was the only way to the Father. When Paul states Israel had not arrived at the Torah of righteousness, it’s inferred that that righteousness is a good thing, something to be attained. Yet doing the actions alone brought those who relied on it for salvation short of obtaining the righteousness, because the goal of that righteousness (the actions of the Torah) is Messiah! Therefore those who denied Messiah had come up short. Instead, if we believe on and confess Messiah Yahshua, the only way of salvation from sin (transgression of the Torah), we can walk rightly in the Torah of Yahveh. That is what Yahveh’s people have always been commanded to do.
What did you reap from this week’s portion? Let us know in the comments below!
Nitzavim (“Standing”)
Deuteronomy 29:10-30:20
Isaiah 61:10-63:9
Romans 10:1-12
