In this Torah portion, called standing, Moses encourages the people … sort of. Moses has already told the people that in time they will begin to ignore the Lord and will be cast out of the Land, due to the abundance of the Land. These last few chapters are both truthful in word and difficult to hear. In this portion, Moses continues to warn the people to obey the commandments, instructions, statutes and judgments of the Lord. He continues to review the past to highlight the future and ends this portion be encouraging the people that after all they have been through from the bondage of Egypt and before, and during the 40 years wanderings, in spite of all of their sin, and the judgements and chastisement of the Lord, after all of it, they are still standing, ready to go into the Promised land and receive the promises of YHVH. Encouraging to us in these days as well.
Moses ends this section by telling the people the Lord has set before them life and death, a blessing and a curse and encouraging them to choose life. Obey the Lord and cleave to Him and lengthen your days.
This portion is as real and appropriate today as it was 3500 years ago.
