Parasha: Va Yalech – and he went
Torah: Devarim 31:1-30
The human body has several “gateway” organs and areas that act as “portals” for both good and evil spiritual activity. Today’s lesson is going to focus on the human mouth and one of the ways that it brings “sin” into the human body.
19 Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach it to the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. (Devarim 31:19)
Notice that Moshe is going to put the song in their mouths to help them guard against abusing their mouths by over eating.
20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, that flows with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn to demon-idols, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. (Devarim 31:20)
Notice the connection between gluttony and serving idols. We serve idols when we eat forbidden food. We serve idols when we eat too much food. We serve idols when we use our mouths to lie, to steal, and to hurt our brothers and sisters.
21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I swore. (Devarim 31:21)
The mouths of their children will be a witness against the mouths of the adults possibly stirring the adults to recognize Moshe’s witness against them and move towards repentance.
Here is a similar verse written a couple of chapters earlier:
15 And I will send grass in your fields for your cattle, that you may eat and be full. 16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other demon-idols, When your mouths fill your bellies, your heart becomes deceived and you begin to serve other demon-idols. and worship them; 17 And then Avinu’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest you perish quickly from off the good land which Avinu gives you. 18 Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign on your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 And you shall teach them your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (De 11:15-19)
The “sign” on your hand may be a warning to your hand not to keep feeding your mouth with food that will cause your heart to be deceived.
To some, this hand, mouth, belly and heart connection may sound a little too simple. Observing the Torah is a pretty simple process. Here is what we read last week:
11 For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it. 15 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command you this day to love Avinu Elohekah, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that you may live and multiply: and Avinu Elohekah shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. (De 30:11-16)
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