Circumcise-the-Heart
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Remember the following two truth’s from our
beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the
LORD your Eloleichem) which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
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Davarim - Deuteronomy chapters..
8: 2 - 10: 16 - 30: 6..
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
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‘Circumcise the Heart’
Study focus and summary:
In this study we will
be tracing how testing, inner transformation, and how Divine enablement work’s
together, so a person can “love אֱלֹהֵיכֶם-
יְהוָה- The LORD your Eloheichem (God) with all your heart and all your soul.”
Below there are three Deuteronomy texts forming a tight progression:
1. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim tests to reveal the heart (Deuteronomy 8:2).
2. Israel is commanded to circumcise
the heart and stop being stubborn (Deuteronomy 10:16).
3. And אֱלֹהִים promises to circumcise the heart so people will love and live (Deuteronomy
30:6).
This sets up a
dynamic of human responsibility and divine action working toward wholehearted
love of אֱלֹהִים.
Let us look at the exgesis of testing and the heart:
Deuteronomy 8:2
frames affliction as a purposeful test: אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s discipline
exposes what is really in a person’s heart and whether they will keep his
commandments. The testing motif is not merely punitive; it is diagnostic and
formative meant to reveal and shape fidelity rather than simply punish for
failure.
Meaning of
circumcising the heart:
The phrase
“circumcise the foreskin of your heart” (Deut 10:16) and the promise that “ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- יְהוָה-
the LORD your Eloheichem (God) will circumcise your heart” (Deut 30:6) use a
well-known bodily covenant sign as a metaphor for inner change. Classical
readings treat this as a removal of spiritual hardness or callus so that the
will and affections can turn fully to אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim. The language
signals both an ethical demand (do not be stiff-necked) and a deep inward
transformation that goes beyond external ritual observance.
Human
responsibility and divine initiative:
The texts
together allow a balanced reading: Scripture calls for an active human
response—circumcise your hearts; do not be stiff-necked, while also promising אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s sovereign work
to effect that inward change, יְהוָה
- the LORD will circumcise
your hearts. Many commentators and theological traditions see this as a
cooperative pattern in which human repentance and obedience are real and required,
yet the ultimate enabling power to love אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim, wholeheartedly
is a gracious divine gift that removes the inner impediments to love and
obedience.
Theological
synthesis and life:
When Deuteronomy
links circumcision of the heart to loving אֱלֹהִים
with all heart and soul and to life, it ties covenant fidelity to existential
flourishing: wholehearted love of אֱלֹהִים
is both the goal and the means of true life under the covenant. The promise
that אֱלֹהִים
will work this change reassures the covenant people that restoration after
exile and repentance is possible because אֱלֹהִים
transforms desires and affections so obedience becomes loving response rather
than mere duty.
Practical
implications and application:
Treat times of
‘testing’, and ‘hardship’ as opportunities to examine motives, and to repent of
‘stubbornness’ rather than only as a ‘punishment’.
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PLEASE NOTE: This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following, via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk
in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths,
and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel
20:19-20. (JPS).
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follows;
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More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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