Weekly Devotionals

Nitzavim-Veyelech repeatedly uses the imagery of the heart as the source of understanding, along with ears that hear. This intentional repetition acts like a steady heartbeat, a sign of continuity we can count on, drawing our attention to what truly matters.

This Torah Portion reveals that the blessings flowing from God’s commandments are connected to our hearts. The heart is that invisible place we can open or close, expose in vulnerability, or choose to hide. We can keep His commandments (like ‘caring for the needy’) simply to check them off a to-do-list, and while that has its place, the text hints at something deeper than merely “doing for the sake of doing”.

Just before this week’s reading, we are reminded of how the people witnessed all of God’s miracles firsthand, “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders.” Yet, the very next verse presents a contradiction, “But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.” (Deuteronomy 29:9) Is it possible to see His wonders with our eyes, yet fail to grasp them deeply within our hearts?

Guard your Heart

We’re warned against bearing fruit that isn’t truly life-giving, “make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.” Specifically knowing God’s Word, and reassuring ourselves, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way.” (Deuteronomy 29:18-19) Having witnessed His goodness, let’s make sure we don’t drift into believing that merely knowing Him is enough to secure His blessing. Instead, we’re called to actively walk in faith, obeying His Word one day at a time.

While we can obey out of obligation, Nitzavim-Vayelech offers the key to a true change of heart, one that leads us to, “Turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Following this inner shift, “the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 30:6)

Yeshua

Yeshua the Messiah illuminates what this love looks like in practice, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37) This love reaches beyond fleeting emotions; it means weaving Him into the very fabric of our heart, soul, and mind.

How do we cultivate such love? By inviting His presence into how we love, share, care, serve, react, apologize, and repair. We choose His ways, rely on His strength and love, and when we stumble, we make things right. Yeshua explains that then the second commandment will follow naturally, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (verse 39) A life with Him naturally overflows, transforming how we treat others, not just by words or intentions, but through active love and care.

When we intentionally fix our gaze on Him, we stop taking His goodness for granted. We begin to seek His presence, choosing to walk alongside Him rather than on our own, fulfilling His will out of love. Moses captures the essence of this choice in his final words, reminding us that choosing Him means choosing long-term blessing, “that you may live.” Following God from the heart isn’t just about the promise of the world to come: it is about receiving His life-giving blessings right here and now.

Reflection

When we find ourselves tired or disappointed, it can help to picture Yeshua, remembering that when we care for others, we are serving Him. This holds true even in the seemingly mundane or even ‘unnoticed’ tasks, whether taking out the trash after our congregational meal, or when we take time off work to visit someone elderly or in need,