BINDING THE TORAH

A question from Holland:

In the Shema it is written that we speak about the words that are commanded to us, that we shall write them on the doorpost, and that we shall bind these words as a sign on our hands and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9(Devarim 6:4-9)

". . . And these Words that I command you today shall be in your heart. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes."

My question is, that most of the time we all have a mezuzah on the doorpost, and we speak about them, but we really cannot find some one that agrees with us and can explain to us why we do not write it on our hands.

We see that wearing the tefillin by man only at prayer time is not sufficient!

Do you know how we should interpret this verse about binding them on your hand the whole day and live by it? Could you give us some idea how we could obey this part of the Shema too, the whole day (women and men)?

We have a wonderful idea (a bracelet), but we do not know how to get the words written on it and be taken seriously by the jeweler. Or, you can bind the (open) mezuzah on your hand; that was an idea of some one else that also is struggling with this item.

Response from Lew:

My advice is to obey first, as best you can apply an instruction, and "err" on the side of righteousness.

I would never criticize anyone for "over-stepping" in the area of applying a Torah instruction, unless

they were doing harm to themselves or others, or became judgmental of those who do not observe

exactly as they may observe.

As the years have passed, I have come to understand that there is a progressive goal in the process of

"speak, write, bind". We certainly must do all three things literally. Applying the Torah process to our

lives and particularly to the lives of our children (the next generation) insures that there will be a next

generation of Israel, which clearly is the objective of the Shema, a text given one chapter after the

Covenant (Dt. 5), so we know which "Words" Yahuah is wanting to be "in our heart". "Shema Yisrael" (hear Yisrael) is directing us to "hear" and obey His Torah, which He also refers to as His "Word", or "Words" (Debarim). We are to "bind" His Debarim. The Ten Words are His Covenant, in which we are to walk. In Hebrew, these are called the Aseret (10) haDabarim (Words).

The act of "binding" is the Hebrew word (#7194) QASHAR: to gird or tie, physically or mentally;

join together, work; this is to bring about, or be a "sign":

#226 OTH, a sign, beacon, literally or figuratively, to be a mark or evidence.

The speaking and writing of Torah is the mental process, and the binding is the act of bringing Torah

into the physical world, expressing it in our behavior as we practice it. To me, this is the ultimate "binding"

of the Torah. One could put little boxes on our foreheads and hands, but until we practice the Torah,

our belief is still "dead". The living, active expression of DOING the Torah is the ultimate "evidence" or sign

of our faith. The context of Dt. 6 tells us that all of these things will result in us remembering Yahuah,

and not going after foreign elohim, or living as if He is irrelevant, as Humanism has taught mankind.

We are Israel, and Yahuah's beloved. We are a qodesh nation of priests to the world. These Torah instructions

begin in our homes and with our children being taught to walk in them. And when they are grown, they

will not depart from them.

Forbidding and permitting is related to this "Shema" text.

Yahushua mentioned "binding and loosing" (binding is forbidding, loosing is permitting).

When we are mature in Torah, we understand what things Torah "binds", and what things Torah "looses".

Our actions or behavior (works) become the "sign" or beacon to everyone around us.

The Torah shines forth in our lives as a bright light in darkness, and we will become a light to guide

the lives of people who would otherwise become shipwrecked. The Torah is a great light.

This light is seen in Yahushua at Mt. 4:16:

Isa 9:2 The people^{5971
that walked1980
in darkness2822
have seen7200
a
great 1419

light
:216
they that dwell3427
in the land776
of the shadow of
death,6757
upon5921
them has the light

216
shined.5050}Isa/YeshaYahu 9:2

The Torah is light. Our children are to be taught this light, binding the Torah upon their hearts:
"My son, keep your father's Commandment, and forsake not the law (Torah) of your mother:
Bind them continually upon your heart, and tie them about your neck.
When you go, it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall keep you; and when you awaken, it shall talk with you. For the Commandment is a lamp; and the TORAH is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Prov 6:20-23

When we learn to walk in Yahuah's Torah, Yahushua will reveal to us Who He really is:
Yahuah Almighty is the One you are to regard as qodesh, He is the one you are to fear, He is the one you are to dread, and He will be a palace; but for both houses of Israel He will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Yerushalayim He will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured."
Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples. I will wait for Yahuah, Who is hiding His face from the house of Ya'aqob. I will put my trust in Him." Isa/YeshaYahu 8:13-17

When we learn to walk in Yahuah's Torah, we will throw-off the former Pagan ways we were taught:
"How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you. Although Yahuah gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' Then you will defile your idols* overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, 'Away with you!'" Isa/YeshaYahu 30:19-22 *Christmas/Asherah trees

When we learn to walk in Yahuah's Torah, keeping His festivals, He will turn back our captivity before our eyes:
"I will gather them that are sorrowful for the appointed feasts, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict you: and I will save her that is lame, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, says Yahuah." Zeph 3:18-20

I pray this will help you in your walk. May Yahushua be esteemed through you,