Deveykus

[Shimon]

“But you who held tight [davak] to AD’NAI your G’d are alive today – all of you.”

• Deuteronomy 4:4, Tree of Life Version

 

Moses emphasizes to the new generation, that in juxtaposition to those who fell prey to the idolatry of the Moabites, and were subsequently punished by the L’RD, those who remained alive, held fast (davak) to the L’RD. Their steadfastness represents the ideal of deveykus, clinging to the L’RD, as a commandment in and of itself.

“You shall fear the L'RD your G'd; him shall you serve, and to Him shall you hold fast [davak]” (Deuteronomy 10:20). Yet, the sages note that elsewhere it is written, “For the L'RD your G'd is a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24). So, they ask how is it possible to cling to the L’RD, if “G'd is a consuming fire?” The answer given is that one clings to the L’RD by attaching himself to a tzaddik (a righteous person).

In light of this explanation, it was B’nei Yisrael’s connection to Moses that brought them close to G’d. He served as an intermediary between the Children of Israel and G’d, as noted in kitvei kodesh (holy scripture): “I stood between the L’RD and you at that time [on Mount Sinai], to tell you the word of the L’RD; for you were afraid because of the fire” (Deuteronomy 5:5).

 

“The one who joins [deveykus] himself to the L’rd is one spirit with Him.”

• 1 Corinthians 6:17, Tree of Life Version

 

Moses intervened for the people, when they transgressed with the golden calf, and G’d was about to destroy them: “Turn from Your fierce anger, and repent of this evil against your people” (Exodus 32:11-12). He was the prototype model of the Tzaddik HaOlam, through which one cleaves to the L’RD; he served as an intercessor on behalf of the people.’

These considerations may serve as a contextual background for the words of Yeshua: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, TLV). “For there is one G’d and there is one Mediator between G’d and men, Messiah Yeshua ” (1 Timothy 2:5, TLV).

The role of Moses as an intermediary for B’nei Yisrael points towards the role of Messiah, the Righteous One, who is the derech (path, or way) towards G’d. “For through Him we both have access to the Father by the same Ruach” (Ephesians 2:18, TLV). That is, by attaching ourselves to Yeshua through deveykus, we may be one with the Father. "In Him we have boldness and access with confidence through trusting in Him" (Ephesians 3:12, TLV).

 

“Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. The branch cannot itself produce fruit, unless it abides on the vine. Likewise, you cannot produce fruit unless you abide in Me.”

• John 15:4, TLV

Edited July 23, 2021 by Shimon