Parashah Ki Tavo: A Culture of Perseverance

Torah: Deut 26:1-29:8

Haftarah: Is 60:1-22

Brit Chadashah: Eph 1:3-6, Rev 21:10-27

Main Points:

Teaching about the offerings of tithes and Firstfruits.

Moses and the children of Israel at the altar on Mount Ebal.

Blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

Covenant renewal in Moab.

Jewish prayers, rituals, and the Feasts seek to unite past, present, and future. They help us to link the moment we are in with the larger story of God’s will. In Parashah Ki Tavo, four things are mentioned that helped the Israelites persevere and accomplish this. There was promise (Deut 26:1), the fruit of the promise (God’s answer, Deut 26:2), worship and confession (Deut 26:3-7), and praise for individual and communal fulfillment (Deut 26:8-11). These were a part of how God set up an enduring testimony that would eventually inspire faith throughout the world. It was also intended that the children of the Israel would see the monuments of their forefathers (Deut 27:1-8) and all that God had done and rejoice with them for God’s faithfulness (see Josh 4). What we memorialize links us communally and individually to who we were, who we are, and who we will be; from Gan Eden (Garden of Eden), through Noah and the Patriarchs, Yeshua, and ultimately to Shamayim (Heaven). We are linked to it all. Persevering in faith is the undercurrent that ties our identity in Yeshua together with the rest of the scriptures and helps us be a part of God’s continuing work.

Perseverance is an interesting concept. It is seen all over scripture. We see it at play in the life of the Patriarchs, Joseph, Moses, and David. It is seen throughout Israel’s history when they were occupied and subsequently restored. Job displayed perseverance as did Jeremiah and Haggai. Curiously, the word perseverance never occurs in the Tanakh directly. Paul implies it (Heb 6:11-12) but the first time the actual word appears is in the Brit Chadashah (Eph 6:18). The concept is mentioned again in Rev 3:10 and worded as “the word of my patience.” Other words used in scripture come close like endurance, diligence, and persistence. It is such an important part of our spiritual lives and scripture seems to teach us that it is a part of how we actualize our faith and views it as being closely related.

Perseverance is what helps us endure persecution, stand in trials, and continue to practice our faith in adverse circumstances. It is what helps us make progress in doing God’s work regardless of the time it takes or challenges we may face. We accept perseverance and grit in secular pursuits but when it comes to doing the will of God our faith expects things to unfold without challenge, but God is partnering with us for a work. We will strive and contend in many ways before the work of God is birthed. Faith has a cost. Perseverance strengthens our faith, purges our carnal human motives, and purifies our actions into a selfless holy pursuit (1 Cor 3:10-15). It is no wonder that perseverance has been called a gateway to holiness.

Calvin Coolidge stated that “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

Perseverance is the skill and ability to consistently pursue a goal despite the challenges or length of time required to achieve it. It is the grit that enables us to stick to a noble cause and do hard things. Perseverance is a passion and single-mindedness for our long-term goals and is often equated with determination. Perseverance is not ignorant of the challenges or setbacks that come to confront its goals, it expects them and plans for them (Jn 16:33). Persistence is a linked term. Persistence is a type of stubbornness that keeps us coming back over and over, despite the response of the person or situation (see Luke 18:1-8). We can have perseverance and persist in both the bad and the good. Both are expressions of how we interact and respond to life. We have the choice to persevere spiritually and pursue healing for communities and those around us or persevere in a selfish and self-centered way and be stubbornly wrong.

Jewish Thought and the Culture of Perseverance

The modern Hebrew word for perseverance is “hatmadah.” It has, as its root “tmd”, the same as “tamid.” Tamid refers to the morning and evening sacrifices or can be translated as continuous or always. The word “tamid” is used many times in scripture. Most of its usage pertains to the work surrounding the tabernacle.

Perseverance has characterized the Jewish people from the beginning. Throughout scripture, the Jewish nation has persevered in both godliness and sometimes in their pursuit of disobedience, but the judgment and grace of God called them back time and time again. The nation of Israel has had to fight for its validity and existence from its inception. Through the practice of the Feasts, prayers, rituals, and a constant retelling of Jewish history, perseverance has become both an individual and communal value that has upheld spiritual communities together for thousands of years. All of these create a biblically focused, religious culture that lends itself to the continuance and perseverance of the Jewish people. It asserts the value that in every place, God is sovereignly in control and his will, will ultimately win out (Ex 1:12).

Because of the unique nature of Jewish history, perseverance and persecution often go hand in hand and over time both have become part of their cultural identity. Many of the decisions of the Rabbis over time have helped Jews persevere, adapt, or resist in secular and/or foreign cultures. Prayers like the Hatikvah and the Avodah prayer in the Amidah incorporate a culture of perseverance that constantly looks forward to God fulfilling his promises. A culture of perseverance is present in the Jewish calendar, which is based on the lunar cycles. It is thought that the moon is a type and shadow of Israel itself, as its waxing and waning light is symbolic of Israel’s constant renewal.

There is also a culture of perseverance embedded in the reading of the Torah. At the end of each book of the Torah when the final verses are read, Ashkenazi congregations state “chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek!”, be strong, be strong, and may you be strengthened (see Deut 31:7, Dan 10:19). In some places the Yiddish greeting “Yasher Koach” is used, “may your strength be righteousness” in the congregation to greet members and also used after one has been called up for Aliya and has read the Torah. Sometimes the shortened version is used, “shko’ach”, may your strength be firm. Perseverance is always easier when it is supported by a kehillah. We can always benefit from the strength of others in our community.

Jewish thought views perseverance as a skill that is connected to faith. Faith is a practice. It is strengthened and grows as it is used. The Hebrew word for faith is “emunah” which comes from the root “unamut” or craft. This is one of the reasons why James connected faith and works (Jam 2:18). Much of our works are bound to what we choose to do or embrace in our lives. How we live and the spiritual diet we ingest will support or weaken our efforts to continue in the will of God.

What we need is to have a stronger conviction that will give us a sense of value for spiritual things and the force to keep moving forward. Jewish thought recognizes that God’s word first dwells on our hearts. Then after prayer, meditating on it, and acting on its truth, it makes its way in the heart and is incorporated into our identity as a conviction. The power of the Holy Spirit is what takes our faith and action and begins to transform and empower us. Having a stronger sense of perseverance has a lot to do with what our convictions are, what we know, and what we choose.

The Psychology of Perseverance

Have you ever wondered why some people just have more push in life, more focus, and the determination to carry through? These people tend to weather storms better, face trials head-on and seem to have better contact with their faith. Well, some of it is rooted in our biology. Part of it revolves around the prefrontal cortex which controls the executive functions of the brain, decision-making, and behavior regulation. It interacts with the amygdala, which deals with fight or flight tendencies and serves to regulate or direct where we put all of that adrenaline and cortisol flooding into our bodies when we face stress.

Our choices and decisions can affect our brain chemistry and God made it that way. Viktor Frankl stated, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.”

Another thing to understand is the role of dopamine (a neurotransmitter). This is the hormone that rewards us and plays a role in our sense of motivation. Dopamine production can be influenced by our attitude and behavior, so our faith and conviction play a role in also helping to direct our biology. Dopamine is part of the reward system of the brain. It comes into play when we achieve or accomplish things and is at a higher level when we change our focus from negative reinforcement to positive reinforcement. In other words, we can overly focus on the problem and not on the solution. How we frame things positively or negatively does matter and affects our biochemistry in terms of motivation, fear, anger, or peace. We all have a survival instinct. We all avoid pain and embrace pleasure as a means of surviving life. As we mature, we become accustomed to managing the pain and delaying gratification to meet our goals.

Dopamine can increase and we can have a better sense of motivation when we begin to recognize the small things we do as contributing to our goals and recognizing them. Forming a good habit requires recognizing where we are making progress, and we need to make that progress rewarding. Finding a way to recognize and reward progress in ourselves can give our willpower a good jolt. It is always better to work with our biology instead of against it. The key to being able to continue a task is to keep the end goal in mind and find some sense of return for every step. We can also get a good dopamine hit by rehearsing past successes, especially spiritual ones where God delivered or intervened. That rehearsal does not even have to be one that we were directly involved with. Testimonies and the narrative of scripture help us in this regard. When our own present situation is not motivating, we can be covered or inspired by someone else’s.

If we do not find and recognize a place of progress (generally or specifically) we will allow ourselves to get discouraged and our dopamine levels will drop. Discouragement and failure will leave us feeling despondent, but our faith can rescue us there as well. Proverbs 24:16 states that “a righteous man may fall seven times and get up again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” (TLV) Though the scriptures only imply it, overcoming failures strengthens our sense of perseverance and forms stronger convictions. When our faith is at the core of why we continue, we get up stronger each time. We are also more knowledgeable about our weaknesses and the challenges that face us. Failure can be a falling forward as opposed to falling down.

Managing the emotional roller coaster is important. When our failures lead to feelings of defeat, we can get caught up in a negative cycle of fear, anger, and discouragement. We have to manage our negative emotions and the situations that set us back. This is a huge skill. We can choose to accept our setbacks as part of the journey and manage them as an expected and normal event as we travel to our destination, or we can collapse into avoidant tendencies. The longer that the negative cycle continues, the more it will affect our determination, characterize our decisions, and eventually affect our identity. We may feel like we have failed for a moment, but we are not failures unless we stop trying. Getting over the hump of negative emotions involves directing them early so that they do not erode our sense of purpose and resolve.

Take a moment and think of a time when you were tempted to quit a noble or godly pursuit. If you could build a case for quitting, what would it look like? Now, build a case for not quitting. How does sticking in the game help to further what you want? Even if there was a conflict, the conflict testifies that two or more people are engaged in something valuable so there is a shared interest. Even if there was no resolution, your continued involvement helped to guide and refine the work you do.

Sometimes you can’t win every battle. It has been said that the victor of the war writes history, but the one who perseveres is eventually vindicated. Napoleon Bonaparte stated, “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” We can’t always control why people don’t like us or whether they like what God has called us to do. What God has called us to do is valuable enough to fight for and our continued voice is a strength to many people, even if we don’t win or advance at every opportunity.

Sometimes it is good to look at our perseverance as a progression of small obtainable wins. Walter Elliot admitted that “perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after the other.” Some of those wins we can plan for as we act in faith. This will also keep our dopamine and motivation levels up. I heard a speech by a retired naval officer who stated that one of the most important things in basic training that a new soldier is required to do is making his bed. This is the first accomplishment of the day. Next, he completes exercises. His second accomplishment. Then he goes to classes and learns. What it means to be a soldier is a constant addition of small tasks that add up to training and readiness and he pointed to the first accomplishment that frames the rest. He makes his bed, sets his mind, and prepares for his work. This psychological dressing is about more than making a bed. It conditions the mind to prepare for the challenges of the day.

Living it Every Day

Why does God call us to persevere? Perseverance is hard. It drives our faith to the breaking point. It brings us to the place where we can let go of any semblance of control, assumption that our talents can carry us, or any form of reliance that is not focused on God. Some believers will stop trying at this phase because many times it does not look like things will work out and they feel that they took a wrong turn or made a mistake. The refining process of perseverance strengthens our faith and calls others to God, even as it establishes his purpose.

The refining process is a press. When olive oil is produced, the olives are placed in a press and pressure is applied. As the olives are squeezed, the liquid in the olive begins to flow out, and the oil comes with it. The olive and its oil were vital to Israel. It was a source of food, fuel for light, medicine, and anointing oil. It appears in the book of Genesis as well as in Revelation. It is also a symbol of God’s enduring covenant and the olive tree can also be used as a symbol for people, especially Israel.

When we pursue the will of God, we cannot avoid the press. The press does not mean that anything is wrong or that God is disciplining us. It means that God took our prayers seriously enough to prepare and refine us for his purpose. When God brings us through this process, he also gives us the resources and strength to endure. When we walk in faith, perseverance helps us grow stronger as a response to opposition and stress as opposed to caving into it. It helps us to bear more because as God increases our anointing, the opposition and trials will never decrease. God ordains provision, protection, and mercy to help us along the way and it comes even as we deal with the expected roadblocks and challenges that we face (Deut 31:23).

Some roadblocks can be maneuvered around but some have to be chipped away at. Being a present and consistent voice for truth can change the conversation over time. What is stronger, water or a rock? If you saw water dripping on a rock you would be tempted to say the rock was stronger, but over time the water wears it away. This is also true of the Spirit. As long as we are acting with a godly heart and godly actions, the anointing will change people one at a time.

Maneuvering around a roadblock or chipping away at one implies that we have some degree of adaptability and are flexible. These are critical to maintaining faith. When we are confident that we can be creative, learn, and change in response to our challenges, we get some hope back. Wisdom and often counsel are needed to manage perseverance and persistence. Even with prayerful consideration we can sometimes take the wrong direction or end up crusading in a sideshow that deviates from what God has called us to do. When we keep our passions submitted before God, we can be open to counsel and direction. Even passionate people can get sincerely lost in the weeds or find out that their premise was good, but their methods need refining. This is one of the reasons everyone needs a Rabbi and a kehillah.

Increasing Perseverance

Continually renew yourself in the mind and will of God. Sometimes we have his will, but not his mind. We need to not only know what he has called us to do, but we also have to think about it on God’s terms and not define it according to human, worldly emotions and concepts. God’s perspective is vital.

Stay in the word. Our faith needs to be renewed. Faith does not negate or fend away trials and challenges. If anything, it increases them. We still have to deal with our personal weaknesses, problematic people, and chaotic lives. Additionally, we are warring in the Spirit and fighting against the attacks of the enemy. For that, we need a renewed mind so that we are not taken under or suffer burn-out.

The will of God is accomplished by people who are not perfect. Work on your weaknesses and faults so that you are not sidelined by them. Scripture states that the righteous man falleth seven times and gets up (Prov 24:16). The continual “getting up” is perseverance. Being a partner with God requires us to work on ourselves. We cannot allow the voice of unbelief and self-criticism to kill our purpose. Staying repentant and keeping the sovereignty of God in focus is needed. That is one of the reasons we often read or hear “besiyata dishmaya”, with the help of heaven.

Keep it real. Set realistic goals and set a good pace. Plan to make time for prayer and communion to be the basis for all your progress. Prayer invigorates action and calls for God’s anointing and direction to be on it. It is not just the doing of the calling that is important, it is our continued pursuit of the person of God.

Keep the big picture in mind. The tendency for instant gratification is opposed to persevering in faith. Sometimes spiritual things can happen quickly, other times they do not. Keep the destination in mind, journal, and water your faith. It can be hard to believe in things we cannot see, especially when we are struggling. The purpose of God and the desire to see it has to outweigh the adversity and challenges we face. The cost is worth it.

Shabbat Shalom

Rav Calev

Next Feasts:

Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset, Oct 2nd and ends at sunset on Oct 4th.

Yom Kippur begins at sunset, Oct 11th and ends at sunset on Oct 12th.

Sukkot begins at sunset, Oct 16th and ends at sunset on Oct 23rd.

Hebrew Words to Know:

Yashar Koach- May your strength be righteousness- (Yiddish) masc-y’shar koch’chah or Koach; fem-y’shar kocheyeh; plural- y’shar kochachem.

Chazal, Chazak, V’nitchazak!- Be strong, be strong, and may you be strengthened.

Shko’ach- (Yiddish) shortened form of “may your strength be firm.”