Meditating on the Torah aligns readers with Yahweh's will and allows them to be conduits of blessing.
The Psalms highlight the importance of delighting in and meditating on Yahweh's Torah.
Separation between the righteous and the wicked is a recurring theme that connects to the teachings of Jesus.
Deep dives
The Coming Day of Separation
Malachi concludes with a vision of a coming day of Yahweh that will separate the righteous from the wicked. The faithful are called to be like servants of Yahweh and wait for the coming prophet who will restore and fulfill the promises of Moses and Elijah.
The End of the Prophets and Beginning of the Writings
The prophets conclude with the anticipation of a coming prophet in the likeness of Moses and Elijah. The final third of the Hebrew Bible, known as the writings, begins with the Psalms. The book of Psalms speaks of the blessedness of those who meditate on and delight in the Torah of Yahweh, mirroring the instruction given to Joshua and the call to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked.
The Connection between the Psalms and the Torah
As the Hebrew Bible transitions from the prophets to the writings, the beginning of the Psalms establishes a connection to the Torah and the instruction given to Joshua. It highlights the importance of delighting in and meditating on the Torah of Yahweh, and it emphasizes the distinction between the righteous and the wicked.
The Importance of Meditating on the Torah
The podcast discusses the importance of meditating on the Torah, referring to the opening of the book of Joshua. Joshua is instructed to be strong and courageous and to keep and do the whole Torah that Moses commanded. The idea of meditating on God's instruction is highlighted, linking back to the role of Adam and Eve in the garden. Joshua's task becomes a model for readers to adopt, as they wait for their entry into the garden land. The podcast suggests that by embracing this posture and becoming a student of the Torah, readers can align themselves with the will of Yahweh and be conduits for God's Eden blessing to others.
The Distinction between the Righteous and the Wicked
The podcast explores the final paragraph of Malachi, where a crew of people who fear Yahweh and meditate on his name are highlighted. These individuals are considered to be Yahweh's treasured possession and will be separated from the wicked on the day of Yahweh. The imagery of separating the wheat from the chaff is emphasized, reminiscent of Jesus' teachings. The podcast draws connections between Psalm 1, the beginning and ending of the Torah, and the messianic fulfillment in Jesus, presenting a call for readers to align themselves with the will of God and become channels of God's blessings for others.
When a Jewish synagogue finishes reading through the Torah together, they celebrate Simkhat Torah. What is Simkhat Torah? Find out on today’s episode as Jon and Tim reflect on our year-long journey through the Torah and look ahead to the rest of the TaNaK.
You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.
Show Music
“Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
“Tzur Teudati” by Yaacov Alkobi
“Simchu Na” by Hibba – Israeli Heritage Movement
“For When it's Warmer” by Sleepy Fish
“A Note From My Book” by Sleepy Fish and Coa
Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder. Edited by Dan Gummel, Tyler Bailey, and Frank Garza. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.
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