Messianic Jewish Teachings: David Levine

Stand with Israel: Learning God’s Pattern

Rabbi David Levine

Yom Shabbat, Saturday morning, January 19, 2008

Parsha B’shalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16)

Haftorah: Judges 4:4-5:31

The Children of Israel learned much about God during the Exodus from Egypt. The way God stood with Israel then is a pattern for today. Rabbi David Levine’s message will help you learn a pattern so you too stand with Israel as you stand with God.

Can You Count On God?

Rabbi David Levine Erev Shabbat, Friday night, January 18, 2008 Parsha B’shalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16) Haftorah: Judges 4:4-5:31 At the Red Sea, the Children of Israel face an extraordinary trial. Will they be able to depend on God? This is a question that every person faces. In this encouraging message, Rabbi David Levine speaks about four qualities of God’s faithfulness that Israel learned during the Exodus.

What Makes Faith Work?

Rabbi David Levine Yom Shabbat, Saturday, January 12, 2008 Parsha Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16) Haftorah: Jeremiah 46:13-28 What made Moses' faith work? What were the qualities of his faith? Rabbi David Levine examines the faith of Moses as he leads the children of Israel out of Egypt. In this down-to-earth message, Rabbi David focuses on four essential qualities of faith which work together to make our faith in God effective. This message will strengthen your ability to walk with God, and to complete the assignments he has given you.

Four Sticks of Faith

Rabbi David Levine Parsha Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16) 

Haftorah: Jeremiah 46:13-28

Moses was faithful to God’s assignment that he bring the children of Israel out of Egypt and out of slavery. It took great risk, boldness and confidence. It required perseverance, action, and unity. Rabbi David describes these qualities in a memorable teaching about faith and faithfulness. This message will encourage you to stick it out to the very end, just like Moses did. 

God's Revelation and His Names

Rabbi David Levine Yom Shabbat, Saturday, January 05, 2008 Parsha Vayera (Genesis 6:2-9:35) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob related to God as El Shaddai. But God said to Moses, there is more to me than that. I am YHVH. Rabbi David looks at the topic of God's revelation, comparing three revelations of God, three ways of relating to God, and three names of God.

The Purpose of Prophecy and Prophetic Warnings

Parsha Va'era (Exodus 6:2-9:35)

Haftorah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21

Rabbi David Levine

Many people treat Biblical prophecies primarily as predictions of the future, but they may be missing the main point.  Rabbi David compares Moses' prophetic words to Pharaoh with Jonah's prophetic words to Nineveh to illustrate the primary purpose of prophecy and prophetic warnings.

Who do you say that I am?

Parsha Sh'mot (Exodus 1:1-6:1)

Haftorah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23

Additional references to Luke 2:25-35, Mark 8:27-29

Rabbi David Levine

Yom Shabbat, Saturday, December 29, 2007

The way we see another person determines our attitudes and our behavior towards him. A new Pharaoh forgot Joseph's service to Egypt, and viewed the children of Israel as enemies. He hated them and enslaved them, and ordered a pogrom to kill their newborn sons. That's when Moses was born, and both his mother and Pharaoh's daughter saw that he was special to God so they protected him. These two women saw Moses through God's eyes. Decades later, God used Moses to rescue the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery.

Two thousand years ago another Jewish baby boy, Yeshua, was born, and he was brought to the Jerusalem temple for Pidyon HaBen, the redemption of the first born son. An elderly Jewish man saw this baby through God's eyes, and recognized he was the Messiah. Since that time, Jewish people have had many opinions about the identity of Messiah. Rabbi David Levine says the most important question each of us will ever answer is the one Yeshua asked, "Who do you say that I am?" This message will provoke you to consider carefully how you see other people, and help you see them through God's eyes.

Eyes that See, Ears that Hear, Hearts that Understand

Parsha Shemot: Exodus 1:1-6:1

Haftorah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23

Additional references to Luke 2:25-35, Mark 8:27-29 and Isaiah 6:10

Rabbi David Levine

Erev Shabbat, Friday, December 28, 2007

In this special message for families, Rabbi David speaks about the importance of paying attention to what God wants us to see and hear. He talks about how Moses and Yeshua were special, even when they were newborn babies, and how others noticed them. This practical message for all ages concludes with the celebration of Seudat HaMashiach, the Meal of Messiah.

Joseph’s heart and the heart of God’s Shepherds

Parsha Vayechi: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Erev Shabbat, Friday, December 21, 2007

Rabbi David Levine

Joseph sees God’s hand at work through all the suffering caused by his brothers. What was it about Joseph that allowed him to see God’s purposes at work?  It started with Joseph’s loyalty to God, but Rabbi David Levine notices that it goes far deeper.

Listen to this message to learn how your heart can become more like Joseph’s, one of God’s true shepherds.

You don’t know how God works

Parsha VaYigash (He came near)

Genesis 44:18-47:27 with references to Matthew 16:21-26

Saturday, Yom Shabbat, December 15, 2007

Rabbi David Levine

Haftorah: Ezekiel 37:15-28  Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and forgives their sin and all the suffering they caused him. When he is reunited with his father, Jacob, it is like life from the dead.  Rabbi David says, “When you understand the depth of Joseph’s love for his brothers, you will better understand Yeshua’s love for the Jewish people.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life from the Dead

Rabbi David Levine Friday, December 14, 2007 Parsha VaYigash (He came near) Genesis 44:18-47:27 with references to Matthew 16:21-26 and Luke 2:25-35 Haftorah: Ezekiel 37:15-28 "I am Joseph, who you sold to Egypt. I am Joseph, your brother." With these words, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. One of the most emotion-filled stories in the Bible comes to life as Rabbi David Levine tells how God saved the Jewish people through the suffering of Joseph. Rabbi David weaves together the story of Joseph with the Jewish tradition of Messiah son of Joseph, the suffering servant. This fascinating presentation will touch your heart and may bring you to tears. Discover how God brings people out of suffering and into the fulfillment of a God-centered life. It's like life from the dead.

His brothers did not recognize him

Parsha: Miketz - Genesis 41:1-44:17 with John 10:22-25

Rabbi David Levine

The Torah reading at Hanukkah is always about Joseph. So it always tells the story of a Jewish man rejected by his brothers, misunderstood and  mistreated by them, how that man is forgotten by his Jewish family, and how the very ones who reject him are most depending on his mercy, and don’t even know it.

Rabbi David Levine compares the treatment of Joseph with the treatment Yeshua received at Hanukkah in Jerusalem when he spoke about being the Messiah.

God of the Forgotten and Forsaken

Rabbi David Levine

Friday, December 7, 2007

Parsha Mikeitz (Genesis 41:1 - 44:17) with Hanukkah references to John 10:22-25

Haftorah 1 Kings 3:15-41

The story of Joseph is always read during Hanukkah. Rabbi David Levine connects the life of Joseph with the story of Yeshua at Hanukkah. This message will encourage anyone who has faced rejection, betrayal, and family conflict. Rabbi David's timely message opens up the identity of Messiah, the Suffering Servant, who is traditionally identified as the Son of Joseph.

God of the Heart-broken

Rabbi David Levine

Parsha: VaYeshev - Genesis 37-40 with additional references to Isaiah 61

The life of Joseph is troubled with family rejection and slavery. But Joseph lives for God in the midst of heart-breaking circumstances. Yeshua's proclamation of the good news of the Kingdom centered first on Isaiah 61, where the prophet says the anointed of God has good news for the broken hearted and those in prison (and others too). Rabbi David shows how Joseph's life of faith connects to the good news proclaimed by Isaiah and demonstrated by Yeshua. 

Joseph and the Blessing of Abraham

Rabbi David Levine Parsha: VaYeshev Genesis 37-40

God, Man, or Angel - Who was that with Jacob

Parsha  VaYishlach Genesis 32:3–36:43 Rabbi David Levine This parsha describes the wrestling between Jacob and the one who is described as a Man, God, and an Angel. Rabbi David's message describes several different Jewish attempts to identify this mysterious person, and relates them to Messianic Jewish understandings. This is a thought-provoking message for everyone who takes the Jewish Bible and the God of Israel seriously.

Israel, The God-Wrestler

Rabbi David Levine Parsha: VaYishlach Genesis 32:3-36:43 Jacob wrestles with a mysterious one, and has his name changed to Israel, which means both "God-wrestler" and "God Rules." Jacob says afterwards he saw God and lived, a declaration of great import and power because it helps prepare us for accepting that God can come to earth in many forms, including that of a man. Rabbi David discusses how the those of us today who are dedicated to the God of Israel will also have to wrestle with him in their own ways.

Loving the Jewish people God's way

Parsha VaYetzeh (And Jacob went out) Genesis 28:10-32; Hosea 12:13-14:9 Rabbi David Levine Yom Shabbat, November 17, 2007 Love one another in the way I have loved you, Yeshua commanded his disciples. To fulfill this commandment we need to understand how God loves his people Israel. This message based on Parsha VaYetzeh describes God's promise of faithful love to Jacob in concrete terms. Rabbi David also shows how Ruth's love for Israel and the God of Israel demonstrated just such love. This is a message that will help you practice God's love in your daily life, and will help protect you from mere sentimentalities and vague feelings which can substitute for or masquerade as real love.

God's Four Promises to Jacob

Rabbi David Levine Parsha VaYetzeh (And Jacob went out) Genesis 28:10-32; Hosea 12:13-14:9 November 16, 2007

The Wells of Abraham: Jewish identity and Messiah

Parsha Toldot Rabbi David Levine Yom Shabbat, Saturday, November 10, 2007 Spoken at Congregation Beth Hallel in Roswell (Atlanta) GA.

Jewish identity is a rich inheritance. Rabbi David Levine talks about the value of Jewishness, and compares it to the wells which Abraham dug for his flocks in Canaan. His son, Isaac, had to re-open those wells, because the local Philistines had filled them in. And Isaac went further, digging more wells, and prospering greatly. In this stirring message, Rabbi David discusses the profound integration of Jewish identity and faith in Messiah that Yeshua's disciples experienced on the mountain when they saw Messiah with Moses and Elijah.