The Joy of Torah (Simchat Torah)

One of my favorite parts of the service at a Messianic synagogue is the Torah procession where everyone prays a blessing over an actual Torah scroll as it's removed from its ark.

As a person carefully carries it around the room, I'm always struck by the sheer Joy of the moment. How everyone is celebrating with song, prayers, and sometimes dance over the very words of God.

An ancient jewish priest holding a torah scroll with a radiant joyful expression. (The Ancient Way AI Image)

I grew up with a healthy respect for scripture, but this Joy is next-level palpable and infectious. All with a reverence for these God-breathed words spoken ages ago.

Still alive and active.

Still at work to change hearts and guide our lives.

Can you imagine what it would look like if we took this approach towards God's instruction on a daily basis? To not just pick it apart and try to interpret its meaning, but to relish in the very fact that he speaks to us and that thousands of years later we still have have the echoes of His voice etched in parchment as well as our hearts.

So wrestle with these words this week, debate over them, meditate on their meaning—but above all, may you have Joy in your heart for our Father's life-giving instructions as you follow Him with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your strength!