I mentioned earlier that Deuteronomy Chapter 26 kicks off a 4-chapter section that signals the end of quite a long review of the Torah instructions given at Sinai and begins a section dealing with the more mysterious or I should say mystical aspects of the Lord’s relationship with Israel.
The word “mystical” when applied to Scripture is prone to misunderstanding.
When I use the word “mystical” or “spiritual”, I mean a couple of things.
FIRST, I’m referring to “spirit of the law” in the sense of how the Apostle James and Paul talked about it in their sermons concerning “true religion” and how God’s commands are to be carried out with the proper attitude and spirit.
SECOND, when I use the word “mystical” I’m also referring to the fact that there are aspects of HASHEM and Scripture that are simply far beyond man’s ability to comprehend.
This should be obvious, for how can we finite human beings ever be able to comprehend an infinite and immortal being and His Wisdom?
Answer: We can’t.
Yet, in spite of the inscrutable parts of Scripture, the Lord has given us certain instructions that are as plain as day and fully understandable and obey-able to all men.
Just because we may not always understand the WHY behind God’s instructions is no excuse not to obey the WHAT plainly revealed in Scripture.
To this point, today I’d like to introduce a Rabbinical principle of Scripture study that breaks down the notion that the words of Scripture range from the most plain all the way to the most mystical into four levels.
The four levels are PSHAT, REMEZ, DRASH and SOD.
PSHAT refers to the most plain and easiest to understand meaning (which is pretty much where the vast majority of the gentile church is at).
REMEZ takes it a bit further and refers to what you need to read between the lines in order to get the proper meaning.
DRASH refers to process of interpretation and includes grasping the allegorical parts of Scripture.
For example, contrary to what the Mormon church thinks, “the hand of the Lord” ain’t referring to a literal flesh-and-blood hand.
And finally…
SOD is the most mystical and esoteric and this is where we get into the realm of Kabbalah.
I would say the collective demonizing of Kabbalah by many in the Hebrew roots movement is wrong.
The truth is there are many mystical principles you have to understand to in order to properly grasp the New Testament.
Now let me make something clear here.
I’m not saying that some parts of Scripture are only SOD while some are only PSHAT for instance.
No, I’m saying that pretty much all of Scripture has these four dimensions embedded in them.
Sure, there are some Scriptures that are more PSHAT in nature as opposed to SOD and vice verse is true.
To conclude this post, understand that where we’re at now (Deuteronomy Chapter 26) deals with those passages that are much more SOD (mystical) in their nature as opposed to PSHAT.
See you all next time.
What is an example of the “remez” level? I know Rashi provides the “p’shat,” the midrashim cover the “drash,” and the Kabbalah and maybe the Chasidut cover the “sod.” I don’t really see examples of “remez.”