“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) is called by Rabbi Akiva the great principle of the Torah. Yeshua ranks it together with the love of God as the summation of the entire law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37–40). Paul writes that “the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14), and James calls it the “royal law” (James 2:8).
In the context of Israel’s restoration this love must extend across the historic divide between Judah and Ephraim. The jealousy and hostility that developed after the kingdom split must be healed. Isaiah 11:13 envisions a day when “the jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.” The two sticks become one only when brotherly love replaces ancient rivalry. Ultimately this love expands to embrace the nations who join themselves to the Lord to serve Him (Isaiah 56:6–8).
Practice for Day 13:
Perform one concrete, perhaps costly, act of love for a neighbor—especially someone who differs from you in background, opinion, or community. Pray specifically for the healing of the breach between the two houses of Israel and for the love that will characterize the Messianic age to begin to appear even now among those who fear the Name.
