Prophetic Significance of Simchat Torah | Rejoice in God’s Word
Simchat Torah means “to rejoice in the Torah.” In other words, it means “to find joy in God’s teaching and instruction.” You see the concept of rejoicing in God’s instruction throughout the Bible.
- “Your word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”—Psalm 119:105
- “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”—Psalm 119:15-17
- “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”—Joshua 1:8
Simchat Torah is a holiday celebrated the day after the last day of Sukkot. This joyous occasion marks the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the immediate start of a new cycle.
What Is Simchat Torah?
Simchat Torah encompasses the ideas of renewal, restoration, reflection, and resilience—all centered on God’s Word.
Simchat Torah is celebrated on the 23rd of Tishrei, which follows the final day of Sukkot on the Hebrew calendar. This is the day that Jewish communities gather to celebrate the completion of the yearly reading of the Torah–the 5 books of Moses…
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
The day is filled with joyous dancing, singing, and processions as the Torah scrolls are paraded around the synagogue in what is known as hakafot.
The celebration reflects the reverence and love we are to have for God’s Word as the Word became flesh in Yeshua!
Simchat Torah embodies a deep connection between the Jewish people and the Torah, emphasizing not only the completion of a spiritual journey but also the beginning of a new one, as the cycle immediately restarts with the reading of Genesis.
Why Is the Torah Read in an Annual Cycle?
The annual Torah reading cycle is a tradition rooted in the desire to ensure that God’s people remain connected to God’s Word.
The Torah is divided into 54 portions, or parshiyot, which are read weekly. These readings connect communities around the world as they read and reflect on the same portions of the Torah at the same time.
This connection element of the tradition reflects Yeshua’s words, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The roots of reading God’s Word every day speaks to connecting to the Vine and comes with a promise of bearing much fruit!
The Word of God Is Alive and Active
The tradition of completing the Torah within a single year speaks to the unbroken consistency and renewal of God’s Word. We are reminded year-round that the wisdom and lessons of God’s Word are timeless and apply to every aspect of life.
Understanding Simchat Torah brings light to Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The First Will Be Last, and the Last Will Be First
The cyclical nature of the Torah reading schedule also mirrors the cycles found in God’s creation and the Hebraic calendar. It provides a rhythm to life, where each year brings new opportunities to deepen one’s relationship with the Lord and to follow His ways, drawing closer to Him.
Biblically speaking, 7 represents completeness, and 8 represents new beginnings. So, after the seven-day celebration of Sukkot, there is a completion and a new beginning. The last day of one Torah reading cycle is also the first day of the next Torah reading cycle!
Understanding Simchat Torah brings light to Matthew 20:16, “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go
Reading God’s Word each day–in community and within our families–trains our children in the ways of God. As Jewish children grow up, they practice getting into God’s Word daily, and year after year, the words in the Torah are planted in their minds.
They know what the Word says, and it is a seed planted, ready to produce a harvest in time. The concept of reaping and sowing, of legacy-leaving, is a Kingdom concept–it’s as we say, “Let our ceiling become our children’s floor.”
Teaching our kids the Word and giving them opportunities to learn Kingdom ways earlier than we did trains them in righteousness and builds their relationship with the Lord.
Understanding Simchat Torah brings light to Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
What Torah Portions Are Read on Simchat Torah?
Two specific portions of the Torah are read on Simchat Torah:
- The final portion of Deuteronomy 33-34 (the last book of the Torah)
- The beginning of Genesis 1:1-2:3 (the first book of the Torah).
The reading of Deuteronomy recounts Moses’ final blessings to the people of Israel before his death. It concludes with his ascension to Mount Nebo, where he views the Promised Land from afar.
This prophetically symbolizes the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another—the fulfillment of Moses’ leadership and the Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom.
We, again, see the deeper meaning of Yeshua’s words when He said, “The first becomes last and the last becomes first…” in the Torah portion read on Simchat Torah!
The reading transitions from the last chapter of Deuteronomy to the first chapter of Genesis, describing the creation of the world. This simultaneous conclusion and beginning signify the flow of the Torah—God’s Word and instruction.
The reading of God’s Word on Simchat Torah portrays that, with God, when something appears to end, it is actually only the beginning of something new.
- “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”—Isaiah 43:19
What seems to come to an end becomes a backdrop for the new thing God releases!
There is no end to studying Torah—God’s Word. As soon as one cycle is completed, another begins and conveys the message that God’s Word is the source of constant renewal and endless wisdom.
No matter how often the Word is read, it always holds fresh fire and wisdom because it is alive and active!
The Prophetic Significance of Simchat Torah
October 7, 2023, was Simchat Torah of the Hebrew year 5784. It was the day following the last day of Sukkot. It was a day of great destruction and death—Israel was attacked by terrorists in such a horrific and demonic way, and innocent lives were taken.
But when you look at the day—the Hebraic roots and nature of it—you see a prophetic promise within it. Though horrific forces were released into the atmosphere on October 7, 2023, it also became a day to cling to the hope and promises of God.
God is a God of renewal and rejuvenation, of turning ashes into beauty, of pouring out the oil of joy instead of mourning, and putting on the garment of praise instead of despair.
For many Jews, celebrating Simchat Torah is rooted in the heart with the idea and theme that humility and strength are present and necessary in a broken and suffering world. After the October 7th attacks, this mindset is ever-present.
Simchat Torah points to the hope of our coming Messiah, anticipating the time when every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ—Yeshua Ha’Mashiach—is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11)—a time when He will rule and all will follow His instruction (Isaiah 9:6-7)!
Simchat Torah is a reminder that we must be willing to begin again and be resilient. The completion and immediate restarting of the cycle of reading God’s Word reflects the enduring nature of God and His everlasting covenant with Israel and with the body of Yeshua.