Zion's Voice

Haftarah Reflections   10

Torah portion            Genesis 41 : 1  – 44 : 17

Haftarah portion     Zechariah 2: 10 to 4: 7

*This Haftarah parashah replaces the usual reading (1 Kings 3:15 to 4:1) because it is Shabbat of Hannukah this year (2016)

Listen to the Prophets

"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD. “Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

So begins our Haftarah parashah for today. A resounding statement of encouragement. And that is what the prophecy of Zechariah is about. Some 50,000 Israelites had returned from Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel. They had commenced rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring what they could of Solomon’s Temple. But there was opposition and the work had been delayed. So the Lord raised up Haggai, Zechariah and Ezekiel at that time, all with prophecies of encouragement, with the message that the work of rebuilding the Temple was important because it had a future as the centre of worship of the Messiah.

But there is more than that, because Zechariah had a vision that took him beyond the work of Zerubbabel, and into a time still future to us today. In fact, Zechariah prophesies into the future global battle for Jerusalem and the return of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach to the Mount of Olives.

However, in our parashah this week, the prophetic words of Zechariah came to him by means of a vision. In that vision he saw a man, Joshua the High Priest, whom, it was thought was probably one of the 4,300 or so priests who had returned from Babylon. The prophet Malachi throws some light onto this scene (Malachi 2:1-9). Whether his garments were literally ‘filthy’, or metaphorically ‘filthy’ is not at issue. We know the difference. But what is important is that the Lord brought about a miraculous change in his appearance and in his condition. Isaiah tells us that “we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”.

But the Priests were in a special position. They were responsible for teaching the people regarding the Torah. The Apostle Ya’akov (James) had a word about the responsibility of “teachers” didn’t he? He said “Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment”.   But in Zechariah’s vision he was able to see that the love and mercy of Almighty God was able to remove all the guilty stains and reclothe them, even the Priests, in garments white as snow. Then this amazing promise “If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, then you shall also judge My house”.

Remember, the people were already engaged in building “the House”. And “the House” could not function without the Priests, and the Priests could not function in “the House” unless they were ‘clean’. It is true that the ‘cleanness’ here was ritual cleanness, but inner cleanness comes from living righteously in accord with God’s commands. As God says many times “Be ye holy as I am holy”, set apart, different, living My way. That is inner cleanness.

Then, in Zechariah’s vision, he hears the Lord telling Joshua the High Priest about the coming Messiah, “My servant the BRANCH”. And the prophecy that “will remove the iniquity of that land in one day”. I believe the Apostle Paul makes reference to this day in Romans 11:26 in which he says “all Israel will be saved”. It is also a direct reference to the coming “New Covenant” to be made with "the house of Israel and the house of Judah” see Jeremiah 31:34. A covenant sealed with the precious blood of Yeshua.

What power is there that can bring this about?. Israel in Yeshua’s day, the same as today, was and is, looking for a man who will come and deliver them from their enemies. A human being saviour. A strong deliverer. But what the Lord showed Zechariah was quite different. He saw two olive trees standing by the lampstand of solid gold. Zechariah 4:14 tells us who these olive trees are. They provide the oil to keep the lamp alight. And they are two anointed ones, standing beside the Lord of the whole earth.  Who do you think they could be?

And what or who is going to make this happen?  “Not by might (human endeavour) nor by power (strong men), but by My Spirit says the LORD of Hosts”

“O LORD, our LORD, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth.” Ps 8:1

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah Reflections   9

Torah portion            Genesis 37 : 1  – 40 : 23

Haftarah portion     Amos 2 : 2 – 3 : 8

Listen to the Prophets

The Lord called Amos, a sheep herder and a tender of sycamores, from Tekoa, a small village just south west of Bethlehem, to take a strong message of warning to the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Specifically to a ‘high place’ of worship at Bethel, where King Jereboam 1 had set up one of the golden calves (the other in Dan), so that the people no longer went up to Jerusalem for the mo’edim of the Lord.

This prophet of the Lord had “a way with words”. He was a skilful and persuasive orator. At this time, King Jereboam 2 was leading the nation. Assyria had subdued their closest enemy Syria, which resulted in a time of unusual peacefulness for them, with resultant prosperity. Life seemed good, and it was, BUT the people were far from God and immersed in syncretism and idolatry. Hence the call of God upon Amos.

It was a time of one of the festivals which they kept, because there was a large crowd gathered at the worship centre in Bethel. As Amos stood to speak, he did so with authority. Six times, the persuasive Amos reminded the people of the hostile neighbours who surrounded them, and the judgement which God had in store because of their various transgressions. One can imagine the enthusiastic agreement of the crowd as Amos spoke of God’s displeasure with these hostile neighbours. Aram, Philistia, Edom, Phoenicia, Ammon and Moab. Each one in turn. His rhetoric was the same for all.  “Thus says the Lord, for three transgressions of ‘xxxx’ and for four, I will not revoke its punishment”. Can you hear their cheers?  Then the stunned silence.

His seventh proclamation was against Judah, the Southern Kingdom. The eighth against themselves. For each of the proclamations against their hostile neighbours, Amos managed one or two ‘transgressions’. Against Judah the transgression was just one (but a very big one!)  Then when he turned his words against Israel, there were SEVEN transgressions listed in detail. (See verses 6 to 8).  Each of these transgressions were indicative of an uncaring and avaricious society. They are details of specific violation of God’s instruction for righteous living (Torah).

A casual read of this parashah may be a bit ‘ho hum’. We might ask the question here “So what is the big deal here?”(so to speak). The lesson for us, dear friends, is in the detail.

We have the benefit of hindsight here. The prophecy against Judah was that “they have despised the Torah of the Lord, and have not kept His commandments”. The judgement was “I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem”. And that is precisely what occurred about 136 years later. Precisely, exactly, to the letter.

The prophecy against Israel was spelled out in more detail. The prophet spoke (see Amos 3:1–8) in clear language, using every day metaphors, about God’s intent for this nation. He ended by saying “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” The judgement of the Lord on this Nation of Israel came less than 30 years later. They were taken Captive by the Assyrians, and are now, even today, often referred to as “The Ten Lost Tribes”.

And that is the lesson for us today.

God has spoken through His prophets. The language is clear, the message is unambiguous. Let us hear from the greatest prophet we know, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. Prophet during His time on earth, now the Great High Priest before His father in Heaven, soon to be King of Kings. See John 14:6.        

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”  “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love,”  John 15:10

The proclamation of Amos against both Judah and Israel was that they did not “keep My commandments”, none of which have ever been cancelled or nullified !!!!

I respectfully suggest that as we review and ‘reflect’ upon this prophecy of Amos, we might consider what the Lord our God is saying to us in these words. Do we really “love Him?” are we “abiding in His love?”  The Lord will bless you as you give heed to His word. It is often quite personal.                              

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah Reflections   8

Torah portion            Genesis 32 : 4  – 36 : 43

Haftarah portion     Obadiah 1 : 1 - 21

Listen to the Prophets

Somewhere in our past, Biblical Prophets were designated the description of Major and Minor. That seems a quite arrogant way of classification to me, because a prophet of God is, well, a prophet of God. His message is God given, important, and without classification except in respect of the people to whom the prophecy is directed. In every case however, we can find a message for today in each prophetic book in our Bibles. It is particularly true of our haftarah parashah today.

Obadiah (Servant of God) is something of a ‘mystery man’. The Bible tells us nothing about his person, or even when his prophecy was written, but there are some clues available in the text. It is most commonly thought that Obadiah wrote, in condemnation of Edom, at the time of the Babylonian exile, about the year 586 B.C.E.. It is very likely, however that the Edomites never got to read the prophecy, in which case it was written more as an encouragement to the Israelites.

The Edomites were first cousins of the Israelites. A relationship stemming from the twin brothers born to Isaac and Rebecca. The animosity between the brothers, Jacob and Esau is well known. (We are told in Genesis 36 : 8 that “Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom”.)  That animosity persisted for many centuries. It persists today.

The history is not difficult to trace, but it came to something of a head when the Edomites denied Moses passage though their territory during the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites. And evidently, it was rampant again, almost 1000 years later, during the exilic dispersion under the cruel hand of King Nebuchadnezzar.

Extra-biblical writings of people like Josephus Flavius confirm the hateful relationship of the Edomites towards the Israelites.

Obadiah commences by describing the lofty abode of the people of Edom. They evidently lived well and were well fortified against aggressors, partly because they lived above the plains, and probably considered themselves safe and impregnable. He continues by describing the ways in which the Israelites, in their great persecution and distress, were further harassed and abused by the Edomites, who, because of their close kinship with them, should have provided comfort and support.

It is at this point that we should consider the lessons of this prophecy which apply to us today.

We are all aware of the increasing levels of abuse, violation and hatred being aimed at ISRAEL today. In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, God is using the circumstances to return the Jewish people back to their Land of Promise.

Is it too hard that I suggest that today’s “Edomites” are alive and well in the world, and are seeking to heap more pain on Israel than they already bear. Sadly, many of those “Edomites” (cousins in the faith so to speak) are in positions of influence in our churches. Because they are ‘believers’, they consider themselves ‘safe and impregnable’ from the wrath of God. Take VERY careful note of the word of the Lord spoken by the Prophet to the Edomites :-

“You should not have stood at the crossroads to cut off those among them who escaped; nor should you have delivered up those among them who remained in the day of distress. For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head. For as you drank on My holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yes, they shall drink, and swallow, and they shall be as though they had never been.”

Our Bibles are stacked with descriptions of God’s covenantal and unconditional, enduring love for Israel. There are several warnings about the judgment which awaits those who “qalal” (treat with contempt) Genesis 12 : 3 Israel. It could NOT be any clearer in the Scriptures. AND STILL, we have churches today that completely disregard the place Israel holds in the heart of our God.

The message of Obadiah is so relevant for us today. We dare not ignore it. Read it. Discuss it with your friends. Teach it to your children.

Edom (and Edomites by definition) is destined for utter, complete destruction in the Messianic Age to come. Don’t be a part of it.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah Reflections   7

Torah portion            Genesis 28 : 10  – 32 : 3

Haftarah portion     Hosea 12 : 13 – 14 : 10

Listen to the Prophets

Firstly Amos, then Hosea, were God’s appointed messengers to the territory occupied by the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the strongest of which was the tribe of Ephraim. For that reason, the whole territory is sometimes, as in our parashah today, referred to as Ephraim. (There is no tribe of Joseph. His sons Ephraim and Manasseh became the tribal leaders of their territory which, presumably, would have otherwise been allotted to Joseph).

After King Solomon died, he was followed by Reheboam, as King of Judea in the South, and Jereboam, as King of Israel in the North. Jereboam made two golden calves, installed one at Bethel in the south of the territory, and the other in Dan in the north. He instructed the people that they no longer needed to worship YHWH in the appointed place, Jerusalem, because it was too far to travel. They could worship either at Bethel or Dan for their convenience. That was the beginning of their courtship with idolatry, but there was worse to follow as we shall see.

Hosea’s prophecy covers the late years of the existence of the Northern Kingdom before they were invaded and taken captive by the Assyrians under King Shalamanezer V in the year 722 B.C.E. 

So that, briefly is the history. Now let us look closely at the lessons which are to be learned from this parashah.

It begins by reminding us of the way they had been led, many years earlier, out of the bondage of Egypt. Then, Ephraim spoke as a leader to them, trembling. But soon, he exalted himself before the people, led them in worship of Ba’al, died spiritually, and things progressed down the slippery slope of idol worship. The sins of the people were multiplied, and they apparently revelled in their idolatry. Now hear the Word of the Lord to them :-  

"Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but Me; for there is no saviour besides Me.  I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. When they had pasture, they were filled; they were filled and their heart was exalted;  therefore they forgot Me.”

What a sad commentary that is on a people, saved by grace, prospered in God’s love for them, got wealthy (by this world’s standards) and   …. “Therefore they forgot Me”.

It is not too difficult a stretch to see life today in this description is it? Leaders who exalt themselves in the eyes of their ‘flock’. Men and women who, by persuasive language and skilful manipulation take positions of influence. Idolatry begins there. There follows a less than honest teaching of the Word of God. An unbalanced, incomplete, downright heretical, or perhaps just a ‘popular gospel message’ in an attempt to attract a larger audience. (“metaphorically teaching that one does not need to worship in Jerusalem, as God commanded, do it this way .. it is much more convenient!!). 

Individuals who are saved by grace, progress in life, become successful in business. Maybe inheriting wealth, and finding that they do not need to meet with God as often. Self-sufficiency becomes a by-word. Idolatry takes a hold. 

The result is exactly the same today as it was for those people being addressed by Hosea all those years ago. “Therefore they forgot Me”.

The analogy of childbirth (v 13) is graphic. A child, remaining in the very place of birth would surely suffocate and die. Ephraim is likened so. With the means and power to move on, Ephraim remained in idolatry. It was a comfortable and seemingly safe place (v 15) but soon judgement was to come with devastating result.

Then in chapter 14 of our reading, the prophet again turns to pleading and the message of comfort. Take a moment to read it. What a beautiful picture of the joy available to those who repent and turn back to the Lord. As I ‘reflect’ on these words, I see a picture of the Messianic Kingdom to come. But they represent much more than that. Almost at the ‘eleventh hour’ it seems, the prophet was showing the people what was available to them NOW.

“Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.”

It was good counsel then, and it is good counsel NOW.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah Reflections   6

Torah portion            Genesis 25 : 19  – 28 : 9

Haftarah portion     Malachi 1 : 1 – 2 : 7

Listen to the Prophets

If you have ever heard a sermon from the writings of this prophet, the chances are that the text was Malachi 3:10!! In ‘charismatic’ churches especially, this is the favourite. It is used to pressure people into giving to “my church”. Tithing is a most caring, inclusive, command of God given for a specific purpose. However, the original purpose of the ‘tithe’ commandment is usually completely ignored. But that is another story!

Malachi was a prophet in the days of Nehemiah. Probably the last of the ‘writing’ prophets before the 400 years of Biblical silence prior to the arrival on this earth of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. A lot happened in those 400 years, and much is written about them ... but not in our Bible.

The burden of the prophet was to counter the incidences within the community regarding corrupt priests, wicked practices, and the false sense of security under which the people lived. Hypocrisy, infidelity, mixed marriages, divorce, false worship and arrogance abounded. The covenant made in the days of Moses was disregarded and made of no reputation.

“Malachi” means “My messenger” which is likely short for “Messenger of YHWH”. He uses a series of rhetorical questions and responses to get the message across. Right upfront we have the unusual statement regarding God’s view of Jacob and Esau. Commentators try to explain this seemingly harsh statement about Esau. But the similarly harsh reality is that Esau is “Edom”. Edom is one of two places in Scripture which are destined to suffer total desolation by destruction, in the Messianic age to come. The other place is Babylon.

The list of offences spoken by the Lord through Malachi in this parashah is worthy of careful attention. There is a salutary lesson for us today as we read the nature of the offences of these Israelites.

“Where is My honour?  … Where is My reverence?” asks the Lord. The feelings of deep disappointment in those questions is palpable. We should perhaps consider those questions as being put directly to ourselves. They are questions which require a response.

Then the priests ask “In what way have we despised Your Name?” You bring your ‘second best’ or even that which has no value to you, is God’s response. If we are to learn something from this passage of Scripture we need to see this exchange in ‘today’ terms. That which we present to our God should be the very best we have to offer. You may have heard it said “How would one behave if the Queen were to visit? How would one dress? What food would one prepare? How would one speak? God asks a similar question through the prophet. “Offer to your Governor what you offer to me. Would he be pleased with you?”  

In prophetic response to that question, God declares “From the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My Name shall be great among the Gentiles”. We, dear gentile friends, are the beneficiaries of that. The question now is how we respond to that today. The amazing wonder of Scripture is its timelessness. What the Lord declared then is no different to what He declares today. PLEASE read this parashah. Ask the Lord to show you that which he wants you to know. You will receive both a blessing, and a challenge.

At that time it was as though God had had enough, and then He remained silent. He was silent for 400 years. His silence is devastating. You really do not want to experience it.

In the Israelites experience, in the period of that silence, their land was invaded by Greece, and later by Romans. They suffered great indignity and shame. Their Temple was taken from them and defiled. They were forbidden, by the invaders to have and to even read the Scriptures. They were effective outcasts in their own land.

But God is faithful. He remembered the covenant He had made with the sons of Aaron (Numbers 25:10-13). So our parashah ends with the recollection of that covenant (Malachi 2:4-7). It comprises yet another plea from God that the people would seek the counsel of a faithful priest. One who could, and would, speak truth from God’s word, and encourage the people to again ‘walk in God’s ways’.

It was good advice then, and it is good advice today. We have Yeshua, The Great High Priest, as our advocate before our heavenly Father.

That seems like a good note on which to end our reflection doesn’t it?

Shabbat Shalom

RS