Zion's Voice

Haftarah reflections 49

Torah portion            Deuteronomy 26:1 to 29:9

Haftarah portion            Isaiah 60: 1 – 22

Listen to the Prophets

To get the clarity of mind we need to understand this amazing prophetic passage of Scripture, we have to remember that chapter and verse separations, whilst immensely convenient for reference purposes, are a very modern addition to the Bible. Just a few hundred years in fact.

So if we start reading from Isaiah 59:20, it becomes immediately obvious that the Lord is looking forward to the time when He will make a New Covenant with the people. Almost 100 years later, God spoke to Jeremiah on the same subject, but with a lot more detail.

It is almost invariably true that prophetic pronouncements have more than one fulfilment. Someone once described it as being like the view of a distant mountain range. When one gets to the first range, one can see further ranges beyond that. This would appear to be the case, in part, with our parashah today.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”  would appear to be an announcement of the first coming of Messiah. And it is. But what we know is that it also speaks of a time when Messiah Yeshua will return to this earth. A future time even for us. And it is this future coming of Messiah which makes this prophecy of Isaiah so important to us.

Isaiah writes about the ‘Gentiles coming to your light’. About 700 years later, God called Rabbi Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul) to be His emissary to take that light to the Gentiles. They came in their thousands .. and are still coming!! Praise God. But there is a much greater attraction still ahead of us. Zechariah 8:23 prophecies that “ten men from every language shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”  What a day that will be. And God revealed it to Isaiah 2,700 years ago!

“Lift up your eyes all around and see; … your sons shall come from afar.”  Now it is certainly true that the exiles came from Babylon closer to Isaiah’s day, but do you also see that when God uses the word “afar” He was including all nations in the ‘Aliyah’, that includes nations which did not even exist under their present known names at that time. It is happening NOW, and it will continue until the “time of the Gentiles is fulfilled”. God alone knows when that will be, but Isaiah confirms it, because following this return of the sons of Israel, we have a description of events which are only used in connection with the Lord’s return.

“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated  … I will make you an eternal excellence”  We haven’t arrived at that time yet have we? What an extraordinary statement of restoration that is. This is the destiny of those who are the natural descendants of Abraham Isaac and Jacob,  And dare I say it, for those who are grafted into that ‘natural olive tree’ by faith in the Messiah Yeshua.

Earlier, I said that this passage of Scripture looks forward to the New Covenant which God will make with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon be light for you”  Dear friends, this precisely describes the situation which God tells Jeremiah that Israel will no longer be a nation before Him. (Jeremiah 31:35,36). That immediately follows the terms of the New Covenant which God will make with His chosen ones. No longer Israel, but the Messianic Age, Yeshua reigning in Jerusalem. His  kingdom, given a name that He alone knows.

This parashah is a glorious anthem of praise to our God. One of the most enlightening prophetic chapters in the whole of the Scriptures. An absolute feast of teaching. A diverse range of commentary has applied this chapter to Jerusalem, to Israel, to the people, to the land, and even to the church. The truth is that God is able to quicken His word to each of us according to our need, and the best way to know what this means is to study it for yourself and ask God to reveal His truth.

But some things are immediately evident. Isaiah had Jerusalem, the city of his birth and residence, in his mind’s eye as God spoke to him so clearly. Just as chapter 54 describes the parlous state of Jerusalem, likening it to a barren woman, but with some hope for the future, chapter 60 describes a glorious future. That future being the New Jerusalem of the Messianic Age to come where the only light will be the shekinah of God.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah reflections 48

Torah portion            Deuteronomy 21:10 to 25:19

Haftarah portion            Isaiah 54: 1 – 10

Listen to the Prophets

Our parashah this week comprises the fifth of seven consolations, or ‘comforts’ which Isaiah speaks to the Israelites. But it starts with a most unusual expression. “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne!” That is probably the last thing you would expect of someone who was unable to bear children, especially since that was the principal reason fpr women to marry. “Be fruitful and multiply” was God’s command.

The metaphor is not lost on these people. Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Samson’s mother, Ruth (according to rabbinic interpretation), Hannah, and the Shunamite woman of 2 Kings 4, were all ‘barren’ until the Lord miraculously healed their barrenness. Their firstborn offspring were all used by God to bring great blessing.

“For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman” says the Lord.

But Isaiah is speaking here of Jerusalem of course. The Jerusalem of the Messianic age no less, when her sons will be returned to her glory. Although once thronging with people, the city is now seemingly desolate. It had seen ‘better days’. There was an emptiness. Isaiah likens it to the emptiness of a widow, or a woman without children. Jeremiah spoke about the same thing in Lamentations 1:1-4.

“How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow is she, who was great among the nations!  … She weeps bitterly in the night, her tears are on her cheeks; … She has none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; …. No-one comes to her set feasts, …. And she is in bitterness”

Then the Lord shows Isaiah a very different scene. One of which He speaks encouragement and of joyful expansion. The city will be restored to its former glory, and more.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes, for you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited”.

The history of the Israelites has been ‘chequered’, to say the least. God refers (in verse 4) to the times of shame which Israel brought upon itself when in its youth, and to times of His disappointment and frustration which caused God to allow them to stray as they got ‘older’. Any student of Israelite history will know that during the period of the “kings”, when the nation was divided, the North had 19 kings, not one of them followed God’s instructions. They were eventually taken captive by the Assyrians. The South had only 8 kings out of 20 who were described as ‘good’ kings, in that they followed the instructions of God. The nation prospered under the good kings, but was plundered by their enemies under the bad kings. The choice was always theirs, as indeed it is ours today, to follow God’s way, or to go their own way. But this expansion of the city is in preparation for when the King of Righteousness will reign. Not a choice of the people, in God’s perfect time, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach will return to the city to reign and rule from Jerusalem.

“For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but in great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you says the Lord, your Redeemer”.

I believe that the gathering of the Jews from every corner of the globe in our day, today, heralds the commencement of the ingathering of which Isaiah spoke. We remind ourselves that the prophet Ezekiel told us of this same ingathering (Ezekiel 36) but God revealed to Ezekiel that it was not for their sakes that these folk would be regathered to the Land, but for “My Holy Name’s sake, that the world may know that I am the Lord.”

But there is more. It heralds the time (Isaiah 40) when Israel’s “iniquity is pardoned”. It heralds the time when God will put a new spirit within the people (Ezekiel 36:26,27). It describes the time when God will make His New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

Is it any wonder then, that God said “Sing O barren!”. What a day of rejoicing that will be.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah reflections 47

Torah portion             Deuteronomy 16:18 to 21:9

Haftarah portion            Isaiah 51:12 – 52:12

Listen to the Prophets

The first ‘consolation’ prophecy in this series opened with the words “Comfort, yes comfort My people”. In the fourth of these seven words of ‘consolation’ brought by Isaiah, which is our parashah study this week, the Lord plainly declares that it is He Himself who is the ‘Comforter’.

In the midst of all their desolation and harassment, God says “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and the son of a man who will be made like grass”.

This is a ‘comfort’ for all who believe. Isaiah is making a prophetic announcement which is still to come. It is a prophecy about the Messianic Kingdom. Regardless of the circumstance we may see in the world of today, widespread apathy, Islam in rampant militancy and murderous hatred, erosion of morality both in the populace and globally in the political class. We are being reminded here that these matters are in the hands of mere men. Men will die. Sons of men will fade like grass fades. Our God is in control, nothing is out of His control, and He will bring the change that is necessary, but in His own perfect timing.

But the prophet reminds us too that the calamitous situation which Jerusalem then experienced, (and which we see happening in our fallen world today) was because of their disregard of God’s instructions. “You have drunk of the cup of trembling” he says “and drained it out”. In paraphrase, he goes on to tell them that they have lost direction, they have no-one to guide them. He asks the questions “Who will be sorry for you?” and “By whom will I comfort you?” They are hard questions, because the prophet was perfectly aware of the plight they were in, and that their plight would continue.

The questions are the same for us today. The arrogant disregard shown by the vast majority of nations and individuals to the commands of a Holy God is appalling. Even nations which are basically, but nominally, Christian, show scant regard for the authority of the Scriptures which is the ‘guide book’ of Christian living. The boundaries of secularism are extending beyond belief. God is treated like some fairy tale Santa Claus who is there to do our bidding. And to be blamed for every catastrophe that man is powerless to prevent.

But there is good news.

There will be change. Jerusalem will be a praise in the world again. “Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city!”  In paraphrase again, the Lord says that when He allowed them to experience the calamity of dispersion, He did not sell them. They were not traded off for anything or anyone else. So He does not have to buy them back, they are His to restore at any time of His choosing. And when He does, they will again be free to worship Him as he has instructed them. “For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you”, He says.

This raises a question about Gentiles, doesn’t it?  Lamentations 1:10 tells us “For she has seen the nations enter the sanctuary. Those whom You commanded not to enter Your assembly”. And Ezekiel 44:9, speaking about the Temple in the Messianic Age says “No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter My sanctuary”. Well, the Apostle Paul comes to the rescue here. He teaches in Colossians 2:11 that Gentile believers are circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands. And in Romans 2:26 that the uncircumcised man who keeps the requirements of Torah, then his uncircumcision will be regarded as circumcision. In Revelation 21 and 22 we read of the salvation of those whose names are written in the Book of Life. That includes many Gentile believers of course. It is the time when Jew and Gentile will be One New Man before the Lord. The One New Man who will worship before the Throne in the Messianic Kingdom to come. Hallelujah!

“For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all he ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God”

What greater ‘comfort’ could there be than that. Blessed be His name.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah reflections 46

Torah portion             Deuteronomy 11:26 to 16:17

Haftarah portion            Isaiah 66:1 - 24

 Listen to the Prophets

“Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word.” There may be people today who ‘tremble at His word’ but I am not privy to anyone’s innermost thoughts, and I have never actually witnessed anyone ‘tremble at His word’. Have you?

It is certainly true that Isaiah was addressing a people who, in the most part, did not ‘tremble at His word’. The whole thrust of Isaiah’s prophecy was to give warning to the people of Judea because of their indifference to God’s word. But it was not always so. There was much trembling when God led the people out of Egypt and through their wilderness wandering. The ones who ‘trembled at God’s word’ in Isaiah’s day were described as ‘poor and of a contrite spirit’. They are the ones who would be comforted then, and they are ones who will receive comfort from this prophetic parashah today.

That “trembling” can only result from a deep and abiding respect for God’s word. A faith in God’s word which understands that God says what He means and means what He says.

The Temple in Jerusalem was in poor state of repair. Neglected by the very people who actually received money to maintain it. The parashah opens with the question “Where is the house that you will build Me?” In his exhaustive study “The Footsteps of the Messiah”, Fruchtenbaum sees this as a reference to a temple yet to be built, not Solomon’s Temple, which already existed, and not the Temple described in Ezekiel 40-48 either. His argument is based on the words in verses 3 and 4 of this parashah, which indicates that God wanted nothing to do with this particular temple, (which Fruchtenbaum identifies as the ‘tribulation’ temple in which ‘the Beast’ of Revelation will demand to be worshipped) whereas God had both commissioned and designed the ‘place where He was to be worshipped”.

So having rebuked the hearers for their neglect and indifference, even their propensity to worship ‘other gods’ in idolatry, (words which sadly, framed slightly differently, may well be applied to many ‘christian’ followers today). Isaiah goes on to speak his final encouraging words of prophecy. And they are words which foresee a time still future to us today.

Talking about Jerusalem, “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her all you who love her” for “I will extend peace to her like a river.”  Jerusalem today is a busy vibrant city, but it does not enjoy the kind of peace referred to by the prophet. It is a peace which will be preceded by the Lord “rendering His anger with fury .. by fire and by sword”.  It follows the time when ‘the Beast’ (known to most as the Anti-Christ) will demand worship in the temple, and when pigs will be offered there as a sacrifice. ‘Unclean’ animals offered in sacrifice in the temple, what an abomination to the Lord that will be.

But that is when God will enter into judgement with the nations that come against Israel, and the carnage will be staggering in its proportion. The birds will be called to clean up the mess! (Revelation 19:21)  It is, in my view, most likely the time when the 144,000 righteous (Revelation 7) who were ‘sealed’ in the tribulation period, will be revealed. It is certainly the time when the indifferent hordes of men of all the nations will have a reality check.

It is also the time when, according to my study of the Scriptures on this subject, God will make that New Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. The covenant, sealed with the precious blood of Yeshua  of which we presently have a foretaste. A covenant which no man can break. A covenant put in the mind of man and written on his heart.

It is the time when Israel will have the veil lifted from their eyes.

It is the time when once again men will “tremble at His word”. A time when the Scriptures tell us He will rule with a rod of iron. But it is a time when men will rejoice before the Lord for His unspeakable gift of life and salvation.

“And it shall come to pass that from one New moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me” says the Lord.

The Lord revealed all this to Isaiah almost 3,000 years ago. Thankyou Isaiah for your faithful record of God’s revelation to you

Shabbat Shalom

RS