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Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Jul 20, 2004 15:05:00 GMT -8
Here is the Haftarah portion of  Reading Schedule for this week: Devarim “Words”Haftarah : Isaiah 1:1-27 May the following be our prayer... "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy ." - Psalms 119:18 Also, please share with us what our Heavenly Father has shown you, or ask any questions that you may have. Shalom chaverim (peace friends), Reuel |
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Post by The 614th Mitzvot on Jul 21, 2004 10:41:10 GMT -8
I think it is God saying as one says to a disobedient child. When a child does something wrong you don't want a gift from them because that only shows as though they are trying to soften thier punishments with bribery, thinking they can get away with it. He is angry and finally God says that he will make it better, but it will not be a good feeling. Once again, as when a child steals lets say a video game. The punishment is that he must return the game and he can no longer play on his XBox or whatever, but God will restore as in the earliest times and if you return with prayer and supplication and remorse, you will be forgiven and cleansed! Haza  . Then as Yohshuah HaMoshiach said about the prodigal son, when he returns there is rejoicing. So it is when Yisroel returns to her God, blessed be his name, she is no longer dead to her Father and all the heavens rejoice. I know the prodigal son was reffering to the goyim, but this is an example of how the other son had run away, even before he recieved his inheritance; yet, God forgives all who come to him with prayer and supplication. |
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Post by alon on Aug 13, 2016 13:51:50 GMT -8
Isaiai 1:1-27, Haftara for Par’shah Devarim
Note: the text of this haftarah is here taken from an older version of the JPS TNK. It reads similar to the KJV. I use it because the scripture here is poetic and this reads, well, more poetic like.
This is a single, comprehensive speech which summarizes the book of Yeshayahu as a whole. It acts as a kind of preface to his works.
The reading is the haftarah for Shabbath just before Tish’ah B’Av because this fast day commemorates (among other calamities) the destruction of the First Temple. This cahpter is viewed as justification for that as well as the first exile. The Hebrew people knew Assyria was preparing for a war of conquest against Yerushalayim and her allies. So the necessity of their returning to El Elohe Yisra’el- God, the God of Israel must have been pressing on them. Yet still they rebelled.
Isa 1:1 (JPS) The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
This introductory verse was probably edited in by a scribe, telling us who the speaker was and the time frame of his ministry. This is common in prophetic books. And in case anyone doubts either this fact, or that the entire Bible is a Hebrew document, consider this example:
Revelation 1:1 (ESV) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Yeshayahu served during the reign of four kings of Yehuda; yet he eschewed politics, concerning himself instead with the spiritual condition of the leaders and the nation. The populace did seem both prosperous and religious. However Elohim Shophtim Ba’aretz- God Who Judges in the Earth saw a different picture when He looked at their heart condition.
Isa 1:2b & 1:20b (JPS) for the LORD hath spoken: … for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken.
The first segment of the speech is framed by the words “for the LORD hath spoken” and similarly “for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken.” This is another common form of Biblical writing.
Isa 1:2a,c-4 (JPS) Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, … Children I have reared, and brought up, and they have rebelled against Me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly; they have forsaken the LORD, they have contemned [looked down on with disdain] the Holy One of Israel, they are turned away backward.
Elohe Tsadeki- God of My Righteousness here brings a complaint against His people concerning their covenant violations. They are depicted as ungrateful and in some ways less intelligent than livestock.
To the ancient Hebrews, heaven and earth are witnesses to covenants between El Kanno- Jealous God and His people:
Deuteronomy 32:1 (ESV) “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
And so El Rai- God Who Sees Me calls on heaven and earth to hear charges against Yisro’el. This may mean everyone in heaven and earth, or could literally mean the heavens and the earth. Many Medieval theologians and philosophers believed the heavens to be alive in an equivalent sense, though heavenly bodies were not sentient. Even today we say things like “The hills are alive with the sound of music.”
Isa 1:5-6 (JPS) On what part will ye yet be stricken, seeing ye stray away more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint; From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and festering sores: they have not been pressed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil. Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by floods.
The nation’s spiritual sickness is compared to leprosy in its advanced stages. The metaphorical description of punishment then gives way to a more specific depiction, Yehuda invaded and Yerushalayim under siege. And history tells us that in 701 BCE Assyrian armies conquered Yehuda and laid siege to Yerushalayim.
“Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by floods.” This phrasing was actually later used by Assyrian kings in describing the conquest of Yehudah, as preserved in ancient Akkadian documents.
Isa 1:8-9 (JPS) And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Some understand this to prophesy that Yerushalayim would never fall. However this cannot be the case, since we know it did fall, more than once. I think it can more accurately be seen as a temporary condition since the city was besieged for a time. Moreover, Elohenu Olam- Our Everlasting God takes the long view of human history. Ha’satan may covet the Eternal City; may even occupy it for a time. But in the end, Yeshua will establish His permanent throne there. I think Elohe Chaseddi- The God of My Mercy does the same for individuals. He knows our hearts, and for some reason I cannot fathom still loved me enough to put up with me for years while I was in rebellion. And that on top of having endured the Cross for me.
We see this exemplified in the last verses of our haftarah:
Isa 1:26-27 (JPS) And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return of her with righteousness.
Isa 1:10 (JPS) Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
Yeshayahu depicts the inhabitants of Yerushalayim as being like those of Sodom and Gamorah, the two Canaanite cities destroyed for their wickedness.
Isa 1:11-13 (JPS) To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the LORD; I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more vain oblations; it is an offering of abomination unto Me; new moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations - I cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly.
These rituals were not given for the benefit of Elohim in the first place. They were given for us, as both prophecy of the coming and work of Yeshua HaMoshiach; and as an example of the seriousness of sin. What good are they to Elohe Tsadeki- God of My Righteousness without the accompaniment of a proper attitude of worship? Their religious rituals and meetings were of no use; they were a source of anguish and bereavement to Elohim Kedoshim- a Holy God. They debased and corrupted the people instead of purifying and making them clean. Yeshua Himself would one day address this same issue:
Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Isa 1:14-15 (JPS) Your new moons and your appointed seasons My soul hateth; they are a burden unto Me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.
The language here becomes more specific, and more severe.
Psalm 66:18 (KJV) "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear."
Proverbs 1:28-29 (KJV) “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me, Because they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
We today typically lift up our hands more when we worship. However in ancient Yisro’el people lifted their hands in prayer:
1 Kings 8:37-39 (ESV) “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),
Notice in that passage it also speaks of the heart condition of the supplicant.
Isa 1:16-20a (JPS) Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes, cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword;
This part of the speach ends with an invitation to repentance and a call for a return to ethics in their actions as well as in their government. [note: we should replace the word “their” with the word “our” in that statement and make this relevant to us today- because it is!] This is emphasized by the fact that calls to repentance are relatively few in Isaiah compared to other prophets.
Sin greives the Ruach haKodesh:
Ephesians 4:29-31 (ESV) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Notice that it is the things in our personal lives which gives the Spirit of HaShem a sense of loss and sadness regarding us. Sin cheapens both individuals and nations, Inviting the wrath of Elohim Shophtim Ba’aretz- God Who Judges in the Earth. However El Emunah- The Faithful God graciously offers to us forgiveness of our sins if only we will repent.
Isa 1:22-25 (JPS) Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water. Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine enemies; And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purge away thy dross as with lye, and will take away all thine alloy;
Ancient Near Eastern custom was to write laments for cities mourning their destruction after the fact. However this lament prophetically mourns for the city’s sinfulness, which will ultimately lead to its capture.
I’m not sure why verses 26 & 27 were not included in this haftarah. However they seem to be important here because along with verse 21 they frame this last segment just as the first was framed. They also speak of the restoration of Yisro’el and Tzion, again speaking of Elohim’s long view of history:
Isa 1:21,26-27 (JPS) How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was full of justice [judgement], righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. … And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice [judgement], and they that return of her with righteousness.
The phrase “faithful city” is found in verses 21 & 26; “righteousness” in 21 & 27. These along with the terms “justice” and “judgement” which both come from the same Hebrew word, “mishpat” frame this segment.
H4941 מִשְׁפָּט mishpâṭ mish-pawt' From H8199; properly a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (particularly) divine law, individual or collectively), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly justice, including a particular right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style: - + adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just (-ice, -ly), (manner of) law (-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.
This chapter takes the rough form of a trial in which HaShem is both plaintif and judge. It is interesting to note here that the complaint was not based on a body of laws; but rather on the ingratitude of the children in payment for the love of Adonai, their Lord and Abba, Father. It is this personal element which most effectively convicts us of our sins:
Act 22:7 (KJV) And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Heb 10:29 (KJV) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
2 Samuel 12:5-7 (ESV) Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
In Jewish thought, none of us sins by ourself, as our private sins are a stain on the entire nation. They can bring wrath and destruction on our nation. We need to grasp this idea of a national as well as personal judgement for our sins and especially those of the leaders we choose.
The sacrifice YHVH Mekaddischem- The Lord That Sanctifies You requires of us is a contrite heart and broken spirit:
Psa 51:17 (KJV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Outward religion and ritual are useless, even detrimental unless they are an expression of the inward and spiritual. However when done with a pure spirit set apart for HaShem, even the simplest forms of worship have great significance and inestimable value.
Forgiveness is freely offered, but YHVH Mekaddischem- The Lord That Sanctifies You sets His judgements on us in order to cleanse us and win us back to Himself.
Dan C
Resources: JPS Study TNK, W Wiersbe, FB Meyer, my father, Rav S and others.
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Reading Schedule for this week:
. Then as Yohshuah HaMoshiach said about the prodigal son, when he returns there is rejoicing. So it is when Yisroel returns to her God, blessed be his name, she is no longer dead to her Father and all the heavens rejoice.
