Haftarah Devarim
Haftarah Devarim
Yeshiyahu – Isaiah 1:1-27
Isa 1:1 The vision of Yeshaiyahu the son of Amotz, which he saw concerning Yehudah and Yerushalayim, in the days of `Uzziyah, Yotam, Achaz, and Chizkiyahu, kings of Yehudah.
This is a prophecy specifically for Jews and the modern State of Israel, the territory formerly known as “Judah” during the time of the divided kingdom.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:2 Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for YHWH has spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isa 1:3 The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Yisra’el doesn’t know, my people don’t consider.
The Rabbinate would say this refers to the secular people of the State of Israel, the non-orthodox Jews would say this refers to the Rabbinate that forces the Oral Law on everyone against their will. Christians, of course, think this refers to everyone but themselves.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken YHWH. They have despised the Holy One of Yisra’el. They are estranged and backward.
Again, this could go either way – those who rebel against any Torah observance at all, or those who have substituted their own Oral Law (or in the case of Christians, the doctrine of replacement theology and Torahlessness) in place of Elohim’s written Torah.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:5 Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it: wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven’t been closed, neither bandaged, neither soothed with oil.
This sounds as if Elohim is in fact referring to all of the above – not one of these groups is doing it “right,” they are all outside of Elohim’s will. (Only a remnant of Obedient Believers resides in Eretz Israel).
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:7 Your country is desolate. Your cities are burned with fire. Strangers devour your land in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Probably referring to the rocket attacks and terrorist bombings from the Arab Muslims.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:8 The daughter of Tziyon is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a besieged city.
Probably referring to the bomb and emergency shelters in every home and public place.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:9 Unless YHWH Tzeva’ot had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sedom; we would have been like `Amorah.
There are two possible interpretations here: 1) for the sake of the remnant the city and state are not allowed to be entirely overrun, or 2) this could be referring to a time in the not-too-distant future when “man will be made more scarce than pure gold,” due to war and famine.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:10 Hear the word of YHWH, you rulers of Sedom! Listen to the Torah of our Elohim, you people of `Amorah!
Isa 1:11 “What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?,” says YHWH. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.
Isa 1:12 When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
This refers to the altar of the Third Temple, which will be operational during the first part of the Tribulation. The Temple itself will be in the process of being rebuilt after the altar is dedicated and put into use. The Rabbinate will be in control of the operations at the Temple, and Believers will all be excluded from worshipping at the Temple – and will probably be expelled from Jerusalem if not all of Eretz Israel during this time. Though the priesthood of the Levites will be proper and legitimate, the one who will assume the position of Cohen HaGadol (High Priest) will not be, because the High Priest’s position has been returned to the Priesthood of the Firstborns, specifically the ultimate Firstborn, Yeshua HaMashiach.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:13 Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; new moons, Shabbatot, and convocations: I can’t bear with evil assemblies.
Isa 1:14 My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them.
This passage is often used by Christians to claim that the Temple and the entire sacrificial system is “done away with” in the person of the Messiah, but neither theology nor the prophets supports this claim. The Temple will be operation under the auspices of the Levitical priesthood during the Messianic Kingdom, starting with Chanukkah following the second advent when the Temple will be cleansed of its Tribulation defilement and the Shekinah will return.
Jer 33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Jer 33:16 In those days shall Yehudah be saved, and Yerushalayim shall dwell safely; and this is [the name] by which she shall be called: YHWH our righteousness. Jer 33:17 For thus says YHWH: David shall never want a man to sit on the throne of the house of Yisra’el; Jer 33:18 neither shall the Kohanim the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to burn meal offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
Dan 12:11 From the time that the continual [burnt offering] shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. Dan 12:12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
The “image” of the Beast will be set up in secret in the Holy of Holies about 30 days (Adar 10th or so) before he comes to Jerusalem in victory to claim world leadership. This image is the object of much speculation. Some think it will be a clone. Some think it will be robotic. Some think it will be occult in nature. We cannot be sure with the prophetic information we have available exactly what the thing will be. All we know is that it is capable of motion and can speak, either by way of recordings, remote microphone, or of its own volition. It will be albe to kill those in its vicinity who don’t show “proper” respect. The Beast will demand the world worship this image as worship of himself.
He will reveal this image and himself for what he really is as part his “victory” celebration scheduled to coincide with Passover preparations and observances during the month of Nisan. From Nisan the 10th when the world chooses this False Messiah as their “savior,” and he defiles the Temple Mount at the Abomination of Desolation, it will be 3 ½ years (1260 more days) on Elohim’s prophetic calendar (the Hebrew Calendar) until Tishri 10th, Yom Kippur, the date of the second advent. It is then 75 days from Tishri 10th until Kislev 25th, the First Day of Chanukkah, when the Shekinah will return and sacrifices will again resume at the Temple.
It is likely that the False Messiah will be the darling of the press and of the people for some times before he gains sufficient power and status to pull off this plan. During that time the people will look to him, not to Elohim, for their peace and security. Then, he will turn on them with a vengeance when the true nature of his government is revealed finally.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:15 When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
Isa 1:16 Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.
Isa 1:17 Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”
This probably refers to the early part of the False Messiah’s political career, and possibly the first half of the Tribulation which has been described as a “false” peace – false in that it is achieved by means of economic and political control and not a true cessation of hostility. We are seeing some of this in the birth pangs right now – the economic and political lords have given all their largesse to their fellow CEOs and Big Bankers and denied relief to those oppressed by these very same usurers.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says YHWH: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isa 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
Isa 1:20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of YHWH has spoken it.”
Elohim’s message is that Eretz Israel does not need alliances with world leaders for security and peace – what they need is obedience to His Written Torah.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:21 How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Isa 1:22 Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water.
Isa 1:23 Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They don’t judge the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.
Elohim’s warnings to the State of Israel fall on deaf ears. They will not trust in Elohim – they will continue to seek the approval and cooperation of world leaders and political “saviors.”
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:24 Therefore Adonai, YHWH Tzeva’ot, the Mighty One of Yisra’el, says: “Ah, I will get relief from my adversaries, and avenge myself of my enemies;
Isa 1:25 and I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin.
This will be the Great Tribulation.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 1:26 I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’
Isa 1:27 Tziyon shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.
The hierarchy of leadership established by Moshe, the leaders of tens, fifties, hundreds, and so on will be restored along with the Levitical priesthood, all under the leadership of Yeshua HaMashiach. Elohim’s laws will be enforced for the benefit of all, both the native born and those grafted-in. Amein – let it be so soon!
Next: Talmidim Devarim.
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