Parsha: Deuteronomy 29:10(9)-30:20

Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9

Long ago, the Jewish sages created reading calendars to be read annually throughout all the synagogues every sabbath. They are the Parsha (from the Torah, the first five books of the Bible), and the Haftrah (selected reading from the prophetic books of the Old Testament). Today, I begin posting writings from a new series that will explore the Messiah in each of these portioned readings that was planned and scheduled in ancient days and appointed for our present days. For September 20, the readings are cited above. The number in parentheses tells the verse number according to the Jewish Bible. I would encourage you to read those passages first before you read my post, or at least read them in tandem. I hope one day I will have these put into poems, but until I feel satisfied enough with one to share publicly, you will just have to settle for my exegetical explications.

“Behold, the Lord has proclaimed
    to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
    “Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him” (Isaiah 63:11).

This section of Isiah and the next several chapters that follow describe the Messiah who will come and conquer Israel’s enemies, Messiah ben Judah. Christians believe this is the prophetic description of the second coming of the Messiah. The nations will all be against Israel (and current events really look like they are lining up in that direction quickly), and God Himself will intervene and save Israel from its enemies, and they will believe in God. Ezekiel writes similar prophecies. So does Zechariah. And that’s just two examples of many others.

At the end of Revelation, Jesus uses the uncannily similar wording that is written in Isaiah 63: ‘“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done’” (Rev. 22:12). In this book, this is indeed associated with His second coming.

It is very interesting that just before this Haftarah is the passage Jesus reads in the synagogue in Nazareth, specifically Isaiah 61:1-2a:

^“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

^“’The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”’

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” (Luke 4:16-21).

Jesus said that this passage was fulfilled with His first coming. He was the Lord’s anointed, the Messiah. He proclaimed the gospel, the good news. He liberated people from sin and enlightened their hearts with His teaching and the Holy Spirit. He also literally healed people of blindness. I find it very fascinating that this section lies right between two back-to-back Haftarah readings. It’s a small section to skip. Why? I speculate if the Haftarah was modified to leave it out after Jesus’ controversial ministry, or if Jesus read it so as to break expectations for that week’s Haftarah. Perhaps we will know one day. Were they expecting Him to read Isiah 61:10-63:9? Maybe He did not read that part because it has yet to be fulfilled with His second coming.

I look at all the antisemitism in our world today, and I can’t help but look forward to the day when Jesus will return in power and vindication and we will be able to hear Him say of Isiah 61:10-63:9, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”