Sunday, September 23, 2012

AZAMRA Bible: Isaiah 47-48

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

AZAMRA?

So that through them The האור Light, The רפואה Healing and The אהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

BS"D KNOW YOUR BIBLE: Isaiah 47-48
Study Notes by Avraham ben Yaakov

ISAIAH CHAPTER 47

Having prophesied in the previous chapter about the collapse of the gods of Babylon and about the salvation HaShem was to send to Israel with the destruction of her empire, Isaiah now tells Babylon to prepare for her coming exile. He calls her "the virgin daughter of Babylon" (v 1), because until her capture by Darius the Mede and Cyrus king of Persia, she had never been subject to any other nation, like a virgin who has not yet come into any man's domain (Metzudas David ad loc.). Now Babylon was to sit in the dust "with no throne" (v 1) – because she would never again sit on the throne of kingship over others (Metzudas David ad loc.).

It should be born in mind that Isaiah was prophesying the fall of Babylon well over a century and a half before it took place, which was in the year 3389 (-371 B.C.E. according to the dating system of SEDER OLAM), while the prophesies of consolation contained in Isaiah from chapter 40 to the end of the book were delivered either before or shortly after the overthrow of Sennacherib, which took place 176 years earlier in 3213 (-547 B.C.E.). With the fall of the Assyrian empire soon after this, Babylon was only beginning its ascent to world power at the time when Isaiah was prophesying, yet he had already foretold that she would destroy and plunder the Temple and take Judah into exile (Isaiah 39:5-7), and now he foretells that in vengeance for this she herself would be destroyed.

The prophet emphasizes that Babylon would succeed in overcoming Judah only because God was angry with His people and therefore delivered them into her hand (v 6). Babylon was merely intended to be His instrument, but she went beyond her brief, causing Israel unwarranted suffering, and this was the reason why she was to be cast down. "You showed them no mercy; upon the aged you have heavily laid your yoke" (ibid.).

Interestingly, the Midrash applies this verse to Edom as if "Babylon" is a term for Israel's persecutors in general. "In time to come the Holy One blessed be He will sit in judgment over the kingdom of Edom and ask them: Why did you subjugate my children? Edom will reply: 'Did You not deliver them into our hands? God will then say to Edom: Because I entrusted them to you, does that justify that 'you showed them no mercy' (Isaiah 47:6)? 'Upon the aged (ZAKEN=elder) you have heavily laid your yoke' (ibid.) – This refers to Rabbi Akiva, whom the Roman government persecuted without end" (Tanchuma).

This Midrashic interpretation of the prophecy in our present chapter indicates that it applies not only to Babylon but to all of Israel's persecutors throughout history. The prophecy that the decree of "widowhood" and being "bereft of children" would strike in one day (verse 9) clearly applies specifically to Babylon, which became a "widow" (i.e. lost her king) and was "bereft of her children" (her population) on one and the same day – the day when Belshazzar was killed and the population of Babylon were taken into exile (Metzudas David on v 9). Yet other aspects of the prophecy can also be seen to apply to Israel's persecutors until today.

The witchcraft and divination for which the Chaldeans were notorious, and which the prophet derides in vv 9-15, must have been highly sophisticated since they had so much confidence in them. "You have trusted in your wickedness; you have said: No one sees me. Your wisdom and your knowledge have perverted you, and you have said in your heart, I am and none else beside me" (v 10). While applying specifically to Babylon, these words could equally well be seen to apply to the present-day persecutors of Israel (such as Iran Hizbullah, Hamas, Al Qaeda etc.) who put their trust in the wizardry of their secret military technologies with which they plan to overcome their enemies and dominate the world. The prophet warns them that as a result, "Evil will come upon you and you shall not know how to charm it away… and ruin shall come upon you suddenly" (v 11).

"Stand now with your enchantments and with the multitude of your sorceries wherein you have labored since your youth: perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will gain strength" (v 12). Here and in the following verses the prophet mockingly challenges Israel's persecutors to see the self-destruction to which their ingenious wizardry will lead.

The "astrologers", "stargazers" and "monthly prognosticators" mentioned in v 13 were the ancient equivalent of the contemporary pundits and think tank experts whose job is to assess what the future holds in store. The simple meaning of the last three Hebrew words of verse 13 indicates that these fortune-tellers may provide information about "SOME of what will come upon you". These words are the basis for an important teaching about the difference between the predictions of the astrologers etc. and the prophecies of the true prophets. "In the case of the astrologers and diviners etc. SOME of their predictions may come about but not all of them, as it says, '[they inform about] SOME of what will come upon you' (Is. 47:13) – i.e. SOME of what will happen in the future but not ALL of what will happen, and it might be that NONE of what they say will be fulfilled, whereas in the case of the true prophet, ALL of his words are fulfilled" (Rambam, Hilchos Yesodey HaTorah 10:3).

CHAPTER 48

Having foretold the destruction of Babylon in his prophecy in the previous chapter, Isaiah now castigates the people OF Judah and Benjamin who would thereby be redeemed from their exile, chiding them for being unworthy of redemption in their own merit – for God would redeem them for His own sake. The people are CALLED by the name of Israel (v 1) – outwardly they go by the name of God's chosen people – but when they swear in the name of HaShem, it is not in truth but for outward show. They CALL themselves the people of the Holy City (of Jerusalem) and claim to depend on HaShem, the God of Israel, but these are mere words on their lips but not what is truly in their hearts (RaDaK on v 2). Even so, God would save them in order not to profane His Name, as the nations would otherwise say that if this people are from His city and claim to put their trust in Him yet He still does not save them, it can only be because He lacks sufficient power (Metzudas David on v 2).

"And I told you from the beginning; before it came to pass I let you hear it, lest you should say: My idol has done these things and my carved idol and molten image has commanded them" (v 5). The prophet implies that it was not because of the people's merit that he had to prophesy in advance what would happen to their enemies. On the contrary, his need to do so was because otherwise they would say that it was their own idols that overthrew them rather than acknowledging that it was the work of HaShem, who had already foretold it from the start.

The prophet emphasizes that the patience God shows to Israel despite their backslidings is only for the sake of His Name, and indeed He is to be praised for His forbearance. "For My name's sake I will defer my anger and for the sake of My praise I will show you patience" (v 9). Rabbi Nachman learns from this verse that "praise" (i.e. our prayers) requires patience. When we offer our prayers to God, we must have patience and WAIT for Him to answer instead of necessarily expecting an immediate response (Likutey Moharan I, 2).

"Behold, I have refined you but not into silver, I have tried you in the furnace of AFFLICTION" (v 10) – "This teaches that God considered all the good attributes that He might bestow upon Israel and found nothing better for them than the affliction of poverty" (Chagigah 9b). There is a widespread perception that Jews are rich, but while some, particularly among the non-observant, may be extremely wealthy, the lot of many striving to keep the Torah both in the past and until today has been to have to struggle with the challenges of extremely limited resources. "When a person refines silver he removes all the dross, leaving only pure silver, but I have not done this, because if I did, very few would remain. Instead I afflict the wicked – who are the dross – with illnesses or captivity or through the loss of their children or the fruits of their cattle and their land etc. so as not to cut them off completely" (RaDaK on v 10).

"If only you had hearkened to My commandments, your peace would have been as a river and your righteousness as the waves of the sea; your seed would be as the sand and the offspring of your belly like the fish of the sea…" (v 18). God will in any event redeem Israel, but we could enable it to come about with so much less pain if we will heed the voice of His Torah!

ABY

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Please Say Yes to Abba Yahweh and His Laws.

It is written in the Koran:
‘1. Surah Al-Fatihah:

1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
2. All the praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
3. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)
5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
6. Guide us to the Straight Way
7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).

This is the 'start' in the Koran......

For more, what the Koran is teaching about: ‘Muslims Hate Jews, Christians all other faiths’ ‘Their Guide Book says to kill, behead and burn all non-believers’ click:
Index of The Quran (Satanic Verses of violence to us)

For more information about the development of these ‘Chaldean’ in our days go to our News-Blog: http://thewatchmenfromisraelnews.blogspot.co.il/

Please read the Mitzvoth go to: Positive Commandments and the Negative Commandments), easy to read. It is very important to know them. I don’t ask you this to become a good Jew! But to learn who you really are. That you can find your real identity. In a good understanding of the rest of The Scriptures. And that you understand that Rabbi Shaul is talking to a real Israel,

1Co 10:1 I do not want you to be without da'as (knowledge), Achim (brothers) b(in) 'Moshiach, that Avoteinu (our fore Fathers, you Yehudah and Ephraim! Nobody else.) all were under the anan (cloud),

(‘Achim (brothers) b(in)Moshiach are Yehudah and Ephraim who were all under the anan (cloud). The seed (literal) of Abraham, Yitzhak and Ya’acob) read it for yourself :)

Exo 13:21 And Yahweh went before them (Yehudah and Ephraim -Israel) by day in an ammud anan (‘Pillar of a cloud), to guide them haderech (the Way); and by lailah (night) in an ammud eish (‘Pillar of fire), to give them ohr (light); so they could travel yomam valailah (day or night);

Exo 13:22 He took not away the amud heanan (‘Pillar of a cloud) by day, nor the ammud haeish (‘Pillar of fire) by night, from before HaAm (the people, Yehudah and Ephraim) and passed through the sea.
Exo 14:22 And the Bnei Yisroel (Yehudah and Ephraim) then went into the middle of the yam (sea) upon the yabashah (dry land); and the mayim (waters) were a chomah (wall) unto them on their right, and on their left.

Exo 14:23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the middle of the yam (sea), even kol sus (all horses) Pharaoh, his chariots, and his parash (rider).

Exo 14:24 So it came to pass, that when came the watch of the boker (morning), Yahweh looked down on the machaneh Mitzrayim (camp of Egypt) through the ammud eish (pillar of fire) and of the anan (cloud), and caused confusion over the machaneh Mitzrayim (camp of Egypt),

Exo 14:25 And turned awry their chariot wheels, that they drove them with difficulty; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the presence of Yisroel (really when Yehudah and Ephraim where together, not like today); because Yahweh fighting for them against the Egyptians,
So let we further listen what Rabbi Shaul has really to say:)

1Co 10:2 And all into Moshe Rabbenu were given tevilah (a ‘mikwah’ immersed) in the anan (cloud) and in the sea,

1Co 10:3 And all of the same spiritual okhel (food) ate [SHEMOT 16:4,35; DEVARIM 8:3; TEHILLIM 78:24-29],

1Co 10:4 And all of the same spiritual drink drank, for they were drinking from a spiritual TZUR (Rock) following them [SHEMOT 17:6; BAMIDBAR 20:11; TEHILLIM 78:15; 105:41], and that TZUR was Moshiach (Yeshuah – Yeshuah Yahweh).

And now one of our neviim:

Hab 2:3 For the chazon (vision) is yet for a mo’ed (an appointed time); it speaks of HaKetz (the End), and does not lie; though it tarry, wait for him

Moshiach— see: Sanhedrin 97b, ‘It has been taught; R. Nathan said: This verse pierces and descends to the very abyss:11 For the Vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though he tarry, wait for him (Moshiach); because it will surely come, it will not tarry.12]; because he (Moshiach) will surely come, and will not tarry.

(11) Just as the bottom of an abyss cannot be reached, so is it impossible to grasp the full purport of this verse (Rashi).
(12) Hab. II, 3.

Believe…..

Hab 2:4 Hinei (behold), his nashamah (soul) which is puffed up is not upright in him; but the tzaddik (righteous) shall live by his emunah (believe).

Through Moshiach, Yeshuah from Yahweh who give you emunah (believe)…..

Gen 15:6 And he believed in Yahweh; and He credited emunah (faith)] to him as tzedakah (righteousness).

Please read the whole book of HaNavi Habakuk?

The Koran teaches us that you have to die…….

But, please Yudah (Jews) and Ephraim (most Christians) Listen to His Voice:

Hab 1:12 Art thou not mikedem

(‘everlasting’ also said of Moshiach, indicating Moshiach’s eternal divine nature: Dan 7:14 And there was given Him (Moshiach) dominion, and honor, and sovereignty, that all people, Goyim, tongues, should pey-lammed-chet. [1] (worship as deity) (see Dan 3:12, serve, reverence as deity Him (Moshiach). His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His (Messianic) Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.] see Michah 5:1[2];)

Yahweh Elohai (my Elohim) Kedoshi (my Holy One)? We shall not die. Yahweh, Thou hast appointed them (these Chaldean) for mishpat (ordinance); O Tzur (Rock), Thou hast ordained them (these Chaldean) for reproof.

Maran Rabbeinu Yeshuah and Rabbeinu Shaul are teaching that you, Yehudah and Ephraim all Israel, come together to the same point as where you were when you said:

Deu 5:27 Go thou near, and hear all that Yahweh Eloheinu (our Elohim) shall say; and speak thou unto us all that Yahweh Eloheinu shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.

But don’t ‘make’ from one of them Rabbeinu Yeshuah, Rabbeinu Shaul or Rabbeinu Mosheh another ‘mighty one’ but accept them in your live for what they really are….

Please take it serious what Abba Yahweh is telling us in:

Deu 18:15 Yahweh Eloheicha (your Elohim) will raise up unto thee a Navi (prophet) from among thee, of thy achim (bretheren), kamoni (like me.....

Exo 32:30 The next day Moshe said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh; maybe I will be able to atone for your sin."); unto him ye must listen;

Deu 18:16 According to all that thou desired of Yahweh Eloheicha (your Elohimin) Chorev (to be burnt dried up, ruined, wasted) in the Yom HaKahal (day of the congregation), saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Yahweh Elohav (your Elohim), neither let me see this eish hagedolah (‘great fire’) any more, that I die not.

Deu 18:17 And Yahweh said unto me, They have well-spoken that which they have spoken.

Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Navi (prophet) from among their achim (brethren), like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Joh 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have samchut (authority) to lay it down, and I have samchut to receive it again. This mitzvah I received from HaAv (the Father).

Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not listen unto My words which he shall speak Bishmi (in My Name), I will require it of him.

Joh 8:28 Therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, When you perform the hagbah (lifting up) of the Ben HaAdam, you will have da'as (knowledge) that Ani Hu [YESHAYAH 41:4; SHEMOT 3:14-16], and from myself I do nothing, but as HaAv (the Father) of me taught me, these things I speak.

Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiah Yeshuah – is Yeshuah Yahweh. Like it is said in:

Gen_49:18 I have waited for Thy Yeshuah (Salvation), Yahweh.

Exo_15:2 Yahweh is my oz and zimrah (song of praise), and He is become to me Yeshuah (salvation); He is Eli (my Elohim), and I will praise Him; Elohei Avi (the Elohim of my Father), and I will exalt Him.

And not a half-god, or another mighty-one who came between HaShem and us! (Not, ‘It Suph’!) I believe many of us (Jews and Ephraimites!) have to learn that!

[1] Dictionary of the Talmud. M. Jastrow p. 1178 פלח

Please let us come together in Prayer (by singing/praying The Song of Moshe and The Song of The Lamb) and Teshuvah in the Love of Yeshuath YHWH. Yehudah, Ephraim and all 'the called out ones',
Until comes in fulfillment,

Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David (The whole House of Israel, Jews and Ephraim), and upon the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourned for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Isa 11:13 And the envy of Ephrayim shall turn aside, and the adversaries of Yehudah be cut off. Ephrayim shall not envy Yehudah, and Yehudah not trouble Ephrayim.
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