Jewish religion — Good news to the poor
May 11, 2011
Jewish religion — Good news to the poor
The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me. He has chosen
me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal
the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for captives and
release for prisoners. He has sent me to declare that God will 
now save his people, and defeat their enemies. He has sent
me to comfort all who are sad. I shall crown them with joy,
in place of ashes; I shall anoint them with the oil of gladness,
in place of grief; I shall dress them in a tunic of praise, in
place of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,
planted by the Lord to reveal his splendour.
My people, you will be called priests of the Lord; you will
be known as servants of God. Your shame and disgrace are
now ended. The Lord says: ‘I love justice, and I hate
oppression and crime. I shall be faithful to my people; I shall
reward them by making an everlasting covenant with them.
They will be famous among the nations, and their offspring
will be admired throughout the world. All who see them,
will know that I, the Lord, have blessed them.’
Let Jerusalem rejoice at what the Lord is doing. As a bride-
groom dresses in sacred robes for his wedding, God has
clothed Jerusalem with salvation. As a bride adorns herself
with) ewels, God has adorned Jerusalem with righteousness. As
surely as soil makes seeds sprout and grow, the sovereign Lord
will make justice flourish – and all nations will praise him.
Isaiah 6r. i-3, 6a, 7a, 8 -r i
Jewish religion — A new name
I shall not be quiet until Jerusalem’s righteousness shines like
the dawn; I shall not keep silent until her salvation shines like
a blazing torch. Jerusalem, the world will see your right-
eousness, and every king will witness your glory. You will be
called by a new name, a name that the mouth of the Lord
will bestow. You will be like a beautiful crown for the Lord,
a royal sceptre in the hand of God. No longer will people call
you Forsaken, or your land Deserted Wife. Your new name
will be God’s Delight; your land will be called Happily
Married. The Lord smiles on you with joy, and he will be like
a husband to your land. As a young man takes a virgin for
his wife, the Lord – who made you – will take you as his
own; as a groom rejoices in his bride, the Lord will rejoice
in you.
On your walls I have posted sentries; they will never be
silent day or night. They will remind the Lord of his
promises, and never let him forget them. They will give him
no rest until he restores Jerusalem, making it a city that the
whole world praises.
People of Jerusalem, go out of the city, and build a road
on which your brothers and sisters can return. Prepare a high-
way; clear it of stones! Raise a banner that can be seen from
afar. You will be called God’s Holy People, the People of
Salvation; and Jerusalem will be called God’s Beloved.
Isaiah 62.1-7, ro, 1 2a
Jewish religion — Jeremiah’s calling
This is an account of what the Lord said to me, Jeremiah.
The Lord says to me: ‘I chose you before I formed you in
the womb; before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed
you as a prophet to the nations.’ I reply: `I do not know how
to speak; I am too young.’ But the Lord says to me: ‘Do not
say that you are too young. You must go to whoever I send
you to; and you must say whatever I command you to say.
Do not be afraid of anyone, because I am with you, and I
shall protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken.’
Then the Lord reaches out his hand, touches my lips, and
says: ‘I am putting my words in your mouth. Today I give
you authority over nations and kingdoms, to uproot and tear
down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.’
Jeremiah i . i a, 4-10
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Why the Jews — A light to the nation
January 27, 2011
Why the Jews — Listen to me, distant nations; hear this, those who live far
away. Before I was born, the Lord called me by name, and chose me as his own. He made my words as sharp as a sword; and with his own hand he protected me. He made me into a polished arrow, and concealed me in his quiver. He
said to me: `Israel, you are my servant; through you I shall
display my splendour.’ I said: `I have laboured to no purpose;
I have used up my strength, and accomplished nothing. Yet
your hand, 0 Lord, is with me; you will reward my efforts.’
Then the Lord said: `I have a great task for you: I shall
restore you to greatness, in order to make you a light to the
nations. Through you the whole world will be saved.’
These are the words of the Lord, the holy God of Israel,
the saviour of the people. He speaks to one who was despised
and abhorred by the nations, and who is the servant of rulers.
Kings will see Israel released, and will rise to
show their respect; princes will bow
down before her.
Why The Jews — A covenant with all nations
The Lord says: ‘In due time I shall come to save you; I shall
hear your cries for help, and rescue you. I shall guard and
protect you; and through you I shall make a covenant with
all nations. I shall say to prisoners: “Go free!” I shall say to
those in darkness: “Come into the light!” The people will be
like sheep grazing on fertile hills; they will never be hungry
or thirsty, and the heat of the desert sun will not burn them.
They will be led by one who loves them, and he will lead
them to springs of water. I shall make highways across the
mountains; I shall prepare roads on which the people can
travel. They will come from far away, from the north and the
west, and from Aswan in the south.’
The people of Jerusalem reply: `The Lord has abandoned
us; he has forgotten us.’ The Lord answers: `Can a mother
forget the baby at her breast; can she ignore the child she has
borne? Even if a mother can forget her offspring, I shall never
forget you. I have engraved your name on the palm of my hands; I never cease to watch over you.’
Why the Jews — The suffering of God’s servant
The Lord says: `My servant will succeed in his task; he will
be raised up, and highly honoured. Many people were
appalled when they saw him: he was so disfigured that he
barely looked human. But many nations will marvel at him,
and kings will be speechless in amazement. What they have
never known, they will see; what they have never heard, they
will understand.’
God’s servant grew up like a tender shoot taking root in
dry ground. He had no dignity or beauty to attract us; there
was nothing in his appearance to draw people. We despised
and rejected him, and he endured great suffering and pain.
No one would even look at him; we ignored him as if he
were worthless.
But he took upon himself our weaknesses, and carried our
suffering. We thought that his suffering was punishment sent
by God. But he was wounded for our sins; he was crushed
for the evil we had done. We are healed by the punishment
he suffered, made whole by the blows he received. We were
like sheep that were lost, each going its own way. The Lord
laid upon him the punishment that we deserved.
Why the Jews — The sacrifice for sin
God’s servant was treated harshly, but did not open his
mouth. Like a lamb being led to the slaughter, like a sheep
about to be sheared, he did not say a word. He was arrested,
sentenced and led off to die; yet no one cared about his fate.
He was put to death for the sins of the people. He was placed
in a grave with the wicked; he was buried with the rich. Yet
he had committed no crime, and had never spoken a lie.
The Lord says: It was my will that he should suffer; his
death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness. Yet he will live a
long time, and see his children; through him my purpose will
be fulfilled. After the darkness of his suffering, he will see
light, and be satisfied; he will know that he did not suffer in
vain. My righteous servant, in whom I am well-pleased, bears
the punishment of many; and for his sake I shall forgive
them. So I shall give him the place of honour, the highest
place among the great and the powerful. He freely poured out
his life, allowing himself to be numbered among criminals.
He took the place of countless sinners, and prayed that they might be forgiven.’
Why the Jews — The people’s confession
The people of Jerusalem say: ‘We look for light, but all is
darkness; we look for brightness, but we walk in deep
shadows. Like the blind we grope along walls; we stumble at
noon, as if it were night. We live in the darkness of death.
We growl like bears, and we moan like doves. We yearn for
salvation, but cannot find it; we look for deliverance, but it
is far away.
`Lord, our crimes against you are many; our sins accuse
us. Our offences surround us, and we acknowledge them all.
We have rebelled against you; we have rejected you; we have
refused to follow you. We have oppressed others, and turned
our backs on you. Our thoughts are false, and our words are
lies. We have driven justice away, and righteousness is afraid
to come near. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty
cannot enter. Integrity is nowhere to be found, and innocent
men and women are treated with contempt.’
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Why the Jews in Jewish religion — The way of holiness
January 7, 2011
Why the Jews — The way of holiness
The desert will be glad, and flowers will bloom in the wilderness; the desert will sing and shout for joy. It will be as beautiful as the mountains of Lebanon, and as fertile as the f i elds of Carmel and Sharon. Everyone will see the glory of the Lord, the splendour of our God.
Give strength to the hands that are feeble; make firm the
knees that tremble. Say to those with anxious hearts: `Be
strong, and do not be afraid. God is coming to your rescue, and will vanquish your enemies.’
The eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the
deaf unstopped. The lame will leap like deer, and the tongues
of the dumb will shout for joy. Streams will flow through the
wilderness, and the burning sand will become a lake; springs
will burst through the parched ground. In the haunts where
jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
A highway will be there; it will be called the way of
holiness. No sinners will travel on that road; and good people
will not stray from it. No lions will prowl on it; no ferocious
beasts will cross it. Only those whom the Lord has saved will
walk on that road; those whom the Lord has rescued will
walk home along it. They will enter Jerusalem with songs on
their lips; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness
and pleasure will overtake them, and sorrow and grief will
l fee away.
Why the Jews — A tivoy for the Lord
The Lord says: `Comfort my people; comfort the people of
Jerusalem, and speak to them with tenderness. Tell them that
their time of hard labour is over, that their sins have been
paid for; I have punished them in full for all their evil acts.’
A voice cries out: `Prepare in the desert a way for the
Lord. Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Fill every valley, and level every mountain; turn the hills into
a plain, and make the rough ground smooth. The glory of the
Lord will be revealed, and all humanity will see it. The mouth
of the Lord has spoken.’
A voice cries out: `Proclaim a message!’ I ask: `What mes-
sage shall I proclaim?’ The voice replies: `Proclaim that all
people are like grass, and their glory is like the wild flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fade, when the Lord sends the wind to blow over them. Yes, people are like grass; and the grass withers and the flowers fade. But the word of our Lord lasts for ever.’
The sovereign Lord comes with power, and brings
rewards for all his people. He will be a shepherd tending his
f l ock; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them
close to his heart.
Why the Jews – The potter and the clay
The Lord says: `Israel, always remember that you are my ser-
vant. I created you to be my servant, and I shall never forget
you. I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins
like the morning mist. Return to me, for I am the one who
can save you.
`I am the Lord, your saviour. I created you, and I created
all things; I am the Lord. I alone stretched out the sky; when
I fashioned the earth, no one helped me. I make fools of for-
tune-tellers, and I frustrate the predictions of astrologers. I
refute the words of the wise, and show that their wisdom is
folly. But when my servant makes a prediction, that
prediction comes true; when I send a messenger to reveal my
plans, those plans are accomplished.
`Does a clay pot argue with the potter? Does the clay ask
the potter what he is doing? Does the pot complain that the
potter has no skill? Do children ask their parents why they
made them as they are? I, the holy God of Israel, shape the
future. Do you question me about what I make, or tell me
what I should do? I am the one who fashioned the earth, and
put human beings upon it. With my own hands I stretched
out the sky; and I control the sun, the moon, and the stars.
`I do not speak in secret, or keep my purpose hidden. I
do not require the people of Israel to seek me in vain. I am
the Lord, and I speak the truth; I make known what is right.’
Isaiah 44.21-22, 24-26a; 45.9-12, 19
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Why the Jews — Isaiah’s calling
January 3, 2011
Why the Jews in Jewish Religion — I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the
train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were angels,
each with six wings; with two wings they covered their faces,
with two they covered their feet, and with two they were
f l ying. And they were calling to one another: `Holy, holy,
holy is the Lord almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ The sound of their voices made the foundations and the doorposts shake, and the temple was filled with smoke.
I cried: `There is no hope for me. I am doomed, because
every word I utter is unclean, and I live among people of
unclean lips – and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord
almighty!’ One of the angels flew down to me, carrying a live
coal in his hand that he had taken from the altar with tongs.
He touched my lips with it, and said: `Your guilt has been
taken away, and your sins forgiven.’
Then I heard the voice of the Lord: `Whom shall I send? Who will be my messenger?’
I answered: me!’ `Here am I. Send me.
Why the Jews — Isaiah’s message
The Lord ordered me to go and give the people this message:
`You will listen and listen, but not understand. You will look
and look, but not perceive. Let the hearts of these people be
callused, their ears deaf, and their eyes blind. Otherwise they
might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and under-
stand with their hearts – and then repent and be healed.’
I asked the Lord: `How long will it be like this?’
The Lord answered: ‘It will be like this until the cities lie
ruined and empty, the houses are abandoned and deserted,
and the fields are ruined and ravaged. It will be like this until
I have sent the people far away, and the land is utterly
desolate. Even if only one person in ten remains in the land,
the destruction will continue. But as the oak tree leaves a
stump when it is cut down, so there will be a stump in the
land from which new life will come.’
Why the Jews — God with us
Isaiah said:`Hear now, descendants of David! Is it not enough
that you wear out the patience of human beings? Must you
wear out the patience of God as well? Therefore the Lord
himself will give you a sign: a young woman who is preg-
nant, will give birth to a son, and will name him Emmanuel
- which means “God with us”. When he is old enough to reject evil and choose righteousness, people will be drinking milk and eating honey.’
The Lord put his strong hand on Isaiah, and said: `Do not
follow the path which the people are treading. Do not participate in their plots and schemes, and do not fear what they fear. Remember that I, the Lord almighty, am holy; I am the one whom you should fear; I am your refuge. But for the people of Israel I am a stone on which they will stumble; I am a trap in which they will be caught.’
Why the Jews — The future king
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. They
lived in a land of shadows, but now a light has dawned. Lord,
you have given them great joy, and they rejoice at what you
have done. You have broken the yoke that burdened them;
you have shattered the rod of their oppressors. For to us a
child is born, to us a son is given; and the government of our
land will be on his shoulders. He will be called wonderful
counsellor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.
There will be no end to the increase of his rule; and his king-
dom will always be at peace. He will reign on David’s throne,
and govern his kingdom until the end of time. His power will
be founded on justice and righteousness.
The zeal of the Lord almighty will accomplish this.
Why the Jews — The peaceful kingdom
The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down;
but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king
will arise from among David’s descendants.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him – the Spirit of
wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of discernment and
power, the Spirit of knowledge of God’s will, the Spirit of
reverence for the Lord – and he will take delight in obeying
the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide
by what he hears with his ears. He will judge the needy with
righteousness, and he will defend the poor from oppression.
His words will be like a rod striking the earth; with the
breath from his mouth he will slay the wicked. Justice will
be his belt, and integrity the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb; the leopard will lie
down with the goat; calves and lion cubs will walk together,
and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the
bear, and their young will rest together; the lion will eat
straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the
snake; the baby will put its hand in the viper’s nest. On the
holy mountain of God no creature will harm or destroy
another creature.
As the seas are full of water, so the earth will be full of
the knowledge of the Lord.
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Why the Jews in Jewish religion — Humbling the arrogant
January 3, 2011
Why the Jews In Jewish religion — The city that once was faithful, has become a whore. She was
once full of justice; righteousness dwelt in every street. But
now only murderers live there. Jerusalem, the silver of your
mind has become dross, the wine of your heart has turned to
water. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves: they
love bribes and they chase gifts; they ignore the rights of
orphans, and are deaf to the cries of widows.
So listen to the words of the Lord almighty, the invincible
God of Israel: ‘I shall take revenge on you, because you have
become my enemies; I shall no longer allow you to trouble
me; I shall turn my hand against you. I shall refine you as
silver is refined, removing every impurity. I shall replace your
rulers with wise judges, like those of long ago. Then once
again Jerusalem will be called a righteous, faithful city.’
Since the Lord is just, he will save Jerusalem, and all its
inhabitants who repent. But he will crush all who continue
to sin, all who continue their rebellion against him. Just as
straw is set on fire by a spark, so those with power will be
destroyed by their own evil deeds; and no one will be able
to quench the fire.
A day is coming when the arrogant will be humbled, and
the proud brought low. And on that day the Lord will be
exalted.
Isaiah 1.21-28a, 31; 2.1 I
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Why the jews in Jewish religion — Humbling the arrogant
January 1, 2011
Why the Jews In Jewish Religion — The city that once was faithful, has become a whore. She was
once full of justice; righteousness dwelt in every street. But
now only murderers live there. Jerusalem, the silver of your
mind has become dross, the wine of your heart has turned to
water. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves: they
love bribes and they chase gifts; they ignore the rights of
orphans, and are deaf to the cries of widows.
So listen to the words of the Lord almighty, the invincible
God of Israel: ‘I shall take revenge on you, because you have
become my enemies; I shall no longer allow you to trouble
me; I shall turn my hand against you. I shall refine you as
silver is refined, removing every impurity. I shall replace your
rulers with wise judges, like those of long ago. Then once
again Jerusalem will be called a righteous, faithful city.’
Since the Lord is just, he will save Jerusalem, and all its
inhabitants who repent. But he will crush all who continue
to sin, all who continue their rebellion against him. Just as
straw is set on fire by a spark, so those with power will be
destroyed by their own evil deeds; and no one will be able
to quench the fire.
A day is coming when the arrogant will be humbled, and
the proud brought low. And on that day the Lord will be
exalted.
Isaiah 1.21-28a, 31; 2.1 I
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Why the Jews In Jewish Religion — God’s disgust
January 1, 2011
Why the Jews In Jewish Religion — Here are the messages that God revealed to Isaiah.
The Lord said: `Earth and sky, listen to my words. The
children whom I raised, have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, and the donkey knows the one who feeds it. But the people of Israel ignore their master; they reject the one who cares for them.’
You are a nation of sinners, a people loaded with guilt, a
brood of evildoers, a family that has become utterly corrupt.
You have abandoned the Lord; you have spurned the holy God
of Israel, turning your backs on him. Why do you persist in
your rebellion? Do you want further punishment? Israel, your
head is already covered with wounds, and your heart and
mind are ill. From the soles of your feet to the top of your
head you are sick; there are bruises and sores and open
wounds everywhere. None has been cleansed or bandaged or
soothed with oil. Your country has been laid waste, and your
cities burnt to the ground. Before your eyes foreigners have
stripped your fields and ransacked your homes.
Listen to what the Lord is saying to you: `The multitude
of sacrifices which you offer to me – do you imagine that I
want them? I have had more than enough burnt offerings; I
am sick of the fat of your finest rams; I am weary of the
blood of bulls and lambs and goats; I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn; I hate your religious festivals. Wash yourselves clean; stop doing wrong, and do what is right; seek justice, and uplift the oppressed; give orphans their rights, and care for widows.’
Isaiah t. Ia, 2-7, 1 0h-11, i 3b, 1 6-17
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Why the Jews in Jewish religion — PROPHETIC VISION
December 31, 2010
Why the Jews in Jewish religion — Hebrew religion always made a clear distinction between
priests, who performed the sacrificial rituals, and spiritual
leaders, who received direct guidance from God. In the early
centuries these prophets were also patriarchs and judges who
wielded political power; but once the monarchy was estab-
lished, their influence derived only from the force of their
teachings and personalities. They often spoke with great pas-
sion against social injustice, political oppression and empty
religion; and they also inspired their listeners with visions of
peace and harmony on earth.
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Why the Jews in Jewish religion — Completing the temple
December 30, 2010
Why the Jews in Jewish Religion — After the Israelites had been banished to Babylon, others had
taken over their land; and these people now tried to harass
and frighten the Jews, in the hope of stopping their work.
They also bribed the officials of the Persian government to act
against the Jews in various ways. This continued throughout
the reign of Cyrus, and eventually brought the work to a
standstill.
When Darius became emperor, the Persian officials in
Jerusalem raised doubts as to whether permission had ever
been given for the rebuilding of the temple. But God was
watching over the Jewish leaders; and at their prompting, the
officials wrote to Darius for guidance. Darius wrote in reply
to the officials: `Stay away from the temple, and do not
interfere with its construction. Let the Jewish leaders rebuild
the temple of God where it stood before. I hereby command
you to help them rebuild it. Pay their expenses out of royal
funds; and day by day give the priests whatever animals they
need for their sacrifices. May God, who chose to be wor-
shipped in Jerusalem, overthrow any king or nation who
defies this command.’
Thus in the sixth year of the reign of Darius, the rebuilding of the temple was completed.
Ezra 4.4 5, 24; 6.3b, 5, 6b-8a, 9a, 12a, i5b
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Why the Jews in Jewish religion — Starting to rebuild the temple
December 30, 2010
Why the Jews In Jewish religion — With Cyrus’s permission, the Israelites sent food, drink and
olive oil to the cities of Tyre and Sidon, in exchange for
cedars from Lebanon; these were taken by sea to Joppa. So a
month after arriving in Jerusalem, the Israelites began to
rebuild the temple; and the Levites over twenty years of age
supervised the work.
While the foundation stones were laid, the priests dressed
in their sacred robes, and blew trumpets, while the Levites
clashed cymbals. Then they sang God’s praises, repeating the
refrain: The Lord is good, and his love for Israel is eternal.’
The people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord. The older
priests, Levites and heads of clans had seen the first temple;
and as they watched the foundation stones being laid for the
new temple, they wept aloud with joy.
Ezra 3.7b-8a, IOa, I r-12a
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