Haftarah Vayikra

Isaiah 43:21-44:23

"Declaring Praise"

POSTED 28 MARCH, 2009

by Mark Huey
mhuey@outreachisrael.net

The third book of the Torah, known by the Hebrew designation Vayikra (arqYw) which means “and He called” (cf. Leviticus 1:1), was designated Leuitikon (LEUITIKON) or “Leviticus” by the Septuagint translators. This is obvious, as a significant feature of the text establishes the Levitical priesthood. The priests of Israel were called by God to serve Him in a very special mediatorial way, with the commandments pertaining to the priesthood and its sacrificial system actually making up about half of the Torah’s instruction. As we ponder the different offerings, we can be reminded that following God’s Torah was more than just a metal ascent to a moral or ethical code. In past times, animal sacrifice indeed had to play a role within the economy of Ancient Israel, and reveal the sin nature of human beings who needed some kind of covering for their transgressions.

When the Sages considered the opening chapters of Leviticus, when looking for an appropriate Haftarah selection they selected a section from the Book of Isaiah, which opens with the admonition for God’s people to declare His praise (Isaiah 43:21). When guilt offerings were to be sacrificed before Him, the Lord required a witness to testify. If one did not testify of a matter that was known, he or she would bear the guilt of not declaring the truth:

“Now if a person sins after he hears a public adjuration to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt” (Leviticus 5:1).

In the case of Ancient Israel, they should have known about the One True God via His acts of goodness toward them. There would have been no excuses for not knowing about Him, or somehow pretending that He did not exist. All of the corporate religious activity, personally worshipping Him through daily obedience, or having seen an operating Tabernacle—were things that were to make every Israelite totally aware of His existence. No one was to be excused from declaring His praises. Later, the Prophet Isaiah points out that despite the requirement of Israel to declare His praise through obedience to the ancient sacrificial system, there was something that was often lacking:

“The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise. Yet you have not called on Me, O Jacob; but you have become weary of Me, O Israel. You have not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings, nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with incense. You have bought Me not sweet cane with money, nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; rather you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities. I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance, let us argue our case together; State your cause, that you may be proved right. Your first forefather sinned, and your spokesmen have transgressed against Me. So I will pollute the princes of the sanctuary, and I will consign Jacob to the ban and Israel to revilement” (Isaiah 43:21-28).

Isaiah admonished his contemporaries for not following the instructions seen in the opening chapters of Leviticus, among other things. The people that were chosen by God to a witness and testimony to the nations at large have wearied Him, not having brought the right offerings and sacrifices as required. Rather than doing what they should have done, the Lord notes how His people have brought Him their sins, iniquities, and transgressions, and burdened Him as a result. Even though He rebukes them for this, He does remind them that eventually it is He who wipes from memory any of these transgressions.

Still, as you read further in our selection from Isaiah, you are reminded that God is not only the King of Israel—but He is also Israel’s Redeemer! Despite transgressions piling up, which seems to be an ongoing problem for His people, their descendants will eventually be witnesses to His greatness, no matter how flawed a witness their forbearers were:

“But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants’…Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, from the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming and the events that are going to take place. Do not tremble and do not be afraid; have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none” (Isaiah 44:1-3, 6-8).

As our Isaiah section continues, the comparison is made between those who fashion idols to worship out of wood, versus those who worship the Creator. Obviously the comparison—considering the variety of possible uses for wood—is not much of a comparison at all. The same wood that composes an idol can be used to cook food (Isaiah 44:15-20)! How, after all, can an object created by human hands, formed no differently than the way someone would use wood for common use—be compared to an Eternal Creator? A futile exercise, indeed.

Concluding our Haftarah reading, we are reminded of two things. (1) The Almighty God who formed Israel to be His servant will not be a forgotten people. (2) And, this is because such a redeemed and forgiven servant nation was created to be a witness and a testimony to the rest of the world that He exists:

“Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. Shout for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into a shout of joy, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it; for the Lord has redeemed Jacob and in Israel He shows forth His glory” (Isaiah 44:21-23).

Not only will this redeemed Israel declare God’s praises, and thus be a witness to the world at large of His goodness—but ultimately, God will display His omnipotence to the Heavens, the Earth, and all of Creation.

What does this teach us as redeemed individuals today, people who live the life of the age to come in the present evil age (cf. Galatians 1:4)? Are we not required to be witnesses for God, testifying of His works? His most significant gift to us was that of His Son! We can be reconciled to the Father via Yeshua’s atoning sacrifice. Do not think that simply because Israel has yet to be fully restored that the missional imperatives seen in this week Haftarah reading are only for the future. These words of Isaiah should have much more meaning, in fact, since the payment for our sins, iniquities, and transgressions has been made by the blood of the Lamb. Declaring through praise and worship not only our thanks—but testifying to all who will hear of the joy of our salvation—should be something we do each day.

While we may not sacrifice animals today to atone for our sin, we do rejoice in the sacrifice that has washed away our sin. We have each returned to the One who has redeemed us! In time, knowledge of this will gain momentum and increase the numbers of those who too can experience the salvation of Messiah Yeshua! But in order for this to be accomplished, we are each required to be faithful witnesses who declare praises to the Lord—and the availability of His salvation to one and all. As the Leviticus 5:1 commandment states, if we do not declare what we know, then we could bear the guilt of not being a witness to the truth as we know it.

Thank you, O Lord, for the reminder of what You require of us by reviewing these words from Leviticus and Isaiah. May we redouble our efforts to praise You through our declarations to a lost generation looking desperately for answers.

Until the restoration of all things…

Mark Huey (B.A., Vanderbilt University in History and Graduate Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) is the Director of Outreach Israel Ministries (www.outreachisrael.net). He is the author of several books, including: TorahScope, Volumes I & II, and Counting the Omer: A Daily Devotional Toward Shavuot. He is also co-author of Hebraic Roots: An Introductory Study.