Consolation and Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur begins today at sundown. I have asked our congregation members to read portions of Isaiah through the Days of Awe and Isaiah has been my meditation as well. In the second part of Isaiah (chapters 40-55) we read about consolation. I believe this is also a message we need to hear at Yom Kippur. I encourage you to read these promises to Israel personally, as if God is promising you and your loved ones comfort and restoration. It is a pattern with God and what he says to Israel in general applies to every generation of those who hold him in awe. May these verses awaken your soul and add meaning to Yom Kippur however you observe it: “1 Comfort, oh comfort My people, Says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, And declare to her That her term of service is over, That her iniquity is expiated; For she has received at the hand of the LORD Double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 40:1–2 JPS) “Like a shepherd He pastures His flock: He gathers the lambs in His arms And carries them in His bosom; Gently He drives the mother sheep.” (Isaiah 40:11 JPS) “27 Why do you say, O Jacob, Why declare, O Israel, “My way is hid from the LORD, My cause is ignored by my God”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is God from of old, Creator of the earth from end to end, He never grows faint or weary, His wisdom cannot be fathomed. 29 He gives strength to the weary, Fresh vigor to the spent. 30 Youths may grow faint and weary, And young men stumble and fall; 31 But they who trust in the LORD shall renew their strength As eagles grow new plumes: They shall run and not grow weary, They shall march and not grow faint.” (Isaiah 40:27–31 JPS) “8 But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, Seed of Abraham My friend — 9 You whom I drew from the ends of the earth And called from its far corners, To whom I said: You are My servant; I chose you, I have not rejected you — 10 Fear not, for I am with you, Be not frightened, for I am your God; I strengthen you and I help you, I uphold you with My victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:8–10 JPS) “13 For I the LORD am your God, Who grasped your right hand, Who say to you: Have no fear; I will be your help. 14 Fear not, O worm Jacob, O men of Israel: I will help you — declares the LORD — I your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41:13–14 JPS) “I will lead the blind By a road they did not know, And I will make them walk By paths they never knew. I will turn darkness before them to light, Rough places into level ground.” (Isaiah 42:16 JPS) “1 But now thus said the LORD — Who created you, O Jacob, Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I will redeem you; I have singled you out by name, You are Mine. 2 When you pass through water, I will be with you; Through streams, They shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, You shall not be scorched; Through flame, It shall not burn you.” (Isaiah 43:1–2 JPS) “Thus said the LORD, Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I send to Babylon; I will bring down all [her] bars, And the Chaldeans shall raise their voice in lamentation.” (Isaiah 43:14 JPS) “It is I, I who — for My own sake — Wipe your transgressions away And remember your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25 JPS) “1 But hear, now, O Jacob My servant, Israel whom I have chosen! 2 Thus said the LORD, your Maker, Your Creator who has helped you since birth: Fear not, My servant Jacob, Jeshurun whom I have chosen, 3 Even as I pour water on thirsty soil, And rain upon dry ground, So will I pour My spirit on your offspring, My blessing upon your posterity. 4 And they shall sprout like grass, Like willows by watercourses. 5 One shall say, “I am the LORD’s,” Another shall use the name of “Jacob,” Another shall mark his arm “of the LORD” And adopt the name of “Israel.”” (Isaiah 44:1–5 JPS) “21 Remember these things, O Jacob For you, O Israel, are My servant: I fashioned you, you are My servant — O Israel, never forget Me. 22 I wipe away your sins like a cloud, Your transgressions like mist — Come back to Me, for I redeem you.” (Isaiah 44:21–22 JPS) “22 Turn to Me and gain success, All the ends of earth! For I am God, and there is none else. 23 By Myself have I sworn, From My mouth has issued truth, A word that shall not turn back: To Me every knee shall bend, Every tongue swear loyalty.” (Isaiah 45:22–23 JPS) “It is through the LORD that all the offspring of Israel Have vindication and glory.”” (Isaiah 45:25 JPS) “3 Listen to Me, O House of Jacob, All that are left of the House of Israel, Who have been carried since birth, Supported since leaving the womb: 4 Till you grow old, I will still be the same; When you turn gray, it is I who will carry; I was the Maker, and I will be the Bearer; And I will carry and rescue [you].” (Isaiah 46:3–4 JPS) “See, I have engraved you On the palms of My hands, Your walls are ever before Me.” (Isaiah 49:16 JPS) “Thus said the Lord GOD: I will raise My hand to nations And lift up My ensign to peoples; And they shall bring your sons in their bosoms, And carry your daughters on their backs.” (Isaiah 49:22 JPS) “Truly the LORD has comforted Zion, Comforted all her ruins; He has made her wilderness like Eden, Her desert like the Garden of the LORD. Gladness and joy shall abide there, Thanksgiving and the sound of music.” (Isaiah 51:3 JPS) “So let the ransomed of the LORD return, And come with shouting to Zion, Crowned with joy everlasting. Let them attain joy and gladness, While sorrow and sighing flee.” (Isaiah 51:11 JPS) “For thus said the LORD: You were sold for no price, And shall be redeemed without money.” (Isaiah 52:3 JPS) “How welcome on the mountain Are the footsteps of the herald Announcing happiness, Heralding good fortune, Announcing victory, Telling Zion, “Your God is King!”” (Isaiah 52:7 JPS) “9 Raise a shout together, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD will comfort His people, Will redeem Jerusalem. 10 The LORD will bare His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, And the very ends of earth shall see The victory of our God. 11 Turn, turn away, touch naught unclean As you depart from there; Keep pure, as you go forth from there, You who bear the vessels of the LORD! 12 For you will not depart in haste, Nor will you leave in flight; For the LORD is marching before you, The God of Israel is your rear guard.” (Isaiah 52:9–12 JPS) “1 Shout, O barren one, You who bore no child! Shout aloud for joy, You who did not travail! For the children of the wife forlorn Shall outnumber those of the espoused — said the LORD. 2 Enlarge the site of your tent, Extend the size of your dwelling, Do not stint! Lengthen the ropes, and drive the pegs firm. 3 For you shall spread out to the right and the left; Your offspring shall dispossess nations And shall people the desolate towns. 4 Fear not, you shall not be shamed; Do not cringe, you shall not be disgraced. For you shall forget The reproach of your youth, And remember no more The shame of your widowhood. 5 For He who made you will espouse you — His name is “LORD of Hosts.” The Holy One of Israel will redeem you — He is called “God of all the Earth.” 6 The LORD has called you back As a wife forlorn and forsaken. Can one cast off the wife of his youth? — said your God. 7 For a little while I forsook you, But with vast love I will bring you back. 8 In slight anger, for a moment, I hid My face from you; But with kindness everlasting I will take you back in love — said the LORD your Redeemer.” (Isaiah 54:1–8 JPS) “And all your children shall be disciples of the LORD, And great shall be the happiness of your children;” (Isaiah 54:13 JPS) “1 Ho, all who are thirsty, Come for water, Even if you have no money; Come, buy food and eat: Buy food without money, Wine and milk without cost. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, Your earnings for what does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:1–2 JPS) “Incline your ear and come to Me; Hearken, and you shall be revived. And I will make with you an everlasting covenant, The enduring loyalty promised to David.” (Isaiah 55:3 JPS)
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 10:31:04 +0000
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