Haftarah Vayikra
“Declaring Praise”
Isaiah 43:21-44:23
excerpted from TorahScope Haftarah Exhortations
The third book of the Torah, known by the Hebrew designation Vayikra, which means “and He called” (cf. Leviticus 1:1), was designated 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 mental 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 which was known, he or she would bear the guilt of not declaring the truth:
“If anyone sins, in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, he being a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn’t report it, then he shall bear his iniquity” (Leviticus 5:1, WMB).
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 which were to make every Israelite totally aware of His existence. No one was to be excused from declaring His praises. Later, the Prophet Isaiah pointed out, that despite the requirement of Israel to declare His praise through obedience to the ancient sacrificial system, there was something which was often lacking:
“the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise. Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel. You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings, neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense. You have bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices, but you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Declare your case, that you may be justified. Your first father sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me. Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel an insult” (Isaiah 43:21-28, WMB).
Isaiah admonished his contemporaries for not following the instructions seen in the opening chapters of Leviticus, among other things. The people who were chosen by God to be a witness and testimony to the nations at large had wearied Him, not having brought the right offerings and sacrifices as required. Rather than doing what they should have done, the Lord noted how His people had brought Him their sins, iniquities, and transgressions—and had burdened Him as a result. Even though He rebuked them for this, He did remind them that eventually it was He who would wipe out from memory, any of these transgressions.
Still, as you read further in our selection from Isaiah, you are reminded how God was not only the King of Israel—but He was also Israel’s Redeemer! Despite transgressions piling up, which seems to be an ongoing problem for His people, their descendants would eventually be witnesses to His greatness, no matter how flawed a witness their forbearers were:
“Yet listen now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: ‘Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring’…This is what the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts, says: ‘I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen. Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock’” (Isaiah 44:1-3, 6-8, WMB).
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 which would compose an idol could also 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 purposes—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, Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Sing, you heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel” (Isaiah 44:21-23, WMB).
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 at all 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 also 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 which 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 God’s people do not declare what they know, then they could bear the guilt of not being a witness to the truth.
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.
