the dawn

October 4, 2016

Vindication of Zion (Isa 62:1-62:2)

“For Zion’s sake,

I will not keep silent.

For Jerusalem’s sake,

I will not rest

Until her vindication shines out

Like the dawn.

Her salvation will be

Like a burning torch.

The nations shall see your vindication.

All the kings shall see your glory.”

Yahweh reassures his people in the first person singular that he will vindicate and save Zion. He was not going to be silent and rest until Jerusalem’s vindication was shinning like the dawn or its salvation like a burning torch. All the countries would see this vindication. All the kings would see this glory.

July 15, 2016

Declaration of Isaiah to his disciples (Isa 8:16-8:20)

“Bind up the testimony!

Seal the teaching

Among my disciples!

I will wait for Yahweh,

Who is hiding his face

From the house of Jacob.

I will hope in him.

See!

I am a sign.

The children

Whom Yahweh has given me

Are portents in Israel

From Yahweh of hosts.

He dwells on Mount Zion.

Now if people say to you.

‘Consult the wizard ghosts!

Consult with the familiar spirits

Who chirp and mutter!’

Should not a people consult their gods?

Should they not consult the dead

On behalf of the living

For teaching,

For instruction?

Surely those who speak like this

Will have no dawn.”

Isaiah wanted his disciples to have and keep his testimony. He wanted his teachings to be put aside and bound up his works. This is probably why we have so many oracles of Isaiah. He was waiting on Yahweh, the Lord, who was hiding his face from the house of Jacob. However, Isaiah had hope because he and his children were signs or omens of good things to come. He knew that Yahweh lived on Mount Zion. He then warned his disciples not to be fooled when people told them to consult with various idol gods, ghosts, mediums, wizards, or spirits to find out what to do. Why would you want to consult with the dead to find out instructions on how to live? As he points out, people like this probably will not see the dawn, since they are destined for death.

May 22, 2016

Expanding instructions (Sir 24:30-24:34)

“As for me,

I was like

A canal from a river.

I was like

A water channel into a garden.

I said.

‘I will water my garden.

I will drench my flower-beds.’

Behold!

My canal became a river.

My river became a sea.

I will again

Make instruction

Shine forth

Like the dawn.

I will make it clear

From far away.

I will again

Pour out teaching

Like prophecy.

I will leave it

To all future generations.

Observe!

I have not labored

For myself alone.

I have labored

For all who seek instruction.”

Sirach says that he was like a little channel from a river. He used that water to irrigate his garden and flowers. Then the channel became a river and the river became a sea. His instructions shined forth like the dawn of a new day. The brightness could be seen from a long distance away. His teaching was like prophecy for all future generations. He was not working for himself, but to give instructions to all seeking it.