Prophet Pearls #2 – Noach (Isaiah 54:1-55:5)
In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Isaiah 54:1-55:5, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson revel in the glorious promises to Israel and explore the various ways the Tanakh allegorizes her: as a barren and abandoned woman, a maidservant, a slave, an … Continue reading →
In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Isaiah 54:1-55:5, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson revel in the glorious promises to Israel and explore the various ways the Tanakh allegorizes her: as a barren and abandoned woman, a maidservant, a slave, an owned animal, and yet, wholly and eternally a beloved wife. Original language brings insight to the following words: “foaming” anger, Yehovah of “hosts,” mercy, kibbutz, and “brief” moment. Despite differing views on some issues, Gordon and Johnson stand firmly on common ground concerning the messianic promise as Yehovah connects his eternal covenant with Israel to the seed of David.
"For this to Me is like the waters of Noah: As I swore that the waters of Noah nevermore..." Isaiah 54:9
I look forward to reading your comments!
Transcript
Prophet Pearls #2 – Noach (Isaiah 54:1-55:5)
You are listening to Prophet Pearls with Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.
Keith: Welcome back to Prophet Pearls. This is your host, Keith Johnson. Along with chaver sheli, my friend, Nehemia Gordon. Chaver, what does that mean?
Nehemia: Chaver is friend. But it’s actually more than that. It comes from the word lachaber, which is to connect. So chaver is someone who is bonded to you, connected to you.
Keith: Let’s jump right in. Nehemia, we’re in Isaiah chapter 54 verse 1. The NIV, “Sing, oh barren woman, you who never bore a child, burst into song, shout for joy. You who were never in labor because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, says...” of course in the NIV, it says, “says the LORD.”
We were actually in Denver and we were with our friends, Sven and Tina. Sven showed me something really interesting, which in the Hebrew comes right out, and that is what I call the preaching of Isaiah. It’s like these sections. And in there it says, “Sayeth the LORD,” you know, “sayeth Yehovah.” Then it goes section by section. So first section - let’s talk about this real quick. First section; just verse 1. So that’s where we have the first part where he’s actually making a declaration.
Nehemia: I love reading Isaiah especially, because you just get this image - I get the image - he’s standing in the public square and there are people walking back and forth, and all of a sudden he shouts at the top of his lungs, “Rani akara lo yalada, pitzchi rina ve’tzahali lo-chala ki rabim bnei-shomemma mibnei be’ulah.” And in case you thought this was Isaiah just making stuff up, he says, “amar Yehovah,” “sayeth Yehovah,” and then everybody stops in their tracks. “But wait, what did you say?” He’s using here this image, this metaphor, this maybe even allegory of the barren woman, and there are all these orphans who are the sons of the barren woman, or the abandoned woman. Who is the abandoned woman in this passage? Who is that? Keith?
Keith: Well, here’s what I like to say. This is what I said before, I’ll say it again: What I love about Isaiah and what I love about reading the passages is the old thing I used to say before, “Keep reading.” I like to get the context here. I could look at one verse and I could guess, or I could keep reading and I could find out with you.
Nehemia: Okay. Absolutely, yeah, but having read the context, if I will, here’s one of the things. So here in this passage, and again like you said, you have to read the whole context, but it’s referring to Israel, to God’s people, as the barren woman. Now, why is Israel the barren woman, God’s people? Because they’ve sinned, they’ve been punished, and now he’s telling them, you’ve been scattered off into the diaspora. You are suffering under this punishment, but there will be hope for you.
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Comments
Deuteronomy 24:4 is pretty clear.
what about the new moon for the months for instance???
no.
Hos 12: v10. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets
Early in, you guys were talking about God speaking in metaphors and pictures. I used to wonder why He would do that, like whats the point? After a few times of reading the bible i came to this verse and *got it*. Like when jeremiah went after i-dont-know-how-long and dug that girdle out of the earth, and hes looking at it, thinking to himself, well this things done for, i cant use this for anything. Then Gods voice booms out “this evil people shall be even as this girdle, WHICH IS GOOD FOR NOTHING!”. Eyes fixed on that messed up girdle as God tells him what Hes gonna do. That image is gonna stick with that man, hes not gonna forget it, and Gods point is perfectly made. Even though we didnt see it first hand, we are blessed with those same pictures in our minds that were past down in our scriptures
if a man divorce his wife, she’s never been with another man, and both agree to reunite, are we breaking Torah?
“It’s a literal metaphor” LOL
love the stuff from the Torah and nothing from that disprized roman religion.
Chaverim, achim, thank you for an excellent teaching!! Well done! I can’t single out a favorite part because it was all so good!! Be blessed!!
kindly replace “literal” with “metaphoric” for exactness..
Nehemiah and Keith, in Jeremiah 3:8 for example, when the Most High issues a certificate of divorce to israel, the only way for the Most High to take israel back as a wife, is for His word (Yeshua) to die on the cross and resurrect(since he is the life). Only then can The Most high remarry israel. Thus it is consistent with Torah given to Moses pertaining to remarriage. I think this specific example might not be allegorical but literal. Since In the end of days, Israel would be a wife to the Most High.
Believing in the Messiah Jesus is the most Jewish thing you can do. God established the concept of salvation by grace in Genesis when He covered Adam and Eve with the skins of the first sacrifice (Genesis 3:21). Jesus is the last sacrifice and the fulfillment of that foreshadow God established in Eden. “The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for the soul” Leviticus 17:11. God has never changed this requirement for salvation. The life in the blood of the Messiah Jesus is the Holy Spirit of eternal life that is released to us through His sacrifice. We cannot have eternal life without accepting God’s plan of redemption.
The Messiah is God’s image,(Genesis 18, Zechariah 14) they are one Holy Spirit, two distinct souls or persons; thus the application of husband wife, bride and bridegroom also applies to the Messiah and God’s believing people.
As I listened and realized that the first attribute YHVH claims as His defining attribut is “womb like” compassion I realized why abortion is the first defining action of those against YHVH. The ungodly try to erase all traces of the natural order created and the Creator.
Listening in 2018, your prayer about the weapons could not have been more relevant. May the Father bring the Witness soon.
For a moment. . . I abandoned you. Exodus 34:6-7
Root word ra cham, (23:30 timecode)
This discussion about the womb is priceless! So powerful!!!
I Am Blessed by hearing these prophet pearls Thank You Please continue these pearls. Whom can I contact or subscribe to that will let me know when the new moon is here!…..ROSH CODESH !!!! I am off topic I know but I have been following your new moon notifications for years. I haven’t found anyone from JERUSALEM that will tell of the new moon.Thank You and may YHVH Bless you and your ministry.
This is such a lovely description of how married Yehovah is to us! I absolutely love these chapter’s in Isaiah. I remember the first time opening up the Torah: “In the beginning, Yehovah how did you intend marriage to be?” I asked Him this question. He knows marriage. He shows us continually! Love your discussions!
Amen! No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Please enjoy my FREE audio download of Isaiah 54. Music by King Daddy Dee!
Good reply! Nehemia Gordon YEHSHUa Ha Meshech Shalom.
I really appreciate the perspective you shared about “marketing” – and spreading the message that you have to share. I find this helpful, as we have become programmed as a society to some degree, to have negative feelings about marketing and business in general. I believe that this really comes from the fact that unrighteousness is so prevalent in the marketplace – but righteous business is a delight to YHVH as He loves properly weighted scales. And marketing His message of salvation? That’s the best thing in the world. I love the picture of Isaiah standing in the marketplace, that you have brought up in this Prophet pearls. It reminds me also of Proverbs and “wisdom” standing in the marketplace: “
“Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,[b]
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words…” (Prov. 1:20)
For most Jews, the husband and wife is a metaphor between God and Israel, not between the Messiah and Israel.
“We are waiting for our Husband to re-husband us” is a statement Nehemia made. I find it funny that the christian’s are waiting for the Messiah’s second coming to get his bride, as for the first time in relation to being a bridegroom. And the Jews are waiting for Messiah to come, for the first time, to take them as a bride for the second time. Great Sabbath, listening to a Torah/Prophet Pearls marathon!
Thanks for the pearls Nehemia and Keith.
Can God kibbutz me? Because I was a christian, and now I feel like a Jew. Will He not accept me?
“..the marketplace of ideas..” lol. Very good Nehemia.
You guys bring me to tears with the revelations in the Hebrew. I read and then I listen – always there is more. I wish I could hear Nehemia’s good story about the discipleship of our children (Is. 54:13). Once again, thank you
Nehemia,
Thank you for the hebrew audio. It helps train my ear.
Good Job ! Nice pace !
Love you guys and I truly believe your partnership will foster stronger ‘common ground’ dialogue between the Jews and the Christians. We serve THE one True God and are one people!!!
Keep up the good work!! How much is it to sponsor a Prophet Pearls Episode. I would like to donate and need an idea on costs so I can figure out just how much I should give!
Sounds like you need your own audio blog to share your unique understanding of the prophets!
Nehemia, I am reading the TANACH, JPS translation. I think you glossed over, missed entirely, the meaning of Isaiah 54:1 where Yehovah God, through Isaiah, is speaking of the wife forlorn as opposed to the espoused one. Is not the wife forlorn the House of Israel, lost in Christianity or other faiths, while the espoused one is the House of Judah, still keeping (more or less) the Commandments? And Yehovah is addressing that unfaithful wife, saying that her children, or her reward, will be greater than that of the continually espoused wife. It’s another allegory of the return of the House of Israel as in the story of the prodigal son, who only came to his senses when scrambling for crumbs among the pigs; but when he returned the Father welcomed him with tears of joy, called for celebration, killing of the fatted calf to feast and make merry, much to the consternation of the elder son who had been with Him all along. Therefore, verse 2, the tent must be enlarged, for the House of Israel are more numerous than the House of Judah. Elsewhere in prophecy it is foretold that Israel will be expanded from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates.
I appreciate the input! I added a download link.
Thx so much for the Hebrew reading of the scripture. 🙂
I’m so glad you two are back together doing the Prophets. Maybe it wasn’t the right time (God’s time) to do it 3yrs. ago, but now is the right time. Please don’t be put off or upset by the people who bad-mouth you for working together. We need both perspectives and so many of us have learned so much from the Hebrew. To me it’s like the 2 witnesses (I’m not saying that you ARE the 2 witnesses) speaking the word of God to the world in the end times. It’s like Judah-(Nehemia) and Ephriam-(Keith) coming together again as brothers as a forerunner of what will happen when Yehovah regathers both the house of Israel and the house of Judah and makes them one stick in His hand, one kingdom again under the rulership of Messiah. Love you guys.
So glad you 2 are doing the Prophet Pearls! I have enjoyed it very much & shared on FB. Looking forward to next week’s discussion!
Thank you Nehemia to enable us to download the hebrew scripture. Todah!
In Verse 5, aren’t we looking at a parallelism in the construction of the verse? It looks like “for your Maker” = “the Holy One of Israel” ; “is your husband” = “is your redeemer”, and “YHVH Tzevaot” = “God of the whole earth”; “is his name” = “He is called”
So, in this case, I’m thinking tzevaot is the whole earth.
Thank you!!!!
I know right? The Hebrew reading is awesome! I do not see a download button for the Hebrew reading..I would love to have it so that I can listen to it read like it is suppose to be read.
Nehemia can you fix it so that we can download our own copy of you reading in the Hebrew please?
Israel likened to a woman married to a man is by definition allegorical since, in fact, Israel is not a woman and God is not a man. I don’t need a verse to tell me “for Yehovah your God is a consuming fire” (Dt 4:24) is allegorical since, in fact, God is not made of fire.
Nehemiah- In regard to your comment that the Scriptural references to Israel as the wife of YHVH, later divorcee, widow etc is purely “allegorical” and not to be taken literally – I have some questions: Since the Scripture itself does not actually say that these are “allegorical” – how do you come to this conclusion- since we are not dealing with prophetic vision or suchlike? Since the Covenantal agreement of Sinai is a literal physical reality of vows of mutual fidelity in spiritual relations that play out precisely in the physical reality- how can we understand the wifely status of Israel to be merely “allegorical” and not literal? Is Israel not literally given a home in the Land by Her Husband? Does she not receive the Spiritual seed of His Word and produce sons of Elohim in spiritual and physical reality? Is she not fed, cared for , protected in that home until she literally breaks her vows in literal physical acts of spiritual whoredom? Is she not then put through the literal effects of divorce when she is exiled from her home and has her Husband turn His Face away and not hear her prayers “for a brief moment’? Does she not experience “widowhood” as she suffers in the nations without her Husband’s protection?
Since man is both a physical and a spiritual being, is it not true that there exists two literal realities? A spiritual reality and a physical reality? Neither one is “allegorical”.
Is YHVH not “spirit” and is it not so that our relationship with Him must be on the spiritual plane as a literal reality – which then plays out in the literal physical reality? ( As Israel’s history has thus far proven?) Therefore we should surely conclude that Israel is YHVH’s wife not allegorically, but in spiritual literal reality – as also later divorcee , widow, and to be literally reinstated as His wife at the Redemption.
Of course, once we admit to the fact of both spiritual literal reality and physical literal reality – it does indeed, open a can of worms in regard to Torah command and YHVH remarrying His divorced wife…..unless we understand and acknowledge the literal reality of the “widowhood” too…The question begs: Who was the Husband at Sinai- if not the same one described in Bemidbar 12:8 the One who Moshe physically saw in the “temuna” (shape/embodiment/manifestation) of YHVH.”.If YHVH assumed a visible “temuna” at Sinai – why not later in history to pay the Redemption price – since He is One and our only Redeemer? If the Spirit -Husband had portioned out His Spirit in human flesh and died a physical death (Perfectly Righteous Spirit cannot die)….then Torah allows for remarriage…..
Let us remember too that TORAH demands a price for redemption does it not? Or is that also to be understood as an “allegorical” price- in which case how then do we understand the Redemption to be literal??
Bless you Nehemia for your translation.
Why were only days and years mentioned when the lesser lights were made in Gen 1. Any ideas about why months were not mentioned as what the moon was made for, as if days and years were going to be the only markers from the beginning.
I love hearing the passage in Hebrew!!!! Thank you!!
It would be a really fine thing for the 2 of you to record the entire Scripture in Hebrew, including the renewed Covenant (in Aramaic )
What a nice touch the hebrew audio !!! Congrats you both!! Im happy because i just got your books and im finally reading them!! Keep the good work !!!
I’m so glad that you two are back together to record the prophets. It would be great to also be able to download the hebrew reading of the portion. Is that possible? I really enjoy the two of you and my biggest wish is to find somebody that has the same drive to find the truth beneath all the translations and colorings of bible updates and modern language. If you guys are ever coming to Germany please let me know. I would really love to meet you in person and spent some time with you. There are sooo many questions I have and I don’t have anybody who I can ask. So, please come over here – we (I) need you and your message.
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