Wrapping Ourselves in Messiah

Sos Asis, Seventh Haftarah of Comfort, Isaiah 61:10–63:9

Suzy Linett, Devar Shalom, Ontario, CA

This week’s haftarah is the seventh and final reading of the Haftarot of Comfort, which are read from Tisha b’Av to Rosh Hashanah. The series takes us from a time of deepest sorrow and pain to the glory of the coronation of the King of Kings and coming to him in prayer and repentance for forgiveness and redemption. It is a cycle repeated in scripture from the original creation to the fall from Eden to redemption. It is a cycle seen in the history of Israel from glory to captivity to repentance and returning to the Lord and forgiveness, resulting in a return to glory.

The blueprint for all this was in creation itself, as chaos and darkness gave way to the separation of light and the provision of order by the Word of the Lord. We were separated from our Father and from each other, but now come together in him and with each other, culminating with Yom Kippur.

Why is this cycle repeated so many times? Those of you who have raised children, worked with children, or once were children, are familiar with phrases such as, “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times,” or “How many times do I need to repeat myself?” Our Heavenly Father says the same thing in his Word. He repeats patterns and lessons for us to read, re-read, and eventually learn and apply.

During my senior year of high school, the Jewish singer-songwriter Carole King released an album called Tapestry, containing the song by that name. In the story of that song, she speaks about the tapestry of life—how various threads, patterns, and pictures woven into a tapestry are not fully seen or understood until the entire project is complete. Then, and only then, can the relationships of heartbreak and joy, of gain and loss, of life and death themselves be comprehended and the beauty revealed.

This week’s haftarah portion is the final reading from Isaiah, a glorious transition from grief and mourning into joy, promise, and redemption. Isaiah compares, contrasts, and proclaims the glories of the Living Word with the promise of Messianic redemption through the pain and suffering endured by Israel and by Messiah himself. The threads of previous darkness and pain are woven into beauty and joy.

Although the haftarah begins with Isaiah 61:10, we miss significant prophecy unless we begin at verse 1. Verses 1–3 read:

The Ruach of Adonai Elohim is on me,
because Adonai has anointed me
    to proclaim Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound,
to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor
    and the day of our God’s vengeance,
to comfort all who mourn
to console those who mourn in Zion,
to give them beauty for ashes,
    the oil of joy for mourning,
    the garment of praise
        for the spirit of heaviness,
    that they might be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of Adonai,
    that He may be glorified.

What a promise of redemption and the coming Messiah! Indeed, Yeshua read this in the synagogue in Nazareth as stated in Luke 4:15–19, then proclaimed this prophecy had been fulfilled. The “garment of praise,” in which we are to wrap ourselves is Messiah himself!

As a result of this, we can join with Isaiah at the first verse of the actual haftarah portion, Isaiah 61:10:

 I will rejoice greatly in Adonai.
My soul will be joyful in my God.
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness—
like a bridegroom wearing a priestly turban,
like a bride adorning herself with her jewels.

 Sos Asis – Hebrew for “rejoice greatly,” is the first phrase of this verse and the title of the whole portion. We have endured, we have survived, we have overcome because of him, and now we are wrapped in his righteousness.

The transition from sorrow to complete joy requires a response. Isaiah 62 begins with not keeping silent—to continue to declare the Word of the Lord until Israel shines brightly and “Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory” (verse 2). In the continuation of this portion, we are reminded of his promises.

Behold, Adonai has proclaimed
    to the end of the earth:
Say to the Daughter of Zion,
“Behold, your salvation comes!
See, His reward is with Him,
    and His recompense before Him.”
Then they will call them The Holy People,
    The Redeemed of Adonai,
and you will be called, Sought Out,
    A City Not Forsaken. (Isa 62:11–12)

Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets known as Rosh Hashanah, coming just after this portion is read, is the day the King is crowned and takes his place on his throne and in our hearts and lives. The black threads of the tapestry, filled with darkness and pain, are woven together with gold, silver, and vivid life-giving colors. Life in Messiah is vibrant, it is alive, and we greatly rejoice – Sos asis!

Tisha b’Av, the day on which this special cycle of the Haftarot of Comfort begins, is known as the saddest day of the year. What is the happiest day? Some believe it is Tu b’Av, known as the “Jewish Valentine’s Day,” a celebration of human love. However, perhaps it is actually Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. We experience a cycle of joy at the coronation of the King, but then must, for the next ten days, cycle through consideration of our sins and our failures, and we must repent. On Yom Kippur we fast in somber contemplation. Yet, at the final call of this day, only ten days after the King is crowned, we can come before his throne. Not only are we allowed to come; we are encouraged and actually commanded to do so! The King of Glory invites us to come, calls us to come, to repent and enter into his presence with praise, with thanksgiving, and with great joy. We are received into the Divine Presence of Adonai Tzva’ot, the Lord of Hosts.

This is the day on which we are reunited with our Creator, with our Redeemer, with our King; and the day we are reunited with each other as members of his family. The tapestry is complete. We see the beauty of the picture painted for us and are awed by it. The cycle goes from the saddest to the greatest and happiest day. Sos asis!

Scripture references are from the TLV.