The seven weeks between Tisha B'Av and Rosh HaShannah are known as the 'weeks of consolation'.  During this special season we are called to "humble ourselves and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways." 

YHVH "hears us from heaven, and forgives our sins and heals our land" with words of comfort and encouragement.  II Chronicles 7:14

Each Sabbath, for seven weeks, we study a portion of scripture from the Torah (Deuteronomy) and from the Haftarah (Isaiah), to build up our faith and renew a right spirit within us.

"The Prophecies of Consolation"

Week 1  ---  "Comfort Ye"  ---  Deut 3:23 - 7:11    Isa 40:1-26 

"Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, says your ELOHIM.  Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned.  For she has received of YHVH's hand double for all her sins."  

Notice the double "Comfort ye". That's for the double "punishment" for the double "sinning".  YHVH keeps records of everything and He Is 'fair' to His people.

Several verses in this prophecy speak of the unique Oneness (One of a Kind) of YHVH ELOHIM.  For example, "To whom will you compare Me, that I will be compared, says the Holy One."  This same idea is expressed in the famous "Shema Yisrael" verse: "Hear O Israel, YHVH our ELOHIM YHVH is One."  Deut 6:4
    
In the Ten Commandments, we find several prohibitions concerning idolatry: "You shall have no other Elohim before Me. You shall not make for yourself any carved idol lest you become corrupt and make for yourselves a carved idol of any image."  Deut 4:16; 5:7-8 

"Guard yourselves lest you forget the covenant of YHVH your ELOHIM and make for yourselves an idol that is the likeness of anything."  Deut 4:23  

Isaiah the prophet mocks the idols: "The craftsman casts an idol, and a refiner covers it with silver. He seeks a wise craftsman to make an idol that will not be moved."  Isa 40:19-20

"Zion said, YHVH has forsaken me and my Adonai has forgotten me. Yet I will not forget you.  Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands, your walls are continually before Me."
     
"Guard yourselves lest your hearts be tempted, and YHVH's anger will burn against you, and He will stop up the heavens and there will be no rain, and you will quickly die off from upon the good  land." Deut 11:16-17 

After this prophetic admonition and warning, Isaiah announced in YHVH's name, "At My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert.  I clothe the heavens in black garments. For YHVH will console Zion, He shall console all her desolate places and He shall make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the Garden of YHVH."  Isa 51:2-3
     
'Eden - the garden of YHVH' is none other than the original Garden of Eden, the place where water flowed abundantly, irrigating the garden and all its vegetation. Thus, all of the land of Israel, including its most arid regions, fits the description of "a good land, a land of streams of water, fountains and depths that flow from the valleys and the mountains."  Deut 8:7

"O you afflicted, tossed with tempest and without comforting.  All your children shall be taught of YHVH, and great shall be the peace of your children."  Isa 54:11,13 

The Torah refers to Israel as children, "You are children to YHVH your ELOHIM."  Deut14:1
    
The key to redemption is righteousness:  "In righteousness shall you be established."  Isa 54:14  

Israel is told several times to remember the Levites, who had no portion and inheritance in the land, and to include them in the household.  (Deut12:12,18; 14:27,29)  We are told to give gifts to the poor, the stranger, the orphan and the widow.  There is also the obligation to cancel debts at the end of seven years, (Deut 15:1-3) and to open one's hand to a poor brother and to give him "what he needs, that which he lacks."  Deut 15:8      

We are promised, "And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you."  Deut 15:6  

When Israel listens to YHVH, then "I (YHVH) shall make an everlasting covenant with him (Israel), the everlasting loving promises of David. Behold, I have made him (Israel) a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of nations... and nations that did not know you will run towards you."   Isa 55:3-5

Week 4  --- "YHVH Our Comforter" --- Deut 16:18 -21:9   Isa 51:12-52:12 

Isaiah alternates between prophecies of suffering and prophecies of redemption. The knowledge that YHVH will ultimately have mercy on us and redeem us makes the pain and suffering easier to bear.  

"I am He that comforts you. I am YHVH your ELOHIM. YHVH Sabaoth is His Name. I say unto Zion, you are My people."  Isa 51:12, 15, 16

This Torah reading deals with Israel's leadership - judges, officers, the king, priests and prophets.  Isaiah, too, talks about Israel's leaders. "There is no leader for her among all the children she has borne; there is none who holds her hand, of all the children she has raised."  Isa 51:18 

"Their rulers yell; the voice of your watchmen, they have lifted their voices."  Isa 52:5,8

Though leadership fails, YHVH is always available to comfort those who call upon His Name.  His Love never fails!

"The Name YHVH is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and is safe."   Prov 18:10

Week 5  --- "Covenant of Peace" --- Deut 21:10 - 25:19  Isa 54:1-10

"Sing, O barren and cry aloud.  Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed.  For My kindness shall not depart from you neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says YHVH who has mercy on you."  Isa 54:1,4,10 

YHVH promised to show mercy upon His people and bring them back to Jerusalem. He also assured them that His kindness will never be removed and His covenant of peace will not falter. 
   
"More numerous are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman."  Isa 54:1

Isaiah saw before him two women, one desolate and alone, the other married. The one who is married is loved by her husband, while the desolate one is hated and abandoned. Indeed, for a season Israel was "like a woman abandoned and of downcast spirit", like "the woman of one's youth whom one has despised."  (vs. 6)  But YHVH promised that "with great mercy" and "with everlasting lovingkindness" He will return this "wife of His youth" - Israel - to Him. The subject of a beloved wife and a despised wife, and the laws of separating from the wife of one's youth and sending her away, is also part of this week's Torah portion. (Deut 24:1-2) 

Week 6  --- "Arise And Shine" ---  Deut 26:1 - 29:8  Isaiah 60:1-22

Isaiah prophesized that all the gentiles will come to realize that YHVH rules the world.  In this scripture portion YHVH gives His guarantee that in the final redemption He will be our Eternal Light, and our days of mourning will be ended.

"Arise and Shine, for your Light is come, and the glory of YHVH is risen upon you. Violence shall no more be heard in your land and you shall call your walls Salvation (Yeshuah) and your gates Praise (Tehillah).  I (YHVH) will hasten it at the appointed time."  Isa 60:1-22
     
The visions contained in this prophecy of redemption can be summarized by a single verse from the Torah.

"YHVH has mandated you today to be a special nation for Him, and to make you supreme over all the nations which He has made, in praise and in name and in honor." 

In this seventh and last of the series of Prophecies Of Consolation YHVH reasures His people Israel that He has always been with them, even in exile, and that He always shares in their suffering.  He will take vengeance on Edom and bring them back from exile.

"I shall surely (greatly) rejoice in YHVH, my soul shall be joyful in my ELOHIM, for He has clothed me with the garments of Salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.  YHVH ELOHIM will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."  Isa 61:10-11
     
At the time of the redemption, when Messiah comes, a blessing will come upon the land: "your land will no more be called desolate."  Isa 62:4 
    
An important condition regarding redemption and repentance - 'returning process' - and the special connection between the Holy One and His nation is established in this week's Torah portion, which says: "if you will return to YHVH your ELOHIM and listen to His voice then YHVH will bring back your captivity and have mercy on you, and He will return (your captivity) and gather you from all the nations where YHVH your ELOHIM scattered you."  Deut 30:2-3  
     
"In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and His pity He redeemed them."  Isa 63:9 

YHVH (Yashua) Himself was afflicted, therefore He hastens to deliver them.
     
This covenant of love and destiny is what ensures the ultimate redemption, and it is a most worthy conclusion to these Prophecies of Consolation.