於2014-10-17發佈

每週一妥拉 2014/10/12-10/18
從古時起,世界各地的猶太會堂會一週一次在安息日讀經,從摩西五經(妥拉)到先知的書(先知書)。每週的讀經內容都有一個希伯來名稱,其出自經文內容起頭的字。每週慣例讀經的實例剛好記載在路加福音四章16節,耶穌來到拿撒勒的會堂,讀了一段先知書(以賽亞書61章)。我們發現每週一次閱讀這些內容,不僅提供我們機會,與世界成千上萬的猶太人來確認神話語的內容,在我們為以色列與猶太人的代禱上,聖靈更時常貼切的啟發具體的內容禱告。

20141018
一個新的循環開始!



起初,神
這週妥拉的閱讀循環重新開始,新的閱讀稱為『起初』(B'resheet

妥拉創世記 1:1-6:8
先知書:以賽亞書 42:5-43:10

妥拉

*創世記 1:1-5. 起初,神創造天地。地是空虛混沌,淵面黑暗;神的靈運行在水面上。神說:要有光,就有了光。神看光是好的,就把光暗分開了。神稱光為晝,稱暗為夜。有晚上,有早晨,這是頭一日。』 

當我們翻開充滿神氣息(提後3:16)的書卷第一章,神在創造天地,神的靈在那裡運行(第2節)。當神說話,祂的道也在那裡(第3節;約翰福音1:1)。伊羅興Elohim就是神的意思,是一個複數的字,動詞卻總是以單數型態出現。 

*創世記1:3. 神說:要有光,就有了光。』聖經並沒有說神『創造了』光(神自己就是光,約壹1:5)。而是說『要有光』,就這樣成了!約翰福音1:1-9節說耶穌就是神的話/道,生命在祂裏頭,『這生命就是人的光』。 

在創世記的頭幾章,有幾個字用來描述神的動作:創造(從無到有,希伯來書11:3);製造;建造、形成或塑造(有趣的是,要用祂的形象造人,用了創造和形成這二個動作(創世記1:27,2:7)。 

*創世記1:5. 有晚上,有早晨,這是頭一日。今日,在以色列所奉行的一些宗教節日(如安息日或節期),都是從前一天晚上日落開始計算,而不是從日出。 

*創世記2:3. 到第七日,神造物的工已經完畢,就在第七日歇了祂一切的工,安息了。神賜福給第七日,定為聖日(希伯來文:使這日聖潔);因為在這日,神歇了祂一切創造的工,就安息了。』值得注意的是,這裡是聖經第一個地方我們看見神使某件事『聖潔』或『分別為聖』,此事和每週的第七日有關,在這裡祂安息─停止一切工作。 

*創世記1:27. 神就照著自己的形像造人,乃是照著祂的形像造男造女。』人的希伯來文是亞當(adam),在創世記2:7,我們看見神用地上的塵土(adomah─紅色)造人。今日希伯來文的『人』仍以『亞當之子』來稱呼。從這段經文清楚看到,雖然人們總是以男性的性別、鬍子提到神;然而,在神裡面男性和女性的本質,轉化成按祂形象所創造的男女。  

在創世記第三章尾聲,因著罪,那形象遭到破壞,領受生命氣息的人已奄奄一息。到了4:1男人和女人開始生養,他們瞭解到那賜下生命的造物主有一個名字,叫雅威YHVH(耶和華,『主』)。他們的兒子們將供物獻給這位雅威(4:3);卻過了許多世代,人們才以比較個人和親密的方式來認識並使用這名字(出埃及記3:15b;6:2-3)。

在創世記4:8有謀殺案發生,供物較討神喜悅的好人亞伯成為第一個死去的人。有趣的是,亞伯名字的希伯來文拼法與『虛空』或『虛幻』相同,這剛好是我們在住棚節期間所閱讀的傳道書的開端與精髓所在。人的生命不過是一片雲霧,出現少時就不見了,而好人亞伯與惡人該隱的生命都不過片時。

*創世記4:26. 塞特也生了一個兒子,起名叫以挪士。那時候,人才求告耶和華的名。』或許賽特意識到他兄弟亞伯的死,以及罪顯然在他長兄該隱身上的工作,賽特將他長子取名以挪士(Ehnoshe),英文通常翻出來的意思就是『人』(詩篇8:4人算什麼,祢竟顧念他?世人算什麼,祢竟眷顧他?)。但以挪士的實質意思是『會死去的』(mortal),正如英文『會死的』(mortal)與人的死亡有關,以挪士這名字便成為亞當之子因罪沈淪結果的參照。與以挪士相同的希伯來字(Ehnoshe)也被用在耶利米書17:9,人心比萬物都詭詐,『壞到極處』(ehnoshe),又可翻為病入膏肓,或無藥可解。

到了創世記第六章,地上都敗壞了,充滿著罪惡的人連同悖逆的天使。耶和華見人在地上罪惡很大,終日所思想的盡都是惡,耶和華說:我要將所造的人(希伯來文:adam)和走獸,並昆蟲,以及空中的飛鳥,都從地上(希伯來文:adamah)除滅,惟有挪亞在耶和華眼前蒙恩(6:5,7a, 8)。在現代希伯來文這句話仍有『帶來喜悅』之意。

請禱告:『就像挪亞的日子一樣(馬太福音24:37),地上雖然充滿邪惡,卻有許多末後的『挪亞』興起,為主帶來喜悅,『在祂的眼前蒙恩』。 

有一首很受歡迎的希伯來文敬拜歌曲,是幾年前由一些以色列青少年所寫成的:  

聖靈請來,聖靈請來,今日就來
我心中的渴望就是在祢眼前蒙恩
我心靈的渴望就是更多像祢
神啊請來,住在我裡面,使我純淨
讓我的眼目專注在討祢喜悅的事上
使我全然歸祢
(聖靈請來Boi Ruakh. ©2004 by Keren Seguin) 

先知書

*以賽亞書 42:5-7. 創造諸天,鋪張穹蒼,將地和地所出的一併鋪開,賜氣息給地上的眾人,又賜靈性給行在其上之人的神耶和華,祂如此說:我─耶和華憑公義召你,必攙扶你的手,保守你,使你作眾民的中保(中保:原文是約),作外邦人的光,開瞎子的眼,領被囚的出牢獄,領坐黑暗的出監牢。』 

*以賽亞書43:1-3a. 雅各啊,創造你的耶和華,以色列啊,造成你的那位,現在如此說:你不要害怕!因為我救贖了你。我曾提你的名召你,你是屬我的。你從水中經過,我必與你同在;你逿過江河,水必不漫過你;你從火中行過,必不被燒,火焰也不著在你身上。因為我是耶和華─你的神,是以色列的聖者─你的救主。』 

*以賽亞書43:5-7. 不要害怕,因我與你同在;我必領你的後裔從東方來,又從西方招聚你。我要對北方說,交出來!對南方說,不要拘留!將我的眾子從遠方帶來,將我的眾女從地極領回,就是凡稱為我名下的人,是我為自己的榮耀創造的,是我所做成,所造作的。』

*以賽亞書43:10.『耶和華說:你們是我的見證,我所揀選的僕人。既是這樣,便可以知道,且信服我,又明白我就是耶和華。在我以前沒有真神(真:原文是造作的);在我以後也必沒有。』

下週的閱讀(10/19-10/25)稱為挪亞,讀經進度為妥拉:創世記6:9-11:32;先知書:以賽亞書54:1-55:5。新月閱讀(第八個月):民數記28:9-15;以賽亞書66:1-24。

馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士(Martin & Norma Sarvis)
於耶路撒冷


THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

From ancient times there has been a weekly portion (Parashah) from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and an ending (Haftarah) from the Prophets read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name drawn from the opening words of the Torah passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

18 October 2014
A NEW CYCLE BEGINS!



In the Beginning God . . .
This weekend the cycle through the Torah begins anew. This first reading is calledB'resheet-"In the Beginning".

TORAH: Genesis 1:1-6:8
HAFTARAH: Isaiah 42:5-43:10

TORAH

*Genesis 1:1-5"In the beginning Elohim (English: God) created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then Elohim said, "Let there be light; and there was light. And Elohim saw the light, that it was good; and Elohim divided the light from the darkness. Elohim called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day."

As we open to the first chapter of this God-breathed (II Timothy 3:16) book, GOD is simplythere--creating. The SPIRIT of God is there (vs 2). And as God speaks, His living WORD is there (Vs 3; John 1:1). Elohim is a Hebrew word translated into English God. It is a plural word-yet when used of the Hebrew God it is always treated with a singular verb.

*Genesis 1:3"God said: 'Let there be light!' And there was light." The Scriptures do not say that God "created" light (God Himself is light, I John 1:5). Rather, He spoke it forth-"Be light!"-and it was released into His creation! John 1:1-9 speaks of Yeshua as being God's Word, in whom was life "which is the light for men".

There are a number of words used for God's actions during these early "beginnings" chapters:creating (from nothing that is seen, Hebrews 11:3); makingbuildingfashioning or shaping(out of something already created); working (Interestingly, for bringing into being the "adam" (man) in His image, both the acts of creating and fashioning are used (Genesis 1:2, 2:7).

*Genesis 1:5"And there was evening and there was morning, one day." Today, in Israel all days for religious observance (such as the Sabbath or feast days) are reckoned from sundown the evening before rather than sunrise.

*Genesis 2:3"And on the seventh day Elohim ended His creative work which He had done, and He ceased on the seventh day from all His creative work which He had done. Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and sanctified it (Hebrew: "made it holy"), because in it He ceased from all His creative work which Elohim had created and made". It is significant that the first place in Scripture in which we see God making something "holy" or "set apart" is here in relation to the seventh day of the week when He shabbat-"ceased working".

*Genesis 1:27"So God created man in His image, in the image of Elohim He created him; masculine and feminine He created them." "Man" in Hebrew is adam. In Genesis 2:7, we are shown that Elohim formed the adam our of adamah (earth-which, in turn, is adomah-"reddish in color"). The modern-day Hebrew term for "human being" is still benei-adam-"son (or child) of adam." From this passage it is clear that God, although always referred to in the masculine gender, bears, nevertheless, within His nature both the masculine and feminine which is transferred into the nature of those created "in His image".

By the end of Chapter 3 that image is marred and what had received the breath of life is, because of sin, already dying. In 4:1 the man and woman have begun to reproduce, and realize that their Creator and the One through whom this new life comes has a name, YHVH (Yehovah, "The LORD"). Their sons bring offerings to this YHVH (4:3); yet it will be many generations before Humankind comes to know and use that Name in a personal and intimate sense (Exodus 3:15b; 6:2-3).

In Genesis 4:8 murder is committed, and Abel, a good man whose sacrifice pleased God, becomes the first man to die. It is interesting that Abel's name in the Hebrew is spelled the same as the Hebrew word for "vapor" or "vanity" (This word both begins and permeates the book of Ecclesiastes which we have been reading during the feast of Sukkot.). Life is but a vapor which is here and passes away, and the life of Abel the good and that of Cain the wicked are both temporary.

*Genesis 4:26"And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Ehnoshe."

It was perhaps with an awareness of the death of his brother Abel, as well as of the sin-sickness obviously at work in his eldest brother Cain that Seth chose to name his first sonEhnoshe. Ehnoshe is often translated into English "man" (Psalm 8:4, "What is man (ehnoshe) that You are mindful of him, and the son of man (ben-adamthat you visit him?"). But the word more literally means "mortal". Just as English "mortal" has to do with that in man which dies ("mortuary" is related to that word), so ehnoshe has within it a reference to the fallen effect of sin in the children of Adam. Ehnushe, a word using the same Hebrew letters, appears in Jeremiah 17:9 where it says that the heart is deceitful above all things and"desperately wicked" (NJKV), "desperately sick" (ESV and NAS), "beyond cure" (NIV).

By Genesis 6 the earth is corrupted through sinful man in conjunction with rebellious angelic beings. "Then YHVH saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.So YHVH said, 'I will destroy the man (Hebrew: the adam) whom I have created from the face of the earth(Hebrew: the adamah).' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD(6:5,7a, 8). To"find grace in the eyes of" is an expression which is still common in modern Hebrew, meaning "to bring pleasure to."

PLEASE PRAY: that today when, "as it was in the days of Noah" (Matthew 24:37), we are faced with a rapidly rising darkness of evil on the earth, there will arise also not one but a multitude of latter-day "Noah's"---who will bring pleasure to their LORD, who will "walk with God", who will "find grace in His eyes." The English translation of a popular Hebrew worship song, written some years back by an Israeli teenager read:

Come Spirit, Come Spirit, Come today/The Desire of my heart is to find grace in your eyes/The desire of my soul is to be more like you/Come God, Dwell within me, Make me pure/Focus my eyes on what pleases You that I may be devoted to You

--Boi Ruakh. ©2004 by Keren Seguin

HAFTARAH

*Isaiah 42:5-7"Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: 'I, YHVH, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.'"

*Isaiah 43:1-3b"But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk throu8gh the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

*Isaiah 43:5-7"Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth-everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.'"

*Isaiah 43:10"'You are my witnesses,' says the LORD, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.'"

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem
 
[The readings for next week (19-25 October) are called Noach-"Noah"TORAH: Genesis 6:9-11:32; HAFTARAH: Isaiah 54:1-55:5; Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan (the Eighth Month): Numbers 28:9-15, Isaiah 66:1-24]