於2016-05-27發佈


每週一妥拉 2016/5/22-5/28

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。 

這週的閱讀進度5/22-5/28被稱為我的律例B'Chukkothai
妥拉:利未記26:3-27:34
先知書:耶利米書16:19—17:14

這週我們會讀完利未記;廿六章將利未記帶到一個合宜的結尾(廿七章則為附錄,聚焦在聖所種種獻祭和繳稅的律法上)。廿六章強調遵行主的律例典章而有的恩寵和祝福(3-13節)順服影響著氣候和地土,正如不順服(在園中)對其所帶來的咒詛。接著是五個不順服神命令的後果警告,每一個警告前面都會說:你們若不聽從我』、『你們因這些事若還不聽從我』、『你們行事若與我反對,不肯聽從我,或是你們因這些事若仍不改正歸我,行事與我反對。在在說明主的渴望是:這些嚴厲的管教會將祂的子民帶回生命之道,而不是遠離。 

34-35節處理地的歇息,倘若以色列最後被逐出,以色列將會陷在失去神的流亡困境中(36-39節);他們若謙卑自己就會再次被重建(是主的憐憫帶領我們悔改),並回轉尋求祂的道路。最後幾節則是對猶太人的悔改,以及對未來盼望所帶來的安慰和鼓勵不管是後來流亡到巴比倫的期間,甚至更大的流亡一直到今日。 

當我們讀完摩西五經的一卷書時,習慣上會在結束閱讀時宣告: 

『要剛強!要剛強,願我們都被堅固!』
"Chazak, Chazak, v'Nit'Chazek!! 

*耶利米書17:5-8:耶和華如此說:倚靠人血肉的膀臂,心中離棄耶和華的,那人有禍了! 因他必像沙漠的杜松,不見福樂來到,卻要住曠野乾旱之處,無人居住的鹼地。倚靠耶和華、以耶和華為可靠的,那人有福了!他必像樹栽於水旁,在河邊扎根,炎熱來到,並不懼怕,葉子仍必青翠,在乾旱之年毫無掛慮,而且結果不止。』 

這是為以色列彌賽亞肢體禱告很棒的一段經文;重要的是,我們不該信靠個人的天然能力,否則當福樂來到時我們就看不見。我們知道『炎熱』會以許多形式來到(我們已經在自然環境經歷『多年的乾旱』,但神的渴望是我們可以扎根於祂聖靈的水旁,好讓祂的恩典使我們在炎熱時仍保持青翠,並且結果不止。 

請禱告:我們可以被餵養與訓練,好使我們的信靠與信心全然在祂身上,我們也會為你們做同樣的禱告! 

*耶利米書17:14: 耶和華─以色列的盼望啊,凡離棄祢的必致蒙羞。耶和華說:離開我的,他們的名字必寫在土裡,因為他們離棄我這活水的泉源。耶和華啊,求祢醫治我,我便痊癒,拯救我,我便得救;因祢是我所讚美的。』 

以色列的國歌就叫『盼望』(HaTiqva),但那首歌的『盼望』是說『要在我們的土地上成為一個自由的國家』。以色列不會在她的土地上擁有真正的『自由』,直到天父的兒子釋放她得自由,她就『真自由了』(約翰福音8:36),直到她領悟到只有主才是她的『盼望』。但此正要開始發生!

請持續禱告:越來越多以色列人找到『活水的泉源,那是我們得醫治與拯救的泉源,而且祂會成為『我們的讚美』!

下週的閱讀進度(5/24-5/6)被稱為『在曠野』B'midbar讀經內容包括:妥拉─民數記1:1-4:20;先知書─何西阿書1:10-2:20。

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.  The Haftarah, unless otherwise noted, will be that read in Ashkenazy synagogues around the world. The references for all texts are those found in English translations of the Scriptures.

NOTE:  Below are the texts for the Parasha read in Jerusalem.  Because in the Diaspora (i.e. communities of Jews outside of Israel) an extra day is celebrated at Passover (and this year, that day came on a Sabbath), the readings read outside of Israel are now behind one week from those read here.   On August 6th, through the use of a special “double reading” covering the final chapters of the Book of Numbers, the readings both inside and outside of Israel will once again coincide.

The Parasha for this week 22-28 May 2016 is called B’Chukotai—“In My Statutes”:

TORAH:  Leviticus 26:3—27:34
HAFTARAH:  Jeremiah 16:19—17:14

With this reading we come to the end of the Book of Leviticus.  Chapter 26 brings the book-proper to a close (Chapter 27 is an appendix “focusing on a variety of laws pertaining to voluntary offerings and taxed obligations to the sanctuary). Chapter 26 emphasizes the favor and blessing which will accompany walking in obedience to statutes and commandments of the Lord (vss 3-13)—Obedience will affect the very weather and soil of the land, even as dis-obedience (in the Garden of Eden) had brought a curse on the ground.  Then follow five necessary warnings of the consequences for getting out from under the Protection afforded by obedience to God’s directives.  Each of these warnings is preceded by “But if you do not obey Me”—or, “And after all this, if you do not obey Me”—or, “Then if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me”—or, “And if by these things you are not reformed by me, but walk contrary to me’.  (The clear implication is that it is the LORD’s desire that these severe disciplines will draw His people back into His way of life, not away from it.)  Verses 34-35 deal with the recovery of the Land if Israel is finally ejected, the plight of Israel in exile without God (36-39); and the restoration of the people when they at last humble themselves (“It is the Lord’s mercies which lead us to repentance”) and turn back to seek His ways.  These closing words would be a comfort, an encouragement to repentance, a hope of a future for Jews—both during the future exile in Babylon, and through an even greater exile down to today.

As we complete our way through each of the Books of Moses, it is customary to end the reading with the following declaration:

“Chazak, Chazak, v’Nit’Chazek!!
“Be Strong!  Be Strong! And may we be Strengthened!”

*Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NIV):  “This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.  He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes.  He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.  But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’”

This is a wonderful passage to pray over the Body of Messiah in Israel.  It is so essential that we be weaned from trusting in our own natural abilities—otherwise, we will not even see true prosperity when it arrives.  We know that ‘heat’ will be coming, and in many forms (A week ago Israel experienced a near-record heat wave for this time of year; it has also been another relatively dry rainy season in the Galilee). But it is God’s desire that we be so rooted in the streams of His living Spirit that His grace will keep us green and fruitful, even during those times. 

PLEASE PRAY:  that we be nurtured and trained in placing our trust and confidence totally in Him.  We pray the same for you!

*Jeremiah 17:14:  “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be ashamed.  ‘Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the source of living water, the LORD.’  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.” 

HaTiqva—“The Hope”, is the name of Israel’s national anthem.  The ‘hope’ in that song is “to be a nation free in our Land.”   But Israel will never be truly ‘free’ in her land until the Son has set her free and she is “free indeed” (John 8:36)—until she realizes that the LORD alone is her ‘Hope’.  THIS IS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN!!  Please continue to pray that more and more Israelis will find the ‘Source of living water”—our healing, our Salvation—and that He become “Our Praise!”

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (29 May—4 June) are calledB’Midbar—“In the Desert”:  TORAH:  Numbers 1:1—4:20;  HAFTARAH:  Hosea 1:10---2:20]