於2016-07-22發佈


每週一妥拉 2016/7/17-7/23

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7/17-7/23)稱為『非尼哈』(Pinchas讀經內容包括
妥拉民數記25:10-29:40
先知書列王記上18:46-19:21

            
                 我為耶和華─萬軍之神大發熱心
             (列王記上19:14; 請參考以下的先知書)

                在迦密山上以利亞殺戮巴力先知的雕像。

主的熱心/主忌邪的心

*民數記25: 11, 13.祭司亞倫的孫子,以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈,使我向以色列人所發的怒消了;因他在他們中間,以我的忌邪為心,使我不在忌邪中把他們除滅。這約要給他和他的後裔,作為永遠當祭司職任的約;因他為神有忌邪的心,為以色列人贖罪。

希伯來字Kinah在聖經上可以翻成熱心忌邪神聖的熱心是對某件事或某個人的熱愛而焚燒著熱情的忌邪。我們必須要知道的是,同樣的字若是由肉體點燃就變成『嫉妒』(箴言23:17)。大衛唱到他對主的殿的熱心如同火燒(詩篇69:9),這首詩歌也成為要來彌賽亞的預言(約翰福音2:17)。撒迦利亞書1:14記錄了耶和華對耶路撒冷的熱心,而以賽亞書9:6-7說到祂對祂兒子與祂公義國度的熱心。非尼哈則對『尊榮他的神』(25:11,13充滿著熱心(或忌邪的心)。(備註我們必須依據何為神的義之知識 (羅馬書10:2-3),否則可能會釋放不加區別之人的怒氣,並不能成就神的義(雅各書 1:20)。很重要知道的是,Kinah可能也會被用為一種肉體發動不聖潔的忌邪,那不過是嫉妒而已─箴言23:17)。

請禱告:求神在以色列的信徒中甦醒一顆燃燒的熱心,一顆聖潔的忌邪之心,單單為著神的事是以真理與真知識為根基(羅馬書10:2要讓神轉離怒氣,我們需要這樣忌邪的心,好使之後世代的子民不致被除滅。 

*列王記上19:11-12. 微小的聲音。『耶和華卻不在風中;風後地震,耶和華卻不在其中;地震後有火,耶和華也不在火中;火後有微小的聲音』。『微小的聲音』也可以翻譯成『靜默時刻的聲音』。對那些充滿熱心的人而言,領會這時刻、孕育神的話是很重要的。在洞中,以利亞說他對耶和華『大發熱心』,但神卻必須讓他知道,烈風、崩山碎石、地震再加上熱心仍不夠─強大的逼迫使以利亞感到心灰意冷、拒絕與害怕,在暴風的中心一定也需要神安靜話語的穩定同在。當他降服在神的話語時,主才能釋放指令要他『回去』(15節),繼續進行神對他的呼召。儘管在以色列的喧鬧聲中,要領會並擁抱『靜止沈默的時刻』並不容易,卻很重要。詩篇4:4字面上說:『你們應當畏懼,不可犯罪;在床上的時候,要心裡思想,並要肅靜。』(這裡的肅靜與列王記上的微小的聲音是同一個希伯來字)。

請禱告:當此靜止沈默的時刻臨到時,我們會花時間聆聽並進入這些時刻。幾年前我們的一位詩人歌手伊戶伯耐(Ehud Banai)依據聖經寫了一首大有能力的歌曲,以下是英文翻譯: 

一個靜止沈默的時刻

它突然來到,就在白天與夜晚之間
當無人真正預備好時
它穿過一切頻率與管道
從城市裡的高速公路到一般房舍
無人知曉它是什麼或它關乎什麼
先前並無人聽過像這樣的事
一個靜止沈默的時刻

它在總理刮鬍子之際深深抓住了他
他跑向電話,卻在那裡也聽到了此瞬間
它切入脫口秀的現場廣播
使人人靜默無人知曉它是什麼
或它關乎什麼
先前並無人聽過像這樣的事
一個靜止沈默的時刻

它突然來到,就在白天與夜晚之間
它真實發生,感覺卻像在夢中
每一個人在他的地方獨自站著
聽見它從裡面出來
一個靜止沈默的時刻
過去的將會成為未來
過去的將會成為未來

新的世代重新計算人數

*民數記26:1-2:瘟疫之後,耶和華曉諭摩西和祭司亞倫的兒子以利亞撒說:你們要將以色列全會眾,按他們的宗族,凡以色列中從二十歲以外、能出去打仗的,計算總數民數記26:64-65: 『但被數的人中,沒有一個是摩西和祭司亞倫從前在西乃的曠野所數的以色列人,因為耶和華論到他們說:他們必要死在曠野。所以,除了耶孚尼的兒子迦勒和嫩的兒子約書亞以外,連一個人也沒有存留。 

二萬四千人受到摩押女子的誘惑而死在瘟疫中,悖逆的上一代終於過去,需要重新計算人數─新的一代每一個人都知道自己的位置,但『舊』的一代已被拋在後頭了。

*民數記 27:15-16. 摩西對耶和華說:願耶和華萬人之靈的神,立一個人治理會眾。』

這個名字幾乎和我們在民數記16:22所用的名字(萬人之靈的神)一樣,只是這裡還加上耶和華(YHVH),代表主統管萬有的知識在所有人裡頭運行。值得注意的是,摩西用這個名字來請求主對新領袖的任命,在主的回應中明確提到約書亞是心中有『聖靈』的(27:18)。

外袍的轉移

*民數記27:18-20: 嫩的兒子約書亞是心中有聖靈的;你將他領來,按手在他頭上,使他站在祭司以利亞撒和全會眾面前,囑咐他,又將你的尊榮給他幾分,使以色列全會眾都聽從他。』

列王記上19:16, 19『並膏亞伯米何拉人沙法的兒子以利沙作先知接續你。於是,…以利亞到他那裡去,將自己的外衣搭在他身上。』

約書亞在摩西領導下服事四十年,單有技巧與經驗尚且不足,還有更需要的事,那是超出摩西天生的本領。某樣東西顯出天上更高的權柄,正大大地影響著悖逆的百姓,使他們不得不繼續跟隨與尊敬摩西在曠野長達四十年之久。 

摩西傳給約書亞此獨特的『權柄』在希伯來文稱為hod─『一個與君尊有關的莊嚴或威嚴』(就是詩篇45:3的榮耀);這使得會眾聽從並順服約書亞的工作。此至高的權柄在這裡傳下去,是藉由按手並公開釋放主的命令(就職儀式)給約書亞。 

在本週的先知書閱讀,就在以利亞將自己的外衣給了以利沙,這位年輕的先知便隨後起身『跟隨』以利亞。

請禱告:為著以色列肢體的領袖能『聽從』並順服將自己的外袍傳承給忠心的人,好讓神能將恩寵釋放在未來要興起的世代。

對神所定時間和季節的提醒

*民數記28:2.你要吩咐以色列人說:獻給我的供物,就是獻給我作馨香火祭的食物,你們要按日期獻給我。 

我們獻祭的時間很重要;傳道書3:1-11說到時間和季節,神造萬物,各按其時成為美好。在民數記28-29章為新的世代重申主『所定的時候』:每天(早晚),每週(安息日),每月(月朔),春天(逾越節、除酵節、七七節/五旬節),秋天(吹角節、贖罪日、住棚節─包含八天節期中的不同指示)。在主軍隊進入他們新的土地前,先在這裡提出這些主所定的時候與相關的獻祭。 

下週的閱讀進度(7/24-7/30)稱為『支派』Matot),讀經內容包括:妥拉─民數記30:1—32:42;先知書(受苦的先知書)─耶利米書1:1-2:3。 

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 Parashah for this week 10-16 July 2016 is called Pinhas"Phinehas":
TORAH: Numbers 25:10-29:40
HAFTARAH: I Kings 18:46-19:21

              
"I have been very zealous for YHVH God of Armies."
       (II Kings 19:14; See Haftarah below)

Statue on Mount Carmel of Elijah slaughtering the prophets of Baal.

THE ZEAL OF THE LORD

*Numbers 25: 11, 13. "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aharon the Priest has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with my zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.He was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel".

The Hebrew word kinah may in Biblical usage be translated either zeal(NKJV) or jealousy (NASB). Holy zeal is a burning passionate jealousy on behalf of something or someone good and deeply loved. David sang of his zeal for God's House (Psalm 69:9) which consumed him, a song prophetic of the Messiah, Who was to come (John 2:17). Zechariah 1:14 records YHVH's zeal for Jerusalem-and Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of His zeal for His Son and the establishment of His Righteous Kingdom on Earth. Phinehas was zealous for "the honor of his God" (25:11, 13 NIV). (Note:But it must be based on a knowledge of what is righteous before God (Romans 10:2), otherwise it may be released in indiscriminate human anger which cannot work that righteousness (James 1:20). It is important also to know that kinah may be used for a kind of unholy jealousy ignited by the flesh, in which case it is refers to mere envy-Proverbs 23:17).

PLEASE PRAY: For the awakening of a burning zeal, a holy jealousy in believers in Israel for the things of God-based on truth and knowledge (Rom 10:2)-a zeal which will be necessary in turning away God's wrath so that his people in this later generation are not consumed.

The Hebrew word Kinah Biblically may be translated either zeal (NKJV) or jealousy (NASB). Holy zeal is a burning passionate jealousy on behalf of something or someone good and deeply loved (It is instructive to be aware that when ignited by the flesh, this word refers to mere envy(Proverbs 23:17). Phinehas was zealous for "the honor of his God" (25:11,13 NIV). In a psalm foreshadowing the coming Messiah, David sang of his zeal for God's House (Psalm 69:9; John 2:17). Zechariah 1:14 records YHVH's zeal for Jerusalem-and Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of His zeal for His Son and the establishment of His Righteous Kingdom on Earth.

PLEASE PRAY: For the awakening believers in Israel of a burning zeal, a holy jealousy for the things of God, based on truth and knowledge (Rom 10:2)-a zeal which will be necessary in turning away God's wrath so that his people in this later generation are not consumed.

*I Kings 19:11-12. The Voice in the Still Silent Moment"And the LORD was not in the wind.the earthquake.the fire; and after the fire a still small voice". The "still small voice" can also be translated, "A voice-a silence-a moment". Apprehending this moment, pregnant with the Word of God, is essential for those aflame with zeal. In the cave, Elijah protested that he had been "very zealous" on God's behalf-yet God had to show him that the roar and shaking and flame accompanying his zeal had not been enough-the intense persecution it had aroused had left Elijah with feelings of alienation, rejection and fear. There must also be the stabilizing presence of the quiet Word within, at the center of the storm. When He yielded to that Word, the Lord was able to release instructions for Him to "return to his way" (vs 15) and proceed onwards towards the culmination of his call. In the roar of Israel, it is difficult, yet essential to apprehend and embrace that "still silent moment". Psalm 4:4 literally says, "Become agitated and do not sin-speak in your hearts on your beds and be still (same Hebrew word as "still" in the I Kings verse).

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE TAKE THE TIME TO HEAR AND ENTER INTO THESE MOMENTS WHEN THEY COME. Ehud Banai, one of Israel's sometimes outspoken minstrel-poets with a moral sense often informed by Hebrew Scripture, some years back wrote a powerful song based on this passage. Here is the English translation:

A Still Silent Moment

It came suddenly, at a time between day and night
when no one was really ready for it yet
it passed through all the frequencies and channels
from the super highway to very house in the city
no one knew what is was or what is was about
no, no one had heard anything like it before
a still silent moment.


It caught the prime minister in the middle of shaving
he ran to the telephone but heard it there too
it cut into the live broadcast of the talk show
and silenced everyone no one knew what it was
or what is was about
no, no one had heard anything like it before
a still silent moment


It came suddenly, at a time between day and night
it happened in reality but it felt like a dream
and every person stood alone in his place


And heard it come from within
a still silent moment
What was will be
What was will be


(English Translation of "Dm'a'ma Daka": Ehud Banai, c2004)

A New Generation-A New Numbering

*Numbers 26:1-2: "And it came to pass, after the plague, that the LORD spoke to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying: 'Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and above, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go to war in Israel."-Numbers 26:64-65: "But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest (Numbers 2)when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said to them, 'They shall surely die in the wilderness.' So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun."

With the 24,000 who died in the plague brought on by the seduction of the women of Moab, the older generation which had rebelled forty years before is finally passed. A new numbering of the people must take place-a new accounting in which each knows his/her positioning-but the 'old' has been left behind.

*Numbers 27:16. "Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying 'Let YHVH, the God of Spirits of all Flesh set a man over the congregation.'"

This name for the deity (almost exactly the same as was used in Numbers 16:22, only this time using the personal name YHVH) implies the sovereign knowledge the LORD has of the inner workings of all human beings. It is noteworthy that Moses uses this name in requesting the LORD's appointment of a new leader-and the Lord responds by referring specifically to the "spirit" within Joshua (27:18).

The Transfer of Mantles

*Numbers 27:18-20: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. And you shall give some of your authority, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient" (NKJV)

I Kings 19:16, 19".and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him".

It was not enough that Joshua was skilled and experienced after serving over forty years under Moses' leadership. Something more was necessary; something beyond Moses' own natural abilities, something supernatural bespeaking the high authority of Heaven had affected the rebellious people in such a way that they had continued to follow and respect Moses' leadership in the desert for 40 years.

This particular "authority" of which he was commanded to pass some on to Joshua is Hebrew hod -"a grandeur or majesty related to royalty" ("splendor" in Psalm 45:3 NASB). This sovereign enabling for leadership, which would influence the congregation to listen to and obey his word. was passed on here by the laying on of hands and the public releasing of God's charge ("inaugurating") into Joshua.

In the Haftarah reading, after Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha, the younger prophet immediately arose and "ran after" him.

PLEASE PRAY: For leaders in the Body in Israel to "hear" and be obedient in passing on their mantles to faithful ones upon whom God will release favor in the generation rising up behind.

A Reminder of Appointed Times and Seasons

*Numbers 28:2. "Command the Children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time."

Timing is an important aspect of our worship. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 speaks of times and seasons, and of the necessity of timing in the manifesting of the beauty God desires to bring forth in His creation. Here in Chapters 28-29 are presented anew for the next generation the "appointed times" of the LORD (along with the sacrifices to be made during each): Daily (morning and evening), Weekly (Sabbaths), Monthly (Rosh Chodesh-Head of the Month), Springtime: Pesach (Passover), Matzot (Unleavened Bread),Shavuot (Weeks, Pentecost), Fall: Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Feast of Booths/Tabernacles, with instructions for each of the eight days). All these times of the LORD (with their relevant offerings) are here laid out afresh before His army, before moving forward into their new Land.

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (24-30 July 2016) are called Matot-"Tribes": TORAH: Numbers 30:1-32:42; HAFTARAH (Haftarah of Affliction/Admonition): Jeremiah 1:1-2:3]