於2017-11-03發佈


每週一妥拉 2017/10/29-11/4

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10/29-11/4)被稱為顯現(VaYera
妥拉創世記18:1—22:24
先知書:列王記下4:1-37

*創世記 18:1, 3.耶和華在幔利橡樹那裡向亞伯拉罕顯現出來。那時正熱,亞伯拉罕坐在帳棚門口,舉目觀看,見有三個人在對面站著。他一見,就從帳棚門口跑去迎接他們,俯伏在地,說:我主,我若在祢眼前蒙恩,求祢不要離開僕人往前去。』約翰福音8:56, 58,耶穌說:『你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜地仰望我的日子,既看見了就快樂。還沒有亞伯拉罕就有了我(I AM)。』 

*在希伯來聖經中,沒有比這段更清楚的例子,說明神成為人的樣式向亞伯拉罕『顯現』。當亞伯拉罕看見祂就跑去迎接祂,因為亞伯拉罕認得神(不要忘記,神先前至少向他『顯現』三次(使7:2; 創12:7; 17:1),而且他越來越熟識『主的話』臨到他的方式(創13:14; 15:1)。這裡亞伯拉罕迎接三個人,對其中一個說『我主』。他並沒有用一般的希伯來文Adoni(主/主人/先生),從經文的母音處顯示他使用Adonai─一種單單用來尊稱神的讀法。接著在亞伯拉罕與撒拉之間的對話,很清楚看出他們是在和主說話,另外兩個『人』顯然是很快要來毀滅所多碼與蛾摩拉的天使。 

請為在以色列的信徒禱告:用我們的耳傾聽祂的聲音並尋求祂的面,使我們越來越熟識我們的主與祂的使者,當他們在我們中間運行時,我們可以認出他們的同在。並禱告在我們的忙碌中,不可忘記用愛心接待客旅;因為曾有接待客旅的,不知不覺就接待了天使。(希伯來書13:2 

*在幔利橡樹那裡顯現出來,此地就是希伯崙。希伯崙這個字與『友誼』或『伴侶』有關意味親密的聯盟。一些人視希伯崙為希伯來人『身份認同』的真正地方,而非耶路撒冷。就在這個地方,主以人的形式和亞伯拉罕如同朋友般一同吃喝聊天,從那時起,這城市對希伯來人而言就有著神聖的意義。所有的族長都埋葬在這裡;以色列在埃及的四百年間,仇敵試圖掌管這地,但當約書亞和迦勒帶領百姓進入應許之地時,迦勒除去這地所有的巨人。同樣在希伯崙這個地方,大衛在神的指示下,建立他頭七年的王國。猶太人持續住在希伯崙直到現代,在1929年時這裡發生暴動與屠殺,到了1967年(到了今年五月25日滿50年),以色列軍隊不費吹灰之力就得著希伯崙。不久之後,一群勇敢的猶太女子代表團行軍並佔據城內的一個地方;另一個猶太定居點則建在城外。為了展現對奧斯陸和平協議的敬意,以色列軍隊於1997年終於撤出(還有一些人在那裡留守護衛,確保進入族長之墓的權利)。自由派的政府施壓以色列,要完全將這城市讓出來,全部撤出,直到現在此尚未發生。 

穆斯林的宗教視希伯崙為其領袖之一的出生地,為了要解決其教導與聖經之間的不同,他們宣稱希伯來聖經串改古老的記載,事實上亞伯拉罕是第一位穆斯林,而阿拉的約則是透過以實瑪利而來。現今在此宗教背後的靈,就像古時亞巴的巨人一樣緊抓著希伯崙。猶太人住在希伯崙裡面與周圍,儘管展現出極大的勇氣與熱情,有時卻以暴力來彰顯他們的熱心,與環繞他們的仇敵並沒有什麼不同。 

請禱告:主所定的時間與目的將會釋放在希伯崙,如同在天上。禱告大光同時照亮在希伯崙的阿拉伯社區和猶太社區,那是渴望與亞當之子成為朋友的至高神之光。禱告抵擋殘酷暴力(希伯來文:哈瑪斯)的屬靈堅固營壘,其尋求掌控在此城市裡的猶太人和阿拉伯人。禱告以色列不輕看她與生俱來的權利,此包括她先祖埋葬在這城市之地。 

*創世記18:14.耶和華豈有難成的事嗎?到了日期,明年這時候,我必回到你這裡,撒拉必生一個兒子。比較:耶利米書32:17-18.『主耶和華啊,祢曾用大能和伸出來的膀臂創造天地,在祢沒有難成的事。祢施慈愛與千萬人,又將父親的罪孽報應在他後世子孫的懷中,是至大全能的神,萬軍之耶和華是祢的名。』許多翻譯將『在祢沒有更驚奇的事』,翻成『在祢沒有難成的事』。這樣翻只翻對一部份,希伯來文peleh的意思是非凡或非比尋常到令人驚奇。同樣的字也被用在出埃及記15:11:『耶和華啊,眾神之中,誰能像祢?誰能像祢─至聖至榮,可頌可畏,施行奇事?』我們的神是奇妙策士,施行超凡的事遠超過我們能力所及,沒有任何事能挑戰祂的極限。 

*創世記18:19. 我眷顧他,為要叫他吩咐他的眾子和他的眷屬遵守我的道,秉公行義,使我所應許亞伯拉罕的話都成就了。詩篇71:18承擔起此重要的責任,伴隨著神渴望與我們的親密,傳承給那些跟隨在後的人:『神啊,我到年老髮白的時候,求你不要離棄我!等我將祢的能力指示下代,將祢的大能指示後世的人。』 

*創世記20:6-7. 神在夢中對他(亞比米勒)說:我知道你做這事是心中正直;我也攔阻了你,免得你得罪我,所以我不容你沾著他。現在你把這人的妻子歸還他;因為他是先知,他要為你禱告,使你存活。你若不歸還他,你當知道,你和你所有的人都必要死。』

請禱告:雖然我們周圍環繞著對我們充滿敵意的人,卻容我們的心對每一個國家的所有男女充滿神的恩典與慈愛,要記得祂不願任何一人沈淪。禱告我們不會對那些環繞我們之人與國家存有刻板印象,乃是敏銳並預備好,為著那些神揀選釋放祂恩典與憐憫之人的重建與豐盛禱告。

*創世記 21:9-12. 當時,撒拉看見埃及人夏甲給亞伯拉罕所生的兒子戲笑,就對亞伯拉罕說:「你把這使女和她兒子趕出去!因為這使女的兒子不可與我的兒子以撒一同承受產業。」亞伯拉罕因他兒子的緣故很憂愁。神對亞伯拉罕說:「你不必為這童子和你的使女憂愁。凡撒拉對你說的話,你都該聽從;因為從以撒生的,才要稱為你的後裔。」

作者發現一些將中東衝突歸咎於亞伯拉罕不應將以實瑪利送走的教導是錯的,並且帶著『拒絕的靈』,原因1)這段經文和加拉太書4:28-31都清楚表示亞伯拉罕是順服神,尊榮撒拉將以實瑪利送走的請求。2)這樣教導的人通常有一個觀點,就是所有阿拉伯人都是以實瑪利的子孫,這樣的立場並不符合聖經與歷史證據(如此的看法無視那些早在以實瑪利和以撒出生前就存在,今日稱為『阿拉伯』國家的數百萬子孫)。以實瑪利戲笑以撒可能意味著夏甲並沒有完全遵照主使者的指示,從曠野回到撒拉那裏,服在她手下(16:9)。在所有事件中,神愛夏甲和以實瑪利,並且看顧他們,以實瑪利甚至成為12族長的父親(創25:16)。

*創世記 21:33. 亞伯拉罕在別是巴栽上一棵垂絲柳樹,又在那裏求告耶和華─永生神的名。』正如之前我們曾提過,當我們與創世記的族長一起前進時,神曾在吾珥向亞伯蘭顯現,現在仍繼續彰顯祂新的本性與特性,呈現出這位神如何不同於其他在迦南人所崇拜的神明。在這裡亞伯拉罕使用神的新名:耶和華是『永生神』

*創世記22:2. 神說:「你帶著你的兒子,就是你獨生的兒子,你所愛的以撒,往摩利亞地去,在我所要指示你的山上,把他獻為燔祭。」上一次神使用『去』這個字是在吾珥(創12:1)。一開始亞伯拉罕要遷移是看他自己,然後神一路指引他,最終進入遙遠的迦南地。現在的亞伯拉罕老了許多,與神同行多年,如朋友般與祂相交,如今這位信心之父(歡歡喜喜地仰望耶穌的日子!約翰福音8:56)相信這位神是復活神,是生命之主。在創世記22:5他對與他同去的僕人確保:『他與童子往那裏去拜一拜,就回到你們這裏來。』

亞伯拉罕因著信,被試驗的時候,就把以撒獻上;這便是那歡喜領受應許的,將自己獨生的兒子獻上。論到這兒子,曾有話說:「從以撒生的才要稱為你的後裔。」他以為神還能叫人從死裏復活;他也彷彿從死中得回他的兒子來。』(希伯來書11:17-19)

*創世記22:7-8.以撒對他父親亞伯拉罕說:父親哪!亞伯拉罕說:我兒,我在這裡。以撒說:請看,火與柴都有了,但燔祭的羊羔在哪裡呢?亞伯拉罕說:我兒,神必自己預備作燔祭的羊羔。於是二人同行。創世記22:14. 亞伯拉罕給那地方起名叫耶和華以勒【就是耶和華必預備(供應)的意思】,直到今日人還說:在耶和華的山上必有預備(供應)。』 

在古希伯來文yireh這個字帶有『供應』(provision)的概念,但在當時與今日的實質意義卻是『看見』(to see)的動詞形式。『神必自己看見羊羔』(22:8);『耶和華必看見』;『在耶和華的山上必被看見』(22:14)。我相信這是『神看見』貫穿整本聖經如此重要的原因,包括住在『祂臉的光中』(詩篇 44:3; 80:19),『尋求祂的面』(詩篇 27:8-9)與『在主眼中蒙恩』(創世記 6:8)的重要性。倘若沒有任何東西介於我們和祂的臉(祂看見的地方)之間,我們人生旅程中所有的供應都會在那裡。最後,神真的『供應了羊羔』。在以賽亞書53:11用到相同的字:祂必看見自己勞苦的功效,便心滿意足。有許多人因認識我的義僕得稱為義;並且祂要擔當他們的罪孽。

*創世記22:13.亞伯拉罕舉目觀看,不料,有一隻公羊,兩角扣在稠密的小樹中,亞伯拉罕就取了那隻公羊來,獻為燔祭,代替他的兒子。』

我們相信在這裡呈現出號角或羊角重要的意涵;這裡所說兩角扣在稠密的小樹中,就是來描繪神對所有人類的供應─『神的羔羊除去世人的罪』。羊角響起的聲音就是羔羊救贖工作與得勝的聲音,當羊角聲在對的時候與在聖靈(Ruah haKodesh)的權柄中被吹出來時,魔鬼就顫抖,神的軍隊正釋放出能力、勇氣與喜樂!

下週的閱讀進度(11/5-11/11)被稱為『撒拉的一生』(Chayeh Sarah)妥拉─創世記23:1-25:18;先知書─列王記上1:1-31。 

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.

The readings for this week 29 October—4 November 2017 are called VaYera— “And [The LORD] Appeared”:

TORAH:  Genesis 18:1—22:24
HAFTARAH:  II Kings 4:1-37

*Genesis 18:1, 3. “Then the LORD appeared to him [Abraham] by the terebinth trees of Mamre [Hebron], as he was sitting in the tent door…Three men were standing by him…he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, ‘My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.” 

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad…Before Abraham was, I AM.”  Yeshua speaking: John 8:56, 58.

There is no clearer example in the Hebrew Scriptures of God taking on human form to meet with His children—He “appeared” to Abraham.  When Abraham sees Him and runs to greet Him, it is to Someone he recognizes (Remember, God had already “appeared” to Him at least three times before—Acts 7:2; Gen. 12:7; 17:1).  By this time he had also certainly come to recognize the sound of the “Word of the LORD” coming to him (Gen. 13:14; 15:1).  Abraham approaches the three men, but to One he says, “My Lord…”  Now, instead of using the normal Hebrew word Adoni(Lord/Master/Sir), the vowel points of the text show that he addressed him in the plural Adonaia usage reserved for Deity!  And in the ensuing conversation, both with Abraham and with Sarah (verse 1, 17, 22, 33), it is made abundantly clear that it is Yehovah—the LORD with whom he speaking.  The other two ‘men’ are obviously angels (Genesis 19:1), who will soon release destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah.

PLEASE PRAY for believers in Israel that, from “inclining our ears to His voice” and “seeking His face”, we become so familiar with our Lord and His messengers that we recognize their presence when they move among us.  Pray for us that in our busy-ness we “not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2).

*The LORD appears to him by the terebinth trees at Mamre—which is Hebron.  Hebron is related to the word for “friendship” or “companionship”—implying a close association.  Some see Hebron, not Jerusalem, as being the true place of Hebrew “identity.”   It was here that the LORD in human appearance and Abraham ate and talked together as friends. The city would have holy significance for the Hebrews from this time on.  All of the Patriarchs would be buried there.  During the 400 years that Israel was in Egypt, the evil one would try and take it over; but Caleb would rip it away from those giants when he and Joshua finally brought their people into the land.  It would be here that David, at the instruction of the Lord, set up his kingdom for the first seven years of his reign.  Jews continued to dwell in Hebron until modern times, when an uprising and massacre took place there in 1929.  In 1967 (exactly 50 years ago this past May 25th), Hebron was taken by Israeli troops without firing a shot.  Sometime later, a contingent of brave Jewish women marched in and occupied a place inside of the city; another Jewish settlement was built outside.  In 1997, in obeisance to the Oslo “accord,” occupying Israeli troops finally pulled out of the city (some continue to be stationed there to guard the tiny enclave of Jews and to insure access to the Tomb of the Patriarchs).  Liberal Israeli governments have pushed for Israel to simply yield up the city and pull out of it altogether; until now, that has not happened. 

The Muslim religion looks at Hebron as the burial place of one of its leaders.  It has sought to resolve discrepancies between its teachings and those of the Bible by holding that the Hebrew Scriptures alter the ancient accounts, that in fact Ibrahim [Abraham] was the first Muslim, and Allah’s covenant came through Isma’il [Ishmael], not Isaac.  Presently, like the giants of Arbah in ancient times, the spirit behind this religion holds Hebron in its grip.  And the Jews living in and around Hebron, although showing great courage and devotion, at times manifest their zeal in a violence not far-removed from that of those they perceive as their enemies surrounding them. 

PLEASE PRAY:  that the timings and purposes of the LORD will be released in Hebron “on earth as they are in Heaven”.  Pray for a Great Light to illumine both Arab and Jew in their communities in Hebron, the light of the Most High God who desires to have a friendship with all the sons of Adam.  Pray against the spiritual strongholds of cruel violence (Hebrew: hamas) which seek to hold both Jew and Arab captive in this city.  Pray that national Israel will not come to despise her birthright, which includes this city of the burial place of her Fathers.   

*Genesis 18:14. “Is anything too wonderful for the LORD?  At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

 [cf:  Jeremiah 32;17-18.  “Ah, Lord YHVH!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great Power and outstretched arm.  There is nothing too wonderful for you…the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is YHVH of Armies.”]. 

Many English translations read “too difficult” or “too hard” for “wonderful”.  This is partly correct, but Hebrew peleh means “that which is so extraordinary or unusual as to awaken wonder”.  This is the word used in Exodus 15:11— “You are awesome in praise, doing wonders O LORD.”  Our God is a God of Wonders—executing extra-ordinary acts beyond our abilities to comprehend.  Yet, nothing challenges His comprehension!

*Genesis 18:19. “For I [YHVH] have known him [Abraham], in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of YHVH, to do righteousness and justice, that YHVH may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”  Psalm 71:18 picks up on this crucial  responsibility which accompanies the intimacy which God desires to have with us—that of passing it on to those who follow after us, “Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.”

*Genesis 20:6-7.  “And God said to him [Abimelech] in a dream, ‘Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart.  For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.  Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live….” 

PLEASE PRAY:  that though surrounded by peoples who are often hostile to us, we would make allowance in our hearts for the grace and loving kindness which goes forth from our God on behalf of all men and women of every nation.  He is not willing that any should perish.  Pray that we will not stereotype and dismiss the peoples and nations around us, but be sensitive and ready to pray restoration and prosperity upon those whom God may choose through us to rest His grace and mercy.

*Genesis 20:7. “Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live.”

This is the first mention of the word “prophet” (Hebrew: navi) in Scripture.

Nabi [or navi] literally means "to bubble up." It describes one who is stirred up in spirit…When the sense of "bubbling up" is applied to speaking, it becomes "to declare." Hence, a nabi, or a prophet, is an announcer—one who pours forth the declarations of God. (John W. Ritenbaugh, Forerunner Commentary)

*Genesis 21:9-12.  “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.  Therefore she said to Abraham, ‘Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my sons, with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing to Abraham’s sight because of his son.  But God said to Abraham, ‘Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman.  Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.  Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”

We find teachings seeking to attribute the conflict in the Middle East to a “rejection spirit” occasioned by Abraham’s wrongfully sending Ishmael away, to be misguided, because 1) both this passage and Galatians 4:28-31 make clear that Abraham was obeying God in honoring Sarah’s demand to send Ishmael away, and 2) those who teach this usually do so from a viewpoint that all Arab peoples are descended from Ishmael, a stance for which there is no Biblical or historically verifiable support (such a view disregards the presence and descendants of the millions who lived in what are today considered “Arab” countries long before Ishmael or Isaac were even born).  The ridiculing of Isaac by Ishmael may imply that Hagar had not fully obeyed the Angel of the LORD in “submitting herself to Sarah and her hand” after she returned the first time from the desert (16:9).  In all events, God loved Hagar and Ishmael and watched over them—eventually Ishmael became the “father” of twelve princes (Gen. 12:20; 25:16).

*Genesis 21:33. “Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of YHVH, the Everlasting God.”  As we have mentioned, as we progress with the Patriarchs through Genesis, we see YHVH who appeared to Abram in Ur, continually revealing new attributes of His nature and character—showing how this “El” (God) differs from all the other “el’s” worshipped by the Canaanites in the land. There attributes are reflected in the new names by which He is called. Here Abraham coins just such a new name, YHVH El Olam— “Yehovah, the God who is Eternal.” 

*Genesis 22:2. “Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go forth, yourself (Hebrew: Lekh-lekha!to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  The last time God used the words Lekh-lekha!(literally “Begin walking, yourself”!), was in Ur (Gen. 12:1).  It was up to Abraham himself to begin moving—and then God guided him ‘in his going’, bringing him against all hope eventually into the far-away land of Canaan.  Now Abraham is much older, and has walked with this God for many years and communed with him as a Friend.  This is even more an obedience against hope—but by now this Man of Faith (who rejoiced to see Yeshua’s day! John 8:56) had come to believe in this God as the very “Resurrection and the Life.”  In 22:5, he doggedly assures the young men with him that “the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and WE will come back to you.” 

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’  He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”  (Hebrews 11:17-19). 

*Genesis 22:7-8, 14. “Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’  And he said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’  Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’  So the two of them walked on together…And Abraham called the name of the place “YHVH will Provide…In the Mount of YHVH it will be Provided.”

In ancient Hebrew the word yireh could idiomatically carry with it an idea of “provision”.  Yet literally it was then, as today, a form of the verb “To See”.  “God will see for Himself the Lamb” (22:8); “YHVH will see; as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of YHVH it will be seen” (22:14).  God’s “seeing”, and our being “in His sight” is so important!  We believe this to be a reason so much emphasis is placed throughout Scripture on the importance of dwelling “in the light of His face” (Psalm 44:3; 80:19)—“seeking His face” (Psalm 27:8-9)— “finding grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8).   If there is nothing coming between us and His face (the place of His “seeing”), all the provision for our journey will be there.  Lastly, God had indeed “seen/provided the Lamb”.  Isaiah 53:11 uses the same word— “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.  By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.”

*Genesis 22:13. “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horn.”  We believe that here lies an important part of the significance of the shofar or rams’ horn.  Here, caught by its horn, was the symbol of God’s Provision for all humankind--the ‘Lamb of God which carries away the sin of the world’.  The sound of the shofar is a sound of the redemptive work and victory of the Lamb.  When it is blown in the timing and authority of the Ruah haKodesh (Holy Spirit/Wind)…demons tremble, and the hearts of God’s army are strengthened and renewed with courage and joy! 

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem


[The readings for next week (5-11 November 2017) are called Chayeh Sarah— “Sarah’s Life”.  TORAH: Genesis 23:1—25:18;  HAFTARAH: I Kings 1:1-31.]