於2019-03-02發佈


每週一妥拉 2019/2/24-3/2

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2/24-3/2)稱為『招聚』(VaYakhel
妥拉出埃及記35:1-38:20
+『舍客勒安息日』(Shabbat Sh'kalim)出埃及記30:11-16
先知書列王記下12:1-17 

備註 這週原本的先知書閱讀是在列王記上7:13-26;40-50 (我們鼓勵大家閱讀,因為內容與出埃及記相關)。然而,在這週安息日過後就進到亞達月1日(38日),傳統上此安息日是尊榮將『舍客勒稅金』獻給聖殿,會有一個額外的妥拉閱讀為出埃及記30:11-16。先知書內容也隨之變更,在猶太會堂裡會讀到列王記下12:1-17,其中提到『各人當納的身價』(列王記下12:4)

*在本週的閱讀,摩西招聚以色列全會眾,告訴他們關於神所吩咐的會幕建造。在執行上,出埃及記35:4-39:43仔細地重複早先在25-28章以及隨後所記載的內容。但這裡還加上一些細節:舉例來說,這裡特別提到婦女,35:25-26提到『凡心中有智慧的婦女』,以及『凡有智慧、心裡受感的婦女』。29節仔細提到『無論男女』,凡甘心樂意獻禮物來建造會幕的人。在36:6提到他們的奉獻甘心樂意、慷慨大方到摩西不得不傳命說:『無論男女,不必再為聖所拿什麼禮物來。』

請禱告:以色列信徒的心受神感動,將他們的技巧與創作活力白白獻給至高神。禱告男人與女人在才幹與恩賜上能公平被重視與認出。禱告以色列信徒在地上的資源、才幹與時間都能捐得甘心『樂意』(林後9:7),不單是出於『律例』─更是聖靈在他們心中的感動。 

*出埃及記35:1-3. 摩西招聚以色列全會眾,對他們說:這是耶和華所吩咐的話,叫你們照著行:六日要做工,第七日乃為聖日,當向耶和華守為安息聖日。凡這日之內做工的,必把他治死。當安息日,不可在你們一切的住處生火

今日許多嚴格遵守律法的猶太人,持續遵守上述經文最後一節不可在安息日生火的指示,根據我們的瞭解,有一些太過極端,已經超出禁止生火的本意。從星期五日落前安息日的燈點燃之時,一直到星期六日落蠟燭再次點燃中間,這些猶太人是不開其餘的燈。電子計時器就擺在燈的開關處和爐子上,以致於房子的主人不會犯了在住處生火的罪(例如,藉由按開關來點亮電燈)。這也是為何虔誠的猶太人在安息日不開車(啟動車子需要電池製造火花來點燃引擎)。為了過馬路而按下紅綠燈按鈕也是點燃『火花』,按下電梯按鈕亦是如此(在以色列符合猶太教教規的旅館與許多公寓大樓,都設有『安息日專用電梯』,在安息日時會被自動設定每一層樓都停。我們並不是在嘲笑那些真誠感到如此做是出於神旨意的人,他們藉由守這些嚴苛的規則試圖討祂喜悅。但我們相信他們被錯誤引領;在一些例子中,如此的禁令是耶穌當時在馬太福音23:4所譴責的:這些宗教領袖把並非出於神難擔的重擔放在人的肩上,那些規則往往成為展示給人看的工具。

關於在安息日點火的經文內容是神要在祂百姓中間建造居所的指示─神的居所,神的會幕。那建造需要人(按神的形象所造)的各樣創意、『藝術』恩賜、活力和技巧,但此擁有一切聖潔設備的聖所,並不是要廢除這位藝術造物者的模式,是祂自己創造了宇宙。祂工作六日,到了第七日便安息舒暢(創世記2:3;出埃及記31:17)。在這幾週大部分被描述的工作都需要生火來熔煉金屬並塑型─融化、彎曲、成形與組成任何東西,從純金的基路伯到加工、裝飾。生火需要許多工作─尋找、收集木頭並砍柴,接著用更多力氣摩擦生火(民數記15:32明確記載在安息日撿柴是破壞律法)。將人的恩賜與技巧喜樂的獻上作為『聖工』,在操練這些恩賜時必須也包括看重祂的『時間和季節』,這是祂第一個稱為『聖潔』的日子─第七日(創世記2:3)。

*出埃及記 35:34. 耶和華又使他,和但支派中亞希撒抹的兒子亞何利亞伯,心裡靈明,能教導人。上週我們讀到比撒列(猶大的子孫)與亞何利亞伯(但的支派)─他們是充滿神一切智慧與恩典的工匠,來執行並監督會幕預備中所有複雜的巧工。在35:34提到神使人心裡靈明、能『教導』。事實上在36:1提到神讓其他充滿智慧做巧工的人服在他們下面,聽從他們智慧的指示。 

請禱告:那些在以色列會眾擁有藝術技巧的人,不單將時間專注在工作上,更是心中被激動,渴望將他們的智慧與技藝傳給下一世代的男女。 

下週的閱讀進度(3/3-3/9)稱為『總數』(P’kudei),妥拉─出埃及記38:21-40:38;先知書─列王記上7:51-8:21。 

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 24 February—2 March 2019 are called VaYa’k’hel—“And He Assembled”:
 
TORAH:  Exodus 35:1—38:20
+ (Shabbat Sh’kalim) Exodus 30:11-16 
HAFTARAH:   II Kings 12:1-17

NOTE:  The normally-read  Haftarah is I Kings 7:13-26; 40-50  (Which we recommend reading, because of its relation to the Exodus portion).  However, since the day for traditionally honoring the giving of a “Shekel Tax” for the Tabernacle/Temple falls this year on the Sabbath preceding the 1st of Adar Bet (8 March), an additional Torah portion Exodus 30:11-16  and a different Haftarah which mentions “each man’s census money” (II Kings 12:4) will be read in synagogues.  
 
In this week’s readings, Moses gathers together the congregation of Israel and relates to them what God has instructed regarding the construction of the Tabernacle.
 
In effect, Exodus 35:4—39:43 carefully repeats what was recorded earlier in Chapts. 25-28 (T’rumah) and subsequent passages.  But here certain details have been clarified.  For instance, unlike the earlier passages, this one makes specific mention of women .  Verses 35:25-26 refer to “Each woman who is a gifted artisan” and “whose hearts stirred with wisdom.”  Verse 29 is careful to mention both “men and women” whose hearts moved them to volunteer materials and to labor as a freewill offering for building the tabernacle.  In 36:6, this had in fact been done with such generosity and cheerfulness that Moses was forced to issue a command, “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contribution of the sanctuary!”  
 
Please pray for hearts of Israeli believers to be moved to offer up their craftsmanship and creative energies as a free-will offering to the Most High.  Pray for women and men to be equally valued and recognized in their talents and giftings.  Pray for “cheerful” giving from the heart (II Cor. 9:7) on the part of Israeli believers, both of physical resources and of talents and time, not merely as a mitzva (an obedience to gain favor)—but at the moving of the Holy Spirit within their hearts.
 
*Exodus 35:1-3.  “…These are the words which YHVH has commanded you to do:  ‘Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to YHVH.  Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.  You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”  
 
Attempts to observe the prohibition related to fire in the last verse of this passage continue amongst many observant Jews today, in some cases reaching extremes which, to our understanding, go far beyond the original intent of the prohibition.  From the time the Shabbat Lights are lit just before sundown on Friday until candles are again kindled at Havdalah following sundown on Saturday, no lights are to be kindled by Jews.  Electric timers are placed on light switches and stoves so that the owners will not be guilty of lighting a fire (i.e. initiating an electric spark by flipping a switch).  This is also the reason religious Jews don’t drive on Shabbat (starting a car involves making the battery produce a spark to ignite the engine).  Pressing a button at a streetlight in order to cross the street also initiates a “spark”, as does pressing a button in an elevator (Kosher hotels and many fancy apartment buildings in Israel are equipped with “Shabbat elevators,” which are set to automatically and unceasingly go up and down throughout the Sabbath. We do not mock the earnestness of those who genuinely feel it to be God’s will, and who are trying to please Him by observing these strictures.  But we do believe them to be misguided; that in some instances, such prohibitions slip into a category which Yeshua condemned in Matthew 23:4—that of heavy burdens not intended by God being laid on people’s shoulders by religious leaders, rules which often become mere works for show.  
 
The context for this lone passage about lighting a fire on the Sabbath is God’s instructions for the construction of a place for His habitation among His people—the Mishkan, Dwelling Place, the Tabernacle.  It was a construction of craftsmanship requiring all the creative, “artistic” gifts, energies and skills of which humankind (made in the image of Creator God) is capable. Yet the fashioning of this Holy place with all of its Holy furnishings was not to cancel out the pattern set by the Master Artist when He Himself fashioned the universe.  He worked for six days, then ceased work and was refreshed on the seventh (Genesis 2:3; Exodus 31:17). Much of the work being described in these chapters would require building a fire to smelt and fashion the metals—melting, bending, shaping and forming everything, from Cherubim of gold, to tools, to ornaments, to bolts and pins of brass. Making the fire involved a lot of work—finding, gathering and chopping the wood, then kindling the flame with a friction method involving much exertion (The one record we have of judgment coming on an individual for breaking this law is found in Numbers 15:32, where the offense was specifically for gathering wood on the Sabbath) .  
 
The joyous sacrifice of yielding up one’s gifts and skills to God for “holy work”  must also include respect for His “times and seasons” in exercising those gifts, chief amongst them being what He  first called “holy”—the Seventh Day (Genesis 2:3).  
 
*Exodus 35:36.  “And He has put it in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.”  
 
Last week we read of Betzalel (a descendant of Judah) and Aholiav (of the tribe of Dan)—artisans whom God had filled with all wisdom and grace for performing and overseeing the intricate workmanship required in preparation of the Tabernacle. In this later passage it is mentioned that He also put it in their hearts “to teach.”  Indeed, 36:1 mentions others whom the LORD had filled with artistic grace to work under them (36:1), subject to their wise instruction. 
 
PLEASE PRAY:  that those released in the artistic skills in the congregations in Israel will focus not only on the work allotted to them for their own times—but will be stirred in their hearts with a desire and ability to pass on their wisdom and skill to the men and women of the generation rising after them.

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The readings for next week (3-9 March 2019) are called  P’kudei—“Accountings of…”:  TORAH: Exodus 38:21—40:38;  HAFTARAH: I Kings 7:51—8:21]