你們要撕裂心腸，但不撕裂衣服

新年快樂 Shanah Tovah!

– 9月12日傍晚開始猶太人的新年Rosh Hashanah, 一週以後就是永吉普日(贖罪日)，是新年一個好的開始。從利未記23章24節開始到23章結束, 我們讀各種節期來紀念並尊崇 神為祂的以色列百姓所做的一切，包括在聖安息日吹角,守贖罪日(Day of Atonement)和守住棚節(Feast of Tabernacles)。當時 神把以色列百姓從埃及拯救出來,並且帶領他們進入應許之地。有些人相信這是耶穌真正誕生的時刻，也是預言他再來的時刻,會是今年嗎?

回教徒在9月12日開始慶祝齋戒月(Ramadan)，將有成千的回教徒聚集在聖殿山的阿克薩清真寺(Al-Aqsa Mosque)敬拜。這時候若有回教領袖(Imams)發出信息來激發聖戰(Jihad)，將不會令人意外。

春雨也在此時降下，滋潤大地，預備五月大麥的收成和初熟節(Shavuot, or Feast of First Fruits)的到來。這也是第七年，以色列的土地為耶和華守安息年(利未記25:1-7) 的開始。

以色列的拉比(Rabbis)之間常常會爭論:農夫在這一年既不種又不收，以色列人要到那裡去買出產物呢?

禱告:春雨降下來，成就 神使地上出產的應許，阿拉伯人也將栽種他們的莊稼。

禱告:以色列的防衛單單從 神而來。為那些被呼召加入 神地上軍隊和屬靈大軍的人禱告。

禱告:求主在這個時候賜下聖靈的啟示給猶太人與穆斯林人，並收割這許多的靈魂進入祂的倉房。

耶和華說，雖然如此，你們應當禁食、哭泣、悲哀，一心歸向我。你們要撕裂心腸，不撕裂衣服。歸向耶和華你們的神；因為他有恩典，有憐憫，不輕易發怒，有豐盛的慈愛，並且後悔不降所說的災。或者他轉意後悔，留下餘福，就是留下獻給耶和華你們神的素祭和奠祭，也未可知。 錫安的民哪，你們要快樂，為耶和華你們的神歡喜；因他賜給你們合宜的秋雨，為你們降下甘霖，就是秋雨、春雨，和先前一樣。禾場必滿了麥子；酒醡與油醡必有新酒和油盈溢。 我打發到你們中間的大軍隊，就是蝗蟲、蝻子、螞蚱、剪蟲，那些年所吃的，我要補還你們。你們必多吃而得飽足，就讚美為你們行奇妙事之耶和華你們神的名，我的百姓必永遠不致羞愧。 你們必知道我是在以色列中間，又知道我是耶和華你們的神；在我以外並無別神，我的百姓必永遠不致羞愧。(珥2:12-14, 23-27)

來自耶路撒冷的信息, Carolyn Jacobson


Rend Your Hearts and Not Your Garments

Shanah Tovah! – Happy New Year!
The evening of September 12th begins the celebration of the Jewish New Year- Rosh Hashanah. It is followed a week later by Yom Kippur or, The Day of Atonement – a good beginning for the new year. In reading through Leviticus 23 starting in verse 24 we read of the feasts remembering and honoring the Lord for all He did for the children of Israel when he delivered them out of Egypt and brought them into the promised land; the blowing of trumpets, the day of atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles. It is believed by some that this is the actual time of Jesus’ birth and also the time prophesied for His return. Will this be the year?

September 12th begins the Muslim celebration of Ramadan. There will be thousands of Muslims worshiping on the Temple Mount where the Al Aqsa Mosque stands. It will not be surprising if the messages coming from the Imams during this time will be stirring up incitement to Jihad (holy war).

This is also the time that the early rains appear to moisten the earth and get it ready for the barley harvest in May - Shavuot, or Feast of First Fruits. It is also the beginning of the seventh year in which Israel is to give the land a Sabbath rest, Leviticus 25:1-7.

As always there is a controversy among the rabbis as to where Israel will buy produce for the year since farmers will not be allowed to plant or harvest crops. Pray for the rains to come. It is the fulfillment of God’s promise to bring forth fruit from the earth. The Arabs will be planting their crops.

Pray for the defense of Israel which comes only from the Lord.

Pray for all those whom the Lord has called into His army both physically and spiritually.

Pray that God will send Holy Spirit revelations to the Jewish and Muslim people at this time and that a harvest of souls will be gathered into His barns.

“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him – a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?” “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel; I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame” (Joel 2:12-14, 23-27).

From Jerusalem,
Carolyn Jacobson