於2009-05-17發佈

從古時起,在全世界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)。本週的內容被給予一個希伯來名,出自於經文內容起頭的字。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。

再一次,這週的閱讀內容是平常的兩倍,其將會帶領我們貼近利未記。

第一部份的閱讀被稱為『在西乃山』:
妥    拉: 利未記25:1-26:2
先知書: 耶利米書32:6-27

第二部份的閱讀被稱為『我的律例』:
妥    拉: 利未記26:3-27:34
先知書: 耶利米書16:19-17:14

*利未記 25:2, 23:『你曉諭以色列人說:你們到了我所賜你們那地的時候,地就要向耶和華守安息。地不可永賣,因為地是我的;你們在我面前是客旅,是寄居的。』神任命亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的子孫應當居住的地對祂而言是很珍貴的。在上週的研讀中說到 神使地吐出犯重罪而玷污地的居民。在這一章以色列被曉諭地要守安息,不幸的是她並不理會此命令。當猶大眾民最終被擄至巴比倫,主說直滿了七十年,荒涼的地土才會得享安息。

請禱告以色列會有智慧處理神還給她的地,認識那是從神來的神聖託管與禮物,她會與她的神建立關係,使她能在神的時間被託付神所應許的全部土地(以西結書36:4-8教導目前在猶大與撒瑪利亞的土地會為回歸的雅各子孫『發枝條』結果子)。

*耶利米書32:15, 17:『因為萬軍之耶和華─以色列的神如此說:將來在這地必有人再買房屋、田地,和葡萄園。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。』

請禱告在以色列的信徒能有方法與恩寵購買土地,好使他們為自己與子孫在這地真正『扎根』。似乎看起來不太可能,但我們知道在神沒有難成的事,是祂應許再次使我們在祂的土地上生根並給予我們『房屋、田地和葡萄園』。

*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;很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(我們已經在肉身經歷『乾旱的一年』,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綠,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17:13-14: 『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。』

以色列的國歌歌名就叫『盼望』,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』。但此正要開始發生了!

請禱告越來越多人會找到『活水的泉源,那是我們的醫治與我們的拯救泉源,而且祂會成為『我們的讚美』!


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 from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the 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.

Again this week there is a double-reading, which will bring us to the close of the Book of Leviticus.

The name of the first is "BeHar" --"In (or 'at') Mount" (Sinai):
TORAH: Leviticus 25:1-26:2
HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 32:6-27

The second reading is called "BeChukkothai" ("In My statutes")
TORAH: Leviticus 26:3-27:34
HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 16:19-17:14

*Leviticus 25:2, 23: "When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD.for the Land is Mine, for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me." The land in which Elohim ordained that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob should dwell is precious to Him. Last week's readings spoke of His causing that land itself to spit out inhabitants who defiled it with gross sin. In this chapter Israel was commanded to grant it regular times of rest, a command which she would unfortunately ignore. When Judah was eventually carried away captive in Babylon, the LORD said that for 70 years the land would now finally receive the rests which it had been denied.
Please pray that Israel will deal wisely with the land to which God has returned her, coming to realize that it is a holy charge as well as gift. That she will come into a relationship with her God which will enable her in His timing to be entrusted with all of the land He has promised to return to her oversight (Ezekiel 36:4-8 teaches of a time when the very land currently under contention in Judea and Samaria will "put forth its branches" to bear fruit for the returned children of Jacob).

*Jeremiah 32:15, 17 "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.". "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You..." Please pray for believers in Israel to have means and favor to be able to purchase property-so as to truly "put down their roots" into the land for themselves and their descendants. That as impossible as this often seems, we would realize that NOTHING is too difficult for our God to do on our behalf, who has promised again to root us and grant us 'houses, fields and vineyards' in His Land.

*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 prosperity when it comes. We know that 'heat' will be coming, and in many forms (and we are already in a physical "year of drought"). 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 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. But the 'hope' in that song is "to be a nation free in our Land." 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'. BUT THIS IS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN!! Please pray that more and more of us will find the 'Source of living water, our healing, and our Salvation-and that He become "Our Praise!"