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。

從七月五日到七月十一日的閱讀被稱為『非尼哈』
妥    拉:  民數記25:10-29:40
先知書:  列王記上18:46-19:21

*主忌邪的心。『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或忌邪。神聖的熱心是對某件事或某個人的好與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牽涉的只有『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的彌賽亞的預言（約翰福音2:17）。撒迦利亞書一章14節記錄了耶和華對耶路撒冷的熱心，而以賽亞書九章6-7節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』充滿著熱心（或忌邪的心）。

請禱告：求 神在以色列的信徒中甦醒一個燃燒的熱心，一個聖潔的忌邪之心，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。

*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』（王上19:11-12）。『微小的聲音』也可以翻譯成『靜默時刻的聲音』。領會這時刻，孕育神的話對那些充滿熱心的人而言是很重要的，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。在以色列的吼聲中，要領會並擁抱『靜止沈默的時刻』是非常困難，卻很重要的事。

當此靜止沈默的時刻臨到時，請禱告我們會花時間聆聽並進入這些時刻。幾年前我們的一個詩人歌手伊戶伯耐（Ehud Banai）依據聖經寫了一首大有能力的歌曲，以下是其內容：

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
不，先前並無人曾聽過像這樣的事
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
不，先前並無人曾聽過像這樣的事
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

*外袍的傳遞。 『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』（民數記27:18-20）。『並膏亞伯米何拉人沙法的兒子以利沙作先知接續你。以利亞到他那裡去，將自己的外衣搭在他身上。』（列王記上19:16,19）。摩西傳給約書亞的『權柄』是『尊榮』─『一個與君尊有關的莊嚴或威嚴』（就是詩篇45:3的榮耀）─尊榮使會眾聽從並順服約書亞的工作。當以利亞將外衣搭在以利沙身上時，以利沙便立即起身『跟隨』以利亞。

請禱告：在以色列肢體的領袖能『聽見』並忠心將他們的外袍傳給忠心的人，那些人會在要興起的世代中得蒙恩寵。

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.

The readings in Israel for 5-11 July 2009 are called "Pinkhas" (English: Phinehas).
Torah: Numbers 25:10-29:40)
Haftarah: I Kings 18:46-19:21

*The ZEAL of the LORD. "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" (Numbers 25:11, 13). 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 important to know that the same word when ignited by the flesh refers to mere envy (Proverbs 23:17). . David sang of his zeal for God's House (Psalm 69:9) which consumed him, a song which would be found to be 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" (NIV).

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 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" (I Kings 19:11-12). 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 zeal was not 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 in his call. In the roar of Israel, it is difficult, yet essential to apprehend and embrace that "still silent moment".

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE TAKE THE TIME TO HEAR AND ENTER INTO THESE MOMENTS WHEN THEY COME. A few years ago one of our singer-poets Ehud Banai wrote a powerful song based on this Scripture. 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)

*The Transfer of Mantles. "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you.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" (Numbers 27: 20). ".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" (I Kings 19:16,19). The "authority" Moses was to pass on to Joshua is "hod" -a "grandeur or majesty related to royalty" ("splendor" in Psalm 45:3 NASB)-which would result in the congregation listening and obeying his work. When Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha, he immediately arose and "ran after" him.

PLEASE PRAY: For leaders in the Body in Israel to "hear" and be faithful in passing on their mantles to faithful ones who will have favor in the generation rising up behind.

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem
Glory of Zion International Ministries