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。

從一月廿三日到一月廿九日的閱讀被稱為典章/審判（Mishpatim）『你在百姓面前所要立的典章是這樣』，讀經內容包括：

妥   拉 : 出埃及記 21:1-24:18
先知書: 耶利米書34:8-22, 33:25-26

註釋

上週的讀經內容始於委任以色列的審判官，本週閱讀的頭三章提供審判官在以色列統治上施行公義審判（Mishpatim）的指導方針，這些包括道德與犯法議題等不同情況之律法與典章，看起來就像是二十章十誡的副標題。廿三章有涵蓋神的安息（安息日），包括人、牲畜與土地。內容有守三節的指示，一旦得著那地就要開始遵行，還有關乎征服土地與擴展土地未來疆界的指示與啟示。接下來在廿四章有一段內容非常值得注意，主呼召摩西、亞倫與他兩個兒子，還有七十位長老與主有一個私人的會議。最後，祂的榮耀停在西乃山，摩西上到山中與神一起四十晝夜。在以色列人眼前，主的榮耀『在山頂上，形狀如烈火。』

* 出埃及記 22:21; 23:9. 『不可虧負寄居的，也不可欺壓他，因為你們在埃及地也作過寄居的。』
寄居的這個字指的是短暫居住者，沒有繼承權利的新住民。神差派從世界各地來的基督徒，一段時間寄居在承受產業的人身旁，成為他們最堅固與忠心的朋友。然而，仇敵卻將一些東西放入這樣的地方，如以色列內政部與機場安檢等常常貶低與侮辱這樣友誼的地方，甚至不顧一切要求待在以色列地的信徒離開。當然，以色列就像其他國家，對非公民的居住限制有一定的法律與政策，我們應該像其他法律一般予以尊重。但在過去兩年，對尋求停留超過『三個月』（觀光簽證期限）信徒的騷擾正戲劇性地上升。

請禱告：以色列政府會對在以色列寄居的人施行與執行公義的法律。禱告神保護並供應地方給所有主差派住在那地的信徒，使他們可以被允許停留主任命他們停留的完全時間。禱告這些拜訪者有耐心與勇氣，卻也表現出對當地法律的尊重。

*出埃及記22:28. 『不可毀謗神；也不可毀謗你百姓的官長。』
我們發現毀謗與創世記12:3所用的咒詛的希伯來文字一樣：『為你祝福的，我必賜福與他；那咒詛（毀謗）你的，我必咒詛他。』『咒詛』是至高神神聖的特權。

請禱告：以色列信徒間用禱告來祝福我們的領袖，卻不是對他們的錯誤視而不見，我們不用毀謗的話語來咒詛他們，不管是透過我們的口或網路。權柄是神所興起的，若他們行為不當，我們所要呼求的是主。

*出埃及記23:20-21. 『看哪，我差遣使者在你前面，在路上保護你，領你到我所預備的地方去。他是奉我名來的；你們要在他面前謹慎，聽從他的話，不可惹（惹或作：違背）他，因為他必不赦免你們的過犯。』
雖然『天使』這個字可以代表『使者』，有一些註釋者將此使者等同於摩西自己，但這裡所說的使者絕對是超自然的生命。這天使『領他們到』那地（這是摩西最後不被允許做的事）。在這段經文，神也提到要在以色列前面差派祂的『驚駭』還有『黃蜂』（V27, 28）。這場戰役會『漸漸地』得勝，直到以色列『人數加多，承受那地為業』（V30）；接著主會『立定』她的境界（V31）。

請禱告：以色列能再次知道在她的戰爭中需要超自然的元素。禱告信徒能領受啟示，要如何留意服役天使的聲音（出23:20，來1:14）。禱告有耐心，勝利的戰役可能會『漸漸地』完成（V30），體認到在得著所有『那地為業』前一定先要『人數加多』（V30）。禱告 神會在祂的時間，按著祂的話語來『立定』以色列的境界（V31）。

*出埃及記23:25-26. 『你們要事奉耶和華─你們的神，祂必賜福與你的糧與你的水，也必從你們中間除去疾病。你境內必沒有墜胎的，不生產的。我要使你滿了你年日的數目。』

請禱告：在我們自己的時代，信徒能用信心抓住這些應許。

*出埃及記24:9-11. 『摩西、亞倫、拿答、亞比戶，並以色列長老中的七十人，都上了山。他們看見以色列的神，祂腳下彷彿有平鋪的藍寶石，如同天色明淨。祂的手不加害在以色列的尊者身上。他們觀看神；他們又吃又喝。』
這段經文一連兩次告訴我們這些以色列的領袖『看見神』。因為『沒有人可以見神』，『人看見了子就是看見了父』─ 我們相信他們遇見了成為人之前的耶穌。在這裡的『看見』使用到兩個不一樣的希伯來文，第一個看見（字根ra'ah）一般指的就是『看見』（saw）。第二個看見（字根ha'zah）比較多指的是『瞻仰』（gazing upon）。事實上，瞻仰這個字常以先知性的感官被使用在聖經與現代希伯來文中。在詩篇廿七篇4節所使用的正是這個字，在那裡詩人最大的渴慕就是住在主的殿中，因而可以『瞻仰主的榮美，在祂的殿裡求問』。

請禱告：以色列的領袖被准許『看見』他們父親以色列/雅各的神，並使用機會『瞻仰』祂兒子的榮美。禱告以色列彌賽亞肢體的眼睛能被打開，先知性地『看見』。在古老以色列，此包括一些敬拜領袖，例如希幔（代上25:5），亞薩（代下29:30）與耶杜頓（代下35:15），他們都被稱做『先見』，他們的子孫都以他們的樂器『說預言』（代上25:1）。

*出埃及記24:17. 『耶和華的榮耀在山頂上，在以色列人眼前，形狀如烈火。』

請禱告：希伯來書十二章28-29節能進入在以色列這地信徒的生活中，我們也會對你們做出同樣的禱告：『所以我們既得了不能震動的國，就當感恩，照神所喜悅的，用虔誠、敬畏的心事奉神。因為我們的神乃是烈火。』

下週的閱讀進度（1/30-2/5）被稱為『禮物/捐獻』（T'ruma）『你告訴以色列人當為我送禮物來』，讀經內容包括：妥拉─出埃及記25:1-27:19；先知書─列王記上5:12-6:13。

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 are called Mishpatim ("And these are the judgments which you shall set before them").

TORAH: Exodus 21:1-24:18
HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 34:8-22, 33:25-26

NOTES
Last week's Portion began with the appointments of judges in Israel, and the first three chapters of this week's readings provide them with guidelines for the working out of righteous judgments (Mishpatim) in Israel's governance. These include laws and ordinances, with instructions for different situations related to a number of moral issues and offenses. They might be seen as subheadings to the Ten Commandments of Chapter 20 (Laws related to the intercession between the people and heaven by the Priesthood will come later in Exodus and in the whole of Leviticus.). Chapter 23 also contains sections regarding God's rest (Sabbaths) both for man, his animals, and for the land he will be living in. There are instructions regarding the three pilgrim feasts, to be observed once the land is conquered. And there are instructions and revelations regarding that conquest itself, including the extent of the land's future boundaries. In a remarkable passage in Chapter 24, the LORD calls Moses, Aaron and his two sons, and 70 elders of the people to a special personal meeting with Himself. At the last, His Glory rests on Mount Sinai and Moses goes up into the cloud to be with God for forty days and forty nights. To the eyes of the Israelites, the glory of the LORD is "as a consuming fire on the mountain top."

*Exodus 22:21; 23:9. "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him..since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt." The word "stranger" is Hebrew ger, a "sojourner, temporary dweller, new-comer with no inherited rights" (Brown-Driver-Briggs 1616). The Christians from the nations whom God sends for seasons to "sojourn" alongside the Children of the inheritance are their strongest and most faithful friends. Yet the enemy has placed elements into such places as the Ministry of the Interior and Airport Security which often demean and dishonor this friendship, even going to lengths to keep believers who have spent time in the land from returning. Of course, Israel, like every other country, must have laws and policies regarding her borders and limitations regarding residency for non-citizens, which should be respected as other laws. Yet in the past two years, the harassment of Believers seeking to stay for longer periods than an initial 'three months' has risen dramatically.

PLEASE PRAY: that Israel's government will implement and enforce righteous laws regarding sojourners in Israel. Pray for protection and a 'place' for all those believers whom the Lord would send to dwell in the Land-that they will be allowed to stay the full length of time He ordains for them. Pray for patience and courage on behalf of these visitors.but also a respect for the laws of the land.

*Exodus 22:28. "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people." We find it instructive that the Hebrew words for "revile" and "curse" are the same two words used regarding the seed of Abraham in Genesis 12:3: "I will bless those who bless you, and those who revile you, I will curse." "Cursing" is a solemn prerogative of the Most High.

PLEASE PRAY: for grace amongst believers in Israel to bless our leaders with intercession on their behalf-that, while not being blind to their faults, we do not curse them by reviling them with our words, either by mouth or on the internet. It is God who raises up authorities.it is to Him that we call if they misbehave.

*Exodus 23:20. "Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be on your guard before him and obey his voice, to not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him." Although the Hebrew word for "angel" can also mean "messenger" and some commentators equate this angel with Moses himself, it is certain that a supernatural being is meant here. It is this being who will "bring them in" to the land (something which Moses will, alas, not ultimately be allowed to do). In this passage, God also mentions sending His "terror" ahead of Israel, along with "Hornets" (vss 27, 28). The battle would be won "little by little" until Israel would "become fruitful and take possession of the Land" (vs. 30); and the LORD would 'fix' her boundaries (vs 31).

PLEASE PRAY: that Israel become again aware of the supernatural element which is required in her warfare; for believers to receive revelation in how best to "be on their guard" for the voice of angels (Vs. 23:20 above and Hebrews 1:14) who are ministering on their behalf. Pray for patience regarding the battle, in which at times victory must be accomplished "little by little" (Vs 30); and an awareness that "fruitfulness" must precede taking full "possession of the Land" (Vs 30). Pray that God will "fix" Israel's borders in His time according to His Word (Vs 31).

*Exodus 23:25-26. "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days." Pray for believers to grasp these promises in faith in our own day.

*Exodus 24:9-11. "Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself, yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank." Twice in this passage we are told that these leaders of Israel "saw God". Since "no one has seen God at any time", but "He who has seen the Son has seen the Father"-we believe that this can only have been an encounter with the pre-incarnate Yeshua. There are two different Hebrew words used here for 'saw'. The first (root: ra'ah) most generally means simply "to see". The second (root: ha'zah) has more to do with "gazing upon".in fact, it is often used in both Biblical and Modern Hebrew in a prophetic sense. It is this word which is used in Psalm 27:4, where the poet's greatest longing is to dwell in the LORD's house so as to "gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple."

PLEASE PRAY: for leaders of present-day Israel to be granted to "see" the God of their father Israel/Jacob, and to have (and to take) opportunity to "gaze" at the beauty of His risen Son. Pray for an opening of the eyes of leaders in the Body of Messiah in Israel to "see" prophetically. In ancient Israel, these included worship leaders such as Heman (I Chron 25:5), Asaph (II Chron 29:30) and Jeduthan (II Chron 35:15) who all were called "seers" and whose descendants 'prophesied' on their instruments (I Chron 25:1).

*Exodus 24:17. "The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel."

PLEASE PRAY: Hebrews 12:28-29 into our lives as believers here in Israel-even as we would pray the same for you: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."
 
Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week 30 Jan-5 Feb is called T'ruma ("that they take me a donation from every man") and will include, TORAH: Exodus 25:1-27:19; HAFTARAH: I Kings 5:12-6:13.]