為以色列時事禱告 (March 30, 2011)
1. 敘利亞在動亂中─古老的見證顯明神對她的憐憫。
『亞蘭王的元帥乃縵在他主人面前為尊為大，因耶和華曾藉他使亞蘭人得勝；他又是大能的勇士，只是長了大痲瘋。』（列王記下5：1）
這幾週在中東許多國家的動亂喚醒了敘利亞，示威運動遭到暴力政府的鎮壓，特別是在南方城市達拉(Daraa)和拉塔基亞（Latakia），根據報導已經有超過七十人死亡，這些示威者透過網路媒體得著許多鼓勵與指引。
敘利亞的社會復興黨（Baath Party）於1963年開始執政，立即強行『緊急法』至今。昨天一直努力安撫示威者的32名內閣成員總辭；然而，他們會繼續堅守崗位直到新政府形成，總統阿薩德（Bashar Assad）目前握有最大的軍力，並不受內閣辭職的影響。今天，阿薩德發表演講將動亂譴責為『美國猶裔』的陰謀。他控告外來的煽動者滲入『帶著誠意政治改革的大眾運動』，他讚美達拉市的人民為『真正的愛國者』，他們將『除滅煽動這場暴力的人』。同時，在臉書報導了敘利亞2011年革命，所有『敘利亞的自由人民』將於這週五『靜坐抗裔』，不理會政府要討論他們訴求的承諾。
對我們而言非常具有意義的是，當動亂臨到以色列東北邊不友善的鄰居，這週的先知書閱讀中心正是敘利亞（參考列王記下4:42-5:19）。在以利亞的時代，此地區常成為以色列的敵人，而故事是從一個被擄的小女子開始。今日的敘利亞仍與以色列處在戰爭狀態中，維持著數千顆飛彈對著我們（據傳聞許多裝載著有毒氣體），並與其他中東地區的敵對國家強化有好關係。但很重要的是我們不將所有人視為沒人性的，因為他們的國家聯合起來對抗我們如同一個敵人；神在今日，就如同在以利亞的時代，為敘利亞的百姓有救贖的目的。
上面的經文談到一位英勇的敘利亞軍隊元帥如何被以色列的神使用，對敘利亞帶來得勝（希伯來文：拯救），一些勝利甚至是在以色列受損的情況下！但神有更大的計畫，儘管當時的以色列王很邪惡，神卻應許為亞伯拉罕子孫站立的國家都會領受祂的祝福。透過一位被擄的以色列女子的憐憫見證，以色列的神決意要為乃幔帶來個人的『拯救』和潔淨，也為敘利亞帶來救贖性的認識，就是『以色列中有先知』（列王記下5:8）。
請禱告：
*神為敘利亞人民和政府的救贖目的將會發生。『祂改變時候、日期，廢王，立王。 』（但以理書2:21）。
*在目前的動亂與改變中，請為敘利亞的基督徒禱告。『祂將智慧賜與智慧人，將知識賜與聰明人。祂顯明深奧隱祕的事，知道暗中所有的，光明也與祂同居。』（但以理書2:21b-22）
*先知性事工再次在以色列被建造，就像古時一樣，此時是在彌賽亞肢體中被建造（因為預言中的靈意乃是為耶穌作見證─啟示錄19:10），範圍甚至大到連我們敵人的土地都見證說『以色列中有先知』。
*禱告神會喚醒敘利亞英勇的男女，得著『救恩是從猶太人出來的』的啟示─以色列的神能潔淨所有的人，祂的天使會為那些在大馬士革將要承受救恩的人效力（希伯來書1:14）。
*禱告那坦亞胡會有屬神的策略、力量和勇氣來跟隨神的目的，關乎與敘利亞之間的和平。如此的和平將來自神的方式，而不是人的。上週在日內瓦的聯合國人權理事會上，譴責以色列目前在戈蘭高地，要求他們立刻終止在那地任何的『定居點』興建工程。以色列在1967戰爭中從敘利亞得著戈蘭高地，多年來不斷受到敘利亞的騷擾。敘利亞要求以色列歸還戈蘭高地，來展現兩國之間的和平。這塊土地位在巴珊王噩的古老領土─是摩西當初打敗的王；後來摩西將整個地區，包括黑門山作為瑪拿西支派的領土（申命記3:13，約書亞記13:8-11）。
請禱告神會以祂更好的方式來帶領我們；倘若祂可以影響敘利亞古時的王，透過以色列來釋放祂的憐憫在他的元帥身上─難道祂不能在今天做同樣的事嗎？因祂的憐憫永遠長存（Ki le'Olam hasdo）！
2. 在主的眼中，看聖民之死極為寶貴。
上週在耶路撒冷恐怖份子的炸彈攻擊中，唯一身亡的人是來自英國翻譯聖經的信徒葛瑪麗（Mary Gardener）。瑪麗曾在非洲多哥將聖經翻譯成伊費人的語言，在2009年她完成新約的翻譯。她一月來到以色列，在希伯來大學讀聖經翻譯，住在位於耶路撒冷西邊的信徒社區亞德.哈許莫納（Yad HaShmona）。上星期三她放假，搭公車來到市中心與一位朋友碰面。爆炸時她站在車站最靠近手提箱的地方，很神奇的是沒有造成更多的傷亡；普遍認為她的身體吸收了爆炸的衝擊，可能是沒有造成更多傷亡的原因。這週她的生命與信仰見證充滿在以色列與其他國家的媒體；一位作家寫著：『很神奇的是瑪麗的死竟在以色列造成如此的影響，在希伯來大學的學生與個人、媒體，甚至一些常嘲諷的記者都認為瑪麗對聖經翻譯帶來的貢獻。
沒有更多的傷亡實在是神蹟；我們收到來自世界各地的報導，說他們上週無法入睡，或被叫醒為耶路撒冷禱告，就是當攻擊發生的時間。我們相信這樣的禱告釋放了天使『為那要承受救恩的人效力』，我們也藉此看到此回應了『為耶路撒冷求平安』的迫切性。
請禱告：
*為著葛瑪麗的家人和朋友禱告，從充滿憐憫的天父而來的安慰和平安。也為瑪麗的見證持續下去禱告，讓人們認識她對聖經翻譯工作的熱愛、喜樂與委身。
*為那些身體和心裡受傷的人得醫治與恢復禱告─從聖靈而來的啟示將會賜下生命的盼望和未來。
*為能在聖靈裡服事這些受害人的信徒能與他們連結禱告。
馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士（Martin & Norma Sarvis）
於耶路撒冷
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PRAYER UPDATE FROM ISRAEL (March 30, 2011)
1. SYRIA IN UPHEAVAL-AND AN ANCIENT TESTIMONY TO GOD'S MERCIES TOWARDS HER.
"Now Na'aman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, leprous." (II Kings 5:1-From this week's Haftarah portion (see below).
Recent weeks have witnessed upheavals similar to those affecting so many Middle Eastern countries awakening in Syria. Demonstrations, especially in the southern cities of Daraa and Latakia have been met with violent government crackdowns, in which there are reports that already over 70 people have been killed. Much encouragement and direction of these demonstrators has been facilitated through the media of the internet. .
The Baath Party in Syria came to power in 1963, and immediately imposed "emergency law" which has been in force since. Yesterday, in an effort to appease the demonstrators, the entire 32-member Cabinet resigned. However, the members remain in their positions until a new government is formed, and anyway, the office of President in this authoritarian regime, currently held by Bashar Assad, holds ultimate power and will not be affected by the resignations. Today Assad gave a speech blaming the unrest on an "American-Israeli" plot. He accused foreign instigators of infiltrating "a popular movement with a genuine desire for political reform." He lauded the people in Daraa as "true patriots" who will "eliminate whoever instigated this violence." In the meanwhile, a directive is reported over the Syria Revolution 2011 Facebook page for 'sit-ins' by all the "free people of Syria" this coming Friday, ignoring promises by the government to discuss their demands.
It seems not without significance to us that just as the popular unrest in this part of the world focuses on Israel's hostile neighbor to her north-east, the Haftarah reading for this very week (II Kings 4:42-5:19, see below) should center on Syria. In Elisha's day, this region stood often as Israel's enemy, and the story begins with a girl taken captive in one of those conflicts. Present-day Syria considers itself to be still in a state of war with Israel, maintaining thousands of missiles pointed in our direction (many reportedly with poisonous gas payload capabilities), and continuing to strengthen ties with other hostile nations in the region. Yet it is very important that we not dehumanize an entire people, because their country is aligned against us as an enemy; God has today, as in Elisha's day, redemptive purposes for the people of Syria. This II Kings passage quoted above relates how a heroic Syrian army commander had been actually used by Israel's LORD to bring victory (Hebrew: salvation) to Syria-and some of those victories had been at Israel's expense! But God had a bigger plan. Although Israel's king was himself a godless man, God's promise nevertheless stood-that in Abraham's seed all the nations of the earth would receive His blessing. Through the compassionate testimony of a young captive Israeli girl, the God of Israel purposed to bring further personal "salvation" and cleansing to Na'aman-and also the redeeming knowledge to Syria that "there was a prophet in Israel" (II Kings 5:8).
PLEASE PRAY:
*For God's redeeming purposes for the people and government of Syria to come to pass. "He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings." (Daniel 2:21).
*Pray for the Body of Messiah in Syria during the present upheavals and changes. "He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and Light dwells with Him" (Daniel 2:21b-22).
*For the prophetic to be established again in Israel as in days of old, this time in the Body of Messiah ("The testimony of Yeshua is the spirit of prophecy"- Rev 19:10)-to the extent that even in the lands of our enemies there will come the testimony that "there is a prophet in Israel".
*That God will awaken heroic men and women in Syria, to the revelation that "salvation is of the Jews"-that there is cleansing for all men provided in "Elohei Yisrael"-the Israel God. That His angels will minister on behalf of those in and around Damascus who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
* That Benyamin Netanyahu will be given divine counsel, strength and courage to follow God's purposes regarding peace with Syria. That such peace will come in God's way-not man's. This past week the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva denounced Israel's presence in the Heights and called for immediate cessation of any "settlement" construction there. After years of enduring harassment from Syrian positions on the Heights, Israel wrested them from Syria in the 1967 war. Syria demands their return as a basis for any peace. This land lies in the ancient territory of Og-a principality defeated by Moses; who gave the area, including all of Mount Hermon, as an inheritance to part of the tribe of Manasseh (Deut 3:13, Josh 13:8-11). We do not see any lasting peace or security coming for Israel or Syria by giving it away.
Please pray that God will show and lead us in His better way. If He could influence the King of ancient Syria for good through releasing mercy through Israel to one of his generals-might He not do something similar in our own day? "Ki le'Olam hasdo!"-For His Mercy endureth Forever!!
2. PRECIOUS IN THE EYES OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS HOLY ONES.
The lone fatality in the terrorist bombing in Jerusalem last week was a believing Bible translator from the UK named Mary Gardener. Mary had lived to bring the Bible into the language of the Ife people in Togo; in 2009 she had completed a translation of the New Testament. She came to Israel in January to study Bible translation at Hebrew University and was living staying in the believing community of Yad HaShmona west of Jerusalem. Last Wednesday morning she had a free day and took the bus to town to meet a friend. She was standing nearest to the suitcase at the bus-stop when it went off. It is amazing that more were not more fatalities; it is thought that her body absorbing the brunt of the blast may have been what kept more from being killed. The week since her death has seen the testimony of her life and faith released throughout the Israeli media and in other countries as well. One writer wrote, "It has been amazing what an impact Mary's death is having here in Israel on the Hebrew University students and personnel, the media, even the usually cynical reporters as they consider Mary's dedication to the translation of the Bible."
It remains a miracle that there were not more killed. We have received reports from persons across the world who found themselves unable to sleep or being awakened with a strong sense to pray for Jerusalem last week at exactly the time period during which the attack was taking place. We are convinced that such prayers release angels, "to minister on behalf of those who will inherit salvation". We see responding to such impressions as being one critical means of "praying for the peace of Jerusalem".
PLEASE PRAY:
*For the family and classmates of Mary Gardener, for godly comfort and shalom from the Father of all Mercies. For Mary's testimony to continue to go forth and point people to the source of her love, joy and commitment to the work of translating the Bible.
*For healing and restoration of those who were wounded both physically and traumatically-for revelation from the Holy Spirit which will give Hope for life and a future.
*For connections with Believers who can minister in the Holy Spirit to these victims.
Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem