於2011-11-11發佈

每週一妥拉 2011/11/6-11/12

從古時起,世界各地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)。每週的讀經內容都有一個希伯來名稱,其出自經文內容起頭的字。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。

這週的閱讀(11/6-11/12)稱為顯現(VaYera),讀經進度為:

妥拉:創世記18:1-22:24
先知書:列王記下4:1-37

*創世記 18:1, 3. 『耶和華在幔利橡樹那裡向亞伯拉罕顯現出來。那時正熱,亞伯拉罕坐在帳棚門口,舉目觀看,見有三個人在對面站著。他一見,就從帳棚門口跑去迎接他們,俯伏在地,說:我主,我若在祢眼前蒙恩,求祢不要離開僕人往前去。』 約翰福音8:56, 58,耶穌說:『你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜地仰望我的日子,既看見了就快樂。還沒有亞伯拉罕就有了我(I AM)。』

在希伯來聖經中,沒有比這段更清楚的例子,說明神成為人的樣式向亞伯拉罕『顯現』。當亞伯拉罕看見祂就跑去迎接祂,因為亞伯拉罕認得神(不要忘記,神先前至少向他『顯現』三次(使7:2; 創12:7; 17:1),而且他越來越熟識『主的話』臨到他的方式(創13:14; 15:1)。這裡亞伯拉罕迎接三個人,對其中一個說『我主』。他並沒有用一般的希伯來文Adoni(主/主人/先生),從經文的母音處顯示他使用『Adonal』─一種單單用來尊稱神的讀法。接著在亞伯拉罕與撒拉之間的對話,很清楚看出他們是在和主說話,另外兩個『人』顯然是很快要來毀滅所多碼與蛾摩拉的天使。

請為在以色列的信徒禱告:用我們的耳傾聽祂的聲音並尋求祂的面,使我們越來越熟識我們的主與祂的使者,當他們在我們中間運行時,我們可以認出他們的同在。並禱告在我們的忙碌中,『不可忘記用愛心接待客旅;因為曾有接待客旅的,不知不覺就接待了天使。』(希伯來書13:2)

*主在幔利橡樹那裡顯現出來,此地就是希伯崙。希伯崙這個字與『友誼』或『伴侶』有關─意味親密的聯盟。一些人視希伯崙為希伯來人『身份認同』的真正地方,而非耶路撒冷。就在這個地方,主以人的形式和亞伯拉罕如同朋友般一同吃喝聊天,從那時起,這城市對希伯來人而言就有著神聖的意義。所有的族長都埋葬在這裡;以色列在埃及的四百年間,仇敵試圖並掌管這地,但當約書亞和迦勒帶領百姓進入應許之地時,迦勒除去這地所有的巨人。同樣在希伯崙這個地方,大衛在神的指示下,建立他頭七年的王國。猶太人持續住在希伯崙直到現代,在1929年時這裡發生暴動與屠殺,到了1967年以色列軍隊不費吹灰之力就得著希伯崙。不久之後,一群勇敢的猶太女子代表團行軍並佔據城內的一個地方;另一個猶太定居點則建在城外。為了展現對奧斯陸和平協議的敬意,以色列軍隊於1997年終於撤出(還有一些人在那裡留守護衛,確保進入族長之墓的權利)。自由派的政府施壓以色列,要完全將這城市讓出來,全部撤出,直到現在此尚未發生。

穆斯林宗教視希伯崙為其領袖之一的出生地,並尋求解決教導與聖經之間的不同處,認為是希伯來聖經改變古老的記載,事實上亞伯拉罕是第一位穆斯林,而阿拉的約則是透過以實瑪利而來。事實上,今天(11月7日)穆斯林正在慶祝宰牲節,以紀念亞伯拉罕願意犧牲以實瑪利。現今在此宗教背後的靈,就像古時亞巴的巨人一樣緊抓著希伯崙。猶太人住在希伯崙裡面與周圍,儘管展現出極大的勇氣與熱情,有時卻以暴力來彰顯他們的熱心,與環繞他們的仇敵也沒有什麼不同。

請禱告:主所定的時間與目的將會釋放在希伯崙,如同在天上。禱告大光同時照亮在希伯崙阿拉伯社區和猶太社區,那是渴望與亞當之子成為朋友的至高神之光。禱告抵擋殘酷暴力(希伯來文:哈瑪斯)的屬靈堅固營壘,其尋求掌控在此城市裡的猶太人和阿拉伯人。禱告以色列不輕看她與生俱來的權利,此包括她先祖埋葬在這城市之地。

*創世記18:14. 『耶和華豈有難成的事嗎﹖到了日期,明年這時候,我必回到你這裡,撒拉必生一個兒子。』耶利米書32:17-18. 耶利米說:『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。祢施慈愛與千萬人,又將父親的罪孽報應在他後世子孫的懷中,是至大全能的神,萬軍之耶和華是祢的名。』

*創世記20:6-7. 『神在夢中對他說:我知道你做這事是心中正直;我也攔阻了你,免得你得罪我,所以我不容你沾著他。現在你把這人的妻子歸還他;因為他是先知,他要為你禱告,使你存活。你若不歸還他,你當知道,你和你所有的人都必要死。』

請禱告:雖然我們周圍環繞著對我們充滿敵意的人,卻容我們的心對每一個國家的所有男女充滿神的恩典與慈愛,要記得祂不願任何一人沈淪。所以我們不會對那些環繞我們的人與國家存有刻板印象,乃是敏銳並預備好,為著那些神揀選釋放祂恩典與憐憫之人的重建與豐盛禱告。

貝都因人靠近古別是巴沙漠的帳棚與駱駝

亞伯拉罕在別是巴栽上一棵垂絲柳樹,又在那裡求告耶和華─永生神的名(創世記21:33)

*創世記22:7-8. 『以撒對他父親亞伯拉罕說:父親哪!亞伯拉罕說:我兒,我在這裡。以撒說:請看,火與柴都有了,但燔祭的羊羔在哪裡呢﹖亞伯拉罕說:我兒,神必自己預備作燔祭的羊羔。於是二人同行。』創世記22:14. 『亞伯拉罕給那地方起名叫耶和華以勒【就是耶和華必預備(供應)的意思】,直到今日人還說:在耶和華的山上必有預備(供應)。』

在古希伯來文yireh這個字帶有『供應』(provision)的概念,但在當時與今日的實質意義卻是『看見』(to see)的動詞形式。『神必自己看見羊羔』(22:8);『耶和華必看見』;『在耶和華的山上必被看見』(22:14)。我相信這是『神看見』貫穿整本聖經如此重要的原因,包括住在『祂臉的光中』(詩篇 44:3; 80:19),『尋求祂的面』(詩篇 27:8-9)與『在主眼中蒙恩』(創世記 6:8)的重要性。倘若沒有任何東西介於我們和祂的臉(祂看見的地方)之間,我們人生旅程中所有的供應都會在那裡。最後,神真的『供應了羊羔』。在以賽亞書五十三章11節用到相同的字:『祂必看見自己勞苦的功效,便心滿意足。有許多人因認識我的義僕得稱為義;並且祂要擔當他們的罪孽。』

*創世記22:13. 『亞伯拉罕舉目觀看,不料,有一隻公羊,兩角扣在稠密的小樹中,亞伯拉罕就取了那隻公羊來,獻為燔祭,代替他的兒子。』

我們相信在這裡呈現出號角或羊角重要的意涵;這裡所說兩角扣在稠密的小樹中,就是來描繪神對所有人類的供應─『神的羔羊除去世人的罪』。羊角響起的聲音就是羔羊救贖工作與得勝的聲音,當羊角聲在對的時候與在聖靈(Ruah haKodesh)的權柄中被吹出來時,魔鬼就顫抖,神的軍隊正釋放出能力、勇氣與喜樂!

下週的閱讀進度(11/13-19)被稱為撒拉的一生(Chayeh Sarah),妥拉─創世記23:1-25:18;先知書─列王記上1:1-31。

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 VaYera ("Appeared").
TORAH: Genesis 18-22:24
HAFTARAH : II Kings 4:1-37

*Genesis 18:1, 3. "Then the LORD [Heb: YHVH] appeared to him [Abraham] by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door.three men were standing by him.he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, 'My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant." John 8:56, 58. YESHUA (JESUS):"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.Before Abraham was, I AM."

*There is no clearer example in the Hebrew Scriptures of God taking on human form; He "appeared" to Abraham. When Abraham sees Him and runs to greet Him, it is to someone he recognizes (Remember, God had "appeared" to Him at least three times before-Acts 7:2; Gen. 12:7; 17:1); also, by this time he had certainly come to recognize the "Word of the LORD" coming to him (Gen. 13:14; 15:1). Abraham approaches the three men, but to One he says, "My Lord." However, instead of using the normal Hebrew word Adoni (Lord/Master/Sir), the vowel points of the text show that he used the word Adonai-a pronunciation used only for Deity! And in the ensuing conversation, both with Abraham and with Sarah, it is made abundantly clear that it is the LORD with whom they are speaking (The other two 'men' are obviously angels, who will soon release destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah). PLEASE PRAY for believers in Israel, that, from inclining our ears to His voice and seeking His face, we become so familiar with our Lord and His messengers that we recognize their presence when they move among us. And pray that in our busy-ness we "not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels" (Hebrews 13:2).

*The LORD appears to him by the terebinth trees at Mamre-which is Hebron. Hebron is related to the word for "friendship" or "companionship"-implying a close association. Some see Hebron, not Jerusalem, as being the true place of Hebrew "identity." It was here that the Lord in human form and Abraham ate and talked together as friends. The city would have holy significance for the Hebrews from this time on. All of the Patriarchs would be buried there. The evil one would try and take it over during the 400 years that Israel was in Egypt, but Caleb would rip it away from those giants when he and Joshua finally brought their people into the land. It would be here that David, at the instruction of the Lord, set up his kingdom for the first seven years of his reign. Jews continued to dwell in Hebron until modern times, when an uprising and massacre took place there in 1929. In 1967 Hebron was taken by Israeli troops without firing a shot. Sometime later, a contingent of brave Jewish women marched in and occupied a place inside of the city; another Jewish settlement was built outside. In 1997, in obeisance to the Oslo "accord," occupying Israeli troops finally pulled out of the city (some continue to be stationed there to guard the tiny enclave of Jews and to insure access to the Tomb of the Patriarchs). Liberal governments have pushed for Israel to simply yield up the city and pull out of it altogether; until now, that has not happened.

The Muslim religion looks at Hebron as the birthplace of one of its leaders. It has sought to resolve discrepancies between its teachings and those of the Bible by holding that the Hebrew Scriptures alter the ancient accounts, that in fact Ibrahim [Abraham] was the first Muslim, and Allah's covenant came through Isma'il [Ishmael]. In fact, today (November 7th), Muslims celebrate the feast of Eid al-Adha, commemorating the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice Isma'il. Presently the spirit behind this religion, like the giants of Arbah in ancient times, holds Hebron in its grip. And the Jews living in and around Hebron, although showing great courage and devotion, at times manifest their zeal in a violence not far-removed from that of those they perceive as their enemies surrounding them.

PLEASE PRAY: that the timings and purposes of the LORD will be released in Hebron "on earth as they are in Heaven". Pray for a Great Light to illumine both Arab and Jew in their communities in Hebron, the light of the Most High God who desires to have a friendship with all the sons of Adam. Pray against the spiritual strongholds of cruel violence (Hebrew: hamas) which seek to hold both Jew and Arab captive in this city. Pray that national Israel will not come to despise her birthright, which includes this city of the burial place of her Fathers.

*Genesis 18:14. "Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." [Jeremiah 32:17-18. JEREMIAH: "Ah, Lord YHVH! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great Power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too wonderful for you.the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is YHVH Tzeva'ot."]

*Genesis 20:6-7. "And God said to him [Abimelech] in a dream, 'Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live.." PLEASE PRAY: that although surrounded by peoples who are often hostile to us, we would make allowance in our hearts for the grace and lovingkindness of our God for all men and women of every nation, remembering that He is not willing that any should perish. Pray that we will not stereotype those in the peoples and nations around us, but be sensitive and ready to pray restoration and prosperity for those upon whom God through us may choose to rest His grace and mercy.
 
Bedouin tent and camels in the desert near the site of ancient Beersheba.

"Thus they [Abraham and Abimelech] made a covenant at Beersheba.then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of YHVH, the Eternal God" (Genesis 21:33)

*Genesis 22:7-8. "Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, 'My father!' And he said, 'Here I am, my son.' And he said, 'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' So the two of them walked on together." Genesis 22:14. "And Abraham called the name of the place "YHVH will Provide.In the Mount of YHVH it will be Provided."

In ancient Hebrew the word yireh could idiomatically carry with it an idea of "provision". Yet literally it was then, as today, a form of the verb "To See". "God will see for Himself the Lamb" (22:8); "YHVH will see; as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of YHVH it will be seen" (22:14). God's "seeing" and being "in His sight" is so important! We believe this to be a reason so much importance is placed throughout Scripture on the importance of dwelling "in the light of His face" (Psalm 44:3; 80:19)-"seeking His face" (Psalm 27:8-9)-"finding grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8). If there is nothing coming between us and His face (the place of His "seeing"), all the provision for our journey will be there. Lastly, God had indeed "seen/provided the Lamb". Isaiah 54:11 uses the same word- "He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities."

*Genesis 22:13. "Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horn." We believe that here lies an important part of the significance of the shofar or rams' horn. Here, caught by its horn, was the symbol of God's Provision for all humankind--the 'Lamb of God which carries away the sin of the world'. The sound of the shofar is a sound of the redemptive work and victory of the Lamb. When it is blown in the timing and authority of the Ruah haKodesh (Holy Spirit/Wind).demons tremble, and the hearts of God's army are strengthened and renewed with courage and joy!

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The readings for next week (13-19 November) will be called Chayeh Sarah (Sarah Lived). TORAH: Genesis 23:1-25:18; HAFTARAH: I Kings 1:1-31]