於2014-02-11發佈

每週一妥拉 2014/2/9-/2/15
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2/9-2/15)稱為你數的時候Ki Tisa,讀經進度為: 
妥拉出埃及記30:11-34:35
先知書列王記上18:1-39

*出埃及記30:11-12. 耶和華曉諭摩西說:你要按以色列人被數的,計算總數,你數的時候,他們各人要為自己的生命把贖價奉給耶和華,免得數的時候在他們中間有災殃。『計算總數』就是『抬起你的頭』,這和我們常說的『數人頭』很類似。此行動還會連同每一個被數之人所付的贖價,免得神的保護離開他們,災殃臨到他們(12節)。或許在撒母耳記下24章,大衛王輕忽這些指示,才使得瘟疫降在他自己百姓當中。 

*出埃及記 31:2-5. 看哪,猶大支派中,戶珥的孫子、烏利的兒子比撒列,我已經提他的名召他。我也以我的靈充滿了他,使他有智慧,有聰明,有知識,能做各樣的工,能想出巧工,用金、銀、銅製造各物,又能刻寶石,可以鑲嵌,能雕刻木頭,能做各樣的工。我分派但支派中、亞希撒抹的兒子亞何利亞伯與他同工。凡心裡有智慧的,我更使他們有智慧,能做我一切所吩咐的。』  

比撒列這名字的意思是『在神的蔭下』,而亞何利亞伯的意思則是『天父是我的帳幕』。所有受造物感到最安全的地方就是在全能者的蔭下(詩篇91:1)─在我們天父帳幕的隱密處(詩篇27:5)。神渴慕用祂的靈充滿藝術家(在這裡提到許多藝術的技巧),為了『能做祂一切所吩咐的。』可悲的是,當這些指示正在山上頒佈給摩西時,亞倫(這位『在神蔭下』最不該搖動的人),竟在周圍人渴求的迫使下,使用他創造性的恩賜做了一個偶像(出32:4)。他沒有讓聖靈使用來協助百姓敬拜真神,反而用他的手所創造出來的東西成為被敬拜的對象。

請禱告:敬虔的比撒列和亞何利亞伯在今日的以色列被孕育、產生,他們能謙卑意識到自己創造性的恩賜、智慧、聰明、知識與手藝都是從神來的,為了祂的榮耀來完成使命祂才是他們最高的命定。禱告他們尋求被聖靈充滿,並抵擋世界的靈,其試圖讓人的創意轉離尊榮他的創造主(人是按具創意之神的形象所造的)。禱告他們能瞭解神深知他們,就像比撒列一樣,神是按他們的名字來呼召他們!

*出埃及記31:17. (安息日)是我和以色列人永遠的證據;因為六日之內耶和華造天地,第七日便安息舒暢。』我們應該小心不去說『雖然神第七天不工作,但那並不是因為祂很累,需要休息等類的話』當然這裡有一些深層超乎我們所能理解的奧秘;然而,這段話清楚說到第七天神『便安息舒暢』。『舒暢』(refreshed)字面上有著『靈魂復甦』的意思,因此大衛可以確信地提到主是那位熟知祂充滿疲憊之僕人的需要,以便『使他的靈魂甦醒』(詩篇23:3)

*出埃及記32:1-5, 19. 以色列的兒女是一群被神完全揀選與分別出來的百姓,上週我們看見亞倫和他的家從以色列中被揀選,成為在主面前服事的祭司(出埃及記28:1)。當然,摩西從一出生就被興起監督並帶領以色列人。在這週的閱讀中更清楚看見,這些呼召、揀選與職分並不是因為人的公義;唉,世人都在罪惡之下(羅馬書3:9)。那必須被面對、承認與處理。這群百姓不久前才一連二次『齊聲說:耶和華所吩咐的,我們都必遵行』(出埃及記24:3, 7)。在摩西走後不到一個月,同樣一群百姓拋棄所承諾的,要求亞倫為他們做神像,可以在他們前面引路(32:1)。亞倫這位被警告『不可隨眾行惡』(23:2),卻在壓力下這麼做,沒能遵守神的第一條和第二條誡命。接著他又打破神的命令(20:23):『你們不可做什麼神像與我相配』。神將石版並祂所寫的律法和誡命賜給摩西,使他可以教訓百姓(24:12)。這石版是『神的工作』,是『神寫的』,是『神用指頭』寫的字(32:16; 31:18)。摩西在怒氣中,完全沒有注意到此,將兩個石版摔碎。 

 *出埃及記32:11-13. 摩西便懇求耶和華─他的神說:耶和華啊,祢為什麼向祢的百姓發烈怒呢﹖這百姓是祢用大力和大能的手從埃及地領出來的。為什麼使埃及人議論說祂領他們出去,是要降禍與他們,把他們殺在山中,將他們從地上除滅﹖求祢轉意,不發祢的烈怒;後悔,不降禍與祢的百姓。求祢記念祢的僕人亞伯拉罕、以撒、以色列。祢曾指著自己起誓說:我必使你們的後裔像天上的星那樣多,並且我所應許的這全地,必給你們的後裔,他們要永遠承受為業。』在出埃及記32:32摩西繼續站在破口中,懇求他們的罪能被赦免。

請禱告:屬靈領袖有熱心、熱忱、慈愛與恩典,為著以色列錯誤的行為來尋求神的面;在代禱中求神轉離祂的怒氣,使祂對以色列的旨意能成就在地上如同在天上。  

*
出埃及記32:19. 摩西挨近營前就看見牛犢,又看見人跳舞,便發烈怒,把兩塊版扔在山下摔碎了。』

請禱告:為領袖的靈魂禱告
(詩篇25:1, 20)─他們不受情緒控制,允許聖靈來運行祂的自制在其中。我們需要屬神的熱心,但『人的怒氣並不成就神的義』(雅各書1:20)。摩西同樣的怒氣後來再次爆發,最後使他不能進入應許之地。

*
出埃及記33:7-11. 摩西素常將帳棚支搭在營外,離營卻遠,他稱這帳棚為會幕。凡求問耶和華的,就到營外的會幕那裡去。當摩西出營到會幕去的時候,百姓就都起來,各人站在自己帳棚的門口,望著摩西,直等到他進了會幕。摩西進會幕的時候,雲柱降下來,立在會幕的門前,耶和華便與摩西說話。眾百姓看見雲柱立在會幕門前,就都起來,各人在自己帳棚的門口下拜。耶和華與摩西面對面說話,好像人與朋友說話一般。摩西轉到營裡去,惟有他的幫手─一個少年人嫩的兒子約書亞不離開會幕。』
 

 

在出埃及記25:22,主給予Mishkan(居所/會幕)陳設的指示,好讓祂可以在特定的時間與祂百姓中的代表相會,但在這裡摩西預備了一個地方,使他自己或別人可以選擇與神會面的時間。神用祂的同在來尊榮那些會面時間,雖然祂的臉不能被看見(20節),祂卻與那些選擇親近祂的人面對面。可惜的是,除了摩西外,顯然只有約書亞利用此大好機會。

請禱告:為以色列的信徒,在匆匆忙忙中能超越律法、先知與福音上『頭腦的知識』,讓自己空出來,分別出一個『地方』與神有個人、面對面的親密時間! 

*
出埃及記33:15. 摩西說:祢若不親自和我同去,就不要把我們從這裡領上去。』在這裡『親自』(presence)這個字的意思是臉(face)。詩篇44:3說『因為我們不是靠自己的刀劍得地土,也不是靠自己的膀臂得勝,乃是靠祢的右手、祢的膀臂,和祢臉上的亮光,因為祢喜悅我們!』 

*
出埃及記33:13, 18. 我如今若在祢眼前蒙恩,求祢將祢的道指示我,使我可以認識祢,好在祢眼前蒙恩。求祢想到這民是祢的民求祢顯出祢的榮耀給我看

請禱告:
為以色列的領袖(包括信徒領袖與世俗領袖)禱告,能像摩西一樣受感呼求主指引道路。禱告我們在祂的眼前蒙恩,我們的領導階層能藉由渴慕瞻仰祂的榮美(詩篇27:4)和榮耀,而受激勵、得能力。

*
出埃及記33:21-22. 耶和華說:看哪,在我這裡有地方,你要站在磐石上。我的榮耀經過的時候,我必將你放在磐石穴中,用我的手遮掩你,等我過去。』幾百年後,先知以利亞從耶洗別的震怒中逃命,來到相同的山上。希伯來文說他進到『這』洞中過夜,主的話臨到他(王上19:9)。猶太人在傳統上認為這山洞正是上述經文的『磐石穴』。


*出埃及記34:6-7. 耶和華在他面前宣告說:耶和華,耶和華,是有憐憫有恩典的神,不輕易發怒,並有豐盛的慈愛和誠實,為千萬人存留慈愛,赦免罪孽、過犯,和罪惡,萬不以有罪的為無罪,必追討他的罪,自父及子,直到三、四代。』在這裡『赦免』的希伯來文是NasahNasah有著『拿起、背負、拿走』的意思,只有神自己可以赦免千萬人的罪孽、過犯,和罪惡。同樣的字也用在約翰福音1:29,約翰看見耶穌來到他那裡,就說:看哪,神的羔羊,除去(或作:背負)世人罪孽的!』 

下週的閱讀進度(2/16-2/22)被稱為『招聚』(VaYakhel),妥拉─出埃及記35:1-38:20;先知書─列王記上7:13-26(在阿什肯納茲猶太會堂);列王記上7:40-50(在塞法迪猶太會堂)。

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 9-15 February 2014 are called Ki Tisa-"When You Raise Up"
TORAH: Exodus 30:11-34:35
HAFTARAH: I Kings 18:1-39


*Exodus 30:11-12. "Then YHVH spoke to Moses, saying: 'When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number." "Take the Census" is "to raise up (Ki Tisa) the heads", in some ways similar to our English expression "to take a head-count." This was to be accompanied by a ransom, shekel tax, being paid by everyone counted, otherwise the people would find protection lifted and themselves opened to plague (vs 12). Perhaps it was through neglect of these instructions that King David would bring plague upon his own people in II Samuel 24.

*Exodus 31:2-5. "See, I have called by name Betzalel.and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom in intelligence, in knowled ge, and in all craftsmanship, to design artistic works.and I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiav.and in the heart of all gifted artisans [Heb: wise-hearts] I have put wisdom to make all I have commanded."

The name Betzalel means, "In the shadow of God." Aholiav means, "Father is my tent." The safe place for all creative beings is under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1)-within the tent of our Father (Psalm 27:5). It is He who desires to fill artists (there are many artistic skills mentioned here) with His Spirit to "make all that He commands." Tragically, at the very time these instructions were being given to Moses on the mountain, Aaron (most certainly not moving under "the shadow of God"), was being coerced by the desires of those around him to use his creative gifts in fashioning an idol (Ex. 32:4). Rather than being used by the Holy Spirit to aid the people in worshipping the true God, the creative fashioning of his hands would itself be worshipped.

PLEASE PRAY: for godly "Betzalels" and "Aholiavs" to be nurtured and brought forth in Israel today, that they will move in a humble awareness that their creative gifts, wisdom, intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship are from God, to fulfill a work for His glor y-His is their high destiny. Pray that they seek to be filled by His spirit-and resist the spirit of the world which seeks to divert the creativity of man (who was made in the Image of a creative God) away from honoring his Maker. Pray that they realize that He knows them and (as with Betzalel) calls them by name!

*Exodus 31:17. "It [i.e. the Sabbath] is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days YHVH made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased work and was refreshed." We should be cautious about saying things like "Although God ceased work on the seventh day, it wasn't because he was tired and in need of a rest, etc." Of course there are mysteries here deeper than we can understand; nevertheless, this passage states clearly that on the seventh day God "ceased work and was refreshed." The word for "refreshed" literally could be rendered "was souled". So David could confidently speak of the LORD as One who intimately understands his weary servant's needs so as to "restore my soul!" (Psalm 23:3).

*Exodus 32:1-5, 19. The children of Israel were a people sovereignly chosen and set-apart by God. Last week we saw how from among these people Aaron and his house w ere themselves chosen to minister before the LORD as His priests (Exodus 28:1). And of course, Moses was raised up from birth to oversee and lead the people. Yet it will become abundantly clear in this reading that none of these callings, choosings and positionings were because of the righteousness of the people; alas, all are under sin (Romans 3:9). That will have to be faced, acknowledged and dealt with. The people, who, a short time before, had "with one voice" twice promised, even in the context of covenant, that "All the words which YHVH has said we will do.we will be obedient" (Exodus 24:3, 7), this people, after Moses is gone for less than a month, abandon their promise and demand of Aaron to make new gods to go before them (32:1). Aaron, who had been warned against giving in to "mob rule" (23:2), under the first pressure does so-in so doing breaking the 1st and 2nd Commandments. He then breaks God's command (20:23) not to "make anything to be with Me" by proclaiming a feast to YHVH along with the worship of the idol he has just fashioned. And Moses, to whom God had given the tablets of stone, Commandments which would be the basis for all other Law, tablets which God had written, to be used by Moses in teaching the people (24:12)-tablet s which were themselves the "work of God" upon which was engraved the "writing of God" written with "the finger of God" (32:16; 31:18)-Moses, in a fit of anger, paid no attention to all of that and smashed them to pieces.

*Exodus 32:11-13. "Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God [Hebrew: 'yearned after the face of YHVH his God'] and said, 'LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people.Turn from Your fierce wrath and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, "I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your seed, and they shall inherit it forever."'" In Exodus 32:32 Moses continues to stand in the gap, pleading that they be forgiven for their sin.

PLEASE PRAY: for spiritual leaders to have the zeal, unction, love and grace to seek the face of God on behalf of errant Israel; to prevail in intercession to turn away His just wrath that His eternal will for her will be fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven.

*Exodus 32:19. "So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain."

PLEASE PRAY: for the souls (Psalm 25:1, 20) of Israeli spiritual leaders-that they not be controlled by their emotions-that they allow the Holy Spirit to work His self-control. There is a place for godly zeal, but the "anger of man does not work the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). It would be an eruption of this same anger some time later which would in the end bar Moses from entering the Promised Land.

*Exodus 33:7-11. "Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the 'tent of meeting'. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp.And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tent, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tent, and talked with Moses.So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tent."

In Exodus 25:22, the LORD had given instructions regarding the disposition of the Mishkan (Dwelling Place/Tabernacle) so that He might meet at appointed times with a representative of His people. But here, Moses prepares a place so that he or anyone else might choose to make his own appointed meetings with God-and God honored those times with His presence. Although His face would not be seen (vs 20), He nevertheless met face to face with those who chose to draw near. Alas, besides Moses, only Joshua (who would one day be prepared to lead Israel into Canaan) appears to have taken advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

PLEASE PRAY: For Israeli believers, in all the rush and hurry, to go beyond 'head knowledge' of the Law and the Prophets and the Gospel-and avail themselves of the privilege of setting aside a 'place' for private, intimate times Face to Face with God!

*Exodus 33:15. "Then he said to Him, 'If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here." Here the word "presence" is literally "Face". Psalm 44:3 says, "It was not by our sword that we took the land, nor did our arm bring us the victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the Light of Your Face, for You loved us!"

*Exodus 33:13, 18. "Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people..Please, show me Your glory."

PLEASE PRAY: for leaders in Israel (both believers and those still secular), to like Moses be moved to call on the LORD for guidance to be shown His way. Pray that we find grace in His sight, that our leadership will be fueled and heartened by longings after his Glory and glimpses of His Beauty (Psalm 27:4).

*Exodus 33:21-22. "And the LORD said, 'Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by." Centuries later, the prophet Elijah fleeing from the wrath of Jezebel would come to this same mountain, and the Hebrew of I Kings 19:9 says He went into the cave to spend the night-and there the Word of the LORD came to him. Jewish teachers have traditionally identified this cave with that same "cleft" in which Moses had been placed by God.

*Exodus 34:6-7. "YHVH, YHVH-Elohim, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in loving kindness and truth (Hebrew: chesed v'emet), keeping loving kindness for th ousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." The Hebrew word used here for "forgiving" is nasah (That for "pardon" in vs 9 is a different word). Nasah has to do with "lifting, carrying, bearing away"-something which only God Himself would be able to do for the "iniquity, transgression and sin of thousands". This is the word used in Hebrew translations of John 1:29 when John announces the Son of God, "Behold! The Lamb of God who bears away the sin of the world!"

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem


[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week 16-22 February 2014 are called VaYakhel-"And He Assembled": TORAH: Exodus 35:1-38:20; HAFTARAH: I Kings 7:13-26 (Sephardic Synagogues); I Kings 7:40-50 (Ashkenazy Synagogues)]