於2014-06-28發佈

每週一妥拉2014/6/22-6/28
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。

這週的閱讀進度6/22-6/28稱為律例Chukat讀經內容包括: 
妥拉民數記19:1—22:1
先知書士師記11:1-33

備註:由於這個安息日(6月28日)是新月的第一天,許多猶太會堂的先知書閱讀將從原來的士師記11章,變成以賽亞書 66:1-24, 23和撒母耳記上20:18, 42

四十年在曠野裡

因著死亡不斷在他們中間發生,民數記十九章以一種特別的『消毒』方式,來處理那些觸摸死屍的人。於是三十八年悄悄度過,對於那悖逆的世代,『神四十年之久,又厭煩誰呢?豈不是那些犯罪、屍首倒在曠野的人嗎?』(希伯來書3:17)。到了二十章提到米利暗的死,他們已經靠近應許之地了。在這一次的妥拉閱讀中,摩西與亞倫受肉體背叛而悖逆神,使他們無法進入應許之地。亞倫將外袍(聖衣)給了兒子以利亞撒後,死在何珥山。沒多久後,愛發怨言的那一代所存留下來的人被蛇咬死─但新的世代開始起來爭戰,戰勝抵擋他們進入應許之路的巨人。

*民數記 19紅母牛條例。在可拉一黨背叛之人中間有14,700人死於瘟疫,有可能還會有成千上萬的人死在曠野裡。『死亡』持續充斥在營中,所以那些摸了死屍的人需要特別的潔淨。『罪的代價就是死』,在希伯來文中,『潔淨』(12節)這個字涵蓋著罪的希伯來文chet。一隻寶血顏色、沒有殘疾、未曾負軛的『母牛』在營外焚燒,再把香柏木、牛膝草與朱紅色線都丟在火中一塊燒。母牛的灰被收存在營外的器皿裡,需要的人將其與『活水』(17節)混在一起,用來除去那些觸摸死屍的污穢(實質上就是除罪的水,9節)。 

請禱告:這週當以色列讀到這段經文,求神賜下神聖的啟示,引導他們從第一世紀猶太人所寫的書卷中發現真理:『若山羊和公牛的血,並母牛犢的灰,灑在不潔的人身上,尚且叫人成聖,身體潔淨,何況基督藉著永遠的靈,將自己無瑕無疵獻給神,祂的血豈不更能洗淨你們的心,除去你們的死行,使你們事奉那永生神嗎?』(希伯來書9:13-14)。

*民數記20:10, 24: 摩西說:你們這些背叛的人聽我說:我為你們使水從這磐石中流出來嗎﹖』神說:『因為在米利巴水,你們(摩西和亞倫)違背了我的命。』摩西是一個充滿勇氣、憐憫與謙卑的偉大領袖,卻仍有怒氣方面的『盲點』。怒氣常在摩西生命中被提到或影射(出2:12, 11:8, 32:19,利10:16,民11:10, 16:15)。雖然怒氣有存在的必要性,但當其出於肉體或不在神的時間被釋放出來,就無法『成就神的義』(雅各書1:19)。最後,怒氣引發摩西違背神的命令,使他指責人們的罪惡,對他們說而非對磐石說(民20:10)。提多書1:7說神的管家必須『不暴躁』。 

請禱告:在以色列彌賽亞肢體的領袖,能持續受聖靈訓練得以自制。禱告我們將對付聖靈所顯明的問題,否則在重大決定的關鍵時刻,我們可能會用情緒或創傷來回應。

*民數記21:9:摩西便製造一條銅蛇,掛在杆子上;凡被蛇咬的,一望這銅蛇就活了。』『杆子』的希伯來文ness剛好也有著『神蹟』之意。約翰福音3:14-15:摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇,人子也必照樣被舉起來,叫一切信祂的都得永生。』哥林多後書5:21:『神使那無罪的,替我們成為罪,好叫我們在祂裡面成為神的義。』

*民數記21:34-35: 耶和華對摩西說:不要怕他(巴珊王噩)因我已將他和他的眾民,並他的地,都交在你手中;於是他們殺了他和他的眾子,並他的眾民,沒有留下一個,就得了他的地申命記3:11:利乏音人所剩下的只有巴珊王噩。』

當以色列在三十八年後抵達迦南邊界時,只剩下當初他們父親所懼怕的虛構『巨人』。神給他們的指示與他們父親的完全一樣,這次他們聽了神的話並且毀滅了巴珊王噩。打敗巴珊王噩的意義非凡,在申命記、約書亞記、列王記上、尼希米記與詩篇多次提到他。

這一段經文神所提到『交在以色列手中』的土地,就是1967年六日戰爭從敘利亞奪回的土地─戈蘭高地,這區域當時是分給瑪拿西支派作為部分領土。領土的南邊到達亞嫩河,是從亞摩利人的王西宏得來的,最後成為流便與迦得支派的領土。這地方目前位在約旦西北邊為約旦所佔據。

請禱告:在迦勒與約書亞身上『不一樣的心志』,能激勵以色列年輕的世代再次甦醒過來使我們會信靠和迦勒與約書亞一樣的神,擊敗在這塊土地上再次興起的巨人。

*士師記11:23-24:耶和華以色列的神在祂百姓以色列面前趕出亞摩利人,你竟要得他們的地嗎?你的神基抹所賜你的地你不是得為業嗎?耶和華我們的神在我們面前所趕出的人,我們就得他的地。』

許多人對耶弗他有著負面的想法,因為他曾許了一個不幸的願,然而事實不總是如此。雖然他為妓女所生並被家人趕逐,聖經卻以英勇戰士來紀念他,他興起贏得朋友與敵人的敬重。他是一位信靠主得勝的領袖(9節),他是一位士師,將自己所說的話與協定陳明在主面前(11節)。他也熟悉土地的歷史(14-29節),高舉主的手,藉此來勸說他的敵人避免不必要的衝突。對他而言,審判在於神,所以他在神在人面前備受敬重,他甚至被列在希伯來書十一章的信心英雄榜中。

請禱告:像耶弗他般的戰士在末日可以在以色列被興起。禱告神看顧那些來自破碎家庭的人(這樣的人太多了)恩典與信心的種子會被撒在其中,使其在好土中發芽。禱告神的國度臨到基列,那區塊的土地(目前在約旦西部),也就是在這一章採取行動的地方。以利亞先知就是從這地方出來的:『以利亞固然先來,並要復興萬事』(瑪垃基書4:5;馬太福音17:11),這也是他被接到天上的地方。撒迦利亞預言那塊地有一天(亞10:10)會成為猶大家與約瑟家返回之處。 

下週的閱讀進度(6/29-7/5)稱為『巴勒』(Balak),讀經內容包括:妥拉─民數記22:2-25:9;先知書─彌迦書5:7-6:8。

馬汀和娜瑪賽維士(Martin & Norma Sarvis
於耶路撒冷

 

THIS WEEKEND'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 o nly 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 reading for this week June 22-28 is called Chukat-"Ordinance Of" (i.e. the Red Heifer):

TORAH: Numbers 19:1-22:1
HAFTARAH: Judges 11:1-33


Note: Because this Shabbat (28 June) falls upon the first day of Rosh Chodesh Tamuz (Alef), and the morning following is Rosh Chodesh (Bet), the Haftarah read in many synagogues, rather than the usual one from Judges 11, will be Isaiah 66:1-24, 23 and I Samuel 20:18, 42.

40 YEARS IN THE DESERT

Because of the dead who would be constantly in their midst as an entire generation passed away, Chapter 19 deals with a special 'decontamination' procedure with which to cleanse away the defilement left by death. Then 38 years silently pass-there is little more that the Holy Spirit chose to pass on to us regarding that rebellious generation "with whom He was angry for 40 years.whose corpses fell in the desert" (Hebrews 3:17). By Chapter 20, with the death of Miriam, those years are already drawing near to a close. In this week's reading Moses and Aaron themselves enter into a rebellion which will bar them from entering the Land. After the passing of his mantle to his son Eleazar, Aaron dies on Mount Hor. Shortly thereafter a further remnant from the complaining generation are slain by serpents-but the new generation begins to move into warfare and to prevail against the giants barring their way in to their inheritance.

*Numbers 19: Ordinance of the Red Heifer. With the death of those offering incense in Korah's rebellion, the 14,700 who died by plague in the uprising shortly thereafter, and the prospect that hundreds of thousands would pass away in the wilderness wanderings, deathhung over the camp continuously. There was need for an especial cleansing for those who came in contact with a dead person. "The wages of sin is death"-In Hebrew the very word for "purification" or "decontamination" (vs. 12) bears the word for sin chet within it. A cow, perfect and never yoked, was burned in totality outside the camp, with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet fed into the burning. Then the ashes were stored outside the camp. When needed, they were mixed with "living water" (vs17, Hebrew: mayim haim) and used as a decontaminant (literally, "water kept apart to expel, serving as a sin offering", vs 9b) for those who had come into contact with death.

PLEASE PRAY: from the letter in the New Covenant written specifically to Jews of the First century: "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cl eansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?" (Hebrews 9:13-14).

*Numbers 20:10, 24: MOSES: "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" YHVH: ".because you both (i.e. Moses and Aaron) rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah." A great leader of courage, compassion and humility, Moses nevertheless appears to have had a 'blind spot' regarding anger. One sees it quietly alluded to or mentioned a number of times during his life (Exodus 2:12, 11:8, 32:19, Lev 10:16, Numbers 11:10, 16:15). Although there is a place for anger, if it is released in the flesh or outside of God's timing, it will "not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:19). In the end, it triggered in him the very rebellion against God's command which he accused the people of when he spoke to them (20:10) rather than to the Rock. Titus 1:7 speaks of the necessity that God's stewards be "not quick-tempered".

PLEASE PRAY: For leaders in the Body of Messiah in Israel to be trained by the Holy Spirit in self-control. Pray that we will deal with issues which the Spirit discloses, which otherwise could cause us, in moments of critical decision under pressure, to operate out of our emotions or woundings.

*Numbers 21:9 (Alter): "And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a standard, and so then, if the serpent bit a man, he looked on the serpent of bronze and lived." The word ness here translated "standard" or "flag pole" happens also to be a modern Hebrew word for "miracle". John 3:14-15: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." II Corinthians 5:21: "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

*Numbers 21:34-35: "Do not fear him (i.e. Og, King of Bashan), for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land.So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land."Deuteronomy 3:11: "For only Og king of B ashan remained of the remnant of the giants."As Israel arrives 38 years later at the border of Canaan, only one of the fabled "giants" which had terrified their fathers remains. God gives them exactly the same directive he'd given their fathers.and this time they take Him at His word and destroy the giant. The significance of defeating this "Og" was huge-he is mentioned many times in Deuteronomy, Joshua, I Kings, Nehemiah and the Psalms.

The territory which this text says God Himself "delivered into Israel's hand" would eventually became part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Manasseh. It is this same area which modern Israel took from Syria in the 1967 War-the Golan Heights. The territory southward to the Arnon River was taken from King Sihon of the Amorites and eventually became territory of the tribes Reuben and Gad. This area is presently occupied by the north-western part of the Kingdom of Jordan. PLEASE PRAY: That the "different spirit" of Caleb and Joshua which motivated this younger generation of Israelites would awaken again in Israel-that we would come to trust God for defeat of the many giants which have arisen again in the land to which we have returned.

*Judges 11:23-24 : "And now YHVH Elohei-Yisrael (Yehovah, the Israel God) hasdispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel; should you then possess it? Will you not possess whatever Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess!"

Jephthah (Hebrew pronunciation: Yiphtakh) has regrettably come to be dismissed by many (when thought of at all) because of an unfortunate vow he made regarding his daughter. But this has not always been the case. The Bible remembers him as a heroic warrior (gibor-hayil) who, although born of a harlot, despised and dispossessed by the rest of his family, rose nevertheless to command the respect of both friends and enemies. He was a leader who trusted in the LORD for victory (vs 9); a wise judge who made his agreements and pacts in the Presence of the LORD (vs 12). As with any skilled military strategist, he was intimately acquainted with the history of his land (vss. 14-29), acknowledging the LORD's hand in that history, and bringing it to bear in reasoning with his enemies so as to avoid conflict if possible. For Jepthah, judgment rested with the LORD. So highly respected was this man before both God and man, that he is included in the chapter of Heroes of Faith in Hebrews 11.

PLEASE PRAYFor warriors like Jepthah to be raised up in Israel in the Last Days. Pray for God's oversight of those from broken families (there are so many)-that seeds of grace and faith will be sown which will catch and germinate in fertile soil!

Pray for God's Kingdom to come in Gilead, that section of land (a western part of the present-day Kingdom of Jordan) where the action in this chapter took place. It was from this land that the Prophet Elijah "who is coming first and will restore all things" (Malachi 4:5; Matthew 17:11) came forth-and to which he returned before being taken up into Heaven. Under the power of the Spirit of God, the prophet Zechariah foretold a day (Zech. 10:10) in which Gilead would be among the areas to which Jews from the houses of Judah and Joseph would be eventuall y returned. This has yet to be fulfilled.

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem