於2016-04-08發佈


每週一妥拉 2016/4/3-4/9

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。 

星期五晚上開始以色列的聖經新年

上週與這週是預備進入逾越節前二週的的特別安息日,通常會有額外的妥拉閱讀,先知書閱讀也會隨之改變。這週的特別安息日被稱為正月安息日,因為它同時又是正月的開始。這是給猶太人的正月,所以我們會再次讀到出埃及十二章(一般的農耕新年則在秋季)。這個月又稱為亞筆月或尼散月,今年的聖經『新年』是在四月9日星期六,前一晚的日落開始。

這週的閱讀4/3-4/9)稱為『懷孕』(Thazria

妥拉:利未記12:1-13:59

正月安息日:出埃及記12:1-20

先知書:以西結書45:16-46:18

上週我們聚焦在以色列被『分別出來』的重要性,將聖的、俗的,潔淨的、不潔淨的,分別出來(利10:10這週與下週的妥拉閱讀持續會談到要如何在日常生活中行出來。當一位母親生產時,她需要潔淨與贖罪,必須居家一段時間並檢視是否有爆發疾病(身體上與環境上),以及污染是否已經排出身體。一旦得醫治了必須按著指示來恢復。

當耶穌彌賽亞出生穩定後,祂的母親馬利亞照著同樣的指示來潔淨(路加福音2:22),當獻祭的時候到了,她和約瑟只能獻上這裡所提到的卑微獻祭(利12:8;路2:24)。耶穌來是為要『除去魔鬼的作為』,彰顯在所有這些疾病當中,帶來贖罪、救贖性的醫治與潔淨。很有意義的是在祂醫治神蹟中,特別提到祂醫治那些大痲瘋與『血漏問題』的婦人。 

請禱告:當猶太人這安息日在會堂裡聽見這些話,其如此深動描繪出目前在我們中間的罪與結果,以及人們需要得醫治並宣告得潔淨─禱告聖靈會讓人為罪、為義、為審判自己責備自己,聖靈也會吸引猶太人尋求主的潔淨,唯有祂能將人洗淨白如雪!  

下週的閱讀進度(4/10-4/16)被稱為『大痲瘋』(Metsora),妥拉─利未記14:1-15:33『大安息日』(Shabbat HaGadol: 瑪垃基書3:4—4:6。

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. The Haftarah, unless otherwise noted, will be that read in Ashkenazy synagogues around the world. The references for all texts are those found in English translations of the Scriptures.

Friday night begins Israel's Biblical New Year

As with last week, this is one of two special Shabbats in preparation for Pesach/Passover containing an additional Torah reading and a replacement for the usually-read Haftarah reading (II Kings 4:42-5:19a). This one is called Shabbat HaChodesh because it coincides with Chodesh haChodeshim-the "Beginning of Months" . This was to be the beginning of months for the Hebrews, so we also read again the account of its establishment in Exodus 12. (The agricultural new year comes at Rosh HaShanah in the fall). The month is called Aviv or Nisan. This year the "New Year" begins on Saturday April 9th , commencing the previous evening at sundown.

T he readings for this week 3-9 April 2016 are called Thazria-"Quicken with Seed/Conceive":

TORAH: Leviticus 12:1-13:59

Shabbat haChodesh: Exodus 12:1-20

HAFTARAH: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18

After last week's focus on the importance of Israel's being 'set apart', of her distinguishing between the holy and unholy, the unclean and clean (Lev. 10:10)-this and next week's portions continue in instruction of how this was to be worked out in everyday life. There needed to be purification and atonement made for a mother when bringing forth children; there must be measures of isolation and testing taken for outbreaks of surface diseases or blights (both on physical bodies and on dwellings), and for contaminating discharges from the body. And there was the way prescribed for restoration once healing had occurred.

When Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus) came to be born in a stable, his mother Miriam (Mary) submitted to these same instructions for purification (Luke 2:22), and when it was time for the sacrifice, she and Joseph could only afford the humble offering mentioned here (Lev 12:8; Luke 2:24). Yeshua's coming was to "undo the works of the devil" manifest in a ll of these diseases, to bring atonement, redemption healing and cleansing. It is very significant that among his healing miracles, special mention is made of those involving lepers and a woman with an 'issue of blood'. PLEASE PRAY: as those in synagogues this coming weekend hear these words which so graphically picture the presence and result of sin in our midst and man's need for healing and being pronounced clean, that the Holy Spirit will convict of sin and righteousness and judgment, and draw Jews to seek cleansing through the One who washes white as snow!

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week 10-16 April 2016 are called : Metsora-"Infected One": TORAH: Leviticus 3:4-4:6; HAFTARAH (Shabbat haGadol): Malachi 3:4-4:6]