於2017-05-26發佈


每週一妥拉 2017/5/21-/5/27

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5/21-5/27稱為『在曠野』B'midbar

妥拉:民數記1:1-4:20
先知書:何西阿書1:10-2:20

在沙漠/曠野 (“In the Desert/Wilderness”)

『民數記』的希伯來名字是『在沙漠或曠野』(Bemidbar),在大部分的英文聖經中,則稱為民數記(Numbers(以第一章與二十六章人口普查來命名)。民數記描述以色列離開西乃山,以及三十八年後抵達迦南邊境中間所發生的重大事件。 

*民數記2:2-3: 以色列人要各歸自己的纛下,在本族的旗號那裡,對著會幕的四圍安營。在東邊,向日出之地,照著軍隊安營的是猶大營的纛。有亞米拿達的兒子拿順作猶大人的首領。』 

猶大支派、以薩迦和西布倫支派面向東邊安營。『猶大』的希伯來文字根與舉手讚美或感謝有關(創世記29:35)。猶大向著東邊的會幕安營,彷彿是用讚美來『喚起黎明』(詩篇57:8)。在詩篇六十三篇1-4節描繪著數百年後大衛所展現出此聖潔原則的美麗圖畫(他個人就是拿順與亞米拿達的後裔)。大衛當時也在曠野,他的希伯來文實際上是在說:神啊,祢是我的神,我要切切地尋求祢,我的嘴唇要頌讚祢,我要奉祢的名舉手。』 

民數記十章14節顯明猶大支派也被神揀選來帶領軍隊前行。在大衛之後數百年,約沙法設立歌唱的人走在軍隊前(歷代志下20:21),唱著『當稱謝耶和華,因祂的慈愛永遠長存!』猶大支派是一個象徵感謝與讚美的支派,他也是『君尊的支派』,必須走在前面,君尊的杖將從他們當中興起,必不離開。萬王之王耶穌將從這支派而出,雅各早有關於耶穌的預言,『他父親的兒子們必向他下拜』(創世記 49:8)!撒迦利亞書12:10預言,施恩叫人懇求的靈,必『澆灌大衛家和耶路撒冷的居民』,但在12:7顯示『耶和華必先拯救猶大的帳棚』。我們相信在屬靈上此意味著耶路撒冷將經歷重生,最終以心靈和誠實敬拜讚美的靈將大大澆灌下來,帶領所有以色列人經歷救恩。許多徵兆顯示這樣的事已經開始發生!就在這幾年,至少有四個禱告敬拜中心在耶路撒冷開啟,還有一些是24小時開放。 

請禱告:讚美、感謝與敬拜再次在以色列前線興起他們的呼召包括成為全地的讚美(以賽亞書62:7;西番雅書3:20。禱告近幾年在敬拜與禱告之家被興起的人得著力量與鼓舞;禱告以色列國防部與警察單位的信徒,有恩典將讚美與稱謝放在優先。拿順是猶大支派的領袖,他的名字在現代希伯來文是『先驅』的同義字之一(傳說當下令跨越紅海時,他是第一個將腳踏入的人)。為那些用希伯來文來更新以色列的敬拜先驅禱告;在過去三十年間,主已經透過許多男女老少、猶太人和外邦人來釋放希伯來文的讚美與敬拜在以色列當中。 

*民數記4:4-6, 15. 哥轄子孫在會幕搬運至聖之物,所辦的事乃是這樣:起營的時候,亞倫和他兒子要進去摘下遮掩櫃的幔子,用以蒙蓋法櫃,又用海狗皮蓋在上頭,再蒙上純藍色的毯子,把槓穿上。將要起營的時候,亞倫和他兒子把聖所和聖所的一切器具遮蓋完了,哥轄的子孫就要來擡,只是不可摸聖物,免得他們死亡。會幕裡這些物件是哥轄子孫所當擡的。』 

奇怪的是,我們在耶路撒冷禮品店櫥窗所看見的,都是利未人扛擡金約櫃。這段經文還有別處經文都清楚指明,除了大祭司在贖罪日之外,沒有人可以看聖約櫃。在行路時,約櫃也不是展示給人們來觀看。在起營前,亞倫支派的祭司(並不是其他的利未人)會進去,摘下遮掩櫃的幔子。他們拿著幔子好像一塊板子,直到碰觸到約櫃,他們用其蓋在聖物上(在此聖櫃上的kippur上─另一個作為遮蓋的希伯來字,將代表人的罪的血一年一次撒在上頭)。然而,代表神同在的約櫃是神聖的,甚至連分別為聖的祭司都不被允許觸摸或觀看。每一個人都有自己的職責範圍,利未人負責外院,哥轄的子孫負責扛擡約櫃,只有亞倫的子孫才能去到聖所,而在亞倫的子孫中,唯有他和他的繼任者可以一年一次來到至聖所。 

*何西阿書 1:10: 然而,以色列的人數必如海沙,不可量,不可數。從前在什麼地方對他們說你們不是我的子民,將來在那裡必對他們說你們是永生神的兒子。』

請禱告數以百萬回歸的雅各子孫能被甦醒恢復他們真正的身份他們不只是與古代某個族長有關係的人;事實上,他們是蒙永生之神(希伯來文:El-Hai所愛的孩子,祂差派祂的兒子好使他們可以『得生命,並且得的更豐盛』(約翰福音10:10)! 

*何西阿書 2:16; 19-20; 16:耶和華說:那日你必稱呼我伊施(就是我夫的意思),不再稱呼我巴力(就是我主的意思);我必聘你永遠歸我為妻,以仁義、公平、慈愛、憐憫聘你歸我;也以誠實聘你歸我,你就必認識我─耶和華。

請禱告:喚起以色列心中對這些美好特質的渴慕,這是神對她的懇求仁義、公平、慈愛、憐憫與誠實。禱告恩典將會被釋放在此渴慕上,好使她如這經文最後所言『認識』她的主。很有趣的是,在第16節『我夫』的另一個代名詞『伊施』(ishi),其希伯來文的實質意思就是『我的男人』。唯有對耶穌彌賽亞『這位男人』的認識,才能得著這樣的知識。

*何西阿書 2:14-16: 後來我必勸導他,領他到曠野,對他說安慰的話。他從那裡出來,我必賜他葡萄園,又賜他亞割谷作為指望的門。他必在那裡應聲(或譯:歌唱),與幼年的日子一樣,與從埃及地上來的時候相同。『亞割』的意思是『困難』;『指望的門』為Petah Tiqva(佩塔提克瓦以色列中部有一大城以此為名)。 

請禱告:以色列將找到恩典,使她從困難中仰望有盼望的神(羅馬書15:13),藉由祂所供應的門找著進入祂生命的入口(約翰福音10:9)。

下週的閱讀進度(5/28-6/3)被稱為『數點百姓』Naso讀經內容包括:妥拉─民數記4:21-7:89;先知書─士師記13:2-25。

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.

The Parashah for this week 21-27 May 2017 is called B’Midbar “In the Desert”:

     TORAH:  Numbers 1:1—4:20
     HAFTARAH:  Hosea 1:10—2:20

B’Midbar (“In the Desert/Wilderness”)

This is the Hebrew name for the book called “Numbers” in most English Bibles—after the “numbering” in the census lists of Chs. 1 & 26.  The book describes key events taking place between Israel’s leaving Mount Sinai and her arrival at the borders of Canaan some 38 years later.

*Numbers 2:2-3: “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard…On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the standard of the forces with Judah shall camp according to their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadav shall be the leader of the children of Judah.”  The tribe of Yehuda (Judah), along with Issachar and Zebulun, was to camp facing the East.  The Hebrew root for Yehuda is related to hands or arms raised in the giving of praise or thanks (cf. Gen 29:35).  Judah was to camp on the side of the Tabernacle facing eastward—as though to “awaken the dawn” with praise (Ps 57:8).  Psalm 63:1-4 bears a beautiful picture of this holy principal being demonstrated hundreds of years later by David (himself a descendant of Nahshon and Amminadav).  He is also “in a desert” –and his Hebrew literally says, “Elohim, my God are you, I will ‘dawn’ you (i.e. seek You early)…my lips shall praise you…I will lift up the palms of my hands in Your name.” 

In the reading two weeks from now, Numbers 10:14 will show that the tribe of Yehuda was also God’s choice to be in the lead when the camp broke up and moved forward.  Hundreds of years after David, Jehoshaphat, heading out to engage an overwhelming foe (II Chron. 20:21) would place singers and praisers in front of his army, singing “Hodu la’Adonai ki tov, ki le-olam hasdo!” (“Give thanks with the raising of your hands to the LORD for He is good, for to forever is his lovingkindness!”).  A tribe epitomizing thanksgiving and praise, Judah is also the “royal tribe” which must always come first, from whom a scepter would arise which would never depart.  From this tribe would come the King of Kings, Yeshua/Jesus—of whom Jacob had prophesied that his brothers would praise, and his father’s children bow down before Him (Genesis 49:8)!  Zechariah 12:10 prophecies the repentance and renewal of “the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem”—yet 12:7 reveals that first must come salvation of the “tents of Judah.”  We believe that spiritually this implies that the rebirth of Jerusalem and eventually all of Israel must be ushered in by an outpouring of Praise and Worship in Spirit and in Truth.  There are many signs that this is beginning to happen!  In recent years at least four houses of prayer and worship, some of them 24/7, have opened in Jerusalem.

PLEASE PRAY:  For praise, thanksgiving and worship to again rise to its place in the forefront of Israel (whose call includes being a praise in all the earth (Isaiah 62:7; Zephaniah 3:20).  Pray for strength, inspiration and vision in houses of worship and prayer which God has raised up in Israel in recent years. 

Pray for believers in the Israeli Defense Force and police to have grace in making praise and thanksgiving a priority.  Since Nahshon was to be Judah’s leader—his name has come to be one of the synonyms in modern Hebrew for “pioneer” (Tradition says that he was the first to place his foot in the Red Sea after the command came to cross over).  Pray for those called to pioneer worship in a resurrected Hebrew language in restored Israel today! There are many, both old and young, male and female, Jew and Gentile through whom praise and worship in the ancient language has, during the past 30 years, begun again to be awakened! 

Numbers 4:4-6, 15. “This is the work of the descendants of Kohath in the tent of meeting, concerning the most holy things.  When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it; and they shall lay a covering of porpoise skin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth of pure blue (Hebrew: tekhelet—a sky-blue dye made from a special mollusk), and shall insert its poles…When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and dies.  These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.”

Given the clarity of these instructions, it is strange the pictures and figurines one may see in souvenir shop windows in Jerusalem depicting Levites carrying the golden Ark of the Covenant, with the Aron— “chest” and its Cherubim plainly visible.  As is here and in other passages make clear, no one ever was allowed to look upon the holy Ark, except the High Priest on the Day of Atonement (and then amidst clouds of incense).  On the road, it was not paraded out for everyone to gaze upon.  Before leaving, the Aaronic priests (not the other Levites) came in, took down the veil; it appears that they then moved forward holding it as a screen, until, upon reaching the Ark, they draped it over the holy object as a covering.  Upon this, other coverings were then laid (upon this holy chest upon which kippur—another word for ‘covering’—was made in blood once a year on behalf of the people’s sin).  But the Ark of the Presence was Holy…and touching it or even looking upon it was more than even the especially set-apart priests were allowed to do.  Each person involved was expected to embrace the special responsibility of his office—and not seek another.  The Levites cared for the outer courts; from among the Levites, the sons of Kohath would be the ‘carriers’ of the Ark; from among the Levites, only descendants of Aaron (kohenim— “priests”) could approach the holiest chamber to dismantle it—and from within the descendants of Aaron, only he and his successor could actually enter, once a year, within the veil.

*Hosea 1:10: “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered.  And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there it shall be said to them, ‘You are sons of the Life-God.’” 

PLEASE PRAY:  For more and more of the millions of returned Children of Jacob to be awakened to their true identity—to recognize that they are not merely an ancient people related to certain Patriarchs; they are, in fact, beloved children of El Hai—the “Life-God” Himself, Who has sent forth His Son that they may “have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)!

*Hosea 2:16; 19-20: “‘And it shall be, in that day,’ says the LORD, ‘that you will call Me “My Husband,” and no longer call Me ‘My Master’…I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD.” 

PLEASE PRAY:  For awakening of a longing in Israeli hearts for these wonderful attributes—righteousness, justice, loving kindness, mercy, faithfulness---with which her God is wooing her.  Pray that grace will be released on that longing which will result in the ‘knowledge’ of her Lord prophesied at the end of the verse!  It is interesting that in verse 16, the substituted word “my husband” is “ishi”, which literally means ‘my man’.  This knowledge can only come about in revelation of “the ‘man’—Yeshua the Messiah!”

*Hosea 2:14-16 (NIV): “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her.  There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.  There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.”  Achor means ‘trouble’.  “Door (or ‘Opening’) of Hope” is Petah Tiqva (There is a large city by that name in central Israel). 

PLEASE PRAY that Israel will find grace to lift her eyes from her troubles to the God of Hope (Romans 15:13), finding entrance into His life through the Door which He has provided (John 10:9).

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Parashah for next week 28 May—3 June 2017 is called Naso— “Elevate” TORAH: Numbers 4:21—7:89; HAFTARAH: Judges 13:2-25.  May 31st is SHAVUOT (Pentecost) READINGS:  Exodus 19-20, Numbers 28:26-31; Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12.  Book of Ruth]