於2018-01-26發佈


預備進入2018年:“凡事都有定期,天下萬物都有定時。” (傳道書3:1)
錫安之光2017年12月29日

當2017年接近尾聲時,世界各地的以色列人擔心的是這一年可能會很快以另外的一種方式結束:便雅憫‧內塔尼亞胡總理的任期。根據一些報告所透露的消息,對於總理在可能的受賄、失信和貪污這三方面的持續很久的調查很快就要結束了。令人難過的是,以色列警察似乎很可能在2018年初就至少其中的一項控告對總理提出起訴。

以色列的媒體已經不只一次地發表泄露出的關於建議起訴總理的消息。而警察總是以收集更好的證據拖延他們的提議。同時,公眾反對內塔尼亞胡的憤怒情緒持續上揚。這很大一部分是由於以色列左傾的媒體造成,這些媒體極其反對內塔尼亞胡的保守聯盟政府。

即使內塔尼亞胡沒有被起訴,然而對他不斷增長的怨氣仍然會導致對他的執政投不信任票。這最終會使政府倒台,要進行新的選舉。民眾普遍認為總理在新的選舉中會落選。以色列的政治就是這樣,任何的變數都可能發生。

內塔尼亞胡總理到底在任期內受賄或是行賄了嗎?根據媒體的報導,針對他的最主要的罪證是他收受了私人朋友送的昂貴的雪茄和香檳酒(還有最近收的給他妻子撒拉的首飾)。以色列的法律禁止官員收禮,但是對於是否禁止收朋友送的禮比較模糊。作為禮物的雪茄和香檳酒需要被強制沒收嗎?以色列人的觀點是各不相同的。與此同時,總理堅持他是清白的。

我們的禱告是:如果內塔尼亞胡做了任何的錯事,他要毫無隱藏地向神認罪。我們相信在很多方面他是個卓越的領袖。也不誇張地說他也是全球範圍屬靈爭戰的主要目標。但是,他不過是人,難免犯罪。因此,我們這幾個月一直在禱告在主的公義和憐憫的審判中,聖靈親自與他面對面對付他的問題。我們相信內塔尼亞胡先生在現在的位置是神給他的恩典。我們不想他在神所定的時間前辭職或是被免職。我們也相信神的時間不一定一成不變:一部分取決於總理自己的抉擇,一部分取決於我們的代禱,還有其他的一些因素。

無論內塔尼亞胡先生是否有罪,他的領導都會在一定時間內告一段落。凡事都有定期—之後就會轉換到另一個季節。正如本週的妥拉或拉比讀經的章節所啓示的,智慧人會提前預備。

這週的拉比讀經(創世紀47:28-50:26 及舊約列王紀上 2:1-2)的重點在於繼承。它提醒我們,每位領袖,包括那些備受尊敬和敬愛的領導人,只會帶領一個季節。我們該如何爲現任總理和他的繼任者禱告?這些聖經章節爲我們提供了及時的洞見。

本週的妥拉中,先祖雅各知道他在地上的日子快要結束了。他明智地在他離世之前祝福他的十二個兒子,並把他們推入命定。作爲神立約計劃的傳承者,他們必須承接雅各未能完成的。因此,雅各最後“在地上的目的”就是要將他所繼承的和他所知道的未來會發生的事傳遞給他們。他臨終的話是要確保神的旨意能夠成全。

同樣,在列王紀上二章,大衛王將執政權轉交給他的兒子所羅門。這位尊貴的戰士和受愛戴的元首現在已經體弱老邁、不能行動。他的兒子亞多尼亞剛剛試圖篡奪王位。顯然,大衛對於和平的權力過渡並沒有很好的戰術準備,這應該是對我們的警示。先知拿單和大衛的妻子拔示巴的干預讓所羅門能被任命爲國王。(列王紀上1:1-47)當他的兒子繼位的時候,大衛宣告說:“耶和華以色列的神是應當稱頌的!因他賜我一人今日坐在我的位上,我也親眼看見了。”(列王紀上1:48)

大衛是一個合神心意的人,他看到他的合法繼承人接替他而喜樂。他也敦促所羅門順從耶和華,提出最後一些的政策建議,並在死前堅固兒子的信心。(列王紀上2:1-12)多年以後,所羅門王後悔自己沒有(很可能他也沒有去培養)一個值得信賴的接班人。(傳道書2:18-21)此後以色列人再也沒有經歷過大衛 – 所羅門時代那樣的得勝、和平與繁榮—而這並非巧合。

在這週的拉比讀經期間,以色列媒體將會報告起訴書內塔尼亞胡的提議。這應該引起我們的注意:我們不僅要爲現任政府禱告,還要爲神能興起繼任的政府禱告。內塔尼亞胡總理在他創紀錄的九年任期內,已經極大地(儘管不完美)祝福了以色列。但他不過是人,就像雅各、大衛和所羅門一樣。他的領導只是一個季節,爲要完成他在地上的目的。

再言之,我們期望內塔尼亞胡先生留任直到神的時間。我們希望他披戴真理、公義、正義,並在應當悔改時悔改。同時,我們認爲,現在是時候要非常明確地爲將接替他擔任以色列總理的人選禱告了。

以色列人最擔心的是,目前非常明顯還沒有一位在國家安全事務方面經驗豐富的、具有足夠的政治聲望和道德品質以及專家知識的領導人。但聖經讓我們有盼望。古時的以色列人轉向耶和華,呼求一位領袖時,他就施恩爲他們興起一位帶領者。我們深信,當時機成熟的時候,他也會這樣行。當我們進入2018年的時候,您願意和我們一起爲此來禱告嗎?

藉此,聖靈敦促我們專注在五個關鍵的禱告要點上,

1. 在禱告中宣告耶和華在以色列的主權和統治。

以賽亞書 9:6 “以色列的政權必擔在他的肩頭上。”

詩篇 2:6 “我已經立我的君在錫安我的聖山上了。”

詩篇 47:7 “因為神是全地的王。”

2. 求神親自且獨自地應對總理內塔尼亞胡,恢復並復興他。

箴言 21:1-2 “王的心在耶和華手中,好像隴溝的水隨意流轉。人所行的,在自己眼中都看為正,惟有耶和華衡量人心。”

箴言 14:34 “公義使邦國高舉,罪惡是人民的羞辱。”

詩篇 125:3 “惡人的杖不常落在義人的分上,免得義人伸手作惡。” (很遺憾的,很多以色列領導因腐敗而被定罪。 我們要向神請願,求神施予領導恩惠,激起他們對真理、公義和公平的信念和發熱心。”

3. 為內塔尼亞胡禱告,尤其如果他是遭受謊言和惡者詭計的受害者,求神讓他不要提前被解職。

詩篇 35:4,7,8 “願那尋索我命的,蒙羞受辱;願那謀害我的,退後羞愧。”; “因他們無故地為我暗設網羅,無故地挖坑要害我的性命。願災禍忽然臨到他身上,願他暗設的網纏住自己,願他落在其中遭災禍。

詩篇 140:3-4 “耶和華啊, 求你拯救我脫離兇惡的人,保護我脫離強暴的人…他們使舌頭尖利如蛇,嘴裡有虺蛇的毒氣

箴言 21:30 “沒有人能以智慧、聰明、謀略敵擋耶和華。”

詩篇 25: 3,9 “凡等候你的,必不羞愧。”; “他必按公平引領謙卑人,將他的道教訓他們。”

4. 在信心中禱告,求神在合適的時間預備並興起下一任總理。

詩篇 75:6-7 “因為高舉非從東,非從西,也非從南來。惟有神斷定:他使這人降卑,使那人升高。”

士師記 6:7-11 “以色列人因(他們的敵人)米甸人的緣故,呼求耶和華,耶和華就差遣先知到以色列那裡”,就興起了基甸。

士師記 3:15 “以色列人呼求耶和華的時候,耶和華就為他們興起一位拯救者。”

羅馬書 13:1 “沒有權柄不是出於神的,凡掌權的都是神所命的。”

5. 禱告求神讓內塔尼亞胡承認並幫助培養神所揀選的下一任接班人。

創世紀 49-50 請參考上文

列王記上 1-2 請參考上文

民數記 27:15-20 摩西對耶和華說, “願耶和華萬人之靈的神,立一個人來治理會眾,可以在他們面全出入,也可以引導他們…” 耶和華對摩西說,“嫩的兒子約書亞…將他領來,按手在他頭上…將你的尊榮給他幾分,使以色列全會眾都聽從他。

在這段經文裡,摩西先發制人,而神也回應了。當今的局勢,總理內塔尼亞胡已經領導國家很長的時間,使得他擁有無人匹及且未公開的經驗。我們要向神禱告,求神攪動他的心,讓他尋求神的旨意,尋找一位值得信賴的接班人,並在後面做栽培的工作。

提摩太前書 2:1-4 “我勸你第一要為萬人懇求,禱告、代求、祝謝;為君王和一切在位的,也該如此,使我們可以敬虔、端正,平安無事地度日。這是好的,在神我們救主面前可蒙悅納。他願意萬人得救,明白真道。

從古時起,猶太人就根據固定的、年度計劃性的時間表來讀舊約經文。這份時間表將舊約聖經分成每週讀經部分,叫每週妥拉。目前全世界各地的猶太會堂讀的每週妥拉的進度,比在以色列內猶太會堂讀的進度晚一週。

在主裡新年快樂,安息日平安!


Preparing for 2018: “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
DECEMBER 29, 2017

As 2017 dashes to an end, Israelis across the spectrum are concerned with what could soon be the end of another sort: the tenure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to news reports, protracted investigations into three cases of possible bribery, breach of trust and corruption on the part of the prime minister are coming to a close. Sadly, it seems more likely than not the Israeli police will recommend the Attorney General indict him on at least one of the cases early in 2018.

This is not the first time the Israeli media have published leaks about a forthcoming recommendation to indict the prime minister. Each time, the police have delayed their recommendation to collect better evidence. Meanwhile, public outrage against Netanyahu has steadily mounted. This is due in no small part to Israel’s left leaning media, which strongly opposes his conservative coalition government.

If Netanyahu is not indicted, growing resentment toward him could still result in a vote of no confidence in his administration. Such a measure would bring down the government, leading to new elections. It is widely thought the PM would not survive another election. However, Israeli politics being what they are—and God being Who He is—any number of alternative scenarios could unfold.

Did Prime Minister Netanyahu wrongly accept or offer bribes? According to the media, the most incriminating evidence obtained against him to date strongly suggests he received lavishly expensive gifts of cigars and champagne (and most recently, a piece of jewelry for his wife Sara) from personal friends. Israeli law prohibits public officials from receiving gifts, but is ambiguous as to gifts from personal friends. Should gift cigars and champagne mandate removal from office? Israeli opinion is divided. The PM, meanwhile, maintains he is innocent of wrongdoing. We sincerely hope he is correct.

Our prayer has been that any wrongdoing on Netanyahu’s part would be confessed forthrightly to God. We believe he is an excellent leader in many ways. It is not an overstatement to say he is also a prime target of global spiritual warfare. But he is only human and not beyond sin. Like other heads of state, he has made mistakes, some serious. For many months we’ve asked the Holy One to deal privately with him face to face, according to His righteous and merciful judgments. We believe Mr. Netanyahu is in office because God wanted him there. We do not want him to resign or be removed until God’s appointed time. We also believe God’s time is not necessarily fixed; it depends partly on choices the prime minister makes, partly on our intercession, and more.

Whether or not Mr. Netanyahu has committed any crime, his leadership will at some time come to an end. To everything there is a season—and then the season changes. As revealed in this week’s parasha or Torah portion,* called Vayechi, the wise prepare in advance for it.

Parasha Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26 with haftarah 1 Kings 2:1-2) focuses on succession. It reminds us that every leader, including those highly esteemed and beloved, leads only for a season. This week’s parasha gives timely insight on how to pray for both our current prime minister and his successor.

In Vayechi, the patriarch Jacob knows his season on earth is nearly finished. He wisely uses the time he has left to bless and propel his twelve sons into their destiny. As successors to God’s covenant purposes, they must pick up where Jacob leaves off. And so the patriarch’s final “purpose under heaven” is to pass along to them what he inherited and what he knows should in the future take place. His final words help ensure God’s purposes will be fulfilled.

Similarly, in 1 Kings 2, King David transfers ruling authority to his son Solomon. The noble warrior and beloved premier is now old, weak, and mostly incapacitated. His son Adonijah has just tried to usurp the throne. Apparently, David did not prepare very well tactically for a peaceable transition of power—and this should serve as a warning to us. The prophet Nathan, together with David’s wife Bathsheba, have intervened so that Solomon would be appointed king. (1 Kings 1:1-47)

As his son is enthroned David declares: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.” (1 Kings 1:48) A man after God’s heart, David rejoices to see his rightful successor replace him. He urges Solomon to walk in obedience to YHVH, gives final policy recommendations and builds his son’s confidence before he dies. (1 Kings 2:1-12) Many years later, King Solomon regrets that he himself does not have and presumably did not groom, a trusted successor. (Ecclesiastes 2:18-21) Not coincidentally, Israel never again experiences the victory, peace and prosperity marked by the David – Solomon era.

That, during the week of parasha Vayechi, Israeli media would report on the likely recommendation of Netanyahu’s indictment highlights the need to pray not only for our current government, but for that which God would raise up to succeed it. Prime Minister Netanyahu has blessed Israel and the nations during his record-setting, nine year tenure. But he is merely human like Jacob, David and Solomon. There is but a season to his leadership, a time for the purpose under heaven he is to fulfill.

To repeat, we want Mr. Netanyahu to remain in office for as long as God wants him there. We want him covered and shielded with truth, righteousness, justice, and where necessary, repentance. Meanwhile, we believe it is also time to pray very intentionally for the person who will succeed him as Prime Minister of the State of Israel.

A serious concern among Israelis is the apparent lack of any leader with sufficient governmental and moral stature and expertise, experienced in matters of national security. But the Scriptures give us hope. When ancient Israel turned to YHVH and cried out for a leader, He graciously provided one. We believe He will do the same today when the time is right. Will you join us in this prayer as we head into 2018?

The Holy Spirit has impressed us to focus on five strategic points.

1. Prayerfully declare YHVH’s sovereign rule and reign over Israel.

Isaiah 9:6 The government of Israel is on Messiah’s shoulders.

Psalm 2:6 “I have set My King upon My holy hill in Zion.”

Psalm 47:7 “God is the King of all the earth.”

2. Ask God to personally and privately deal with, restore and revive PM Netanyahu on a daily basis.

Proverbs 21:1-2 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases. All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Psalm 125:3 3 “The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hand to do evil.” (Sadly, many Israeli leaders have been found guilty of corruption. Petition God to graciously stir all our leaders with conviction and passion for truth, righteousness and justice.)

3. Pray that Netanyahu will not be prematurely removed from office, especially if he is victim of lies or evil schemes.

Psalm 35:4, 8 “May those [evil forces] who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, may ruin overtake them by surprise—may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.”

Psalm 140:3-4 “Rescue me, O Lord, from evildoers; protect me from those who … make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.”

Proverbs 21:30 “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”

Psalm 25:3, 9 “No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame… He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.”

4. Pray in faith for God to prepare and raise up the next prime minister at the right time.

Psalm 75:6-7 “Promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But it isGod who judges. He puts down one and sets up another.”

Judges 6:7-11 “When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of [their enemy] Midian, He sent them a prophet” and raised up Gideon.

Judges 3:15 “Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord and He raised up for them a deliverer.”

Romans 13:1 “There is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

5. Pray that Mr. Netanyahu will recognize and help groom the person God chooses to succeed him.

Genesis 49-50 Jacob blesses and helps empower the successors to God’s covenant, his sons.

1 Kings 1-2 David passes governing authority to his son Solomon.

Numbers 27:15-20 Moses said to the Lord, “May the Lord…appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them…” So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua…and lay your hand on him…Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.”

In this passage, Moses takes the initiative regarding a protege-successor and God responds. In the current situation, PM Netanyahu has led the country for so long that he possesses unmatched and undisclosed expertise. Ask God to stir his heart to seek His will for a trustworthy successor he can mentor behind the scenes.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

* Since ancient times, the Jewish people have read the Hebrew Scriptures according to a fixed, yearly timetable. This timetable divides theTanakh, or Old Testament, into weekly portions called parashas. The parasha read in the diaspora is presently one week behind that read in Israel; Vayechi was read in Israel last week.