每週一妥拉 2018/8/26-9/1
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（8/26-9/1）稱為『你進去（得地）的時候』（Ki-Tavo），讀經內容包括：
妥拉：申命記26:1-29:9
先知書：以賽亞書60:1-22
妥拉
*申命記 26:1-11. 『初熟果子』的原則：『你進去得了耶和華─你神所賜你為業之地居住，就要從耶和華─你神賜你的地上將所收的各種初熟的土產取些來，盛在筐子裡，往耶和華─你神所選擇要立為祂名的居所去，見當時作祭司的，對他說：我今日向耶和華─你神明認，我已來到耶和華向我們列祖起誓應許賜給我們的地。耶和華啊，現在我把祢所賜給我地上初熟的土產奉了來。隨後你要把筐子放在耶和華─你神面前，向耶和華─你的神下拜。你和利未人，並在你們中間寄居的，要因耶和華─你神所賜你和你家的一切福分歡樂。』
神把迦南地賜給祂的百姓以色列，持有、居住並傳給後代作為永遠的產業。她若要因耶和華─她的神所賜給她的一切福分歡樂，她必須：
* 將一些地上初熟的土產獻給神。
* 這樣的獻上需要帶著口頭上的承認、見證、高舉神的恩典與憐憫─是祂把他們從缺乏與渴望帶入此奇妙的豐盛。
* 承認主信實保守祂的話，在他們有困難時，信實垂聽並行動。祂偉大的能力與信實將賜給凡是回應祂呼召的人。
*承認一切豐盛都從祂而來，現在，帶著感恩的心，高舉祂並將初熟的果子帶回給賞賜一切的主。
充滿『感恩』來獻上初熟的土產，向耶和華─你的神下拜／敬拜。在希伯來文聖經中，翻譯『讚美』的希伯來文有好幾個，但翻譯『敬拜』的希伯來文只有一個： L’hishtakhavot ，意思是『下拜』，就是謙卑自己來表達對全能神的愛、奉獻與倚靠，祂是美善、信實、公義的神。這樣感恩的敬拜釋放主所賜的一切福樂，連同個人、家人、利未人（屬靈的代禱者），以及神帶到他們中間的『外邦人』。
* 申命記26:5. 『你要在耶和華─你神面前說：我祖原是一個將亡的亞蘭人，下到埃及寄居。他人口稀少，在那裡卻成了又大又強、人數很多的國民。』
亞蘭位在今日的北敘利亞和土耳其西南部。創世記 25:20 (還有28:5)清楚說到利百加的父親彼土利是一個亞蘭人，他是亞伯拉罕兄弟拿鶴的兒子，他或他父親顯然追隨亞伯拉罕從吾珥來到哈蘭（在亞蘭）。
*申命記26:12-15. 『每逢三年，就是十分取一之年，你取完了一切土產的十分之一，要分給利未人和寄居的，與孤兒寡婦，使他們在你城中可以吃得飽足。你又要在耶和華─你神面前說：我已將聖物從我家裡拿出來，給了利未人和寄居的，與孤兒寡婦，是照你所吩咐我的一切命令。你的命令我都沒有違背，也沒有忘記。我守喪的時候，沒有吃這聖物；不潔淨的時候，也沒有拿出來，又沒有為死人送去。我聽從了耶和華─我神的話，都照你所吩咐的行了。求你從天上、你的聖所垂看，賜福給你的百姓以色列與你所賜給我們的地，就是你向我們列祖起誓賜我們流奶與蜜之地。』
對以色列而言，他們土產十分之的一部份要分給全時間事奉的利未人，但不是全部─另一部份用來幫助寄居者，以及無法自我供給的孤兒寡母（雅各書1:27─在新約裡清楚表明如此行在今日仍持續討父神喜悅）。當以色列人忠心並順服看見在這塊他們被託付居住土地上所有的需要，他們便可以呼求他們的神從『天上，祂的聖所垂看』(26:15)，賜福給祂的百姓與土地。
申命記27-28章
在這兩章裡，神給予以色列進入應許之地的指示，列在申命記11:29-32，以色列必須經過示劍外的二山（示劍是亞伯蘭剛進入迦南時，神向他顯現的地方─創世記12:7），並以言語陳明什麼樣的行動會帶來祝福，什麼會招致咒詛。關於咒詛明確的罪列在27:14-26，接著是聽從神誡命而來的祝福應許，列在28:1-15。不聽從的咒詛從28:15開始一直到68節，那是聖經裡最令人害怕的段落；藉著選擇離開神的保護，為自己帶來可怕的結局：『因為你富有的時候，不歡心樂意地事奉耶和華─你的神，所以你必事奉你的仇敵…。』（47節）。
不幸的是，以色列大部分的歷史都因為她選擇遠離神所給她的富足與歡心樂意，最後成為拒絕彌賽亞的縮影，在列國中飄盪了數十世紀，儘管她因咒詛而受苦，但神永恆的愛仍看顧著她，持續以慈愛來吸引她(耶利米書31:3)。我們相信受苦的日子即將結束；這週的先知書來自以賽亞書六十章，正宣告著她的甦醒，同時也宣告光與盼望臨到萬國的甦醒！
*申命記 27:15-26. 『百姓都要答應說：阿們！』百姓都要答應說阿們這個字總共出現十二次，但其意義比禱告結束後的『句點』更深遠。在希伯來文『阿們』是由三個字母所組成，這些字的希伯來字根有信心、信實、信仰和相信。說『阿們！』代表『我對此有信心』；『我相信這是真的』。對於這些經文所列出來的罪，相信神的宣言，確認這些都是真的，對那些順服說阿們的人會帶來生命。『因為人心裡相信，就可以稱義；口裡承認，就可以得救』（羅馬書10:10）。
先知書
*以賽亞書 60:1-3.『興起，發光！因為你的光已經來到！耶和華的榮耀發現照耀你。看哪，黑暗遮蓋大地，幽暗遮蓋萬民，耶和華卻要顯現照耀你；祂的榮耀要現在你身上。萬國要來就你的光，君王要來就你發現的光輝。』
*以賽亞書 60:14.『素來苦待你的，他的子孫都必屈身來就你；藐視你的，都要在你腳下跪拜。他們要稱你為耶和華的城，為以色列聖者的錫安。』
值得注意的是，以色列目前仇敵最惡毒的，就是拒絕使用神賜給雅各的名字（以色列，亞伯拉罕之約的後裔─以撒的兒子）。他們不用以色列這名，反而選擇使用一個揶揄錫安的名字（錫安主義實體the Zionist entity），他們所事奉的神也不會允許他們用主的名（耶和華）來稱呼那地。這段經文顯示有一天，他們會分辨出真理的光，向這位全地的聖者跪拜，這位聖者選擇永遠與他們所鄙視的三個名字連在一起─耶和華、錫安和以色列。
*以賽亞書60:18-20. 『你地上不再聽見強暴（希伯來文：哈瑪斯hamas）的事，境內不再聽見荒涼毀滅的事。你必稱你的牆為拯救，稱你的門為讚美。日頭不再作你白晝的光，月亮也不再發光照耀你。耶和華卻要作你永遠的光，你神要為你的榮耀。你的日頭不再下落；你的月亮也不退縮；因為耶和華必作你永遠的光。你悲哀的日子也完畢了。』
『耶和華說：我要作耶路撒冷四圍的火城，並要作其中的榮耀。』(撒迦利亞書2:5)
*以賽亞書60:21. 『你的居民都成為義人，永遠得地為業；是我種的栽子，我手的工作，使我得榮耀。』
公義使一個國家高舉，以色列產業回到那地的最後擔保就是他們成為義人。
『神使那無罪（無罪：原文是不知罪）的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在祂裡面成為神的義』(哥林多後書5:21)。
下週的妥拉與先知書閱讀（9/2-9/8）稱為『你們站立』（Nitsavim）：妥拉─申命記29:10-30:20；先知書─以賽亞書61:10-63:9。
馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士（Martin & Norma Sarvis）
於耶路撒冷
HIS 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 26 August—1 September 2018 is called, Ki-Tavo—“When You Come Into...”
TORAH: Deuteronomy 26:1—29:9
HAFTARAH: Isaiah 60:1-22
TORAH
*Deuteronomy 26:1-11. Principal of “First Fruits”
“And it shall be, when you come into the land which YHVH your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the soil, which you shall bring from your land that YHVH your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where YHVH your God chooses to make His name abide. And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, ‘I declare today to YHVH your God that I have come to the country which YHVH swore to our fathers to give us.’ Then the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of YHVH your God. And you shall answer and say before YHVH your God: ‘My father was an Aramean, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. But the Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us. Then we cried out to YHVH God of our fathers, and YHVH heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. So YHVH brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey’; and now, behold, I have brought the first-fruits of the land which you, O YHVH, have given me.’ And now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the soil which you, O YHVH have given to me.’ Then you shall set it before YHVH your God, and worship before YHVH your God. So you shall rejoice in every good thing which YHVH your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you.”
God was giving the land of Canaan to His people Israel, to possess, dwell in and pass on as an eternal inheritance to their children after them. For her to enter into joy “in every good thing which YHVH her God was giving to her,” she was to
* Take some of the firstfruits of the ground to the place where the LORD’s presence dwelt, and offer it back to Him.
* This giving was to be accompanied with a verbal confession, testimony, acknowledgment of the grace and mercies of God—who alone had brought them from their place of insignificance and want, to this wonderful prosperity.
* A confession of the LORD’s having been faithful to His Word, and faithful to hear and act when they were in trouble. Of His great Might, Strength and Faithfulness to those whom have responded to His call.
* A confession that all of this prosperity had come from Him, and now, in gratefulness, we were acknowledging that and offering the first fruits back to the One from whom it had all come.
Having done this “gratefulness” release of First Fruits, a door was opened for “worship before the LORD her God!” There are a number of words in the Hebrew Bible translated “praise,” but only one is used for worship of the God of the Bible, L’hishtakhavot (Root: shachah; Strongs 7812) . It means literally, “to bow down.” It has to do with humbling ourselves in expressing love and devotion and dependence upon the One Omnipotent, who is good, faithful and just. This grateful worship released Joy “in every good thing the Lord had given—and that Joy was to be experienced by the individual, his household, the Levites (the spiritual intercessors for the people), and the non-Hebrew “strangers” whom God would bring into their midst.
* Deuteronomy 26:5. “You shall answer and say before YHVH your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and sojourned there…”
Aram was an area which would today include northern Syria and Southwestern Turkey. Genesis 25:20 (also 28:5) clarifies that Rebekah’s father Betu’el was an Aramean. He was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor. Either he or his father had evidently followed Abram to Haran (in Aram) from Ur and settled there.
*Deuteronomy 26:12-15. “When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase…and have given it to the Levite, the wayfarer in you land, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled… ‘I have obeyed the voice of YHVH my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded. Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the Land which You have given us….”
For Israelis, part of the “holy tithe” or “tenth” of their fruitfulness was to be yielded up as provision for those who were ministering full-time to God on their behalf, the Levites. But not all—part of the tithe was to assist those whom God would send to live alongside His designated stewards of the land (Israel); as it were, a kind of offering of hospitality. And also, a portion was to go to those in their midst who had no means of supporting themselves, the fatherless and widows (James 1:27 in the New Covenant, makes clear that this last continues to please the Father today!). As Israelis were faithful and obedient to graciously see to the needs of all within the areas which they had been entrusted to inhabit, they could then call upon YHVH their God to notice from His “holy habitation in heaven” (26:15), and to release His heavenly blessing over the people and the land!
Deuteronomy 27-28
In these chapters Israel is given further instructions to those of Deuteronomy 11:26-32. Upon entering the land, she must travel to the two mountains outside Shechem (Modern-day Nablus). This was near to the place where the LORD had appeared to and spoke with Abram when first he entered Canaan (Genesis 12:7). Israel must now return there and verbalize what actions will bring Israel blessing in the Land—and those which will result in curses (This would be fulfilled under Joshua in Josh. 8:30-35). Curses for specific sins are listed in 27:14-26. Then come the promises of blessings for obedience to God’s commandments in 28:1-15. The curses for disobedience begin in 28:15 and continue through verse 68. This is one of the more disturbing passages in the Bible. By choosing to place one’s self outside of God’s protection, one opens one’s self to horrors—“Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies…” (vs 47).
Tragically, much of the history of Israel may be traced in her choosing to walk out from beneath the “joy and gladness and abundance” offered her )eventually turning down the epitome and very source of these Blessings in her rejection of her Messiah), and wandering for centuries in the nations. During the Captivity of the Kingdom of Judah in Babylon, the prophet Daniel recognized this, confessing “All Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the torah (instruction) of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him (Daniel 9:11).
Yet, even as she has labored under that curse, there is an “everlasting love” which has “kept watch” over her long centuries of wanderings, continuing ever to “draw her in loving kindness” (Jer. 31:3). We believe there are many signs that those years are drawing to an end. This week’s Haftarah from Isaiah 60 portends her awakening, an awakening which heralds light and hope to the non-Hebrew nations as well!
*Deuteronomy 27:15-26. “And all the people shall answer and say, ‘AMEN!’
Twelve times the people are called to say this word. Its meaning is much deeper than a mere ‘period’ at the end of a prayer! In Hebrew, amen is made up of three letters which also form the root for the words faith, faithfulness, belief, and to believe. To say “Amen!” means, “I have faith in this”; “I believe this to be true” (Emet, the word for “truth” is itself etymologically related to this root). Believing God’s pronouncements regarding the sins listed in these verses, and affirming them to be true would bring life to those who obediently spoke them out. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
HAFTARAH
*Isaiah 60:1-3. “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”
*Isaiah 60:14. “Also the sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, and all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; And they shall call you The City of YHVH, Zion of the Holy One of Israel”(Emphases ours).
It is significant that the most virulent of Israel’s present enemies refuse to use the name “Israel,” a name given by God to Jacob (the offspring of Abraham’s covenant-son Isaac) and his descendants. Rather than Israel, they choose to utilize in a derisive way the name Zion (“The Zionist Entity”). Neither will the deity they serve allow them to call on the name of the LORD (YHVH, Yehovah). This passage reveals that one day they will have discerned the light of Truth—and bow to the Holy One over all the earth, who chose to eternally associate himself with the three names they despised—Yehovah, Zion and Israel.
*Isaiah 60:18-20. “Violence (Hebrew: hamas) shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Yeshu’ah (Salvation) and your gates Tehi’lah (Praise). The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.”
“‘For I,’ says the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst’” (Zechariah 2:5).
*Isaiah 60:21. “Also your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.”
It is righteousness that exalts a nation. The final securing of Israel’s inheritance back in the Land will be their coming into that righteousness.
“He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Cor 5:21).
Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem
[The Parashah for next week 2-8 September 2018 is called Nitsavim—“You are Stationed”: TORAH: Deuteronomy 29:10—30:20; HAFTARAH: Isaiah 61:10—63:9]