於2009-08-28發佈
從古時起,在全世界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)。本週的內容被給予一個希伯來名,出自於經文內容起頭的字。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。

從八月廿三日到八月廿九日的閱讀被稱為:你出去(爭戰)的時候
妥    拉:  申命記21:10-25:19
先知書:  以賽亞書54:1-10

*申命記 22:21 & 23:14.  在這週的閱讀中,有一個重複好幾次的關鍵句子─『就把那惡從你們中間除掉』。『除掉』這個字也可以翻成『燒掉或連根拔除』,在這幾段經文所要處理的許多狀況與情勢,全都指向一個重要事實,就是神的百姓要被『分別出來』與『潔淨』,不管在道德上或身體上,是個人還是群體,『因為耶和華─你的神常在你營中行走,要救護你,將仇敵交給你,所以你的營理當聖潔,免得祂見你那裡有污穢,就離開你。』(23:14)。

*以賽亞書 54:2-3. 『要擴張你帳幕之地,張大你居所的幔子,不要限止;要放長你的繩子,堅固你的橛子。因為你要向左向右開展;你的後裔必得多國為業,又使荒涼的城邑有人居住。』
請禱告:以色列將會進入在彌賽亞裡的公義地位,這將使神能擴張她的境界,涵蓋所有神命令給她的土地,一個她再也不會被拔除的土地。

*以賽亞書54:5. 『因為造你的是你的丈夫;萬軍之耶和華是祂的名。救贖你的是以色列的聖者;祂必稱為全地之神。』
請禱告:在以色列中得著啟示,知道神是以極親密的方式愛她─並且為她預備了一位『救贖主』,祂與父一起。『萬物是藉著祂造的;凡被造的,沒有一樣不是藉著祂造的。』(約翰福音1:3)。

*以賽亞書54:7-8. 『我離棄你不過片時,卻要施大恩將你收回。我的怒氣漲溢,頃刻之間向你掩面,卻要以永遠的慈愛憐恤你。這是耶和華─你的救贖主說的。』

*以賽亞書54:10. 『大山可以挪開,小山可以遷移;但我的慈愛必不離開你;我平安的約也不遷移。這是憐恤你的耶和華說的。』

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 from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the 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. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

The reading for 23-29 August 2009 is entitled: "Ki-tetzeh-When you go out (to war)".
Torah: Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-10

*Deuteronomy 22:21 & 23:14: A key phrase repeated several times in this week's portion is "Thus you shall purge away the evil from among you". The word for "purge" may also be translated "to burn, kindle or root out". There are many situations and circumstances dealt with in these passages, all pointing to the fact that it is of great importance that God's people be 'set apart' and clean-both morally and physically, personally and as a community, "since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you"(23:14).

*Isaiah 54:2-3. "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited."
PLEASE PRAY: That Israel will come into that place of righteousness in her Messiah which will allow God to extend her borders to encompass the territory which He has ordained for her, a territory from which she will never be plucked up.

*Isaiah 54:5. "For your Maker is your husband, YHVH of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth."
PLEASE PRAY: For revelation in Israel that God loves her in an intimate way-and has provided a "Redeemer" for her, who is One with the Father. "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."

*Isaiah 54:7-8. " 'For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,' says the LORD, your Redeemer."

*Isaiah 54:10. "For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has mercy on you.