於2009-10-23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。

從十月十八日到十月廿四日的閱讀被稱為:挪亞(NOAH),讀經內容包括:
妥    拉 : 創世記 6:9-11:32
先知書 : 以賽亞書 54;1-55:5

* 創世記 6:9  『挪亞是個義人,在當時的世代是個完全人。挪亞與 神同行。』『完全』(perfect)這個字在詩篇廿一篇21節又翻成『純全』(integrity):『願純全、正直保守我,因為我等候祢。』

* 創世記 6:11-13 『世界在 神面前敗壞,地上滿了強暴(希伯來文是hamas─暴行、殘忍的暴力。)神觀看世界,見是敗壞了;凡有血氣的人在地上都敗壞了行為。神就對挪亞說:凡有血氣的人,他的盡頭已經來到我面前;因為地上滿了他們的強暴,我要把他們和地一併毀滅』。血氣人的領導帶來敗壞與毀滅,新約對末後的預言說那會再次『像挪亞的日子一樣』。撒迦利亞書二章11-13節指示我們在末後的日子,當彌賽亞要再次收回猶大、揀選耶路撒冷,當主從祂聖所興起時,對信徒而言很重要的是他們要對血氣說『安靜下來』(13節)。我們若沒有在聖靈的能力中釘死我們的血氣,它就會成為我們的敗壞,就像挪亞的日子一樣。

* 創世記 7:4 『因為再過七天,我要降雨在地上四十晝夜。』是 神『降雨在地上』,我們現在正進入以色列『秋雨』的時節(會在秋天和早冬臨到,『春雨』則會在晚冬和早春臨到)。

當今年猶太新年在加利利下著強大、充沛的雨量,這是極大的盼望─甦醒的祝福!但從那時起直到現在都沒有下雨,今天耶路撒冷報紙的頭條寫著『官方說:儲存的水可能會在明年用盡』。以色列持續處在最缺乏水的時候,目前已經限制個人的用水,倘若乾旱繼續下去,到了明年暑假,我們可能就要採取激烈的方式,例如進口水或沿著海岸設立簡便的海水淡化裝置。在此時所想出的這些方法成本過高,而且唯一我們慎重考慮接觸的國家是土耳其,兩國早期友好的關係似乎已不復再,就算今年關係好轉,地下蓄水層和加利利海的水位也非常的低。

請禱告 神會憐憫以色列,敞開天上的窗戶,正如祂在挪亞的日子所做的─不是為著審判而是憐憫。正如我們先前所提到的,在以賽亞書四十一章17-20節說到,當以色列為著水而向 神哭求,神會垂聽─祂會做創造性的事,在想不到的地方釋放出水來─到最後『好叫人看見、知道、思想、明白;這是耶和華的手所做的,是以色列的聖者所造的。』

* 創世記9:22-23 『迦南的父親含看見他父親赤身,就到外邊告訴他兩個弟兄。於是閃和雅弗拿件衣服搭在肩上,倒退著進去,給他父親蓋上;他們背著臉就看不見父親的赤身。』
今年是ayin─眼睛年(參考上週的每週一妥拉),格外重要的是我們不僅要看我們應該看的事─更要遠離我們不該看的事─甚至要和其他的弟兄姊妹一起保護並遮蓋那些 神要我們尊榮的人。

* 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。』

請禱告以色列今年在她與她的 神的關係─還有與祂兒子的關係會有新的啟示─神的兒子事實上就是她的救贖主,是以色列的聖者,是她父親所蒙福與跟隨的神!

* 以賽亞書54:17 『凡為攻擊你造成的器械必不利用;凡在審判時興起用舌攻擊你的,你必定他為有罪。這是耶和華僕人的產業,是他們從我所得的義。這是耶和華說的。』

為著以色列的肢體禱告,我們能學習並熟練我們爭戰的武器─也知道仇敵的器械,信靠神的話來抵擋仇敵。
禱告以色列得著啟示,神使她的彌賽亞替她成為罪,好叫以色列在祂裡面『成為神的義』(參考林後5:21)。

* 以賽亞書55:3 『你們當就近我來;側耳而聽,就必得活。我必與你們立永約。』挪亞與 神同行,側耳聽 神的指示並與 神同行,如同一個『公義的傳道者』(彼後2:5),將生命之道傳講給願意傾聽的人─而神說:『我要與你立約』(創6:18)。

請禱告『傳義道的』聲音會在以色列興起,她能側耳聽見那呼喚聲─心能接受當 神以憐憫回到耶路撒冷所提供的永恆新約(亞1:16)。

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 five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah-final reading) 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 Haftarah 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 readings for October 18-24 are called NOAH-and include:
TORAH: Genesis 6:9-11:32
HAFTARAH: Isaiah 54;1-55:5

*Genesis 6:9 (NKJV). "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with God." "Perfect" is an adjective form of the word translated "integrity" in Psalm 25:21: "Let integrity and uprightness preserve/guard me for I wait for you" (NKJV).

*Genesis 6:11-13. "Now the earth had gone to ruin before God, the earth was filled with wrongdoing [Hebrew: hamas-outrage, cruel violence]. God saw the earth, and here: it had gone to ruin, for all flesh had ruined its way upon the earth. God said to Noach: An end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with wrongdoing through them: here, I am about to bring ruin upon them, along with the earth" (Everett Fox translation; emphases ours). Flesh, given its lead brings ruin and destruction. The New Covenant prophecies that in the latter days, it will again be "as it was in the days of Noah". Zechariah 2:11-13 instructs us that in those days, as Messiah draws near to again take possession of Judah and to choose Jerusalem, as the LORD is aroused from His holy habitation, it will be imperative for Believers that they (as did Noah) say "HUSH" to the flesh (Hebrew "Hass!" vs. 13). Either we crucify it in the power of the Holy Spirit, or it will, as in the days of Noah, be our ruin.

*Genesis 7:4. "For after seven more days, I will cause it to rain on the earth." It is God who "causes it to rain on the earth". We are well into the time of the "Former Rains" in Israel (these come in the fall and early winter, the "Latter Rains" come in late winter and early Spring). It was a tremendous hope-awakening blessing when the Galilee received strong, substantial rains on Rosh haShana! --But it has been dry since then.
Today one headline in Jerusalem read, "Officials: Water reserves could be depleted by next year". Israel continues in the throes of perhaps the worst water shortage in modern times. There are already restrictions on personal usage. If the drought continues, by next summer we may find ourselves having to take drastic steps, such as importing water or setting up portable desalination plants along the coast. Either of these measures appears at this time to be completely cost-prohibitive-and the only country we had seriously considered approaching for water is Turkey, with whom the favor of earlier times seems to be quickly draining away. Even if this year is a good one, the aquifers and the Sea of Galilee will be low.

PLEASE PRAY that God will have mercy upon Israel and open the windows of heaven, as He did in Noah's day-not for judgment but in mercy. As we have mentioned in the past, Isaiah 41:17-20 speaks of a time when Israel will cry out for water and be heard by her God-who will do creative works to release water in unexpected places-to the end "that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it."

*Genesis 9:22-23. "And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father.but Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness."
In this year of ayin-the eye (see last two Updates), it is of exceptional importance that we not only see what we should see-but also turn away from that which we should not see-even joining together with other brothers and sisters in protecting and covering those whom God has positioned us to honor.

*Isaiah 54:5. "For your Maker is your husband, the LORD 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 this year for new revelation in Israel of her relation to her God-and to His Son-that One is in fact her Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel Whom her fathers have followed and blessed!

*Isaiah 54:17. "'No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,' says the LORD."
Pray for the Body in Israel, that we learn and become trained in the weapons of our warfare-knowing as well those of the enemy, and trusting God's word to turn them aside.

Pray for revelation that God has made Israel's Messiah to be sin on her account that she might "become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor. 5:21).

*Isaiah 55:3. "Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you." Noah walked with God, inclined his ear to God's instructions, and walked with God, and as a "preacher of righteousness" (II Peter 2:5) preached life to any who would listen-and God said, "I will establish My covenant with you" (Gen 6:18).

Pray voices to be lifted in Israel as "preachers of righteousness", ears be inclined to hear that call-and hearts to receive the new and everlasting Covenant God is offering as He returns to Jerusalem in mercy (Zech 1:16).