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。
每週一妥拉的禱告更新內容並不是為了提供這些閱讀『註解』，我們在讀經各處挑出一些重點乃是對我們的代禱有助益。

從四月十八日到四月廿四日的閱讀為平常的二倍，第一部份被稱為『死了之後』（Acharei Mot）：『亞倫的兩個兒子近到耶和華面前死了。死了之後…』，讀經內容包括：

妥    拉 : 利未記16:1-18:30
先知書 : 以西結書22:1-19

第二部分的閱讀被稱為『你們要聖潔』（Kedoshim），讀經內容包括：

妥    拉 : 利未記19:1-20:27
先知書 : 阿摩司書9:7-15

*利未記 16:21-22. 『兩手按在羊頭上，承認以色列人諸般的罪孽過犯，就是他們一切的罪愆，把這罪都歸在羊的頭上，藉著所派之人的手，送到曠野去。要把這羊放在曠野，這羊要擔當他們一切的罪孽，帶到無人之地。』

第一部分的閱讀內容始於對一年最聖潔日子的指示─贖罪日（Yom Kippur）。從兩隻羊中用拈鬮的方式選一隻給神，當作贖罪祭，牠的血彈在幔內的施恩座上，『因以色列人諸般的污穢、過犯，就是他們一切的罪愆，當這樣在聖所行贖罪之禮，並因會幕在他們污穢之中，也要照樣而行。』（利16:16）另一隻歸與阿撒瀉勒的羊則要將他們的罪送到曠野去；這隻『代罪羔羊』的名字阿撒瀉勒，在今日的以色列常被使用為咒詛的同義詞。

請禱告以色列得著啟示，知道耶穌（拯救之意）是神的『羔羊』，為我們成為『咒詛』，用祂的血為我們贖罪，除去世界的罪。

*利未記 18:3; 20:22. 『你們從前住的埃及地，那裡人的行為，你們不可效法，我要領你們到的迦南地，那裡人的行為也不可效法，也不可照他們的惡俗行。所以，你們要謹守遵行我一切的律例典章，免得我領你們去住的那地把你們吐出。』

在這兩節經文中間列出許多邪惡行為，包括拜偶像、行淫亂與秘術活動。以色列被警告這些行為會使先前的居民四散各地，後來（參考先知書以西結書的閱讀內容）這些可憎的事真的使以色列被驅逐。

請為以色列帶來復興所需的認罪與悔改禱告；這段經文所提到的許多可憎之事，今日在我們的土地上仍然盛行。神的律法並沒有改變；我們若要在這塊土地深根、長存，這些邪惡必須被撇在一旁。

*利未記 19:32. 『在白髮的人面前，你要站起來；也要尊敬老人，又要敬畏你的神。我是耶和華。』
這節經文的前半節說『在白髮的人面前，你要站起來』，在以色列的公車裡面隨處可見這段話！

請為在以色列的年老人禱告─他們會親近他們的神。也為年輕人禱告，他們會尊敬並尊榮以色列的長者─瞭解到這其實與『敬畏神』是有關連的。

*阿摩司書 9:11. 『到那日，我必建立大衛倒塌的帳幕，堵住其中的破口，把那破壞的建立起來，重新修造，像古時一樣。』

撒迦利亞書12:10清楚提到，有一天施恩叫人懇求悔改的靈會臨到『大衛家』。以西結書34:23-30 和37:22-28預言以色列的聯合國度未來會在大衛底下再次被重建。因為大衛是首先也是末後『以心靈和誠實』的敬拜者，我們看見不間斷敬拜之處正在世界各地與以色列建立（是以大衛城所設立的大衛會幕為樣式），如同此預言終極應驗的序幕。
目前在大衛會幕與皇宮古址─位在聖殿山朝南的大衛城上方正匯集一場暴風。這塊土地是在1967年戰爭中，從約旦拿回的土地，從這地方可以通到城市的四面八方，但牽涉到除去一些阿拉伯的違章建築（過去的政府允許這些建築，睜一隻眼閉一隻眼）。這對雙方而言都是一個棘手的問題，現在我們看見在大衛城上方的聖殿山，持續發生激烈的屬靈與實質衝突，我們強烈懷疑仇敵想要攔阻上述預言的應驗。

請禱告『神的國降臨』在此古老地區！禱告神的公義與公平、祂的智慧、勇氣、憐憫與時候臨到耶路撒冷市長尼爾‧伯克特（Nir Birkat）與總理那坦雅胡（Netanyahu），他們正面對馬上要臨到的重大決定，關乎耶路撒冷古大衛會幕地區。

下週的妥拉與先知書閱讀（4/25-5/1）稱為『說』（Emor），內容包括：利未記21:1-24:23；以西結書44:15-31。

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.

While it is not within the scope of this Prayer Update to supply a "commentary" on these readings, we will here and there draw attention to certain points which may prove helpful in informing our intercession. [Note: All text citations are those for more-common English translations of the Scriptures.]

This week's portion contains, as did last week's, a "double reading".
The name of the first is "Acharei Mot" ("After the Death"-of the two sons of Aaron):

TORAH: Leviticus 16:1-18:30
HAFTARAH: Ezekiel 22:1-19

The second reading is called "Kedoshim" ([You] "Be Holy")
TORAH: Leviticus 19:1-20:27
HAFTARAH: Amos 9:7-15

*Leviticus 16:21-22. "Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness.The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness."

This portion begins with instructions for the most holy day of the year-Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. One of two goats was chosen by lot for the LORD; it was sacrificed as a sin offering and its blood applied to the Mercy Seat within the veil as "atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins.for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness." The second goat, known as azazel bore their sins away into the desert. That name for this "scapegoat" is often used in Israel today as a curse.

Please Pray for revelation that Yeshua (i.e. "Yehovah is Salvation") was the "Lamb of God" who became a 'curse' for us, made atonement in His blood and bore away the sin of the world.

*Leviticus 18:3; 20:22. "According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. Leviticus 20:22. "You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all my judgments, and perform them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not spew you out."

Between these two verses are enumerated a wide array of evil practices related to idolatry, sexual perversions and occult activity. Israel was warned that these practices had resulted in the previous inhabitants being spat out of the land. Eventually (See the Haftarah portion from Ezekiel) they would bring about the expulsion of Israel herself.

Please pray for conviction of sin and for repentance leading to revival in Israel. Many of the same abominations mentioned in this passage are prevalent in our Land today. God's law has not changed; if we are to become rooted in the land and remain, they must be put aside.

*Leviticus 19:32. "You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD."

The first part of this verse "Mifnei seva takum!" ("Before the aged, arise!") is written inside all public buses in Jerusalem!

PLEASE PRAY for the aged in Israel-that they will draw near to their God. Pray for the younger that there will be a renewal of respect and honour for age in Israel-with the realization that this is linked to the "Fear of God".

*Amos 9:11. "In that day I will raise up the fallen sukka [hut, booth, tent, tabernacle] of David, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old."

Zechariah 12:10 makes clear that a day of grace for conviction and repentance is coming to the "House of David". Ezekiel 34:23-30 and 37:22-28 prophecy that afterwards a united kingdom of Israel under David will be restored. Since David was first and last a worshipper "in Spirit and in Truth", we see the establishment of places of continual worship around the world and in Israel (modeled on that which took place round the Tent David set up over the Ark in the City of David) as an 'earnest' of, a prelude to the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy.

At present there is a gathering storm over the ancient locations of that tent and of David's palace-the "City of David", located just southward below the Temple Mount. This land was taken by Israel from Jordan in the '67 war.

There are directions the city wants to go with this area, but they would involve removal of a number of Arab dwellings built there without permits since that time (Past administrations allowed this building, casting a 'blind eye'. It is a complex problem on both sides. For now, we would say that we see an intense spiritual as well as physical conflict continuing to mount over the City of David, intended by the enemy, we strongly suspect, to thwart the fulfillment of the prophecy written above.

Please pray that God's "Kingdom Come!" over this ancient location.
Pray for His righteousness and justice, His wisdom, courage, compassion and timing over Jerusalem Mayor Nir Birkat and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who faces decisions of great import in the very near future regarding the site of the ancient Tabernacle of David in Jerusalem.

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (25 April-1 May, "Emor") will be: Leviticus 21:1-24:23; Ezekiel 44:15-31]