從五月二日到五月八日的閱讀是另一次的雙倍閱讀，我們會讀完利未記。
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。
從五月二日到五月八日的閱讀，
第一部份的閱讀被稱為『在山上』（Behar）─西乃山，讀經內容包括：
妥 拉 : 利未記25:1-26:2
先知書 : 耶利米書32:6-27
第二部份的閱讀被稱為『我的律例』（Bechukkothai），讀經內容包括：
妥 拉 : 利未記26:3-27:34
先知書 : 耶利米書16:19-17:14
*利未記 25:2, 23 『你曉諭以色列人說：你們到了我所賜你們那地的時候，地就要向耶和華守安息…因為地是我的；你們在我面前是客旅，是寄居的。』
主賜給亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各後裔居住的地，對祂而言是很珍貴的。二週前的妥拉閱讀說到，祂會讓犯罪而玷污土地的人從那地被吐出。在這一章神命令以色列定時要讓土地守安息，不幸的是她也忽略此命令。當猶大最終被擄到巴比倫時，主說滿了七十年，先前沒有安息的土地終於得享安息了。
請禱告以色列能有智慧管理神歸還給她的地，瞭解到那地是一個神聖的責任，也是一份禮物。她與她的神會進到一種關係，使她能在祂的時候被託付所有祂曾應許復還給她看管的土地（以西結書36:4-8教導，目前在猶大與撒瑪利亞爭論的地到一個時候『必發枝條』，為歸回的雅各後裔結果子）。
*耶利米書 32:15, 17 『因為萬軍之耶和華─以色列的神如此說：將來在這地必有人再買房屋、田地，和葡萄園。主耶和華啊，祢曾用大能和伸出來的膀臂創造天地，在祢沒有難成的事。』
請為以色列信徒有方法與恩寵能購買產業禱告，為他們自己與子孫真正在這土地『向下紮根』。當看起來不太可能時，我們要曉得在神沒有難成的事，祂已經再次應許讓我們在祂的土地上再次紮根，並擁有『房屋、土地與葡萄園』。
*耶利米書17:5-8 『耶和華如此說：倚靠人血肉的膀臂，心中離棄耶和華的，那人有禍了！ 因他必像沙漠的杜松，不見福樂來到，卻要住曠野乾旱之處，無人居住的鹼地。倚靠耶和華、以耶和華為可靠的，那人有福了！他必像樹栽於水旁，在河邊扎根，炎熱來到，並不懼怕，葉子仍必青翠，在乾旱之年毫無掛慮，而且結果不止。』
這一段很適合用來為以色列的彌賽亞肢體禱告，不倚靠我們天生的能力是很重要的，否則我們不見福樂來到。我們知道『炎熱』將來到，『乾旱之年』也會以許多形式來到（我們才歷經數個乾旱）。但神的心意是要我們在祂聖靈的河邊扎根，祂的恩典將使我們在那些日子葉子青翠、結果不止。
請禱告我們能在全然信靠神上被培育與訓練，我們也為你做同樣的禱告！
*耶利米書17:13-14 『耶和華─以色列的盼望啊，凡離棄祢的必致蒙羞。耶和華說：離開我的，他們的名字必寫在土裡，因為他們離棄我這活水的泉源。耶和華啊，求祢醫治我，我便痊癒，拯救我，我便得救；因祢是我所讚美的。』
『盼望』（HaTiqva）是以色列國歌的歌名，但這首歌所『盼望』的是『能成為一個國家，自由生活在我們的土地上』。以色列永遠不會在她的土地上擁有真正的『自由』，直到天父的兒子叫她自由，她才『真自由了』（約翰福音8:36）─直到她瞭解到唯有主才是她的『盼望』。
但這正要開始發生！！
請禱告我們會有越來越多人找著『活水的泉源、我們的醫治與我們的拯救─因祂是我們所讚美的！』
下週的妥拉與先知書閱讀（5/9-5/15）稱為『在曠野』（Bemidbar），內容包括：民數記1:1-4:20；何西阿書1:10-2:20。
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 contains another double-reading, which will bring us to the close of the Book of Leviticus.
The name of the first is “BeHar” --“In (or ‘at’) Mount” (Sinai):
TORAH: Leviticus 25:1—26:2
HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 32:6-27
The second reading is called “BeChukkothai” (“In My statutes”)
TORAH: Leviticus 26:3—27:34
HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 16:19—17:14
*Leviticus 25:2, 23: “When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD…for the Land is Mine, for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me.”
The land in which Elohim ordained that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob should dwell is precious to Him. Last week’s readings spoke of His causing that land itself to spit out inhabitants who defiled it with gross sin. In this chapter Israel was commanded to grant it regular times of rest, a command which she would unfortunately ignore.
When Judah was eventually carried away captive in Babylon, the LORD said that for 70 years the land would now finally receive the rests which it had been denied.
Please pray that Israel will deal wisely with the land to which God has returned her, coming to realize that it is a holy charge as well as gift. That she will come into a relationship with her God which will enable her in His timing to be entrusted with all of the land He has promised to return to her oversight (Ezekiel 36:4-8 teaches of a time when the very land currently under contention in Judea and Samaria will “put forth its branches” to bear fruit for the returned children of Jacob).
*Jeremiah 32:15, 17 “For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.”… “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You...”
Please pray for believers in Israel to have means and favour to be able to purchase property—so as to truly “put down their roots” into the land for themselves and their descendants. As impossible as this often seems, we would realize that NOTHING is too difficult for our God to do on our behalf, who has promised again to root us and grant us ‘houses, fields and vineyards’ in His Land.
*Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NIV): “This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’”
This is a wonderful passage to pray over the Body of Messiah in Israel. It is so essential that we be weaned from trusting in our own natural abilities—otherwise, we will not even see prosperity when it comes. We know that ‘heat’ will be coming, and in many forms (We have just passed through several “years of drought”). But it is God’s desire that we be so rooted in the streams of His living Spirit that His grace will keep us green and fruitful during those times.
Please pray that we be nurtured and trained in placing our trust and confidence totally in Him. We pray the same for you!
*Jeremiah 17:14: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be ashamed. ‘Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the source of living water, the LORD.’ Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.”
“HaTiqva”—the Hope, is the name of Israel’s national anthem. But the ‘hope’ in that song is “to be a nation free in our Land.” Israel will never be truly ‘free’ in her land until the Son has set her free and she is “free indeed” (John 8:36)—until she realizes that the LORD alone is her ‘Hope’.
BUT THIS IS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN!!
Please pray that more and more of us will find the ‘Source of living water, our healing, and our Salvation—and that He become “Our Praise!”
[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week 9-15 May will be: Bemidbar (In the Desert) and will include Numbers 1:1-4:20; Hosea 1:10-2:20.]
