於2011-07-02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。

六月廿六日到七月二日的閱讀稱為『律例』(Chukat),讀經內容包括:
妥   拉 : 民數記19:1-22:1
先知書: 士師記11:1-33

因著死亡不斷在他們中間發生,民數記十九章以一種特別的『消毒』方式,來處理那些觸摸死屍的人。於是三十八年悄悄度過,到了二十章提到米利暗的死,他們已經靠近應許之地了。在這一章摩西與亞倫受肉體背叛而悖逆神,使他們無法進入應許之地,而餘留下來愛發怨言的世代有許多人被蛇咬死─但新的世代開始起來爭戰,戰勝抵擋他們進入應許之路的巨人。

*民數記19  紅母牛條例。除了可拉背叛獻香的人死去外,沒多久就有14,700人死於瘟疫,可能還會有成千上萬的人死在曠野裡。『死亡』持續充斥的營中,所以需要特別的潔淨。一隻寶血顏色、沒有殘疾、未曾負軛的『母牛』在營外焚燒,再把香柏木、牛膝草與朱紅色線都丟在火中一塊燒。母牛的灰被收存在營外的器皿裡,需要的人將其與『活水』(17節)混在一起,用來除去那些觸摸死屍的污穢(實質上就是除罪的水,9節)。

請禱告:這週當以色列讀到這段經文,求神賜下神聖的啟示,引導他們從第一世紀猶太人所寫的書卷中發現真理:『若山羊和公牛的血,並母牛犢的灰,灑在不潔的人身上,尚且叫人成聖,身體潔淨,何況基督藉著永遠的靈,將自己無瑕無疵獻給神,祂的血豈不更能洗淨你們的心,除去你們的死行,使你們事奉那永生神嗎﹖』(希伯來書9:13-14)。

*民數記20:10, 24  摩西說:『你們這些背叛的人聽我說:我為你們使水從這磐石中流出來嗎﹖』神說:『因為在米利巴水,你們(摩西和亞倫)違背了我的命。』

摩西是一個充滿勇氣、憐憫與謙卑的偉大領袖,卻仍有怒氣方面的『盲點』。怒氣常在摩西生命中被提到或影射(出2:12, 11:8, 32:19,利10:16,民11:10, 16:15)。雖然怒氣有存在的必要性,但當其出於肉體或不在神的時間被釋放出來,就無法『成就神的義』(雅各書1:19)。最後,怒氣引發摩西違背神的命令,使他指責人們的罪惡,對他們說而非對磐石說。提多書一章7節說神的管家必須『不暴躁』。

請禱告:在以色列彌賽亞肢體的領袖,能持續受聖靈訓練得以自制。禱告我們將對付聖靈所顯明的問題,否則在重大決定的關鍵時刻,我們可能會用情緒或創傷來回應,而沒有在人面前尊主為聖。

*民數記21:9/約翰福音3:14-15/哥林多後書5:21
摩西便製造一條銅蛇,掛在杆子上;凡被蛇咬的,一望這銅蛇就活了。』
摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇,人子也必照樣被舉起來,叫一切信祂的都得永生。』
神使那無罪的,替我們成為罪,好叫我們在祂裡面成為神的義。』

*民數記21:34-35/申命記3:11 『耶和華對摩西說:不要怕他(巴珊王噩)!因我已將他和他的眾民,並他的地,都交在你手中;於是他們殺了他和他的眾子,並他的眾民,沒有留下一個,就得了他的地。』『利乏音人所剩下的只有巴珊王噩。』

當以色列在三十八年後抵達迦南邊界時,只剩下當初他們父親所懼怕的虛構『巨人』。神給他們的指示與他們父親的完全一樣,這次他們聽了神的話並毀滅了了巴珊王噩。打敗巴珊王噩的意義非凡,在申命記、約書亞記、列王記上、尼希米記與詩篇多次提到他。

這一段經文神所提到『交在以色列手中』的土地,就是1967年六日戰爭從敘利亞奪回的土地─戈蘭高地,這區域當時是分給瑪拿西支派作為部分領土。領土的南邊到達亞嫩河,是從亞摩利人的王西宏得來的,最後成為流便與迦得支派的領土。這地方目前位在約旦西北邊為約旦所佔據。

請禱告:在迦勒與約書亞身上『不一樣的心志』,能激勵以色列年輕的世代再次甦醒過來─使我們會信靠和迦勒與約書亞一樣的神,以擊敗再次在這塊土地所興起的巨人。

下週的閱讀進度(7/3-7/9)稱為『巴勒』(Balak),讀經內容包括:妥拉─民數記22:2-25:9;先知書─彌迦書5:7-6:8。

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 (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. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

The reading for this week 26 Jun3-2 July is Chukat-"Ordinance":
TORAH: Numbers 19:1-22:1
HAFTARAH: Judges 11:1-33

Because of the dead who would be constantly in their midst as an entire generation passed away, Chapter 19 deals with a special 'decontamination' regarding death. Then 38 years silently pass; by Chapter 20, with the death of Miriam, they are already drawing towards a close. In this reading Moses and Aaron themselves enter into a rebellion which will bar them from entering the Land, and a further remnant of the complaining generation are killed by serpents-but the new generation begins to move into warfare and to prevail against the giants barring their way into their inheritance.

*Numbers 19: Ordinance of the Red Heifer. With the death of those offering incense in Korah's rebellion, the 14,700 who died by plague in the uprising shortly thereafter, and the prospect that hundreds of thousands would pass away in the wilderness wanderings, Death hung over the camp continuously. There was need for an especial cleansing from death. A cow, perfect and never yoked, was burned in totality outside the camp, with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet fed into the burning. Then the ashes were stored outside the camp. When needed, they were mixed with "living water" (vs17, Hebrew: mayim haim) and used as a decontaminant (literally, "water kept apart for sin", vs. 9) for those who had come into contact with death .

PLEASE PRAY: from the letter in the New Covenant written specifically to Jews of the First century: "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?" (Hebrews 9:13-14).

*Numbers 20:10, 24: Moses: "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Elohim: "Because you (both: Moses and Aaron) rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah."

A great leader of courage, compassion and humility, Moses nevertheless appears to have had a 'blind spot' regarding anger. One sees it quietly alluded to or mentioned a number of times during his life (Exodus 2:12, 11:8, 32:19, Lev 10:16, Numbers 11:10, 16:15). Although there is a place for anger, if it is released in the flesh or outside of God's timing, it will "not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:19). In the end, it triggered in him the very rebellion against God's command which he accused the people of when he spoke to them rather than to the Rock. Titus 1:7 speaks of the necessity that God's stewards be "not quick-tempered".

PLEASE PRAY: For leaders in the Body of Messiah in Israel to be trained by the Holy Spirit in self control. Pray that we will deal with issues which the Spirit discloses, which otherwise could cause us, in moments of critical decision under intense pressure, to operate out of our emotions or woundings.

*Numbers 21:9/John 3:14-15/II Corinthians 5:21.
"So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived."
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

*Numbers 21:34-35/Deuteronomy 3:11 "Do not fear him (i.e. Og, King of Bashan), for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land.So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land."."For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the giants."(Emphases ours). When Israel arrives 38 years late at the border of Canaan, only one of the fabled "giants" which had terrified their fathers remains. God gives them exactly the same directive he'd given their fathers.and this time they take Him at His word and destroy him. The significance of defeating this Og was huge-he is mentioned many times in Deuteronomy, Joshua, I Kings, Nehemiah and the Psalms.

The territory which this text says God Himself "delivered into Israel's hand" is that area taken from Syria in the 1967 War-the present- day Golan Heights. That area became part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Manasseh. The territory southward to the Arnon River was taken from King Sihon of the Amorites and eventually became territory of the tribes Reuben and Gad. This area is presently occupied by the north-western part of the Kingdom of Jordan.

PLEASE PRAY: That the "different spirit" of Caleb and Joshua which motivated this younger generation of Israelites would awaken again in Israel-that we would come to trust God for defeat of the many giants which have arisen again in the land to which we have returned.
 
Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week 3-9 July 2011 will be Balak: TORAH: Numbers 22:2-25:9; HAFTARAH: Micah 5:7-6:8]