於2012-05-24發佈

每週一妥拉 2012/5/20-5/26
從古時起,世界各地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)。每週的讀經內容都有一個希伯來名稱,其出自經文內容起頭的字。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。

這週的閱讀(5/20-5/26)稱為『在曠野』(B'midbar),讀經內容包括:
妥拉:民數記1:1-4:20
先知書:何西阿書1:10-2:20

在大部分英文聖經中,『民數記』(在第一章與二十六章人口普查之後)的希伯來名字是『在沙漠或曠野』(Bemidbar)。民數記描述以色列離開西乃山,以及三十八年後抵達迦南邊境中間所發生的重大事件。

*民數記2:2-3: 『以色列人要各歸自己的纛下,在本族的旗號那裡,對著會幕的四圍安營。在東邊,向日出之地,照著軍隊安營的是猶大營的纛。有亞米拿達的兒子拿順作猶大人的首領。』

猶大支派與以薩迦和西布倫支派面向東邊安營。『猶大』的希伯來文字根與舉手讚美或感謝有關(創世記29:35)。猶大向著東邊的會幕安營,彷彿是用讚美來『喚起黎明』(詩篇57:8)。在詩篇六十三篇1-4節描繪著數百年後大衛所展現出此聖潔原則的美麗圖畫(他個人就是拿順與亞米拿達的後裔)。大衛當時也在曠野,他的希伯來文實際上是在說:『神啊,祢是我的神,我要切切地尋求祢,我的嘴唇要頌讚祢,我要奉祢的名舉手。』民數記十章14節顯明猶大支派也被神揀選來帶領軍隊前行。在大衛之後數百年,約沙法設立歌唱的人走在軍隊前(歷代志下20:21),唱著『當稱謝耶和華,因祂的慈愛永遠長存!』

請禱告:讚美、感謝與敬拜再次在以色列前線興起─他們的呼召包括成為全地的讚美。禱告近幾年在敬拜與禱告之家被興起的人得著力量與鼓舞;禱告以色列國防部與警察單位的信徒,有恩典將讚美與稱謝放在優先。既然拿順是猶大支派的領袖,他的名字在現代希伯來文是『先驅』的同義字之一(傳說當下令跨越紅海時,他是第一個將腳踏入的人)。為那些用希伯來文來更新以色列的敬拜先驅禱告;在過去三十年當中,主已經透過許多男女老少、猶太人和外邦人來釋放希伯來文的讚美與敬拜在以色列當中。

*何西阿書 1:10: 『然而,以色列的人數必如海沙,不可量,不可數。從前在什麼地方對他們說你們不是我的子民,將來在那裡必對他們說你們是永生神的兒子。』

請禱告:數以百萬回歸的雅各子孫能被甦醒恢復他們真正的身份─他們不只是與古代某個族長有關係的人;事實上,他們是蒙永生之神(希伯來文:El-Hai)所愛的孩子,祂差派祂的兒子好使他們可以『得生命,並且得的更豐盛』(約翰福音10:10)!

*何西阿書 2:16; 19-20; 16: 『耶和華說:那日你必稱呼我伊施(就是我夫的意思),不再稱呼我巴力(就是我主的意思); 我必聘你永遠歸我為妻,以仁義、公平、慈愛、憐憫聘你歸我;也以誠實聘你歸我,你就必認識我─耶和華。』

請禱告:喚起以色列心中對這些美好特質的渴慕,這是神對她的懇求─仁義、公平、慈愛、憐憫與誠實。禱告恩典將會被釋放在此渴慕上,好使她如這經文最後所言─『認識』她的主。唯有對耶穌彌賽亞『這位男人』的認識,才能得著這樣的知識。(很有趣的是,在第16節『我夫』的另一個代名詞『伊施』(ishi),其希伯來文的實質意思就是『我的男人』)。

*何西阿書 2:14-16: 『後來我必勸導他,領他到曠野,對他說安慰的話。他從那裡出來,我必賜他葡萄園,又賜他亞割谷作為指望的門。他必在那裡應聲(或譯:歌唱),與幼年的日子一樣,與從埃及地上來的時候相同。』 『亞割』的意思是『困難』;『指望的門』為Petah Tiqva(佩塔提克瓦─以色列中部有一大城以此為名)。

請禱告:以色列將找到恩典,使她從困難中仰望有盼望的神(羅馬書15:13),藉由祂所供應的門找著進入祂生命的入口(約翰福音10:9)

下週的閱讀進度:
I. 5/27: 收割節/五旬節,讀經內容包括:妥拉─出埃及記19-20,民數記 28:26-31;先知書─以西結書1:1-28, 3:12。
II. 5/27 -6/2 : 『數點百姓』(Naso),讀經內容包括:妥拉─民數記4:21-7:89;先知書─士師記13:2-25。

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 May 20-26 is "Bemidbar-"In the Desert":
TORAH: Numbers 1:1-4:20
HAFTARAH: Hosea 1:10-2:20

Bemidbar ("In the Desert/Wilderness") is the Hebrew name for the book called "Numbers" (after the census lists of Chs. 1 & 26) in most English Bibles. The book describes key events taking place between Israel's leaving Mount Sinai and her arrival at the eastern borders of Canaan some 38 years later. 

*Numbers 2:2-3: "The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard.On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the standard of the forces with Judah shall camp according to their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadav shall be the leader of the children of Judah." The tribe of Yehuda (Judah), along with Issachar and Zebulun, was to camp facing the East. The Hebrew root for Yehuda is related to hands or arms raised in the giving of praise or thanks (cf. Gen 29:35). Judah was to camp on the side of the Tabernacle facing eastward-as though to "awaken the dawn" with praise (Ps 57:8). Psalm 63:1-4 bears a beautiful picture of this holy principal being demonstrated hundreds of years later by David (himself a descendant of Nahshon and Amminadav). He is also "in a desert" -and his Hebrew literally says, "Elohim, my God are you, I will 'dawn' you.my lips shall praise you.I will lift up the palms of my hands in Your name." Numbers 10:14 will show that the tribe of Yehuda was also God's choice to be in the lead when the camp broke up and moved forward. And hundreds of years after David, King Jehosophat, heading out to engage an overwhelming foe, would place singers in front of his army (II Chronicles 20:21) singing Hodu la'Adonai ki tov, ki le-olam hasdo! ("Give thanks with the raising of your hands to the LORD for He is good, for to forever is His lovingkindness.")

PLEASE PRAY: For praise, thanksgiving and worship to again rise to its place in the forefront of Israel-whose call includes being a praise in all the earth. Pray for strength and inspiration for those in houses of worship and prayer which have been raised up in Israel in recent years. Pray for believers in the Israeli Defense Force and police to have grace in making praise and thanksgiving a priority. Since Nahshon was to be Judah's leader-his name has come in modern Hebrew to be one of the synonyms for "pioneer" (Tradition says that he was the first to place his foot in the Red Sea after the command came to cross over). Pray for those called to pioneer worship in resurrected Hebrew in restored Israel today! During the past 30 years, there are many in Israel, both old and young, male and female, Jew and Gentile through whom praise and worship in the ancient language has been and is being released. 

*Hosea 1:10: "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' there it shall be said to them, 'You are sons of the Life-God.'" 

PLEASE PRAY: For more and more of the millions of returned Children of Jacob to be awakened to their true identity-to recognize that they are not merely an ancient people related to certain Patriarchs, they are, in fact, beloved children of the Life-God (Heb: El-Hai) Himself, Who has sent forth His Son that they may "have life, and that they may have it more abundantly!" (John 10:10).

*Hosea 2:16; 19-20; 16: " 'And it shall be, in that day,' says the LORD, 'that you will call Me "My Husband," and no longer call Me 'My Master'.I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD." 

PLEASE PRAY: For awakening of a longing in Israeli hearts for these wonderful attributes with which her God is wooing her-righteousness, justice, loving kindness, mercy and faithfulness. Pray that grace will be released on that longing which will result in the 'knowing' of her Lord at the end of the verse! This knowledge can only come in the knowledge of "the man" Messiah Yeshua. (It is interesting that in verse 16, the substituted word for "my husband" is "ishi", which literally means 'my man'). 

*Hosea 2:14-16 (NIV): "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt." Achor means 'trouble'. "Door (or 'Opening') of Hope" is Petah Tiqva (There is a large city by that name in central Israel). 

PLEASE PRAY that Israel will find grace to lift her eyes from her troubles to the God of Hope (Romans 15:13), finding entrance into His life through the Door (John 10:9) which He has provided! 
 Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week: 
I. 27 May: SHAVUOT/PENTECOST : TORAH: Exodus 19-20, Numbers 28:26-31; HAFTARAH: Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12.] 
II. 27 May -2 June: Naso-"Raise" a census": TORAH: Numbers 4:21-7:89 ; HAFTARAH: Judges 13:2-25]