每週一妥拉 2012/7/8-7/14
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（7/8-7/14）稱為『非尼哈』（Pinchas），讀經內容包括：
妥拉：民數記25:10-29:40
先知書：列王記上18:46-19:21

主忌邪的心

(妥拉) 非尼哈

*民數記25: 11, 13.『祭司亞倫的孫子，以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈，使我向以色列人所發的怒消了；因他在他們中間，以我的忌邪為心，使我不在忌邪中把他們除滅。這約要給他和他的後裔，作為永遠當祭司職任的約；因他為神有忌邪的心，為以色列人贖罪。』

希伯來字Kinah在聖經上可以翻成熱心或忌邪。神聖的熱心是對某件事或某個人的好與熱愛而焚燒著熱情的忌邪。我們必須要知道的是，同樣的字若是由肉體點燃就變成『嫉妒』（箴言23:17）。大衛唱到他對主的殿的熱心如同火燒（詩篇69:9），這首詩歌也成為要來的彌賽亞的預言（約翰福音2:17）。撒迦利亞書一章14節記錄了耶和華對耶路撒冷的熱心，而以賽亞書九章6-7節說到祂對祂兒子與祂公義國度的熱心。非尼哈則對『尊榮他的神』（25:11,13）充滿著熱心（或忌邪的心）。

請禱告：求神在以色列的信徒中甦醒一顆燃燒的熱心，一顆聖潔的忌邪之心，單單為著神的事─是以真理與真知識為根基（羅馬書10:2）─要讓神轉離怒氣，我們需要這樣忌邪的心，好使之後世代的子民不致被除滅。

 (先知書) 以利亞

*列王記上 19:11-12.『耶和華卻不在風中；風後地震，耶和華卻不在其中；地震後有火，耶和華也不在火中；火後有微小的聲音』。

『微小的聲音』也可以翻譯成『靜默時刻的聲音』。對那些充滿熱心的人而言，領會這時刻、孕育神的話是很重要的。在洞中，以利亞說他對耶和華『大發熱心』，但神卻必須讓他知道，烈風、崩山碎石、地震再加上熱心仍不夠─強大的逼迫使以利亞感到心灰意冷、拒絕與害怕，在暴風的中心一定也需要神安靜話語的穩定同在。當他降服在神的話語時，主才能釋放指令要他『回去』（15節），繼續進行神對他的呼召。儘管在以色列的喧鬧聲中，要領會並擁抱『靜止沈默的時刻』並不容易，卻很重要。

請禱告：當此靜止沈默的時刻臨到時，我們會花時間聆聽並進入這些時刻。

*民數記26:1-2: 瘟疫之後，耶和華曉諭摩西和祭司亞倫的兒子以利亞撒說：你們要將以色列全會眾，按他們的宗族，凡以色列中從二十歲以外、能出去打仗的，計算總數。民數記26:64-65: 但被數的人中，沒有一個是摩西和祭司亞倫從前在西乃的曠野所數的以色列人， 因為耶和華論到他們說：他們必要死在曠野。所以，除了耶孚尼的兒子迦勒和嫩的兒子約書亞以外，連一個人也沒有存留。二萬四千人受到摩押女子的誘惑而死在瘟疫中，悖逆的上一代終於過去，需要重新計算總數。

外袍的傳遞

*(妥拉) 民數記27:18-20: 『嫩的兒子約書亞是心中有聖靈的；你將他領來，按手在他頭上，使他站在祭司以利亞撒和全會眾面前，囑咐他，又將你的尊榮給他幾分，使以色列全會眾都聽從他』 
 * (先知書) 列王記上19:16，20a: 『並膏亞伯米何拉人沙法的兒子以利沙作先知接續你。以利亞到他那裡去，將自己的外衣搭在他身上。以利亞就離開牛，跑到以利亞那裏』

值得注意的是，這週的妥拉書與先知書都與神的熱心有關，但也牽扯到上一代恩膏的屬靈『外袍』傳遞到下一代。約書亞在摩西領導下服事四十年，單有技巧與經驗尚且不足，還有更需要的事，那是超出摩西天生的本領。某樣東西顯出天上更高的權柄大大影響著悖逆的百姓，使他們不得不繼續跟隨與尊敬摩西在曠野長達四十年之久。摩西傳給約書亞此獨特的『權柄』在希伯來文稱為hod─『一個與君尊有關的莊嚴或威嚴』（就是詩篇45：3的榮耀）；這使得會眾聽從並順服約書亞的工作。以利沙透過恩膏領受先知職分的外袍（列王記上19:16），以利亞的外袍象徵性搭在以利沙身上，成為他開始門徒身份的記號。在以利亞被接走後，以利沙終於拾起以利亞身上的外袍（列王記下2:13）。

請禱告：在以色列彌賽亞肢體中五重執事的領袖能忠心帶領門徒，並在神的時間將他們的外袍『傳給』下一代將興起之忠心的人。

*民數記28:2. 『你要吩咐以色列人說：獻給我的供物，就是獻給我作馨香火祭的食物，你們要按日期獻給我。』 我們獻祭的時間很重要；傳道書3:1-11說到時間和季節，神造萬物，各按其時成為美好。在民數記28-29章為新的世代重申主『所定的時候』：每天（早晚），每週（安息日），每月（月朔），春天（逾越節、除酵節、七七節/五旬節），秋天（吹角節、贖罪日、住棚節─包含八天節期中的不同指示）。在主軍隊進入他們新的土地前，先在這裡提出這些主所定的時候與相關的獻祭。
 *列王記上 19:9: 『他在那裡進了一個洞，就住在洞中。耶和華的話臨到他說：以利亞啊，你在這裡做什麼？ 』雖然有些聖經版本說是『一個洞』（a cave），希伯來文非常清楚說是『這個洞』（the cave）。希伯來評論家傳統上指出，這是幾百年前主的榮耀『經過』摩西的同一個『磐石穴』，那時摩西懇求主說『求祢顯出祢的榮耀給我看』。

下週的閱讀進度（7/15-7/21）是平時的兩倍：
I.稱為『支派』（Matot），讀經內容包括：妥拉─民數記30:1-32:42；先知書─耶利米書1:1-2:3。
II.稱為『路程』（Massei），讀經內容包括：妥拉─民數記33:1-36:13；先知書─耶利米書2:4-28; 3:4; 4:1-2。

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 8-14 July 2012 is called Pinchas-"Phinehas":
TORAH: Numbers 25:10-29:40
HAFTARAH: I Kings 18:46-19:21 

The ZEAL of the LORD

(Torah) Phinehas

*Numbers 25: 11, 13. "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aharon the Priest has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with my zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.He was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel". The Hebrew word kinah may in Biblical usage be translated either zeal (NKJV) or jealousy (NASB). Holy zeal is a burning passionate jealousy on behalf of something or someone good and deeply loved. It is important to know that the same word when ignited by the flesh refers to mere envy (Proverbs 23:17). . David sang of his zeal for God's House (Psalm 69:9) which consumed him, a song which would be found to be prophetic of the Messiah, Who was to come (John 2:17). Zechariah 1:14 records YHVH's zeal for Jerusalem-and Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of His zeal for His Son and the establishment of His Righteous Kingdom on Earth. Phinehas was zealous for "the honour of his God" (25:11,13 NIV). 

 PLEASE PRAY: For the awakening of a burning zeal, a holy jealousy in believers in Israel for the things of God-based on truth and knowledge (Rom 10:2)-a zeal which will be necessary in turning away God's wrath so that his people in this later generation are not consumed.

 (Haftarah) Elijah

*I Kings 19:11-12. "And the LORD was not in the wind.the earthquake.the fire; and after the fire a still small voice". The "still small voice" can also be translated, "A voice-a silence-a moment". Apprehending this moment, pregnant with the Word of God, is essential for those aflame with zeal. In the cave, Elijah protested that he had been "very zealous" on God's behalf-yet God had to show him that the roar and shaking and flame sometimes accompanying zeal were not enough-the intense persecution it had aroused had left Elijah with feelings of alienation, rejection and fear. There must also be the stabilizing presence of the quiet Word within, at the center of the storm. When He yielded to that Word, the Lord was able to release instructions for Him to "return to his way" (vs. 15) and proceed onwards towards the culmination of his call. In the roar of Israel, it is difficult, yet essential to apprehend and embrace that "still silent moment".

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE TAKE THE TIME TO HEAR AND ENTER INTO THESE MOMENTS WHEN THEY COME. 

*Numbers 26:1-2: "And it came to pass, after the plague, that the LORD spoke to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying: 'Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and above, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go to war in Israel."-Numbers 26:64-65: "But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest (Numbers 2) when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said to them, 'They shall surely die in the wilderness.' So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun." With the 24,000 who died in the plague brought on by the seduction of the women of Moab, the older generation which had rebelled is finally passed. A new numbering takes place

*Numbers 27:16. "Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying 'Let YHVH, the God of Spirits of all Flesh set a man over the congregation.'" As often happens in the Torah, new attributes of the Deity are revealed through new names used by the personages in the narrative. This name implies the sovereign knowledge the LORD has of the inner workings of all human beings. It is noteworthy that Moses uses this name in requesting the LORD's appointment of a new leader-and the Lord responds by referring specifically to the "spirit" within Joshua (27:18).

The Transfer of Mantles

*(Torah) Numbers 27:18-20: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. And you shall give some of your authority, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient." 

(Haftarah) I Kings 19:16-20a: ".and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah." 

It is remarkable how both this week's Torah and Haftarah passages deal with zeal for God (above), but also with the transferring of a spiritual "mantle" of anointing from one generation to the next. It was not enough that Joshua was skilled and experienced after serving over forty years under Moses' leadership. Something more was necessary; something beyond Moses' natural abilities, something bespeaking the high authority of Heaven had affected the rebellious people in such a way that they had continued to follow and respect him in the desert for 40 years. This particular "authority" (NKJV) of which he was to pass some on to Joshua is Hebrew hod -"a grandeur or majesty related to royalty" ("splendor" in Psalm 45:3 NASB); this would result in the congregation listening to and obeying his word. This sovereign enabling for leadership was passed on here by the laying on of hands and public releasing of God's charge ("inaugurating") into Joshua. Elisha received the mantle for Office of Prophet from Elijah by an anointing (I Kings 19:16) and the symbolic throwing of Elijah's mantle over him as a sign at the beginning of his apprenticeship. He would eventually take up the physical mantle itself after Elijah was taken up (II Kings 2:13).

PLEASE PRAY: For leaders in the five-fold offices of the Body of Messiah in Israel, that they will be faithful in mentoring and in God's timing "passing on" their mantles to faithful ones God shows them in the generation rising up behind.

*Numbers 28:2. "Command the Children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time." Timing is an important aspect of our worship. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 speaks of times and seasons, and of the necessity of timing in the manifesting of the beauty God desires to bring forth in His creation. Here in Chapters 28-29 are presented anew for the next generation the "appointed times" of the LORD: Daily (morning and evening), Weekly (Sabbaths), Monthly (Rosh Chodesh-Head of the Month), SPRINGTIME: Pesach (Passover), Matzot (Unleavened Bread), Shavuot (Weeks, Pentecost); FALL: Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Feast of Booths/Tabernacles, containing instructions for each of the eight days)-all these times of the Lord and their relevant offerings are here laid out fresh before His army goes into their new Land.

*I Kings 19:9: "And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him." Although the NKJV of this passage refers to "a cave"-the Hebrew very clearly says "the cave". This has traditionally been taken by Hebrew commentators to refer to the same "cleft in the rock" before which God had "passed by" before Moses hundreds of years earlier (Exodus 33:22) after Moses had pled, "Please, show me Your glory!"

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

 [The readings for next week, 15-21 July (Double Reading) will be: 
I. Matot/Tribes. TORAH: Numbers 30:1-32:42; HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 
II. Massei/Journeys. TORAH: Numbers 33:1-36:13; HAFTARAH: Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4; 4:1-2]