於2012-09-28發佈

每週一妥拉 2012/9/23-9/29
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(9/23-9/29)稱為『側耳聽』(Ha'Azinu),讀經內容包括:
妥拉:申命記32:1-52
先知書:撒母耳記下22:1-51

這週的妥拉進度包括我們所謂的摩西之歌(這首歌記載在出埃及記15章跨越紅海之後,也常被稱為紅海之歌。這是神賜給摩西的見證之歌,為要教導以色列兒女,當他們進入迦南地後,好讓他們教導他們的兒女。這首歌的一部份也在啟示錄15:2-4預言到,或許有一天會與羔羊之歌一同被唱到。這首歌包括聖經中一些嚴重的後果,會臨到那些站立在摩西面前卻選擇遠離神的後裔。但我們一定要看見早在前兩章(30:19-20),滿有憐憫的神是如何呼喚以色列:『要揀選生命,使你和你的後裔都得存活;且愛耶和華─你的神,聽從祂的話,專靠祂;因為祂是你的生命,你的日子長久也在乎祂。這樣,你就可以在耶和華向你列祖亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各起誓應許所賜的地上居住。』 

磐石

*申命記32:3-4. 『我要宣告耶和華的名;你們要將大德歸與我們的神。祂是磐石,祂的作為完全;祂所行的無不公平,是誠實無偽的神,又公義,又正直。』

『磐石』這個字(希伯來文Tzur-石頭、峭壁、堡壘)在這首歌用到六次以上:神偉大的屬性(4節);膏油/恩膏的來源(13節);耶路撒冷救恩的來源;真正生以色列的那位(18節);爭戰得勝之能力的來源(30節)。在13節提到的磐石(不是同一個希伯來字)是蜂蜜的來源。

這週的先知書是撒母耳記下22章(幾乎與詩篇18篇一樣),一開始說到『 耶和華是我的巖石,我的山寨,我的救主。』最後則說到『耶和華是活神,願我的磐石被人稱頌!願神─那拯救我的磐石被人尊崇!』在哥林多前書10:4呈現出相同神聖的磐石(希伯來文的翻譯也是用Tzur這個字),『隨著他們的靈磐石;那磐石就是基督!』

請禱告:當以色列人與全世界的猶太人讀到這些話語時能得著啟示,意識到並重回他們的磐石。祂是使他們遠離暴風雨的唯一避難所,祂是他們救恩、生命、恩膏、得勝與真正甜蜜與力量的來源。

*申命記 32:7a, 9a, 10-14. 『你當追想上古之日,思念歷代之年;耶和華的分本是祂的百姓。耶和華遇見他在曠野,就環繞他,看顧他,保護他,引導他,使他乘駕地的高處,又使他從磐石中咂蜜。』

請禱告:雅各當『追想上古之日』。

*申命記32:21b. 『我也要以那不成子民的觸動他們的憤恨,以愚昧的國民惹了他們的怒氣。』在羅馬書10:19和11:11-15,保羅引用同樣的經文是與救恩臨到外邦人有關,最後以色列的憤恨(妒忌)促使她被收納、重建,在世界各地帶出『死而復生』。

請禱告:彌賽亞的真光與真理可以在外邦人中被看見,因而在猶太人的意識中激起妒忌、聖潔的渴望,將他們吸引回歸真理的主。

*申命記32:36, 43b. 『耶和華見祂百姓毫無能力,無論困住的、自由的都沒有剩下,就必為他們伸冤,為祂的僕人後悔(憐憫)。因祂要伸祂僕人流血的冤,救贖祂的百姓。』

救恩總是經由信心的恩典而來,因著祂的憐憫而拯救我們。有趣的是,在這裡經文最後一句的希伯來文真的在說『祂會救贖祂的地祂的百姓。』在祂的地和百姓之間並沒有『和』,他們是不可分開的一體。神與亞伯拉罕、以撒與雅各和其子孫所立的永恆之約,永遠與祂所創造的一部份土地連結。這些百姓是祂的─祂所創造的地有特定的一部份是祂的,祂有全然主權決定將百姓與地連結在一起。當百姓犯罪時,地就被玷污,將他們驅逐出去。唯有神能提供必需的救贖來潔淨土地與百姓,再次將他們連結在一起。百姓還沒有全部潔淨,也還沒有全都再次與土地連結。但救贖已經做成,在這裡所用到救贖的字,就是贖罪日(Yom Kippur)所使用的字。

請禱告:從上頭來的光照亮這些話語,使猶太人在過今年贖罪日時,將會瞭解主已經『為祂的百姓伸冤』,已經『憐憫祂的百姓』,也已經『救贖祂的地祂的百姓』,不只是為他們,更為著祂所創造的全世界!。

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 23-29 September is called Ha'Azinu-"Give Ear": 
TORAH: Deuteronomy 32:1-52 
HAFTARAH: II Samuel 22:1-51

The Torah Portion this weekend is comprised of what is often called the Song of Moses (The song recorded in Exodus 15 after crossing the Red Sea is more often known as the Song of the Sea). It is a song of testimony which God gave to Moses to teach to the Children of Israel, who in turn were to teach it to their children after they had crossed into Canaan. Perhaps it is portions of this song which are prophesied in Revelation 15:2-4 as someday being sung with the Song of the Lamb. This song contains some of the grimmest promises in Scripture of the consequences awaiting the descendants of those standing before Moses when they choose to go away from the Life-God. But it must be seen in a context of the merciful God calling out to Israel two chapters earlier (30:19-20): "Choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love YHVH your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which YHVH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." 

The ROCK.

*Deuteronomy 32:3-4. "For the name of YHWH I proclaim, give greatness to our God! The Rock, whole-and-perfect are his deeds, for all his ways are just. A God steadfast, (with) no corruption, equitable and upright is he" (Everett Fox Translation). 

This word "rock" (Hebrew: Tzur-a rock, a cliff, a fortress) is used over six times in this song: It is one of the attributes of God's greatness (vs. 4); a source of oil/anointing (vs. 13b); the source of Jerusalem's salvation (vs. 15b); the One from whom Israel was actually birthed (vs. 18); the source of strength for victory in warfare (vs. 30). In verse 13a the rock (a different Hebrew word) is a source of honey or sweetness. 

This week's Haftarah is II Samuel 22 (almost an exact reading of Psalm 18). It begins, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.", and ends, "The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation.!" I Corinthians 10:4 reveals that this same divine Rock (the Hebrew translation also uses the word Tzur) "followed them, and that Rock was Messiah."

PLEASE PRAY: for revelation as these words are read, that Israelis and Jews around the world will become aware of and return to their Rock. He is their only place of shelter from the approaching storms. He is a source for their salvation, for life, for anointing, victory, and true sweetness and strength.

*Deuteronomy 32:7a, 9a, 10-14. "Remember the days of old.For the LORD's portion is His people.He found him.encircled him.instructed him.guarded him.led him.made him ride on heights.made him suckle honey from the rock."

PLEASE PRAY: That Jacob "remember the days of old."

*Deuteronomy 32:21b. "But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation." In Romans 10:19 and 11:11-15, Paul quotes this verse as actually being related to salvation coming to the Gentiles and eventually, through Israel's jealousy precipitating her own restoration, which will in turn release "life from the dead" throughout the world.

PLEASE PRAY: For the light and truth of Messiah among Gentiles to be seen and to awaken in Jewish consciousness a jealousy, a holy longing, which will draw them back to the Truth. 

*Deuteronomy 32:36, 43b. "For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their power is gone, and there is no one remaining, bond or free.He will provide atonement for His land and His people." Salvation has always come by Grace through Faith. It is according to His mercy that He saves us. It is interesting here that in the Hebrew the last line of this poem reads literally, "and will atone His land His people." There is no "and" between the Land and the People, they are together-indivisible-ONE. The eternal Covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their seed is forever connected with a certain portion of the earth (adama) which He has created. The people are "His"-this particular portion of the earth He had created is His-He has sovereignly determined that they be and remain together. The people sinned; the land was polluted and expelled them. Only God could provide the necessary atonement to cleanse the Land, and the People-and to bring them together again. The people are not yet all clean, they have not all been reunited with the Land. But the atonement has been made. The word for atonement here is that from which Yom Kippur takes its name-a holy covering. 

PLEASE PRAY: For light from above to illumine these words-that Jews, as they experience Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement this year, will gain understanding that the LORD has "judged His people"-has "had compassion on His servants", and that He has "made atonement for His Land-His People"-and not for them only but for all His world!

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem