於2014-03-27發佈

每週一妥拉 2014/3/23-/3/29
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(3/23-3/29)被稱為『懷孕』(Thazria):
妥拉:利未記12:1-13:59
正月安息日:出埃及記12:1-20
先知書:以西結書45:16-46:18

備註:這週是為了預備逾越節前二個特別的安息日之一,因此有額外的妥拉讀經,先知書閱讀也隨之改變。這週的安息日又稱為正月安息日,因為這週的安息日是將要進入猶太宗教曆正月前的安息日。 

                             

上週我們聚焦在以色列被『分別出來』的重要性,將聖的、俗的,潔淨的、不潔淨的,分別出來(利10:10)─這週與下週的妥拉閱讀持續會談到要如何在日常生活中行出來。當一位母親生產時,她需要潔淨與贖罪,必須居家一段時間並檢視是否有爆發疾病(身體上與環境上),以及污染是否已經排出身體。一旦得醫治了必須按著指示來恢復。

當耶穌─彌賽亞出生穩定後,祂的母親馬利亞照著同樣的指示來潔淨(路加福音2:22),當獻祭的時候到了,她和約瑟只能獻上這裡所提到的卑微獻祭(利12:8;路2:24)。耶穌來是為要『除去魔鬼的作為』,彰顯在所有這些疾病當中,帶來贖罪、救贖性的醫治與潔淨。很有意義的是在祂醫治神蹟中,特別提到祂醫治那些大痲瘋與『血漏問題』的婦人。 

請禱告:當猶太人這安息日在會堂裡聽見這些話,其如此深動描繪出目前在我們中間的罪與結果,以及人們需要得醫治並宣告得潔淨─禱告聖靈會讓人為罪、為義、為審判自己責備自己,聖靈也會吸引猶太人尋求主的潔淨,唯有祂能將人洗淨白如雪。 

*出埃及記12:1-3, 6-7, 13. 『耶和華在埃及地曉諭摩西、亞倫說:你們要以本月為正月,為一年之首。你們吩咐以色列全會眾說:本月初十日,各人要按著父家取羊羔,一家一隻。要留到本月十四日,在黃昏的時候,以色列全會眾把羊羔宰了。各家要取點血,塗在吃羊羔的房屋左右的門框上和門楣上。這血要在你們所住的房屋上作記號;我一見這血,就越過你們去。我擊殺埃及地頭生的時候,災殃必不臨到你們身上滅你們。』  

請禱告:當猶太人進入此新的一年,開始預備逾越節時,神的恩典將在他們身上,除去隱藏逾越節真實意義的帕子。禱告他們將清楚看見並瞭解『這血要作記號』的意思,進而轉向這位除去世人罪惡的羔羊。 

*以西結書 45:17a; 18; 46:1, 3. 『王的本分是在節期、月朔、安息日,就是以色列家一切的節期,奉上燔祭、素祭、奠祭。…主耶和華如此說:正月初一日,你要取無殘疾的公牛犢,潔淨聖所。…主耶和華如此說:內院朝東的門,在辦理事務的六日內必須關閉;惟有安息日和月朔必須敞開。…在安息日和月朔,國內的居民要在這門口,耶和華面前敬拜。』

數千年以來,以西結所描述關於聖殿和儀式的本質與重要性充滿著奧秘,但無論這些經文所做的是在實質上還是屬靈上,是理想上還是歷史上,或是過去還是未來的事,在這裡有一件事與我們的閱讀息息相關,就是新月(Rosh Chodesh)─月朔/新月(特別包括正月)對神而言很重要,好讓祂的百姓尊榮祂。新月亦是獻上各種祭,潔淨聖所的時候,它也是『那地的居民』在主面前敬拜的時候。

我們發現每個月的一開始是下列幾種事物的大好時候:

*向主獻上感恩的祭,為著祂上個月所賜下的憐憫。
*將新的月託付給祂看顧。
*祈求祂的靈尋找我們並潔淨我們的內在『聖所』,預備祂在新的月份自由居住,在我們裡面並藉由我們自由運行。
*以感謝、讚美和敬拜進入新的月份之門。

當我們在四月一日要邁向猶太曆正月時,讓我們尋求要如何將自己預備到最好,跨越到聖經中新的一年的第一個月份!

下週的閱讀進度(3/30-4/5)被稱為『大痲瘋』(Metsora),讀經內容包括:妥拉─利未記14:1-15:33;先知書─列王記下7:3-20。

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 (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.

This week March 23-29 the readings are called Thazria--"Quicken with Seed/Conceive":
Torah: Leviticus 12:1-13:59
Shabbat haChodesh: Exodus 12:1-20
Haftarah: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18

(NOTE: One of two special Shabbats in preparation for Pesach/Passover, the readings for this week contains an additional Torah portion and a replacement for the usually-read Haftarah. This Shabbat is called HaChodesh-"The Month" because it is the last Sabbath before Chodesh haChodeshim-the "Beginning of Months" in the Hebrew religious calendar.)  

                                          

After last week's focus on the importance of Israel's being 'set apart', of her distinguishing between the holy and unholy, the unclean and clean (Lev. 10:10), this and next week's portions continue instructions as to how, under certain circumstances, this was to be worked out in everyday life. There needed to be purification and atonement made for a mother when bringing forth children; there must be measures of isolation and testing taken for outbreaks of surface diseases or blights (both on physical bodies and on dwellings), and for contaminating discharges from the body. And there were ways prescribed for restoration once healing had occurred. When Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah came to be born in a stable, his mother Miriam (Mary) submitted to these same instructions for purification (Luke 2:22); and when it was time for the sacrifice, she and Joseph could only afford the humble offering mentioned here (Lev 12:8; Luke 2:24). Yeshua's coming was to "undo the works of the devil" manifest in all of these infirmities and diseases--to bring atonement, redemption healing and cleansing. It is very significant that among His healing miracles, special mention is made of those involving lepers and a woman with an 'issue of blood'. 

PLEASE PRAY: as those in synagogues this coming weekend hear these words which so graphically picture the presence and consequence of sin in our midst and man's need for healing and being pronounced clean-that the Holy Spirit will convict of sin and righteousness and judgment, and draw Jews to seek cleansing through the One who washes white as snow.

*Exodus 12:1-3, 6-7, 13. "Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 'This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 

PLEASE PRAY: That as Jews enter this new year and begin preparation for Passover, there will be a grace over them removing the veil hiding the true significance of the Pesah/Passover Lamb.that they will see clearly and with understanding the "blood which is a sign" for them, and turn to the Lamb who carries away the sin of the world. 

*Ezekiel 45:17a; 18; 46:1, 3. "Then it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings at the feasts, the New Moons (Rosh Chodesh), the Sabbaths, and all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel...In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary...The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) it shall be opened...Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the LORD on the Sabbaths and the New Moons (Rosh Chodesh)." 

For thousands of years, the nature and significance of the Temple and rituals described by Ezekiel have been shrouded in mystery. Yet, whether these passages deal with things literal or spiritual, ideal or historical, past or future, one aspect bearing relevance to our reading of the passage here is that Rosh Chodesh -- the "Head of the Month/New Moon (including especially that of the First Month) remains important to God, and for His people in honoring Him. It was to be a time of making offerings, of cleansing the Sanctuary...and it was to be a time that the "people of the land" worshipped before the LORD. 

We fine the beginning of each Month to be an ideal time

*For offering up thanksgiving to the Lord for His mercies over the previous month
*For entrusting the new month to His care
*For asking His Spirit to search us and purify anew our inner "Temple" in preparation for His free dwelling and operating in and through us during the coming month
*To enter into the Gateway of the New Month with Thanksgiving, Praises and Worship. 

LET US SEEK HOW WE MIGHT BEST PREPARE OURSELVES FOR CROSSING INTO A NEW HEBREW YEAR OF MONTHS AS WE APPROACH ROSH HACHODASHIM-- "THE HEAD OF ALL MONTHS" ON APRIL FIRST!! 

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week 30 March-5 April 2014 are called Metsora-"Skin Disease/Leprosy": TORAH: Leviticus 14:1-15:33; HAFTARAH: II Kings 7:3-20.]