每週一妥拉 2014/4/20-/4/26
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（4/20-4/26）的閱讀稱為『你們要聖潔』（Kedoshim）： 
妥拉：利未記19:1—20:27 
先知書：阿摩司書9:7-15 (在阿什肯納茲猶太會堂)
              以西結書 20:2-20 (在塞法迪猶太會堂)

*利未記19:1-2. 『耶和華對摩西說：你曉諭以色列全會眾說：你們要聖潔，因為我耶和華─你們的神是聖潔的。』正如埃弗里特.福克斯（Everett Fox）在他翻譯的聖經註釋中指出：『十九章是利未記的重要章節，內容廣泛有力，它將聖潔延伸至生活的每一個層面，家庭、曆法、異教、工作、民法與刑法、社交關係與性方面。大部分的律例（但不是全部）都在處理我們所謂的道德問題，也就是人與人之間的關係。藉此它們成為西方對這些問題的範例與基石，至少以理想的形式來看。』至於二十章，『我們跳到律法上如何處理一些以聖經觀點對神最嚴重的冒犯：拜偶像（包括拜摩洛與交鬼）、咒罵父母、通姦與淫亂的罪。二十章和十九章的區別在於其包含刑罰方式。』（摘自埃弗里特.福克斯對摩西五經的翻譯）

*利未記19:3. 『你們各人都當孝敬父母，也要守我的安息日。我是耶和華─你們的神。』這一章（關於對聖潔最初的呼召）一開始的明確指令，結合了對父母的孝敬與第一件記錄在聖經上與聖潔有關的事─安息日：神賜福給第七日，定為聖日；因為在這日，神歇了祂一切創造的工，就安息了（創世記2:3）。『我是耶和華』或『我是耶和華你們的神』這句話在這章中至少出現15次，神立約的名字耶和華（YHWH）的正確發音在今日並不確定。在以色列被擄到巴比倫後，正確發音就消失了。許多關於此的傳說繼而升起，例如這名字太過聖潔，從沒發過音。關於聖經時代，至少在被擄之前，這樣的說法絕對是錯的。正如詩篇清楚大量說明，神的名是百姓所持有神的禮物中最寶貴之一。由於今日並不確定發音，所以在以色列的猶太會堂與大部分彌賽亞信徒敬拜的地方不會提到耶和華（YHWH），而是說我的主（Adonai ）或這名（Ha-Shem ）。這幾章所強調的是，希伯來人必須留意：耶和華和以色列要進入那地的其他神祇很不一樣─祂與眾不同，而祂跟隨者的生活形態也要有所不同！祂是耶和華！祂名字的大能要為那些願意順服之人釋放恩典與權柄。今日，神已將所有權柄賜給祂的兒子耶穌，祂的名字是『耶和華是拯救』的希伯來文縮寫。

*利未記19:17-18. 『不可心裡恨你的弟兄；總要指摘你的鄰舍，免得因他擔罪。不可報仇，也不可埋怨你本國的子民，卻要愛人如己。我是耶和華。』耶穌將愛人如己的命令與大誡命放在一起，就是盡心、盡性、盡意愛主─我們的神（馬太福音22:39）。在新約裡，約翰進一步教導：『人若說自己在光明中，卻恨他的弟兄，他到如今還是在黑暗裡。愛弟兄的，就是住在光明中，在他並沒有絆跌的緣由。惟獨恨弟兄的，是在黑暗裡，且在黑暗裡行，也不知道往哪裡去，因為黑暗叫他眼睛瞎了。』（約翰壹書2:9-11）

*利未記19:32. 『在白髮的人面前，你要站起來；也要尊敬老人，又要敬畏你的神。我是耶和華。』這節經文前半段『在白髮的人面前，你要站起來』（Mifnei seva takum），寫在耶路撒冷公車內！

請禱告：以色列的長者能親近神，年輕人對以色列年長者的尊敬與尊榮─並認識到這與『敬畏神』息息相關。

*利未記20:7-8. 『所以你們要自潔成聖，因為我是耶和華─你們的神。你們要謹守遵行我的律例；我是叫你們成聖的耶和華。』『自潔』、『聖潔』與『成聖』這幾個字裡面全都有希伯來文Kadosh（聖潔）；在這裡我們個人的責任在於『分別為聖』─藉由遵行神的指示，但我們也看見最後要成為聖潔也需要主自己的工作！

*阿摩司書 9:11. 『到那日，我必建立大衛倒塌的帳幕，堵住其中的破口，把那破壞的建立起來，重新修造，像古時一樣。』撒迦利亞書12:10清楚提到，有一天施恩叫人懇求悔改的靈會臨到『大衛家』。以西結書34:23-30和37:22-28預言以色列的聯合國度未來會在大衛底下再次被重建。因為大衛是首先也是末後『以心靈和誠實』的敬拜者，許多人看見不間斷敬拜的地方正在世界各地和以色列被建立（是以大衛城所設立的大衛會幕為樣式），如同此預言終極應驗的序幕。

請禱告：『神的國降臨』在此古老地區，這裡在聖殿山南方下面一點，是大衛建造他第一個宮殿，並為約櫃豎立帳幕之處！目前此地居住著穆斯林的阿拉伯人與正統猶太教教徒。禱告神的公義與公平、祂的智慧、勇氣、憐憫與時候臨到耶路撒冷市長尼爾‧伯克特（Nir Birkat）與總理納坦雅胡，他們正面對一些重大決定，關乎耶路撒冷古大衛會幕地區。請為在這條狹窄道路為鄰卻彼此仇視的阿拉伯人和正統猶太人禱告，光會照進他們的黑暗─大衛子孫已來到地上，祂還會再來的啟示臨到他們。 

*以西結書 20:12. 『又將我的安息日賜給他們，好在我與他們中間為證據，使他們知道我─耶和華是叫他們成為聖的。』正如上面利未記20:8的經文，這節同樣提到使安息日為聖（創世記2:3）的神會叫祂的子民成聖。在新約以弗所書5:25-27告訴我們：『基督愛教會，為教會捨己。要用水藉著道把教會洗淨，成為聖潔，可以獻給自己，作個榮耀的教會，毫無玷污、皺紋等類的病，乃是聖潔沒有瑕疵的。』

請禱告：聖靈在以色列運行，甦醒人們願意從罪惡之事中『分別為聖』並感到不滿足，渴望美善之事並愛『使我們聖潔』的神！

下週的閱讀進度（4/27-5/3）被稱為『說』（Emor），讀經內容包括：妥拉─利未記21:1-24:23；先知書─以西結書44:15-31。

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 22-26 April 2014 the readings are called K’doshim--“Holy Ones”: 

Torah:  Leviticus 19:1—20:27 
Haftarah:  Amos 9:7-15 (Ashkenazy Synagogues)
                Ezekiel 20:2-20 (Sephardic Synagogues)

*Leviticus 19:1-2 (Everett Fox Translation).“YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Speak to the entire community of the Children of Israel, and say to them:  “Holy are you to be, for holy am I, YHWH your God!”’” 

As Everett Fox points out in the commentary to his translation, “As the key chapter of this part of Leviticus, Chap. 19 is wide-ranging and rhetorically powerful.  It extends holiness to virtually all areas of life—family, calendar, cult, business, civil and criminal law, social relations, and sexuality.  Most (but not all) of the laws deal with what we would term ethics, that is, relations between people…As such, they have become an exemplar and a cornerstone, at least in idealized form, in Western thinking about these issues.”  For Chapter 20, “We move now into laws dealing with some of the more serious offenses against God in the biblical view: idolatry (Including worship of the “Molekh” and consulting spirits), insulting parents, adultery, and sexual crimes.  These are distinguished from the previous chapter by the inclusion of punishments; their seriousness is indicated by their capital nature.” (Fox, Everett: The Five Books of Moses…©1995, Shocken Books, New York).

*Leviticus 19:3 (Fox Translation).  “Each-man—his mother and his father you are to hold-in-awe, and my Sabbaths you are to keep:  I am YHWH your God!” 

The first specific directive in this chapter (regarding the initial call to holiness) combines the reverent respect for one’s parents together with that of the first thing ever recorded as being “holy”, the Sabbath (“Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and sanctified it  [i.e. made it holy,VaYekadesh], because in it He ceased from all His work which Elohim had created and made.”—Genesis 2:3).  The phrases “I am YHWH!”  or “I am YHWH your God!” are used at least 15 times in this chapter.  The exact pronunciation of God’s covenant Name YHWH (or YHVH; Hebrew: yod-heh-vav-heh) is today uncertain (Some scholars think Yeho-VAH, others YAH-weh).  Sometime after the captivity in Babylon, the pronunciation was lost.  Myths have arisen regarding this, such as that the name was too holy and never pronounced.  Regarding Biblical times, at least preceding the Captivity,  this is certainly false.  As the Psalms make abundantly clear, the Name was one of the most precious gifts of God the people possessed.  Since its pronunciation is today uncertain, Orthodox synagogues and most Messianic places of worship in Israel do not attempt to speak it, substituting rather Adonai (“Master”) or Ha-Shem (“The Name”).   What is emphasized in these chapters is that the Hebrews must be aware that YHVH is different than all the other gods served in the lands Israel will be entering.  As He is different, so must the life-styles of His followers be different!  He is YHWH.  The very power of that NAME released with His directives would provide sufficient grace and authority for those who would be willing to obey.  Today, God has given all authority to His Son Yeshua, whose name is a Hebrew contraction for “YHVH is Salvation”.

 *Leviticus 19:17-18.  “You shall not hate your brother in your heart.  You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.  You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am YHVH.” 

Yeshua would equate this command to love one’s neighbor as one’s self with the First Commandment, to “Love YHVH our God with all our hearts, souls and minds” (Matthew 22:39).  In the New Covenant, John would teach further that “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.  He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (I John 2:9-11).

*Leviticus 19:32.  “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD.”

The first part of this verse, Mifnei seva takum!—“Before the aged, arise!”  is today posted on little signs (see above) inside public buses in Jerusalem!  PLEASE PRAY for the aged in Israel—that they will draw near to their God.  Pray for the younger Israelis, that there will be a renewal of respect and honor for age in the Land—with the realization that this is linked to the “Fear of God” and honoring the Name of the LORD.

*Leviticus 20:7-8.  “Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am YHVH your God.  And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them:  I am YHVH who sanctifies you.”  

The words “consecrate”, “holy” and “sanctifies” in this passage all have within them the root of the Hebrew word kadosh—“holy”.  Here we have man’s responsibility in “setting himself apart” (by guarding and walking in God’s directives), but we also see that becoming Holy will require ultimately a work of the LORD Himself!

*Amos 9:11.  “In that day I will raise up the fallen sukka [hut, booth, tent, tabernacle] of David, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old.” 

Zechariah 12:10 makes clear that a day of grace for conviction and repentance is coming to the “House of David”.  Ezekiel 34:23-30 and 37:22-28 prophecy that in latter days a united kingdom of Israel under David will be restored.  He built his first palace on Mount Zion, just south of and below Mount Moria where his son Solomon would build the First Temple.  It shall be restored in Glory.  Since David was first and last a worshipper “in Spirit and in Truth”, in recent years many have seen the establishment of places of continual worship around the world and in Israel (modeled on that which took place round the tent David set up over the Ark of the Covenant in the City of David) as an “earnest of”— a sort of “prelude to” the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy.  PLEASE PRAY: that God’s “Kingdom Come!” over this ancient location, just south of and below the Temple Mount, where David built his first palace and erected the tent for the Ark.  The area is home to both a Muslim Arab and an Orthodox Jewish population.  Pray for righteousness and justice, wisdom, courage, compassion and timing over Jerusalem Mayor Nir Birkat and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who face decisions of great import regarding this area.  Pray for the Arabs and Orthodox Jews who dwell as (often hostile) neighbors on this tiny strip of land…that a Light would shine in their darkness.  Pray for a revelation of the Son of David who is also the Son of God, Who came once as a Man into this world, and who will one day return as King to reign on the Mountain of the LORD.

*Ezekiel 20:12.  “Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am YHVH who makes them holy.” 

As mentioned in the Leviticus 20:8 passage above, it is the same God, Who made the Sabbath holy (Genesis 2:3) Who makes His people holy. In the New Covenant, Ephesians 5:25-27 tells us that “Messiah loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify (i.e. make holy) and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word…that she should be holy and without blemish.”  PLEASE PRAY:  for a move of the Holy Spirit in Israel, awakening a longing for being “set apart” from the things which are sinful and do not satisfy—to the things of a good and loving God who “makes us holy!”
 
Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week 6-12 April 2014 are called Acharei Mot—“After the Death”:  TORAH: Leviticus 16:1—18:30; HAFTARAH (Shabbat haGadol): Malachi 3:4—4:6.]