This week in Israel:
Each year, a few weeks after the awakening of the almond blossoms, tiny points of scarlet begin to dot the greening hills, fields and valleys across the Middle East. Their Hebrew name is "Co'loniot".a kind of anemone or "wind flower".and their coming always awakens a certain joy. For us, it bespeaks life, color, awakening; our Father's "clothing of the fields"; and in the words of a song written by a friend of ours, ".the Great High Priest, who sat down at Your right hand/His blood was shed/To cleanse and heal Your Land-To heal Your Land!"
This week in Israel:
RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT
The Torah and Haftarah Portions for this week focus on the righteousness and justice which are the foundation of God's throne-and the necessity of godly wise JUDGEMENT among His people. The readings (see Torah Section below) begin with the vision necessary for choosing judges (Exodus 18:21), end with the coming of Messiah and establishment of the Messianic Kingdom "with judgment and justice" (Isaiah 9:7)-and in the middle are the Ten Commandments.
1. AN ATTACK ON JUSTICE AND VISION IN THE HIGH COURT
"You should make clear to them the laws and the instructions, you should make known to them the way they should go, and the deeds that they should do; but you-you are to have the vision (to select) from all the people men of caliber; holding God in awe, men of truth, hating gain, you should set (them) over them as chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens, so that they may judge the people at all times" (Exodus 18:20-22a, Everett Fox; From the Torah reading for this week; see below).
"And I charged your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear between your brothers, and you shall judge rightly between a man and his brother or his sojourner. You shall recognize no face [i.e. not show partiality] in judgment. You shall hear out the small person like the great one. You shall have no terror of any man, for judgment is God's.'" (Deuteronomy 1:16-17, R. Alter).
"I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city" (Isaiah 1:26 NKJV).
On Wednesday January 28th a disgruntled miscreant made his way into the Jerusalem District Court and at an opportune moment arose and hurled both of his shoes at Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch, hitting her full in the face, breaking her glasses, and knocking her off the bench. Judge Beinisch was lightly injured in the attack, and returned shaken but resolute to the courtroom a few hours later. Later, in thanking those (including the Prime Minister and other high officials) who had sent her messages of support, Judge Beinish acknowledged, "I share your concern over the general atmosphere and the violent acts committed against judges, public administration personnel as well as each and every person. Unfortunately, law enforcement figures and judges are exposed to these kinds of threats nowadays more than ever before. However, as a sense from your letters and based on my own personal feelings, we are not deterred from our duty to improve the atmosphere and condemn violence.Thank you from the bottom of my heart, to each and every one of you."
We find it sobering that in this year of "seeing" (Ayin; the eye; 5770) the supreme judge in our land should be attacked in a manner affecting her eyes. As can be seen in the Scripture passages above and in the first citation of the Torah section below, the very establishment of judges in the earliest days of Israel as a nation was related to clarity of vision.
PLEASE PRAY:
*For Israel's Chief Justice Beinisch.that she will see with a new clarity what is the straight, true and righteous way in administering her duties-that she will acknowledge the God who "loves righteousness and justice (Psalm 33:5) and who enabled the judge Deborah to do so with soundness and prophetic awareness.
*That Judges in Israel will be men and women "of caliber; holding God in awe, men of truth, hating gain." That they be not intimidated, but "have no terror of any man, for judgment is God's."
*For justice and righteousness to be honored and prevail in Israel's civil and governmental sector.
2. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SPOUSES OF ISRAEL'S LEADERS
Recently, Sara Netanyahu, wife of Israel's Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, has found herself defendant in a lawsuit by a former housekeeper named Lillian Peretz. Peretz claims she was mistreated, exploited, verbally abused and underpaid by Mrs. Netanyahu and is suing her for millions of shekels. On the surface, the very nature of the charges as released in the press seem superficial if not petty. (If things were so terrible, why did Ms. Peretz continue on for years in her employment?) Yet, there appear to be many forces happy to take advantage of a perceived breach in the First Family's integrity. (Interestingly, the word peretz means "breach, crack, loophole, hiatus, gap, break") Shortly after the allegations were publicized, the plaintiff claims to have begun receiving phone calls claiming to speak on "Bibi's" (i.e. Netanyahu's) behalf and threatening her life and the life of her children if she did not withdraw her suit. (At this point authorities have been questioning a prison inmate who has a history of similar behavior.) And several reputable newspapers have been especially severe. This past weekend's Jerusalem Post featured a long editorial by the Editor entitled "Vicious criticism.and a paucity of evidence", in which the Editor David Horovitz points out that two of the nation's largest commercial newspapers have been giving enormous (and he suggests, unwarrantedly biased) coverage to the Sara Netanyahu story. (His subtitle reads, "Netanyahu and his wife are under dramatic media fire. To date, the evidence published doesn't justify the ferocity.") He points out that both of these papers are down in sales, while a free paper Yisrael Hayom, backed by a strong and wealthy Netanyahu supporter is doing very well.
We are by no means suggesting that there is no substance to any of the accusations presently being leveled against her. We have heard similar reports in the past related to a lack of smoothness in her home management skills. During her husband's first term in office in the late 90's, she often found herself in the spotlight of a press which seemed to relish focusing on her perceived aberrations as "First Lady."
A few months ago (long before this most recent story broke), the writers were standing on Mount Arbel in the Galilee with two strong and experienced intercessors from the U.S., when we were overwhelmed by an unction to intercede on behalf of the Prime Minister's wife. Too often spouses of leaders are forgotten in our prayers-yet it is God who says that from the beginning "the two become one"-and a wife "was given to be a helper suitable to man." In other words, the wife of our Prime Minister is an integral part of who he is-and if there is not harmony and integrity between them and in the way in which each administers their duties, there may be a dangerous breach develop in their armor-in which the Enemy can gain access to affect the course of a nation.
PLEASE PRAY:
*For Sara Netanyahu, that she realize that in her position as the spouse of the Prime Minister, she indeed may be seen as 'a mother in Israel'; but that position requires far beyond what she can be or do on her own. That she be open to the Holy Spirit's conviction of her weaknesses.and that she call on the Name of the Lord.
*For a Word of Life to work on and into the Netanyahu family and household. This family has been exposed to the Gospel numerous times in the past.and even had believers working in their home on occasion.
*For Divine Protection forming a shield against attacks of the enemy on this highest Office in the land through personal family life. Pray that truth would be vindicated and falsehood exposed.
This week's Torah Portion:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion from the five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah-final reading) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the 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 Haftarah 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. While it is not within the scope of this Prayer Update to supply a "commentary" on these readings, we will here and there draw attention to certain points which may prove helpful in informing our intercession. [Note: All text citations are those for more-common English translations of the Scriptures.]
The readings for January 31-February 6 are called Yitro ("And Yitro [or, Jethro] the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done."), and include:
TORAH: Exodus 18:1-20:26
HAFTARAH: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:6-7
NOTES
*Exodus 18:21-22: "Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders.let them judge the people at all times."
Moses is counseled by his father-in-law to set up a system of "judges" amongst the people. Yet the word for "select" here is not the same as that for "chose" in verse 25. Rather it is Hebrew "hazeh"-to watch, envision, see prophetically, foresee. It is of critical importance that the choosing of leaders of godly fear, truth and honesty in the Body of Messiah be done with supernatural vision and prophetic insight.
*Exodus 19:4b. ".I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself." Compare Deuteronomy 32:10-12, "He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so YHVH (the LORD) alone led him, and there was no foreign god with him."
*Exodus 19:5. "And now, if you will truly heed My voice and guard My covenant, you will become for Me a treasure among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine." Compare Psalm 25:10, "All the paths of the LORD are grace and truth (Heb: chesid and emet), to such as guard His covenant and His testimonies."
PLEASE PRAY: For Israelis to realize that God still longs to "bring her to Himself", that He has released a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33) in the blood of His Son Yeshua, in whom "grace and truth are realized" (John 1:17); that as she embraces that Covenant, she will find that He is still speaking, and as she hears and responds to His voice, she will find again the treasured place in His heart.
*Exodus 19:6, 10. "You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 'Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.'" Revelation 1:5-6 teaches that becoming a kingdom of priests and a holy nation comes about through the love of Yeshua and the washing away of sins by His blood.
*Exodus 19:16-20. "Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thundering and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the shofar was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because YHVH descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the shofar sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and Elohim answered him by voice. Then YHVH came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And YHVH called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up." Compare Hebrews 12:18-29, "For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a shofar and the voice.But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn registered in Heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Yeshua the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks.Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE."
Exodus 20:4. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image.you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I am YHVH your God, a Jealous god." This word for "Jealous" (kana) is used in its noun form in the last sentence of this week's portion from the Prophets, Isaiah 9:7. However, there it is translated "zeal" (through which the LORD will establish the government of His SON forever). Righteous jealousy or zeal is always released on behalf of someone or something which is intensely loved. However, when activated in the flesh for selfish motives, the same word is translated "envy".
Exodus 20:13. "You shall not murder." In some older English translations the word "kill" was used. But the word for kill and that for murder are different words in the Hebrew.
Exodus 20:21. "So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick cloud where God was." This "thick cloud" (araphel) is translated "deep darkness" in Isaiah 60:2. But that darkness is over the "peoples", and will be dispelled by the rising of the LORD, when His glory shall be "seen." Today in Modern Hebrew araphel means "fog"-and Israel for the most part is "in a fog" regarding finding her God. PLEASE PRAY: For the veil to be removed from the eyes of God's ancient people-that a light rise in their hearts and God's glory will be seen-that they will be drawn into the "Cloud of Unknowing" to discover the One who has known them from afar and drawn them in lovingkindness.
*Exodus 20:26. "Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it." It was God who first provided suitable clothing for hiding that which had awakened shame in Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21). It would only be through the work of the Son that we (and Israel) can again find ourselves clothed, in His righteousness, and our shame taken away. "Clothe yourselves with the Lord Yeshua Messiah, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" (Romans 13:14).
An exceptionally powerful Haftarah
Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:6-7
The readings from the Prophets for this week (Isaiah 6:1-7:6) contain, in parallel to the manifestation of the LORD's presence in power on Mount Sinai, the awesome revelation of Holiness made to the prophet Elijah. Before the holy presence of the LORD "high and lifted up"- with the seraphim, and the Voice, and shaking and smoke Isaiah sees himself as unclean and his lips as unclean. Yet his lips are touched with the coal, his iniquity is taken away and his sin purged-and he is given a message for his people, a message describing the "veil" which would settle upon the House of Israel, and which continues until the present day.and the promise of a remnant. After a shorter message of instruction related to current events, the reading incredibly leaps two chapters to Isaiah 9:6-7, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of HOSTS will perform this!"
PLEASE PRAY: For divine revelation of the Holiness of the LORD to accompany this reading-and of His Zeal and Jealousy which has already seen the birth of the "Child"-who will soon be released to return and rule over His kingdom in judgment and justice forever!
[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (7-13 Feb, "Mishpatim") will be: Exodus 21:1-24:18; Jeremiah 34:8-22, 33:25-26]
