This Week's Scriptures

The reading for this week 7-13 July 2013 is called D'varim ("Words"):

TORAH: Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

HAFTARAH: Isaiah 1:1-27

This week we enter the Book of Deuteronomy (Hebrew: D'varim), a great collection of addresses given by Moses to Israel shortly before his death-reminiscences regarding where they have been, what God has done, final instructions, warnings and admonitions regarding what is ahead.

*Deuteronomy 1:2-3. "It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them."

The implication is that the 40-year journey to Canaan from Mount Sinai (Horeb) might have lasted only eleven days but for the peoples' rebellion and unbelief (Hebrews 3:16-19).

*Deuteronomy 1:7-8. "Turn and take your journey, and go to.the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers-to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-to give to them and their descendants after them."
 
After over 2000 years, Israel has miraculously regained her ancient tongue, and begun to be gathered and returned to a portion of the land described here; she is once again a great nation, one to be reckoned with in the world. Her circumstances 'on the ground' are, however, still very different from when she was first set marching into Canaan by her God.


PLEASE PRAY:
*That God would establish Israel's boundaries-that He will give her leaders revelation regarding those boundaries, according to His timetable. Where are they to lie at present (Obviously Israel does not at this time lay claim to all of the territory lying within Lebanon, Syria and the Kingdom of Jordan originally promised to her)? How is Israel to relate to non-Jewish peoples who are presently dwelling in portions of these lands?

*That God's "kingdom come" among Jewish people living in both internationally recognized Israel and the disputed territories-that Jacob's children have supernatural revelation regarding both the Kingdom of Heaven and their place in it here on earth in the land of their Fathers.

SHABBAT CHAZON-"SABBATH OF VISION"

 

This Sabbath is known as the Sabbath of Vision because the Haftarah for the Sabbath preceding Tish'ah B'Av (The 9^th of Av-when the destruction of the Temple of commemorated) is always taken from the first chapter of Isaiah, which begins, "The vision." It is the third of a series of severe Haftarot of Affliction read between the 17^th of Tammuz and the 9^th of Av, to turn Israel to mourn because of her sin. This Sabbath is even sometimes known as "Black Sabbath" because of the anguish associated with that day (16 July this year). We are not in agreement with this title-the reading is indeed severe, but it contains in its darkness the "Light shining in Darkness": "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the Land. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents with righteousness!" (Isaiah 1:18-19, 27)

 

PLEASE PRAY: THAT DURING THIS SEASON EYES WILL BE OPEN IN ISRAEL AND THAT THERE WILL BE VISION IN JEWISH HEARTS OF HOPE AND LIFE AND A FUTURE IN THEIR SAVIOUS YESHUA THE MESSIAH. 

 

*Isaiah: 1:26. "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.'"

PLEASE PRAY: That righteousness be supernaturally restored to Israel's courts. That God anoint and raise up righteous judges as of old-such as Othniel, Ehud, Jephthah, Deborah and Samuel-who will be protected in their youth, and in times of need and repentance rise into their places in wisdom, truth and favor. "Righteousness exalts a nation." (Proverbs 14:34); "For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice." (Psalm 33:4-5).

*Isaiah 1:16-18. "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together,' says the LORD, 'Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

PLEASE PRAY: That these words will pierce Jewish hearts through the Holy Spirit when they are read in synagogues this weekend-that Jews will find the way revealed and open for them to come into this cleansing!

*Isaiah 1:27. "Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents with righteousness."

Praise God! for a redemption which is altogether just and which brings all who repent (Both Jew and Gentile) into a place of true righteousness before Him-"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).