How to Pray with Discernment — by Sandra Teplinsky (2 February 2023)
FEBRUARY 3, 2023 CURRENT EVENTS: PROPHETIC VIEWS, INTERCESSION, ISRAELI SOCIETY, POLITICAL EVENTS
Israel’s new, extremely right wing governing coalition has announced its intent to dramatically curb certain powers exercised for decades by the Israeli High Court. This has given rise to roiling domestic discord and public protest over threats to democracy. International media outlets and global leaders have expressed outrage at Israel over the proposed reforms, having found yet another reason to chastise the Jewish state. If you care about Israel, you are probably aware of the controversy. What you may not know, however, is that left leaning media outlets and liberal institutional elites have highly exaggerated the issue, fueling much of the high-pitched angst and anger. There is another side to the story that must be considered.
以色列新的极右翼执政联盟宣布，它打算大幅限制以色列高等法院几十年来行使的某些权力,这引起了国内的不和和公众对民主威胁的抗议。国际媒体和全球领导人对以色列拟议的改革表示愤慨，他们找到了惩罚这个犹太国家的另一个理由。如果你关心以色列，你可能知道争议。然而，你可能不知道的是，左倾媒体和自由主义机构精英高度夸大了这个问题，助长了大部分尖锐的焦虑和愤怒。故事的另一面必须加以考虑。
To be sure, Israel needs to reform its judiciary (and entire system of government). We’ve personally been praying for judicial reform in our very liberal High Court for many years according to Isaiah 1:25-26: “I will turn My hand against you and thoroughly purge away your dross…Then I will restore your judges as at the first and your counselors as at the beginning. Then you [Jerusalem] will be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”
The matter is complex, but we have reduced the issues to their basics in this article. To pray for Israel with discernment, we need to understand the relevant historical, legal, political and biblical context of the controversy.
可以肯定的是，以色列需要改革其司法系统（以及整个政府系统）。根据以赛亚书 1：25-26，我们个人多年来一直在为我们非常自由的高等法院的司法改革祈祷：“我会反手攻击你，彻底清除你的渣滓……然后我会恢复你的法官，就像在第一个和你的顾问和开始时一样。然后你[耶路撒冷]将被称为公义之城，忠诚之城。” 事情很复杂，但我们在本文中将问题简化为基础知识。 要以辨别力为以色列祷告，我们需要了解争议的相关历史、法律、政治和圣经背景。
What is Democracy?
The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos, meaning people, and kratos, meaning power. Democracy can be thought of as “power of the people,” or a way of governing which depends on the will of the people. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines democracy as “a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.” In practice, there are many different types and expressions of democracy in nations around the world, including Israel.
民主这个词来自希腊语 demos，意思是人民，kratos，意思是权力。民主可以被认为是“人民的力量”，或者一种取决于人民意志的治理方式。 《韦氏词典》将民主定义为“一种政府，其中最高权力授予人民，并由他们通过通常涉及定期举行的自由选举的代表制度直接或间接行使。”实际上，包括以色列在内的世界各国都有许多不同类型和表现形式的民主。
Like any other form of government, an intrinsic and unavoidable problem belies all democracies and all democratic governments. That universal problem is sin. In a democratic state where people are inevitably beset by sin, they vote according to their personal interests and opinions tainted by sin. As a result, democracy does not necessarily lead to righteousness or biblical justice. If the people vote for lawless injustice, for example, then lawless injustice they shall have. The point is, democracy can be a good form of government and achieve social justice only where the people are good and free to elect good representation.
与任何其他形式的政府一样，一个内在且不可避免的问题掩盖了所有民主国家和所有民主政府。这个普遍的问题就是罪。在民主国家，人们不可避免地被罪恶所困扰，他们根据被罪恶污染的个人利益和意见来投票。因此，民主并不一定会导致公义或圣经中的正义。例如，如果人民投票赞成无法无天的不公正，那么他们就会遭受无法无天的不公正。关键是，民主可以成为一种好的政府形式，只有在人民善良并且可以自由选举好的代表的情况下才能实现社会民主。
Discerning Divine Shaking
Aware of the inevitability of sin, America’s founding fathers foresaw the necessity of a strong commitment to biblical values as prerequisite to the success of democracy and social justice. For that reason, they composed a constitution enshrining biblical values and principles of governance. The US Constitution is a type of covenant, immutable and sacrosanct. Other nations have since adopted other constitutions, also regarded as authoritative, immutable, and the highest law of the land.
Israel is unique among democratic nations in that it does not have a constitution. Instead, it has what are called “Basic Laws.” These 13 Basic Laws contain statements of national values and policies and set up a broad framework for our legislative, judicial and executive branches of government. However, a Basic Law is not necessarily more authoritative than, or superior to, a nonBasic law passed by the legislature (Knesset). Some Basic Laws have been changed many times by a mere, simple majority vote of the Knesset.
意识到罪恶不可避免，美国的开国元勋们预见到必须坚定地致力于圣经价值观，这是民主和社会正义成功的先决条件。 出于这个原因，他们制定了一部体现圣经价值观和治理原则的宪法。美国宪法是一种盟约，不可改变和神圣不可侵犯。此后，其他国家也采用了其他宪法，这些宪法也被视为具有权威性、一成不变的最高法律。 以色列在民主国家中是独一无二的，因为它没有宪法。相反，它具有所谓的 基本法。”这 13 部基本法载有国家价值观和政策的声明，并为我们的立法、司法和政府行政部门建立了一个广泛的框架。 但是，《基本法》不一定比立法机关（以色列议会）通过的非《基本法》更权威或更优越。仅通过以色列议会的简单多数投票，一些基本法已被修改多次。
In May 1948, Israel’s Declaration of Independence called for a constitution to be written and adopted within a few months. But the country could not only not agree on the scope or terms of a proposed constitution; our founding leaders could not even agree that a constitution was necessary. To this day, no coalition has been able to agree to a single set of principles, values and terms needed for a constitution; therefore, we have none. As Israeli society increasingly polarizes, the prospects for establishing a formal constitution increasingly diminish.
With no agreed upon and recognized highest law of the land, in some respects Israel resembles its ancient forebears. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit [or what was right in their own eyes.]” (Judges 21:25) In the current judicial reform crisis, the shaky reality we’ve established for ourselves is being exposed. Meanwhile, God waits, in loving mercy, for us to wholeheartedly turn and seek Him as never before. From the people who once proclaimed, “We have no king but Caesar,” let it soon be declared, “We have no king but Yeshua.” (John 19:15)
1948 年 5 月，以色列的独立宣言要求在几个月内起草并通过宪法。但是该国不仅<em>不能</em>就拟议宪法的范围或条款达成一致；而且<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://repository.yu.edu/handle/20.500.12202/6849" target="_blank">我们的创始领导人甚至无法同意</a>宪法是必要的。直到今天，还没有一个联盟能够就宪法所需的一套原则、价值观和条款达成一致；因此，我们没有。随着以色列社会日益两极分化，建立正式宪法的前景越来越渺茫。 由于没有商定和公认的最高法律，以色列在某些方面与其古老的祖先相似。 “那时以色列没有王；每个人都按照自己认为合适的方式行事 [或他们自己认为正确的事。]”（士师记 21:25）</u></em></strong> <strong><em><u>在当前司法改革危机，我们为自己建立的摇摇欲坠的现实正在暴露。同时，上帝以慈悲等待我们全心全意地转向并以前所未有的方式寻求他。那些曾经宣称“除了凯撒，我们没有其他国王”的人很快就会宣布：“除了耶稣，我们没有其他国王。” （约翰福音 19:15）
Taking Back the House
Meanwhile, in the absence of a constitution, the Israeli Supreme Court (called High Court) has unilaterally amassed to itself jurisdiction and power which framers of the original Basic Laws never intended it to possess. In the 1990’s, former Chief Justice Barak launched a “constitutional revolution” of judicial activism and policy-making according to liberal-leftist values espoused by High Court justices. Conservatives accused Barak of usurping power from the Knesset without any democratic check or balance. For over 25 years the consistently left leaning High Court has, to be sure, protected certain important, personal freedoms for certain groups and issued some good decisions. But High Court justices have also given legal protection to what most Bible believers, including more than a few Orthodox Jews, would call abominable sin and policies advancing globalist values.
同时，在没有宪法的情况下，以色列最高法院（称为高等法院）单方面将管辖权和权力集聚到自己手中，而原始基本法的制定者从未打算拥有这些管辖权和权力。在 1990 年代，前首席大法官巴拉克根据高等法院法官所拥护的自由左翼价值观发起了一场司法激进主义和政策制定的“宪法革命”。保守派指责巴拉克在没有任何民主制衡的情况下从以色列议会篡夺权力。 25 年来，一贯左倾的高等法院确实保护了某些群体的某些重要的个人自由，并做出了一些正确的决定。但高等法院法官也对大多数圣经信徒，包括不少正统犹太人，称之为可恶的罪恶和推进全球主义价值观的政策给予了法律保护。
It should come as no surprise, therefore, that much of the brouhaha over Israel’s proposed judicial reform has been generated by influential leftist elites in Israeli institutions and media. Especially disconcerting to the elites is the so-called “override clause” of the proposal. The override clause would put a stop to the High Court’s policy of striking down and overriding laws passed by the Knesset with which it disagrees. It would give the Knesset the power, by simple majority vote, to override any decision by the High Court that would otherwise override that same law.
To be sure, the prospect of an extremist Knesset overriding a High Court decision by simple majority vote seems disconcerting. But for perspective, both Canada and the UK have very similar rules. A little acknowledged reality, moreover, is that the proposed override clause (and other highly controversial clauses) will likely be modified. There will likely be some compromise. Our current right wing coalition will likely be tempered by our very vocal and economically powerful left wing. Influential voices from the reasonable center will arise. More importantly, Prime Minister Netanyahu, himself a centrist and master negotiator, does not want to see the country implode or erupt into civil war.
因此，毫不奇怪，以色列机构和媒体中有影响力的左翼精英对以色列拟议的司法改革产生了很大的争议。尤其让精英们不安的是提案中所谓的“覆盖条款”。 <strong><em><u>推翻条款将阻止高等法院废除和推翻其不同意的议会通过的法律的政策。</u></em></strong>它会赋予以色列议会权力，以简单多数票的方式推翻高等法院的任何决定，否则该决定将推翻同一法律。 可以肯定的是，极端主义议会以简单多数票推翻高等法院裁决的前景似乎令人不安。但从角度来看，加拿大和英国的规定非常相似。此外，一个公认的现实是拟议的覆盖条款（和其他极具争议的条款）可能会被修改。可能会有一些妥协。我们目前的右翼联盟很可能会被我们非常直言不讳且经济强大的左翼所缓和。来自理性中心的有影响力的声音将会出现。更重要的是，作为中间派和谈判高手的内塔尼亚胡总理不希望看到该国崩溃或爆发内战
There is reason to believe that with concerted prayer, contemplated judicial reforms will not be as extreme, and not pass as quickly or entirely, as many fear. Democracy is still quite alive here, and literally demonstrably so. This is not to say that if extremists remain in power for long, there would not be an erosion of democratic freedoms, including freedom for Jews to worship Yeshua and the civil rights of peaceful Arab Israelis. Eventually, that may well occur. And “eventually” may come sooner than later.
Just as this article was to be posted, news broke that Israel’s Attorney General has determined PM Netanyahu may not participate, even indirectly, in his coalition’s proposed judicial reforms. Any involvement on his part, she said, would be a conflict of interest due to the criminal charges pending against him. Her warning is said to be legally binding.
Without Mr. Netanyahu’s restraining influence, the radical reformation feared by liberals could be more likely to occur. Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice has condemned the A-G’s warning and accused her of a conflict of interest. The Prime Minister has not yet officially commented. Today’s political confusion and quarreling is but further evidence that Israel sorely needs a national constitution — and the Lord.
Attorney David Friedman, who served as US Ambassador to Israel under President Trump, accurately points out:
有理由相信，通过一致的祈祷，预期的司法改革不会那么极端，也不会那么快或完全通过，许多人担心。民主在这里仍然很活跃，而且确实如此。这并不是说如果极端分子长期掌权，民主自由就不会受到侵蚀，包括犹太人崇拜耶稣的自由和和平的阿拉伯以色列人的公民权利。最终，这很可能会发生。而“最终”可能迟早会到来。 就在这篇文章要发表的时候，有消息称，以色列总检察长已确定内塔尼亚胡总理可能不会参与，即使是间接参与，她说，他的联盟提议的司法改革;由于对他的刑事指控未决，他的任何参与都将构成利益冲突。据说她的警告具有法律约束力。 如果没有内塔尼亚胡先生的抑制影响，自由派担心的激进改革更有可能发生。与此同时，司法部长谴责了 A-G 的警告，并指责她;存在利益冲突。总理尚未正式发表评论。今天的政治混乱和争吵进一步证明以色列迫切需要一部国家宪法——以及上帝。
“Those who claim that limiting the power of the Israeli Supreme Court is an attack on democracy are exactly wrong – it is the Knesset, not the Court, that reflects the democratic will of the Israeli people. Indeed, it is the Court that puts a brake on the exercise of that will….The Israeli Supreme Court has arrogated to itself all of the powers of the US Supreme Court with none of the corresponding limitations, restrictions or burdens. The Israeli Supreme Court also has far exceeded the powers that most parliamentary democracies afford their courts… As one who knows Israel as well as any outsider, I see the current path [of the Court] as dangerous and untenable. The intellectual dishonesty permeating many of the arguments is quite harmful and the shrill rhetoric is breeding internal disunity and external embarrassment.”
“那些声称限制以色列最高法院的权力是对民主的攻击的人是完全错误的——是议会，而不是法院，反映了以色列人民的民主意愿。事实上，正是法院制止了这种意志的行使……以色列最高法院已经将美国最高法院的所有权力据为己有，没有任何相应的限制、限制或负担。以色列最高法院也远远超出了大多数议会民主国家赋予其法院的权力……作为了解以色列和任何局外人的人，我认为 [法院] 目前的道路是危险和站不住脚的。弥漫在许多论点中的知识分子的不诚实是非常有害的，尖锐的言辞正在滋生内部不团结和外部尴尬。”
Mr. Friedman urges Israel, in an almost plaintive tone, to adopt a formal constitution by which essential matters of checks and balances can finally be put to rest.
Prominent Israeli professor and political commentator Gadi Taub agrees with David Friedman. In a recent interview with All-Israel News, he states, “This [proposed] reform is about to end the jurists’ autocracy, the rule of judges, the oligarchy that enables Israel’s … liberal elite to hold power. So, this is not the end of democracy. It is the end of their tyranny… Currently, there is no limit to the Supreme Court’s power…There is nothing that the court sees to be outside its purview.”
Professor Taub alludes to a “deep state” influence over the High Court and its leftist supporters. He adds that because Israel does not have a written constitution, no law or document gives the High Court the sweeping powers it has assumed for itself. This lack of a constitution, he says, is the crux of the problem.
弗里德曼几乎用哀伤的语气敦促以色列通过一部正式宪法，最终可以让基本的制衡问题得到解决。 著名的以色列教授和政治评论员 Gadi Taub 同意他说，“这项[提议的]改革是关于结束法学家的专制、法官的统治，以及使以色列的……自由精英掌权的寡头政治。所以，这不是民主的终结。这是他们暴政的终结……目前，最高法院的权力没有限制……法院认为没有任何事情超出其职权范围。 陶布教授暗示了对高等法院及其左翼支持者的“深层政府”影响。他补充说，由于以色列没有成文宪法，因此没有任何法律或文件赋予高等法院它为自己承担的广泛权力。他说，缺乏宪法是问题的症结所在。
Scriptures to Prayerfully Proclaim
Israel needs a judiciary that can withstand political pendulum swings and serve as a pillar of justice. With our people more polarized than ever in our modern history, the adoption of a constitution for righteous government reform seems an impossibility. But with God nothing is impossible. Perhaps He will mercifully give us opportunity as a nation to choose justice before the period of end times tribulation that seems not too far off.
Pray with us, according to Isaiah 1:25-27, that God’s hand will mercifully remove the dross from Israel, turn us back to Him, give us good and wise judges and leaders, and restore us as a light to the nations for His glory. Pray that PM Netanyahu will turn humbly to God for protection, wisdom, strength and favor. Other specific topics and Scriptures (among many others, some of which reach their complete fulfillment only after Yeshua returns) to prayerfully proclaim for our government include:
以色列需要一个能够承受政治钟摆摆动并充当正义支柱的司法机构。在我们的现代历史上，我们的人民比以往任何时候都更加两极分化，通过宪法进行正义的政府改革似乎是不可能的。但在神没有难成的事。 <strong><em><u>也许他会仁慈地给我们这个国家机会，在似乎离我们不远的末日苦难时期之前选择正义。 根据以赛亚书 1:25-27 与我们一起祈祷，上帝的手会仁慈地去除以色列的渣滓，让我们回到他身边，给我们善良和明智的法官和领袖，并使我们恢复为列国的光，使他得荣耀。祈求内塔尼亚胡总理谦卑地向上帝寻求保护、智慧、力量和恩宠。为我们的政府虔诚宣告的其他具体主题和经文（在许多其他主题中，其中一些只有在耶稣回来后才完全应验）
Unity
Ezekiel 37:22: “I will make them one nation and they will never again be … divided into two kingdoms.”
Psalm 133:1,3: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.”
以西结书 37:22：“我要使他们成为一个国家，他们再也不会……分成两个王国。” 诗篇 133:1,3：“当上帝的子民团结一致生活在一起时，这是多么美好和愉快。因为主在那里赐福，就是永远的生命”！
Peace among leaders in Jerusalem
Psalm 122: 7-8: “May there be peace within your [Jerusalem’s] walls and security within your citadels…I will say, ‘Peace be within you’.”
诗篇 122：7-8：<strong><sup> </sup></strong>“愿你的 [耶路撒冷] 城墙内有和平，你的城墙内有安全城堡……我会说，‘愿你内心平静’。”
Breaking the power of witchcraft, freemasonry and globalism off our government
Numbers 23:23: “There is no divination against Jacob; no sorcery against Israel. Instead it will be said of Israel, ‘See what God has done’.”
民数记 23:23：“没有占卜反对雅各；没有针对以色列的巫术。取而代之的是，人们会说，‘看看上帝做了什么’。”
Micah 5:12: “I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.”
弥迦书 5:12：“我会摧毁你的巫术，你将不再施法。”
Jeremiah 30:8-9: “‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke off their [Israel’s] necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners [the nations] enslave them. Instead, they will serve the Lord their God’…”
耶利米书 30:8-9：“‘到那日，’全能的耶和华说，‘我要折断他们 [以色列] 颈项上的轭，撕下他们的颈项债券；外邦人 [列国] 将不再奴役他们。相反，他们会侍奉耶和华他们的上帝……”
Rulership of YHVH
Psalm 125:3: “The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to do iniquity.”
Psalm 110:2: “The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
诗篇 125:3：“恶人的杖必不在分给义人的地上，恐怕义人伸手作孽。”
Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills.”
诗篇 110:2：“耶和华将从锡安伸出你强壮的权杖，说：“在你的敌人中掌权。”
Isaiah 9:6: “The government shall be upon His shoulder…”
Isaiah 33:22: “The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king. It is He who will save us.”
以赛亚书 33:22：“耶和华是我们的审判者，耶和华是我们的立法者，耶和华是我们的王。是他会拯救我们。”
Daniel 2:21: “He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”
箴言 21:1：“君王的心在耶和华手中，水道也在耶和华手中；他随心所欲地转动它。”
Matthew 6:10: “Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Israel’s Salvation
Isaiah 30:15, 18: “…In repentance and rest is your salvation…the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice…”
以赛亚书 30:15, 18：他站起来向你表示同情。因为耶和华是公义的神
Romans 10:1: “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that she may be saved.”
罗马书 10 章 1 节：“我心愿为以色列向神祈求，愿她得救。”
[This article was last modified on 7 February 2023 and reflects developments through that date.]