Nothing Like The Hope We Have in Jesus

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin our look at 1 Peter, a letter written by the apostle Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, probably around 64 A.D. to Christians scattered everywhere throughout five Roman provinces.

On verses 1-12:  When you read this passage, keep in mind the context within which Peter is writing this letter.  In approximately 64 A.D., Christians in the Roman Empire are going through severe persecution.  Emperor Nero has launched, or is just about to launch, a widespread movement to capture and destroy Christians.  He would become famous for setting Christians on fire as human torches for his dinner parties and feeding them to lions in the coliseum.  With this background of great persecution in mind, read verses 1 to 12 and you will find that they come alive with so much more meaning and relevance.  Likewise, if you have ever been bullied, ostracized, or excluded by others, may you find encouragement from this letter by Peter.

耶穌在黑門山

馬太福音17:2   就在他們面前變了形象,臉面明亮如日頭,衣裳潔白如光。

黑門山,在敘利亞譯本作西連山,阿拉伯語稱之為謝赫山 ( 意即長老山 ),又因山頭長年積雪,被稱為塔利山 ( 意即雪山 )。黑門山横跨黎巴嫩平原和米斯巴平原,是瑪拿西半支派的北界,也是以色列全地的北界。現今黑門山的頂峰位於敘利亞和黎巴嫩境內,西坡和南坡則歸於以色列。

相信許多人對黑門山的印象來自〈詩篇〉133篇: “看哪,弟兄和睦同居,是何等的善,何等的美。這好比那貴重的油,澆在亞倫的頭上,流到鬍鬚,又流到他的衣襟。又好比黑門的甘露,降在錫安山,因為在那裏有耶和華所命定的福,就是永遠的生命。”

黑門山和錫安山相距超過一百哩,高度相差極大,但是從西面地中海而來的空氣帶著水份,碰到黑門山就會往上升,每年10 月到4 月北風吹拂,就會使水氣飄過千山萬嶺到達錫安山,遇見冷空氣後便會凝結成露水,帶來秋雨與春雨。因為當地不常下雨,雨量也很分散,所以因著黑門的甘露,以色列的農作物得以豐收,葡萄品質也非常好。黑門山對以色列的祝福還有哪些呢?

Ultimate Restoration

Hi GAMErs,

Now onto today’s passage. Today’s passage is Job 42:1-17.  Let’s go!
 
Job 42:1-2 (NIV) 
1  Then Job replied to the LORD: 
2  “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.

On verses 1-6:  Job has now abandoned his previous push to challenge God on His justice (v2).  He now admits to speaking of things that he had no ability to understand (v3).  Job had heard about God all his life, but now, having heard God speak personally, he experiences God’s presence in a powerful and unprecedented way.  In response to encountering God, all Job can do is see how small and unholy he is.  Job repents of his pride before God (v4-6).

What can we learn from this? 

1.We were made not just to hear about God but to experience Him personally.

耶穌在該撒利亞腓立比 Caesarea Philippi

馬太福音6:15-16  耶穌說:「你們說我是誰?」西門彼得回答說:「你是基督,是永生 神的兒子。」

假如你要去旅行,會挑選怎樣的地方呢?我相信多數人都會挑選有山有水,風景十分優美的地方。班尼亞斯就是以色列地一個很出名的風景區,因為它位於黑門山麓,又有發源於黑門山的班尼亞斯河與但河,和發源於黎巴嫩的哈斯巴尼河和以雲河匯聚成了約但河,往南注入低於海平面約209公尺的加利利湖,最後注入死海。有人認為舊約的巴力迦得(書13:5)和巴力黑們((代上:23),指的就是這個地方。

大希律王去世後,將政權分給三個兒子,分封王腓力(Philipp)在班尼亞斯建都,西元前二年他將城市改名為該撒利亞.腓立比(Caesarea Philippi)。此地因有豐沛的水源,加上鄰近地區土壤肥沃、物產豐富,吸引了許多狂熱的宗教崇拜。在希臘和羅馬時期,這座城裡蓋了眾多的神廟,其中有一位希臘神祇「潘Pan」,因而以牠命名,改名為班尼亞斯。所以該撒利亞腓立比就是班尼亞斯Banias。

班尼亞斯位於現今的戈蘭高地,被規劃為自然保護區。從黑門山流下的水流在此地形成了一道美麗的瀑布,形成班尼亞斯極美的河道。另一個水源的出口位於一個大岩壁的洞穴,這個岩壁被稱為「神祗之石」(Rock of the Gods)。岩壁一邊的底下的洞穴,上面嵌著三排尖牙利齒,這就是「潘神岩洞」又被稱為陰間之間或地獄之門。Pan潘神是一個半人半羊的恐怖(panic)之神,常吹著排笛施展魔法,阿拉伯語原稱此地為潘尼亞斯,後來才變成現在的班尼亞斯。

Matchless Power

Hi GAMErs,

Now onto today’s passage. Today’s passage is Job 41:1-34.  Let’s go!
 
Job 41:10 (NIV) 
10  No one is fierce enough to rouse him. Who then is able to stand against me?
 
On verses 1-34:  For one whole chapter, God talks about the leviathan.  What is the leviathan and why is God talking about it? 

The leviathan is described as a powerful marine animal that is violent, not easily captured or tamed, armed with fearsome teeth (v14), and who is impervious to attacks with various premodern combat weapons (v26).   In the past scholars surmised that perhaps the leviathan was a sea monster, a whale, or a marine dinosaur.  Today, many scholars believe that the leviathan is a giant crocodile, since “the crocodile fits God’s description of the leviathan’s back (v13, 15-17, 23), teeth (v14), chest and undersides (v24, 30) and its churning of the waters (v31-32)” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).  If the leviathan is a giant crocodile, then the references to it being fire-breathing (v19-21) might be an exaggeration for effect.

心靈和誠實的敬拜

約翰福音4:24 神是個靈,所以拜祂的必須用心靈和誠實拜祂。

最近因為新冠狀病毒的緣故,世界各地有許多教會都開始採用直播,線上聚會,等等。也有許多團契或查經改在網路上進行。這實在是很不得己的事情,因為大家都怕被傳染。

在有些疫情嚴重的地方非關閉教會不可,但有更多地方的害怕是出於無名的恐懼,害怕其他人有沒有接觸過不該接觸的人,害怕有沒有帶菌者也來參加聚會,害怕不認識的人來團契或小組,等等。原本歡迎新朋友,要福音廣傳的教會,一反常態地把自己關閉起來。感覺上,似乎聽到撒旦在仰天長笑。一點點的恐懼,就可以讓基督徒嚇到閉門不出了。

可事實上我們還是在出門,我們還是去上班上學,我們還是要買菜,要呼吸。我們就是不敢上教會,不敢開小組或去團契。我們什麼地方都敢去,就是不敢去神的家。

但是處於末世時代的我們,豈不知有更多的災難將要一一地來臨嗎?當我們聽到哪裡有疫情爆發時,其實是在提醒我們應當怎樣保護自己,而不是一味地恐懼。有些教會開始在門口分發消毒水,口罩,噴酒精,勸會眾有距離地分座,這些都很好,因為至少會眾還是回到教會敬拜了。

When God Puts Us In Our Place

Hi GAMErs,

Now onto today’s passage. Today’s passage is Job 40:1-24.  Let’s go!

Job 40:3-5 (NIV) 
3  Then Job answered the LORD:
4  “I am unworthy–how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5  I spoke once, but I have no answer– twice, but I will say no more.”

On verses 1-14:  Before Job wanted nothing else but to confront God with his arguments and prove God wrong.  However, after hearing God speak, Job realizes how unworthy he is to even approach God (v3-5).  To paraphrase the Lord’s next words in verse 6-14, “Job, who do you think you are?  On what basis do you think you have any ability or standing to condemn me and justify yourself?  If you think you are so powerful and wise, then try doing what I do, reigning in perfect majesty and splendour while at the same time dealing justly with the wicked.  If you’re able to do that, then I’ll admit to you that you are as great as God and qualified to accuse Me.”

耶穌在馬加丹和大瑪努他

路加福音7:47  所以我告訴你:她許多的罪都赦免了,因為她的愛多;但那赦免少的,他的愛就少。

耶穌用七餅數魚餵飽了四千個男人(女人和小孩不計)之後,離開低加波利,到了一個我們很陌生的地方。那地方馬太叫她「馬加丹Magadan」(太15:39),馬可稱她「大瑪努他Dalmanutha」(可8:10),有學者認為這兩者其實是同一個地方。這是什麼地方呢,聽起來好特別。我們且先用「馬加丹」來說事。

馬加丹在加利利海的西岸,在迦百農以南。有聖經學者認為,馬加丹是抺大拉的別名,是同一個地方,原因是阿拉米語經常用字母L(l) 代替希伯來語的N(n),所以馬加丹(Magadan)可以變成抺大拉(Magdala),其名稱源自希伯來文的Migdal,是「樓塔」之意。很多人認為這就是抺大拉的馬利亞的家鄉。

說到抺大拉的馬利亞,你有沒有什麼印象呢?她是追隨和服事耶穌的幾位女信徒之一。她為什麼會追隨耶穌呢?路加記載,耶穌曾經從她身上趕出七個惡鬼(路8:2)。這之前的辛苦和之後的自由就不用多著墨了,因為馬利亞對耶穌深深的感激不在言下。

在〈路加福音〉第七章裡記載著有位法利賽人西門請耶穌吃飯,有位有罪的女人用眼淚和頭髮擦拭耶穌的腳,然後用香膏抺祂的腳。這個女人就是抺大拉的馬利亞,為何稱她是有罪的女人呢?因為她是個當時大家都認識,卻瞧不起的妓女。耶穌為她趕鬼,使她脫離罪惡的生涯,重新過一個正常人的生活,她對耶穌的感激是西門遠遠無法體會的。因此當西門心裡說:「這人若是先知,必知道摸他的是誰,是個怎樣的女人,乃是個罪人!」

You Matter to God

Hi GAMErs,

Now onto today’s passage.  Today’s passage is Job 39:1-30.  Let’s go!

On Job 38:39 to Job 39:30:  After silencing Job with questions about the origins of the universe (38:4-18) and about outer space (38:19-38), God now questions Job about the animal kingdom (38:39 to 39:30): lions (v39-40), ravens (v41), mountain goats (v3-4), donkeys (v6-8), wild oxen (v9-12), ostriches (v13-18), horses (v19-25), hawks (v26), and eagles (v27-30).  When God asks questions about each animal, there is an attention to detail and a sense of wonder and excitement in God’s voice.

For example, here’s God talking about a horse:

Job 39:19-25 (NIV) 
19  “Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?
20  Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
21  He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.
22  He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword…….