利未人的城和逃城

〈民数记〉 35:12 这些城可以做逃避报仇人的城,使误杀人的不至于死,等他站在会众面前听审判。

神所设立的制度实在完美。利未人虽然不能有自己的产业,但是让其他十二支派来供应利未人的需要,再由利未人去供应其他以色列人灵性的需要,彼此之间互补互相照应,实在很完美。最近看到有篇文章,提到有一些年老的牧者孤苦无依,生活十分艰难,甚至生病时也没有人照应。不禁让我想到神的计划,原本就是要牧者和会众之间互相照应,若是教会或机构的章程不周全,往往服侍的人在退休之后便感生计困苦。因此在北美的教会已经有想到这方面的需要,有的教会对退休牧者也有一套照顾的章程。

神要以色列人从所得为业的地中把些城分给利未人居住,也要把这些城四围的郊野给利未人,让他们可以牧养他们的牛羊和各样的牲畜,又可以安置他们的财物。。这便是奉献的教导。奉献需要操练,因为若不操练,就会越来越执著自己的所有,不肯分享,以致成了堵塞的管道。我们若不奉献,不把神的恩赐拿出来与人分享,从神而来的祝福之管道就会被塞住,神的祝福也进不来。利未人是神的仆人,他们放弃自己养生的工作,为百姓去服侍神,百姓有义务和责任照顾他们的需要。

雅各临终前给利未的祝福里,最后的一句是:「我要使他们分居在雅各家里,散住在以色列地中。(创49:7)」这句话果然应验了。虽然他们拥有了服侍神的权柄,却必须散住在以色列地。让各个支派为他们订定居住的地方。在以色列一共有48座城是给利未人居住的,还有每座城的郊野。

神又为以色列人设立逃城。根据俞建霈牧师的解释:逃城的「逃」这词在希伯来文原出自“miqlat”这字。 这字字根的意思就是「接纳,吸收」,就是「接纳逃亡者到自己的地方」或「庇护,藏匿」的意思。因此按照希伯来文,逃城的本意乃是「收容」或「接纳」逃亡者的城市,就是「庇护的城市」,或「庇护城」。犹太人把旧约圣经译成希腊文时, 把这个字译成「流亡放逐的场所」,「可逃去的地方」。 这可能是翻译和合本的学者所以译成「逃城」的原因。 但庇护城乃是比较接近希伯来原文的译法。

The Witness of the Cross

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 22:31-23:5.  Let’s go!

Joshua 22:31-34 (NIV) 
31  And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is with us, because you have not acted unfaithfully toward the LORD in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the LORD’s hand.” 
32  Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 
33  They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived. 
34  And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God.

On verses 31-34:  Phinehas and the rest of the delegation return and report to the western tribes of Israel what the eastern tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh (collectively, “Team RGM”) said.  The western tribes are pleased with Team RGM’s response and decide not to go to war against them (v31-33).  The Reubenites and the Gadites call the altar that they had built “A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God” (v34).

神给以色列的境界

〈民数记〉34:12 这界要下到约旦河,通到盐海为止。这四围的边界以内,要做你们的地。

有人说,以色列建国是今天世界不能安定的错误决定,以色列是联合国造出来的,以色列不应该继续扩张,等等。但是当我们回溯到《圣经》里几千年前的记录,神的话历历在目。这不是一个凭人意造出来的国家,是神的手亲自运行,使一个灭亡了几千年的古国,好像「咸鱼翻生」(咸鱼活过来?不可能。这是广东人的成语,表示不可能发生的事),重新出现在世界的舞台上,而且极其亮眼。

〈耶利米书〉卅二章37节,神说:「 我在怒气、愤怒和大恼恨中将以色列人赶到各国,日后我必从那里将他们招聚出来,领他们回到此地,使他们安然居住。」虽然部份以色列人已经回到神给他们的迦南地,但离「安然居住」还有一段距离。以色列人在各样的国界冲突里坚守神给他们的地界,虽然目前不能全部拿回来,但是因为神的话必定兑现,所以我们知道有一天,以色列必然得回神给他们的地界。

耶和华晓谕摩西说:「你吩咐以色列人说:你们到了迦南地,就是归你们为业的迦南四境之地: 南角要从寻的旷野,贴著以东的边界。南界要从盐海东头起,绕到亚克拉滨坡的南边,接连到寻,直通到加低斯巴尼亚的南边,又通到哈萨亚达,接连到押们,从押们转到埃及小河,直通到海为止。

「西边要以大海为界。这就是你们的西界。北界要从大海起,划到何珥山, 从何珥山划到哈马口,通到西达达,又通到西斐仑,直到哈萨以难。这要做你们的北界。你们要从哈萨以难划到示番为东界。 这界要从示番下到亚延东边的利比拉,又要达到基尼烈湖的东边。 这界要下到约旦河,通到盐海为止。这四围的边界以内,要做你们的地。」

A Sign Across the River

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 22:21-30.  Let’s go!

Joshua 22:21-30 (NIV) 
21  Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: 
22  “The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to theLORD, do not spare us this day. 
23  If we have built our own altar to turn away from the LORD and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may theLORD himself call us to account. ……

On verses 21-30:  Here the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh explain to the other tribes of Israel the reason why they built this huge altar. It wasn’t because they were worshiping another god as the other tribes of Israel had feared.  Much the opposite, it was to reaffirm their commitment to worshiping the same Lord as the rest of the Israelites, despite living on the other side of the Jordan River.  Their hope was that the altar would serve as a sign to all the Israelites on both sides of the river (“as a witness between us and you and the generations that follow” (v27)) that they were all one nation worshiping the same God.  The delegation representing the other Israelite tribes is pleased with this response (v30).

更丰盛的生命(3)

〈马太福音〉5章45节   耶稣说:「我实在告诉你们,这些事你们既不做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上,就是不做在我身上了。」

一、 更丰盛的生命,是一个了解别人的生命:

  孔子说:「友直、友谅、友多闻。」(《论语‧季氏篇》)如果一个人很正直,你可以跟他做朋友。如果一个人个性不真诚、说话不诚实,而且常常变来变去,你不可以跟他做朋友一个。不原谅你的人,你不可以跟他做朋友。有一些人斤斤计较,为小事情大吵大闹,你不要跟这样的人做朋友。看见你的弱点还愿意宽容、接纳你的人,你可以跟他做朋友。

  亲爱的弟兄姊妹,我们的同工、弟兄姊妹很多是很软弱的,很多是有很多毛病的,如果你看见毛病就骂,对人只有仇恨、报仇,你不能做人的好朋友,你需要有彼此之间的饶恕与原谅。不要跟那些不学无术、什么都不懂又很骄傲的人做朋友。如果有很有学问又常常追求的人,你与他做朋友,你能领受知识。你怎么在人与人之间的关系中成为一个有丰盛生命的基督徒?你的心肠宽宏大量,容易了解、宽恕别人的缺点,你的生命就是丰盛的。

二、 更丰盛的生命,是一个对别人有充分的爱的生命:

  你对别人要有充分的爱,你的生命才是丰盛的。为什么我们珍惜自家人,对别人的事却置若罔闻?同样身而为人,遭遇相同的事,罹患相同的病,经历相同的痛苦,如果这发生在你最爱的人身上,你愿意牺牲自己帮助他、为他祷告,如果这发生在别人的身上,却是不闻不问,这样的态度所展现的不是丰盛的生命。

Look Before You Leap

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 22:10-20.  Let’s go!

Joshua 22:10-20 (NIV) 
10  When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 
11  And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 
12  the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them. 
13  So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead–to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 
14  With him they sent ten of the chief men, one for each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans. ……

On verses 10-20:  The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh (whom I’ll call collectively, “Team RGM”) are traveling on their way back to Gilead, their lands located east of the Jordan River.  On their way to Gilead they stop and build a huge altar on the western or “Israelite” side of the Jordan River (v10).  When the rest of the tribes see the huge altar that Team RGM have built, they immediately assume that Team RGM were worshiping another god. 

Until We Go Home

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 22:1-9.  Let’s go!

Joshua 22:1-9 (NIV) 
1  Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh
2  and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded.
3  For a long time now–to this very day–you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you.
4  Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan….

On verses 1-9:  The Reubenites, Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh (whom I call collectively “Team RGM”) had already received their God-given inheritance, that being the lands east of the Jordan River.  But in obedience to God and out of love and loyalty toward their fellow Israelites, team RGM decided not to go home until they helped their fellow Israelites gain their land inheritance as well.  Only when they had finished helping their fellow Israelites did Team RGM go back home at Joshua’s command.

记出埃及的路程

〈民数记〉33:53 你们要夺那地,住在其中,因我把那地赐给你们为业。

从摩西的记载里,我们认识到神是一位很仔细的神。祂吩咐摩西要记载他们出埃及的行程。不知道你有没有写日记的习惯,若是没有这样的习惯,就会忘记人生中很多的细节。有时同一件事情在自己的回忆里,和别人所记得的,地点时间都不一样。但这是神做事的记录,也是神带领以色列人的根据。神会记得,以色列人会忘记,所以摩西记下来之后,就可以作为后人回顾的根据。

以色列人走旷野四十年,而这些沿途扎过营的地方正好也是四十个地点。每一个地点都有不可磨灭的记忆,虽然大部份是以色列人悖逆的记录,神却只让摩西记下:在以琳有十二股水泉,七十棵棕树。想想看我们的人生里也有许多得罪神的时候,但是等我们见神的时候,祂却只提起我们得救的美丽时刻,进而把我们拥入怀中,接回天家。一切的罪孽,祂都不再记念;一切的过犯,祂都丢到背后。何等恩典!

但是当我们看到这些地名时,我们依然记得在那些地方曾经发生过的事。当我们把这些地点都想一想时,再看看神的信实,在每一个地方所彰显的大能,我们就明白,人生虽然有苦难,但只要有神同行,那些苦难都会成为过去。只要我们肯相信神,只要我们愿意顺服,就可以少走许多冤枉路。

在这趟路程里,有过红海的神蹟,有玛拉的苦水,利非订的吵闹,基博罗哈他瓦抓鹌鹑的贪婪,等等。神好像一个严父,又好像一个慈母。每天云柱火柱不相离,吗哪天天供应,磐石出水显神蹟,虽然旷野的生活十分枯燥,但是神在每个层面的保守是何等无微不至。我们的生活有时也像古井无波,天天如是。想一想,还是要胜过在旷野的行路。假如在旷野都要思想到神那充沛的恩典,那么我们平常的生活,岂不应当更加感谢?

河东地的分配

〈民数记〉32:27 但你的仆人,凡带兵器的,都要照我主所说的话,在耶和华面前过去打仗。

和米甸人打完战之后,紧接着战利品的分配,有人已经在观察地势。倘若以色列人通通越过约旦河,那么这片刚刚打完占领的土地要归谁呢?土地很重要。有很多企业家都是从房地产发迹的,想要拥有庞大的财富,没有土地是不可能的。因此许多人一有钱就买屋置地,因为投资不一定赚钱,但是土地永远在那里,最能保值。因此有些国家不卖土地,只让人拥有九十九年。也有人想尽办法挪移地界,想在不知不觉之中骗取别人的土地。但是我听过最有趣的一则有关土地的新闻:有人在盖完了新家之后,才发现是盖在别人的土地上。

但是雅各的子孙可没有那么糊涂,流便和迦得的子孙在别人都还没上心时,就留意到这块肥沃的土地了。何必过约旦河呢?看看这些地土的青草长得何等青翠,看看那些牛羊惝徉在绿意无限的草地上,何等悠游自在,有什么地方比这片土地更合适他们住?何况,这块地总得有人去住,对不对?他们不住,不是又给外邦人占去了吗?思考再三,他们去跟摩西和大司及众首领提出申请。他们想要留在雅谢地和基列地,这两地就是以色列人刚刚征服之地。你想,摩西听了会有怎样的反应呢?

怎么可以这样子?想捡现成的便宜?才刚打完第一仗,就不想再往前了?这地是大家一起打下来的,你们要去度假了,享受大家打来的地。那么下一块地,谁来帮忙打仗呢?假如大家都这样做,那么参与作战的人越来越少,不是很不公平吗?亏他们想得出来这么自私的点子!摩西骂得比较有学问一点,有历史有背景,引经据典。咱是在瞎凑热闹。

但是这两个支派的代表也不是省油灯,他们说,冤枉了,老大。我们先造城垒圈,把妇人、孩子和牲畜安置好,就陪你们去打仗了,不打到大家都有地了,我们绝不回家。

Rest on Every Side

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 21:34-45.   Let’s go!

Joshua 21:34-42 (NIV) 
34  The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given: from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam, Kartah, 
35  Dimnah and Nahalal, together with their pasturelands–four towns; 
36  from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, Jahaz, 
37  Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands–four towns; 
38  from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim, 
39  Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands–four towns in all. 
40  All the towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, were twelve. 
41  The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands.
42  Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

On verses 34-42:  These verses conclude the list of towns that were given to the tribe of Levi, ending with the Merarite clans. “Merari” literally means “bitter”. The fact that these Levites could receive these towns as well as pasturelands, and this despite the sin that their forefather had committed in Genesis 34, is a pretty sweet deal made possible by God’s grace.