巴比倫之囚

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〈歷代志〉下 36:21這就應驗耶和華藉耶利米口所說的話，地享受安息，因為地土荒涼便守安息，直滿了七十年。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀〉下 25:1-30   /   〈歷代志〉下 36:17-23

猶大王：羅波安→亞比央→亞撒→約沙法→約蘭→亞哈謝→（亞她利雅）→約阿施→亞瑪謝→亞撒利雅（烏西雅）→約坦→亞哈斯→希西家→瑪拿西→亞捫→約西亞→約哈斯→約雅敬（以利亞敬，約哈斯的哥哥）→約雅斤→西底家

像清朝的末代皇帝一樣，猶大國最後一任王西底家，也面臨了最大的恥辱。西底家原是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒（簡稱:尼王）所立的王，可是由於他性格優柔寡斷，後來又想倚靠埃及獨立，他的背叛招致巴比倫進軍，雖有埃及出兵暫解耶路撒冷之圍，但耶利米預言巴比倫必然傾覆猶大（耶37:5）。在亡國之前，西底家請求耶利米為他禱告，這本來是一件好事。可惜西底家並不是真的想悔改，以求得神的憐憫，他只想利用禱告，利用神來緩解當時的困局。

耶利米一直向西底家進言，因為“耶和華如此說：住在這城裡的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死，但出去歸降迦勒底人的必得存活，就是以自己命為掠物的，必得存活。（耶38:2）”雖然神要懲罰猶大人，但是祂依然為他們開一條路，要看他們肯不肯聽從神的話。就好像當年在曠野，百姓因為發怨言惹動神的怒氣，神就讓火蛇去咬他們。後來神叫摩西做了一條銅蛇，凡是被蛇咬，卻肯仰望銅蛇的人，就必得活。神要的就是人對祂的信心，不管神的方法在人的眼中是何等不可思議，何等奇怪，神並不跟我們討論得救的方法是否合理，而是要我們憑信心去接受。人若沒有信心，懷疑神的話，那麼再合理的方法，也可以找出很多理由去拒絕順服。

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Questions about the Passover

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 12:1-14.  Let’s go!

Exodus 12:1-14 (NIV)
1  The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,
2  “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
3  Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
4  If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
5  The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
6  Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
7  Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
8  That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
9  Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire–head, legs and inner parts.
10  Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it…..

1. What is Passover?
Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew) is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish Calendar. It commemorates the freedom
of the Israelites after 400 years of slavery in Egypt.

2. When is Passover?
Passover falls on the 15th of the Hebrew month Nisan.

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The Killing of Egypt’s Firstborn

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 11:1-10.  Let’s go!

Exodus 11:1-10 (NIV)
1  Now the LORD had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.
2  Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”
3  (The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.)
4  So Moses said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.
5  Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.
6  There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt–worse than there has ever been or ever will be again.
7  But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.
8  All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.
9  The LORD had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you–so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.”
10  Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.

On verses 1-10:  Here Moses warns Pharaoh about the 10th and final plague that God would bring upon the Egyptians.   In the meantime, as you read this passage, ask yourself:

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及至時候滿足

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〈加拉太書〉4:4   及至時候滿足，神就差遣他的兒子，為女子所生，且生在律法以下。

主耶穌基督道成肉身的時候是最恰當的時候。聖經告訴我們「及至時候滿足」，上帝正是在最恰當的時候差遣祂的獨生子來到世上。

時間皆在神的主權之下

〈傳道書〉第三章告訴我們，上帝對時間有絕對的主權，這都是告訴我們無論喜怒哀樂都有定時。〈傳道書〉告訴我們凡事都有定時，撒種有時，農夫要播撒特定的種子，要選特定的時間，不能隨便選擇耕種的時間；同樣地，收割的時候也有特定的時間，太早、太晚收割都不好；所以，上帝說凡事都有定時。有時，太早結婚並不好，太晚結婚同樣不好。人對時間有特定的觀念，傳道書告訴我們見面、耕種的時候是喜樂的時候，同時也有分別、爭戰哀哭的時候。我們生命中離不開這些時候，有上學、工作、結婚的時候。我們小時候無法工作，也無法結婚，因為時候未到。我們不斷在時間中經歷喜怒哀樂，有時認為當我們哀傷的時候，上帝並未與我們同在；當我們喜樂的時候，是上帝對我們的祝福。我們簡易地將時間分成上帝同在的享受時候與上帝並未同在的哀傷時候，但傳道書告訴我們上帝對所有的時候都握有主權，即便是最困苦的時候，上帝也能按祂的旨意把一切轉變為最美好的時候。時間完全掌握在上帝手中，我們的心無論處在困苦、順遂的時候都享平安，因為上帝對所有的時候都握有主權。主耶穌說一切都在上帝的掌管之中，甚至連任何一隻麻雀都不會在上帝的掌管外。

良辰吉時？

自從奧古斯丁以來，人對時間的思索就不單從本體論出發，同時也從心理學的角度來思考。有一派的人認為如果當人不存在了，就沒有所謂的時間，因為時間只有存在人的腦海裡，但奧古斯丁否定這一點，他相信有人心理感知的時間，時間也有本體性的存在。上帝創造了時間，上帝也使我們明白如何衡量時間，因為日、月、星辰都是用來數算時間的方式。但是，數算時間不等於時間本身。我們數算時間，這表示時間是存在的。手錶能告知我們現在的時間，假設有一天世上所有的手錶同時消失，奧古斯丁說：「即便如此，時間依然存在，因為手錶僅僅是我們數算時間的工具，手錶並不等於時間的本身」。因此，我們曉得有本體論的時間，人也必須主觀體會時間是什麼。

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約雅斤和西底家

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〈歷代志〉下 36:15 耶和華他們列祖的神因為愛惜自己的民和他的居所，從早起來差遣使者去警戒他們。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀〉下 24:8-20   /   〈歷代志〉下 36:9-16

猶大王：羅波安→亞比央→亞撒→約沙法→約蘭→亞哈謝→（亞她利雅）→約阿施→亞瑪謝→亞撒利雅（烏西雅）→約坦→亞哈斯→希西家→瑪拿西→亞捫→約西亞→約哈斯→約雅敬（以利亞敬，約哈斯的哥哥）→約雅斤→西底家

自從約西亞王死後，猶大國淪為埃及的附傭國；猶大的百姓立約西亞的兒子約哈斯為王，但是才做三個月，就被埃及廢了，另立約雅敬為王。約雅敬為王時，巴比倫戰勝了埃及，搶走了埃及所有的屬地，猶大淪為巴比倫的附傭國。就在約雅敬的第三年，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒圍困耶路撒冷，帶走了一些聖殿的器皿，以及猶大宗室和貴胄中年少沒有殘疾，相貌俊美，通達各樣學問，知識、聰明俱備，足能侍立在王宮裡的，要教他們迦勒底的文字言語，要養他們三年，以備將來侍候尼布甲尼撒王。這就是第一次的被擄，包括了但以理和他的三個朋友。

約雅敬做王11年死後，他的兒子約雅斤做王三個月加十天，尼布甲尼撒（以下簡稱：尼王）又親臨耶路撒冷城下。正如耶利米先知的預言：“耶和華說：猶大王約雅敬的兒子哥尼雅（又名：約雅斤/耶哥尼雅），雖是我右手上帶印的戒指，我憑我的永生起誓，也必將你從其上摘下來。並且我必將你交給尋索你命的人和你所懼怕的人手中，就是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒和迦勒底人的手中。我也必將你和生你的母親趕到別國，並不是你們生的地方，你們必死在那裡。但心中甚想歸回之地，必不得歸回。（耶22:24-27）”約雅斤帶著母親、臣僕、首領、太監一同出城投降，尼王把他們都擄到巴比倫，包括先知以西結。這是第二次的被擄。

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Round 4…Fight!

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 10:21-29.  Let’s go!

Exodus 10:21-29 (NIV)
21  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt–darkness that can be felt.”
22  So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days.
23  No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
24  Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.”……

On verses 21-29:  Pastor Jon Courson of Applegate Christian Fellowship is a great Bible teacher whose insights into Scripture have inspired me over and over again.  Here is what Pastor Courson writes about Exodus 10:21-29, describing it like the latest round in a boxing match between Moses and Pharaoh:

Moses and Pharaoh had been duking it out, mixing it up, and sparring round after round…

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猶大王約哈斯和約雅敬

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〈列王紀〉下 23:34法老尼哥立約西亞的兒子以利亞敬接續他父親約西亞作王，給他改名叫約雅敬，卻將約哈斯帶到埃及，他就死在那裡。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀〉下 23:31-37   /   〈歷代志〉下 36:1-8

猶大王：羅波安→亞比央→亞撒→約沙法→約蘭→亞哈謝→（亞她利雅）→約阿施→亞瑪謝→亞撒利雅（烏西雅）→約坦→亞哈斯→希西家→瑪拿西→亞捫→約西亞→約哈斯→約雅敬（以利亞敬，約哈斯的哥哥）→約雅斤

從主前約1050年，以色列人要求立王，掃羅成為第一任以色列的王，到約雅敬作王約主前604年。在這大約400年的期間證明了一件事，神是對的。以色列人想要學外邦人有王統治，有王率領，但是約400年的經歷，讓我們看到，除了神，沒有一個人是完全的。假如碰到一個好王，就國泰民安；若是碰到不好的王，那真是全國皆悲，一天不如一天。世界的政局也淘汰了君王制度，因為在一個有限的人管轄之下，百姓看不到希望。所有的人都要看一個人的臉色行事，太令人感到痛苦了。

約西亞想阻止埃及去攻打亞述，不僅阻擋不了埃及，並且約西亞也戰死沙場。這時原本獨立的猶大國變成受制於埃及了。法老尼哥二世打敗約西亞後就在哈馬地的利比拉安營，這是以色列北部的一個軍事重鎮。利比拉是軍隊安營的戰略地點，它操控了埃及和幼發拉底河之間的南北商業及軍事路線。當地水源充足，軍隊可以在周圍的山谷和森林搜集糧食和燃料，所以是兵家必爭之地。

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I’m Not Negotiating

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 10:1-20.  Let’s go!

Exodus 10:1-2 (NIV)
1  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them
2  that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.”

On verses 1-2:  In previous chapters of Exodus we learned that the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was not simply God’s doing, but Pharaoh’s choice as well (see Exodus 8:15; Exodus 8:32; Exodus 9:34).  Yet despite Pharaoh choosing to harden his heart toward God, God would use this unfortunate incident as an opportunity to perform His miracles so that the Israelites would have a greater story to tell, “that you may know that I am the Lord” (v2).  What can we learn from this?  Because God is sovereign (possessing supreme authority), God will use even our mistakes and the mistakes of others to write a greater story.  Of course we are always better off obeying God early and with a soft heart, but God being sovereign will find a way to show His power one way or the other.

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What Will You Choose?

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage: Exodus 9:13-26.  Let’s go!

Exodus 9:27-30 (NIV)
27  Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said to them. “The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.
28  Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer.”
29  Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.
30  But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.”

On verses 27-30:  Though in verses 27-28 Pharaoh says all the right words, confessing that he has sinned and admitting that the Lord is right and he was wrong, we will see that Pharaoh evidently was still playing games with the Lord.  Pharaoh wasn’t really sorry for his sin.  If anything, perhaps, he was sorry that he was in the situation he was now in and was doing everything he can to get out of it.  It goes to show that anyone can say that they have sinned and speak the right-sounding words, but what counts is what is in the heart.

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約西亞戰死沙場

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〈列王紀〉下 23:3王站在柱旁，在耶和華面前立約，要盡心、盡性地順從耶和華，遵守他的誡命、法度、律例，成就這書上所記的約言。眾民都服從這約。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀〉下 23:1-30   /   〈歷代志〉下 35

猶大王：羅波安→亞比央→亞撒→約沙法→約蘭→亞哈謝→（亞她利雅）→約阿施→亞瑪謝→亞撒利雅（烏西雅）→約坦→亞哈斯→希西家→瑪拿西→亞捫→約西亞

在耶羅波安做第一任北國的以色列王時，他造了兩個金牛犢。神派了一位神人從猶大去伯特利警告他，並且預言：“大衛家裡必生一個兒子，名叫約西亞，他必將丘壇的祭司，就是在你上面燒香的，殺在你上面，人的骨頭也必燒在你上面。（王上13:2）”神的預言何等準確，連約西亞的名字都在預言之中。在預言發出的三百多年後，約西亞不但拆毀焚燒耶羅波安所的壇，殺假祭司，並且打發人將墳墓裡的骸骨取出來，燒在壇上。死人一般被認為不潔淨，將人的骸骨燒在祭壇上，是一種污穢異教祭壇的作法。

約西亞在位時所做的一切讓我們看到當時異教的風俗何等盛行：不僅拜巴力和亞舍拉，還向日、月、行星並天上萬象燒香。他們在聖殿裡拜巴力和亞舍拉以及天上的萬象，聖殿裡還有給孌童住的屋子，給婦女為亞舍拉織帳子的地方。在城裡山上，從所羅門到亞哈斯、瑪拿西、亞們為異教所築的丘壇，約西亞都把它們污穢了。欣嫩子谷是指在耶路撒冷以南的一個山谷，靠近耶撒冷城的哈珥西門口。亞哈斯和瑪拿西曾經在此向假神獻上自己的兒女，把他們活活燒死，因此又得名“陀斐特”，即焚燒之處。此處也拿來作為崇拜摩洛之處，神曾經藉著耶利米先知宣告此地將不再稱為欣嫩子谷或陀斐特，而要稱為“殺戳谷the Valley of Slaughter”（耶7:32），因為他們在這裡流無辜人的血。在約西亞王褻瀆那神龕，並禁止在那裡獻祭之後，這地方成為焚燒犯人、動物屍體和廢物的地方。因此欣嫩子谷日後被用作“地獄”的同義詞，猶太人的傳統曾把此地作為地獄的入口。

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