巴比伦之囚

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〈历代志〉下 36:21这就应验耶和华藉耶利米口所说的话，地享受安息，因为地土荒凉便守安息，直满了七十年。

阅读经文：〈列王纪〉下 25:1-30   /   〈历代志〉下 36:17-23

犹大王：罗波安→亚比央→亚撒→约沙法→约兰→亚哈谢→（亚她利雅）→约阿施→亚玛谢→亚撒利雅（乌西雅）→约坦→亚哈斯→希西家→玛拿西→亚扪→约西亚→约哈斯→约雅敬（以利亚敬，约哈斯的哥哥）→约雅斤→西底家

像清朝的末代皇帝一样，犹大国最后一任王西底家，也面临了最大的耻辱。西底家原是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒（简称:尼王）所立的王，可是由于他性格优柔寡断，后来又想倚靠埃及独立，他的背叛招致巴比伦进军，虽有埃及出兵暂解耶路撒冷之围，但耶利米预言巴比伦必然倾覆犹大（耶37:5）。在亡国之前，西底家请求耶利米为他祷告，这本来是一件好事。可惜西底家并不是真的想悔改，以求得神的怜悯，他只想利用祷告，利用神来缓解当时的困局。

耶利米一直向西底家进言，因为“耶和华如此说：住在这城里的必遭刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫而死，但出去归降迦勒底人的必得存活，就是以自己命为掠物的，必得存活。（耶38:2）”虽然神要惩罚犹大人，但是祂依然为他们开一条路，要看他们肯不肯听从神的话。就好像当年在旷野，百姓因为发怨言惹动神的怒气，神就让火蛇去咬他们。后来神叫摩西做了一条铜蛇，凡是被蛇咬，却肯仰望铜蛇的人，就必得活。神要的就是人对祂的信心，不管神的方法在人的眼中是何等不可思议，何等奇怪，神并不跟我们讨论得救的方法是否合理，而是要我们凭信心去接受。人若没有信心，怀疑神的话，那么再合理的方法，也可以找出很多理由去拒绝顺服。

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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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及至时候满足

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〈加拉太书〉4:4   及至时候满足，神就差遣他的儿子，为女子所生，且生在律法以下。

主耶稣基督道成肉身的时候是最恰当的时候。圣经告诉我们「及至时候满足」，上帝正是在最恰当的时候差遣祂的独生子来到世上。

时间皆在神的主权之下

〈传道书〉第三章告诉我们，上帝对时间有绝对的主权，这都是告诉我们无论喜怒哀乐都有定时。〈传道书〉告诉我们凡事都有定时，撒种有时，农夫要播撒特定的种子，要选特定的时间，不能随便选择耕种的时间；同样地，收割的时候也有特定的时间，太早、太晚收割都不好；所以，上帝说凡事都有定时。有时，太早结婚并不好，太晚结婚同样不好。人对时间有特定的观念，传道书告诉我们见面、耕种的时候是喜乐的时候，同时也有分别、争战哀哭的时候。我们生命中离不开这些时候，有上学、工作、结婚的时候。我们小时候无法工作，也无法结婚，因为时候未到。我们不断在时间中经历喜怒哀乐，有时认为当我们哀伤的时候，上帝并未与我们同在；当我们喜乐的时候，是上帝对我们的祝福。我们简易地将时间分成上帝同在的享受时候与上帝并未同在的哀伤时候，但传道书告诉我们上帝对所有的时候都握有主权，即便是最困苦的时候，上帝也能按祂的旨意把一切转变为最美好的时候。时间完全掌握在上帝手中，我们的心无论处在困苦、顺遂的时候都享平安，因为上帝对所有的时候都握有主权。主耶稣说一切都在上帝的掌管之中，甚至连任何一只麻雀都不会在上帝的掌管外。

良辰吉时？

自从奥古斯丁以来，人对时间的思索就不单从本体论出发，同时也从心理学的角度来思考。有一派的人认为如果当人不存在了，就没有所谓的时间，因为时间只有存在人的脑海里，但奥古斯丁否定这一点，他相信有人心理感知的时间，时间也有本体性的存在。上帝创造了时间，上帝也使我们明白如何衡量时间，因为日、月、星辰都是用来数算时间的方式。但是，数算时间不等于时间本身。我们数算时间，这表示时间是存在的。手表能告知我们现在的时间，假设有一天世上所有的手表同时消失，奥古斯丁说：「即便如此，时间依然存在，因为手表仅仅是我们数算时间的工具，手表并不等于时间的本身」。因此，我们晓得有本体论的时间，人也必须主观体会时间是什么。

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约雅斤和西底家

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〈历代志〉下 36:15 耶和华他们列祖的神因为爱惜自己的民和他的居所，从早起来差遣使者去警戒他们。

阅读经文：〈列王纪〉下 24:8-20   /   〈历代志〉下 36:9-16

犹大王：罗波安→亚比央→亚撒→约沙法→约兰→亚哈谢→（亚她利雅）→约阿施→亚玛谢→亚撒利雅（乌西雅）→约坦→亚哈斯→希西家→玛拿西→亚扪→约西亚→约哈斯→约雅敬（以利亚敬，约哈斯的哥哥）→约雅斤→西底家

自从约西亚王死后，犹大国沦为埃及的附佣国；犹大的百姓立约西亚的儿子约哈斯为王，但是才做三个月，就被埃及废了，另立约雅敬为王。约雅敬为王时，巴比伦战胜了埃及，抢走了埃及所有的属地，犹大沦为巴比伦的附佣国。就在约雅敬的第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒围困耶路撒冷，带走了一些圣殿的器皿，以及犹大宗室和贵胄中年少没有残疾，相貌俊美，通达各样学问，知识、聪明俱备，足能侍立在王宫里的，要教他们迦勒底的文字言语，要养他们三年，以备将来侍候尼布甲尼撒王。这就是第一次的被掳，包括了但以理和他的三个朋友。

约雅敬做王11年死后，他的儿子约雅斤做王三个月加十天，尼布甲尼撒（以下简称：尼王）又亲临耶路撒冷城下。正如耶利米先知的预言：“耶和华说：犹大王约雅敬的儿子哥尼雅（又名：约雅斤/耶哥尼雅），虽是我右手上带印的戒指，我凭我的永生起誓，也必将你从其上摘下来。并且我必将你交给寻索你命的人和你所惧怕的人手中，就是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒和迦勒底人的手中。我也必将你和生你的母亲赶到别国，并不是你们生的地方，你们必死在那里。但心中甚想归回之地，必不得归回。（耶22:24-27）”约雅斤带着母亲、臣仆、首领、太监一同出城投降，尼王把他们都掳到巴比伦，包括先知以西结。这是第二次的被掳。

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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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犹大王约哈斯和约雅敬

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〈列王纪〉下 23:34法老尼哥立约西亚的儿子以利亚敬接续他父亲约西亚作王，给他改名叫约雅敬，却将约哈斯带到埃及，他就死在那里。

阅读经文：〈列王纪〉下 23:31-37   /   〈历代志〉下 36:1-8

犹大王：罗波安→亚比央→亚撒→约沙法→约兰→亚哈谢→（亚她利雅）→约阿施→亚玛谢→亚撒利雅（乌西雅）→约坦→亚哈斯→希西家→玛拿西→亚扪→约西亚→约哈斯→约雅敬（以利亚敬，约哈斯的哥哥）→约雅斤

从主前约1050年，以色列人要求立王，扫罗成为第一任以色列的王，到约雅敬作王约主前604年。在这大约400年的期间证明了一件事，神是对的。以色列人想要学外邦人有王统治，有王率领，但是约400年的经历，让我们看到，除了神，没有一个人是完全的。假如碰到一个好王，就国泰民安；若是碰到不好的王，那真是全国皆悲，一天不如一天。世界的政局也淘汰了君王制度，因为在一个有限的人管辖之下，百姓看不到希望。所有的人都要看一个人的脸色行事，太令人感到痛苦了。

约西亚想阻止埃及去攻打亚述，不仅阻挡不了埃及，并且约西亚也战死沙场。这时原本独立的犹大国变成受制于埃及了。法老尼哥二世打败约西亚后就在哈马地的利比拉安营，这是以色列北部的一个军事重镇。利比拉是军队安营的战略地点，它操控了埃及和幼发拉底河之间的南北商业及军事路线。当地水源充足，军队可以在周围的山谷和森林搜集粮食和燃料，所以是兵家必争之地。

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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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约西亚战死沙场

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〈列王纪〉下 23:3王站在柱旁，在耶和华面前立约，要尽心、尽性地顺从耶和华，遵守他的诫命、法度、律例，成就这书上所记的约言。众民都服从这约。

阅读经文：〈列王纪〉下 23:1-30   /   〈历代志〉下 35

犹大王：罗波安→亚比央→亚撒→约沙法→约兰→亚哈谢→（亚她利雅）→约阿施→亚玛谢→亚撒利雅（乌西雅）→约坦→亚哈斯→希西家→玛拿西→亚扪→约西亚

在耶罗波安做第一任北国的以色列王时，他造了两个金牛犊。神派了一位神人从犹大去伯特利警告他，并且预言：“大卫家里必生一个儿子，名叫约西亚，他必将丘坛的祭司，就是在你上面烧香的，杀在你上面，人的骨头也必烧在你上面。（王上13:2）”神的预言何等准确，连约西亚的名字都在预言之中。在预言发出的三百多年后，约西亚不但拆毁焚烧耶罗波安所的坛，杀假祭司，并且打发人将坟墓里的骸骨取出来，烧在坛上。死人一般被认为不洁净，将人的骸骨烧在祭坛上，是一种污秽异教祭坛的作法。

约西亚在位时所做的一切让我们看到当时异教的风俗何等盛行：不仅拜巴力和亚舍拉，还向日、月、行星并天上万象烧香。他们在圣殿里拜巴力和亚舍拉以及天上的万象，圣殿里还有给娈童住的屋子，给妇女为亚舍拉织帐子的地方。在城里山上，从所罗门到亚哈斯、玛拿西、亚们为异教所筑的丘坛，约西亚都把它们污秽了。欣嫩子谷是指在耶路撒冷以南的一个山谷，靠近耶撒冷城的哈珥西门口。亚哈斯和玛拿西曾经在此向假神献上自己的儿女，把他们活活烧死，因此又得名“陀斐特”，即焚烧之处。此处也拿来作为崇拜摩洛之处，神曾经借着耶利米先知宣告此地将不再称为欣嫩子谷或陀斐特，而要称为“杀戳谷the Valley of Slaughter”（耶7:32），因为他们在这里流无辜人的血。在约西亚王亵渎那神龛，并禁止在那里献祭之后，这地方成为焚烧犯人、动物尸体和废物的地方。因此欣嫩子谷日后被用作“地狱”的同义词，犹太人的传统曾把此地作为地狱的入口。

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