祂的救恩作我们的坚垒

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箴言21:22   智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒

阅读经文：箴言 21:22-23

22智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒。23谨守口与舌的，就保守自己免受灾难。

第22节：智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒。One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers— their trusted defenses fell to pieces!《The Message》

我们不要太自信，以为自己廉洁到可以通过任何金钱的诱惑，圣洁到可以无感于出轨的可能，细心到任何的话语不会出差错，利害到所有的发表没瑕疵，冷静到所有的状况都可应付。我们能平安度日，自我感觉良好，是考验不大，未逢高手。人生若阅历丰富，生命若尚存谦虚，感谢主。

「智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒。」(箴言21:22)这是很好的警告。高的城墙，蜘蛛可爬上；坚固的堡垒，怪手可推倒。强的依靠，大力士可以倾覆。有力的背景，媒体可找到破绽。仔细的作帐，调查局都找得到有瑕疵的发票。社会上有句话：「黑道怕老大，老大怕刑警，刑警怕局长，局长怕市长，市长怕议员，议员怕媒体，媒体怕企业，企业怕大众，大众怕黑道。」

至于我们，我们敬畏上帝，以祂的救恩作我们的坚垒。（张文亮教授）

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You’re Blessed with God’s Best

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 32:13-25.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 32:13-15 (NIV)
13  He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag,
14  with curds and milk from herd and flock and with fattened lambs and goats, with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat. You drank the foaming blood of the grape.
15  Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek…

On verses 13-15a:  Verses 13-14 describe how God gave Israel His best provision.  His provision for them was not ordinary, but extraordinary.  Truly God had allowed the Israelites to come into a land of milk (v14) and honey (v13).  In the same way, the Holy Spirit is working in your life when you acknowledge that your heavenly Father’s provision for your life is not ordinary but extraordinary.  That includes every blessing He has given you and most especially His Son Jesus Christ.

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男人需要旷野

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箴言21:21   追求公义仁慈的，就寻得生命、公义和尊荣。

阅读经文：箴言 21:19-22

19 宁可住在旷野，不与争吵使气的妇人同住。20智慧人家中积蓄宝物、膏油，愚昧人随得来随吞下。21追求公义仁慈的，就寻得生命、公义和尊荣。

第19节：宁可住在旷野，不与争吵使气的妇人同住。Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse.《The Message》

很早以前，上帝要该隐去流浪。因此男人的身边，应该有一片旷野。很可惜，该隐选择住了下来，从此男人失去旷野。男人要竞争较胜，在商场里拥挤，在工作中争 取立足之地，在热门中打拼，在评估表格里攀爬等。我们往人多的地方去，在多人看见的地方表演。 连一点点独处的旷野也糊掉。结果，时代进步，男人退化。

退化的男人，身边的妇人会爱争吵；沮丧的男人，同住的妇人易使气。这是男人失去旷野的反作用力，是太小空间撞击机率的提升，争吵与使气是人际压力要寻找外 泄的方式。这时增加人际的距离，到旷野是降压的好方式。这是热力学的原理，也是圣经所讲的光景：「宁可住在旷野，不与争吵使气的妇人同住。」(箴言21:19)（张文亮教授）

妇人爱争吵，易生气，要怪女人吗? 不，这是男人失去旷野的症候群。重回旷野吧。

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You are the Apple of God’s Eye

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 32:1-12.  As promised we’ll also look at Deuteronomy 31:30 as well.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 31:30 (NIV)
30  And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

On verse 30:  Moses is known more as a lawgiver than a songwriter.  Still, there are two songs that Moses is credited with in the Bible.  One of them is here.  Moses’ purpose in presenting this song is to give praise to God as well as to teach the current generation of Israelites some important truths.  Let’s take a look in the verses that follow.

Deuteronomy 32:1-2 (NIV)
1  Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2  Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

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God’s Love For You Is Stronger Than Your Sin Against Him

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 31:14-30.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 31:14 (NIV)
14  The LORD said to Moses, “Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, where I will commission him.” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.

On verse 14:  God had been preparing Joshua to be Moses’ successor for some time already (see Deuteronomy 3:28 and Numbers 27:15-23).  Moses had already publicly commissioned Joshua so that all the people knew who would lead them after Moses died (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).  Now in verse 14, we see God personally and privately commissioning Joshua at the Tent of Meeting in Moses’ presence (v14).  In verse 23, God speaks to Joshua directly and tells him to be strong and courageous.  

Notice that it is God who chose, prepared and raised up the next leader for Israel.  It wasn’t done by a democratic vote by the people.  It was God’s decision, which He communicated to Moses.   

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恶人做了义人的赎价

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箴言21:17   爱宴乐的必致穷乏，好酒爱膏油的必不富足。

阅读经文：箴言 21:16-18

16迷离通达道路的，必住在阴魂的会中。17爱宴乐的必致穷乏，好酒爱膏油的必不富足。18恶人做了义人的赎价，奸诈人代替正直人。

第16节：迷离通达道路的，必住在阴魂的会中。Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.《The Message》

这节经文使我想起本仁约翰写的《天路历程》。本书讲述一个“基督徒”为寻求永生而踏上荆棘遍布的遥远之旅。当基督徒离开毁灭城去寻找天国时，一路上遇到了各种阴险人物的诱惑和凶险，经历了许多考验，也学会了怎样抵制诱惑、战胜困难，终于抵达天国，天门为他而开。

这一路上的阴险人物便是撒旦和邪灵的化身，牠们的目的便是要基督徒离开正道。只要基督徒离开正道，牠们便可以完全控制他，让他身不由己地做出原本不想做的事情。这也是人生的本相，我们若没有神的话在心中做指引，便会落入撒旦的诱惑和掌控中，还以为自己很聪明。

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一个半克劳因的故事

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箴言21:13  塞耳不听穷人哀求的，他将来呼吁也不蒙应允。

阅读经文：箴言21:13-15

13塞耳不听穷人哀求的，他将来呼吁也不蒙应允。14暗中送的礼物挽回怒气，怀中揣的贿赂止息暴怒。15秉公行义使义人喜乐，使作孽的人败坏。

第10节：塞耳不听穷人哀求的，他将来呼吁也不蒙应允。If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered.《The Message》

戴德生在信心的操练方面，有一个著名的小故事。在他到中国之前，他要学一个功课，有需要时，只向神求，绝不向人开口。那时他在哈迪医生手下当助理，医生人很好，只是因为太忙，经常忘记准时发薪水。戴德生决定不向他要薪水，只凭信心让神提醒他。他立志过简朴生活，把三分之二的钱去济助穷人。有一次他口袋中剩一个半克劳因half crown的硬币，约美元六分钱。

那时有个穷人请他去为将死的妻子祷告，戴德生去他家时，看到有四、五个小孩站着，他们双颊凹陷，是长期饥饿的结果。一位力竭声嘶、疲惫已极的母亲躺在一张破烂的小床上，旁边还有一个婴儿。戴德生祷告后，心想若是硬币可以分为2先令6便士，便可为自己留下一个先令。这时圣灵责备他：“你一面祷告天上的父，一面塞住怜悯之心，将硬币藏在腰包里，这是对天父的应许没有信心。”于是他把仅有的半克劳因给了那家穷人。因为约翰说：“凡有世上财物的，看见弟兄穷乏，却塞住怜恤的心，爱神的心怎能存在他里面呢？（约翰一书 3:17）”

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Two Reasons You Can Be Courageous

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 31:1-13.  Let’s go!
 
Deuteronomy 31:1-6 (NIV)
1  Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel:
2  “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’
3  The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the LORD said.
4  And the LORD will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land.
5  The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.
6  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
 
On verses 1-6:  In Deuteronomy 31, 120 year old Moses knows his time on earth is almost up (v2). He does his best to prepare the Israelites to conquer the land that God promised to them. He reassures them that God will help them succeed (v3-5a) and reminds them to obey God (v5b). He tells them to be strong and courageous and that though he will not always be with them, God will never leave them or forsake them (v6). 

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You Can Always Reach God Because of Jesus

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 30:11-20.  Let’s go!
 
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (NIV)
11  Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
12  It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
13  Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
14  No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
 
On verses 11-14:  Moses recognized that in each of our hearts is both the ability to obey (v14) as well as the ability to turn away and go astray (v17).  God knew this as well but He went one step further.  Knowing our propensity to turn away and go astray, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to perfectly obey His commandments on our behalf and then die on the cross for our sins.  So whereas we could never reach God on our own, through Jesus, God is now within our reach.
 

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八个不当

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箴言21:10   恶人的心乐人受祸，他眼并不怜恤邻舍。

阅读经文：箴言21:10-12

10恶人的心乐人受祸，他眼并不怜恤邻舍。11亵慢的人受刑罚，愚蒙的人就得智慧；智慧人受训诲，便得知识。12义人思想恶人的家，知道恶人倾倒，必致灭亡。

第10节：恶人的心乐人受祸，他眼并不怜恤邻舍。Wicked souls love to make trouble; they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.《The Message》

在圣经里记载着神对某一族人的惩罚，这族人在很高的山上建屋，以为没有人能上到那样的高处去打他们。没想到神说：“你虽如大鹰高飞，在星宿之间搭窝，我必从那里拉下你来。”后来这个国家真的被灭亡了。那就是以东，以扫的后裔。

为何神的愤怒临到他们呢？因为神说：“当外人掳掠雅各的财物，外邦人进入他的城门，为耶路撒冷拈阄的日子，你竟站在一旁，像与他们同伙。你兄弟遭难的日子，你不当瞪眼看着。犹大人被灭的日子，你不当因此欢乐。他们遭难的日子，你不当说狂傲的话。 我民遭灾的日子，你不当进他们的城门。他们遭灾的日子，你不当瞪眼看着他们受苦。他们遭灾的日子，你不当伸手抢他们的财物。你不当站在岔路口，剪除他们中间逃脱的。他们遭难的日子，你不当将他们剩下的人交付仇敌。”一共有八个“不当”。这事记载在〈俄巴底亚书〉里。

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