The King Who Will Reign Forever

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Daniel 11:34-45, but we’ll include Daniel 11:33 in our discussion as well.  Let’s go!

Daniel 11:33-35 (NIV)
33  “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.
34  When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
35  Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

On verses 33-35:  According to scholars, “those who are wise” are those Jews that helped and encouraged the Jewish people during the time when Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria was severely persecuting the Jews and killing tens of thousands of them in the process.

人的幫助與上帝的主權

箴言29:26  求王恩的人多,定人事乃在耶和華。

閱讀經文:箴言 29:26-27

26求王恩的人多,定人事乃在耶和華。27為非作歹的被義人憎嫌,行事正直的被惡人憎惡。

人的幫助與上帝的主權

「求王恩的人多,定人事乃在耶和華。」(箴言二十九:26)

上帝不是要我們拒絕別人的幫助,而是尋求人幫助,先將事交託給上帝,祂會透過別人幫助我們。有人說他只要上帝的幫助,不用人幫助。這種人無法存活,因他吃的飯是農夫種的,他喝的水是有人淨化的,他穿的衣服有人編織,他走的馬路是別人鋪的。

在這經節,上帝沒有說求王恩的人不對,而是最後的決定權在祂。上帝可以透過好的領袖,有恩典的主管,有遠見的企業家,有經驗的老師,有能力的執行者幫助我們,這些幫助的手,後面是上帝,如同亞拿尼亞對保羅的幫助,約瑟對兄弟的接待等。

但是,我們不要將盼望,放在幫助我們的人身上。人的幫助,有時令我們失望,有時要我們聽話,有時沒有回應,人總有限,盼望在上帝。

All Our Days Are In God’s Hands

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Daniel 11:17-33.  Let’s go!

Daniel 11:17 (NIV)
17  He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.

On verse 17:  Just as verse 17 predicts, in 195 B.C. the “king of the North” Antiochus III of Syria tries to gain additional control of Egypt by giving his daughter, Cleopatra, to the “king of the South” Ptolemy V of Egypt.  Antiochus’ real intent was that Cleopatra could spy on the Egyptian king Ptolemy and give Syria an upper hand.  However, Cleopatra refused, for she truly loved Ptolemy V.

Before It Became History, It Was Prophecy

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Daniel 11:1-16, but for completeness of thought we’ll start from Daniel 10:20.  Let’s go!

Daniel 10:20-11:1 (NIV) 
20  So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;
21  but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
1  And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

On Daniel 10:20-11:1:  Notice that the chief angel Michael helps this other angel (some scholars believe it is Gabriel) in his fight against the Prince of Persia (v21).  In turn, this angel helps Michael in his fight.  There is cooperation in the kingdom of God, even among angels.  The kingdom of God thrives on teamwork.

有所不為

箴言29:25  懼怕人的陷入網羅,唯有倚靠耶和華的必得安穩。

閱讀經文:箴言 29:23-25

23人的高傲必使他卑下,心裡謙遜的必得尊榮。24人與盜賊分贓是恨惡自己的性命,他聽見叫人發誓的聲音,卻不言語。25 懼怕人的陷入網羅,唯有倚靠耶和華的必得安穩。

23人的高傲必使他卑下,心裡謙遜的必得尊榮。

有一位電腦博士畢業後,拿著證書到處找工作,可是沒有一個公司敢聘請他,都說他資歷太高(over qualified)。後來沒辦法,他只好放下證書,用最起碼的高中學歷去找工作,終於有一間公司錄用他,讓他當程序輸入員。他很認真工作一絲不苟,不久老板就發現他和一般輸入員不同。這時他才亮出了學士的證書。老板便給他換了一個高一點的職位。

過了一段時間,老板又發現他有獨特的見,非一般大學生可比,這時他才拿出碩士證書。老板便提升他的職位。再過一段時間,老板發現他才幹出眾,此時他才亮出博士證書。老板終於明白他是一個不可多得的人才,便提升他,予以重用。