Stand Up To Evil and Justice

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 9:1-15.  Let’s go!

Judges 9:1-15 (NIV)
1  Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan,
2  “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
3  When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
4  They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers.

On verses 1-15:  Here Abimelech, one of Gideon’s sons, attempts to become ruler over the city of Shechem by murdering his brothers and gathering around himself a crowd whose loyalty he could buy.  The one other son of Gideon who survived is Jotham, and Jotham decides to stand up to Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem just as Abimelech is about to be crowned their ruler.  Jotham’s speech in verses 7-15 is a parable communicating that those who are truly worthy to rule are too busy doing worthwhile work while Abimelech is the last person who should be ruling based on his character.  He compares Abimelech to a thornbush that is impossibly trying to cast a shade over the rest of the bigger trees around it.

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誰是真神？

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耶利米書 51:15   耶和華用能力創造大地，用智慧建立世界，用聰明鋪張穹蒼。

閱讀經文:  51:1-19

1耶和華如此說：「我必使毀滅的風颳起，攻擊巴比倫和住在立加米的人。 2 我要打發外邦人來到巴比倫，簸揚她，使她的地空虛，在她遭禍的日子他們要周圍攻擊她。 3 拉弓的要向拉弓的和貫甲挺身的射箭，不要憐惜她的少年人，要滅盡她的全軍。 4 他們必在迦勒底人之地被殺仆倒，在巴比倫的街上被刺透。」

第50/51章看起來是繼續論到巴比倫的滅亡，但是從經文裡，卻更可以看到神的性情。神的公義，神的慈愛，以及神的能力。更重要的是，為何祂是獨一的真神。在聖經裡，神曾經向假神們挑戰。耶和華對假神說：“你們要呈上你們的案件。雅各的君說：你們要聲明你們確實的理由。 可以聲明，指示我們將來必遇的事，說明先前的是什麼事，好叫我們思索，得知事的結局，或者把將來的事指示我們。 要說明後來的事，好叫我們知道你們是神。你們或降福或降禍，使我們驚奇，一同觀看。（賽41:21-23）”唯有真神，走在歷史之前，因為只有祂知道將來的事。

這就是真神和假神的分別。假神和偶像由邪靈操縱，它們會展現一下超能力，或許也讓你嚐一下名利富貴的甜頭，但它們的目的是要引誘人離開正路，讓人的一生成為它的傀儡。說句不好聽的話，就是讓人永不得超生。因為假神沒有賦予人生命的權柄和能力，跟著它走，一生就走向滅亡了。就像巴比倫的命運一樣，有一時的輝煌，卻遭到永遠的滅亡。

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耶穌做我們的中保

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耶利米書 50:34  他們的救贖主大有能力，萬軍之耶和華是祂的名，祂必申清他們的冤，好使全地得平安，並攪擾巴比倫的居民。

閱讀經文:  50:33-46

33 萬軍之耶和華如此說：「以色列人和猶大人一同受欺壓，凡擄掠他們的都緊緊抓住他們，不肯釋放。 34 他們的救贖主大有能力，萬軍之耶和華是祂的名，祂必申清他們的冤，好使全地得平安，並攪擾巴比倫的居民。」

萬軍之耶和華如此說：“以色列人和猶大人一同受欺壓，凡擄掠他們的都緊緊抓住他們，不肯釋放。”這一句形容出神的子民經歷的苦境，無法自救的絕望。下一句，神接著說：“他們的救贖主大有能力，萬軍之耶和華是祂的名，祂必申清他們的冤，好使全地得平安，並攪擾巴比倫的居民。”這下一句話，立刻把以色列人和猶大人的絕望做了個翻轉，他們的神還在，他們的神大有能力，他們的神並不只是在觀望。祂必申清他們的冤，祂必使全地得平安，祂必使祂的子民有能力去攪擾巴比倫的居民。

我們常常鼓勵人：神幫助那些肯幫助自己的人（天助自助者）。但有位牧師說，聖經裡沒有說過這樣的話，聖經說的是，神要幫助那些沒有辦法幫助自己的人。就像耶穌說的，“無病的人用不著醫生，有病的人才用得著。 我來本不是召義人悔改，乃是召罪人悔改。（路5:31）”倘若一個人覺得很健康，就不會去找醫生；倘若一個人自覺完美，就不會覺得有悔改的必要。所以倘若一個人覺得他很能幹，什麼都可以自行解決，神還幫他做什麼？他可能還覺得神礙手礙腳的。

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Worship The Creator, Not the Creation

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 8:22-35.  Let’s go!

Judges 8:22-27 (NIV)
22  The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us–you, your son and your grandson–because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”
23  But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.”
24  And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)
25  They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each man threw a ring from his plunder onto it.
26  The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks.
27  Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
 
On verses 22-27:  In response to being rescued from the Midianites, the Israelites offer to make Gideon and his descendants their ruler (v22).  Gideon refuses the offer, saying that it is the LORD who will rule over them (v23).  Notice that in verse 22 the Israelites do not credit God as having anything to do with their rescue.  Their focus rather is man-centered.  This shows our sinful tendency as people to want to worship and focus on created things over and above the Creator.  This tendency to worship created things over the Creator is highlighted even more in the verses that follow: Gideon asks the Israelites for gold, makes an ephod with the gold, and the Israelites worship it. 

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追念與堅定所立之約

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以西結書 16:5 然而我要追念在你幼年時與你所立的約，也要與你立定永約。

閱讀經文:  今天因為經文很長，請大家自行上網取讀。 以西結書 16章

當你完整章後，對於其中所用的字彙是否覺得很不習慣？因為神把整件事描繪得很“露骨”。我們習慣了包裝、修飾過的形容，盡量讓我們的文字顯得高雅，但是這裡的文字顯露的是一片污俗不堪的情景，就是神的愛和人的悖逆和庸俗。從神的眼光來看以色列人的光景，原來人是如此忘恩負義，不知羞恥，醜陋不堪；也因而當我讀到神還要追念並堅定和以色列人所立的永約時，我的心深受感動。

那是人的本相，不只是以色列人。全世界的人都虧欠了神的榮耀。神把祂的榮耀給了人類，沒有給其他動物；但是有許多人活得比禽獸不如。不僅不記念神的恩典，荒淫無度，放縱自己，彼此欺凌，漠視神所訂的規律，還美其名為人權。

神知道在我們當中所行的那些可恥的事，神知道我們不喜歡跟隨祂的公義度日。神知道人不可愛，但是祂還要愛。神知道人悖逆，但祂還要守約。不僅追念，還要堅定。“我要堅定與你所立的約，你就知道我是耶和華”。這句話倒過來說就是：你們不知道我是耶和華，所以我要繼續堅定與你所立的約，你才會知道我是信實的神。然後呢？神希望我們被祂的信實所吸引。因為這世上多的是背約不守信之人，但是神要讓人看到希望，有一個信實的神，以永遠不變的愛愛我們。所以無論我們落在怎樣的景況裡，都可以回轉歸向祂。

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論巴比倫之二

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耶利米書 50:19  我必再領以色列回他的草場，他必在迦密和巴珊吃草，又在以法蓮山上和基列境內得以飽足。

閱讀經文:  50:17-32

17 「以色列是打散的羊，是被獅子趕出的，首先是亞述王將他吞滅，末後是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒將他的骨頭折斷。」 18 所以萬軍之耶和華以色列的神如此說：「我必罰巴比倫王和他的地，像我從前罰亞述王一樣。 19 我必再領以色列回他的草場，他必在迦密和巴珊吃草，又在以法蓮山上和基列境內得以飽足。」 20 耶和華說：「當那日子，那時候，雖尋以色列的罪孽，一無所有；雖尋猶大的罪惡，也無所見。因為我所留下的人，我必赦免。」

神對祂子民的愛，包含了萬分的痛。有的人說，為何神要將生命樹放在伊甸園裡？為何神要給人有自由選擇的意志？那不是自找麻煩嗎？我相信，在每一個為人父母的過程裡，都會經歷這種愛的痛苦。為了愛，不得不給兒女學習選擇，不得不讓兒女犯錯，否則孩子從何學習，如何成長？多數華人父母愛孩子太全面，以致孩子長不大，總是倚靠父母，這也是父母的另一種痛。有愛，就會有痛；因為愛，所以痛，不可能沒有感覺。

當神說，“以色列是打散的羊”時，這是一句很心痛的話。因為那是神的羊。你看別人的孩子迷路，你不會緊張到心痛，但是自己的孩子失蹤的話，父母就會抓狂。因為羊被打散時，就流離失所，會遇見各樣的危險，很有可能被撕裂吞食。以色列被誰打敟？是被獅子趕出去了，耶利米以獅子比喻亞述和巴比倫，先被吞滅，後又將骨折斷，使她再也爬不起來。神的心何等沉痛。有哪個父母看到自己的孩子被欺負會不心痛，總要向前搶救，但是神為了公義，為了教導子叫離開惡道，祂只能看著他們受苦。真的很苦。

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追念與堅定所立之約

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以西結書 16:5 然而我要追念在你幼年時與你所立的約，也要與你立定永約。

閱讀經文: 今天因為經文很長，請大家自行上網取讀。以西結書16章

當你完整章後，對於其中所用的字彙是否覺得很不習慣？因為神把整件事描繪得很“露骨”。我們習慣了包裝、修飾過的形容，盡量讓我們的文字顯得高雅，但是這裡的文字顯露的是一片污俗不堪的情景，就是神的愛和人的悖逆和庸俗。從神的眼光來看以色列人的光景，原來人是如此忘恩負義，不知羞恥，醜陋不堪；也因而當我讀到神還要追念並堅定和以色列人所立的永約時，我的心深受感動。

那是人的本相，不只是以色列人。全世界的人都虧欠了神的榮耀。神把祂的榮耀給了人類，沒有給其他動物；但是有許多人活得比禽獸不如。不僅不記念神的恩典，荒淫無度，放縱自己，彼此欺凌，漠視神所訂的規律，還美其名為人權。

神知道在我們當中所行的那些可恥的事，神知道我們不喜歡跟隨祂的公義度日。神知道人不可愛，但是祂還要愛。神知道人悖逆，但祂還要守約。不僅追念，還要堅定。“我要堅定與你所立的約，你就知道我是耶和華”。這句話倒過來說就是：你們不知道我是耶和華，所以我要繼續堅定與你所立的約，你才會知道我是信實的神。然後呢？神希望我們被祂的信實所吸引。因為這世上多的是背約不守信之人，但是神要讓人看到希望，有一個信實的神，以永遠不變的愛愛我們。所以無論我們落在怎樣的景況裡，都可以回轉歸向祂。

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When the Mission Gets Personal

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 8:13-21.  Let’s go!

Judges 8:13-17 (NIV)
13  Gideon son of Joash then returned from the battle by the Pass of Heres.
14  He caught a young man of Succoth and questioned him, and the young man wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven officials of Succoth, the elders of the town.
15  Then Gideon came and said to the men of Succoth, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me by saying, ‘Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your exhausted men?'”
16  He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Succoth a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers.
17  He also pulled down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the town.
 
On verses 13-17:  After capturing the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna, Gideon finds out the names of the 77 officials in the Israelite town of Succoth who earlier rejected his request for food for his troops (Judges 8:4-6).  In keeping with his promise (Judges 8:7), Gideon punishes the elders of Succoth with desert thorns and briers.  Also, just as he promised, Gideon pulls down the tower of Peniel, the other Israelite town that earlier had rejected him and his troops (Judges 8:8). 

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論巴比倫之一

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耶利米書  50:5b  來吧，你們要與耶和華聯合，為永遠不忘的約。

閱讀經文:  50:1-14

1耶和華藉先知耶利米論巴比倫和迦勒底人之地所說的話。2 「你們要在萬國中傳揚報告，豎立大旗，要報告，不可隱瞞，說：『巴比倫被攻取，彼勒蒙羞，米羅達驚惶。巴比倫的神像都蒙羞，她的偶像都驚惶。』 3 因有一國從北方上來攻擊她，使她的地荒涼，無人居住，連人帶牲畜都逃走了。」

讀舊約的先知書，有時令人覺得很吃力。因為講的都是歷史，不管當時的預言如何驚人，對我們而言都是陳年往事。因此讀先知書需要有更多的耐力。因為讀好書的收穫就是這樣來的，當我們靜心把一段經文讀完時，聖靈就會開導我們。讓我們能夠從中汲取滋潤心扉的營養。假如你期待靈修的時間好像吃速食麵，那麼你可能看了一大堆文字，卻吸收不到什麼營養。所以讓我們靜心地來看第五十章，神怎樣論巴比倫。它一共分為三段，一段比一段精采。今天讀的是第一部份。

在巴比倫不可一世，傲視群雄，所向披靡時，耶利米勇敢地對巴比倫做了如下的預言：“巴比倫被攻取，彼勒蒙羞，米羅達驚惶。巴比倫的神像都蒙羞，她的偶像都驚惶。”彼勒Bel，意思是物主或主人。彼勒是巴比倫人敬拜的神，被推崇為巴比倫諸神之首。另一個巴比倫的主神是馬爾杜克，希伯來語是米羅達Merodach。巴比倫的兩個王，米羅達巴拉但（賽39:1）和以未米羅達（王下25:27），顯然都是用米羅達為名。隨着巴比倫城在政治上崛起，米羅達神就開始倍受推崇。據説巴比倫的祭司甚至把原來的神話改編，説米羅達殺死女神蒂阿瑪特，用她的身體來創造天地，再用另一位神的血造了人類來事奉眾神。

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Gentleness Can Turn Away Wrath

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 8:1-12.  For context, we’ll start at Judges 7:22.  Let’s go!

Judges 7:22-25 (NIV)
22…The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
23  Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.
24  Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.
25  They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.

On 7:22b-8:3:  Having routed the Midianites, Gideon calls on different tribes – Naphtali, Asher and Manasseh (7:23) to pursue the fleeing Midianites.  Gideon also calls on the tribe of Ephraim to take possession of the Jordan River so that the Midianites cannot escape.  In addition, the tribe of Ephraim captures and kills two Midianite leaders Oreb and Zeeb (7:25).  Yet the Ephraimites were not happy with Gideon.  They criticize Gideon for leaving them out when deciding who to send to fight the Midianites at first.  Gideon responds wisely, saying that whatever he and his army had accomplished without the Ephraimites was nothing compared to what the Ephraimites were able to accomplish (v2-3).  Gideon’s gentle and self-effacing answer was enough to appease the Ephraimites.  It’s a reminder that “a gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1).  When faced with hostility, may you have the wisdom to speak gently so as to minimize trouble for yourself and others.

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