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天平裡的虧欠

2023-10-23 in , /by

但以理書  5:22  伯沙撒啊，你是他的兒子，你雖知道這一切，你心仍不自卑。

閱讀經文:  但以理書 5:1-30

1伯沙撒王為他的一千大臣設擺盛筵，與這一千人對面飲酒。 2 伯沙撒歡飲之間，吩咐人將他父尼布甲尼撒從耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金銀器皿拿來，王與大臣、皇后、妃嬪好用這器皿飲酒。 3 於是他們把耶路撒冷神殿庫房中所掠的金器皿拿來，王和大臣、皇后、妃嬪就用這器皿飲酒。 4 他們飲酒，讚美金、銀、銅、鐵、木、石所造的神。

5 當時，忽有人的指頭顯出，在王宮與燈臺相對的粉牆上寫字。王看見寫字的指頭， 6 就變了臉色，心意驚惶，腰骨好像脫節，雙膝彼此相碰， 7 大聲吩咐將用法術的和迦勒底人並觀兆的領進來，對巴比倫的哲士說：「誰能讀這文字，把講解告訴我，他必身穿紫袍，項戴金鏈，在我國中位列第三。」 8 於是王的一切哲士都進來，卻不能讀那文字，也不能把講解告訴王。 9 伯沙撒王就甚驚惶，臉色改變，他的大臣也都驚奇。

時間在我們眼前像飛一樣地過去，沒想到，偉大的巴比倫就這樣地消失了。人世間有什麼權勢不成為過去呢？在前一章裡，我們看到當神要得著一個人時，祂會用很多的方法去找他；假如那人還是自高自大，不肯降服，會有怎樣的後果？

主前605年（約雅敬王第三年）尼布甲尼撒洗劫耶路撒冷，當時約15歲的但以理和朋友被擄。43年一轉眼就過去了，尼布甲尼撒王垂垂老矣，主前562年撒手西歸。那時但以理也將近60歲了。尼王過世後，由兒子以未米羅達繼位，以未米羅達將猶大王約雅斤放出巴比倫牢獄，並在他餘年善待他和他的兒子們。他掌權兩年後，被尼王的女婿尼甲沙利薛Neriglissar(即Nergal-Sharezer)暗殺，此人曾將耶利米從牢獄中放出來（耶39:3/13）。後由拿波尼度Nabonidus竄位。

Enjoying Your Youth

2023-10-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 11:7-10.  Let’s go!

Ecclesiastes 11:7-9 (NIV)
7  Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8  However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.
9  Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
 
On verses 7-9:  Qohelet tells his readers to enjoy all their days while they’re still able to see and enjoy the sweetness of the sun (v7), but also to remember that there will be days of darkness (v8).  He tells them to follow their heart, while at the same remembering that God will hold us all accountable for how we lived (v9).  So it’s an enjoyment of life, together with reflection and fear of God, that Qohelet advocates.

Don’t Worry About What’s Out Of Your Control

2023-10-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 11:1-6.  Let’s go!

Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NIV)
1  Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
 
On verse 1:  To paraphrase, be generous with what you have.  Don’t hoard what you have, but invest it.  For whatever you give to God, you will somehow get back again one day.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 (NIV)
2  Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
 
On verse 2:  To paraphrase, diversify your investment.  As a leader it’s important to know what you’re good at and stay in your lane.  At the same time, however, don’t be afraid to diversify, to try new things, for you never know what might succeed.

尼布甲尼撒的見證

2023-10-22 in , /by

但以理書４:2  我樂意將至高的神向我所行的神蹟奇事宣揚出來。

閱讀經文:  但以理書 4:1-37

1尼布甲尼撒王曉諭住在全地各方、各國、各族的人說：願你們大享平安！ 2 我樂意將至高的神向我所行的神蹟奇事宣揚出來。 3 他的神蹟何其大，他的奇事何其盛！他的國是永遠的，他的權柄存到萬代！4 我尼布甲尼撒安居在宮中，平順在殿內。 5 我做了一夢，使我懼怕，我在床上的思念並腦中的異象使我驚惶。 6 所以我降旨召巴比倫的一切哲士到我面前，叫他們把夢的講解告訴我。 7 於是那些術士、用法術的、迦勒底人、觀兆的都進來，我將那夢告訴了他們，他們卻不能把夢的講解告訴我。

當神想要得著一個人時，真是費盡心血，絞盡腦汁。當你閱讀許多人的得救見證時，你會發現他們都很早就知道神在感動或是呼召他了，或是從他很小時就從各方面幫助他，使他免於災難。當人把這些蒙福得救的事稱之為幸運時，太多的幸運就會讓人思考，憑什麼，你會如此幸運？為什麼有那麼多因素放在一起，使你變得很幸運？其實，是有一位神，祂在眷顧，祂在呼喚，祂來找你了。

神用了三次大事來敲醒尼布甲尼撒王，因為他太驕傲了。你不要以為要像他那樣有大成就的人才會那麼驕傲。事實上，在每一個不信主的人心中，都驕傲非常；甚至在已經信主的人心中，若不是經常把神的話語放在心裡去實踐，他們原有的驕傲也會重新佔據他們的心靈。人的驕傲都會不知不覺從言語行為中洩露出來。當我們說：這是我的權利，這不是我的錯，我沒辦法道歉……等等，你會發現那隱藏的驕傲露餡了。而人最大的驕傲便是拒絕神，拒絕承認神的存在或主權。

You’ll Gain Nothing If You Snap Too Early

2023-10-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 10:11-20.  Let’s go!

Ecclesiastes 10:11 (NIV)
11  If a snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

On verse 12: In other words, control your temper.  Save your bite for the right time.  Otherwise, you’ll gain nothing and in fact lose out by snapping too early.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 (NIV)
12  Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
 
On verse 12: In other words, wise people use their words in other-centered ways, in ways that bless and encourage others, whereas foolish people can’t stop talking about themselves.

Ecclesiastes 10:13-14 (NIV)
13  At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness–
14  and the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming– who can tell him what will happen after him?
 
On verse 13-14: The more you listen to a fool, the worse it gets, from a little bit of folly to a lot of madness (v13) that you can’t predict or make sense of (v14). 

即便如此 / 即或不然

2023-10-20 in , /by

但以理書 3:15c  有何神能救你們脫離我手呢？

閱讀經文:  但以理書 3:1-15

1尼布甲尼撒王造了一個金像，高六十肘，寬六肘，立在巴比倫省杜拉平原。 2 尼布甲尼撒王差人將總督、欽差、巡撫、臬司、藩司、謀士、法官和各省的官員都召了來，為尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行開光之禮。 3 於是總督、欽差、巡撫、臬司、藩司、謀士、法官和各省的官員都聚集了來，要為尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行開光之禮，就站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前。 4 那時傳令的大聲呼叫說：「各方、各國、各族的人哪，有令傳於你們： 5 你們一聽見角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙和各樣樂器的聲音，就當俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。 6 凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立時扔在烈火的窯中。」 7 因此各方、各國、各族的人民一聽見角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟和各樣樂器的聲音，就都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。

繼尼布甲尼撒稱頌但以理的神之後，人的健忘在這章裡表現無遺。他曾對但以理說：“你們的神誠然是萬神之神，萬王之主”，卻不代表他“相信”或是願意敬拜，以耶和華為他的神。就好像有許多人覺得基督教不錯，信教的人都很好（表面上看來），但不表示他們就因而願意相信耶穌。因為他們的心裡覺得自己有的，還是比較好。

根據七十士譯本聖經(The Septuagint)，這事發生在尼王的第十八年，也就是他攻下耶路撒冷，焚燒聖城，毀滅猶大北國的那年。他雖然讚美但以理所敬拜的神，但是作為戰勝國的王而言，心裡的驕傲不言而喻。可想而知，當他回想起但以理對夢的解釋時，心裡必然不是滋味。

在火窯之前的决定

2023-10-19 in , /by

但以理書 3:15c  有何神能救你們脫離我手呢？

閱讀經文:  但以理書 3:1-15

1尼布甲尼撒王造了一個金像，高六十肘，寬六肘，立在巴比倫省杜拉平原。 2 尼布甲尼撒王差人將總督、欽差、巡撫、臬司、藩司、謀士、法官和各省的官員都召了來，為尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行開光之禮。 3 於是總督、欽差、巡撫、臬司、藩司、謀士、法官和各省的官員都聚集了來，要為尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行開光之禮，就站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前。 4 那時傳令的大聲呼叫說：「各方、各國、各族的人哪，有令傳於你們： 5 你們一聽見角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙和各樣樂器的聲音，就當俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。 6 凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立時扔在烈火的窯中。」 7 因此各方、各國、各族的人民一聽見角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟和各樣樂器的聲音，就都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。

繼尼布甲尼撒稱頌但以理的神之後，人的健忘在這章裡表現無遺。他曾對但以理說：“你們的神誠然是萬神之神，萬王之主”，卻不代表他“相信”或是願意敬拜，以耶和華為他的神。就好像有許多人覺得基督教不錯，信教的人都很好（表面上看來），但不表示他們就因而願意相信耶穌。因為他們的心裡覺得自己有的，還是比較好。

根據七十士譯本聖經(The Septuagint)，這事發生在尼王的第十八年，也就是他攻下耶路撒冷，焚燒聖城，毀滅猶大北國的那年。他雖然讚美但以理所敬拜的神，但是作為戰勝國的王而言，心裡的驕傲不言而喻。可想而知，當他回想起但以理對夢的解釋時，心裡必然不是滋味。

You’re a Child at God’s Right Hand

2023-10-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

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

Ecclesiastes 10:1 (NIV)
1  As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
 
On verse 1:  A bottle of perfume can outweigh a dead fly in terms of size and surface area, yet that dead fly can compromise the usefulness of that perfume.  Likewise, a person can have a lot of wisdom and honour, but a little folly can be their undoing.   

Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)
2  The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
 
On verse 2:  This is not a reference to the politically right and the politically left, or the socially right and the socially left.  Rather, in the Bible the right hand was seen as a place of favour, honour and strength.  That is why Jesus is said to sit at the Father’s right hand (Acts 2:33; Psalm 110:1).  The Psalmist prays that God would save them by His right hand (Psalm 60:5).  So verse 1 is saying that the heart of the wise tends to live where the best of God’s favour, honour and protection reside, whereas fools tend to get the “left overs”.
 

Don’t Forget What He Did

2023-10-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 9:13-18.  Let’s go!

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 (NIV)
13  I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:
14  There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it.
15  Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
16  So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
17  The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
18  Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
 
On verses 13-18:  Qohelet recounts this story of how a poor wise man saved his small town from a powerful king’s invasion.  The lesson here for us is:  Wisdom can beat brute strength.  Likewise, when we were being attacked by a more powerful enemy, in His wisdom Jesus became poor, lived among us in our town, and by His wisdom saved us.  The gospel is the story of how Jesus, the wisdom of God, beat Satan’s brute strength.   

但以理為王解夢

2023-10-18 in , /by

但以理書  2:44  當那列王在位的時候，天上的神必另立一國，永不敗壞，也不歸別國的人，卻要打碎滅絕那一切國，這國必存到永遠。

閱讀經文:  但以理書 2:31-49

31 「王啊，你夢見一個大像，這像甚高，極其光耀，站在你面前，形狀甚是可怕。 32 這像的頭是精金的，胸膛和膀臂是銀的，肚腹和腰是銅的， 33 腿是鐵的，腳是半鐵半泥的。 34 你觀看，見有一塊非人手鑿出來的石頭打在這像半鐵半泥的腳上，把腳砸碎。 35 於是金、銀、銅、鐵、泥都一同砸得粉碎，成如夏天禾場上的糠秕，被風吹散，無處可尋。打碎這像的石頭變成一座大山，充滿天下。

對尼布甲尼撒而言，他也知道自己的要求甚為無理，誰能把他人忘記的夢解說出來呢？那就好像迦勒底人說的，只有不與人居住的神明才有辦法知道他做了什麼夢。但是現在這個猶大來的年輕人站在他面前，堅定而有把握地說：「只有一位在天上的神能顯明奧祕的事，祂已將日後必有的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。」他沒想到真的有一位神要他顯明日後必有的事，換了是你，能不心情澎湃，萬分激動嗎？等但以理一說，他的記憶也回來了，印證之下，才會有俯伏在地，向但以理下拜的舉動。