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天平里的亏欠

2023-10-23 in , /by

但以理书  5:22  伯沙撒啊，你是他的儿子，你虽知道这一切，你心仍不自卑。

阅读经文:  但以理书 5:1-30

1伯沙撒王为他的一千大臣设摆盛筵，与这一千人对面饮酒。 2 伯沙撒欢饮之间，吩咐人将他父尼布甲尼撒从耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金银器皿拿来，王与大臣、皇后、妃嫔好用这器皿饮酒。 3 于是他们把耶路撒冷神殿库房中所掠的金器皿拿来，王和大臣、皇后、妃嫔就用这器皿饮酒。 4 他们饮酒，赞美金、银、铜、铁、木、石所造的神。

5 当时，忽有人的指头显出，在王宫与灯台相对的粉墙上写字。王看见写字的指头， 6 就变了脸色，心意惊惶，腰骨好像脱节，双膝彼此相碰， 7 大声吩咐将用法术的和迦勒底人并观兆的领进来，对巴比伦的哲士说：「谁能读这文字，把讲解告诉我，他必身穿紫袍，项戴金链，在我国中位列第三。」 8 于是王的一切哲士都进来，却不能读那文字，也不能把讲解告诉王。 9 伯沙撒王就甚惊惶，脸色改变，他的大臣也都惊奇。

时间在我们眼前像飞一样地过去，没想到，伟大的巴比伦就这样地消失了。人世间有什么权势不成为过去呢？在前一章里，我们看到当神要得着一个人时，祂会用很多的方法去找他；假如那人还是自高自大，不肯降服，会有怎样的后果？

主前605年（约雅敬王第三年）尼布甲尼撒洗劫耶路撒冷，当时约15岁的但以理和朋友被掳。43年一转眼就过去了，尼布甲尼撒王垂垂老矣，主前562年撒手西归。那时但以理也将近60岁了。尼王过世后，由儿子以未米罗达继位，以未米罗达将犹大王约雅斤放出巴比伦牢狱，并在他余年善待他和他的儿子们。他掌权两年后，被尼王的女婿尼甲沙利薛Neriglissar(即Nergal-Sharezer)暗杀，此人曾将耶利米从牢狱中放出来（耶39:3/13）。后由拿波尼度Nabonidus窜位。

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.

尼布甲尼撒的见证

2023-10-22 in , /by

但以理书４:2  我乐意将至高的神向我所行的神蹟奇事宣扬出来。

阅读经文:  但以理书 4:1-37

1尼布甲尼撒王晓谕住在全地各方、各国、各族的人说：愿你们大享平安！ 2 我乐意将至高的神向我所行的神蹟奇事宣扬出来。 3 他的神蹟何其大，他的奇事何其盛！他的国是永远的，他的权柄存到万代！4 我尼布甲尼撒安居在宫中，平顺在殿内。 5 我做了一梦，使我惧怕，我在床上的思念并脑中的异象使我惊惶。 6 所以我降旨召巴比伦的一切哲士到我面前，叫他们把梦的讲解告诉我。 7 于是那些术士、用法术的、迦勒底人、观兆的都进来，我将那梦告诉了他们，他们却不能把梦的讲解告诉我。

当神想要得着一个人时，真是费尽心血，绞尽脑汁。当你阅读许多人的得救见证时，你会发现他们都很早就知道神在感动或是呼召他了，或是从他很小时就从各方面帮助他，使他免于灾难。当人把这些蒙福得救的事称之为幸运时，太多的幸运就会让人思考，凭什么，你会如此幸运？为什么有那么多因素放在一起，使你变得很幸运？其实，是有一位神，祂在眷顾，祂在呼唤，祂来找你了。

神用了三次大事来敲醒尼布甲尼撒王，因为他太骄傲了。你不要以为要像他那样有大成就的人才会那么骄傲。事实上，在每一个不信主的人心中，都骄傲非常；甚至在已经信主的人心中，若不是经常把神的话语放在心里去实践，他们原有的骄傲也会重新占据他们的心灵。人的骄傲都会不知不觉从言语行为中泄露出来。当我们说：这是我的权利，这不是我的错，我没办法道歉……等等，你会发现那隐藏的骄傲露馅了。而人最大的骄傲便是拒绝神，拒绝承认神的存在或主权。

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

但以理书 3:15c  有何神能救你们脱离我手呢？

阅读经文:  但以理书 3:1-15

1尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像，高六十肘，宽六肘，立在巴比伦省杜拉平原。 2 尼布甲尼撒王差人将总督、钦差、巡抚、臬司、藩司、谋士、法官和各省的官员都召了来，为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼。 3 于是总督、钦差、巡抚、臬司、藩司、谋士、法官和各省的官员都聚集了来，要为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼，就站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前。 4 那时传令的大声呼叫说：「各方、各国、各族的人哪，有令传于你们： 5 你们一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙和各样乐器的声音，就当俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。 6 凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立时扔在烈火的窑中。」 7 因此各方、各国、各族的人民一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟和各样乐器的声音，就都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。

继尼布甲尼撒称颂但以理的神之后，人的健忘在这章里表现无遗。他曾对但以理说：“你们的神诚然是万神之神，万王之主”，却不代表他“相信”或是愿意敬拜，以耶和华为他的神。就好像有许多人觉得基督教不错，信教的人都很好（表面上看来），但不表示他们就因而愿意相信耶稣。因为他们的心里觉得自己有的，还是比较好。

根据七十士译本圣经(The Septuagint)，这事发生在尼王的第十八年，也就是他攻下耶路撒冷，焚烧圣城，毁灭犹大北国的那年。他虽然赞美但以理所敬拜的神，但是作为战胜国的王而言，心里的骄傲不言而喻。可想而知，当他回想起但以理对梦的解释时，心里必然不是滋味。

在火窑之前的决定

2023-10-19 in , /by

但以理书 3:15c  有何神能救你们脱离我手呢？

阅读经文:  但以理书 3:1-15

1尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像，高六十肘，宽六肘，立在巴比伦省杜拉平原。 2 尼布甲尼撒王差人将总督、钦差、巡抚、臬司、藩司、谋士、法官和各省的官员都召了来，为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼。 3 于是总督、钦差、巡抚、臬司、藩司、谋士、法官和各省的官员都聚集了来，要为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼，就站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前。 4 那时传令的大声呼叫说：「各方、各国、各族的人哪，有令传于你们： 5 你们一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙和各样乐器的声音，就当俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。 6 凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立时扔在烈火的窑中。」 7 因此各方、各国、各族的人民一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟和各样乐器的声音，就都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。

继尼布甲尼撒称颂但以理的神之后，人的健忘在这章里表现无遗。他曾对但以理说：“你们的神诚然是万神之神，万王之主”，却不代表他“相信”或是愿意敬拜，以耶和华为他的神。就好像有许多人觉得基督教不错，信教的人都很好（表面上看来），但不表示他们就因而愿意相信耶稣。因为他们的心里觉得自己有的，还是比较好。

根据七十士译本圣经(The Septuagint)，这事发生在尼王的第十八年，也就是他攻下耶路撒冷，焚烧圣城，毁灭犹大北国的那年。他虽然赞美但以理所敬拜的神，但是作为战胜国的王而言，心里的骄傲不言而喻。可想而知，当他回想起但以理对梦的解释时，心里必然不是滋味。

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.   

但以理为王解梦

2023-10-18 in , /by

但以理书  2:44  当那列王在位的时候，天上的神必另立一国，永不败坏，也不归别国的人，却要打碎灭绝那一切国，这国必存到永远。

阅读经文:  但以理书 2:31-49

31 「王啊，你梦见一个大像，这像甚高，极其光耀，站在你面前，形状甚是可怕。 32 这像的头是精金的，胸膛和膀臂是银的，肚腹和腰是铜的， 33 腿是铁的，脚是半铁半泥的。 34 你观看，见有一块非人手凿出来的石头打在这像半铁半泥的脚上，把脚砸碎。 35 于是金、银、铜、铁、泥都一同砸得粉碎，成如夏天禾场上的糠秕，被风吹散，无处可寻。打碎这像的石头变成一座大山，充满天下。

对尼布甲尼撒而言，他也知道自己的要求甚为无理，谁能把他人忘记的梦解说出来呢？那就好像迦勒底人说的，只有不与人居住的神明才有办法知道他做了什么梦。但是现在这个犹大来的年轻人站在他面前，坚定而有把握地说：「只有一位在天上的神能显明奥祕的事，祂已将日后必有的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。」他没想到真的有一位神要他显明日后必有的事，换了是你，能不心情澎湃，万分激动吗？等但以理一说，他的记忆也回来了，印证之下，才会有俯伏在地，向但以理下拜的举动。