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What Does It Mean to Not Be “Overrighteous”?

2023-10-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 7:15-29. 

Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 (NIV)
15  In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
16  Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise– why destroy yourself?
17  Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool– why die before your time?
18  It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all [extremes].

On verses 15-18:  It is difficult to know how to take these verses.  What does Solomon mean by “do not be overrighteous” and do not be “overwise” ?  If we want to give Solomon the benefit of the doubt, we could say that what Solomon means by “don’t be overrighteous” is don’t become so obsessed with piety and religion that they become idols that you worship, where your focus is now so much on yourself and your religious performance that you lose sight of the bigger picture, the point of faith, which is to love God and love people. 

神的主權

2023-10-13 in , /by

但以理書  1:1a  主將猶大王約雅敬，並神殿中器皿的幾份交付他手。

閱讀經文:  但以理書 1:1-2

1猶大王約雅敬在位第三年，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒來到耶路撒冷，將城圍困。 2 主將猶大王約雅敬，並神殿中器皿的幾份交付他手，他就把這器皿帶到示拿地，收入他神的廟裡，放在他神的庫中。

〈但以理書〉是我非常喜愛的一卷書，因為太喜愛了，竟有無從說起的感覺。那我們就從頭開始吧。有的人對年份非常認真，對第一節第一句話就有意見了。因為耶利米先知說到猶太人第一次被巴比倫人擄走時是約雅敬王第四年，和但以理記載的相差了一年。美國神學教授E.J.Young (Edward Joseph) 在這方面有註解，因為耶利米使用的是巴勒斯坦的記事曆，而但以理使用的是巴比倫的年曆，前者以四月為一年之始，後者以十月為一年之初，所以會有晚一年的記載。但是我相信，大部份的讀者對年數的記載像我一樣，覺得永遠搞不清楚。所以讓我們進入經文，看看究竟發生了何事，但以理是何許人也。

但以理出生在約西亞王的中興時代，那時約西亞王立圖改革，去除偶像，教導百姓歸向耶和華神。約西亞試圖去收拾他父親和祖父留下來的爛攤子。他的祖父瑪拿西是猶大最惡劣的王，雖然後期悔改，可是已經無法挽回他所造成的錯誤，讓猶大北國變成一個拜偶像的國家；連他的兒子亞們都不肯接受他父親的經驗，繼續塗炭生靈。約西亞在發現律法書之後，奮力圖強，去除偶像，教導百姓歸向耶和華。雖然大多數人陽奉陰違，包括他的五個兒子，沒有一個跟隨他的腳步，但是卻有三個年輕人成為神所重用的先知。

How Is Sorrow Better than Laughter?

2023-10-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 7:1-14.  Of all the chapters in Ecclesiastes that we have read so far, chapter 7 resembles the book of Proverbs the most in terms of its contents and how they are presented.  Here Qohelet gives many short, pithy statements, similar to Proverbs, although in some ways harder to interpret.
 
Ecclesiastes 7:1 (NIV)
1  A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
 
On verse 1:  A person’s reputation (“a good name”) is more important (“better”) than what perfume that person wears, for that person’s reputation will stick with that person longer than any perfume will.  A person’s day of death is better than their day of birth in that what people say about you when you die is even more important than what they say about you when you are born.  
 

耶和華沙瑪

2023-10-12 in , /by

以西結書 48:35b  從此以後，這城的名字必稱為『耶和華的所在』。

閱讀經文:  以西結書48:1-35

1「眾支派按名所得之地記在下面：從北頭，由希特倫往哈馬口，到大馬士革地界上的哈薩以難，北邊靠著哈馬地（各支派的地都有東西的邊界），是但的一份。 2 挨著但的地界，從東到西，是亞設的一份。 3 挨著亞設的地界，從東到西，是拿弗他利的一份。 4 挨著拿弗他利的地界，從東到西，是瑪拿西的一份。 5 挨著瑪拿西的地界，從東到西，是以法蓮的一份。 6 挨著以法蓮的地界，從東到西，是魯本的一份。 7 挨著魯本的地界，從東到西，是猶大的一份。

這是本書最後的部分，以傳信者的形式：「主耶和華如此說」(結47:13)開始，一直到48章結束，成為有力的結語。聖地的重新劃分，預表了新的恩典；新的聖民必在此地安居，新的出埃及將遠比首次出埃及更有榮光，分地的安排就更有意義了。讀以賽亞四十章，就會予人這樣的印象。

本章最後一節「城四圍共一萬八千肘，從此以後，這城的名字必稱為耶和華的所在。」(V. 35)，「所在」與「名字」二詞的字根相同。這是聖城，應有新的名字，必稱為耶和華的所在，因為耶和華的榮耀已經回來，住在其中。耶和華的聖名，就是這城的名字。神的子民都可到聖殿來朝見神，神必永遠與他們同在。這是何等的美、何等的善。

聖殿的水流

2023-10-11 in , /by

以西結書 47:1  祂帶我回到殿門，見殿的門檻下有水往東流出（原來殿面朝東）。這水從檻下，由殿的右邊，在祭壇的南邊往下流。

閱讀經文:  以西結書47:1-23

1他帶我回到殿門，見殿的門檻下有水往東流出（原來殿面朝東）。這水從檻下，由殿的右邊，在祭壇的南邊往下流。 2 他帶我出北門，又領我從外邊轉到朝東的外門，見水從右邊流出。3 他手拿準繩往東出去的時候，量了一千肘，使我趟過水，水到踝子骨。 4 他又量了一千肘，使我趟過水，水就到膝。再量了一千肘，使我趟過水，水便到腰。 5 又量了一千肘，水便成了河，使我不能趟過，因為水勢漲起，成為可洑的水，不可趟的河。

本章中1-12節引入一個新的境界，生命的水流由聖殿流出，象徵神的福分，是以色列信仰的觀念。詩篇46:4節說：「有一道河，這河的分汊，使神的城歡喜。這城就是至高者居住的聖所。」以西結在此處強調以色列民族的復興，是樂園失而復得了。對於被擄的百姓來說，是他們夢寐以求的盼望。

歸納而言，聖殿在度量中似乎極為獨特，不容人們接近。但是聖所有水流出，表明神仍然願意給予人無限的福分，帶來生命與醫治的大能，使一切都能變化與更新；死海可謂巴勒斯坦地理環境中最危害的因素，卻因神的大能而使海水變為甘甜，萬物得以滋長繁茂，這是神何等的救贖與恩典。

The Questions Only Jesus Is Qualified To Answer

2023-10-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 6:1-12.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, known as the “Teacher” and the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as King Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon. 

Ecclesiastes 6:1-6 (NIV)
1  I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men:
2  God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.
3  A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4  It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.
5  Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man–
6  even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
 
On verses 1-6:  Here once again Qohelet speaks about how meaningless and sad it is when a person has wealth but is not able to enjoy it.  Likewise, God has given you wealth in many different ways, whether you’re aware of it or not.  The question is: do you realize how wealthy you are and do you actually enjoy your wealth? A life well-lived is one where you take stock of the wealth God has given you, use it for God’s purposes, and are able to enjoy life yourself. 

每早晨預備

2023-10-10 in , /by

以西結書 46:13  每日你要預備無殘疾、一歲的羊羔一隻，獻於耶和華為燔祭，要每早晨預備。

閱讀經文:  以西結書46:1-25

1『你們拈鬮分地為業，要獻上一份給耶和華為聖供地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。這份以內，四圍都為聖地。 2 其中有作為聖所之地，長五百肘，寬五百肘，四面見方。四圍再有五十肘，為郊野之地。 3 要以肘為度量地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。其中有聖所，是至聖的。 4 這是全地的一份聖地，要歸於供聖所職事的祭司，就是親近侍奉耶和華的，作為他們房屋之地與聖所之聖地。 5 又有一份，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘，要歸於在殿中供職的利未人，作為二十間房屋之業。

本章分別對於敬拜的禮儀與君王的產業繼承，以及祭司廚房設置作規範。13-15節分別都提到「每早晨預備」一詞，可見這是很重要的短句。聖殿的早祭是十分被看重的。祭司在黎明時吹角，宣佈早晨的來臨。耶路撒冷合城的人都應該儆醒預備，因為這是獻早祭的時候。在被擄之前，這常獻的祭是每日必作的。此處似乎只集中在早祭，晚祭並沒有提到。

月朔是每月的，安息日是每週的，而早祭是每日的，在這時段時間上，王與人民必須時時警覺耶和華的同在，並應虔心的敬拜。

Enjoying Your Life Takes Skill and God’s Grace

2023-10-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 5:8-20.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, known as the “Teacher” and the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as King Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon. 

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 (NIV)
8  If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
9  The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

On verses 8-9:  Having seen it all, Qohelet presumes, both in his country and other countries, Qohelet tells his listeners not to be surprised when they see oppression and injustice, which he believes are commonplace. 

What does it mean to “let your words be few”?

2023-10-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 5:1-7.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, known as the “Teacher” and the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as King Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon. 

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 (NIV)
1  Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
2  Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
3  As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.
 
On verses 1-3:  Here Qohelet gives some advice on how to worship God in church: “go near to listen” (v1) and “do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God” (v2); rather, “let your words be few”.  Does this mean that the quieter you are in church, the more spiritual you are?  No, Qohelet’s talking about the attitude of your heart.  When you go to worship God, go with a humble heart that’s eager to listen and learn, rather than to boast about yourself or make promises you can’t keep. 

公義君王的規範

2023-10-09 in , /by

以西結書  45:9b  以色列的王啊，你們應當知足，要除掉強暴和搶奪的事，施行公平和公義，不再勒索我的民。

閱讀經文:  以西結書45:1-25

1『你們拈鬮分地為業，要獻上一份給耶和華為聖供地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。這份以內，四圍都為聖地。 2 其中有作為聖所之地，長五百肘，寬五百肘，四面見方。四圍再有五十肘，為郊野之地。 3 要以肘為度量地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。其中有聖所，是至聖的。 4 這是全地的一份聖地，要歸於供聖所職事的祭司，就是親近侍奉耶和華的，作為他們房屋之地與聖所之聖地。 5 又有一份，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘，要歸於在殿中供職的利未人，作為二十間房屋之業。

在先知以西結預言即將結束的45-48章中，解釋了王國時期以色列土地的劃分原則。部分歸給神，部分歸給君王，部分歸給十二支派所屬。最早分配應許之地是在征服迦南地的時候，當時由約書亞和大祭司以利撒，還有十二支派的首領們一起在神面前拈鬮決定分地(民34:16-29; 書13-22)。到了所羅門王朝時期，他將以色列全地分成十二個分封地，每個分封地必須負責王家一個月的生活開支(王上4:7-19)。但是這些領土的界線並沒有改變。