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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. 

神的主权

2023-10-13 in , /by

但以理书  1:1a  主将犹大王约雅敬，并神殿中器皿的几份交付他手。

阅读经文:  但以理书 1:1-2

1犹大王约雅敬在位第三年，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来到耶路撒冷，将城围困。 2 主将犹大王约雅敬，并神殿中器皿的几份交付他手，他就把这器皿带到示拿地，收入他神的庙里，放在他神的库中。

〈但以理书〉是我非常喜爱的一卷书，因为太喜爱了，竟有无从说起的感觉。那我们就从头开始吧。有的人对年份非常认真，对第一节第一句话就有意见了。因为耶利米先知说到犹太人第一次被巴比伦人掳走时是约雅敬王第四年，和但以理记载的相差了一年。美国神学教授E.J.Young (Edward Joseph) 在这方面有注解，因为耶利米使用的是巴勒斯坦的记事历，而但以理使用的是巴比伦的年历，前者以四月为一年之始，后者以十月为一年之初，所以会有晚一年的记载。但是我相信，大部份的读者对年数的记载像我一样，觉得永远搞不清楚。所以让我们进入经文，看看究竟发生了何事，但以理是何许人也。

但以理出生在约西亚王的中兴时代，那时约西亚王立图改革，去除偶像，教导百姓归向耶和华神。约西亚试图去收拾他父亲和祖父留下来的烂摊子。他的祖父玛拿西是犹大最恶劣的王，虽然后期悔改，可是已经无法挽回他所造成的错误，让犹大北国变成一个拜偶像的国家；连他的儿子亚们都不肯接受他父亲的经验，继续涂炭生灵。约西亚在发现律法书之后，奋力图强，去除偶像，教导百姓归向耶和华。虽然大多数人阳奉阴违，包括他的五个儿子，没有一个跟随他的脚步，但是却有三个年轻人成为神所重用的先知。

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.  
 

耶和华沙玛

2023-10-12 in , /by

以西结书 48:35b  从此以后，这城的名字必称为『耶和华的所在』。

阅读经文:  以西结书48:1-35

1「众支派按名所得之地记在下面：从北头，由希特伦往哈马口，到大马士革地界上的哈萨以难，北边靠着哈马地（各支派的地都有东西的边界），是但的一份。 2 挨着但的地界，从东到西，是亚设的一份。 3 挨着亚设的地界，从东到西，是拿弗他利的一份。 4 挨着拿弗他利的地界，从东到西，是玛拿西的一份。 5 挨着玛拿西的地界，从东到西，是以法莲的一份。 6 挨着以法莲的地界，从东到西，是鲁本的一份。 7 挨着鲁本的地界，从东到西，是犹大的一份。

这是本书最后的部分，以传信者的形式：「主耶和华如此说」(结47:13)开始，一直到48章结束，成为有力的结语。圣地的重新划分，预表了新的恩典；新的圣民必在此地安居，新的出埃及将远比首次出埃及更有荣光，分地的安排就更有意义了。读以赛亚四十章，就会予人这样的印象。

本章最后一节「城四围共一万八千肘，从此以后，这城的名字必称为耶和华的所在。」(V. 35)，「所在」与「名字」二词的字根相同。这是圣城，应有新的名字，必称为耶和华的所在，因为耶和华的荣耀已经回来，住在其中。耶和华的圣名，就是这城的名字。神的子民都可到圣殿来朝见神，神必永远与他们同在。这是何等的美、何等的善。

圣殿的水流

2023-10-11 in , /by

以西结书 47:1  祂带我回到殿门，见殿的门槛下有水往东流出（原来殿面朝东）。这水从槛下，由殿的右边，在祭坛的南边往下流。

阅读经文:  以西结书47:1-23

1他带我回到殿门，见殿的门槛下有水往东流出（原来殿面朝东）。这水从槛下，由殿的右边，在祭坛的南边往下流。 2 他带我出北门，又领我从外边转到朝东的外门，见水从右边流出。3 他手拿准绳往东出去的时候，量了一千肘，使我趟过水，水到踝子骨。 4 他又量了一千肘，使我趟过水，水就到膝。再量了一千肘，使我趟过水，水便到腰。 5 又量了一千肘，水便成了河，使我不能趟过，因为水势涨起，成为可洑的水，不可趟的河。

本章中1-12节引入一个新的境界，生命的水流由圣殿流出，象征神的福分，是以色列信仰的观念。诗篇46:4节说：「有一道河，这河的分汊，使神的城欢喜。这城就是至高者居住的圣所。」以西结在此处强调以色列民族的复兴，是乐园失而复得了。对于被掳的百姓来说，是他们梦寐以求的盼望。

归纳而言，圣殿在度量中似乎极为独特，不容人们接近。但是圣所有水流出，表明神仍然愿意给予人无限的福分，带来生命与医治的大能，使一切都能变化与更新；死海可谓巴勒斯坦地理环境中最危害的因素，却因神的大能而使海水变为甘甜，万物得以滋长繁茂，这是神何等的救赎与恩典。

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. 

每早晨预备

2023-10-10 in , /by

以西结书 46:13  每日你要预备无残疾、一岁的羊羔一只，献于耶和华为燔祭，要每早晨预备。

阅读经文:  以西结书46:1-25

1『你们拈阄分地为业，要献上一份给耶和华为圣供地，长二万五千肘，宽一万肘。这份以内，四围都为圣地。 2 其中有作为圣所之地，长五百肘，宽五百肘，四面见方。四围再有五十肘，为郊野之地。 3 要以肘为度量地，长二万五千肘，宽一万肘。其中有圣所，是至圣的。 4 这是全地的一份圣地，要归于供圣所职事的祭司，就是亲近侍奉耶和华的，作为他们房屋之地与圣所之圣地。 5 又有一份，长二万五千肘，宽一万肘，要归于在殿中供职的利未人，作为二十间房屋之业。

本章分别对于敬拜的礼仪与君王的产业继承，以及祭司厨房设置作规范。13-15节分别都提到「每早晨预备」一词，可见这是很重要的短句。圣殿的早祭是十分被看重的。祭司在黎明时吹角，宣布早晨的来临。耶路撒冷合城的人都应该儆醒预备，因为这是献早祭的时候。在被掳之前，这常献的祭是每日必作的。此处似乎只集中在早祭，晚祭并没有提到。

月朔是每月的，安息日是每周的，而早祭是每日的，在这时段时间上，王与人民必须时时警觉耶和华的同在，并应虔心的敬拜。

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. 

公义君王的规范

2023-10-09 in , /by

以西结书  45:9b  以色列的王啊，你们应当知足，要除掉强暴和抢夺的事，施行公平和公义，不再勒索我的民。

阅读经文:  以西结书45:1-25

1『你们拈阄分地为业，要献上一份给耶和华为圣供地，长二万五千肘，宽一万肘。这份以内，四围都为圣地。 2 其中有作为圣所之地，长五百肘，宽五百肘，四面见方。四围再有五十肘，为郊野之地。 3 要以肘为度量地，长二万五千肘，宽一万肘。其中有圣所，是至圣的。 4 这是全地的一份圣地，要归于供圣所职事的祭司，就是亲近侍奉耶和华的，作为他们房屋之地与圣所之圣地。 5 又有一份，长二万五千肘，宽一万肘，要归于在殿中供职的利未人，作为二十间房屋之业。

在先知以西结预言即将结束的45-48章中，解释了王国时期以色列土地的划分原则。部分归给神，部分归给君王，部分归给十二支派所属。最早分配应许之地是在征服迦南地的时候，当时由约书亚和大祭司以利撒，还有十二支派的首领们一起在神面前拈阄决定分地(民34:16-29; 书13-22)。到了所罗门王朝时期，他将以色列全地分成十二个分封地，每个分封地必须负责王家一个月的生活开支(王上4:7-19)。但是这些领土的界线并没有改变。