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不聽話的西底家

2023-07-18 in , /by

耶利米書 37:2  但西底家和他的臣僕並國中的百姓，都不聽從耶和華藉先知耶利米所說的話。

閱讀經文:  37:1-21

1約西亞的兒子西底家代替約雅敬的兒子哥尼雅為王，是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒立在猶大地做王的。 2 但西底家和他的臣僕並國中的百姓，都不聽從耶和華藉先知耶利米所說的話。

3 西底家王打發示利米雅的兒子猶甲和祭司瑪西雅的兒子西番雅，去見先知耶利米，說：「求你為我們禱告耶和華我們的神。」 4 那時耶利米在民中出入，因為他們還沒有把他囚在監裡。5 法老的軍隊已經從埃及出來，那圍困耶路撒冷的迦勒底人聽見他們的風聲，就拔營離開耶路撒冷去了。

這段經文的內容，我們在34章大略已經讀過了。因為耶利米向西底家王宣告神要賜他平安而死，所以西底家和眾首領、猶大百姓有奴僕的就立約，向他們的奴婢宣告自由，放他們自由離去。沒想到，這一宣告自由，埃及軍就攻上來了，讓巴比倫無暇再進攻耶路撒冷。這下子，圍城的危機得到緩解，猶大家的首領和百姓等等，立刻反約，重新強迫原先的奴婢回來。他們毀約，上帝就把祝福變為咒詛。原先得救的希望也就消失了。

約雅敬死後，由他的兒子約雅斤做王，約雅斤原名哥尼雅或耶哥尼雅，他做王三個月後，向巴比倫投降，被擄到巴比倫。巴比倫王另立約西亞王的第四個兒子瑪探雅做王，改名西底家。在神的眼中，西底家也是個不聽話的傢伙。

約雅敬燒掉耶利米的書卷

2023-07-17 in , /by

耶利米書 36:23   猶底念了三四篇，王就用文士的刀將書卷割破，扔在火盆中，直到全卷在火中燒盡了。

閱讀經文:  36:1-32

1猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬第四年，耶和華的話臨到耶利米說： 2 「你取一書卷，將我對你說攻擊以色列和猶大並各國的一切話，從我對你說話的那日，就是從約西亞的日子起，直到今日，都寫在其上。 3 或者猶大家聽見我想要降於他們的一切災禍，各人就回頭離開惡道，我好赦免他們的罪孽和罪惡。」

神叫耶利米把祂的話寫下來，目的是希望猶大家的首領聽見神要降的一切災禍，就回頭離開惡道，神就可以有理由赦免他們，不降災禍。神一直在為猶大家找出路。雖然萬不能不罰他們，可是神還是希望他們悔改，以避過那些可能發生的災禍。神也是這樣容忍我們，雖然大錯小過不斷，神依然不停止對我們的愛。

想到神對這些悖逆子民之容忍，不斷地期望，不斷地呼喚的永不止息的愛，心裡實在覺得難以做到天父要求的萬萬分之一。主耶穌說，要我們像天父一樣完全（太5:48），我們就是再修幾億年也難成正果吧？所以，只有當我們把舊約和新約讀透時，才能稍微體會到保羅在哥林多前書十三章所講的愛的真諦。那就是神對不完美的世人之愛。

Take Hold of All God Has for You

2023-07-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of Judges.  The book of Judges describes a time in Israel’s history after Moses and Joshua had led the Israelites into the Promised Land and before Israel’s kings had begun to rule.  This period is known as the time of the judges.
 
Today’s passage is Judges 1:1-15.  Let’s go!
 
Judges 1:1-2 (NIV)
1  After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
2  The LORD answered, “Judah is to go; I have given the land into their hands.”
 
On verses 1-2:  By the time Israel’s leader Joshua had died, there were still parts of the Promised Land that the Israelites had yet to conquer and take over (see Joshua 23:4-5).  So Judges 1-3 describe how Israel tried to conquer those remaining lands.  The Israelites start well by inquiring of the LORD for advice on who to send to fight the Canaanites.  And God answers by saying that Judah is to go.

Don’t Take Advantage of Other People’s Kindness

2023-07-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18.  Let’s go!
 
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 (NIV)
6  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
7  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,
8  nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
9  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.
10  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

On verses 6-15:  Here Paul addresses another problem in the church at Thessalonica: idleness, or laziness.  Apparently, some Christians in the Thessalonian church were becoming known for freeloading off of others in the church. They were taking advantage of the kindness and generosity of other Christians, frequently getting other Christians to pay for their meals and other material wants/needs instead of getting a job and paying for things themselves.

對利甲族的試驗

2023-07-16 in , /by

耶利米書 35:19   所以萬軍之耶和華以色列的神如此說：利甲的兒子約拿達必永不缺人侍立在我面前。

閱讀經文:  35:1-19

1當猶大王約西亞之子約雅敬的時候，耶和華的話臨到耶利米說： 2 「你去見利甲族的人，和他們說話，領他們進入耶和華殿的一間屋子，給他們酒喝。」 3 我就將哈巴洗尼雅的孫子、雅利米雅的兒子雅撒尼亞和他弟兄，並他眾子以及利甲全族的人， 4 領到耶和華的殿，進入神人伊基大利的兒子哈難眾子的屋子。

當猶大人上至君王，下至百姓都背約時，神要耶利米去見利甲族的人。在整個充滿欺騙的社會裡，神要讓耶利米看到什麼？外子退休前是專門救護早產兒的醫生，看遍了各種不正常或有畸型的嬰兒，所以每次回家看到自己的兒子很健康，心裡的難過和沮喪便稍稍得了安慰。在這裡，有何人何事可以讓神的心稍得安慰？

神要耶利米去試驗利甲族人。其實不必耶利米試驗，這些人根本就不上他的餌。讀了這段經文，我有點擔心，假如在我沒有警戒的時候，是否也會有試驗臨到我？我能不能過關？利甲族的人很相信耶利米，也很尊敬耶利米，全族的人在耶利米的邀請下都跟著去了。當耶利米擺設滿酒的碗和杯時，他們會不會覺得盛情難卻？他們會不會不敢不給耶利米面子，而委屈求全？

宣告自由

2023-07-14 in , /by

耶利米書 34:18  猶大的首領，耶路撒冷的首領，太監、祭司和國中的眾民曾將牛犢劈開，分成兩半，從其中經過，在我面前立約。後來又違背我的約，不遵行這約上的話。

閱讀經文:  34:9-22

9 西底家王與耶路撒冷的眾民立約，要向他們宣告自由，叫各人任他希伯來的僕人和婢女自由出去，誰也不可使他的一個猶大弟兄做奴僕。（此後，有耶和華的話臨到耶利米。） 10 所有立約的首領和眾民就任他的僕人婢女自由出去，誰也不再叫他們做奴僕。大家都順從，將他們釋放了。 11 後來卻又反悔，叫所任去自由的僕人婢女回來，勉強他們仍為僕婢。

有位牧師在碰到一位弟兄時，總會問他好不好？信心如何？那位弟兄總是回答：“上上下下，像廁所裡的馬桶蓋一樣”。這個回答聽起來不斯文，卻很實在。它形容了我們每個人的信心都是起伏不定。就好像西底家王聽到耶利米傳來神說要賜他平安而死的消息，龍心大悅，便聽神的話，與耶路撒冷的眾民立約，向他們宣告自由，叫各人任他的希伯來僕人和婢女自由自去。因為按著律法，這些奴婢在工作六年後，第七年便可重獲自由（出21:2）。但是在猶大歷史上很可能都沒有人遵守這個約定。

西底家希望藉著立約，平息神的怒氣，以確保自己平安不死。王的命令一下，所有立約的首領和眾民就任他的僕人婢女自由出去，誰也不再叫他們做奴僕，大家都順從，將他們釋放了。這是猶大國裡一個很值得記念的時刻，因為他們終於肯聽神的話，做神喜悅的事了。可惜，好景不長，當西底家看到埃及軍隊前來營救，巴比倫軍轉身對付埃及軍，圍城之禍因而暫得緩和，便以為可以靠人的幫助得救，他就悔約了。

When You’re Not Sure What to Believe

2023-07-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5.  Let’s go!
 
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (NIV)
13  But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
14  He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15  So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16  May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
17  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
 
On 2:13-17:  In the previous verses, Paul talked about the anti-Christ, “the man of lawlessness”, and how when he comes he will deceive all “those who are perishing…who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (v10, 12).  
 

3 Events That Must Take Place Before Judgment Day

2023-07-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.  Let’s go!

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV)
1  Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
2  not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
3  Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
4  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5  Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?

On verses 1-12:  What is going on in this passage? Apparently Paul’s church in Thessalonica was troubled by some false teaching they had received.  This false teaching concerned “the day of the Lord”, the time when Jesus the Messiah would return and dole out his final judgment on the world.  The Thessalonian church had received false teaching — possibly in the form of a letter, prophecy or report — that the day of the Lord had already come.  To complicate matters, the Thessalonian Christians were told that Paul was responsible for this teaching.

平安的應許

2023-07-13 in , /by

耶利米書 34:4  猶大王西底家啊，你還要聽耶和華的話。耶和華論到你如此說：你必不被刀劍殺死。

閱讀經文:  34:1-7

1 巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領他的全軍和地上屬他的各國各邦，攻打耶路撒冷和屬耶路撒冷所有的城邑，那時耶和華的話臨到耶利米說： 2 「耶和華以色列的神說：你去告訴猶大王西底家：『耶和華如此說：我要將這城交付巴比倫王的手，他必用火焚燒。

對神有信心，是一件很容易的事嗎？有次在敬拜時，牧師引用亞伯蘭和羅得選地分遷的故事，他問大家，覺得自己比較像亞伯蘭或羅得？這個問題頗有重量，因為我覺得自己太像羅得了。誰不要水草肥沃的草地去放牧？誰不希望往容易找工作的地區遷移？誰不喜歡生氣盎然的大都會？誰喜歡水草貧瘠的土地？當我們在選擇時，誰會用神的眼光去衡量？誰能像亞伯蘭那樣大器，對神有全然的信心？

因此當神藉著耶利米對西底家發話時，西底家會選擇相信神嗎？巴比倫王攻下了猶大所有的城邑，西底家自知即將成為亡國之君，猶如一隻困獸在做最後的掙扎。他希望神出奇不意殺光敵軍，他希望神像古時一樣，派下天軍火馬為他爭戰，但是當神的作法和他的想法迴異時，他能有信心相信神而順服嗎？

耶和華我們的義

2023-07-12 in , /by

耶利米書 33:16 在那日子，猶大必得救，耶路撒冷必安然居住，祂的名必稱為『耶和華我們的義』。

閱讀經文:  33:10-26

10 「耶和華如此說：你們論這地方說是荒廢無人民、無牲畜之地，但在這荒涼無人民、無牲畜的猶大城邑和耶路撒冷的街上， 11 必再聽見有歡喜和快樂的聲音、新郎和新婦的聲音，並聽見有人說：『要稱謝萬軍之耶和華，因耶和華本為善，祂的慈愛永遠長存！』又有奉感謝祭到耶和華殿中之人的聲音，因為我必使這地被擄的人歸回，和起初一樣。這是耶和華說的。

這段經文是當耶利米被囚在王的宮中，護衛兵的院內時，神跟他說的一段話。耶利米此時雖然行動不自由，卻可接見賓客如哈拿篾( 32:8 )和巴錄(32:12 )，又可以處理事務( 32:12 )。根據 32:12 還有其他的猶大人囚在該處，此處這不像是監獄，極有可能是囚禁不必處死之政治犯的軟禁地。因為是在王的宮中，所以王也隨時可以去找耶利米。但是還有更重要的一位，就是神，也可以隨時跟他說話。

就像保羅說的：“誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕？難道是患難麼？是困苦麼？是逼迫麼？是飢餓麼？是赤身麼？是危險麼？是刀劍麼？然而藉著那愛我們的，在這一切的事上，我們已經得勝有餘了。因為我深信，無論是死，是生，是天使，是掌權的，是現今的事，是要來的事，是有能的，是高，是深，或是別的受造之物，都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的（羅8:35/37-39）”。