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不听话的西底家

2023-07-18 in , /by

耶利米书 37:2  但西底家和他的臣仆并国中的百姓，都不听从耶和华藉先知耶利米所说的话。

阅读经文:  37:1-21

1约西亚的儿子西底家代替约雅敬的儿子哥尼雅为王，是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒立在犹大地做王的。 2 但西底家和他的臣仆并国中的百姓，都不听从耶和华藉先知耶利米所说的话。

3 西底家王打发示利米雅的儿子犹甲和祭司玛西雅的儿子西番雅，去见先知耶利米，说：「求你为我们祷告耶和华我们的神。」 4 那时耶利米在民中出入，因为他们还没有把他囚在监里。5 法老的军队已经从埃及出来，那围困耶路撒冷的迦勒底人听见他们的风声，就拔营离开耶路撒冷去了。

这段经文的内容，我们在34章大略已经读过了。因为耶利米向西底家王宣告神要赐他平安而死，所以西底家和众首领、犹大百姓有奴仆的就立约，向他们的奴婢宣告自由，放他们自由离去。没想到，这一宣告自由，埃及军就攻上来了，让巴比伦无暇再进攻耶路撒冷。这下子，围城的危机得到缓解，犹大家的首领和百姓等等，立刻反约，重新强迫原先的奴婢回来。他们毁约，上帝就把祝福变为咒诅。原先得救的希望也就消失了。

约雅敬死后，由他的儿子约雅斤做王，约雅斤原名哥尼雅或耶哥尼雅，他做王三个月后，向巴比伦投降，被掳到巴比伦。巴比伦王另立约西亚王的第四个儿子玛探雅做王，改名西底家。在神的眼中，西底家也是个不听话的家伙。

约雅敬烧掉耶利米的书卷

2023-07-17 in , /by

耶利米书 36:23   犹底念了三四篇，王就用文士的刀将书卷割破，扔在火盆中，直到全卷在火中烧尽了。

阅读经文:  36:1-32

1犹大王约西亚的儿子约雅敬第四年，耶和华的话临到耶利米说： 2 「你取一书卷，将我对你说攻击以色列和犹大并各国的一切话，从我对你说话的那日，就是从约西亚的日子起，直到今日，都写在其上。 3 或者犹大家听见我想要降于他们的一切灾祸，各人就回头离开恶道，我好赦免他们的罪孽和罪恶。」

神叫耶利米把祂的话写下来，目的是希望犹大家的首领听见神要降的一切灾祸，就回头离开恶道，神就可以有理由赦免他们，不降灾祸。神一直在为犹大家找出路。虽然万不能不罚他们，可是神还是希望他们悔改，以避过那些可能发生的灾祸。神也是这样容忍我们，虽然大错小过不断，神依然不停止对我们的爱。

想到神对这些悖逆子民之容忍，不断地期望，不断地呼唤的永不止息的爱，心里实在觉得难以做到天父要求的万万分之一。主耶稣说，要我们像天父一样完全（太5:48），我们就是再修几亿年也难成正果吧？所以，只有当我们把旧约和新约读透时，才能稍微体会到保罗在哥林多前书十三章所讲的爱的真谛。那就是神对不完美的世人之爱。

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.

对利甲族的试验

2023-07-16 in , /by

耶利米书 35:19   所以万军之耶和华以色列的神如此说：利甲的儿子约拿达必永不缺人侍立在我面前。

阅读经文:  35:1-19

1当犹大王约西亚之子约雅敬的时候，耶和华的话临到耶利米说： 2 「你去见利甲族的人，和他们说话，领他们进入耶和华殿的一间屋子，给他们酒喝。」 3 我就将哈巴洗尼雅的孙子、雅利米雅的儿子雅撒尼亚和他弟兄，并他众子以及利甲全族的人， 4 领到耶和华的殿，进入神人伊基大利的儿子哈难众子的屋子。

当犹大人上至君王，下至百姓都背约时，神要耶利米去见利甲族的人。在整个充满欺骗的社会里，神要让耶利米看到什么？外子退休前是专门救护早产儿的医生，看遍了各种不正常或有畸型的婴儿，所以每次回家看到自己的儿子很健康，心里的难过和沮丧便稍稍得了安慰。在这里，有何人何事可以让神的心稍得安慰？

神要耶利米去试验利甲族人。其实不必耶利米试验，这些人根本就不上他的饵。读了这段经文，我有点担心，假如在我没有警戒的时候，是否也会有试验临到我？我能不能过关？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请下都跟着去了。当耶利米摆设满酒的碗和杯时，他们会不会觉得盛情难却？他们会不会不敢不给耶利米面子，而委屈求全？

宣告自由

2023-07-14 in , /by

耶利米书 34:18  犹大的首领，耶路撒冷的首领，太监、祭司和国中的众民曾将牛犊劈开，分成两半，从其中经过，在我面前立约。后来又违背我的约，不遵行这约上的话。

阅读经文:  34:9-22

9 西底家王与耶路撒冷的众民立约，要向他们宣告自由，叫各人任他希伯来的仆人和婢女自由出去，谁也不可使他的一个犹大弟兄做奴仆。（此后，有耶和华的话临到耶利米。） 10 所有立约的首领和众民就任他的仆人婢女自由出去，谁也不再叫他们做奴仆。大家都顺从，将他们释放了。 11 后来却又反悔，叫所任去自由的仆人婢女回来，勉强他们仍为仆婢。

有位牧师在碰到一位弟兄时，总会问他好不好？信心如何？那位弟兄总是回答：“上上下下，像厕所里的马桶盖一样”。这个回答听起来不斯文，却很实在。它形容了我们每个人的信心都是起伏不定。就好像西底家王听到耶利米传来神说要赐他平安而死的消息，龙心大悦，便听神的话，与耶路撒冷的众民立约，向他们宣告自由，叫各人任他的希伯来仆人和婢女自由自去。因为按著律法，这些奴婢在工作六年后，第七年便可重获自由（出21:2）。但是在犹大历史上很可能都没有人遵守这个约定。

西底家希望借着立约，平息神的怒气，以确保自己平安不死。王的命令一下，所有立约的首领和众民就任他的仆人婢女自由出去，谁也不再叫他们做奴仆，大家都顺从，将他们释放了。这是犹大国里一个很值得记念的时刻，因为他们终于肯听神的话，做神喜悦的事了。可惜，好景不长，当西底家看到埃及军队前来营救，巴比伦军转身对付埃及军，围城之祸因而暂得缓和，便以为可以靠人的帮助得救，他就悔约了。

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.

平安的应许

2023-07-13 in , /by

耶利米书 34:4  犹大王西底家啊，你还要听耶和华的话。耶和华论到你如此说：你必不被刀剑杀死。

阅读经文:  34:1-7

1 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领他的全军和地上属他的各国各邦，攻打耶路撒冷和属耶路撒冷所有的城邑，那时耶和华的话临到耶利米说： 2 「耶和华以色列的神说：你去告诉犹大王西底家：『耶和华如此说：我要将这城交付巴比伦王的手，他必用火焚烧。

对神有信心，是一件很容易的事吗？有次在敬拜时，牧师引用亚伯兰和罗得选地分迁的故事，他问大家，觉得自己比较像亚伯兰或罗得？这个问题颇有重量，因为我觉得自己太像罗得了。谁不要水草肥沃的草地去放牧？谁不希望往容易找工作的地区迁移？谁不喜欢生气盎然的大都会？谁喜欢水草贫瘠的土地？当我们在选择时，谁会用神的眼光去衡量？谁能像亚伯兰那样大器，对神有全然的信心？

因此当神借着耶利米对西底家发话时，西底家会选择相信神吗？巴比伦王攻下了犹大所有的城邑，西底家自知即将成为亡国之君，犹如一只困兽在做最后的挣扎。他希望神出奇不意杀光敌军，他希望神像古时一样，派下天军火马为他争战，但是当神的作法和他的想法回异时，他能有信心相信神而顺服吗？

耶和华我们的义

2023-07-12 in , /by

耶利米书 33:16 在那日子，犹大必得救，耶路撒冷必安然居住，祂的名必称为『耶和华我们的义』。

阅读经文:  33:10-26

10 「耶和华如此说：你们论这地方说是荒废无人民、无牲畜之地，但在这荒凉无人民、无牲畜的犹大城邑和耶路撒冷的街上， 11 必再听见有欢喜和快乐的声音、新郎和新妇的声音，并听见有人说：『要称谢万军之耶和华，因耶和华本为善，祂的慈爱永远长存！』又有奉感谢祭到耶和华殿中之人的声音，因为我必使这地被掳的人归回，和起初一样。这是耶和华说的。

这段经文是当耶利米被囚在王的宫中，护卫兵的院内时，神跟他说的一段话。耶利米此时虽然行动不自由，却可接见宾客如哈拿篾( 32:8 )和巴录(32:12 )，又可以处理事务( 32:12 )。根据 32:12 还有其他的犹大人囚在该处，此处这不像是监狱，极有可能是囚禁不必处死之政治犯的软禁地。因为是在王的宫中，所以王也随时可以去找耶利米。但是还有更重要的一位，就是神，也可以随时跟他说话。

就像保罗说的：“谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝？难道是患难么？是困苦么？是逼迫么？是饥饿么？是赤身么？是危险么？是刀剑么？然而借着那爱我们的，在这一切的事上，我们已经得胜有余了。因为我深信，无论是死，是生，是天使，是掌权的，是现今的事，是要来的事，是有能的，是高，是深，或是别的受造之物，都不能叫我们与神的爱隔绝，这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的（罗8:35/37-39）”。