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你們就知道我是耶和華

2023-10-04 in , /by

以西結書  39:22  這樣，從那日以後，以色列家必知道我是耶和華他們的神。

閱讀經文：以西結書  39:1-29

1「人子啊，你要向歌革發預言攻擊他，說：『主耶和華如此說：羅施、米設、土巴的王歌革啊，我與你為敵。 2 我必調轉你，領你前往，使你從北方的極處上來，帶你到以色列的山上。 3 我必從你左手打落你的弓，從你右手打掉你的箭。 4 你和你的軍隊並同著你的列國人，都必倒在以色列的山上，我必將你給各類的鷙鳥和田野的走獸做食物。 5 你必倒在田野，因為我曾說過。這是主耶和華說的。 6 我要降火在瑪各和海島安然居住的人身上，他們就知道我是耶和華。 7 我要在我民以色列中顯出我的聖名，也不容我的聖名再被褻瀆，列國人就知道我是耶和華，以色列中的聖者。

本章繼續針對歌革發出預言。第9和12節說，歌革軍隊戰敗後所留下的槍械需要花七年才能銷毀，戰士的屍體需要花七個月才能掩埋完畢，由此可知歌革軍隊之龐大；然而世間的軍隊無論如何強大，都不可能是耶和華全能神的對手，此番耶和華親自為以色列出戰，神佔了絶對的優勢，擊敗歌革是易如反掌之事。

23-29節可說是整本以西結書的撮要：以色列因為自己的罪孽而被懲罰，但因耶和華的恩典和憐憫而得復興，神必將祂的靈澆灌以色列家，這是耶和華與祂的子民永遠同在的象徵。無論是以色列的被擄與復興，或是歌革的強大與傾覆，目的是為了叫神的選民與萬國列邦都知道「耶和華是全地的主」(參V.6,7,22,28)。

Do We All Really Share the Same Fate?

2023-10-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 2:12-16.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon.  Let’s go!

Ecclesiastes 2:12-16 (NIV)
12  Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king’s successor do than what has already been done?
13  I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
14  The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both.
15  Then I thought in my heart, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said in my heart, “This too is meaningless.”
16  For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!
 
On verses 12-16:  In the book of Proverbs, a younger Solomon was so sure that wisdom was supreme and worth chasing after, even if it cost everything a person have.  As verses 13-14 say, Solomon saw that “wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.  The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness”.  Yet here an older Solomon is now struck by the realization that both the wise and the foolish die just the same, “the same fate overtakes them both” (v14).  Both will be forgotten one day (v16).  So why bother being wise, older Solomon wonders? (v15)   

預言的應驗

2023-10-03 in , /by

以西結書 38:23  我必顯為大，顯為聖，在多國人的眼前顯現，他們就知道我是耶和華。

閱讀經文：以西結書  38:1-23

1耶和華的話臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你要面向瑪各地的歌革，就是羅施、米設、土巴的王發預言攻擊他， 3 說：『主耶和華如此說：羅施、米設、土巴的王歌革啊，我與你為敵。 4 我必用鉤子鉤住你的腮頰，調轉你，將你和你的軍兵、馬匹、馬兵帶出來，都披掛整齊，成了大隊，有大小盾牌，各拿刀劍。 5 波斯人、古實人和弗人各拿盾牌，頭上戴盔， 6 歌篾人和他的軍隊，北方極處的陀迦瑪族和他的軍隊，這許多國的民都同著你。

以西結書第37章是一個高點，提到以色列的復興與合一，與神立永約。縱然以色列人已經沒有盼望，但神仍然可以使他們枯骨復活，神說有可能。當進入第38至39章，是另一個高潮。在自然界的角度是預言以色列會復國，靈界的角度是指神的國要臨到，神要在地上掌權，神與百姓立永約。

以色列復國之後，同樣要面對黑暗的權勢，也面對列國與她之間的爭戰，今天的以色列與世界上許多國家也不和，每一天都在打仗。靈界中神的國亦要面對黑暗的權勢，是魔鬼撒但的權勢，撒但不斷搶奪神的榮耀，要把神光明的國度摧毀，所以我們看到有兩個國度在爭戰，是光明與黑暗的爭戰。

但神有心意，我們要感恩，因這爭戰是神容許的，甚至是神主導的，目的是邁向終極的復興，使黑暗權勢在這爭戰之後完全被消滅。所以這一章聖經直接指向《啟示錄》第20章，就是神的國臨到，以色列復興，會透過爭戰邁向大復興，就是這一章的重點。

Work Hard and Play Hard WITH God, not without Him

2023-10-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 2:1-11.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, the main speaker  in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon.  Let’s go!

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless.
2  “Laughter,” I said, “is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?”
3  I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly–my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

On verses 1-11:  After focusing so much on gaining and studying wisdom and coming up empty (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18), Solomon shifts his focus to amassing wealth and pursuing pleasure.  Solomon claims that his goal was “to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.” (v3)  Pastor-author Douglas Sean O’Donnell puts it this way: in Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Solomon searches for satisfaction in 4 places: the pub, the garden, the treasury, and the bedroom.

兩根木杖接連為一

2023-10-02 in , /by

以西結書 37:17  你要使這兩根木杖接連為一，在你手中成為一根。

閱讀經文：以西結書  37:15-28

15耶和華的話又臨到我說： 16 「人子啊，你要取一根木杖，在其上寫『為猶大和他的同伴以色列人』。又取一根木杖，在其上寫『為約瑟，就是為以法蓮，又為他的同伴以色列全家』。 17 你要使這兩根木杖接連為一，在你手中成為一根。 18 你本國的子民問你說：『這是什麼意思，你不指示我們嗎？』 19 你就對他們說：『主耶和華如此說：我要將約瑟和他同伴以色列支派的杖，就是那在以法蓮手中的，與猶大的杖一同接連為一，在我手中成為一根。』 20 你所寫的那兩根杖要在他們眼前拿在手中， 21 要對他們說：『主耶和華如此說：我要將以色列人從他們所到的各國收取，又從四圍聚集他們，引導他們歸回本地。

在迦巴魯河邊，當猶大被擄到巴比倫的人正在愁眉不展，為故國傷痛不已時，神藉著以西結給他們帶來了枯骨復生的預言，預言靈性早已死亡的以色列人（包括猶大人），都必在神的恩典裡復得新的生命和新的靈。當他們的生命和靈魂都在主裡復活時，以色列和猶大的統一就會來臨。對神而言，這兩個國是一個國，原都是雅各（以色列）的後裔，原是不應分開的。雖然以色列北國是指以色列的十個支派，猶大南國是指以色列的兩個支派：猶大和便雅憫。但是它們應該是一個國家，不是兩個國家，所以有一天，神要把它們重新整合，恢復大衛王在世的盛況，一個國家，就是以色列。

以西結見枯骨復生

2023-10-01 in , /by

以西結書 37:14a  我必將我的靈放在你們裡面，你們就要活了。

閱讀經文：以西結書  37:1-14

1耶和華的靈降在我身上，耶和華藉他的靈帶我出去，將我放在平原中，這平原遍滿骸骨。 2 他使我從骸骨的四圍經過，誰知在平原的骸骨甚多，而且極其枯乾。 3 他對我說：「人子啊，這些骸骨能復活嗎？」我說：「主耶和華啊，你是知道的。」 4 他又對我說：「你向這些骸骨發預言說：『枯乾的骸骨啊，要聽耶和華的話！ 5 主耶和華對這些骸骨如此說：我必使氣息進入你們裡面，你們就要活了。 6 我必給你們加上筋，使你們長肉，又將皮遮蔽你們，使氣息進入你們裡面，你們就要活了，你們便知道我是耶和華。』」

這是以西結書很出名的一個異象。神的靈再次帶以西結出去，把他放在一個滿是骸骨的平原中。換了是你，會不會覺得很可怕呢？那裡的骸骨不僅數目眾多，而且極其枯乾，表示那些人已經死了一段很長的時間。就好像亞倫用的手杖一樣，已經枯乾的木頭，沒有生命力，不可能再長芽了。但是神使亞倫的杖一夜之間，發芽、開花、結果。所以神問以西結，這些枯乾的骸骨，有沒有復活的可能？在人不可能，但是在神，沒有不可能的事情。所以在這裡，我們又發現另一個為什麼神要人要知道祂是耶和華神的特質，唯有祂能使枯骨復活，重得生命。因為祂就是賜人生命的神。

Can You Find Happiness by Pursuing Knowledge?

2023-10-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.  Let’s go!

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 (NIV)
12  I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13  I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men!
14  I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
15  What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
16  I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”
17  Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
18  For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
 
On verses 12-18:  In verse 12 Qohelet (the Teacher) confirms that he was king of Israel, ruling in Jerusalem.  Then in verses 13-15 Qohelet describes how he pursued wisdom and knowledge, yet it led him nowhere.  Despite trying to wisely explore everything that is done on the earth (v13), he found nothing that was truly meaningful; everything was just “a chasing after the wind” (v14).  Moreover, Qohelet found that there were certain problems that could not be solved (“what is twisted cannot be straightened” – v15) and certain questions where key information was lacking which made finding an answer impossible (“what is lacking cannot be counted” – v15).  Thus he concludes that pursuing wisdom and knowledge this way was “a heavy burden” that God had laid upon people (v13). 
 

When Life Feels Meaningless

2023-09-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of Ecclesiastes, often considered one of the most puzzling books in the Bible.  The book of Ecclesiastes is about a person known only as “Qohelet”, a Hebrew word often translated into English as the “Teacher” or the “Preacher”, or “Ecclesiastes” in Greek.  Qohelet looks back on his life and draws a number of conclusions based on his life experiences.  Traditionally Qohelet has been identified with King Solomon for many reasons: he is described as a “son of David” (1:1), was “king over Israel in Jerusalem” (1:12), had more wisdom than anyone who ruled in Jerusalem before him (1:16), undertook huge projects (2:4-6), amassed incredible wealth (2:7-8a), owned a harem (2:8), imparted knowledge to the people (12:9), searched out and arranged many proverbs (12:9) and came up with many of his own wise sayings (12:10).   All that certainly sounds like Solomon, although his name is never mentioned explicitly in the book.   Some scholars question whether the author of Ecclesiastes was actually Solomon.  They instead argue that Ecclesiastes falls within a genre of ancient Near Eastern writing known as a fictional autobiography, where someone adopts the persona of a famous person (in this case, Solomon) in order to communicate their ideas.  Ecclesiastes reads like an old, jaded, disillusioned King Solomon in his later years, expressing what is left of his faith in God after he had married many foreign wives and worshiped many foreign gods.  Whether the writer of Ecclesiastes was actually Solomon or not, there is much we can learn from this book in the Bible. 

神賜新心新靈

2023-09-29 in , /by

以西結書 36:27  我必將我的靈放在你們裡面，使你們順從我的律例，謹守遵行我的典章。

閱讀經文：以西結書  36:1-38

1「人子啊，你要對以色列山發預言說：『以色列山哪，要聽耶和華的話。 2 主耶和華如此說：因仇敵說「啊哈！這永久的山岡都歸我們為業了」， 3 所以要發預言說：「主耶和華如此說：因為敵人使你荒涼，四圍吞吃，好叫你歸於其餘的外邦人為業，並且多嘴多舌的人提起你來，百姓也說你有臭名， 4 故此，以色列山要聽主耶和華的話。大山小岡，水溝山谷，荒廢之地，被棄之城——為四圍其餘的外邦人所占據、所譏刺的， 5 主耶和華對你們如此說：我真發憤恨如火，責備那其餘的外邦人和以東的眾人，他們快樂滿懷，心存恨惡，將我的地歸自己為業，又看為被棄的掠物。」』

在仇敵的譏笑聲中，神站出來了。但是祂也告訴以色列民，祂不是為了他們而爭戰，而是為了神自己的名而爭戰。因為耶和華神是至高，宇宙唯一的真神，雖然管教子民，使他們暫時失去地業，成為落魄，但是譏笑神的外邦人，將會擔當自己的羞辱。

“他們就知道我是耶和華。”為什麼神要我們，要世人認識祂是耶和華呢？在這一章裡，我們看到祂是怎樣的神呢？

1. 有權柄和能力的神。 四圍的外邦人總要擔當自己的羞辱。他們怎樣占據以色列人的地業，都要歸還。因為神要再次幫助以色列，使他們人數增多，又使他們得地為業。是怎樣的神才能有權柄和能力，按著自己的心意去運轉乾坤呢？藉著世局的逆轉，神要讓人明白唯有祂，是運轉乾坤的神。

永懷仇恨的以東

2023-09-28 in , /by

以西結書 35: 8   我必使西珥山滿有被殺的人，被刀殺的必倒在你小山和山谷，並一切的溪水中。

閱讀經文：以西結書  35:1-15

1耶和華的話又臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你要面向西珥山發預言攻擊他， 3 對他說：『主耶和華如此說：西珥山哪，我與你為敵，必向你伸手攻擊你，使你荒涼，令人驚駭。 4 我必使你的城邑變為荒場，成為淒涼，你就知道我是耶和華。 5 因為你永懷仇恨，在以色列人遭災、罪孽到了盡頭的時候，將他們交於刀劍， 6 所以主耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓，我必使你遭遇流血的報應，罪必追趕你。你既不恨惡殺人流血，所以這罪必追趕你。

為何神要對以色列周邊的國家也發出預言呢？假如神像其他國家的偶像或假神只管自己的地盤，那麼祂就不是宇宙的神了。神要讓所有人都知道，祂是掌管天地，宇宙萬物的耶和華，好讓所有願意相信祂的人都能得到救恩。這就是神的心，祂何等希望人脫離無知和愚昧的崇拜，認識真神和假神、偶像的區別。

神可以預言以東的未來，表示祂也是掌管以東命運的主宰。在這裡，西珥山就是指以東人住的地方。神指出以東的一些短處，這些短處也可能是我們當中有些人的毛病和問題。例如，神講到以東人對以色列人的“永懷仇恨”。這是一個很可怕的致命傷。我認識一位朋友，因為年輕時被丈夫和夫家傷害得很深，她不原諒，寧可不受洗，也要抱著仇恨去過日子。因為她覺得只要她不原諒，她的丈夫就永遠不能釋懷，她要以自己的“永懷仇恨”去作為對丈夫的報復。她相信耶穌，卻不能把這仇恨交給耶穌，以致因而遲遲不敢受洗。她的一生就在這永懷仇恨的心情中度過。年復一年，她選擇活在過去的傷痛和仇恨裡，把自己的生命都搭上了，失去了在主裡的平安和喜樂。你願意這樣生活嗎？