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Was Samson’s Strength In His Hair?

2023-08-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 16:1-17.  Let’s go!

Judges 16:1-3 (NIV)
1  One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.
2  The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”
3  But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

On verses 1-3:  It’s a sad situation when a person as obviously talented as Samson has no heart for God or God’s purposes, is so calloused to the immorality of his actions and thinks he can get away with anything just by his own strength and intimidation.  Such a leader will not last. They never do.  Samson picking up and destroying Gaza’s city gates was not so much impressive as it was reflective of Samson’s own moral self-destruction and the lack of boundaries in Samson’s own life.  As Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”

守望的人

2023-08-22 in , /by

以西结书 3:17人子啊，我立你做以色列家守望的人，所以你要听我口中的话，替我警戒他们。

阅读经文: 以西结书 3:16-27

16 过了七日，耶和华的话临到我说： 17 「人子啊，我立你做以色列家守望的人，所以你要听我口中的话，替我警戒他们。 18 我何时指著恶人说他必要死，你若不警戒他，也不劝诫他，使他离开恶行，拯救他的性命，这恶人必死在罪孽之中，我却要向你讨他丧命的罪。 19 倘若你警戒恶人，他仍不转离罪恶，也不离开恶行，他必死在罪孽之中，你却救自己脱离了罪。

神呼召以西结做守望的人，守望是何意思？在古代城门上都有守望的人，一天廿四小时巡逻，注意有没有外患来袭。但是神要以西结守望以色列家，不是外患。守望以色列家的义人和恶人，希望他们离开罪孽，持守神的道路；要警戒他们，使他们离开恶行。不管他们听不听，只要以西结执行任务，他就救自己脱离了罪。这给我们一个很大的提醒，我们也要如此守望身边的人。不容易啊？谁喜欢做这种不讨好的差事呢？神要以西结怎样执行呢? 一是要听神口中的话，不要用自己的标准去警戒别人。这个非常重要，以神口中的话为准则。

神立以西结做以色列家守望的人，他一个人怎么看得了以色列家那么多人？他只有一双眼睛，肯定忙不过来，看上两天有可能就晕倒了。当然不是这样“看”法。在这里，神的意思是替祂去警戒以色列民。神列了四方面：

我何时指著恶人说他必要死，你若不警戒他，也不劝诫他，使他离开恶行，拯救他的性命，这恶人必死在罪孽之中，我却要向你讨他丧命的罪。
倘若你警戒恶人，他仍不转离罪恶，也不离开恶行，他必死在罪孽之中，你却救自己脱离了罪。

God’s Incredible Patience and Mercy

2023-08-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 15:1-20.  Let’s go!

Judges 15:1-3 (NIV)
1  Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room.” But her father would not let him go in.
2  “I was so sure you thoroughly hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your friend. Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.”
3  Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.”

On verses 1-3:  Samson’s sense of justice is warped.  First, he thinks that he can abandon his bride on their wedding day and can come back a season later to pick her up again without much issue.  Then, when the bride’s father tells Samson that he gave her away to someone else, Samson treats this as a reason to exact revenge on all the Philistines generally.  But whose fault was it that Samson lost his wife?  No one but Samson’s alone.  When a person lives with themselves at the centre, their sense of what is just and right will be warped.

神圣的呼召

2023-08-21 in , /by

以西结书 3:5 你奉差遣不是往那说话深奥、言语难懂的民那里去，乃是往以色列家去。

阅读经文: 以西结书 3:4-15

4 祂对我说：「人子啊，你往以色列家那里去，将我的话对他们讲说。 5 你奉差遣不是往那说话深奥、言语难懂的民那里去，乃是往以色列家去。 6 不是往那说话深奥、言语难懂的多国去，他们的话语是你不懂得的，我若差你往他们那里去，他们必听从你。 7 以色列家却不肯听从你，因为他们不肯听从我，原来以色列全家是额坚心硬的人。 8 看哪，我使你的脸硬过他们的脸，使你的额硬过他们的额。 9 我使你的额像金钢钻，比火石更硬。他们虽是悖逆之家，你不要怕他们，也不要因他们的脸色惊惶。」

神在每一个人的生命中都有特别的计划，即使是失去自由，成为被掳之人，神也可以照样使用他。保罗在狱中可以传福音，以西结虽然被掳，也可以传神的话语。因为神的信息充满生命和能力，是无法阻挡的。所以现在虽然有很多地方不能公开传福音，在公共场合、机构，甚至学校，都有严格限制，但是我们不必丧志，因为神的智慧超越一切，神的话语也不能被拘禁。

神差遣以西结去传神的话语，以西结的对象是以色列被掳之民。神特别说明：不是往那说话深奥、言语难懂的多国，而是向自己人传福音。从六四之后，这个现象就在世界各地出现了。我们不用回到中国，也不用去别的地方，神就把同胞送到我们居住的附近，工作的地方，学习的场所。到处都有中国人，你想传福音，不用走很远，只要在身边，就会碰到言语相通的人。神把中国的门打开了，让我们知道我们奉差遣向自己人传神的话语。不用学英语，不用学西班牙语，或法语什么的，就用自己的语言。

Cracks on the Wall

2023-08-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 14:1-20.  Today we begin the story of Samson, one of the most tragic characters in all the Bible.  There are many lessons we can learn from Samson’s life.  Let’s go!

Judges 14:1-3 (NIV)
1  Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman.
2  When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
3  His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”

On verses 1-3:  Notice that the first recorded words from Samson’s mouth are about him being so intent on doing something that was against God’s commands for Israel (Deuteronomy 7:3-4) and how he wouldn’t be swayed or persuaded otherwise.  Unlike Gideon who grew from immaturity to a more mature faith, Samson’s entire life it seems would unfortunately be characterized by this kind of me-centered attitude.

甜蜜的书卷

2023-08-20 in , /by

以西结书 2:2  祂对我说话的时候，灵就进入我里面，使我站起来，我便听见那位对我说话的声音。

阅读经文: 以西结书 2:1-3:3

2-1祂对我说：「人子啊，你站起来，我要和你说话。」 2 祂对我说话的时候，灵就进入我里面，使我站起来，我便听见那位对我说话的声音。 3 祂对我说：「人子啊，我差你往悖逆的国民以色列人那里去。他们是悖逆我的，他们和他们的列祖违背我直到今日。 4 这众子面无羞耻，心里刚硬，我差你往他们那里去，你要对他们说：『主耶和华如此说。』 5 他们或听或不听（他们是悖逆之家），必知道在他们中间有了先知。

神称呼以西结为：人子Son Of man。你可能觉得这个称呼有点耳熟，因为在新约里，主耶稣就称呼祂自己为人子。在这里，可能只是指以西结是人所生的儿子，没有其他意义。有意义的是，神叫他站起来。因为以西结俯伏在地，神没办法跟他讲话。但是以西结站不起来，我想换了是我，也会吓到站不起来。但是神帮助以西结，让圣灵进入他里面，赐他能力站起来。

这一段话让我心深有同感，当我们来到主面前要事奉时，往往发现心有余力不足，若不是靠着神的恩典和能力，根本没有办法做有效的事奉。好像我写每日亲近神，常常感到灵里枯竭，我懂什么？但是每一次来到主前，祂就赐给我灵感，让我知道如何下笔。好像以前在诗班事奉，那真是每次都像在过红海。因为我们的诗班员大多不会看谱，有的会走音，有的会变调，更惨的是我们打拍子也打不准，因此我们的司琴以最大的爱心和耐心陪我们度过了一年又一年。奇妙的是，虽然我们没有水准，每次靠着神的恩典和能力，每次的献诗都唱得特别好，因此我们自称为恩典诗班。我们原本是站不起来的，但是神的灵进入我们里面，给我们有站起来的能力。

His Name is Wonderful

2023-08-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 13:15-25.  Let’s go!

Judges 13:15-18 (NIV)
15  Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.”
16  The angel of the LORD replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)
17  Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”
18  He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.”

On verses 15-18:  If scholars are correct and the angel of the LORD is a Christophany (i.e an appearance of Christ), then it’s appropriate that the angel of the LORD says that his name is “beyond understanding” (v18) or, also translated, “wonderful”.  For that is what Christ’s name is.  His name is so far beyond any other name in terms of power, authority and wonder.  As Isaiah 9:6 says, “And he will be called Wonderful, Counselour, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

神荣耀的形像

2023-08-18 in , /by

以西结书 1:28 下雨的日子云中虹的形状怎样，周围光辉的形状也是怎样。这就是耶和华荣耀的形象。

阅读经文: 以西结书1:1-28

1当三十年四月初五日，以西结在迦巴鲁河边被掳的人中，天就开了，得见神的异象。 2 正是约雅斤王被掳去第五年四月初五日， 3 在迦勒底人之地迦巴鲁河边，耶和华的话特特临到布西的儿子祭司以西结，耶和华的灵降在他身上。

第一节的“当三十年四月初五日”，在英文是When I was thirty years of age，是指以西结三十岁那年的四月五日。那时以西结已经被掳到巴比伦五年了。巴比伦把被掳来的人分配在不同的地方居住，以西结和一些犹大人就被分派到迦巴鲁河边。迦巴鲁河现在改名为迦博河，是幼发拉底河的一条支流，行经现在的土耳其和伊拉克。

犹大人被掳到巴比伦，心怀故国，从〈诗篇〉137篇可以感受到他们的心情：“我们曾在巴比伦的河边坐下，一追想锡安就哭了。我们把琴挂在那里的柳树上。因为在那里，掳掠我们的要我们唱歌，抢夺我们的要我们作乐，说：「给我们唱一首锡安歌吧！」 我们怎能在外邦唱耶和华的歌呢？耶路撒冷啊，我若忘记你，情愿我的右手忘记技巧！我若不记念你，若不看耶路撒冷过于我所最喜乐的，情愿我的舌头贴于上膛！(vv.1-6)”﹝我心旋律﹞圣乐事工把它改成〈给我一颗中国心〉：“给我一颗中国心，一颗中国心，每当我在寄居地歌唱，想到你就哭了，中国啊，中国啊，我心所爱，愿你不再哭泣。中国啊，中国啊，若我忘记你，情愿右手忘记技巧；中国啊，中国啊，若不纪念你，情愿舌头贴于上膛。”

What Faith Looks Like

2023-08-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 13:1-14.  Let’s go!

Judges 13:1-5 (NIV)
1  Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
2  A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless.
3  The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son.
4  Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean,
5  because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

On verses 1-5:  The purpose of a Nazirite vow was to live a life that was specially set apart for God for a short period of time.  According to Numbers 6:1-8, a person making a Nazirite vow must abstain from wine, haircuts, and touching dead bodies.  Usually a Nazirite vow was something that a person took voluntarily for a set period of time.  In the case of this child to be born in Judges 13, the Nazirite vow was a calling he was given by God (it wasn’t voluntary) and it was to last all his life.

What’s the Password?

2023-08-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 12:1-15.  Let’s go!

Judges 12:1-4 (NIV)
1  The men of Ephraim called out their forces, crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”
2  Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands.
3  When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?”
4  Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh.”

On verses 1-4:  In the book of Judges so far, the Ephraimites come across repeatedly as complainers.  When Gideon defeated the Midianites, the Ephraimites complained as to why they did not participate more (Judges 8:1).  When Jephthah defeated the Ammonites, the Ephraimites complained as to why Jephthah didn’t involve them (Judges 12:1).  They even call Jephthah and the Gileadites “nothing but half-breeds and rejects from Ephraim and Manasseh” (Judges 12:4, MSG).  The Ephraimites would pay for their complaining and trash talking, as Jephthah decides to attack the Ephraimites.