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The Tower We Hide In

2023-08-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 9:44-57.  For context, we’ll begin at verse 42.  Let’s go!

Judges 9:42-49 (NIV)
42  The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43  So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them.
44  Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance to the city gate. Then two companies rushed upon those in the fields and struck them down.
45  All that day Abimelech pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.
46  On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.
47  When Abimelech heard that they had assembled there,

On verses 42-49: What a solemn and dramatic way for the feud between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem to end.  After destroying most of the city and the people of Shechem (v42-45), Abimelech burns the remaining 1,000 citizens of Shechem alive while they are hiding in the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.  Ironically, this is possibly the same temple where the citizens of Shechem first cursed Abimelech and started their revolt against him (see Judges 9:27).  As verse 57 notes, it’s also an uncanny fulfillment of the curse Jotham enunciated in Judges 9:20 (“let fire come out from Abimelech and consume you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelech!”)

No Rivals To His Throne

2023-08-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 9:30-43.  For context, we’ll begin at verse 26.  Let’s go!

Judges 9:26-41 (NIV)
26  Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his brothers into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him.
27  After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
28  Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelech?

On verses 26-41:  A politically ambitious, power hungry Gaal moves into Shechem city with his brothers and begins to talk with the citizens of Shechem city about usurping Abimelech as ruler of Israel.  With intel from Zebul, the governor of Shechem city, Abimelech hears what Gaal has been saying and plans an ambush against Gaal.  A fight ensues between Abimelech, Governor Zebul and Abimelech’s army on one side and Gaal and the citizens of Shechem on the other.  The result is that Abimelech and Governor Zebul successfully drive Gaal and his brothers out from Shechem.

耶路撒冷沦陷

2023-08-10 in , /by

耶利米书 52:2   西底家行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，是照约雅敬一切所行的。

阅读经文:  52:1-34

1 西底家登基的时候年二十一岁，在耶路撒冷做王十一年。他母亲名叫哈慕她，是立拿人耶利米的女儿。 2 西底家行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，是照约雅敬一切所行的。 3 因此耶和华的怒气在耶路撒冷和犹大发作，以致将人民从自己的面前赶出。

4 西底家背叛巴比伦王。他做王第九年十月初十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军来攻击耶路撒冷，对城安营，四围筑垒攻城。 5 于是城被围困，直到西底家王十一年。 6 四月初九日，城里有大饥荒，甚至百姓都没有粮食。 7 城被攻破，一切兵丁就在夜间从靠近王园两城中间的门出城逃跑。迦勒底人正在四围攻城，他们就往亚拉巴逃去。 8 迦勒底的军队追赶西底家王，在耶利哥的平原追上他；他的全军都离开他四散了。 9 迦勒底人就拿住王，带他到哈马地的利比拉巴比伦王那里。巴比伦王便审判他。

假如你是西底家王，你会不会有不一样的选择？记不记得，他曾经私底下问过耶利米，在巴比伦大军来袭时，他该怎么做？耶利米跟他说什么呢？你记得吗？耶利米对西底家说：“耶和华万军之神，以色列的神如此说：你若出去归降巴比伦王的首领，你的命就必存活，这城也不致被火焚烧，你和你的全家都必存活。你若不出去归降巴比伦王的首领，这城必交在迦勒底人手中。他们必用火焚烧，你也不得脱离他们的手。（耶38:17-18）”

神把生死两条路摆在西底面前，让他自己选择。第一个选择是出去归降巴比伦王的首领，西底家的命就必存活，这城也不致被火焚烧，王和他的全家都必存活。你觉得这个选择好不好？这个选择的结果有三个好处，一，王自己可以存活；二，耶路撒冷不致被火焚烧，表示耶路撒冷不必死更多人，城也不致被毁坏。做君王的，岂不当为子民着想吗？三，王和全家都必存活。这么好的选择，西底家害怕的却是：“我怕那些投降迦勒底人的犹大人，恐怕迦勒底人将我交在他们手中，他们戏弄我。”

Two Keys to Living Honourably

2023-08-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 9:16-29.  Let’s go!
 
Judges 9:16-20 (NIV)
16  “Now if you have acted honorably and in good faith when you made Abimelech king, and if you have been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family, and if you have treated him as he deserves–
17  and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian
18  (but today you have revolted against my father’s family, murdered his seventy sons on a single stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave girl, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is your brother)—
19  if then you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today, may Abimelech be your joy, and may you be his, too!
20  But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelech!”
 
On verses 16-20:  Here Jotham calls out Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem on how they treated his father Gideon and his whole family.  He spotlights how in return for Gideon risking his life to save the Israelites from the hand of Midian, Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem murdered all but two of Gideon’s sons.  Jotham shows how wicked, unjust and dishonorable their actions were.  In a diplomatic way, Jotham gives Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem both a conditional blessing and a conditional curse.  He says that if Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem have acted honourably and in good faith, may Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem have a joyful relationship together (v19).  But if they have not acted honourably and in good faith, may they end up turning on each other and burning one another (v20).

神向巴比伦所定的旨意

2023-08-09 in , /by

耶利米书 51:20   你是我争战的斧子和打仗的兵器。我要用你打碎列国，用你毁灭列邦。

阅读经文:  51:20-40

20 「你是我争战的斧子和打仗的兵器。我要用你打碎列国，用你毁灭列邦， 21 用你打碎马和骑马的，用你打碎战车和坐在其上的， 22 用你打碎男人和女人，用你打碎老年人和少年人，用你打碎壮丁和处女， 23 用你打碎牧人和他的群畜，用你打碎农夫和他一对牛，用你打碎省长和副省长。」 24 耶和华说：「我必在你们眼前，报复巴比伦人和迦勒底居民在锡安所行的诸恶。」

这件事神做得合理吗？神使用巴比伦去惩罚犹大，打碎他们的一切，但是又要报复巴比伦人和迦勒底居民在锡安所行的诸恶，当你读的时候，会不会感到有点矛盾？既然是神要他们做的，怎能怪他们？

让我们来听听以色列人的控诉：“巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒吞灭我，压碎我，使我成为空虚的器皿。他像大鱼将我吞下，用我的美物充满他的肚腹，又将我赶出去。” 锡安的居民说：“巴比伦以强暴待我，损害我的身体，愿这罪归给她！” 耶路撒冷人说：“愿流我们血的罪归到迦勒底的居民！”

所以神有怎样的反应，神说：“我必为你申冤，为你报仇。我必使巴比伦的海枯竭，使她的泉源干涸。巴比伦必成为乱堆，为野狗的住处，令人惊骇、嗤笑，并且无人居住。 他们要像少壮狮子咆哮，像小狮子吼叫。他们火热的时候，我必为他们设摆酒席，使他们沉醉，好叫他们快乐，睡了长觉永不醒起。”

Stand Up To Evil and Justice

2023-08-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 9:1-15.  Let’s go!

Judges 9:1-15 (NIV)
1  Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan,
2  “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
3  When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
4  They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers, who became his followers.

On verses 1-15:  Here Abimelech, one of Gideon’s sons, attempts to become ruler over the city of Shechem by murdering his brothers and gathering around himself a crowd whose loyalty he could buy.  The one other son of Gideon who survived is Jotham, and Jotham decides to stand up to Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem just as Abimelech is about to be crowned their ruler.  Jotham’s speech in verses 7-15 is a parable communicating that those who are truly worthy to rule are too busy doing worthwhile work while Abimelech is the last person who should be ruling based on his character.  He compares Abimelech to a thornbush that is impossibly trying to cast a shade over the rest of the bigger trees around it.

谁是真神？

2023-08-08 in , /by

耶利米书 51:15   耶和华用能力创造大地，用智慧建立世界，用聪明铺张穹苍。

阅读经文:  51:1-19

1耶和华如此说：「我必使毁灭的风刮起，攻击巴比伦和住在立加米的人。 2 我要打发外邦人来到巴比伦，簸扬她，使她的地空虚，在她遭祸的日子他们要周围攻击她。 3 拉弓的要向拉弓的和贯甲挺身的射箭，不要怜惜她的少年人，要灭尽她的全军。 4 他们必在迦勒底人之地被杀仆倒，在巴比伦的街上被刺透。」

第50/51章看起来是继续论到巴比伦的灭亡，但是从经文里，却更可以看到神的性情。神的公义，神的慈爱，以及神的能力。更重要的是，为何祂是独一的真神。在圣经里，神曾经向假神们挑战。耶和华对假神说：“你们要呈上你们的案件。雅各的君说：你们要声明你们确实的理由。 可以声明，指示我们将来必遇的事，说明先前的是什么事，好叫我们思索，得知事的结局，或者把将来的事指示我们。 要说明后来的事，好叫我们知道你们是神。你们或降福或降祸，使我们惊奇，一同观看。（赛41:21-23）”唯有真神，走在历史之前，因为只有祂知道将来的事。

这就是真神和假神的分别。假神和偶像由邪灵操纵，它们会展现一下超能力，或许也让你尝一下名利富贵的甜头，但它们的目的是要引诱人离开正路，让人的一生成为它的傀儡。说句不好听的话，就是让人永不得超生。因为假神没有赋予人生命的权柄和能力，跟着它走，一生就走向灭亡了。就像巴比伦的命运一样，有一时的辉煌，却遭到永远的灭亡。

耶稣做我们的中保

2023-08-07 in , /by

耶利米书 50:34  他们的救赎主大有能力，万军之耶和华是祂的名，祂必申清他们的冤，好使全地得平安，并搅扰巴比伦的居民。

阅读经文:  50:33-46

33 万军之耶和华如此说：「以色列人和犹大人一同受欺压，凡掳掠他们的都紧紧抓住他们，不肯释放。 34 他们的救赎主大有能力，万军之耶和华是祂的名，祂必申清他们的冤，好使全地得平安，并搅扰巴比伦的居民。」

万军之耶和华如此说：“以色列人和犹大人一同受欺压，凡掳掠他们的都紧紧抓住他们，不肯释放。”这一句形容出神的子民经历的苦境，无法自救的绝望。下一句，神接着说：“他们的救赎主大有能力，万军之耶和华是祂的名，祂必申清他们的冤，好使全地得平安，并搅扰巴比伦的居民。”这下一句话，立刻把以色列人和犹大人的绝望做了个翻转，他们的神还在，他们的神大有能力，他们的神并不只是在观望。祂必申清他们的冤，祂必使全地得平安，祂必使祂的子民有能力去搅扰巴比伦的居民。

我们常常鼓励人：神帮助那些肯帮助自己的人（天助自助者）。但有位牧师说，圣经里没有说过这样的话，圣经说的是，神要帮助那些没有办法帮助自己的人。就像耶稣说的，“无病的人用不着医生，有病的人才用得着。 我来本不是召义人悔改，乃是召罪人悔改。（路5:31）”倘若一个人觉得很健康，就不会去找医生；倘若一个人自觉完美，就不会觉得有悔改的必要。所以倘若一个人觉得他很能干，什么都可以自行解决，神还帮他做什么？他可能还觉得神碍手碍脚的。

Worship The Creator, Not the Creation

2023-08-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Judges 8:22-35.  Let’s go!

Judges 8:22-27 (NIV)
22  The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us–you, your son and your grandson–because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.”
23  But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.”
24  And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)
25  They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each man threw a ring from his plunder onto it.
26  The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks.
27  Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.
 
On verses 22-27:  In response to being rescued from the Midianites, the Israelites offer to make Gideon and his descendants their ruler (v22).  Gideon refuses the offer, saying that it is the LORD who will rule over them (v23).  Notice that in verse 22 the Israelites do not credit God as having anything to do with their rescue.  Their focus rather is man-centered.  This shows our sinful tendency as people to want to worship and focus on created things over and above the Creator.  This tendency to worship created things over the Creator is highlighted even more in the verses that follow: Gideon asks the Israelites for gold, makes an ephod with the gold, and the Israelites worship it. 

追念与坚定所立之约

2023-08-06 in , /by

以西结书 16:5 然而我要追念在你幼年时与你所立的约，也要与你立定永约。

阅读经文:  今天因为经文很长，请大家自行上网取读。 以西结书 16章

当你完整章后，对于其中所用的字汇是否觉得很不习惯？因为神把整件事描绘得很“露骨”。我们习惯了包装、修饰过的形容，尽量让我们的文字显得高雅，但是这里的文字显露的是一片污俗不堪的情景，就是神的爱和人的悖逆和庸俗。从神的眼光来看以色列人的光景，原来人是如此忘恩负义，不知羞耻，丑陋不堪；也因而当我读到神还要追念并坚定和以色列人所立的永约时，我的心深受感动。

那是人的本相，不只是以色列人。全世界的人都亏欠了神的荣耀。神把祂的荣耀给了人类，没有给其他动物；但是有许多人活得比禽兽不如。不仅不记念神的恩典，荒淫无度，放纵自己，彼此欺凌，漠视神所订的规律，还美其名为人权。

神知道在我们当中所行的那些可耻的事，神知道我们不喜欢跟随祂的公义度日。神知道人不可爱，但是祂还要爱。神知道人悖逆，但祂还要守约。不仅追念，还要坚定。“我要坚定与你所立的约，你就知道我是耶和华”。这句话倒过来说就是：你们不知道我是耶和华，所以我要继续坚定与你所立的约，你才会知道我是信实的神。然后呢？神希望我们被祂的信实所吸引。因为这世上多的是背约不守信之人，但是神要让人看到希望，有一个信实的神，以永远不变的爱爱我们。所以无论我们落在怎样的景况里，都可以回转归向祂。