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How Is Sorrow Better than Laughter?

2023-10-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 7:1-14.  Of all the chapters in Ecclesiastes that we have read so far, chapter 7 resembles the book of Proverbs the most in terms of its contents and how they are presented.  Here Qohelet gives many short, pithy statements, similar to Proverbs, although in some ways harder to interpret.
 
Ecclesiastes 7:1 (NIV)
1  A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
 
On verse 1:  A person’s reputation (“a good name”) is more important (“better”) than what perfume that person wears, for that person’s reputation will stick with that person longer than any perfume will.  A person’s day of death is better than their day of birth in that what people say about you when you die is even more important than what they say about you when you are born.  
 

耶和華沙瑪

2023-10-12 in , /by

以西結書 48:35b  從此以後，這城的名字必稱為『耶和華的所在』。

閱讀經文:  以西結書48:1-35

1「眾支派按名所得之地記在下面：從北頭，由希特倫往哈馬口，到大馬士革地界上的哈薩以難，北邊靠著哈馬地（各支派的地都有東西的邊界），是但的一份。 2 挨著但的地界，從東到西，是亞設的一份。 3 挨著亞設的地界，從東到西，是拿弗他利的一份。 4 挨著拿弗他利的地界，從東到西，是瑪拿西的一份。 5 挨著瑪拿西的地界，從東到西，是以法蓮的一份。 6 挨著以法蓮的地界，從東到西，是魯本的一份。 7 挨著魯本的地界，從東到西，是猶大的一份。

這是本書最後的部分，以傳信者的形式：「主耶和華如此說」(結47:13)開始，一直到48章結束，成為有力的結語。聖地的重新劃分，預表了新的恩典；新的聖民必在此地安居，新的出埃及將遠比首次出埃及更有榮光，分地的安排就更有意義了。讀以賽亞四十章，就會予人這樣的印象。

本章最後一節「城四圍共一萬八千肘，從此以後，這城的名字必稱為耶和華的所在。」(V. 35)，「所在」與「名字」二詞的字根相同。這是聖城，應有新的名字，必稱為耶和華的所在，因為耶和華的榮耀已經回來，住在其中。耶和華的聖名，就是這城的名字。神的子民都可到聖殿來朝見神，神必永遠與他們同在。這是何等的美、何等的善。

聖殿的水流

2023-10-11 in , /by

以西結書 47:1  祂帶我回到殿門，見殿的門檻下有水往東流出（原來殿面朝東）。這水從檻下，由殿的右邊，在祭壇的南邊往下流。

閱讀經文:  以西結書47:1-23

1他帶我回到殿門，見殿的門檻下有水往東流出（原來殿面朝東）。這水從檻下，由殿的右邊，在祭壇的南邊往下流。 2 他帶我出北門，又領我從外邊轉到朝東的外門，見水從右邊流出。3 他手拿準繩往東出去的時候，量了一千肘，使我趟過水，水到踝子骨。 4 他又量了一千肘，使我趟過水，水就到膝。再量了一千肘，使我趟過水，水便到腰。 5 又量了一千肘，水便成了河，使我不能趟過，因為水勢漲起，成為可洑的水，不可趟的河。

本章中1-12節引入一個新的境界，生命的水流由聖殿流出，象徵神的福分，是以色列信仰的觀念。詩篇46:4節說：「有一道河，這河的分汊，使神的城歡喜。這城就是至高者居住的聖所。」以西結在此處強調以色列民族的復興，是樂園失而復得了。對於被擄的百姓來說，是他們夢寐以求的盼望。

歸納而言，聖殿在度量中似乎極為獨特，不容人們接近。但是聖所有水流出，表明神仍然願意給予人無限的福分，帶來生命與醫治的大能，使一切都能變化與更新；死海可謂巴勒斯坦地理環境中最危害的因素，卻因神的大能而使海水變為甘甜，萬物得以滋長繁茂，這是神何等的救贖與恩典。

The Questions Only Jesus Is Qualified To Answer

2023-10-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 6:1-12.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, known as the “Teacher” and the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as King Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon. 

Ecclesiastes 6:1-6 (NIV)
1  I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men:
2  God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.
3  A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4  It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.
5  Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man–
6  even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
 
On verses 1-6:  Here once again Qohelet speaks about how meaningless and sad it is when a person has wealth but is not able to enjoy it.  Likewise, God has given you wealth in many different ways, whether you’re aware of it or not.  The question is: do you realize how wealthy you are and do you actually enjoy your wealth? A life well-lived is one where you take stock of the wealth God has given you, use it for God’s purposes, and are able to enjoy life yourself. 

每早晨預備

2023-10-10 in , /by

以西結書 46:13  每日你要預備無殘疾、一歲的羊羔一隻，獻於耶和華為燔祭，要每早晨預備。

閱讀經文:  以西結書46:1-25

1『你們拈鬮分地為業，要獻上一份給耶和華為聖供地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。這份以內，四圍都為聖地。 2 其中有作為聖所之地，長五百肘，寬五百肘，四面見方。四圍再有五十肘，為郊野之地。 3 要以肘為度量地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。其中有聖所，是至聖的。 4 這是全地的一份聖地，要歸於供聖所職事的祭司，就是親近侍奉耶和華的，作為他們房屋之地與聖所之聖地。 5 又有一份，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘，要歸於在殿中供職的利未人，作為二十間房屋之業。

本章分別對於敬拜的禮儀與君王的產業繼承，以及祭司廚房設置作規範。13-15節分別都提到「每早晨預備」一詞，可見這是很重要的短句。聖殿的早祭是十分被看重的。祭司在黎明時吹角，宣佈早晨的來臨。耶路撒冷合城的人都應該儆醒預備，因為這是獻早祭的時候。在被擄之前，這常獻的祭是每日必作的。此處似乎只集中在早祭，晚祭並沒有提到。

月朔是每月的，安息日是每週的，而早祭是每日的，在這時段時間上，王與人民必須時時警覺耶和華的同在，並應虔心的敬拜。

Enjoying Your Life Takes Skill and God’s Grace

2023-10-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 5:8-20.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, known as the “Teacher” and the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as King Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon. 

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 (NIV)
8  If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
9  The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

On verses 8-9:  Having seen it all, Qohelet presumes, both in his country and other countries, Qohelet tells his listeners not to be surprised when they see oppression and injustice, which he believes are commonplace. 

What does it mean to “let your words be few”?

2023-10-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 5:1-7.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, known as the “Teacher” and the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as King Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon. 

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 (NIV)
1  Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
2  Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
3  As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.
 
On verses 1-3:  Here Qohelet gives some advice on how to worship God in church: “go near to listen” (v1) and “do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God” (v2); rather, “let your words be few”.  Does this mean that the quieter you are in church, the more spiritual you are?  No, Qohelet’s talking about the attitude of your heart.  When you go to worship God, go with a humble heart that’s eager to listen and learn, rather than to boast about yourself or make promises you can’t keep. 

公義君王的規範

2023-10-09 in , /by

以西結書  45:9b  以色列的王啊，你們應當知足，要除掉強暴和搶奪的事，施行公平和公義，不再勒索我的民。

閱讀經文:  以西結書45:1-25

1『你們拈鬮分地為業，要獻上一份給耶和華為聖供地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。這份以內，四圍都為聖地。 2 其中有作為聖所之地，長五百肘，寬五百肘，四面見方。四圍再有五十肘，為郊野之地。 3 要以肘為度量地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。其中有聖所，是至聖的。 4 這是全地的一份聖地，要歸於供聖所職事的祭司，就是親近侍奉耶和華的，作為他們房屋之地與聖所之聖地。 5 又有一份，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘，要歸於在殿中供職的利未人，作為二十間房屋之業。

在先知以西結預言即將結束的45-48章中，解釋了王國時期以色列土地的劃分原則。部分歸給神，部分歸給君王，部分歸給十二支派所屬。最早分配應許之地是在征服迦南地的時候，當時由約書亞和大祭司以利撒，還有十二支派的首領們一起在神面前拈鬮決定分地(民34:16-29; 書13-22)。到了所羅門王朝時期，他將以色列全地分成十二個分封地，每個分封地必須負責王家一個月的生活開支(王上4:7-19)。但是這些領土的界線並沒有改變。

耶和華為祭司的產業

2023-10-08 in , /by

以西結書  44:28  祭司必有產業，我是他們的產業。不可在以色列中給他們基業，我是他們的基業。

閱讀經文:  以西結書44:1-31

1他又帶我回到聖地朝東的外門，那門關閉了。 2 耶和華對我說：「這門必須關閉，不可敞開，誰也不可由其中進入。因為耶和華以色列的神已經由其中進入，所以必須關閉。

3 「至於王，他必按王的位分坐在其內，在耶和華面前吃餅。他必由這門的廊而入，也必由此而出。」

4 他又帶我由北門來到殿前。我觀看，見耶和華的榮光充滿耶和華的殿，我就俯伏在地。 5 耶和華對我說：「人子啊，我對你所說耶和華殿中的一切典章、法則，你要放在心上，用眼看，用耳聽，並要留心殿宇和聖地一切出入之處。

延續43章神的榮光再現之後，本章一開始就指出東門關閉了。「這門必須關閉」(2節)，理由是神從朝東的外門進入聖殿(結43:1-2)，此門已成為聖潔，同時也表示神不會再離開，所以此門不再使用。東門現稱為「金門」，是耶路撒冷目前最古老的一座城門。迄今仍然關閉，可能與此傳統有關。根據猶太人傳統，至聖者的同在，總是通過這座門顯現，當彌賽亞來臨時將再次開門進入。

聖經三次告訴我們，撒督的後裔可作為祭司(結40:46; 43:19; 44:15)。撒督是亞倫第三個兒子以利亞撒的子孫(代上6:1-8; 50-53)，他曾在大衛王的統治時期與亞比亞他同作祭司(撒下8:17; 代上15:11)。然而，亞比亞他後來背叛大衛，投入王位繼承者亞多尼雅的陣營(王上1)，因此導致後裔永不能作祭司的代價，在祭司以利和他的兒子身上被應驗(王上2:26-27)。

Serve God’s Purpose in Your Generation

2023-10-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 4:1-16.  In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, known as the “Teacher” and the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as King Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon. 

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 (NIV)
1  Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed– and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors– and they have no comforter.
2  And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
3  But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
 
On verses 1-3:  Some who argue that Qohelet can’t be Solomon point to verses like verse 1 and say, “How can Qohelet really be King Solomon when he talks about oppression this way, like a bystander who can’t do anything about it? Surely a king wouldn’t talk this way.”  My response would be two-fold.  First, Qohelet does say that he was king of Israel (see 1:12), so whether one thinks a king would say something like this or not, the fact is Qohelet is saying it.