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強權的敗亡

2023-09-25 in , /by

以西結書  32:3   主耶和華如此說：我必用多國的人民，將我的網撒在你身上，把你拉上來。

閱讀經文：以西結書32:1-32

1十二年十二月初一日，耶和華的話臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你要為埃及王法老作哀歌，說：『從前你在列國中如同少壯獅子，現在你卻像海中的大魚。你衝出江河，用爪攪動諸水，使江河渾濁。 3 主耶和華如此說：我必用多國的人民，將我的網撒在你身上，把你拉上來。 4 我必將你丟在地上，拋在田野，使空中的飛鳥都落在你身上，使遍地的野獸吃你得飽。 5 我必將你的肉丟在山間，用你高大的屍首填滿山谷。 6 我又必用你的血澆灌你所游泳之地，漫過山頂，河道都必充滿。 7 我將你撲滅的時候，要把天遮蔽，使眾星昏暗，以密雲遮掩太陽，月亮也不放光。 8 我必使天上的亮光都在你以上變為昏暗，使你的地上黑暗。這是主耶和華說的。

本章先知把埃及比喻為原始的水中怪物，在有生之日禍害人群，而巴比倫則以英勇戰神的姿態擊滅水怪。強權的背後，是神的手在操縱一切。

V.1-2獅子是百獸之王。法老自認為是世界上最偉大的領袖，像百獸之王獅子那樣雄心勃勃，治理列國。他因驕傲，憑著魯莽的野心，入侵周邊列國，使列國的生活陷入惶恐不安中。

法老被比作大魚(2節)，V.3「網」則比喻聯軍。預言由多個國家民族組成的巴比倫軍隊將攻打埃及，神利用殘暴的巴比倫軍隊來懲罰埃及的驕傲。

3 Clues For Recognizing a False Teacher

2023-09-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:14-26.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 2:14-18 (NIV)
14  Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
15  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
16  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18  who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

On verses 14-18:  The background behind these verses is that Timothy is still dealing with the threat of false teaching influencing his church.  Individuals like Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that “the resurrection has already taken place” (v18).  In so doing their teaching, like gangrene (v17), had already started to spread and affect some in Timothy’s church, leading them astray (v18b).

成功與滅亡

2023-09-24 in , /by

以西結書  31:18  在這樣榮耀威勢上，在伊甸園諸樹中，誰能與你相比呢？然而你要與伊甸的諸樹一同下到陰府，在未受割禮的人中與被殺的人一同躺臥。

閱讀經文：以西結書31:1-18

1十一年三月初一日，耶和華的話臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你要向埃及王法老和他的眾人說：『在威勢上誰能與你相比呢？ 3 亞述王曾如黎巴嫩中的香柏樹，枝條榮美，影密如林，極其高大，樹尖插入雲中。 4 眾水使它生長，深水使它長大，所栽之地有江河圍流，汊出的水道延到田野諸樹。 5 所以它高大超過田野諸樹，發旺的時候枝子繁多，因得大水之力枝條長長。 6 空中的飛鳥都在枝子上搭窩，田野的走獸都在枝條下生子，所有大國的人民都在它蔭下居住。

本章以亞述的榮耀與沒落為喻，藉此警告極度驕傲的法老，不可重蹈亞述的覆轍，倘若埃及心驕氣傲，也必落到與亞述一樣的下場。

先知將亞述比喻為一棵高大的香柏樹，受到眾水的滋潤。如同亞述的首都尼尼微周圍的底格里斯河與它的支流，是使亞述繁榮發展的原動力；而埃及同樣得著尼羅河的滋潤而興盛。V.5樹身高大超過田野諸樹，是表明亞述的政治、軍事和財富遠比其他民族優越。「枝子繁多」則意味著亞述領土的擴張,統治力量與權勢也擴大。大樹猶如母親一般，呵護眾生，列邦也曾受到強國的保護與管理。因著神的祝福，亞述發展成強國。然而，他們因著自己的輝煌功績而心存驕傲，最終難逃遭上帝審判與刑罰的命運。

If You Want to Be Used Greatly by God

2023-09-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:14-26.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 2:14-18 (NIV)
14  Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
15  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
16  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18  who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

On verses 14-18:  The background behind these verses is that Timothy is still dealing with the threat of false teaching influencing his church.  Individuals like Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that “the resurrection has already taken place” (v18).  In so doing their teaching, like gangrene (v17), had already started to spread and affect some in Timothy’s church, leading them astray (v18b).

不合神心意的同盟

2023-09-22 in , /by

以西結書  30:19  我必這樣向埃及施行審判，他們就知道我是耶和華。

閱讀經文：以西結書30:1-25

1耶和華的話又臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你要發預言說：『主耶和華如此說：哀哉這日！你們應當哭號。 3 因為耶和華的日子臨近，就是密雲之日，列國受罰之期。 4 必有刀劍臨到埃及，在埃及被殺之人仆倒的時候，古實人就有痛苦；人民必被擄掠，基址必被拆毀。 5 古實人、弗人、路德人、雜族的人民並古巴人，以及同盟之地的人，都要與埃及人一同倒在刀下。

本章提及不僅埃及將受到審判，連那些與埃及聯盟的國家與城巿，也會一同面對神的審判。

第4、6、8節，「古實」在尼羅河的下游(即埃及北部)，「弗」、「路德」、「古巴」及「色弗尼塔」皆為非洲地名，是當時與埃及結盟的軍隊。當神要審判埃及的時候，所有要來幫助埃及的人也必要與埃及一同滅亡。

第20節說，十一月正月即主前586年4月，是耶路撒冷失陷前的三個月，當時法老合弗拉應西底家請求，出兵到耶路撒冷，卻被圍城的巴比倫軍隊打敗。 第22節說，這是耶和華將他的膀臂全行打斷，之後巴比倫軍隊遠征埃及，結果埃及人分散在列邦。

Everything We Need Is In Jesus

2023-09-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:1-13.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 2:1 (NIV) 
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

On verse 1:  No matter how difficult your situation is today, praise God that there is grace in Jesus Christ so that you can be strong.  Regardless of the trial you’re facing, God’s grace is always sufficient for you.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV) 
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 

On verse 2:  Paul had spent so much of his life preaching and teaching others.  Now that his life was nearing an end, he tells Timothy to entrust what he has previously preached and taught to trustworthy men who can teach others.   Paul was concerned about the next generation. 

Guard What God Has Given You in Christ

2023-09-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

There are so many lessons we can learn from today’s passage, 2 Timothy 1:8-18.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV) 
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 

Verse 8:  In Paul’s time it was politically incorrect to be a Christian, so much so that identifying yourself as a Christian was to invite serious persecution, even execution.  Under these circumstances, a much more worldly father would tell his son, “Take the easy way out.  Don’t identify yourself as a Christian if it will risk your security and safety.”   But Paul does not do that.  Rather, Paul tells Timothy, his dear son in the faith, not to be ashamed of his faith in Jesus, to live for Jesus whatever the cost.

What can we learn from this?  

錯誤的倚靠

2023-09-21 in , /by

以西結書  29:13  主耶和華如此說：滿了四十年，我必招聚分散在各國民中的埃及人。

閱讀經文：以西結書29:1-21

1第十年十月十二日，耶和華的話臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你要向埃及王法老預言攻擊他和埃及全地， 3 說：『主耶和華如此說：埃及王法老啊，我與你這臥在自己河中的大魚為敵，你曾說：「這河是我的，是我為自己造的。」 4 我耶和華必用鉤子鉤住你的腮頰，又使江河中的魚貼住你的鱗甲。我必將你和所有貼住你鱗甲的魚，從江河中拉上來， 5 把你並江河中的魚都拋在曠野。你必倒在田間，不被收殮，不被掩埋。我已將你給地上野獸、空中飛鳥做食物。 6 埃及一切的居民，因向以色列家成了蘆葦的杖，就知道我是耶和華。 7 他們用手持住你，你就斷折，傷了他們的肩；他們倚靠你，你就斷折，閃了他們的腰。

主前八至六世紀，以色列位於兩個強國中間，東北有亞述和巴比倫，西南側有埃及，夾在兩強中間的以色列有時必須與埃及結盟來對抗亞述和巴比倫。本章針對以色列所倚靠的埃及說預言。

埃及對以色列而言，像是她所手中倚賴的一根杖，但這根杖卻是一根蘆葦的杖(V.6)，表明埃及在耶和華神的手中也是自身難保，是軟弱的。雖然埃及本身自比為尼羅河中的大魚(是近東神話中的水中怪物)，法老猖狂自大、不可一世，但仍然逃不過審判的命運，將遭遇四十年長久的荒廢(V.12)。

When You’re Facing Death’s Door

2023-09-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of 2 Timothy, a letter written by Paul to his disciple and fellow pastor Timothy.  2 Timothy is very likely the last letter that Paul wrote before he was executed (beheaded by Caesar Nero).  When you read 2 Timothy, you’ll notice clues that Paul himself knew that his days on earth were coming to a close.  As such, this letter is very tender and heartfelt, like a last letter from a father to his son.

2 Timothy 1:1 (NIV) 
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

On verse 1:  Paul would often begin his letters by identifying himself as “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”.  But this time he adds an extra phrase: “according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”.   It’s because Paul knows that his days on earth are nearing an end.  Rather than complaining or feeling sorry for himself, he focuses on the promise of eternal life that is in Christ Jesus.

你是人，不是神

2023-09-20 in , /by

以西結書  28:2b  你雖然居心自比神，也不過是人，並不是神。

閱讀經文：以西結書28:1-26

1耶和華的話又臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你對推羅君王說：『主耶和華如此說：因你心裡高傲，說「我是神，我在海中坐神之位」，你雖然居心自比神，也不過是人，並不是神。 3 （看哪，你比但以理更有智慧，什麼祕事都不能向你隱藏。 4 你靠自己的智慧、聰明得了金銀財寶，收入庫中。 5 你靠自己的大智慧和貿易增添資財，又因資財心裡高傲。） 6 所以主耶和華如此說：因你居心自比神， 7 我必使外邦人，就是列國中的強暴人，臨到你這裡。他們必拔刀砍壞你用智慧得來的美物，褻瀆你的榮光。 8 他們必使你下坑，你必死在海中，與被殺的人一樣。 9 在殺你的人面前，你還能說「我是神」嗎？其實你在殺害你的人手中，不過是人，並不是神。 10 你必死在外邦人手中，與未受割禮的人一樣，因為這是主耶和華說的。』」

以西結書26-27 章，已特別預言了腓尼基海港推羅的下場，指出尼布甲尼撒將陸上的推羅毀掉（26:6-11），而亞歷山大將摧毀海島推羅（26:3-5、12-14）。26:15-21， 以及27 全章，提及那些與推羅有貿易的國家及城市，都因推羅潰敗而在商業及 經濟上受到嚴重影響。哀悼推羅傾覆，及痛哭世界貿易受損，就成爲上述兩段經 文的高潮。在啟示錄18 章以更感人的筆觸再帶出這兩個主題。啟示錄十八章栩 栩如生地描繪了末日的巴比倫傾毀於一旦，而世界上所有的商業城都爲此痛哭不已。