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Jesus, Your Ticket to the Promised Land

2022-08-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 32:40-52.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 32:40-44 (NIV)
40  I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever,
41  when I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me.
42  I will make my arrows drunk with blood, while my sword devours flesh: the blood of the slain and the captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.”
43  Rejoice, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people.
44  Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people.

On verses 40-44:  Here Moses finishes his song for the Israelites.  His song ends talking about God’s vengeance against His enemies, how God will avenge the blood of His people (v43), punish all wrongdoing and eliminate His adversaries.  That is what a just God does.  God would not be just if He did not hate evil or punish wrongdoing.  God is a just judge and a mighty warrior who will one day put an end to all evil.  

美名胜过大财

2022-08-16 in , /by

箴言22:1  美名胜过大财，恩宠强如金银。

阅读经文：箴言 22:1-2

1美名胜过大财，恩宠强如金银。2富户穷人在世相遇，都为耶和华所造。

第1节：美名胜过大财，恩宠强如金银。A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;  a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.《The Message》

这话乍看就是：名比利好（我们中国人就这样讲）。不过我们应该还是可以看得深入一点。「名」怎么讲也是你自己经年累月给人家的一种印象，因此你这名是「美名」，是因为你这个人，使你有一个好的名声（如果是恶名当然就是不好，我们这里不谈恶名）。

「美名」是经年累月下，一切的美善造成的；是你自己的一个东西。但「大财」不是你自己的东西，不管是不是你赚的，真的都像中国人讲的身外之物，会随时长翅膀、如飞而去。但如果经年累月从你生命里活出来的，就不会飞掉，所以你真实的生命是属于你自己的，那比「大财」要好得多。

「恩宠强如金银」，「恩宠」和「金银」又都是身外物：「恩宠」是别人对你的好处，不管是上帝或是君王对你的好处。又为什么强如金银？如果美名是指你自己一切的生命，恩宠就是指另外一个人的生命，这人的生命他有实权、有实际的能力，他愿意对你好，那就比无定的钱财要更好了。

换句话说：「美名和恩宠」都是一个人（或者神）实质所发出来的东西，比「大财和金银」随时在转移、流动，要稳固得多。所以让我们有一个美好的生命（长期的美好生命等于美名），那比会转瞬过去的大财好；让我们有从神自己生命出来的恩宠，那比金银要好。(康来昌牧师)

How to Live with More Discernment

2022-08-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 32:26-39.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 32:26-39 (NIV)
26  I said I would scatter them and blot out their memory from mankind,
27  but I dreaded the taunt of the enemy, lest the adversary misunderstand and say, ‘Our hand has triumphed; the LORD has not done all this.'”
28  They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them.
29  If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be!

On verses 26-39:  Moses turns his attention to the enemies of Israel.  He foresees that when Israel is defeated by their enemies as a consequence of disobeying God, their enemies will think that they were victorious because of their own strength and power, rather than giving the credit to God.  God wishes that they would all have the discernment to know that without Him there is no way they could have been successful.  Knowing that this is how Israel’s enemies will respond, Moses says that God in His sovereignty will deal with Israel’s enemies in His own time, such that not just Israel but other nations will see that the LORD is God.

得胜乃在乎耶和华

2022-08-15 in , /by

箴言21:31  马是为打仗之日预备的，得胜乃在乎耶和华。

阅读经文：箴言 21:24-31

24心骄气傲的人，名叫亵慢，他行事狂妄，都出于骄傲。25懒惰人的心愿将他杀害，因为他手不肯做工。26有终日贪得无厌的，义人施舍而不吝惜。27恶人的祭物是可憎的，何况他存恶意来献呢？28作假见证的必灭亡，唯有听真情而言的，其言长存。29 恶人脸无羞耻，正直人行事坚定。30没有人能以智慧、聪明、谋略抵挡耶和华。31马是为打仗之日预备的，得胜乃在乎耶和华。

有一位作家写了一篇文章，说到自生一生的败笔有两方面，一是不能战胜自己的懒惰，二是不能战胜自己的欲望。懒惰是因为不肯好好学习，害怕困难，能不学就不学，所以错过了许多机会。二是自己的欲望里都是享福作乐戏耍之流，所以人生一事无成。“懒惰人的心愿将他杀害，因为他手不肯做工”。懒惰的人也知道自己懒，但是还是那么爱惜自己的手。存乎一心，存乎一心，要不要放开手去做，真的是存乎一心。

很多人都想功成名就，但都像这位作家一样，知道不下苦工，根本无法达到自己想要的成就。所以在《箴言》这本书里，让我们看到人生的成功不在于有什么没什么，而在于能否坚守道德底线，一路前行，而不致在人生的尽头后悔不已。

祂的救恩作我们的坚垒

2022-08-14 in , /by

箴言21:22   智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒

阅读经文：箴言 21:22-23

22智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒。23谨守口与舌的，就保守自己免受灾难。

第22节：智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒。One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers— their trusted defenses fell to pieces!《The Message》

我们不要太自信，以为自己廉洁到可以通过任何金钱的诱惑，圣洁到可以无感于出轨的可能，细心到任何的话语不会出差错，利害到所有的发表没瑕疵，冷静到所有的状况都可应付。我们能平安度日，自我感觉良好，是考验不大，未逢高手。人生若阅历丰富，生命若尚存谦虚，感谢主。

「智慧人爬上勇士的城墙，倾覆他所倚靠的坚垒。」(箴言21:22)这是很好的警告。高的城墙，蜘蛛可爬上；坚固的堡垒，怪手可推倒。强的依靠，大力士可以倾覆。有力的背景，媒体可找到破绽。仔细的作帐，调查局都找得到有瑕疵的发票。社会上有句话：「黑道怕老大，老大怕刑警，刑警怕局长，局长怕市长，市长怕议员，议员怕媒体，媒体怕企业，企业怕大众，大众怕黑道。」

至于我们，我们敬畏上帝，以祂的救恩作我们的坚垒。（张文亮教授）

You’re Blessed with God’s Best

2022-08-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 32:13-25.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 32:13-15 (NIV)
13  He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag,
14  with curds and milk from herd and flock and with fattened lambs and goats, with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat. You drank the foaming blood of the grape.
15  Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek…

On verses 13-15a:  Verses 13-14 describe how God gave Israel His best provision.  His provision for them was not ordinary, but extraordinary.  Truly God had allowed the Israelites to come into a land of milk (v14) and honey (v13).  In the same way, the Holy Spirit is working in your life when you acknowledge that your heavenly Father’s provision for your life is not ordinary but extraordinary.  That includes every blessing He has given you and most especially His Son Jesus Christ.

男人需要旷野

2022-08-12 in , /by

箴言21:21   追求公义仁慈的，就寻得生命、公义和尊荣。

阅读经文：箴言 21:19-22

19 宁可住在旷野，不与争吵使气的妇人同住。20智慧人家中积蓄宝物、膏油，愚昧人随得来随吞下。21追求公义仁慈的，就寻得生命、公义和尊荣。

第19节：宁可住在旷野，不与争吵使气的妇人同住。Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse.《The Message》

很早以前，上帝要该隐去流浪。因此男人的身边，应该有一片旷野。很可惜，该隐选择住了下来，从此男人失去旷野。男人要竞争较胜，在商场里拥挤，在工作中争 取立足之地，在热门中打拼，在评估表格里攀爬等。我们往人多的地方去，在多人看见的地方表演。 连一点点独处的旷野也糊掉。结果，时代进步，男人退化。

退化的男人，身边的妇人会爱争吵；沮丧的男人，同住的妇人易使气。这是男人失去旷野的反作用力，是太小空间撞击机率的提升，争吵与使气是人际压力要寻找外 泄的方式。这时增加人际的距离，到旷野是降压的好方式。这是热力学的原理，也是圣经所讲的光景：「宁可住在旷野，不与争吵使气的妇人同住。」(箴言21:19)（张文亮教授）

妇人爱争吵，易生气，要怪女人吗? 不，这是男人失去旷野的症候群。重回旷野吧。

You are the Apple of God’s Eye

2022-08-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 32:1-12.  As promised we’ll also look at Deuteronomy 31:30 as well.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 31:30 (NIV)
30  And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

On verse 30:  Moses is known more as a lawgiver than a songwriter.  Still, there are two songs that Moses is credited with in the Bible.  One of them is here.  Moses’ purpose in presenting this song is to give praise to God as well as to teach the current generation of Israelites some important truths.  Let’s take a look in the verses that follow.

Deuteronomy 32:1-2 (NIV)
1  Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2  Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

恶人做了义人的赎价

2022-08-11 in , /by

箴言21:17   爱宴乐的必致穷乏，好酒爱膏油的必不富足。

阅读经文：箴言 21:16-18

16迷离通达道路的，必住在阴魂的会中。17爱宴乐的必致穷乏，好酒爱膏油的必不富足。18恶人做了义人的赎价，奸诈人代替正直人。

第16节：迷离通达道路的，必住在阴魂的会中。Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.《The Message》

这节经文使我想起本仁约翰写的《天路历程》。本书讲述一个“基督徒”为寻求永生而踏上荆棘遍布的遥远之旅。当基督徒离开毁灭城去寻找天国时，一路上遇到了各种阴险人物的诱惑和凶险，经历了许多考验，也学会了怎样抵制诱惑、战胜困难，终于抵达天国，天门为他而开。

这一路上的阴险人物便是撒旦和邪灵的化身，牠们的目的便是要基督徒离开正道。只要基督徒离开正道，牠们便可以完全控制他，让他身不由己地做出原本不想做的事情。这也是人生的本相，我们若没有神的话在心中做指引，便会落入撒旦的诱惑和掌控中，还以为自己很聪明。

God’s Love For You Is Stronger Than Your Sin Against Him

2022-08-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 31:14-30.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 31:14 (NIV)
14  The LORD said to Moses, “Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, where I will commission him.” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.

On verse 14:  God had been preparing Joshua to be Moses’ successor for some time already (see Deuteronomy 3:28 and Numbers 27:15-23).  Moses had already publicly commissioned Joshua so that all the people knew who would lead them after Moses died (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).  Now in verse 14, we see God personally and privately commissioning Joshua at the Tent of Meeting in Moses’ presence (v14).  In verse 23, God speaks to Joshua directly and tells him to be strong and courageous.  

Notice that it is God who chose, prepared and raised up the next leader for Israel.  It wasn’t done by a democratic vote by the people.  It was God’s decision, which He communicated to Moses.