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You Are God’s Treasured Possession

2022-06-13 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 7:1-11.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 7:1-2 (NIV)
1  When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations–the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you–
2  and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.
 
On verses 1-2:  As a young Christian, I was really impacted by the “can do” attitude that the Bible would teach followers of Jesus to have.  Whenever I would read the Bible in high school, the lesson that would impact me over and over is that no matter how tough the odds and how difficult the challenge, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).   That is no accident, and not simply a function of my own bias or background, for that is truly what the Bible teaches. 
 
We see Moses inculcating that “can do” attitude in the Israelites here.  The Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites were all larger and stronger than the Israelites (v1).  Yet God chose the Israelites and would enable the Israelites to overpower these larger and stronger nations. 

That Will Be Your Righteousness

2022-06-12 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 6:14-25.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 6:14-25 (NIV)
14  Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;
15  for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.
16  Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.
17  Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you.
18  Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers,

On verses 14-25:  Whether it’s not following other gods (v14-15), not testing God (v16), keeping all of God’s stipulations and decrees (v17), always doing what is right in God’s sight (v18), or teaching the next generation about God (v20), it is clear here that God’s standards are absolutely perfect.  That’s why God demanded perfect obedience from the Israelites.  Moses sums it up in verse 25 when he says that “if we are careful to obey all of God’s laws, that will be “our righteousness”.  By “righteousness”, Moses means that God will see them as blameless and qualified to be in His presence.

脾氣不好的原因

2022-06-12 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:30  心中安靜是肉體的生命，嫉妒是骨中的朽爛。

閱讀經文：箴言14:30-35

30心中安靜是肉體的生命，嫉妒是骨中的朽爛。31欺壓貧寒的是辱沒造他的主，憐憫窮乏的乃是尊敬主。32惡人在所行的惡上必被推倒，義人臨死有所投靠。33智慧存在聰明人心中，愚昧人心裡所存的顯而易見。34公義使邦國高舉，罪惡是人民的羞辱。35智慧的臣子蒙王恩惠，貽羞的僕人遭其震怒。

脾氣不好的原因

請不要一直這樣想，你缺那麼一點點，所以不喜樂。你缺某門課，所以裝備不足。你會成了日夜鞭策自己，失去生命的喜樂與平安。

如同那個大兒子，對父親說：「我服事你這多年，從來沒有違背過你的命，你並沒有給我一隻山羊羔，叫我和朋友，一同快樂。」(路加福音15:29) 可憐的 人，他總是缺乏一隻山羊羔。他很用功、很認真、很盡力，像是斯巴達的勇士，為了任務，每天苦待自己，鍛鍊再鍛鍊，到可以以一擋百。但是耶穌沒有要我們那 樣，祂說：「我們理當歡喜快樂。」(路加福音15:32)

「心中安靜，是肉體的生命；嫉妒是骨中的朽爛。」(箴言14:30) 安靜的人有滿足的心，服事有力。妒嫉的人是不滿足，不滿足使他成為自虐的人，不斷自己與別人比較，結果乏力，如同骨質朽爛。

我在美國的老友，在我返台前請我吃頓豐富的早餐，他對我說：「高中畢業後，四十多年來，我看你的優點是一直很認真，缺點是一直太認真。」啊，說的好。過去，我是斯巴達勇士；如今，我求主是裝備。願我們與主同樂，一起去吃肥牛犢。

雷納德的父親

2022-06-10 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:26  敬畏耶和華的大有倚靠，他的兒女也有避難所。

閱讀經文：箴言14:25-29

25作真見證的救人性命，吐出謊言的施行詭詐。26敬畏耶和華的大有倚靠，他的兒女也有避難所。27敬畏耶和華就是生命的泉源，可以使人離開死亡的網羅。28帝王榮耀在乎民多，君王衰敗在乎民少。29不輕易發怒的大有聰明，性情暴躁的大顯愚妄。

在美國司法科學教科書的範本裡記載了一個真實的事例。在1985年，由於某些查案手續的不完整，以致於才22歲的雷納德‧卡騰（Ronald Cotton）被控訴性侵犯案成立。雖然他一再強調自己的無辜，並且真正的作案者也承認了罪行，卻無助於翻案，反而被判更重的刑期。時間在無助和憤怒中緩緩地過去，有天雷納德的母親中風了，再也不能去探監，獄中的雷納德想到自己被誣陷，以致連最親愛的母親需要他時，都不能前去照顧。他的憤怒和怨恨不停地上升。

他偷了一塊鐵器，悄俏把它磨成一把尖銳的利刃，打算為自己報仇，去殺掉那個真正犯案，卻害他坐冤獄的傢伙。他把自己的計劃告來探監的父親。他的父親年輕時脾氣很壞，十分風流，到處留種，雷納德在監獄裡還碰上了幾個同父異母的兄弟。但是此時他父親已經信主悔改，戒了酒，並且十分敬虔，甚至在教會做執事。

他父親對他說：“雷納德，你告訴我，你是無辜的。我相信你。然而，要是你殺了這個人，你就永遠回不了家，一輩子屬於這個地方。”探監時間結束，雷納德思考著父親的話，他想到自己若是謀殺普爾，那與其他犯罪的獄友差別又在哪裡呢？隔天，他就把那把刀丟了。他開始參加監獄裡的詩班和讀聖經。他父親和姊姊鼓勵他，要禱告相信主。父親告訴他：“兒子啊，當沒人幫助你時，主會是你的幫助。當沒人聆聽你時，祂側耳傾聽你。”

Get It On Your Heart

2022-06-10 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 6:1-13.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 (NIV)
1  These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
2  so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
3  Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
 
On verses 1-3:  Why did God direct Moses to teach this current generation of Israelites his commands?  It’s so that they and the generations after them would fear (i.e. reverence, trust, and honour) the Lord (v2) and so that they would enjoy long (i.e. a full) life.  In other words, God’s purpose for teaching His Word is not for entertainment or expanding one’s knowledge.  Rather, God’s purpose for teaching us His Word is to effect life change, that we would know God better and love Him more.

Stay Here With Me

2022-06-09 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 5:23-33.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 5:23-27 (NIV)
23  When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leading men of your tribes and your elders came to me.
24  And you said, “The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him.
25  But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer.
26  For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?
27  Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”
 
On verses 23-27:  Moses reminds the current generation of Israelites that when their parents first heard God’s voice speaking to them all, their parents were afraid of God, believing they would die if they heard the voice of God any longer.  So that previous generation of Israelites asked Moses to go and listen to God on their behalf, so that they would not have to hear God’s voice directly. 
 

自己的冠冕

2022-06-09 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:24  智慧人的財為自己的冠冕，愚妄人的愚昧終是愚昧。

閱讀經文：箴言14:17-24

17輕易發怒的行事愚妄，設立詭計的被人恨惡。18愚蒙人得愚昧為產業，通達人得知識為冠冕。19壞人俯伏在善人面前，惡人俯伏在義人門口。20貧窮人連鄰舍也恨他，富足人朋友最多。21藐視鄰舍的，這人有罪；憐憫貧窮的，這人有福。22謀惡的，豈非走入迷途嗎？謀善的，必得慈愛和誠實。23諸般勤勞都有益處，嘴上多言乃致窮乏。24智慧人的財為自己的冠冕，愚妄人的愚昧終是愚昧。

你有沒有發現，作者在表達他的教導時，一定有正反兩面，好讓讀者可以思考。例如：輕易發怒有何後果呢？輕易發怒就是動不動就生氣，換句話說，這是很不成熟的個性，這樣的人做起事來像小孩子，誰喜歡與他合作呢？發怒時做的決定，往往會令人後悔不已。因為發怒時所做的事都但憑情緒主宰，無法有週詳的考慮，這就是所謂的愚妄。設立詭計的人會有怎樣的後果呢？世界上沒有不透風的牆，他的詭計和惡心一定會被眾人知道，那時何等羞恥，這就是害人損己的作法。

第18節：“愚蒙人得愚昧為產業，通達人得知識為冠冕”，中文的翻譯很抽象；但是畢德生牧師的翻譯很精采：Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground.一個愚昧人活在自己用幻想建立起來的世界，所以什麼也得不到；有智慧的人腳踏實地。這節和23節有異曲同工之妙：“諸般勤勞都有益處，嘴上多言乃致窮乏。”腳踏實地的人才有可能盡諸般的勤勞，只會空口說白話，做白日夢的人，必然一事無成，什麼也得不到。

有一條路人以為正

2022-06-08 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:12    有一條路人以為正，至終成為死亡之路。

閱讀經文：箴言14:5-11

12有一條路人以為正，至終成為死亡之路。13人在喜笑中心也憂愁，快樂至極就生愁苦。14心中背道的必滿得自己的結果，善人必從自己的行為得以知足。15愚蒙人是話都信，通達人步步謹慎。16智慧人懼怕，就遠離惡事，愚妄人卻狂傲自恃。

在人類的歷史上，有一些人成為世人的拯救者，其中一位是蘇聯海軍軍官瓦西里·亞歷山德羅維奇·阿爾希波夫，在1962年古巴導彈危機期間，因為他所在的潛艇攜帶核武器要送去古巴，被美國發現而攔止。他的艇長以為被美國攻擊，意欲發射核魚雷。幸虧阿爾希波夫極力反對，終於說服其他軍官讓潛艇浮出水面，避免了一場核戰。

還有一位是斯坦尼斯拉夫·耶夫格拉弗維奇·彼得羅夫。在1983年，他成功地阻止美蘇核戰的爆發。因為在那年的某一天，蘇聯指揮中心的核預警系統突然發出警報：美國向蘇聯發射了一枚核彈。大多數人接到這樣的警報會有怎樣的反應呢？若不是躲起來，就是立刻反擊吧，來個魚死網破，兩敗俱傷。但是彼得羅夫認為預警系統很有可能屬於誤報，冷靜地向上司陳述，終於避免了一場核戰爭。

倘若有任何一次的核戰爭爆發，你和我今天就不能活得如此自在了。在爭執之中，雙方都會認為自己的看法是正確的，即使知道是通往死亡之路，也以為非如此不可。這便是人被恐懼和憤怒所控制而產生的執著。另外一種情形，是人以為對自己有好處的，明知最後也通往死亡，卻還是要走。這就是人的盲點，不選生選死，不肯接受自己會犯錯的迷思。

2 Reasons God Gives Us the 10 Commandments

2022-06-08 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 5:1-22.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 5:1-3 (NIV)
1  Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.
2  The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.
3  It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
 
On verses 1-3:  Moses reminds this current generation of Israelites that God’s commandments were not just for their ancestors or for an older generation that is long gone.  Rather, they are relevant for them as well (v3).  Likewise, God’s Word is not a relic of the past, or something that belongs in a museum.  Rather, God’s Word is relevant for us, for “all of us who are alive here today”. 

興盛的帳篷

2022-06-07 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:11    奸惡人的房屋必傾倒，正直人的帳篷必興盛。

閱讀經文：箴言14:5-11

5誠實見證人不說謊話，假見證人吐出謊言。6褻慢人尋智慧卻尋不著，聰明人易得知識。7到愚昧人面前，不見他嘴中有知識。8通達人的智慧在乎明白己道，愚昧人的愚妄乃是詭詐。9愚妄人犯罪以為戲耍，正直人互相喜悅。10心中的苦楚自己知道，心裡的喜樂外人無干。11 奸惡人的房屋必傾倒，正直人的帳篷必興盛。

人的一生都在尋求智慧，因為希望自己能成功，成為人上人；不然可以解決生活上碰到的難題也可以。猶太人亦然，但是他們有一個很特出的教育方法，使他們的孩子在世界上可以走出自己的路。

有個故事講到猶太人如何注重從孩子年幼時就進行傳統的文化教育。但是有一位以色列的學者卻無法使他的孩子對學習產生興趣，老師對他的孩子也放棄努力，他只好在家裡教他讀〈創世記〉。

有一次戰爭中，羅馬軍攻打他們居住的城巿，把小男孩俘虜了，關到監獄裡。有一天，正好凱撒來視察，無意中看到一本他不知道名字的書。他問有沒有人會讀這本書？監獄官就把小男孩帶去見凱撒，讓小男孩把這本書讀給凱撒聽。那本書正是小男孩學過的〈創世記〉。

凱撒聽後說：“這顯然是上帝的旨意，上帝向我打開祂的世界，讓我把這小孩子送回他父親身邊。”於是叫人準備了一些金銀珠寶，又派士兵把小男孩送回去。此後人們都說：“這孩子的父親只教他讀了一卷書，上帝就賜福給他了。想想看，如果勤於學習神的話語，把整本《聖經》讀完。那麼他得到的獎賞會有多大啊！”