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不要作個尖牙利齒的人

2022-03-11 in , /by

〈約伯記〉18:5　惡人的亮光必要熄滅，他的火焰必不照耀。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉18章

謝謝張文亮教授概允引用他的〈約伯記〉筆記，使我們有機會從一個專家的眼光來明白約伯和朋友們說的比喻。張教授有更多文章刊登在河馬教授的網站，歡迎大家多去閱讀。今天要來看看張教授這一篇：〈不要作個尖牙利齒的人〉，對比勒達的形容。

比勒達是生氣了，他第二次發言時，也許是等太久了，幾乎用謾罵取代勸勉，用咒詛取代祝福。很難想像一個飽讀史書、知書達禮的智者，一轉眼就變成尖牙利 嘴的咒罵者。這也許是喜好歷史者容易滋生的苦悶，看不慣別人時，就容易產生苦毒。他在第二次發言時，責罵約伯是「惡人」（wicked）。

惡人也有改變時

什麼是惡人？比勒達眼中的惡人是不敬虔的人，有自己的亮光，卻不靠上帝的光，他說那亮光必要熄滅。他也認為惡人是離開正道、偏行己路的人。他在這一點 的論述上，呈現他豐富的字彙與詞藻，「網」、「網羅」、「圈套」、「機關」、「活扣」、「羈絆」會將惡人絆倒，使他們不能往前。他也認為惡人是不義的人， 所以飢餓、禍患要臨到他們身上，末了，他為惡人作了個總結──根本要枯乾，絕子絕孫，他真是會罵惡人。

比勒達厭惡惡人，但是對惡人的厭惡，也不能無限制的延伸，甚至罵到惡人的子孫，因為惡人也可能會悔改，變成義人，惡人的子孫也可能不是惡人。比勒達對於惡人遭受審判的邏輯也太過簡化，許多惡人的審判不在今世，而在未來。

The Way Church Is Meant to Be

2022-03-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:37-47.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:37-41 (NIV)
37  When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
41  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
 
On verses 37-41:  God uses Peter and his sermon to lead approximately 3,000 new believers to faith in Jesus and to get baptized that day, an incredible move of God.  What can we learn from this?  Here are a few lessons I learn:
 
1. When God’s Word is preached well, the end result is that the hearer  is “cut to the heart” (v37) – i.e. touched, impacted and convicted in a way that leads them to want to follow Jesus.  Speaking of cutting to the heart, that’s why Hebrews 4:12 describes the word of God as “living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  When God’s Word is preached well, the result is not just information but transformation. 

To Connect with Your Audience, You Need To…

2022-03-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:29-36.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:29-33 (NIV)
29  “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
30  But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
31  Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.
32  God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.
33  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

On verses 29-33:  Peter connects the Scripture passages he quoted before (Joel 2 and Psalm 16) with what his audience is seeing in front of them to deliver one coherent message:  that Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again is now the one at the Father’s right hand pouring out the Holy Spirit on His church.
 
Acts 2:34-36 (NIV)
34  For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
35  until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”‘
36  “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

義人要持守所行的道

2022-03-10 in , /by

〈約伯記〉17: 9  然而，義人要持守所行的道，手潔的人要力上加力。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉17章

人生有的時候會像約伯一樣，來到一個地步，感覺：“我的心靈消耗，我的日子滅盡，墳墓為我預備好了”。因為自己沒有力量，什麼都不能做，因而感到：“我的日子已經過了，我的謀算，我心所想望的，已經斷絕”。假如你也落在這樣的光景中，約伯的嘆息會成為你的安慰；若是你的光景比約伯更好，還能自主，享受人生，你也可以因而感謝，並且珍惜神給你的福氣。神為何讓約伯如此消沉的話也放到《聖經》裡呢？實在是要讓我們知道人的有限，並且學習珍惜自己的人生。

2015年法國接受了許多敘利亞難民，卻遭到ISIS的攻擊，因此很多國家都拒絕收敘利亞的難民，尤其是加拿大對於接收敘利亞難民的反對聲不斷。有一天在敬拜時，牧師以〈彼得前書〉三章8-18節來勉勵會眾：“不以惡報惡、以辱罵還辱罵，倒要祝福，因你們是為此蒙召，好叫你們承受福氣。也要離惡行善，尋求和睦，一心追趕。”假如我們因為懼怕而拒絕難民，就好像約伯臣服於撒旦的勢力之下；但是假如我們敢以善拒惡的話，那麼我們就凌駕於撒旦之上了。“不以惡報惡、以辱罵還辱罵”是一個基督徒的功課，主耶穌已經親身做了榜樣。當羅馬兵丁鞭打侮辱祂之後，又把祂釘上十字架，在那錐心的苦痛之中，祂卻禱告：“父啊，饒恕他們，因為他們做的，他們不曉得”。

Stronger Than Death

2022-03-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:22-28.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:22-23 (NIV)
22  “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
23  This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

On verses 22-23:  After explaining in Acts 2:14-21 where this outpouring of the Holy Spirit was coming from, Peter transitions into talking about Jesus.  He begins by describing Jesus as a man accredited by God and through whom God did many miracles, wonders and sins (v22).  He then speaks of how, in accordance with God’s plan, Jesus was handed over and put to death on the cross, saying to his audience that “you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death” (v23).  

Peter, who was very much a people pleaser in the past, pulls no punches when telling his audience that they put Jesus to death.  With the filling of the Holy Spirit comes a boldness in you that you wouldn’t otherwise have.

約伯力言其憂苦難堪

2022-03-09 in , /by

〈約伯記〉16:19 現今，在天有我的見證，在上有我的中保。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉16章

因為約伯不接受朋友們的控訴，所以第三輪的辯論又開始了。還是由年長的以利法開始。提幔人以利法是以掃的後裔，可以想見的，他是一位非常敬虔的老人。所以在以掃的後裔中也有敬畏上帝之輩，並非全然遠離神。他帶著好意來看約伯，希望能幫助約伯，但是在約伯的悲嘆中，他聽出了約伯要找神理論之意，因而大起反感。人怎麼可以在神面前稱義？人怎能說自己毫無過犯？人怎能批評神的作為？遭災之人豈不當反省悔改嗎？怎麼反而指責神不公不義？以利法開始發“義怒”了。

雅各說：“人的怒氣並不成就神的義”（雅1:20）。神在後來責備以利法和朋友們：“我的怒氣向你和你兩個朋友發作，因為你們議論我，不如我的僕人約伯說的是”（伯42:7）。以利法為了神而發怒，但是神並沒有因而被感動，反而覺得他亂講話。後來約伯還得為以利法和朋友們獻祭祈禱，他們才得赦免。神在聽他們講話，聽他們的辯論。神也聽我們講話，聽我們的議論。因此主耶穌說：“你們不要論斷人，免得你們被論斷”（太7:1）

以利法可能就是他自己說的：“我們這裡有白髮的和年紀老邁的，比你父親還老”的那位，所以他非常不能接受約伯想要和神理論的想法。這裡好像產生了一點代溝的問題。有時候我對時下年輕人的想法也會感到很驚奇。和我同輩的人大多覺得，現代的年輕人不像我們年輕時那樣埋頭苦幹，想要存錢，有一番作為。時下的年輕人比較會享受生活，只要存了一點錢就去旅行，他們比較懂得生活。不像我們以前總是為了將來而活，無法享受到人生的樂趣。因此聆聽和學習去理解是我們都要學習的功課。

The Fulfillment of Prophecy

2022-03-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:14-21.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:14-15 (NIV)
14  Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
15  These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
 
On verses 14-15:  Before a crowd of thousands, Peter stands up and is about to tell them about Jesus. Peter, who used to be ashamed of his faith and denied Jesus in front of a few people, is now speaking to thousands about the difference Jesus has made in his life.  That’s the power of the Holy Spirit working.  The Holy Spirit gives us courage, strength and wisdom to do what we could not do in our own power.
 
By the way, I find Peter’s statement in verse 15 funny.  “These men are not drunk…It’s only nine in the morning!” as if to say, “Just wait until 12pm.  That’s when we’re more likely to get drunk.”  Of course, I’m pretty sure that’s not what Peter meant.  Instead Peter is wisely addressing the elephant in the room and debunking a misconception that many in the crowd may have had about what was going on.     

以利法再度責約伯

2022-03-08 in , /by

〈約伯記〉15:14 人是什麼，竟算為潔淨呢？婦人所生的是什麼，竟算為義呢？

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉15章

因為約伯不接受朋友們的控訴，所以第三輪的辯論又開始了。還是由年長的以利法開始。提幔人以利法是以掃的後裔，可以想見的，他是一位非常敬虔的老人。所以在以掃的後裔中也有敬畏上帝之輩，並非全然遠離神。他帶著好意來看約伯，希望能幫助約伯，但是在約伯的悲嘆中，他聽出了約伯要找神理論之意，因而大起反感。人怎麼可以在神面前稱義？人怎能說自己毫無過犯？人怎能批評神的作為？遭災之人豈不當反省悔改嗎？怎麼反而指責神不公不義？以利法開始發“義怒”了。

雅各說：“人的怒氣並不成就神的義”（雅1:20）。神在後來責備以利法和朋友們：“我的怒氣向你和你兩個朋友發作，因為你們議論我，不如我的僕人約伯說的是”（伯42:7）。以利法為了神而發怒，但是神並沒有因而被感動，反而覺得他亂講話。後來約伯還得為以利法和朋友們獻祭祈禱，他們才得赦免。神在聽他們講話，聽他們的辯論。神也聽我們講話，聽我們的議論。因此主耶穌說：“你們不要論斷人，免得你們被論斷”（太7:1）

以利法可能就是他自己說的：“我們這裡有白髮的和年紀老邁的，比你父親還老”的那位，所以他非常不能接受約伯想要和神理論的想法。這裡好像產生了一點代溝的問題。有時候我對時下年輕人的想法也會感到很驚奇。和我同輩的人大多覺得，現代的年輕人不像我們年輕時那樣埋頭苦幹，想要存錢，有一番作為。時下的年輕人比較會享受生活，只要存了一點錢就去旅行，他們比較懂得生活。不像我們以前總是為了將來而活，無法享受到人生的樂趣。因此聆聽和學習去理解是我們都要學習的功課。

Without THIS Moment We Wouldn’t Be Here Today

2022-03-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

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

Acts 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5  Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
6  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7  Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
8  Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
9  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome
11  (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

On verses 1-11:  Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Weeks, was one of the big three festivals in the Jewish calendar (the other two being the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles – see Leviticus 23).  Happening on the 50th day after the Passover Feast (Pentecost in ancient Greek means “Fiftieth”), Pentecost was a time to thank God for the harvest.  It is fitting that God chose Pentecost to be the day when He would fill His church with the Holy Spirit.  

人生如花似影

2022-03-07 in , /by

〈約伯記〉14:7 樹若被砍下，還可指望發芽，嫩枝生長不息。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉14 章

約伯感嘆人生日子之短少，以及人出生於污穢的世界裡，怎可能完全無罪？既然如此，約伯求神不要對他要求太高，寧可轉眼不看他的罪，讓他得以歇息，直到人生的盡頭。所以約伯雖然覺得自己有理，沒有做什麼壞事，但是當他想到自己年幼之時可能有的過犯，以及可能附合過與社會中一些作法或思想，他知道自己在神面前無法完全。神若數點人的過犯，誰能完全？但是約伯屢屢提及，人生有限，神若不住手加苦害於他，以後神要再找他就找不到了；等神的憤怒過去再要找約伯時，他已經躺下不再起來，不得復醒了。頗有“你到時不要後悔”的意思在裡面。這就是約伯和神的關係，深到一個地步，約伯知道神很愛他，也必然想念他。

約伯想到人若沒有指望，連兒女的升尊或降卑都無所謂了；“但知身上疼痛，心中悲哀”。身外的人事物都不像肉體的攻擊那樣使人感到挫折。因為人有自尊心，有獨立的需求，很多事我們可以自己做時，不願假他人之手，不然就會很沮喪。例如吃飯、洗澡、走路、梳頭，等等的日常生活瑣事，若還需要人家來餵你，幫你洗澡，會讓人覺得很沒用，一無是處，只是個負擔。疼痛雖是個美好的禮物，可以讓我們知道危險而採取應對，但是有的疼痛會使人使去自理的能力，使人覺得像條蟲，不再有人的尊嚴，而感到十分悲哀。

張文亮教授針對這第十四章寫下了〈上帝之斧〉一文，對植物有精闢之解，會讓大家對本章有更多的理解：我對植物學的認識，大都是來自我在加州大學戴維斯分校（University of California-Davis）的學習。我不知道約伯是在哪裡上過課，他怎麼知道這麼多植物的知識？聽啊！他說：「樹若被砍下，還可以指望發芽，嫩枝生長不息。其根雖然衰老在地裡，樹也死在土中，及到得了水氣，還要發芽，又長枝條，像新栽的樹一樣。」（約伯記14:7-9），距今三仟年多前的約伯，怎麼有這麼精確敘述？