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人怎能在神面前稱義

2022-03-01 in , /by

〈約伯記〉9:4 他心裡有智慧，且大有能力，誰向神剛硬而得亨通呢？

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉9 章

在〈約伯記〉裡，我們可以讀到很多精采的辯論，這些辯論和論述所使用的文句極為精美，光是約伯用來形容人生在世的短暫就有這樣多精采的比喻：我的日子比賽跑的更快，我的日子過去如快船，如急落抓食的鷹，我的生命不過是一口氣，我的日子比梭更快。再看約伯對神的形容，足可顯出他對神的認識：“但人在神面前怎能成為義呢？若願意與他爭辯，千中之一也不能回答。他心裡有智慧，且大有能力，誰向神剛硬而得亨通呢？”很多人在神面前自以為義，但是約伯知道，人在神的面前是無法稱義的。

因為人若想與神爭辯，千中之一也不能回答。 If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. 千中之一的意思是，即使有人想和神爭辯，給他一千個問題，他也回不了一個。這也是在後來發生的事情，神給約伯的每一個問題，約伯都無法回。你若不相信，我就給你一個簡單的：“誰為雨水分道？誰為雷電開路？山巖間的野山羊幾時生產，你知道嗎？母鹿下犢之期，你能察定嗎？”約伯一個問題也答不出來。我們自己以為可以滔滔不絕的理，到了神面前，什麼也不是。

接下來，約伯的形容你看看最有可能發生在何時？“祂發怒把山翻倒挪移，山並不知覺。祂使地震動離其本位，地的柱子就搖撼。祂吩咐日頭不出來，就不出來，又封閉眾星。祂獨自鋪張蒼天，步行在海浪之上。祂造北斗、參星、昴星，並南方的密宮。祂行大事不可測度，行奇事不可勝數。”神在何時發怒把山翻倒挪移呢？何時使地震離本位，使地的柱子搖撼？何吩咐日頭不出來又封閉眾星？何時獨自鋪張蒼天，步行在海浪之上？何時造北斗、參星、昴星，並南方的密宮？這裡彷彿給了我們一點〈創世記〉的影子。〈創世記〉第一章第一節第一節說：“起初，神創造天地。”緊接著第二節就是：“ 地是空虛混沌，淵面黑暗，神的靈運行在水面上”。接著，神就造出空氣，將空氣以下的水、空氣以上的水分開了。神稱空氣為天。然後，神造了兩個大光，大的管晝，小的管夜，又造眾星。約伯的形容開展了我們的視野，彷彿畫出神創造時的精采過程。

You’re Perfectly Blessed Because Jesus Perfectly Obeyed

2022-03-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 39:22-43.  Let’s go! 

Exodus 39:22-31 (NIV)
22  They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth–the work of a weaver–
23  with an opening in the center of the robe like the opening of a collar, and a band around this opening, so that it would not tear.
24  They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe.
25  And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates.
26  The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the LORD commanded Moses.
27  For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen–the work of a weaver–
28  and the turban of fine linen, the linen headbands and the undergarments of finely twisted linen.
29  The sash was of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn–the work of an embroiderer–as the LORD commanded Moses.
30  They made the plate, the sacred diadem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.
31  Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the LORD commanded Moses.

On verses 22-31:  As we saw with so many of the priestly clothes described in verses 1-21, notice that Aaron’s robe, tunic, and turban were made of fine material, done by a craftsman, and adorned with gold.  It all speaks of how highly God valued the office of the priest.  Since as believers in Jesus Christ, we too are priests in God’s kingdom, let it be a reminder not to take our role as priests lightly or for granted.  May we approach our calling as priests with reverence and respect, and give God service that is of high quality and high value too.

Bling Bling for the King

2022-02-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 39:1-21.  Let’s go!

Exodus 39:1-21 (NIV)   
1  From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses.
2  They made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.
3  They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen–the work of a skilled craftsman.
4  They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached to two of its corners, so it could be fastened.
5  Its skillfully woven waistband was like it–of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the LORD commanded Moses……

On verses 1-21:  After describing the building of the tabernacle and all its furniture (Exodus 36-38), Moses goes on to describe in Exodus 39 the making of the clothes for Aaron the high priest and his sons who will all serve as priests.  Exodus 39 is basically the fulfillment of Exodus 28, when the LORD first tells Moses the kind of clothes that the high priest and priests should wear.

Here’s what I notice: notice how blingy the high priest’s clothes are.  Whether it’s the ephod (v2), the waistband (v5), the onyx stones in gold filigree settings (v6), or the breastpiece (v15-21), all of it is decorated with gold.  You only put gold on someone you think is worthy of it.  The fact that God put so much gold on His high priest and saw to it that his clothes were decorated in gold speaks of how valuable the priest was to God.  Likewise, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are priests in God’s kingdom (1 Peter 2:9) and you are precious to God.  God has covered us in something even more precious and, from heaven’s perspective, even blingier than gold; it’s the blood of Jesus.

比勒達言神公義無私

2022-02-28 in , /by

〈約伯記〉8:11 蒲草沒有泥，豈能發長？蘆荻沒有水，豈能生發？

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉8 章

世上許多有錢的人，
在世的時候，總喜歡出版自己的傳記，
講述自己如何成功、賺大錢，
如何當個富爸爸。
約伯是一個富人，
他年輕的時候很有錢，
年老的時候更有錢，
但是約伯的傳記──約伯記，
初始的有錢只在第一頁，
末時的富有只在最後一頁，
中間所有的內容，都是他一無所有的時候，
他與三個朋友的爭論，
與上帝給他的回應，
反而成為他一生最值得撰寫、
最能幫助人的部分。
這是世界上最獨特的富人傳記，
你猜，是誰教他這樣寫的？

約伯向神傾訴

2022-02-27 in , /by

〈約伯記〉7:7 求祢想念我的生命不過是一口氣！我的眼睛必不再見福樂。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉7 章

與其說約伯在回答朋友們，倒不如說，他傾訴的對象其實是神，他一向仰望的神。這是人的本性，有不幸的事發生，總是先叫：“天啊！”有壞人遭報應，也會說：“老天有眼！”沒有人教我們，我們就會呼天喚地了。那是不是一種心靈的感應呢？最近有個朋友癌症漫延全身，被送到安寧病房。當她被發現患了癌症時，她非常努力地按著各種自然療法去幫助自己，吃的全是有機食品，每天按時走路運動、休息。現在她說，什麼人為的方法她都不相信了，她只相信只有神能醫治她。若神許可，她才能得醫治。在人的盡頭，人才能明白只有神才有掌管生死的權柄。所以在人的盡頭，很多話都只能跟神說了。

約伯的言語其實是一連串詩句組成的，我試著把1-5節譯得白話一點：“人生在世豈不是勞勞碌碌，終日煩累？他的日子都像雇工，不斷地被催逼作息。就好像一個僕人渴望得到遮蔭，又像雇工盼望得到工價，我也是活在無盡的指望裡，每晚卻疲倦地掙扎。當我躺下時，我就自問：何時才到天亮？黑夜何時結束？因為我輾轉反覆，直到黎明。我的肉體爬滿蟲子，且被塵土所覆蓋，我的皮膚一收口就又破裂。”約伯雖然只是坐在爐灰之中，心裡卻很疲累。白天要刮膿，還要忍受難吃的食物和別人的歧視嘲笑，巴不得夜晚來臨可以休息；夜晚來臨了，他也睡不著，因為肉體承受著各樣的折磨，想睡睡不了，夜晚比白天更難挨，只能期待黎明來臨。日復一日，夜復一夜，都是無止盡的痛苦。

有失眠經驗的人大約都能體會約伯躺下去後，翻來覆去的無奈。睡不著是一種很難受的經驗，所以巿面上有很多種幫助睡眠的藥物和方法。有不少人在見證時提到原本失眠很厲害，信耶穌時求主讓他一夜好睡，神就應允，讓他（她）能得安眠。但是像約伯這樣虔誠的人也睡不著，那怎麼辦？難道神不愛他了嗎？信耶穌而睡不著的人也不少，一是覺得問題太小，不用向神求，所以不得醫治；二是自己習慣不好，沒有調整自己的作息；三是到了某個年齡，身體的內分泌失去平衡；四是心裡有事，擔心的事太多，沒有交託；五呢，身體的疼痛，疾病的影響。當然還有其他原因。不過，假如我們把它當回事，不斷在神面前祈求，神總會幫助我們。

Lay Down Your Mirror

2022-02-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 38:1-31.  Let’s go! 

Exodus 38:1-7 (NIV)
1  They built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.
2  They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze.
3  They made all its utensils of bronze–its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.
4  They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar.
5  They cast bronze rings to hold the poles for the four corners of the bronze grating.
6  They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.
7  They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar for carrying it. They made it hollow, out of boards.
 
On verses 1-7:  The altar of burnt offering, which was used to sacrifice animals, was made of bronze, as were the utensils (v3), the grating (v4), the poles for carrying the altar (v6) as well as the rings that the poles went through (v5).  Why bronze?  A pretty good argument can be made that in the Law of Moses (contained the first five books of the Bible) bronze symbolizes God’s judgment.  See for example Deuteronomy 28:23 where God says that if the Israelites do not obey the LORD, the Israelites will be under God’s curse and as part of that “The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.”  Similarly, in Leviticus 26:18-19, the LORD’s message to the Israelites is that if they do not listen to Him, He will punish them and, as part of this, the LORD says, “If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over.  I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.” 
 

約伯自述苦況

2022-02-25 in , /by

〈約伯記〉6:14 那將要灰心，離棄全能者，不敬畏神的人，他的朋友當以慈愛待他。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉6 章

有一部〈失孤〉的影片，形容一個兒子被拐走的農民父親，除了春播秋收的時間之外，用了十五年的時間在中國大陸各地尋找他的兒子。其中還包括另外兩個例子，一個被拐走的女兒後來獲救，但她的母親卻因為傷心到絕望而在找到女兒之前自殺了；另一個小時候被拐走後，被轉賣兩次的小伙子十分幸運，在農民父親和一位志工的幫助下，終於找回親生父母，回到自己的家。這個農民父親說他很怕一個人回家，因為家人都在期待他把兒子帶回來。劉德華飾演那位農民父親，把失去兒子的傷痛表達得很感人。

約伯說：“我一切的災害放在天平裡！現今都比海沙更重”。假如失去一個兒子都可以讓人花十五年或更多的時間去尋找，失去一個女兒的悲哀會逼人走上自殺的絕路，那麼約伯失去七個兒子三個女兒，那種痛苦又豈是我們可以想像的？我有時覺得神允許約伯有這個經歷，是為了幫助我們面對人生的苦難。當我們看到約伯的失去，再比較自己的苦難，感覺上就好多了。至少上帝沒有允許撒旦像對待約伯那樣對待我們。

我們也因可明白：“各樣美善的恩賜和各樣全備的賞賜都是從上頭來的，從眾光之父那裡降下來的，在祂並沒有改變，也沒有轉動的影兒。（雅1:17）”而各種災難若不是出於人本身的罪惡所遭致，便是撒旦在使壞。但是神依然在掌權。神允許我們落在百般的試煉中，但提醒我們要倚靠祂，因為神可以使萬事互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處。

The Furniture That Looks Like You

2022-02-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 37:1-29.  When you begin to understand God’s calling on your life, you’ll find that you actually resemble the furniture that Bezalel and his team made for the tabernacle.  How so?  Let’s find out.

Exodus 37:1-9 (NIV)
1  Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood–two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
2  He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it.
3  He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
4  Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
5  And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.
6  He made the atonement cover of pure gold–two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
7  Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.
8  He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover.
9  The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.

On verses 1-9:  Here Bezalel makes the ark.  Notice the parallels between the ark and our lives today:
–        Like the ark which was wooden but covered in gold, we’re wooden, fragile and breakable, but we are covered in something extremely precious, in fact more precious than gold; we’re covered with the blood of Jesus.

Figuring Out Your Purpose and Appreciating Your Value

2022-02-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 36:8-38.  Let’s go!

Exodus 36:8-38 (NIV)
8  All the skilled men among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman.
9  All the curtains were the same size–twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.
10  They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five.
11  Then they made loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and the same was done with the end curtain in the other set.
12  They also made fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other……

On verses 8-38:  When I read these verses I’m once again struck by how intricate, intentional and detailed was the work that went into the tabernacle.  God’s original designs for the tabernacle were full of intricate details, and He entrusted those designs into the “expert hands” (v8) of Bezalel, Oholiab and the skilled craftspeople they worked with (v1, 8).

Just as the tabernacle was made up of different parts, each with its own purpose and function, so the church today is made of different parts, each with its own purpose and function.  As 1 Corinthians 12 teaches us:

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)
12  The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

人生在世必遇患難

2022-02-24 in , /by

〈約伯記〉5:7 人生在世必遇患難，如同火星飛騰。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉5 章

以利法，這個覺得自己很有智慧的長者，繼續苦口婆心地訴說下去。在這裡他否定了約伯的信仰：“你且呼求，有誰答應你？諸聖者之中，你轉向那一位呢？”他卻高舉自己：“至於我，我必仰望神，把我的事情託付他。”以利法是想幫助約伯的，我們不要忘記，他是約伯的朋友，不是敵人。但是在他的驕傲之中，他的話語變成很不公平的論斷，他卻以為句句在理。這也是一般人的盲點。當別人受禍，而我們平安時，我們就彷彿比別人高一級。覺得是別人不好，有問題，才會遭遇禍患。所以只要像我一樣，你就沒問題啦！這算不算驕傲？

所以他交託神，仰望神，而約伯的呼求就是隨便向諸聖者發出的，所以無神理會約伯，因為諸聖不是神。以利法對約伯發出了如此的審判，然後用愚妄人、痴迷人、狡猾人、狡詐人、罪孽之輩的下場來比喻約伯所受的災難；以利法自喻為好人，所以他必有指望。而約伯的兒女遠離穩妥、無人搭救，莊稼連荊棘都被搶盡，財寶被吞滅，所謀不得成就，白晝遇見黑暗，午間摸索如在夜間，所以塞口無言。欸啊，他自己回頭聽聽自己如此指責約伯，只因為約伯在患難中嗎？

當時的人沒有錄音機，也不可能有人在一邊記錄，摩西怎能知道這些話，且記載得如此詳盡？讀四福音書時，我也會有這樣的迷惑。耶穌升天後，門徒要回想三年來的事情，而且記下耶穌的言行，談何容易？據說馬太寫福音書時，身邊一直有天使在幫助他，所以古人畫馬太寫書時，身邊常有一位天使相伴。保羅也說《聖經》都是神的默示（提後3:16），若非神的默示，有誰能夠知道創世之事，以及相繼發生的一切事情？誰又能那樣清楚知道約伯和朋友之間的對話？並且記下耶穌的言行？遊筆至此，難免不想到，那麼我們的言行必也在神的記錄之中，豈能不更謹慎？