Entries by

Go to God with a Blank Slate

2022-02-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 34:1-9.  Let’s go!

Exodus 34:1-4 (NIV)
1  The LORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.
2  Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain.
3  No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”
4  So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.

On verses 1-4:  Moses had broken the first tablets containing the LORD’s writing, and so the LORD take the initiative to instruct Moses to bring to Him new tablets of stone for the LORD to write on again.  What can we learn from this?  First, God is in the business of taking what we have broken and making it new again.  He is a restorer.

Second, just as the LORD told Moses to appear privately before Him with two blank stone tablets for the LORD to write on, every day may we privately appear before the LORD with a blank slate, ready and waiting to hear from God and open to letting Him speak in whatever way He wants. While we have the privilege of coming to God with our cares and our burdens, just as often if not more often, we need to come to God without any agenda, except to simply be with God and to let Him speak into our lives and write into our hearts whatever He thinks we need.

城墙告成之礼

2022-02-17 in , /by

〈尼希米记〉12:27耶路撒冷城墙告成的时候，众民就把各处的利未人招到耶路撒冷，要称谢、歌唱、敲钹、鼓瑟、弹琴，欢欢喜喜地行告成之礼。

阅读经文：〈尼希米记〉12章

看到今天的经文，你会不会像我一样，发出一声哀号惨叫：天啊，又是一堆人名！这些人名好像跟我们一点关系也没有，可是对以色列人而言，却是十分重要的记录。因为安排事工，追寻祖源都要靠它。这些人名也表示了当时记录的人之工作心态，何等认真一点也不马虎。我们现在虽然不知道他们是谁，但相信有一天到了天父那里，还有机会跟他们打招呼，变成好朋友。

从听到回归之人的苦境到建立城墙，尼希米和同代之人深深明白为什么先知撒迦利亚说：“万军之耶和华说：不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的灵方能成事”（亚4:6）。从外邦人对他们的轻视、扰乱，甚至性命的威胁，到城墙的完工，充满了紧张和压力的52天，他们终于在神的恩典里把耶路撒冷的城墙修建好了，敌人不能随便地进来，他们总算稍微可以喘一口气，过几天安心的日子。

因此他们要称谢，要欢呼，要把心里的喜乐和苦楚都释放出来。他们要借着歌唱、敲钹、鼓瑟、弹琴，欢欢喜喜地行告成之礼。从这个告成之礼，我们可以看到大卫王所设立的制度对以色列人的影响深远。以色列的音乐之所以特殊迷人，不在于轻快的乐音，还有许多灵魂深处的倾诉和交托，他们和神之间那种相依相附的亲密，飘荡在无数个世代的悖逆与归回交结中，充满感伤却又十分甜蜜。从大卫的诗篇里，就传达了这种对神的无比渴慕之情。这称谢、歌唱、敲钹、鼓瑟、弹琴的祭祷方式，便是从大卫王开始的。

Experiencing the Rest of God’s Presence

2022-02-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 33:12-23.  Let’s go!

Exodus 33:12-17 (NIV)
12  Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’
13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”……

On verses 12-17:  Here Moses pleads with the LORD, crying out for the LORD to teach him His ways (v13) and pleading for the LORD’s presence to be with them (v16).  When the LORD replies by saying, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (v14), it’s a reminder that with God’s presence comes rest – both for our immediate present and for our long-term future.  There is an almost immediate rest that comes when we are in God’s presence with soft hearts, and there is also a long-term rest that comes with having God’s presence. 

百姓掣签住耶路撒冷

2022-02-16 in , /by

〈尼希米记〉11:2 凡甘心乐意住在耶路撒冷的，百姓都为他们祝福。

阅读经文：〈尼希米记〉11章

在这一章里，我们看到尼希米面临一种困境，大家都不想住耶路撒冷。此时的耶路撒冷十分荒凉，又有许多外邦人杂居在此。回归的犹大人都想回到自己支派的属地住，安安静静地过日子，重打根基。谁也不想在耶路撒冷战战兢兢，过著担心受怕的日子。但是耶路撒冷不能没有人住，更不能没有人防守，区区五万回归的人根本就不够用，要是大家都只为自己着想，那么耶路撒冷就会再度沦入外邦人的手里。

因此他们采用掣签的方法，十个抽一个，被抽到的人就留住耶路撒冷。掣签的方法使人认为结果是出于天命，天命不可违，便没有纷争了。就好像台湾的服兵役，也是用掣签的方法，海陆空抽到哪个就去那里服役。但是还有另一种留在耶路撒冷的人，他们是甘心乐意住在耶路撒冷，他们也是为了兴旺耶路撒冷才回来的。这样的人，百姓都为他们祝福。祝福是希望神与他们同在，有神的保守，神的预备和供应。

还有另一批人也是心甘情愿地留在耶路撒冷，便是一些首领、祭司和利未人，他们的名字都记录下来了。因为圣殿若没有祭司、利未人和尼提宁（在圣殿工作者），敬拜和献祭的事便无法按章进行。这些人当中还包括了不少大能的勇士，表示他们当中有善战者，可以负起打仗之责。

签名誓遵摩西所传律法

2022-02-15 in , /by

〈尼希米记〉10:32 我们又为自己定例，每年各人捐银一舍客勒三分之一，为我们神殿的使用。

阅读经文：〈尼希米记〉10章

想到以色列的首领、祭司和利未人一个个到台上签名，与神重新立约，要守神的律法时，那种心里的感动真是难以平复。仿佛看到一对对婚姻破裂的夫妻，重新到神的面前立约，要照主的话彼此相爱。重燃爱火，被神那永不改变的爱感动，因而愿意重新献上自己，再次为主而活。这样的爱让他们愿意多走一里路，不仅守律法，更愿意每年多捐银一舍客勒三分之一，作为圣殿的使用。

别小看了这多捐的银一舍客勒三分之一，换算起来大概只有现在的3美元，因为一舍克勒的银子大约是2.2美元。但是对于当时的人是一笔不少的钱，因为每个人的赎罪银也只收半舍克勒，好让穷人也可以付得起。更重要的是，这是他们自发要给神的，神没有向他们要，但是他们自愿在神所定的十分之一之外，加上这笔钱。这自发的心意要比钱的多少更加使神喜悦。就好像有的孩子放学回家后会自动替父母分担家务，不必叫他，就会帮母亲把地板扫一扫，帮父亲把垃圾倒掉。这些虽然不是大事，都是鸡毛蒜皮的家务。但是看在父母的眼里，该是何等欣慰！

因为心里有爱，才会心甘情愿地付出。雅各说，没有行为的信心是死的；换个说法，没有行为的爱也是死的。父母爱孩子，所以再多的付出也不心疼；夫妻之间若彼此相爱，也会勇于付出。因为只有爱，可以使金钱眨值。假如夫妻之间有一方把金钱看得比配偶还重要时，配偶会有怎样的感觉？能够感受到对方的爱吗？不可能。如此生活下去，必然越走越分歧，失去了起初的真心。人若把钱看得太重，必然使爱他的人感到伤心和不值。因此主耶稣在复活之后问彼得：“你爱我比这些更深吗？” “这些”指的便是世上的财物、事业和养生的一切。人若不能分别“这些”的价值，和神与人何者为重，便无法享有真爱的甘美。

Go Out of Your Way to Meet with God

2022-02-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 33:1-11.  Let’s go!

Exodus 33:1-6 (NIV)
1  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
2  I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
3  Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
4  When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.
5  For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.'”
6  So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

On verses 1-6: In His mercy the LORD allowed the Israelites to proceed to the promised land even after they had broken His law by committing idolatry. In His anger the LORD proposed that He not join them on the rest of their journey lest the Israelites in their stubbornness sin again and compel Him to strike them down in His anger. Instead, the LORD would send His angel to go before them.  Yet the prospect of going forward without the LORD’s personal presence was a depressing and sad one for Moses and the Israelites. Even if they were to reach the promised land, what good would it be if they didn’t have the personal presence of God?

以色列众禁食认罪

2022-02-14 in , /by

〈尼希米记〉9:2以色列人就与一切外邦人离绝，站着承认自己的罪恶和列祖的罪孽。

阅读经文：〈尼希米记〉9 章

在以斯拉天天为百姓们读神的话语之后，有一件意想不到的事情发生了。犹大历的七月初十是赎罪日，七月十五日是住棚节。但是在住棚节的严肃日结束之后，以色列人聚集禁食，身穿麻衣，头蒙灰尘，与一切外邦人隔绝，站着承认自己的罪恶和列祖的罪孽。这是一次自发性的禁食认罪聚会，原本可以散会回家了，他们却反而聚集禁食。所以诗人说，“祢的言语一解开，就发出亮光，使愚人通达。（诗119:130）”只有在神的话语中，人才能看见自己的罪，渴慕被洁净。

有的人把禁食祷告拿来当作要求神应允所求的一个方法，有点像小孩子威胁母亲：“你不给我买玩具，我就不吃饭！”但这里的禁食是一种发自心底的祈求，求神赦免他们和列祖的罪；是一种知错要改，为自己和列祖的罪痛心，愿意回到神面前的决志。因此在他们的禁食里，他们认罪、敬拜神，又继续唸神的话；有几个人甚至站在利未人的台上，大声哀求神。

他们的决心带出行动，与一切外邦人隔绝。因为与外邦人杂交，使他们失去了自己的信仰，在生活习性各方面都触动了耶和华神的怒气。神不是不爱外邦人，所有愿意归向祂的，与犹大人在一起的，神都一视同仁；但是对于那些不是要归向犹大人，而是把他们拖离耶和华神的，神就不喜欢了。在我小时候，父母亲也会叫我们不可以跟某些小孩玩，因为怕他们把我们带坏了。就是现，若知道有人吸毒、赌博或行为不端，我们也不希望自己的孩子去跟他们做朋友。不是看不起别人，而是怕自己的孩子染上恶习。

How Great Leaders Respond To Sin

2022-02-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 32:15-24.  Let’s go!

Exodus 32:15-16 (NIV)
15  Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.
16  The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

On verses 15-16:  Moses returns from the mountain carrying in his hands the most precious thing given to humanity up until that time: two tablets containing the writing of God.  What did God write on those tablets?  It was “the Testimony”, that is (most likely) the Ten Commandments.  Some scholars believe that these two tablets, which had writing on both the front and back, were identical to one another and were two copies of the same thing, one for God and one for the people, consistent with ancient Near East covenant making practices at that time. 

There was nothing more valuable on the earth at this time that these two tablets.  God wrote His law on tablets of stone.  Later He choose another method of delivering His Word to His people: instead of writing it on breakable tablets of stone, God would choose to write it on breakable human hearts (see 2 Corinthians 3:3).  For when a stone tablet breaks, whatever was written of it can’t be seen anymore.  But when a heart breaks, whatever was written on it will be seen more clearly than ever.

以斯拉宣读律法书

2022-02-13 in , /by

〈尼希米记〉8:10b 你们不要忧愁，因靠耶和华而得的喜乐是你们的力量。

阅读经文：〈尼希米记〉8 章

水门是耶路撒冷城东城墙上的一道门，在马门和泉门之间，门朝东。希西家王时已有该城门，尼希米时期重修。民众聚集在水门前的宽阔处，听祭司以斯拉宣读律法书。举行竣工典礼时，第一队参加庆典的人从北面向南走到水门。以色列人请文士以斯拉读律法书给他们听，他们如同一人聚集在水门前的宽阔处。亡国前的以色列人对先知的教导何等不悦，何等讨厌被先知指责。因为那时享受罪中之乐，以为神的审判永远不会来临。经过了亡国之痛，做了俘虏的悲哀，终于逐渐醒悟，若不遵照神的律法，有一天他们将永远失去神的眷顾。就像很多人在福中不知福，不明白神的怜悯和宽容，总是要等到身患绝症或走头无路时，才肯谦卑下来，才明白自己是何等的罪人。假如能早一点回头，不是可以少受很多苦吗？

当以色列人敞开心扉，愿意倾听神的话时，耶和华神的心该是何等欢喜！祭司和利未人都尽量“清清楚楚地唸神的律法书，讲明意思，使百姓明白所唸的”。这是教导神的话语很重要的几个条件，一要把神的话读得清楚。所以在自己没有学好一种语言时，不要自以为是去应用，免得让人有吃生米饭的感觉。

二要讲明意思，使百姓明白所唸的。可能很多人都知道有的神学教授对《圣经》读得滚瓜烂熟，可是却根本不信有神；所以读神的话语，却胡乱解释，自以为很科学，实在很可惜。所以我们读神的话要务求明白，才能得到神话语的滋润和供养，灵命才能成长。这也是本网站〈每日亲近神〉的目的，希望让更多人能因为明白神的话，而领受到其丰盛，并且更加亲近神。假如读神的话却不明白其精意，就好像肠胃有问题，吃了很多食物却无法吸收，何等可惜。

What Happens When We Sin

2022-02-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 32:25-35.  Let’s go!

Exodus 32:25 (NIV)
25  Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.

On verse 25:   The great news of the gospel is that although our sins separated us from God’s presence (see Exodus 32:33), although God could easily have edited us out of His book, instead in love God sent Jesus Christ to receive all the punishment for our sins. By dying on the cross, Jesus paid for all our sins (past, present and future) and restored us to God’s presence.  That indeed is the best news ever.  But remember this: when we sin, especially in public ways, we still affect two types of people.

First, when we sin in public, we become a stumbling block to other believers.  Verse 25 says that because of Aaron and the Israelites’ sin, God’s people were “running wild” and “out of control” (v25).  Whenever we sin in public ways, we confuse other Christians, discourage their faith, and tempt them to sin in the same ways.   So let’s be careful.  Like Paul said to Timothy, let’s “set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).