Entries by

How God Restores You

2021-10-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

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

Leviticus 6:1-7 (NIV)
1  The LORD said to Moses:
2  “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him,
3  or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do–
4  when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,
5  or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.
6  And as a penalty he must bring to the priest, that is, to the LORD, his guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value.
7  In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him guilty.”

On verses 1-7:  In these verses God speaks to Moses about what happens when an Israelite sins against their neighbor.  God commands that the offending Israelite must return to their neighbor what they had stolen or lost.  This process of making a victim whole is called (in legal terms) “restitution” (v5).  Notice that for God it wasn’t enough to make the person you offended whole by bring them back to 100%; God’s command was that the offender add a fifth; in other words, the offender had to give back 120%.  In addition, the offender must also bring a ram without defect as an atoning sacrifice for sin.

When A Leader Sins Against God

2021-10-05 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 4:22-35.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 4:22-35 (NIV)
22  “‘When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the LORD his God, he is guilty.
23  When he is made aware of the sin he committed, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect.
24  He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD. It is a sin offering.
25  Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
26  He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the man’s sin, and he will be forgiven…….

Why was a more expensive animal required when the high priest sinned?  That’s because the high priest’s sin either directly or indirectly impacted the entire community that he led.  Since the damage was greater, the sacrifice required for the high priest’s sin was also greater.  In fact, notice that the sacrifice required when the high priest sinned was the same as if the whole community sinned.

What’s the lesson here?  If you serve and lead others, you are still subject to the same standards as everyone else.  In fact, you are subject to even stricter standards (see James 3:1).   That’s because when a leader sins, it affects not only the leader, but the people whom the leader leads.

So as leaders and priests in God’s kingdom, let’s be careful to rely on God’s grace and avoid sinning at all costs.

運約櫃入殿

2021-10-05 in , /by

〈列王紀〉上 8:10-11 祭司從聖所出來的時候，有雲充滿耶和華的殿，甚至祭司不能站立供職，因為耶和華的榮光充滿了殿。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀 〉上  8  

大衛王第一次要把約櫃從巴拉猶大（基列耶琳）的亞比拿達家中抬出來前，他召聚了三萬以色列人與他同去，但是因為祭司沒有按照神的規定去抬約櫃，牛失前蹄時，烏撒用手去扶，所以神擊打烏撒，烏撒就死了。約櫃就放到俄別以東的家裡，過了三個月後，大衛又帶以色列的長老並千夫長，還有利未人和祭司去俄別以東家，將約櫃抬出來，放到大衛的城裡。現在所羅門王召聚以色列的長老和各支派的首領並以色列的族長，一起到耶路撒冷，進行讓約櫃進聖殿的儀式。

大衛的城，也就是錫安，位於那時的新耶路撒冷的南部。根據聖經考古的資料：所有的學者都認同聖經中的「錫安」或「錫安山」原本是因為在耶路撒冷窄長的東山而命名。約在主前十世紀，大衛攻佔耶布斯人之城「錫安」，將之改名為「大衛之城」。〈撒母耳記〉下5:7說：「 然而大衛攻取錫安的保障，就是大衛的城。」所以起初：錫安(I) ＝大衛城＝耶路撒冷東山。到了所羅門執政，他在大衛城以北，即東山最高之處，興建第一聖殿和宮殿，現在這裡是磐石清真寺所在之處，在大衛時期是耶布斯人亞勞拿的禾場(撒母耳記下24:18-25)，聖殿建造後，錫安的意義便由大衛城延伸至大衛城以北的聖殿山。所以：錫安(II)＝大衛城＋聖殿山。

主後70年，羅馬軍拆毀耶路撒冷和聖殿，趕殺猶太人，錫安的位置便開始含糊，第一世紀耶路撒冷的居民，不能想像大衛所佔領的錫安是較低的東山，以為應該是耶路撒冷最高的西山。故此錫安的位置便轉移到西山。提到西山是錫安的文獻，最早追溯到主後一世紀末，猶太歷史學家約瑟夫在《猶太戰爭》5.4.1 (136)寫著：「這上城，比東山更高，稱為大衛王的『堡壘』(Citadel)」。 上城指西山，所以，到了第一世紀末之後：錫安(III)＝西山，這個說法一直保留至今。所以今日的錫安山(Mount Zion) 位於舊城城牆以外，較高較闊的西山之上，這裡也是現在耶路撒冷大學學院所在之處。西山上有一棟建築物，據說就是主耶穌最後晚餐的上樓房 (Upper Room) 和大衛之墓 (David’s Tomb, Cenacle) 的所在地。

所羅門完成建殿之工

2021-10-04 in , /by

〈列王紀〉上 7:51 所羅門王做完了耶和華殿的一切工，就把他父大衛分別為聖的金銀和器皿都帶來，放在耶和華殿的府庫裡。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀 〉上 7  

所羅門王建聖殿之後，又花了十三年的時間為自己和法老的女兒建造宮殿，還有黎巴嫩林宮，即軍械庫。一共是廿年左右的工程，百姓的辛苦和宮殿的偉大成了對比。宮殿越宏偉，百姓越辛苦。在溫哥華若是有哪裡修路或是蓋房子，開車或住在附近的人都覺得很不方便。前一陣子修地鐵時，路邊的商店足足有兩年無法好好做生意。但是所羅門很年輕，又很有魄力，注重的是目標的完成，把以色列人的人工和勞力都當成是他的私有物來使用，造成了以色列的隱憂。

也有不少人注意到他修建自己的宮殿費時多於修建聖殿，可能因為他娶了太多妃嬪，只好不斷增加房間的數目。2011年考古學家挖掘出所羅門時期建的城牆，可以讓我們看看何謂在山中按著尺寸鑿成的寶貴石頭，用鋸裡外鋸齊所呈現的樣式。從這片古代的城牆，讓我們感受到舊時建築的那種堅固，是我們現在的屋子絕對無法相比的。也讓人不得不佩服以前的人是多麼有力氣，在沒有機器和卡車運送的情況下，可以把這些石頭從山上運到耶路撒冷，真是步步艱辛。但是在宮殿裡鋪上香柏木之後，就不像在聖殿裡，還要用金包裹。

有的人奇怪為何在形容聖殿的時候，突然加進所羅門建自己宮殿的一段記述，因此把它認為是一種提醒，覺得是所羅門的人生裡走向失敗的註腳，因為他為自己擺上的，多過於為神擺上的。當我們不斷地為自己的“想要”而努力時，換來的很可能是失去。現在回想，所羅門的努力最後只留下一片牆；使我們不得不警醒，我們現在的努力，將來會留下什麼？

When You Sin By Accident

2021-10-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 4:1-21.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 4:1-21 (NIV)
1  The LORD said to Moses,
2  “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands–
3  “‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
4  He is to present the bull at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it before the LORD…….

On verses 1-21:  Leviticus 4:1-21 talks about what happens when a Jew sins against God unintentionally  (v1).  For example, maybe that person did something that was against God’s laws but they were not aware that they did it, or maybe they didn’t know it was something God’s laws prohibited.

Verse 13 shows us that just because we don’t know we sinned doesn’t mean we haven’t sinned.  Sin is sin, whether we do it intentionally or not.  One of the lessons of Leviticus 4 is that when we sin, even if it is by accident, it is still necessary to deal with that sin.  That’s why David would write, “Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.  Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may that not rule over me.” (Psalm 19:12-13)

What should you do when you realized you sinned unintentionally?  As soon as we become aware that we have sinned against God or another person, we should look to God for forgiveness and where necessary make things right with the person we sinned against.

所羅門開始建殿

2021-10-03 in , /by

〈列王紀〉上 6:13 我必住在以色列人中間，並不丟棄我民以色列。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀 〉上 6:1-37           〈歷代志〉下 3:1-15   

以色列人出埃及地後四百八十年，所羅門做以色列王第四年西弗月，就是二月，開工建造耶和華的殿。

雖然神安於會幕，也沒有要求任何人為祂建殿，但是當大衛有了這樣的心願時，神就親自畫出祂的設計，使大衛明白要如何去建這個聖殿（志上28:19）。大衛何等有信心，在尚未有聖殿時，就已經把利未人和祭司的工作都分配好了，以便聖殿一旦建造完成，就可以開始有條理的敬拜神。建聖殿是大衛的夢想，由所羅門去完成。而建殿的地址正是耶布斯人阿珥楠的禾場，在這個禾場上，大衛向神獻燔祭和平安祭，耶和華就應允他，悅納他，使火從天降在燔祭壇上。神又吩咐天使收刀入鞘，停止了瘟疫。所以這個地方是神原諒大衛數點以色列人的驕傲，重新悅納大衛的地方；也是神的怒氣停止，不再降瘟疫，使以色列人逃脫死亡，重新得到神祝福的地方。

阿珥楠的禾場就在摩利亞山上，也就是四千多年前，亞伯拉罕獻以撒的地方。那是亞伯拉罕信心的最高峰。〈希伯來書〉的作者說，因為亞伯拉罕相信神可以使死人復活，所以他毫不猶疑地獻上以撒，他年老時所得的獨生子。但是神讓天使在最後一刻叫亞伯拉罕收刀入鞘，因為神已經知道亞伯拉罕對神的順服，且為他預備了一頭獻祭用的公羊。神沒有讓亞伯拉罕獻上以撒，但是兩千多年後，神獻上了祂的獨生子耶穌，為世人而死。但是正如亞伯拉罕的信心，耶穌死後三天復活了。這塊地現在被稱為聖殿山，也是三個宗教團體（猶太教、回教、基督教）相爭之地，目前由回教的宗教管理局負責保管聖殿山各個門的鑰匙（接近西牆的Mograbi門除外）。

想當年所羅門建造聖殿時，那是何等的壯舉。所有的石頭都在山上的採石場鑿好了，運到聖殿山時建造時，都聽不見錘子、斧子和別樣鐵器的響聲。在安靜中建造，在默默中服侍，只讓人看見神的榮耀，而不為自己的付出誇耀，便是這樣的工作才能顯出神的榮美。那時也已經有旋螺的樓梯，可以一直上到第三層。屋子是用香柏木的棟梁擱在殿牆坎上，不是用釘上去的。香柏木用來貼從地到篷頂的牆，其上刻著野瓜和初開的花；松木板鋪地。貼完木板，又貼金子，所以整個殿內真的是金碧輝煌。

Bring Your Innermost Feelings to God

2021-10-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 3:1-17.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 3:1-17 (NIV)
1  “‘If someone’s offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the LORD an animal without defect.
2  He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides.
3  From the fellowship offering he is to bring a sacrifice made to the LORD by fire: all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them,……

On verses 1-17:  As you read the first few chapters of Leviticus talking about the different offerings that God commanded the Jews to give, maybe you’re thinking, “What do these offerings have anything to do with us today?”  These offerings have much to do with us. They are pictures foreshadowing what Christ would do for us in the New Testament. Each offering described in Leviticus speaks to a unique aspect of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

To review:

– Leviticus 1 speaks of the burnt offering, the killing of a male lamb without defect so that a person’s sins could be forgiven.  This points to the day Jesus would die on the cross for our sins.  Jesus is the perfect lamb whose blood was spilled like a burnt offering so that we could be forgiven.

Forgiveness and Gratitude Go Together

2021-10-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 2:1-16.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 2:1-12 (NIV)
1  “‘When someone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it
2  and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
3  The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made to the LORD by fire.
4  “‘If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to consist of fine flour: cakes made without yeast and mixed with oil, or wafers made without yeast and spread with oil.
5  If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle, it is to be made of fine flour mixed with oil, and without yeast.
6  Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. ……

On verses 1-12:  Leviticus 2 describes a second type of offering that the Israelites were commanded to give:  the grain offering.  Whereas the burnt offering in Leviticus 1 involved sacrificing animals for the forgiveness of sins, the grain offering in Leviticus 2 involved sacrificing vegetables (i.e. grain) and was for the purpose of giving thanks to God.

If the burnt offering described in Leviticus 1 points us to Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins, what can we learn from the grain offering?  Just as the burnt offering is followed by the grain offering in Leviticus 1-2, God’s forgiveness (represented by the burnt offering) should always be followed by our gratitude (represented by the grain offering). 

《聖經中各種審判》4— 洪水審判全地

2021-10-01 in , /by

上帝主權掌管下的歷史進展

第三個審判是對全世界人類的審判，要透過洪水的審判建造一個新的族類。上帝的審判，是為了彰顯祂的公義。當上帝看見地上的人罪惡很大，終日所想的盡都是惡，上帝定意審判全人類，除了被揀選的人與動物之外，上帝藉此重新整頓整個世界。上帝給了人類生命一百二十年，要人進方舟領受上帝的恩典。挪亞傳道一百二十年，但這不等於人會相信上帝的話，上帝所定的，人不願意它成就，挪亞看似是歷史上最沒有果效的傳道人。往往我們以為只要我們努力、禱告、盡我們的責任，我們一定能達到果效，但上帝最後的主權掌握人的生死，成就事情的成敗，決定歷史的方向怎麼走下去，只有挪亞一家八口度過這個難關，維持整個地球的存在與新種類的延續。

上帝決定的大過人的奮鬥。賣耶穌的猶大是不能得救的，無論給他多少機會，因為他剛硬著心，上帝許可他剛硬的心得逞。新約的教訓也告訴我們：除非上帝自己動工，人不能因自己殷勤的工作達到成就，聖經概括而言：「我要恩待誰就恩待誰，要憐憫誰就憐憫誰」（出33:19），因為一切的一切都在上帝預定的旨意中才有成就的可能。挪亞的方舟預表耶穌基督把我們帶到祂恩典的懷抱中，預表上帝的救恩，挪亞一面建造方舟，一面傳福音，呼籲人進到方舟，領受救恩，得著生命的保障，但除了他一家八口，沒有人接受，因為不信他的權威與講道的內容，更不信他的預言會有怎樣的結果。人以自己的理性、經驗、主觀的判斷推敲他聽見的一切信息。上帝藉著挪亞傳的道，人聽不進去，「你憑什麼告訴我們日後一定會照著你所說的成就」。這世上的人被分為信與不信，信的人就在神的道中領受恩典，不信的人就在自己的過犯中領受審判。

挪亞一家八口成為餘種。「餘種」這個詞在《創世記》、《以賽亞書》、《羅馬書》出現過（創45:7，賽1:9，羅9:29）。餘種、上帝的預定、上帝恩典的主權的觀念，就在洪水的審判中顯明出來，因為上帝是公義的，是信實的，是聖潔的，顯明祂自己是神聖的主。挪亞要在一百二十年內建造方舟是很困難的事，無論方舟的容量、建法（參：創6:14-16），上帝都規定了。無論是會幕的尺寸、方舟的容量、揀選的總數，都是上帝所預定的，「你要照著山上指示你的樣式，建造百姓敬拜上帝的會幕」（參：出25:40；26:30；27:8，來8:5），方舟是第一次把上帝要做的事，多大、什麼形式、建造的規矩啟示後，人才去建。

Jesus Your Burnt Offering

2021-09-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin the book of Leviticus.  According to many scholars, Leviticus was mostly likely written by Moses himself in approximately the second half of 15th century B.C.  It was apparently the first book that a Jewish child studied and contained many of the sacrificial and ceremonial laws that the Jewish people were to follow.  From the book of Leviticus we can learn a lot about the character of God.

Today’s passage is Leviticus 1:1-17.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 1:1-2 (NIV)
1  The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said,
2  “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

On verses 1-2:  Where was Moses when God spoke to him and revealed His plans for him and the people he was leading?  Moses was in church, or as it was called then, the Tent of Meeting, the place where God’s people gathered to worship and meet with God.  

Likewise, if you want God to speak to you and to reveal His plans for you, make it your priority to be in church where you can meet with God and with God’s people.  God loves to speak to His people when they are gathered together.  So come to church with a hungry, expectant heart, ready to worship God, to be still in His presence and to listen to His Word.