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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.

运约柜入殿

2021-10-05 in , /by

〈列王纪〉上 8:10-11 祭司从圣所出来的时候，有云充满耶和华的殿，甚至祭司不能站立供职，因为耶和华的荣光充满了殿。

阅读经文：〈列王纪 〉上  8  

大卫王第一次要把约柜从巴拉犹大（基列耶琳）的亚比拿达家中抬出来前，他召聚了三万以色列人与他同去，但是因为祭司没有按照神的规定去抬约柜，牛失前蹄时，乌撒用手去扶，所以神击打乌撒，乌撒就死了。约柜就放到俄别以东的家里，过了三个月后，大卫又带以色列的长老并千夫长，还有利未人和祭司去俄别以东家，将约柜抬出来，放到大卫的城里。现在所罗门王召聚以色列的长老和各支派的首领并以色列的族长，一起到耶路撒冷，进行让约柜进圣殿的仪式。

大卫的城，也就是锡安，位于那时的新耶路撒冷的南部。根据圣经考古的资料：所有的学者都认同圣经中的「锡安」或「锡安山」原本是因为在耶路撒冷窄长的东山而命名。约在主前十世纪，大卫攻占耶布斯人之城「锡安」，将之改名为「大卫之城」。〈撒母耳记〉下5:7说：「 然而大卫攻取锡安的保障，就是大卫的城。」所以起初：锡安(I) ＝大卫城＝耶路撒冷东山。到了所罗门执政，他在大卫城以北，即东山最高之处，兴建第一圣殿和宫殿，现在这里是磐石清真寺所在之处，在大卫时期是耶布斯人亚劳拿的禾场(撒母耳记下24:18-25)，圣殿建造后，锡安的意义便由大卫城延伸至大卫城以北的圣殿山。所以：锡安(II)＝大卫城＋圣殿山。

主后70年，罗马军拆毁耶路撒冷和圣殿，赶杀犹太人，锡安的位置便开始含糊，第一世纪耶路撒冷的居民，不能想像大卫所占领的锡安是较低的东山，以为应该是耶路撒冷最高的西山。故此锡安的位置便转移到西山。提到西山是锡安的文献，最早追溯到主后一世纪末，犹太历史学家约瑟夫在《犹太战争》5.4.1 (136)写着：「这上城，比东山更高，称为大卫王的『堡垒』(Citadel)」。 上城指西山，所以，到了第一世纪末之后：锡安(III)＝西山，这个说法一直保留至今。所以今日的锡安山(Mount Zion) 位于旧城城墙以外，较高较阔的西山之上，这里也是现在耶路撒冷大学学院所在之处。西山上有一栋建筑物，据说就是主耶稣最后晚餐的上楼房 (Upper Room) 和大卫之墓 (David’s Tomb, Cenacle) 的所在地。

所罗门完成建殿之工

2021-10-04 in , /by

〈列王纪〉上 7:51 所罗门王做完了耶和华殿的一切工，就把他父大卫分别为圣的金银和器皿都带来，放在耶和华殿的府库里。

阅读经文：〈列王纪 〉上 7  

所罗门王建圣殿之后，又花了十三年的时间为自己和法老的女儿建造宫殿，还有黎巴嫩林宫，即军械库。一共是廿年左右的工程，百姓的辛苦和宫殿的伟大成了对比。宫殿越宏伟，百姓越辛苦。在温哥华若是有哪里修路或是盖房子，开车或住在附近的人都觉得很不方便。前一阵子修地铁时，路边的商店足足有两年无法好好做生意。但是所罗门很年轻，又很有魄力，注重的是目标的完成，把以色列人的人工和劳力都当成是他的私有物来使用，造成了以色列的隐忧。

也有不少人注意到他修建自己的宫殿费时多于修建圣殿，可能因为他娶了太多妃嫔，只好不断增加房间的数目。2011年考古学家挖掘出所罗门时期建的城墙，可以让我们看看何谓在山中按著尺寸凿成的宝贵石头，用锯里外锯齐所呈现的样式。从这片古代的城墙，让我们感受到旧时建筑的那种坚固，是我们现在的屋子绝对无法相比的。也让人不得不佩服以前的人是多么有力气，在没有机器和卡车运送的情况下，可以把这些石头从山上运到耶路撒冷，真是步步艰辛。但是在宫殿里铺上香柏木之后，就不像在圣殿里，还要用金包裹。

有的人奇怪为何在形容圣殿的时候，突然加进所罗门建自己宫殿的一段记述，因此把它认为是一种提醒，觉得是所罗门的人生里走向失败的注脚，因为他为自己摆上的，多过于为神摆上的。当我们不断地为自己的“想要”而努力时，换来的很可能是失去。现在回想，所罗门的努力最后只留下一片墙；使我们不得不警醒，我们现在的努力，将来会留下什么？

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.

所罗门开始建殿

2021-10-03 in , /by

〈列王纪〉上 6:13 我必住在以色列人中间，并不丢弃我民以色列。

阅读经文：〈列王纪 〉上 6:1-37           〈历代志〉下 3:1-15   

以色列人出埃及地后四百八十年，所罗门做以色列王第四年西弗月，就是二月，开工建造耶和华的殿。

虽然神安于会幕，也没有要求任何人为祂建殿，但是当大卫有了这样的心愿时，神就亲自画出祂的设计，使大卫明白要如何去建这个圣殿（志上28:19）。大卫何等有信心，在尚未有圣殿时，就已经把利未人和祭司的工作都分配好了，以便圣殿一旦建造完成，就可以开始有条理的敬拜神。建圣殿是大卫的梦想，由所罗门去完成。而建殿的地址正是耶布斯人阿珥楠的禾场，在这个禾场上，大卫向神献燔祭和平安祭，耶和华就应允他，悦纳他，使火从天降在燔祭坛上。神又吩咐天使收刀入鞘，停止了瘟疫。所以这个地方是神原谅大卫数点以色列人的骄傲，重新悦纳大卫的地方；也是神的怒气停止，不再降瘟疫，使以色列人逃脱死亡，重新得到神祝福的地方。

阿珥楠的禾场就在摩利亚山上，也就是四千多年前，亚伯拉罕献以撒的地方。那是亚伯拉罕信心的最高峰。〈希伯来书〉的作者说，因为亚伯拉罕相信神可以使死人复活，所以他毫不犹疑地献上以撒，他年老时所得的独生子。但是神让天使在最后一刻叫亚伯拉罕收刀入鞘，因为神已经知道亚伯拉罕对神的顺服，且为他预备了一头献祭用的公羊。神没有让亚伯拉罕献上以撒，但是两千多年后，神献上了祂的独生子耶稣，为世人而死。但是正如亚伯拉罕的信心，耶稣死后三天复活了。这块地现在被称为圣殿山，也是三个宗教团体（犹太教、回教、基督教）相争之地，目前由回教的宗教管理局负责保管圣殿山各个门的钥匙（接近西墙的Mograbi门除外）。

想当年所罗门建造圣殿时，那是何等的壮举。所有的石头都在山上的采石场凿好了，运到圣殿山时建造时，都听不见锤子、斧子和别样铁器的响声。在安静中建造，在默默中服侍，只让人看见神的荣耀，而不为自己的付出夸耀，便是这样的工作才能显出神的荣美。那时也已经有旋螺的楼梯，可以一直上到第三层。屋子是用香柏木的栋梁搁在殿墙坎上，不是用钉上去的。香柏木用来贴从地到篷顶的墙，其上刻着野瓜和初开的花；松木板铺地。贴完木板，又贴金子，所以整个殿内真的是金碧辉煌。

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). 

《圣经中各种审判》4— 洪水审判全地

2021-10-01 in , /by

上帝主权掌管下的历史进展

第三个审判是对全世界人类的审判，要透过洪水的审判建造一个新的族类。上帝的审判，是为了彰显祂的公义。当上帝看见地上的人罪恶很大，终日所想的尽都是恶，上帝定意审判全人类，除了被拣选的人与动物之外，上帝借此重新整顿整个世界。上帝给了人类生命一百二十年，要人进方舟领受上帝的恩典。挪亚传道一百二十年，但这不等于人会相信上帝的话，上帝所定的，人不愿意它成就，挪亚看似是历史上最没有果效的传道人。往往我们以为只要我们努力、祷告、尽我们的责任，我们一定能达到果效，但上帝最后的主权掌握人的生死，成就事情的成败，决定历史的方向怎么走下去，只有挪亚一家八口度过这个难关，维持整个地球的存在与新种类的延续。

上帝决定的大过人的奋斗。卖耶稣的犹大是不能得救的，无论给他多少机会，因为他刚硬着心，上帝许可他刚硬的心得逞。新约的教训也告诉我们：除非上帝自己动工，人不能因自己殷勤的工作达到成就，圣经概括而言：「我要恩待谁就恩待谁，要怜悯谁就怜悯谁」（出33:19），因为一切的一切都在上帝预定的旨意中才有成就的可能。挪亚的方舟预表耶稣基督把我们带到祂恩典的怀抱中，预表上帝的救恩，挪亚一面建造方舟，一面传福音，呼吁人进到方舟，领受救恩，得着生命的保障，但除了他一家八口，没有人接受，因为不信他的权威与讲道的内容，更不信他的预言会有怎样的结果。人以自己的理性、经验、主观的判断推敲他听见的一切信息。上帝借着挪亚传的道，人听不进去，「你凭什么告诉我们日后一定会照着你所说的成就」。这世上的人被分为信与不信，信的人就在神的道中领受恩典，不信的人就在自己的过犯中领受审判。

挪亚一家八口成为余种。「余种」这个词在《创世记》、《以赛亚书》、《罗马书》出现过（创45:7，赛1:9，罗9:29）。余种、上帝的预定、上帝恩典的主权的观念，就在洪水的审判中显明出来，因为上帝是公义的，是信实的，是圣洁的，显明祂自己是神圣的主。挪亚要在一百二十年内建造方舟是很困难的事，无论方舟的容量、建法（参：创6:14-16），上帝都规定了。无论是会幕的尺寸、方舟的容量、拣选的总数，都是上帝所预定的，「你要照着山上指示你的样式，建造百姓敬拜上帝的会幕」（参：出25:40；26:30；27:8，来8:5），方舟是第一次把上帝要做的事，多大、什么形式、建造的规矩启示后，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.