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刻在石頭上的律法

〈申命記〉 27:8 你要將這律法的一切話明明地寫在石頭上。

閱讀經文:〈申命記〉 27:1-26

2015年2月10日遭伊斯蘭恐怖分子ISIS劫持的年輕美籍女人質凱拉.穆勒(Kayla Mueller)被證實已遇害。凱拉在高中就熱心於社區服務,曾獲美國〈義工服務總統金獎〉,大學畢業之後在印度北部、以色列和巴勒斯坦的人道主義團體工作,也是以色列地區非洲難民開發中心的志願者。2011年,她到法國學法語,預備日後到非洲工作;一年後到了土耳其和敘利亞邊境與丹麥難民委員會和人道主義組織,一起幫助那些因戰爭而被迫流亡的難民。2013年8月3日凱拉和她的敘利亞籍男友在敘利亞阿勒頗被ISIS綁架,她的男友數天後獲釋,曾回去要求ISIS釋放凱拉,但沒有結果。2014年7月,美國特別軍人曾向凱拉所在的監獄採取營救行動,可惜數天前人質已被轉移到另一個地方。但是他們找到凱拉給父母的一封信。

你也要記念

〈申命記 〉24:6 不可拿人的全盤磨石或是上磨石做當頭,因為這是拿人的命做當頭。

閱讀經文:〈申命記〉 24:1-8

很多人想知道,離婚之後可不可以再婚,基督徒也不例外。摩西的說法,似乎是為人開了方便之門:「婦人離開夫家以後,可以去嫁別人。」但是耶穌說:「凡休妻的,若不是為淫亂的緣故,就是叫她做淫婦了;人若娶這被休的婦人,也是犯姦淫了。(太5:32)」因此法利賽人問耶穌:「這樣,摩西為什麼吩咐給妻子休書,就可以休她呢?(太19:7)」

在一個男人至上的社會裡,妻子似乎變成丈夫的附屬,可以呼之即來,揮之即去。丈夫不高興就可以把妻子休了。一張休書換來多少眼淚。但是主耶穌說,這是不對的,你們把婚姻的關係弄錯了,在婚姻裡不該如此,「因為那起初造人的,是『造男造女』,並且說:『因此,人要離開父母,與妻子聯合,二人成為一體。』

God’s Providence

Sometime ago I made a special visit to the American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem. I wanted to see the handwritten lyrics that hang on the wall, framed and visible for all to see. Horatio Spafford wrote them, never imagining they would become the words to one of the world’s best-loved hymns.

On December 2, 1873, he received a telegram from his wife that began, “Saved alone. What shall I do?” The ship she was on had collided with another ship and had sunk. Their four daughters drowned and Anna survived. While sailing on the ship to bring her home, Spafford wrote the lyrics to a song that would become an anthem to the providence of God. “Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say…It is Well with My Soul!”

God Isn’t Finished

In the famous lace shops of Brussels, Belgium, certain rooms are dedicated to the spinning of the finest lace, with the most delicate of patterns. These rooms are completely dark, except for a shaft of natural light from a solitary window. Only one spinner sits in the room. The light falls on the pattern while the worker remains in the dark.

Has God permitted a time of darkness in your world? You look, but you cannot see him. You see only the fabric of circumstances woven and interlaced. You might question the purpose behind this thread or that. But be assured, God has a pattern. He has a plan. The Bible says, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). He is not finished. But when he is, the lace will be beautiful.

起初

〈申命記 〉24:6 不可拿人的全盤磨石或是上磨石做當頭,因為這是拿人的命做當頭。

閱讀經文:〈申命記〉 24:1-8

很多人想知道,離婚之後可不可以再婚,基督徒也不例外。摩西的說法,似乎是為人開了方便之門:「婦人離開夫家以後,可以去嫁別人。」但是耶穌說:「凡休妻的,若不是為淫亂的緣故,就是叫她做淫婦了;人若娶這被休的婦人,也是犯姦淫了。(太5:32)」因此法利賽人問耶穌:「這樣,摩西為什麼吩咐給妻子休書,就可以休她呢?(太19:7)」

在一個男人至上的社會裡,妻子似乎變成丈夫的附屬,可以呼之即來,揮之即去。丈夫不高興就可以把妻子休了。一張休書換來多少眼淚。但是主耶穌說,這是不對的,你們把婚姻的關係弄錯了,在婚姻裡不該如此,「因為那起初造人的,是『造男造女』,並且說:『因此,人要離開父母,與妻子聯合,二人成為一體。』

His Higher Purpose

No moment, event, or detail falls outside of God’s supervision. God is the one who “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45 NIV). He isn’t making up this plan as he goes along. Daniel 5:21 (NKJV) says, “The most high God rules the kingdom of men, and sets over it whom he will.”

So if God is in charge, why does he permit challenges to come our way? Wouldn’t an almighty God prevent them? Not if they serve his higher purpose. The ultimate example is the death of Christ on the cross. Everyone thought the life of Jesus was over. Jesus was dead and buried, but God raised Him from the dead. God took the crucifixion of Friday and turned it into the celebration of Sunday. Can he not do a similar reversal for you?

凡勞苦擔重擔的人

〈申命記〉 23:9 你出兵攻打仇敵,就要遠避諸惡。

閱讀經文:〈申命記〉23章

神呼召對亞伯拉罕時,對他說:「為你祝福的,我必賜福於他;那咒詛你的,我必咒詛他。(創 12:3)」 這一句話直到今天依然有效。在以色列人進迦南之前,神宣佈有一些人不得入耶和華的會。耶和華的會指的是耶和華的會眾,也就是成為以色列人。根據猶太人的條例,外邦人若想成為以色列人,首先要接受摩西五經的教導,並且要脫離奴隸的身份。就像摩西在〈民數記〉十五章15節說的:「至於會眾,你們和同居的外人都歸一例,作為你們世世代代永遠的定例。在耶和華面前,你們怎樣,寄居的也要怎樣。」所有的外邦人都可以成為以色列人,除了羅得的子孫摩押人和亞捫人,以及外腎受傷的,或被閹割的人。

Rejoice Always

Paul urges us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Not just on paydays, good days, or birthdays, but rejoice in the Lord always.

Rejoice in the Lord always? “Yeah, right,” mumbles the person from the hospital bed. “How?” sighs the unemployed dad. “Always?” questions the mother of the baby born with a disability. It’s one thing to rejoice in the Lord when life is good, but when the odds are against you? It’s not easy, but it is possible.

Lay claim to the promise of God in Colossians 1:7. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Rejoice in the sovereignty of God. His thrown is still occupied, his will is still perfect. Rejoice in the Lord always. God uses everything to accomplish his will.

你們當中誰沒有罪

〈申命記〉 22:22  若遇見人與有丈夫的婦人行淫,就要將姦夫淫婦一併治死。這樣,就把那惡從以色列中除掉。

在古老的社會裡對於處理女人是否貞潔的方法,竟然有不約而同之處。這貞潔的憑據指的是在第一天同房的晚上,女人的處女膜破裂所流出來的血,要用一塊布接住,作為貞潔的憑據;倘若沒有血流出來,就會被懷疑為不貞潔。這當然是很不科學的,因為有時意外或劇烈的運動都會引起處女膜的破裂,以此來鑑定,肯定有人被冤枉。

從這個試驗貞潔與否的方法,我們可以連想到耶穌的母親馬利亞當年的震驚。當天使向馬利亞宣佈她要從聖靈懷孕時,馬利亞的頭會不會嚇得嗡嗡作響,因為未婚而有孕在當時是何等可怕的事,是要被石頭打死的。這也是為何約瑟得知後不想宣揚,而想暗暗把她休了。因而馬太說約瑟是個義人,因為在他誤會時,他依然考慮到馬利亞的處境,不願意明明地羞辱她,或置她於死地。

看見或看不見

〈申命記〉 22:4 你若看見弟兄的牛或驢跌倒在路上,不可佯為不見,總要幫助他拉起來。

在〈申命記〉22 章1-12節裡,神教導我們一些做人的原則。

在第1-4節裡,神用了三次「不可佯為不見」,也就是說不可以假裝看不到。

在什麼情況下不可假裝看不到呢?1. 你若看見弟兄的牛或羊失迷了路,不可佯為不見,總要把牠牽回來交給你的弟兄。2. 你的弟兄無論失落甚麼,或是驢,或是衣服,你若遇見,都要這樣行,不可佯為不見。3. 你若看見弟兄的牛或驢跌倒在路上,不可佯為不見,總要幫助他拉起來。

在今天,牛羊或驢都可以改成別的東西,例如:衣服,手機,兒女,腳踏車,雨傘,等等。只要你看到是弟兄姐妹的東西,就不要假裝沒看見,在他人的疏忽上,付出你的關心,使他人不遭損失。