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Don’t Impair Your Judgment

2021-10-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 10:8-20.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 10:8-11 (NIV)
8  Then the LORD said to Aaron,
9  “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
10  You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,
11  and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.”

On verses 8-11:  Why did God tell Aaron in verses 8-9 that he and his sons must not drink wine when they go to meet with Him in the Tent of Meeting?  It’s because as priests Aaron and his sons could not afford to have their judgment impaired by anything, including alcohol.  As worship leaders, they needed a clear mind to distinguish what God considered clean from what God considered unclean (verse 10).  As teachers of God’s decrees, they needed a clear mind to instruct the people wisely and effectively (verse 11).  

In fact, yesterday in Leviticus 10:1-2, we read about a lapse in judgment by Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu.  Was that lapse of judgment because Nadab and Abihu were drunk on wine while they served in the worship service?  It’s not clear.  

羅波安和耶羅波安

2021-10-14 in , /by

〈列王紀〉上12:15  王不肯依從百姓，這事乃出於耶和華，為要應驗他藉示羅人亞希雅對尼八的兒子耶羅波安所說的話。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀 〉上  12:1-19 

在羅波安尚未做王時，要被按立之前，他碰到一個很大的考驗。羅波安，所羅門的兒子，在王宮中長大的王子，享受了大半生的榮華富貴。他能明白民生的疾苦嗎？耶羅波安，一個寡婦的兒子，殷勤工作而得到所羅門的賞賜，成為管理所有以色列家工程的總管，他對於百姓的理解又如何？當所羅門過世之後，以色列人去埃及請耶羅波安回來，可見在百姓心中，耶羅波安是他們推舉的領袖，也是可以替他們說話的人。百姓請耶羅波安去見羅波安，希望羅波安可以減輕他們的重擔。可見所羅門做了四十年的王，老百姓也幹了四十年的苦工雜役，實在苦不堪言。所羅門忙著建設各樣的工事，以及後宮的享樂，卻沒有想到百姓已經叫苦連天。

大衛交待下來的只是建造聖殿，只用了七年的時間，其他的時間都是為了所羅門的宮殿，以及成就所羅門的野心和王室的慾望。只是奴役百姓，卻沒有付代價的工作，百姓怎能不叫苦連天？在〈撒母耳記〉第八章，神已經警告以色列人：「管轄你們的王必這樣行，他必派你們的兒子為他趕車，跟馬，奔走在車前；又派他們做千夫長、五十夫長，為他耕種田地，收割莊稼，打造軍器和車上的器械。必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅。也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。你們的糧食和葡萄園所出的，他必取十分之一給他的太監和臣僕。又必取你們的僕人婢女，健壯的少年人和你們的驢，供他的差役。你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必做他的僕人。那時你們必因所選的王哀求耶和華，耶和華卻不應允你們。」所羅門所取之於百姓的，比神所形容的更有過之而無不及。

When Our Plans Backfire

2021-10-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 10:1-7.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 10:1-2 (NIV)
1  Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command.
2  So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

On verses 1-2:  In Leviticus 9, we saw that when the Israelites assembled together and collectively acknowledged their sin, and when Aaron the high priest painstakingly obeyed God in giving the required offerings and had a heart to bless the people, that’s when the glory of the Lord appeared to them all.  Fire from God’s presence, representing God’s favour and blessing, consumed the offerings.  In other words, what led to God powerfully showing up among His people was unity and humility on the part of the people, and obedience and a heart to bless on the part of the high priest.  And when God showed up, the people rejoiced and fell down in worship.

Isn’t that the result every church leader wants?  Don’t we all want God’s glory to show up and for everyone at church to rejoice and fall down in worship?  But Leviticus 10 teaches us an important lesson: HOW you get there is important.

所羅門的內憂外患

2021-10-13 in , /by

〈列王紀〉上 11:30   亞希雅將自己穿的那件新衣撕成十二片。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀 〉上  11:14-43 

以東人哈達的故事真是讓人著迷。他原是以東王的後裔，但是因為以東王輸給大衛王，所有的男丁都被約押帶人去殺死了。約押在以東停留了六個月，為要剪除所有以東的男人。目的是讓他們在短期內不能報仇，但是沒有殺他們的幼童。我們看以東的地形，就明白為何約押必須在以東六個月，才能把所有的男丁殺死，因為那麼多山洞的地方，要找到所有的人還真不容易。以東王的僕人帶著幼童王子哈達逃到埃及，埃及王對哈達極為賞識，把自己的妻妹給他做妻子，生了兒子，又讓他和王子們一起成長，以王子的待遇相待。當所羅門做王時，哈達聽到約押這個讓人聞之膽寒的仇人死了，於是決定回去重建以東。回去以東之後，哈達卧薪嚐膽、努力不懈，終於建立了自己的軍隊，開始向所羅門王挑戰。

而此時的所羅門王已經失去了猛將約押，其他的戰士也因為太平了幾十年，而不再像大衛王時期的勇士們那麼精悍勇猛。因此以東時時的犯境成為以色列國境的一個大問題。以東在以色列的南邊；而神也在以色列的北邊興起另一個敵人利遜。利遜曾經伺候瑣巴王哈達德謝，在大衛王攻擊瑣巴人時，這個心懷異軌的僕人背叛了他的主人，招聚了一群人，跑到大馬士革自立為王。有學者認為，利遜就是〈列王紀〉上15:18所説的希旬，若是如此，那利遜就是叙利亞王朝的開國君主，亞蘭就是叙利亞。哈達和利遜一在南一在北，時時進犯以色列，南北交攻，使所羅門不堪其擾。對大衛而言，治服這兩個小賊可能只是小菜一碟，但是對未經戰事的所羅門而言，卻如芒刺在身，苦不堪言。這是所羅門的外患。

所羅門有何內憂呢？所羅門曾經看中一個年輕人耶羅波安，看他做事殷勤，就派他監管約瑟家的一切工程。約瑟家是以色列的另一稱號。可能在修建米羅時，耶羅波安和所羅門有不同的意見，所以他對所羅門有所不滿。作者甚至用：「他舉手攻擊王」來表示當時衝突之嚴重性。然後，先知亞希雅在路上遇見耶羅波安時，就把自己的新衣撕成十二片，交給耶羅波安十片。預表神要把十個支派交給耶羅波安管理。這件事被所羅門王知道了，當然不能容忍此事的發生。事情又回到好像掃羅知道撒母耳膏大衛做王之後，就不斷地追捕大衛，要把他去之而後快。所羅門也因而要殺耶羅波安，後者便逃到埃及。

How to Experience More of God’s Presence

2021-10-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 9:1-24.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 9:1-6 (NIV)
1  On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel.
2  He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the LORD.
3  Then say to the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb–both a year old and without defect–for a burnt offering,
4  and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the LORD, together with a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.'”
5  They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the LORD.
6  Then Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.”

On verses 1-6:  Seven days after Aaron has been ordained to serve as the high priest (Leviticus 8), Moses tells Aaron to present a number of offerings.  First, he is to present a sin offering and a burnt offering for his own sins.  Second, he is to present a sin offering and a burnt offering for the sins of the people (v3). Third, he is to present a fellowship offering and a grain offering to God (v4).  The reason Moses tells Aaron to present all these offerings is because: “For today the Lord will appear to you” (v4), and “so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” (v6)   

What Is The Difference Between A Sin Offering, Guilt Offering and Burnt Offering?

2021-10-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 8:18-36.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 8:18-21 (NIV)
18  He then presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
19  Then Moses slaughtered the ram and sprinkled the blood against the altar on all sides.
20  He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head, the pieces and the fat.
21  He washed the inner parts and the legs with water and burned the whole ram on the altar as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire, as the LORD commanded Moses.

On verses 18-21:  After sacrificing a bull as a sin offering on behalf of Aaron and his sons (v14-17), here Moses presents a ram as a burnt offering for Aaron and his sons.  You may be wondering: what is the difference between the sin offering, the burnt offering and the guilt offering in terms of their purposes?  When you read Leviticus 1-7, the purposes and effects of these 3 types of sacrifices do seem to overlap.  All 3 types are used to make atonement for a person’s sins (see Leviticus 1:4 (burnt offering); 4:20, 26, 31, 35 and 5:6 (sin offering); 5:16 (guilt offering)).  The burnt offering (see Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17) and the sin offering (see Leviticus 4:31), as well as the grain offering described in Leviticus 2 and the fellowship offering described in Leviticus 3, all result in “an aroma pleasing to the Lord”.

所羅門寵異族之女

2021-10-12 in , /by

〈列王紀〉上 11:6 所羅門行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，不效法他父親大衛專心順從耶和華。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀 〉上  11:1-13 

在〈以西結書〉第28章裡，當神論推羅王時，祂說了一段很特別的話：“你無所不備，智慧充足，全然美麗。你曾在伊甸神的園中，佩戴各樣寶石，就是紅寶石、紅璧璽、金鋼石、水蒼玉、紅瑪瑙、碧玉、藍寶石、綠寶石、紅玉和黃金，又有精美的鼓、笛在你那裡，都是在你受造之日預備齊全的。”這裡指的是曾經遮掩約櫃的基路伯，也是撒旦的過去。神把智慧和財寶都賜給他，然後他就開始褻瀆聖所。這個例子和所羅門王何等相似。神把智慧、尊榮和富足都賜給所羅門王，然後他就隨著妃嬪去拜偶像了。神願意把所有的美好都賜給人，但是人接受之後會有怎樣的反應呢？

撒旦的墮落和所羅門的背棄神，是許多人生命的寫照。當我們感到缺乏時，不停地向神祈求。等到神真的把我們想要的賜下後，我們的心卻轉離神，轉向沒有生命的假神，這是為什麼？在〈詩篇〉106篇第10節說：「祂將他們所求的賜給他們，卻使他們的心靈軟弱。」神太理解人的本性，當我們一開始倚靠物質時，我們的心就變得軟弱了。所以當我們祈求時，神不一定會按我們所求的給我們，而是把祂認為最好的給我們。

所羅門離棄神並不是一時之間發生的事。當他在建造聖殿時，愛神的心何等熾熱，他建殿建了七年。然後用了十三年去建黎巴嫩林宮和其他宮殿。當他全心全意建立自己的王室時，他的心就不知不覺偏離了。所以摩西和耶穌都強調：「你要盡心盡性盡意愛你的神。」這裡不是說不可以為自己的事業或家室努力，而是說當我們為自己的事業或家努力時，要存著一種事奉神的心去努力，把在事業和家上的努力以榮耀神，而不是榮耀自己的心態去做。

所羅門的財寶

2021-10-11 in , /by

〈列王紀〉上 10:23   所羅門王的財寶與智慧勝過天下的列王。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀 〉上  10:11-29 

世界上有很多有關古代寶藏的傳奇，其中最有名的傳奇之一就是所羅門王的寶藏。從《聖經》上對所羅門王財富的記載，我們可以稍微感覺到所羅門王的富足。以前曾聽說某些地區的國王，在王宮裡的各樣用品都鑲金戴銀，甚至連抽水馬桶都是金製的。現在看來，和所羅門王一比，似乎都給比下去了。今天就讓我們一起來欣賞一下所羅門王究竟富足到一個怎樣的地步。有時候到有錢人家去走走，也是賞心悅目的事，不是嗎？

讓我們到所羅門王的黎巴嫩林宮（House of the Forest of Lebanon）裡走走。黎巴嫩林宮位於聖殿南面，其名字的由來是因為這座宮殿用大量黎巴嫩山的香柏木（雪松）所建，也因為她有許多巨大香柏木柱子，以致於讓人進了這宮，就感覺好像進了黎巴嫩的一個森林裡。林宮的外牆是用大石頭建成，再用香柏木把它們遮蓋住。它的主要作用是儲存軍械。根據希伯來原文，黎巴嫩林宮的上層由四行香柏木柱子所支撐，所以可以想象兩行是緊靠旁邊的牆壁，另外兩行就在這些柱子的對面，形成三條走廊。四行香柏木柱子支撐著香柏木橫樑，承托著上層的樓房。三層樓每層有15間房子，用來儲存軍械。

那三條走廊又稱為柱廊，這柱廊連接了黎巴嫩林宮和王室走廊。其中一條柱廊長22 公尺，相等於黎巴嫩宮的寬度，又稱為審判廊。所羅門在這裡執行審判、宣告訓示，接待使節。這柱廊的後院就是所羅門住的宮室。

黎巴嫩林宮裡放有金擋牌二百面，每面6.8公斤；金盾牌三百面，每面1.7公斤。有人認為這些擋牌和盾牌都不是拿來上戰場用的，因為太重了。當年被大衛殺死的巨人哥利亞，他的鐵槍頭就是6.8公斤（六百舍客勒），以色列人當中有幾個是巨人，像哥利亞那麼強壯巨大呢？再想想看所羅門王一切的飲器都是金子的，黎巴嫩林宮裡的一切器皿都是精金的；所羅門王的寶座是象牙製造，再用精金包裹。在所羅門年間，不僅銀子算不了什麼，金子也算不了什麼。

The Red Bull of Leviticus

2021-10-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 8:1-17.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 8:1-9 (NIV)
1  The LORD said to Moses,
2  “Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast,
3  and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”
4  Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
5  Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.”
6  Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water.
7  He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skillfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him.
8  He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
9  Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred diadem, on the front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses.

On verses 1-9:  Here we read of how Moses washed and clothed Aaron and his sons to make them ready to serve as priests.  Likewise through Jesus Christ God has washed us and clothed us so that we would be ready to serve as His priests.  

That’s why Isaiah would say: “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)

示巴女王覲所羅門

2021-10-10 in , /by

〈列王紀〉上10:9  耶和華你的神是應當稱頌的！祂喜悅你，使你坐以色列的國位。因為祂永遠愛以色列，所以立你做王，使你秉公行義。

閱讀經文：〈列王紀 〉上  10:1-10  

示巴女王和所羅門，一個充滿了美麗傳奇的故事。從遙遠的非洲東部，她聽到了一位年輕而充滿智慧的以色列王的事蹟，不惜紆尊降貴，去一探真假。她準備了不少難題給所羅門。比較出名的是判斷真花假花的故事。據說，示巴女王預備了兩盆花，要所羅門在不可碰觸，且有一段距離的情況下，說出哪一盆是真花。所羅門王想了一下，就叫人打開兩旁的窗戶，讓外面花園中的蜜蜂和蝴蝶飛進來。果然，這些美麗的小昆蟲很自然地，向著真花飛去，並且停留在真花上享受一番。

在猶太人的傳說裡，示巴女王又叫了一群穿著一樣，髮型年記都相仿的孩童進殿，讓所羅門說出哪個是男的，哪個是女的。所羅門王叫人去拿了一盆水進來，叫孩童在盆中洗手，立刻就分出男童和女童。男童洗手之後，甩一甩，在褲子上抹兩把；女童要把手放進盆內前，要先把袖子捲起來，洗完後，又向僕人要毛巾擦手。在〈列王紀〉上第四章，說到所羅門王不僅會寫詩歌和箴言，還會講論草木，自黎巴嫩的香柏樹直到牆上長的牛膝草，又講論飛禽走獸、昆蟲水族。從他對示巴女王難題的回應裡，可以看出他對大自然和人性的理解很深刻，所以可以用很簡單的方法去處理難題。

示巴女王帶著一群人浩浩蕩蕩來到耶路撒冷，總算不虛彼行，親眼看到了所羅門的威儀，和他所展現的智慧。所羅門宮殿裡的井井有條，各人知所進退，還有各樣的珍饈美味、衣服裝飾，都顯現了超越他國人的管理和設計。“又見他上耶和華殿的臺階”，指的是所羅門王到耶和華的聖殿裡獻燔祭一事，可能祭甡甚多，令人咋舌。那種氣派震住了示巴女王。