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大卫简立讴歌者

〈历代志〉上 25:1    大卫和众首领分派亚萨、希幔并耶杜顿的子孙弹琴、鼓瑟、敲钹、唱歌。

阅读经文:〈历代志 〉上 25章

从大卫王在以色列的作为,可以感受到当人敬畏神时,神就赐给他源源不绝的灵感。在扫罗作王时,除了作战之外,就是追杀大卫,没有任何建树,甚至在他被杀之后,以色列的领土大多数都被非利士人占领,扫罗家还要躲到约旦河西的老家基列地。但是大卫王不仅建立起强大的军事力量,征服了外邦各国,对内建立起完善的祭司制度,也包括了圣乐的敬拜。他说在万难之中为圣殿筹备了十万他连得的金子,一百万他连得的银子,和无数的铜和铁,以及建材及工人,为建圣殿之用。这个牧羊童子在神的调教之下,成为以色列最伟大的君王。大卫的例子让我们看到,人若愿意把自己交给神,敬畏神、信靠神,神就可以在这个人身上有极为奇妙的作为。

从本章的记载,可以看见当时的人才都是家庭的传承。大卫设立了三个诗班,由亚萨、希幔、耶杜顿三人负责。〈诗篇〉当中有过半数的诗歌出自大卫,其他还有六位作者,其中写得最多的就是亚萨,共有十二篇。亚萨之诗的第一篇,是〈诗篇〉第五十篇。亚萨很会歌唱,也是一个钹手(代上15:19)。钹不是很被人看重的打击乐器,却不容易敲得好。其他乐器会有偶发的高潮,也有休止的时候,但是钹手却不可以停顿,钹手必须持续且稳定地敲下去。这种没有停顿、没有变化、稳定持久的节奏是一切颂赞音乐的基础。现代的钹通常由鼓手一起敲打。在〈列王记下〉里,直到约西亚王,赞美时仍经常颂唱亚萨的诗。当年约柜迁入耶路撒冷时,亚萨和他的乐师们前行奏乐,敲钹吹号,鼓瑟弹琴,用诗歌颂扬赞美耶和华(代上16∶4-7)。

哥辖的子孙中有歌唱的希幔,希幔是约珥的儿子,约珥是撒母耳的儿子,这样一直算上去,希幔原来是可拉的后裔。诗篇88篇是可拉后裔的诗歌,就是以斯拉人希幔的训诲诗,此说他是以斯拉人可能是指其出生之地。可拉当年召集各支挀的首领阴谋叛变,想把摩西和亚伦赶下台,想要争得祭司之位。后来神使地裂开,把他和其他叛变者吞下去,使他们活活地坠落阴间(民16)。在〈民数记〉26章11节告诉我们,可拉的众子并没有死亡。可拉当年想成为祭司的梦,在其后裔撒母耳身上成全了,却不是借着夺权,而是借着奉献成为拿细耳人。神也赐给可拉的后裔有吹角颂赞的恩赐,希幔更奉神之命做王的先见。

The Hope of Heaven

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NIV)
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

On verse 1: What is Paul talking about when he says, “Now we know if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed…”?  What earthly tent is Paul referring to?  The earthly tent Paul is talking about is our physical bodies, which, like a tent, are useful but susceptible to wear and tear.  Our earthly bodies are great temporary dwellings, but they are also subject to hunger, fatigue, disease and death.  Paul is saying that, as Christians, one day when we die, we can look forward to going to heaven where we will have “an eternal house”, a physical body that will never decay and cannot be destroyed.  Praise God!  The Bible describes heaven as a place where God “will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)  So if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you have much to look forward to after you die.  For when you die, you don’t leave home; you go home!

2 Corinthians 5:2-5 (NIV)
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

Speak Out God’s Word and Overcome

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 4:13-18.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 4:13-14 (NIV)
13  It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
14  because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

On verses 13-14:  Paul quotes this verse “I believed; therefore I have spoken” from Psalm 116:10 as a reminder to him and his team to keep speaking out what they believe, declaring God’s Word over their lives and reminding themselves of the truth that just as God raised Jesus from the dead, so God will raise Paul and his team up from the greatest hardships, even death itself.

When you’re going through great hardship the way Paul was, one of the best things you can is speak out your faith and speak out God’s Word.  Praise God!  There are thousands of promises from the Bible you can hang onto.  For example, verses 16 and 17 below are worth memorizing and declaring.  When you declare in faith what you know to be right and true, it keeps you from sinking into hopelessness or drifting into distraction.

祭司的一天

〈历代志〉上 24:19  这就是他们的班次,要照耶和华以色列的神藉他们祖宗亚伦所吩咐的条例,进入耶和华的殿办理事务。

阅读经文:〈历代志 〉上 24章

亚伦和子孙被神拣选去供祭司的职份。在西乃旷野时,亚伦和儿子们承接圣职,因为拿答和亚比户没有按著神的吩咐,擅自取用凡火献给神,当场被从神那里出来的火烧死(利10:2)。拿答和亚比户那时还年轻,没有儿子;因此亚伦只剩两个儿子以利亚撒和以他玛,及其后裔来服侍神。以利亚撒的子孙中有十六个族长,以他玛的子孙中有八个族长,加起来共有廿四个族长,负责带领各族在每周和安息日时,轮流进去圣殿中服侍。他们采用掣签的方式来安排各班(族)的工作时间,因为用掣签的方式可以避免纷争和不满。

在前一章(代上23章)里有提到,大卫数点了卅岁以上的利未人共有三万八千人,其中有二万四千人管理耶和华殿的事,有六千人做官长和士师,有四千人做守门的,又有四千人用大卫所做的乐器颂赞耶和华。 圣殿究竟有多少工作,需要用这么多人呢?今天我们要借用以色列圣殿学院的一些资料,和大家一起来看看祭司的工作内容。所以我们称其为“祭司的一天”。祭司的一天从轮班前住进去开始。圣殿两旁有祭司的宿舍供值班的祭司们住宿。

祭司起床后,要漱洗洁净自己,然后彼此帮助,换上祭司服。我们来看看祭司们的工作有哪几方面。昨天我们也谈到为何有的经文说利未人廿岁就要去参与耶和华殿的事务,有的经文说卅岁。有的圣经学者指出,那是因为廿岁是开始当“学徒”,卅岁才能正式任职的原因。那么他们要学哪些事情呢?从他们早上起床后就要掣签分工开始,就晓得工作的分配十分公平,必须什么都会做,不能只会一两样,抽到什么工作都要去做。

Find The Big BUT In Every Problem

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

On verse 7:   The Corinthians were aware to some degree of Paul’s trials, hardships and weaknesses and some Corinthians would even say that these trials, hardships and weaknesses are evidence that Paul is not a “super apostle”.  Paul responds by likening his faith and God’s Holy Spirit inside to a treasure that resides in a weak, brittle jar of clay – i.e. himself.  This is consistent with Paul’s point in verse 5 that he is not here to preach about how good and strong he is but about how great and strong God is.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) 
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

On verses 8-9:  I love Paul’s attitude.  No matter how many problems Paul faced, Paul was found a big BUT in every problem. “We are hard pressed on every side, BUT not crushed; perplexed, BUT no in despair; persecuted, BUT not abandoned; struck down, BUT not destroyed.”

利未人之职任

〈历代志上〉  上 23:26 利未人不必再抬帐幕和其中所用的一切器皿了。

阅读经文:〈历代志 〉上 23章

在〈历代志上〉的廿三章里给了我们一个明确的概念,以色列人面临一个敬拜的转型,利未人面临新的事奉方式的挑战。这些组织和重整都是大卫在位时所做的安排。大卫王不仅是军事家,使外邦各国都臣服,对内他也有很周密的思考,使利未人的事奉比以前更加的完备。大卫既然有建造圣殿的计划,就不能不考虑到利未人在事奉上的转型。以前约柜在会幕里,每到一处,利未人就要负责抬帐幕和其中所用的一切器皿;但是现在大卫已经把会幕搬到耶路撒冷,而且要盖圣殿作为约柜永久的居所,因此事奉的转型是无可避免的。

利未是雅各的第三个儿子,原本性情十分暴躁凶狠。当示剑沾污他的妹妹底拿后,他和西缅欺骗了示剑的家人,叫他们的男人全部要行割礼。趁着他们在疼痛之际,把他们全部杀掉。因此雅各论到利未时说:“西缅和利未是弟兄;他们的刀剑是强暴的器械。 我的荣耀阿,不要与他们联合聚集;因为他们趁怒杀害人命,任意砍断牛腿大筋。”但是这个咒诅在摩西时被更改为祝福:“耶和华啊,你的土明和乌陵都在你的虔诚人那里。这是因利未人遵行你的话,谨守你的约。他们要将你的典章教训雅各,将你的律法教训以色列。他们要把香焚在你面前,把全牲的燔祭献在你的坛上。求耶和华降福在他的财物上,悦纳他手里所办的事。那些起来攻击他和恨恶他的人,愿你刺透他们的腰,使他们不得再起来。(节录自申33:8-11)”

土明和乌陵是祭司用来寻求神的心意之物,“把香焚在你面前,把全牲的燔祭献在你的坛上”,更是祭司的职责。神把为以色列人事奉神的责任交给利未人,把利未人从一个被咒诅的景况下,变成蒙祝福的一个支派,并且还成为教导以色列民遵循神的典章和律法的支派。因为利未人遵行神的话,谨守神的约,就有这样的转变。所以我们不要因为自己的祖辈曾做过何事而在神面前自惭形秽。事实上,有越来越多曾经服事假神或偶像的人,因着神的救恩而变成传道人,到处宣扬主的福音。

When God Turned On The Lights

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 4:1-6.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV) 
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 

On verse 1:  It’s only because of God’s mercy that we get to serve God and represent Him on this earth.  It’s a privilege and an honour that we never earned or deserved, just one of the many benefits that comes from receiving God’s gift — Jesus Christ — by faith.  If don’t feel worthy to serve God or you feel inadequate, remember: God in His mercy has saved you, chosen you and qualified you to serve Him.  So serve Him with confidence, joy, perseverance and without fear.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) 
2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 

On verse 2:  Since it is because of God’s mercy that we can serve God and be called ministers in His kingdom, we don’t need to pretend to be someone we’re not, or act as if it all depends on us.  Rather, we can just “set forth the truth plainly”.  The truth of what?  The truth of who God is as revealed in Jesus Christ and the truth of who we are, mere sinners who have been saved by His grace, who still make mistakes but who are loved, accepted and chosen by God through Jesus Christ.

《圣经中各种审判》—— 导论

审判、畏惧与改变

真神所行的真正的审判,谁能担当得住呢?当主显现的时候,谁能站立得住呢?真正了解这句话的人,知道审判这件事是很可怕的,因有了警戒,产生非常机动性生活上的改变。这不是在宗教中想像空无一物的神话,而是实际与上帝有一个相对性存在的关系,在互动上有应尽的责任,因敬畏上帝产生行为上的果子。

真实的上帝执行真正的审判的时候,人会产生惧怕、敬畏与改善的动力。我们没有办法因为动机上的敬畏改变我们的生活,我们要恐惧颤惊来到上帝面前,因上帝的审判产生的畏惧而有改变。摩西写下最古老的人生之诗──〈诗篇〉九十篇,比大卫所写的诗早五百年,「有谁按你当受的敬畏惧怕你,照你公义审判有所觉悟,过一个该有的公义生活呢?」(参:诗 90:11)盼望上帝借着这项真理带给你我生命的改变,成为我们活在上帝面前的一大动力。

上帝不仅是有公义、有真理的上帝,上帝乃是公义的本体、真理的本体,这不是本质上与上帝迥然有别的被造者所能想像的。上帝就是那圣者、那义者,祂不是有圣洁、有公义而已。〈使徒行传〉第七章,司提反说:「那义者到你们中间来,你们竟然杀死他」(徒 7:52),表示人多么痛恨上帝,不敬畏上帝;袒护犯罪的自己,抗拒上帝干涉我们的生命,这就是我们因不敬畏上帝所产生的态度。

上帝不但有公义、有圣洁,祂是那圣者、那义者。本体与客体不同的地方,在于追求真理的人,应当降服于公义的上帝,作为降服于上帝权威之下的敬拜者。当上帝的公义发出光来,我们从祂的审判得着警惕、光照与改正,也得到上帝的悦纳。

Why You Can Be Bold and Hopeful

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 3:7-12 (NIV)
7  Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,
8  will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9  If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
10  For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
11  And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12  Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

On verses 7-12:  What is Paul talking about in verse 7?  Paul is alluding to an incident from Exodus 34:29-35 where Moses carried two stone tablets containing God’s law (in particular, the Ten Commandments) to the people.  As Moses came down the mountain carrying God’s law, Moses’ face radiated with God’s glory so much so that the people were afraid and asked him to cover his face with a veil.  

Paul recalls this incident as a way to say that the old covenant, represented by Moses and the Ten Commandments, was glorious even though it was temporary (v7, 11), performance-based, and brought death (v7) and condemnation (v9) to people. 

大卫嘱所罗门建殿

〈历代志〉上 22:11 但愿耶和华赐你聪明、智慧,好治理以色列国,遵行耶和华你神的律法。

阅读经文:〈历代志 〉上 22章

因为〈撒母耳记〉/〈列王纪〉/〈历代志〉这三卷书有的记载同样的事情,所以我们读完〈撒母耳记〉/〈列王纪〉之后,不会再去读〈历代志〉。因此〈历代志〉有记载,而〈撒母耳记〉/〈列王纪〉没有记载的,我们会在此补充。〈历代志上〉22-29章可以帮助我们对圣殿有更深一层的认识。因此在进入〈列王纪〉之前,我们会先把〈历代志上〉这几章也稍微读一遍。在这一章里记载了大卫对建造圣殿所做的预备。

在〈撒母耳记下〉七章里,大卫住在自己的宫殿,想到神的约柜尚在会幕之中,便兴起想为神建殿的心意。先知拿单也觉得这是一件美事,以为神必喜悦。没想到,神告诉拿单,祂不要大卫为祂建殿,因为大卫在多次的战争里流了多人的血,因此神要大卫的儿子所罗门做和平之王,在和平的时代里为祂建殿。大卫虽然有遗憾,却并不气馁。反而更积极地为建殿的事工做各方面的准备。

大卫的心态很值我们学习,有时我们有热心,想为主做一些事,但那些事是不是主要我们去做的?以前有位朋友和他的太太每年都去大陆传福音,后来有一年,他们突然发现,神已经把许多国内的同胞都送到温哥华了,为何舍近求远?当他们开始在本地传福音后,发现那些信主的人很自然就回去向家人和朋友传福音了,这样的效果是他们始料未及的。我们想做的事,不一定就是神要我们做的;所以我们有什么感动,都要在神面前好好祷告,求印证。若是凭热心事奉,一旦热度减低,就很难继续事奉;反而是寻求了神的印证和带领的事奉,即使受到挫折,也能持续下去。