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亞比米勒的下場

〈士師記〉   9:56 這樣,神報應亞比米勒向他父親所行的惡,就是殺了弟兄七十個人的惡。

閱讀經文:〈士師記〉  9:26-57

人一生的所作所為,是否都在神的眼目之中呢?〈傳道書〉十二章,所羅門王做了一個總結:「人所做的事,連一切隱藏的事,無論是善是惡,神都必審問。」無論是善是惡,神都察看,何況是亞比米勒殺了七十個親兄弟,搶著當王一事,神豈能不審問?在讀這一章的內容時,彷彿在看一場極為緊張的電影,又有點像黑手黨的內鬥,黑吃黑,一點都沒有憐憫,只想致對方於死地。不是你死便是我死,拚鬥十分激烈。

以別的兒子迦勒可能是原來示劍城的主人之後,因為在他鼓動眾人時,他說「你們可以服侍示劍的父親哈抹的後裔」,表明他是哈抹的後裔,他才是示劍城的主人,所以示劍人應當跟隨他。雖然利未和西緬當時殺死了所有示劍城的男人(創34),可能當時有人正懷著胎兒,逃出了他們的毒手。因此他也指出,亞比米勒不是真正的示劍人。雖然他的母親是示劍人,但他的父親是以色列人,以別的兒子迦勒才是真正的示劍之主。迦勒等待這個報仇的機會,應該已經等待很久,籌謀計劃有段時間了。

在亞比米勒想做王時,示劍人稱他為弟兄;等示劍人要叛變時,亞比米勒什麼也不是,變成外人,變成敵人了。在迦勒的聳動下,示劍人背棄了亞比米勒,在各交通要道上搶劫行旅,使亞比米勒的名聲受損,讓人不再信任他的統治,因為他不能再保障過境旅客的財產和生命安全。一旦過境的旅客銳減,亞比米勒的稅收也相應下降,削減了亞比米勒的經濟來源。

Sin’s Effect on Our Lives

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 19:1-11.  Let’s go!

Genesis 19:1-3 (NIV)
1  The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
2  “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
3  But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.

On verses 1-3:  The fact that Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city of Sodom leads some scholars to believe that Lot was a leader in the city of Sodom.  Lot invites two visitors, who happen to be angels, to rest at his house.  The fact that Lot prepares a meal of bread without yeast suggests that it was quite a rushed meal.  Lot doesn’t seem to go out of his way to serve his visitors lavishly as much as Abraham did for his three visitors in Genesis 18.  Even in how they serve their visitors you can see the difference between Abraham and Lot.  Perhaps Lot’s lesser hospitality was influenced by the self-centered culture of the city he lived in, in which case it shows that sin has this shrinking effect on our heart to love others.  In any event, you can understand why God blessed and used Abraham more than God blessed and used Lot.  How you welcome God into your life will directly impact how much God will bless and use your life.

Standing in the Gap

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 18:1-15.  Let’s go!

Genesis 18:16-21 (NIV)
16  When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.
17  Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18  Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
19  For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
20  Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21  that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

On verses 16-21:  Here God confides in Abraham regarding what He is planning to do to Sodom and Gomorrah.  Likewise, when you make it your life’s passion to worship, obey and trust God, God will entrust you with the things that are on His heart.

亞比米勒殺基甸眾子

〈士師記〉   9: 23 神使惡魔降在亞比米勒和示劍人中間,示劍人就以詭詐待亞比米勒。

閱讀經文:〈士師記〉  9:1-25

耶路巴力,就是基甸。「耶路」就是爭論,耶路巴力就是「讓巴力與他爭論」的意思。這是在基甸蒙召後,拆掉巴力的祭壇後,他的父親對攻擊他的人所說的話:「巴力若果是神,有人拆毀他的壇,讓他為自己爭論吧!」耶路巴力的名字由此而來。能跟巴力爭論,是何等的地位?

基甸是指大能的勇士,可是這位大能的勇士把米甸人趕走後,就把他的精力全用在生兒子的事上。一個男人要在多少年裡可以生下七十個兒子呢?那必定有許多女人的幫忙。沒想到耶路巴力忙了那麼多年,生了那麼多兒子,在世人中好像建立起很大的勢力,可是在神的眼中卻不堪一擊。全部被他自己的一個兒子殺掉了。他多年的努力換來一場家族的大慘劇。這是神給他的縱情聲色的人生的一個評語:一無可取。枉費神對他的一番栽培,信任和託付。

基甸放棄神給他的託付,做了一付以弗得,讓以色列人陷入拜偶像的罪惡裡,然後縱情聲色。但是他的婢女為他所生的一個兒子亞比米勒,卻對權力有十分的渴望,不甘長居人下。試想,在一個大家族裡,婢女所生的孩子會受到怎樣的待遇呢?若是在古代的朝鮮或韓國,庶出的兒女地位就如奴隸一般,是沒有前途的,更別想分家產。亞比米勒怎能不為自己的前途憂心?因此他想出了一個可怕的計劃。他若想要出人頭地,就必須去除那些擋在他前面的人。誰有資格成為以色列人的掌權者呢?基甸不做,再來豈不當由基甸的兒子接任嗎?要死了幾個兒子才能輪到亞米比勒?可能終其一生都等不到了。

基甸的以弗得

〈士師記〉 8:4   基甸和跟隨他的三百人到約旦河過渡,雖然疲乏,還是追趕。

閱讀經文:〈士師記〉 8:1-35

住在約旦河東或河西真的有分別嗎?想當年住河東的以色列人建了證壇,為了證明耶和華神是真神,也為了讓子孫知道他們也是神的選民。但是住在河東的人很快就覺得跟河西的人不怎麼搭調,也不大關心發生在他們中間的事情。所以當基甸他們追米甸人過約旦河時,在十分疲乏之際,要求疏割人給他們餅吃時,疏割人的回答 非常冷酷:「西巴和撒慕拿已經在你手裡,你使我們將餅給你的軍兵嗎?」已經完全沒有兄弟的情份在裡面。西巴和撒慕拿是米甸的二王,也是這次戰爭的主犯,基甸帶軍打得十分辛苦,疏割人卻覺得那沒什麼了不起,主將還沒抓到,憑什麼要幫你?

疏割在約但河東岸、雅博渡口以北,雅各和以掃分手後,就在疏割建造房屋,為又為牲畜搭棚。該地方因而起名為「疏割」,就是「棚」的意思。在摩西劃分土地時,把疏割劃給迦得支派,所以在〈士師記〉時,也應該是迦得支派的子孫住在那裡。沒想到他們不顧念手足的情份,看基甸他們追趕敵人那麼辛苦,竟不肯分一點餅給他們吃。好像對河西支派被米甸人欺壓的痛苦毫不在意,隔岸觀火不說,連幫個忙,給點鼓勵都那麼吝嗇,並且說出譏笑的言語,真令人寒心到了極點。難怪基甸那麼憤怒。

沒想到毗努伊勒人也和疏割人一樣的冷酷無情。毗努伊勒是在雅博河附近的一個地方。在雅各要渡河和以掃見面的前一夜,雅各在那裡與神(或說神的使者)摔跤直到黎明。毗努伊勒也是迦得支派的屬地。挪巴和約比哈都在約但河東邊、在迦得支派地的東邊、屬亞捫人的地。基甸和那三百人雖然疲乏,還是追趕,直到亞捫人的地方,抓住米甸的二王西巴和撒慕拿,並把他們殺死。

Welcome God’s Presence and God’s Word

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 18:1-15.  Let’s go!

Genesis 18:1-10 (NIV)
1  The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
2  Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3  He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
4  Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree…….

On verses 10b-15:  Upon hearing the Lord say that about this time next year Sarah will have a son, Sarah laughs to herself and thinks sarcastically, “will I now have this pleasure?”  Previously Abraham had laughed at the Lord’s message that Sarah would bear a child at the age of 90 (Genesis 17:17), but his laugh was a joyful laugh fueled by faith, wonder and awe.  Here Sarah’s laugh is not fueled by faith or joy, but by unbelief, skepticism and ingratitude (v13).  Perceiving Sarah’s sarcastic thoughts, the Lord responds by asking, “Is anything too hard for the Lord” (v14).  Afraid, Sarah denies laughing but God confirms that she did laugh (v15).

耶和華和基甸的刀

〈士師記〉 7:20    三隊的人就都吹角,打破瓶子,左手拿著火把,右手拿著角,喊叫說:「耶和華和基甸的刀!」

閱讀經文:〈士師記〉 7:1-25

被欺壓了七年之久的以色列人,此時在基甸的號召下聚集在哈律泉旁。哈律泉在基利波山的北邊,是條溫泉小溪,至今仍有泉水自山崖邊不斷流出,已經建設成一個公園。在哈律泉的北邊大約六公里處就是摩利山(又稱為摩利崗),那裡聚集著米甸營的大軍,包括了亞瑪力人和東方人。在兩邊要交峰之前,神對基甸說:「跟隨你的人過多,我不能將米甸人交在他們手中,免得以色列人向我誇大」,所以「凡懼怕膽怯的,可以離開基列山回去。」面對著如沙一般多的敵人,基甸可能暗自慶幸,還不錯,有三萬兩千人出來跟隨他。沒想到神竟然要叫那些心裡懼怕的人回去?

在〈申命記〉裡,神規定有幾種人不可出征:一是剛建造房屋,尚未奉獻者;二,誰種葡萄園,尚未用所結的果子者;三,已聘定了妻,尚未迎娶者;四,懼怕膽怯者(申20:5-8)五,剛結婚的人一年內都不可以將之徵召入伍(申24:5)。因為這些人心有旁騖,打起仗起若不能專心,怎能得勝?尤其是懼怕膽怯者,不僅對自己沒有信心,對神也沒有信心,在一起打仗,肯定影響士氣,不如不要。在人的眼中,打仗當然是人越多越好;但是在神的眼中,祂只要精兵。

米甸營裡一共有十三萬五千人,在以色列人眼中尤如過境之蝗蟲,洪水也似地翻滾而來。而神卻對基甸說,一萬人還是太多,祂只要留下三百人。我們有時覺得為神做工的人太少,可是現在來看,這是神一貫的政策。神不要太多工人,像在某些政府部門做事的,有許多打毛衣、聊天或上網打遊戲者,神要的每個工人都是實心實地在做事的。而且,神要讓這些服侍的人知道,不是因為自己有什麼能力,而是神的能力托住他們。所以神所用的人,不能向神誇大,因為明白自己何等軟弱,神的能力和恩典才是一切事工的泉源。

Laugh for the Right Reasons

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 17:15-27.  Let’s go!

Genesis 17:15-16 (NIV)
15  God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.
16  I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

On verses 15-16:  Here God expressly states that Sarai will give birth to a son and will become the mother of nations.  God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah, which means “princess”, which is appropriate given that kings would come from her (v16).

This reminds me that when you place your trust in Jesus, you become part of God’s royal family.  As God’s children, you’re not nothing; you are royalty.  (Just for fun, if you want a more royal sounding name, take the name of the street you live on and add a royal sounding title to it, like “Prince Willingdon”, “Lady Katsura”, “King Edward”, or “The Dutchess of Dunbar”.  This usually works for streets in Greater Vancouver, unless you live on No. 2 Road.)

Faith and Circumcision

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 17:1-14.  Let’s go!

Genesis 17:1-8 (NIV)
1  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.
2  I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
3  Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
4  “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
5  No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
6  I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.
7  I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
8  The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

On verses 1-8:  Previously God made a covenant (a legally binding promise) to Abram in Genesis 15, promising to give Abram the land from the Nile to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18).  Now, in addition to God telling Abram to walk before Him and be blameless (v1), God confirms His covenant with Abram and gives the covenant more definition, like a sculpture getting more and more refined by its sculptor.  Here God confirms that the covenant includes Abram being the father of many nations (v4), with Abram’s name changing to Abraham (meaning “father of many”) (v5).  God also confirms that the covenant is an everlasting one for all of Abraham’s descendants (v7) ad that God is giving to Abraham and his descendants the whole land of Canaan (v8). 

第一封信:給以弗所(2)下

「你要回想你是從哪裡墮落的」

  你的放棄比較主動,你的得回比較被動。你的犯罪,是你的意志產生的果效;你的回頭,是上帝的意志繼續施恩的果效。上帝的恩典永遠大過我們所能做、所能想的。主吩咐以弗所教會要悔改,得回失去的愛心。怎麼得回?「你要回想你是從哪裡墮落的」這句話,是聖經在啟示錄告訴我們的。

  老人家常常會跌倒,老人家跌倒的原因,不是因為愛跌倒,而是因為老人家腦內平衡的系統已經不敏感了,因為他小腦的平衡作用已經失去了靈敏。為什麼老人家要用拐杖?因為拐杖的硬度能使他站立。老人家喜歡坐在有可以支撐站起來的椅子,因為老人的平衡力、筋骨的支撐力已經遠不如前。老人不覺悟哪一秒要跌倒,旁邊照顧他的人要非常敏捷,就馬上即時撐著他,讓他站著。一個年輕人跌倒了,就站起來;一個老人跌到,要花幾分鐘慢慢移動身體,才能站起來。感謝上帝給我站立的時候,還可以手靠著講台,繼續維持整個身體的支撐,直到講完道。

  有些人用這節聖經引申一句話:「你從哪裡跌倒,就從哪裡起來。」我從小聽牧師講道:「你從哪裡跌倒,就從哪裡起來」,我後來覺得這句話是沒有道理的,因為沒有人從這裡跌倒,而從那裡起來,你從這裡跌倒,一定是從這裡起來。今天我們的靈性也如此。我們在懶惰傳福音上跌倒,我們卻在金錢的奉獻上爬起來,你的跌倒是因為懶惰傳福音,你的起來怎麼是用奉獻多一點錢起來?你跌倒的地方與你起來的地方不一樣,這是靈性上的錯誤。