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亚比米勒的下场

2021-05-19 in , /by

〈士师记〉   9:56 这样，神报应亚比米勒向他父亲所行的恶，就是杀了弟兄七十个人的恶。

阅读经文：〈士师记〉  9:26-57

人一生的所作所为，是否都在神的眼目之中呢？〈传道书〉十二章，所罗门王做了一个总结：「人所做的事，连一切隐藏的事，无论是善是恶，神都必审问。」无论是善是恶，神都察看，何况是亚比米勒杀了七十个亲兄弟，抢著当王一事，神岂能不审问？在读这一章的内容时，仿佛在看一场极为紧张的电影，又有点像黑手党的内斗，黑吃黑，一点都没有怜悯，只想致对方于死地。不是你死便是我死，拼斗十分激烈。

以别的儿子迦勒可能是原来示剑城的主人之后，因为在他鼓动众人时，他说「你们可以服侍示剑的父亲哈抹的后裔」，表明他是哈抹的后裔，他才是示剑城的主人，所以示剑人应当跟随他。虽然利未和西缅当时杀死了所有示剑城的男人（创34），可能当时有人正怀着胎儿，逃出了他们的毒手。因此他也指出，亚比米勒不是真正的示剑人。虽然他的母亲是示剑人，但他的父亲是以色列人，以别的儿子迦勒才是真正的示剑之主。迦勒等待这个报仇的机会，应该已经等待很久，筹谋计划有段时间了。

在亚比米勒想做王时，示剑人称他为弟兄；等示剑人要叛变时，亚比米勒什么也不是，变成外人，变成敌人了。在迦勒的耸动下，示剑人背弃了亚比米勒，在各交通要道上抢劫行旅，使亚比米勒的名声受损，让人不再信任他的统治，因为他不能再保障过境旅客的财产和生命安全。一旦过境的旅客锐减，亚比米勒的税收也相应下降，削减了亚比米勒的经济来源。

Sin’s Effect on Our Lives

2021-05-19 in /by

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

2021-05-18 in /by

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.

亚比米勒杀基甸众子

2021-05-18 in , /by

〈士师记〉   9: 23 神使恶魔降在亚比米勒和示剑人中间，示剑人就以诡诈待亚比米勒。

阅读经文：〈士师记〉  9:1-25

耶路巴力，就是基甸。「耶路」就是争论，耶路巴力就是「让巴力与他争论」的意思。这是在基甸蒙召后，拆掉巴力的祭坛后，他的父亲对攻击他的人所说的话：「巴力若果是神，有人拆毁他的坛，让他为自己争论吧！」耶路巴力的名字由此而来。能跟巴力争论，是何等的地位？

基甸是指大能的勇士，可是这位大能的勇士把米甸人赶走后，就把他的精力全用在生儿子的事上。一个男人要在多少年里可以生下七十个儿子呢？那必定有许多女人的帮忙。没想到耶路巴力忙了那么多年，生了那么多儿子，在世人中好像建立起很大的势力，可是在神的眼中却不堪一击。全部被他自己的一个儿子杀掉了。他多年的努力换来一场家族的大惨剧。这是神给他的纵情声色的人生的一个评语：一无可取。枉费神对他的一番栽培，信任和托付。

基甸放弃神给他的托付，做了一付以弗得，让以色列人陷入拜偶像的罪恶里，然后纵情声色。但是他的婢女为他所生的一个儿子亚比米勒，却对权力有十分的渴望，不甘长居人下。试想，在一个大家族里，婢女所生的孩子会受到怎样的待遇呢？若是在古代的朝鲜或韩国，庶出的儿女地位就如奴隶一般，是没有前途的，更别想分家产。亚比米勒怎能不为自己的前途忧心？因此他想出了一个可怕的计划。他若想要出人头地，就必须去除那些挡在他前面的人。谁有资格成为以色列人的掌权者呢？基甸不做，再来岂不当由基甸的儿子接任吗？要死了几个儿子才能轮到亚米比勒？可能终其一生都等不到了。

基甸的以弗得

2021-05-17 in , /by

〈士师记〉 8:4   基甸和跟随他的三百人到约旦河过渡，虽然疲乏，还是追赶。

阅读经文：〈士师记〉 8:1-35

住在约旦河东或河西真的有分别吗？想当年住河东的以色列人建了证坛，为了证明耶和华神是真神，也为了让子孙知道他们也是神的选民。但是住在河东的人很快就觉得跟河西的人不怎么搭调，也不大关心发生在他们中间的事情。所以当基甸他们追米甸人过约旦河时，在十分疲乏之际，要求疏割人给他们饼吃时，疏割人的回答 非常冷酷：「西巴和撒慕拿已经在你手里，你使我们将饼给你的军兵吗？」已经完全没有兄弟的情份在里面。西巴和撒慕拿是米甸的二王，也是这次战争的主犯，基甸带军打得十分辛苦，疏割人却觉得那没什么了不起，主将还没抓到，凭什么要帮你？

疏割在约但河东岸、雅博渡口以北，雅各和以扫分手后，就在疏割建造房屋，为又为牲畜搭棚。该地方因而起名为「疏割」，就是「棚」的意思。在摩西划分土地时，把疏割划给迦得支派，所以在〈士师记〉时，也应该是迦得支派的子孙住在那里。没想到他们不顾念手足的情份，看基甸他们追赶敌人那么辛苦，竟不肯分一点饼给他们吃。好像对河西支派被米甸人欺压的痛苦毫不在意，隔岸观火不说，连帮个忙，给点鼓励都那么吝啬，并且说出讥笑的言语，真令人寒心到了极点。难怪基甸那么愤怒。

没想到毗努伊勒人也和疏割人一样的冷酷无情。毗努伊勒是在雅博河附近的一个地方。在雅各要渡河和以扫见面的前一夜，雅各在那里与神（或说神的使者）摔跤直到黎明。毗努伊勒也是迦得支派的属地。挪巴和约比哈都在约但河东边、在迦得支派地的东边、属亚扪人的地。基甸和那三百人虽然疲乏，还是追赶，直到亚扪人的地方，抓住米甸的二王西巴和撒慕拿，并把他们杀死。

Welcome God’s Presence and God’s Word

2021-05-17 in /by

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).

耶和华和基甸的刀

2021-05-16 in , /by

〈士师记〉 7:20    三队的人就都吹角，打破瓶子，左手拿着火把，右手拿着角，喊叫说：「耶和华和基甸的刀！」

阅读经文：〈士师记〉 7:1-25

被欺压了七年之久的以色列人，此时在基甸的号召下聚集在哈律泉旁。哈律泉在基利波山的北边，是条温泉小溪，至今仍有泉水自山崖边不断流出，已经建设成一个公园。在哈律泉的北边大约六公里处就是摩利山（又称为摩利岗），那里聚集著米甸营的大军，包括了亚玛力人和东方人。在两边要交峰之前，神对基甸说：「跟随你的人过多，我不能将米甸人交在他们手中，免得以色列人向我夸大」，所以「凡惧怕胆怯的，可以离开基列山回去。」面对着如沙一般多的敌人，基甸可能暗自庆幸，还不错，有三万两千人出来跟随他。没想到神竟然要叫那些心里惧怕的人回去？

在〈申命记〉里，神规定有几种人不可出征：一是刚建造房屋，尚未奉献者；二，谁种葡萄园，尚未用所结的果子者；三，已聘定了妻，尚未迎娶者；四，惧怕胆怯者（申20:5-8）五，刚结婚的人一年内都不可以将之征召入伍（申24:5）。因为这些人心有旁骛，打起仗起若不能专心，怎能得胜？尤其是惧怕胆怯者，不仅对自己没有信心，对神也没有信心，在一起打仗，肯定影响士气，不如不要。在人的眼中，打仗当然是人越多越好；但是在神的眼中，祂只要精兵。

米甸营里一共有十三万五千人，在以色列人眼中尤如过境之蝗虫，洪水也似地翻滚而来。而神却对基甸说，一万人还是太多，祂只要留下三百人。我们有时觉得为神做工的人太少，可是现在来看，这是神一贯的政策。神不要太多工人，像在某些政府部门做事的，有许多打毛衣、聊天或上网打游戏者，神要的每个工人都是实心实地在做事的。而且，神要让这些服侍的人知道，不是因为自己有什么能力，而是神的能力托住他们。所以神所用的人，不能向神夸大，因为明白自己何等软弱，神的能力和恩典才是一切事工的泉源。

Laugh for the Right Reasons

2021-05-16 in /by

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

2021-05-14 in /by

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：给以弗所(2)下

2021-05-14 in , /by

「你要回想你是从哪里堕落的」

　　你的放弃比较主动，你的得回比较被动。你的犯罪，是你的意志产生的果效；你的回头，是上帝的意志继续施恩的果效。上帝的恩典永远大过我们所能做、所能想的。主吩咐以弗所教会要悔改，得回失去的爱心。怎么得回？「你要回想你是从哪里堕落的」这句话，是圣经在启示录告诉我们的。

　　老人家常常会跌倒，老人家跌倒的原因，不是因为爱跌倒，而是因为老人家脑内平衡的系统已经不敏感了，因为他小脑的平衡作用已经失去了灵敏。为什么老人家要用拐杖？因为拐杖的硬度能使他站立。老人家喜欢坐在有可以支撑站起来的椅子，因为老人的平衡力、筋骨的支撑力已经远不如前。老人不觉悟哪一秒要跌倒，旁边照顾他的人要非常敏捷，就马上即时撑着他，让他站着。一个年轻人跌倒了，就站起来；一个老人跌到，要花几分钟慢慢移动身体，才能站起来。感谢上帝给我站立的时候，还可以手靠着讲台，继续维持整个身体的支撑，直到讲完道。

　　有些人用这节圣经引申一句话：「你从哪里跌倒，就从哪里起来。」我从小听牧师讲道：「你从哪里跌倒，就从哪里起来」，我后来觉得这句话是没有道理的，因为没有人从这里跌倒，而从那里起来，你从这里跌倒，一定是从这里起来。今天我们的灵性也如此。我们在懒惰传福音上跌倒，我们却在金钱的奉献上爬起来，你的跌倒是因为懒惰传福音，你的起来怎么是用奉献多一点钱起来？你跌倒的地方与你起来的地方不一样，这是灵性上的错误。