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A Key to Growing Spiritually

2021-01-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

let’s get into today’s GAME passage, Joshua 24:22-33.  Let’s go!

Joshua 24:22-28 (NIV) 
22  Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied. 
23  “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 
24  And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.” 
25  On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 
26  And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of theLORD. 
27  “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” 
28  Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

On verses 22-28:  Here Joshua leads the Israelites in making a covenant, a legally binding agreement, between the Israelites and God where the Israelites commit to serving God and obeying Him.  He uses a large stone as a witness (i.e. a reminder) of the commitment that the people have made.  After this Joshua sends the people home.

摩西的最后一程

2021-01-28 in , /by

〈申命记〉3:28 你却要嘱咐约书亚，勉励他，使他胆壮，因为他必在这百姓前面过去，使他们承受你所要观看之地。

这里记载的是摩西的最后一程，他带领以色列人出埃及，在旷野走了四十年。神终于要让以色列人进迦南了，但是摩西却被阻在迦南地之外。摩西祈求神让他进迦南，神不许，最后摩西顺服。就像主耶稣曾经祷告，祈求拿去祂的苦杯，但最后还是顺服，愿神的旨意成全。这就是我们必须学习的心态，在神面前，神的旨意大于我们的心愿，也唯有神的旨意成全，神的大计划才能完成。我们都是神的大计划中的一枚小螺丝钉，只要我们在自己的岗位上站好了，发挥了该有的功用，就是完成了神在我们身上的旨意。所以放下自己的渴望和野心，跟随神的带领，我们的一生就没有遗憾。若是强要让自己的野心得以实现，往往会很失望的。

耶和华对我说：「不要怕他，因我已将他和他的众民并他的地，都交在你手中。你要待他像从前待住希实本的亚摩利王西宏一样。」神如此交代，也如此成全。神没有叫摩西怎样攻取，神说祂己经把敌人交在摩西手中，所以只管上去拿就对了。假如是出于神的托付，我们就向前进取。因为争战的是耶和华。

在希实本的那场战役已经震惊了它北边的邻邦，巴珊的统治者噩，噩决心要和以色列人作战。巴珊是另一个亚摩利人的王国，因此，而且无疑地认为以色列敌视所有的亚摩利人。无论如何，以色列在这场战役里也得了胜利，仇敌不仅被打败，更被完全消灭。

第二场胜利明显是特别值得记念的，原因有两个。主要的原因是它使得整个外约但河都落入以色列人手中；基列和巴珊的名称包括了从亚扪北边直到黑门山的整个地区，这一带至今还是一个主要的地理分界线。另一个原因是被打败的巴珊王噩，他异常高大的身躯所留给人的回忆。这个异常巨大的身躯可从一件骇人的博物馆陈列品中看出，这件珍品后来于亚扪人的首都拉巴出现，拉巴就是现代的安曼。这件遗物，约四米长，一般都认为它不是一个「铁床架」，而是玄武岩石棺（basalt sarcophagus）──一种「石头制的棺材」。

The Right Reason to Serve God

2021-01-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs,                   

Today’s passage is Joshua 24:11-21.  Let’s go!

Joshua 24:11-18 (NIV) 
11  “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 
12  I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you–also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 
13  So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’ 
14  “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. ……

On verses 11-18:  Here Joshua continues his final address to the Israelites.  He recalls events that are well known to the Israelites, because most of these Israelites would have experienced these events personally: how God helped them to cross the Jordan, gave different cities and peoples into their hands, drove out enemy nations before them, and gave them land that they did not work for and cities they did not build.  On this basis Joshua commands the Israelites to serve the Lord and not any other god (v14), and personally commits his own household to serving the Lord (v15).  The people respond similarly, saying that they will serve the Lord because it was He who rescued them from slavery, protected them in the wilderness, and drove out the nations so that they could have the promised land (v16-18).

Understanding Your Place in God’s Story

2021-01-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs,                   

Today’s passage is Joshua 24:1-10.  Let’s go!

Joshua 24:1-10 (NIV) 
1  Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 
2  Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. 
3  But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 
4  and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. ……

On verses 1-10:  Here is Joshua’s final address to the entire nation of Israel.  Here in these verses Joshua recounts the history of the nation of Israel, beginning with their forefathers Terah (v2), Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (v3-4), whose lives preceded Joshua’s time.  Then Joshua recounts how Moses and Aaron led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt with incredible miracles such as parting the Red Sea (v5-7) and into the desert where the Israelites wandered for a long time (v7b).  

一无所缺的四十年

2021-01-27 in , /by

〈申命记〉 2:7「因为耶和华你的神在你手里所办的一切事上已赐福于你。你走这大旷野，祂都知道了。这四十年，耶和华你的神常与你同在，故此你一无所缺。」

一无所缺的四十年旷野之旅，想起来真是不可思议。以色列人虽月大火 屡次得罪神，神却依然眷顾他们；即使是在惩罚之中，依然一无所缺。神的爱是如此深濶，不可测量。当我们思想自己的大半生时，是否也有如此的体会，神给我们的恩典，是否也让我们一无所缺？2020虽然过得辛苦一点，我们还是一无所缺地走过来了，所以让我们同心仰望，不管2021将如何，神都知道，也必带领。

耶和华吩咐我说：「不可扰害摩押人，也不可与他们争战。他们的地，我不赐给你为业，因我已将亚珥赐给罗得的子孙为业。」(申2:9)

耶和华吩咐我说：「你今天要从摩押的境界亚珥经过，走近亚扪人之地，不可扰害他们，也不可与他们争战。亚扪人的地，我不赐给你们为业，因我已将那地赐给罗得的子孙为业。」(申2:19)

摩西的这段话是指在出埃及后的第四十年，回到摩押平原后的遭遇。受过了卅八年走旷野地的惩罚，以色列人终于得到神的许可，要准备进迦南地了。但是在迦南地的周围有一些人住着，不经过他们的地，以色列人就得绕道走远路。在这一章里，神提到有三族人的地是神赐给他们，以色列人不可去扰害的。那就是以东人，是以扫的后裔；摩押人和亚扪人，是罗得的后裔。以扫是雅各（以色列）的哥哥，罗得是亚伯拉罕的侄子。他们原本都是一家人。

摩西述昔

2021-01-26 in , /by

〈申命记〉 1: 21 看哪，耶和华你的神已将那地摆在你面前，你要照耶和华你列祖的神所说的上去得那地为业。不要惧怕，也不要惊惶。

有一对夫妻的婚姻因为丈夫有了外遇而亮了红灯。在两人签离婚书时，丈夫答应妻子，要成全她最后的要求。妻子想了一下，便说希望丈夫像他们结婚的第一夜一样，把她从车子抱进屋子里。丈夫想了一下，答应了。于是在他们回家后，车子停好了，丈夫便把妻子从车子里抱出来，向着屋子走。起初，丈夫觉得妻子变得比廿年前更重了，然后他注意到她的头发有一些变白了，额上也多了一些皱纹。往事一件件浮起，妻子当年与他白手起家的辛苦，有了孩子之后的高兴，许多回忆使他的眼眶不知不觉地湿润了。进到屋子里，他向妻子认错，不离婚了。回忆，使人记得自己是谁；回忆，使人明白自己应该感谢；回忆，使人懂得珍惜；回忆，使人更知道如何去走前面的道路。

《申命记》这名字是从英文Deuteronomy直接翻译的。Deuteronomy的意思是「律法二 读」，这是根据希腊文旧约《七十译士本》在此书十七章18节所说的，「当国王登基之后，必须将这律法书自己抄录一本，要经常诵读」而来的。中文圣经将这卷书译 成：《申命记》，就是有「重申」第二次宣布律法和神的诫命之意。摩西第一次宣读律法是在他八十多岁时，现在一百廿岁了，他看到的是新一代的以色列男人，这些人对律法的认知有多少呢？他们是蒙福的一代，可以进迦南地，但他们对神的律法记得多少呢？在他离世之前，他必须让这新一代的以色列人认识神的律法，使他们知道前面的道路该如何走，以免得罪神。

因此，摩西在摩押平原重申出埃及的一段事蹟，在我们看来，似乎是重复又重复，却是不可缺少的；也让我们明白，要常常记得自己是怎样得救的，圣灵是如何感动我们归向神。所以写得救见证是一个很重要的过程，让自己明白自己的心路旅程，以备日后软弱时可以重新再看，重新得力。当然，〈申命记〉的内容远远超过回忆，而是重新教导律法，让以色列人永志不忘，遵行神的旨意。

You’re in the Land Because of Jesus

2021-01-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 23:6-16.  Let’s go!

Joshua 23:6-16 (NIV) 
6  “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 
7  Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 
8  But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now. 
9  “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 
10  One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. ……

On verses 6-16:  Joshua’s parting message to the leaders of Israel is very clear: stay faithful to God and keep His commands.  If you do, you will flourish in the land God has given you.  If you don’t, you will perish from the land God has given you.

The same holds true for us today: obey God and stay in the land; disobey God and be driven from the land.  The problem is that all of us have sinned, served other gods and violated God’s commands.

利未人的城和逃城

2021-01-25 in , /by

〈民数记〉 35:12 这些城可以做逃避报仇人的城，使误杀人的不至于死，等他站在会众面前听审判。

神所设立的制度实在完美。利未人虽然不能有自己的产业，但是让其他十二支派来供应利未人的需要，再由利未人去供应其他以色列人灵性的需要，彼此之间互补互相照应，实在很完美。最近看到有篇文章，提到有一些年老的牧者孤苦无依，生活十分艰难，甚至生病时也没有人照应。不禁让我想到神的计划，原本就是要牧者和会众之间互相照应，若是教会或机构的章程不周全，往往服侍的人在退休之后便感生计困苦。因此在北美的教会已经有想到这方面的需要，有的教会对退休牧者也有一套照顾的章程。

神要以色列人从所得为业的地中把些城分给利未人居住，也要把这些城四围的郊野给利未人，让他们可以牧养他们的牛羊和各样的牲畜，又可以安置他们的财物。。这便是奉献的教导。奉献需要操练，因为若不操练，就会越来越执著自己的所有，不肯分享，以致成了堵塞的管道。我们若不奉献，不把神的恩赐拿出来与人分享，从神而来的祝福之管道就会被塞住，神的祝福也进不来。利未人是神的仆人，他们放弃自己养生的工作，为百姓去服侍神，百姓有义务和责任照顾他们的需要。

雅各临终前给利未的祝福里，最后的一句是：「我要使他们分居在雅各家里，散住在以色列地中。（创49:7）」这句话果然应验了。虽然他们拥有了服侍神的权柄，却必须散住在以色列地。让各个支派为他们订定居住的地方。在以色列一共有48座城是给利未人居住的，还有每座城的郊野。

神又为以色列人设立逃城。根据俞建霈牧师的解释：逃城的「逃」这词在希伯来文原出自“miqlat”这字。 这字字根的意思就是「接纳，吸收」，就是「接纳逃亡者到自己的地方」或「庇护，藏匿」的意思。因此按照希伯来文，逃城的本意乃是「收容」或「接纳」逃亡者的城市，就是「庇护的城市」，或「庇护城」。犹太人把旧约圣经译成希腊文时， 把这个字译成「流亡放逐的场所」，「可逃去的地方」。 这可能是翻译和合本的学者所以译成「逃城」的原因。 但庇护城乃是比较接近希伯来原文的译法。

The Witness of the Cross

2021-01-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 22:31-23:5.  Let’s go!

Joshua 22:31-34 (NIV) 
31  And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is with us, because you have not acted unfaithfully toward the LORD in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the LORD’s hand.” 
32  Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 
33  They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived. 
34  And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God.

On verses 31-34:  Phinehas and the rest of the delegation return and report to the western tribes of Israel what the eastern tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh (collectively, “Team RGM”) said.  The western tribes are pleased with Team RGM’s response and decide not to go to war against them (v31-33).  The Reubenites and the Gadites call the altar that they had built “A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God” (v34).

神给以色列的境界

2021-01-24 in , /by

〈民数记〉34:12 这界要下到约旦河，通到盐海为止。这四围的边界以内，要做你们的地。

有人说，以色列建国是今天世界不能安定的错误决定，以色列是联合国造出来的，以色列不应该继续扩张，等等。但是当我们回溯到《圣经》里几千年前的记录，神的话历历在目。这不是一个凭人意造出来的国家，是神的手亲自运行，使一个灭亡了几千年的古国，好像「咸鱼翻生」（咸鱼活过来？不可能。这是广东人的成语，表示不可能发生的事），重新出现在世界的舞台上，而且极其亮眼。

〈耶利米书〉卅二章37节，神说：「 我在怒气、愤怒和大恼恨中将以色列人赶到各国，日后我必从那里将他们招聚出来，领他们回到此地，使他们安然居住。」虽然部份以色列人已经回到神给他们的迦南地，但离「安然居住」还有一段距离。以色列人在各样的国界冲突里坚守神给他们的地界，虽然目前不能全部拿回来，但是因为神的话必定兑现，所以我们知道有一天，以色列必然得回神给他们的地界。

耶和华晓谕摩西说：「你吩咐以色列人说：你们到了迦南地，就是归你们为业的迦南四境之地： 南角要从寻的旷野，贴著以东的边界。南界要从盐海东头起，绕到亚克拉滨坡的南边，接连到寻，直通到加低斯巴尼亚的南边，又通到哈萨亚达，接连到押们，从押们转到埃及小河，直通到海为止。

「西边要以大海为界。这就是你们的西界。北界要从大海起，划到何珥山， 从何珥山划到哈马口，通到西达达，又通到西斐仑，直到哈萨以难。这要做你们的北界。你们要从哈萨以难划到示番为东界。 这界要从示番下到亚延东边的利比拉，又要达到基尼烈湖的东边。 这界要下到约旦河，通到盐海为止。这四围的边界以内，要做你们的地。」