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Focus on the Mountain Mover, Not on the Mountain

2020-12-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

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

Joshua 11:1-11 (NIV) 
1  When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Acshaph, 
2  and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; 
3  to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. 
4  They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots–a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. ……

On verses 1-11: Joshua and the Israelites are facing a massive army made up of many allied enemy nations. Verse 4 describes them “as numerous as the sand on the seashore”. Yet God speaks to Joshua and says “Do not be afraid of them, for this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel.” (v6) The key word after that is “So”: “So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly” (v7). In other words, Joshua chooses to focus on what God says over and beyond his circumstances.  As a result Joshua and the Israelites achieve their most dominant victory yet.

第二個逾越節

2020-12-20 in /by

〈民數記〉9: 17 雲彩幾時從帳幕收上去，以色列人就幾時起行。雲彩在哪裡停住，以色列人就在哪裡安營。

第二個逾越節在這裡有兩個意思，一是指從第一次出埃及前過逾越節算起，這是第二次的逾越節；另一個意思是指若有人因為不潔淨而不能和大家一起過逾越節，那麼一個月之後可以補過逾越節，是一年之中的第二個逾越節。所以神的意思是，逾越節是一個以色列人非參加不可的節日，若有人找藉口推辭不守逾越節，那人要從民中剪除。在逾越節裡，以色列人要記念神藉著被殺的羔羊拯救他們出埃及，對基督徒而言，也是信徒非記念不可的受難節。因為藉著耶穌的受難，我們的罪得以被遮蓋；藉著祂完成的救恩，我們能與神和好。

逾越節也是一個寄居的、本地人和外人都可以向神守的節日，因為神的救恩屬於萬民，並不局限在以色列人身上。在耶穌的受難節裡，我們更看出這件事的實質，神的救恩屬於萬國萬民。守逾越節必須先潔淨自己，因此沾染了污穢的人不能參加，要延後一個月補過。不潔淨的人不能守逾越節，那麼我們若心裡有罪孽，可否守受難節？所以受難節也是基督徒自我省察的時刻。因為守節是向神守的。

再一次，我被摩西感動。當有特殊的問題出現時，摩西不是說：「讓我想想看」，他說：「你們暫且等候，我可以去聽耶和華指著你們是怎樣吩咐的。」摩西的心何等謙卑，他不是要人的榮耀，也不要做眾人的老大；他寧可等候神的差遣，等候神的回覆，等候神的帶領。他不怕麻煩，只要知道神的心意如何。

God-Given Momentum

2020-12-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 10:33-43.  While we’re at it, let’s also look at verses 28-32, since they go together well.  Let’s go!

Joshua 10:28-43 (NIV) 
28  That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho. 
29  Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 
30  The LORD also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho. 
31  Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. 
32  The LORD handed Lachish over to Israel, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah….

On verses 28-43:  After first taking over the middle portion of the promised land, in verses 28-39 we see Joshua and the Israelites taking over 7 cities in the southern part of the promised land, conquering many different kings and regions in the process.  Later in Joshua 11 they will start taking over the northern part.  Verses 40 to 42 summarize the incredible military success Joshua and the Israelites experienced before returning to their base camp at Gilgal (v43).  Verse 42 explains the reason for Israel’s success: it was because “the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.” (v42)

不憂慮的秘訣(下)

2020-12-18 in /by

馬太福音6章33-34節    你們要先求祂的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了。

什麼是上帝的國、上帝的義？

請問你什麼叫做「國」?你說：「我不知道，我知道我住在印尼。」「為什麼你不住在中國，到印尼來？」「這裡比較好生活，比較少掛慮。我們的苦難太多，中國兩千年來內亂不斷，我買了船票，身上帶著一點點產業，就向無限的大海走出去。」很多中國人到印尼，到死的時候不要學印尼文，他只要享受安居樂業的生活，不要顧念當地人民的需要，也不要學習當地的文化風俗，一生一世到這裡只盼望得到別人的好處，這種是很自私的心理，很不公平對待別的民族。我們住在這裡的人，我們要對印尼民族有貢獻，我們才是好的普世公民。

我是生在中國、長在印尼的華僑。既然我們住在印尼，我們在印尼得到的好處是他們給我們的，很多產品是印尼工人做的，我們應當自問：「我對印尼有什麼貢獻？」我要在印尼貢獻基督教偉大的真理的思想、公正的思想、人與人之間關係的思想，把福音的好處帶給他們，使這個民族因為我更明白什麼叫做公正、誠實、殷勤，我就平平安安地好好活在世上。

耶穌基督說你在世界上有一個優先的次序，就是求上帝的國、上帝的義。國是什麼意思？上帝的國在哪裡，世界看不見，但耶穌說：「願人都尊祢的名為聖，願祢的國降臨，願祢的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上」，這是我們一生最重要的三大禱願，「這世界的國度亂七八糟，這世界的政治很多虛假，這世界的政權爭奪不停，這世界的政局動盪不安，我盼望祢的平安降下來，祢的公義降下來，祢的正直、誠實、慈愛成為統治萬民的總原則，我在其中就享受天國的平安」。

國有幾樣最重要的元素：首先，要有一個管理的君王，天國的君王就是創造天地的上帝，耶穌基督要把食物分給別人的時候，他先禱告：「天地的主啊」，他不是孤苦伶仃，他乃是活在天地的主宰所管理、賜福、帶領的生活中；除了有統治者外，國度一定有百姓，「世界縱然敗壞，我的父、我的主是坐在天上、公平的上帝，我是天國的子民，這位公正的上帝是我的天父」；國的第三方面有法律，沒有國家沒有憲法。

Share the Honour

2020-12-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 10:22-32.   Let’s go!

Joshua 10:22-25 (NIV) 
22  Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 
23  So they brought the five kings out of the cave–the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 
24  When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. 
25  Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

On verses 22-25:  Joshua bring out the five Amorite kings who were hiding in the cave and in the presence of all the Israelite men he allows his army commanders to place their feet on the necks of these kings.  In doing so, Joshua was sharing his honour, authority and power with his army commanders.  What can we learn from this?

When you experience victory or success in life, be sure not to hoard all the credit for yourself, but share the honour and credit with those who have worked hard alongside you and helped you to get you to where you are.

利未人的潔淨禮

2020-12-17 in /by

〈民數記〉8:16 因為他們是從以色列人中全然給我的，我揀選他們歸我，是代替以色列人中一切頭生的。

摩西進會幕的至聖所，聽見法櫃的施恩座以上、二基路伯中間，有與他說話的聲音，就是耶和華與他說話。有了會幕，摩西不必再上山下山了，只要進了至聖所就能聽到神的吩咐，真的方便許多。神跟摩西說了什麼？你想知道嗎？我也想知道。

原來神要摩西教導亞倫怎樣點亮金燈臺。這裡的「燈臺」指的是會幕裡的「金燈臺」，希伯來文是  מְנוֹרָה (menorah, lampstand)。在會幕裡，金燈臺和陳設餅桌  ( שֻׁלְחָ , shulchan, table) 的位置是相對的，陳設餅的桌上排列了12個陳設餅 ( לֶחֶם פָּנִים, lechem panim, bread of the presence), 代表以色列12支派。因此， 當神吩咐「七盞燈都要向燈臺前面發光」，這七盞燈的光就照在陳設桌的陳設餅上面，象徵著神對以色列12支派的持續光照，會幕在以色列人中間， 而金燈臺的光照在會幕的聖所裡面，從會幕外面根本看不見，象徵神在以色列當中隱密的，不止息的眷顧和指引。

神從以色列人當中選出利未人來服侍神和人，這批服侍神的人被分別出來，要守各樣的潔淨之禮，要在會幕裡工作，還要幫助以色列人親近神。在這裡神很清楚讓我們看到，服侍神的人應該要知道的事情。

第一便是要潔淨利未人。潔淨他們的第一步，要用除罪水彈在他們身上。除罪水是指把一隻沒有殘疾、未曾負軛、純紅的母牛和香柏木、牛膝草、朱紅色線焚燒成灰，這叫做除罪灰。把除罪灰放在器皿裡，倒上活水（流動的水），由一個潔淨的人拿牛膝草蘸在這水中，彈在他們身上，利未人才算被潔淨了，才可以服侍。據說以色列人已經準備好了蓋新聖殿的一切事宜，只是還沒有找到一隻全紅的母牛，做不出除罪灰，調不出除罪水，利未人就不得潔淨，不能進去聖殿服侍。

會幕建成族長獻禮

2020-12-16 in /by

〈民數記〉7:1  摩西立完了帳幕，就把帳幕用膏抹了，使它成聖；又把其中的器具和壇，並壇上的器具，都抹了，使它成聖。

摩西立完了帳幕，就把帳幕用膏抹了，使它成聖；又把其中的器具和壇，並壇上的器具，都抹了，使它成聖。成聖的意思就是指這帳幕(會幕)只能用在屬神的事上，不可以用在別的事情上。

當巴比倫滅了猶大之後，把聖殿的器皿也都擄掠到巴比倫。巴比倫最後的一個王伯沙撒在飲酒作樂之時，吩咐人將他父(或:祖)尼布甲尼撒從耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金銀器皿拿來，王與大臣、皇后、妃嬪好用這器皿飲酒。當時，忽有人的指頭顯出，在王宮與燈臺相對的粉牆上寫字。王看見寫字的指頭，就變了臉色，心意驚惶，腰骨好像脫節，雙膝彼此相碰。王的一切哲士都不能解讀指頭在牆上寫的字。

後來也只有但以理才能解釋牆上的字，但以理對王說：「所寫的文字是：『彌尼，彌尼，提客勒，烏法珥新。』講解是這樣：彌尼，就是　神已經數算你國的年日到此完畢。提客勒，就是你被稱在天平裡，顯出你的虧欠。毘勒斯，就是你的國分裂，歸與瑪代人和波斯人。」所以把神分別為聖的器冊拿去使用，就是一種不敬神，褻瀆的行為。

我相信很少人會把這一章的經文逐字讀完，因為從第一日到第十二日，每個首領所獻的供物內容都是一樣的。全部都是：一個銀盤子，重一百三十舍客勒，一個銀碗，重七十舍客勒，都是按聖所的平，也都盛滿了調油的細麵做素祭。一個金盂，重十舍客勒，盛滿了香。一隻公牛犢，一隻公綿羊，一隻一歲的公羊羔做燔祭；一隻公山羊做贖罪祭；兩隻公牛，五隻公綿羊，五隻公山羊，五隻一歲的公羊羔做平安祭。

Aim High

2020-12-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 10:12-21.   Let’s go!

Joshua 10:12-15 (NIV) 
12  On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” 
13  So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 
14  There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! 
15  Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

On verses 12-15:  So far in the book of Joshua, whenever Joshua experienced a miracle, it was because he heard the Lord speak and responded in faith.  This time, however, Joshua takes the initiative and God responds, as verse 14 suggests.  Joshua says to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon” (v12).  According to these verses, the sun and moon obeyed Joshua’s voice. 

The Most Powerful Alliance You Can Form

2020-12-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 10:1-11.  Let’s go!

Joshua 10:1-5 (NIV) 
1  Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and were living near them. 
2  He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 
3  So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. 
4  “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.” 
5  Then the five kings of the Amorites–the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon–joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

On verses 1-5: Upon hearing that the Gibeonites had formed a peace treaty (or an alliance) with Joshua, five Amorite kings led by Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem form an alliance against the Gibeonites. Why? It’s because the Gibeonites were already a significant force to be reckoned with in their own right (v2). The Amorite kings were probably scared of what the Gibeonites could do if allied with Joshua. So this alliance of Amorite kings decides to attack the Gibeonites.

拿細耳人之願

2020-12-15 in /by

〈民數記〉6:1-2     耶和華對摩西說：「你曉諭以色列人說：無論男女許了特別的願，就是拿細耳人的願，要離俗歸耶和華。」

在〈民數記〉之前，《聖經》一般都偏重於神和男人的立約。但是在這裡，神立了一個特別的約，就是男人和女人都可許的願，就是拿細耳人之願。拿細耳就是歸主的意思，歸主就是與世俗分開，即分別為聖。

神揀選利未人去服侍祂，那麼若有其他人也想要服侍神，豈不是沒辦法了嗎？這會不會是神立下拿細耳人之例的原因呢? 神看到在其他支派中也有許多愛祂的人，因此立下這個約，讓所有愛祂的人，都可以一償服事神的心願。

從利未人身上，我們看到分別為聖的生活並不容易，是要付代價的。利未人不能為自己選工作，他們的工作都已經被指定了；利未人不能有自己的產業，要等其他人分給他們。如雅各臨終的預言，他們被分散在各支派之中，不能聯合在一起生活；利未人要分別為聖，所以他們的生活必須比其他人更嚴謹，等等。

因此想做拿細耳人，離俗歸耶和華的人要有心理準備：一，要遠離一切葡萄樹上所結的果子，自核至皮所做的物，都不可吃，也不可喝。二，在他一切許願離俗的日子，不可用剃頭刀剃頭，要由髮綹長長了。三，不可挨近死屍。即使父母或兄弟姐妹死了，也不可以挨近死屍，而使自己不潔淨。若是他旁邊出其不意，有人死了，那麼他的願就必須重頭再算起。

對於猶太人而言，這三件事都很困難。1. 在中東地區的水源經常被污染，因此人們經常以酒代水，免得生病。但是拿細耳人不可以清酒或濃酒，因此他們必須憑信心只喝水。2. 在古時候，長頭髮很容易生蝨子和跳蚤，要清潔很不方便；3. 不碰死屍也有點困難，因為瘟疫一旦發作，很可能忽然就有人死在旁邊，誰能預料？因此拿細耳人之願，又稱為the vow of separation（離俗之願）。離俗之願的意思就是把自己和眾人分開，免得沾染不潔，才有可能分別為聖。