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The Only Real “Pot”

2020-07-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Ezekiel 11:1-13.  Let’s go!

Ezekiel 11:1-4 (NIV) 
1  Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. There at the entrance to the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people.
2  The LORD said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil and giving wicked advice in this city.
3  They say, ‘Will it not soon be time to build houses? This city is a cooking pot, and we are the meat.’
4  Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man.” 
On verses 1-4:  What do Jaazaniah, Pelatiah and these other 23 men mean when they say, “This city is a cooking pot, and we are the meat” (v3)?  This is them bragging that they believe they are safe and secure within the walls of Jerusalem, like meat safely kept in a pot.  Despite the fact that the people of Judah have already suffered attacks, invasions and deportations at the hand of the Babylonians, these 25 leaders in Jerusalem scoff at the idea that a foreign enemy would take them down again.  Rather they believe it will soon be time for them to look at building houses and making long term investments in Jerusalem.  As we will see, theirs was a false sense of security.

I Just Want To Be Where You Are

2020-07-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 9:1-11.  Let’s go!

Ezekiel 10:1-2 (NIV) 
1  I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of sapphire above the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim. 
2  The LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.
 
On verses 1-2:  This part of Ezekiel’s vision reminds me of a scene from Isaiah 6.  In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah sees a vision of God seated on his throne in the temple.  In his vision, Isaiah is dismayed because he realizes that he is a sinner who cannot stand in the presence of a holy God.  All of a sudden one of the angels takes a live coal from the altar, touches Isaiah’s lips with it, and tells him that his guilt is taken away and his sin atoned for.
 
I believe a similar thing may be happening here in Ezekiel’s vision.  God tells a man clothed in linen (the same man whom God instructed in Ezekiel 9 to mark those who did not worship idols) to fill his hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city (v2).  What is God doing?  Since all the idolaters in the city have been exterminated in Ezekiel 9, God is now sanctifying and purifying those who are left. 
 

大衛的〈弓歌〉

2020-07-09 in /by

撒母耳記下一章27節    英雄何竟仆倒！戰具何竟滅沒！

就在大衛去追趕亞瑪力人，奪回自己和眾人的妻兒、財物和牲畜之際，也正是掃羅帶領以色列人和非利士人大戰之時。大衛和跟隨他的人正在慶幸找回了家人和財物時，掃羅和約拿單都戰死了，以色列人大敗。

那時沒有電視，沒有伊妹兒(email)，也沒有愛鳳(iphone)或其他手機，消息傳得相當慢。到了第三天，才有人來討賞。

那是一個住在以色列人中的亞瑪力人，可能是作為僱佣兵而參戰的。他把掃羅臨死的情形告訴大衛，並取來掃羅頭上的冠冕、臂上的鐲子以作證據。他可能知道大衛已被撒母耳膏立為以色列的下一任王，也知道掃羅追殺大衛的事，所以他認為大衛知道掃羅被殺一定很高興，因為他的仇敵死了，大衛就可以作王了。因此他覺得自己一定可以領到不少獎賞。

出乎意料之外，大衛不但不感激他，把他訓了一頓，還叫人把他殺了。

這就是大衛。可能有人覺得他矯情，掃羅死了，他豈有不高興之理？他不是終於不必東躲西逃了嗎？但是大衛的過人之處就在於他敬畏神，所以他一直很尊重掃羅。他在弔掃羅和約拿單所寫的哀歌裡，把他對掃羅的尊重和對約拿單表露無遺。

雖然掃羅對大衛充滿嫉恨殘酷，但是大衛不看私人恩怨，只看掃羅在國中所做的。他稱掃羅為尊榮者、大英雄。掃羅起初的作為的確是以色列的尊榮者、大英雄。大衛記得掃羅為以色列人做過的好事。

神的調虎離山計

2020-07-08 in /by

撒母耳記辷30章6節下    大衛卻倚靠耶和華他的神，心裡堅固。

當亞吉興高采烈地叫大衛做他永遠的護衛長，讓他和跟隨的人一起去攻擊以色列人時，這時大衛的心裡有何打算呢？當非利士人的首領各率軍隊，挨次前進，有點像在閱兵時，他們發現了走在亞吉後面的大衛和從人。他們恐慌了。他們想得很遠，大衛有可能以他們的頭作為與掃羅和好的禮物。

這是很有可能的。非利士人在前面跟掃羅打仗，大衛在後面幫忙殺非利士人。因為大衛絕不會去殺以色列人。如此一來，前後圍攻，非利士人就會被殲滅了。神允許大衛和跟隨他的人被趕出非利士人的陣營，因為神有祂的計劃。當大衛聽到這個消息時，很可能鬆了一口氣。

這次非利士人又在亞弗安營，以色列人在耶斯列的泉旁安營。亞弗位於南北交通要道上；耶斯列是耶斯列平原的東口，位於東西向的交通要道上。兩相對峙，箭弩拔張，一觸即發。

神不讓大衛參與這場戰事，也不讓大衛有機會去救掃羅。因為神明白大衛的心，倘若不把大衛支開，大衛為了約拿單，肯定會上前參戰。神用什麼方法支開大衛呢？你猜得到嗎？

大衛離開了非利士，走了三日，終於回到洗革拉。原以為能見到家人，沒想到洗革拉已面目全非。亞瑪力人來過了，攻破洗革拉，焚燒了洗革拉，帶走城內的婦女和大小人口，卻沒有殺一個。這是神很大的恩典和保守，身外物可以失去，生命卻無法挽回。看似好像很慘，可是我們繼續讀下去，便會發現，原來這有可能是神要把大衛支開的一個方法。倘若大衛留在洗革拉，必然聽到掃羅和非利士人的戰情，為了約拿單，為了在神面前的義，也為了以色列人，他不可能乾坐在洗革拉，很可能就帶人衝上戰場了。

God Is Precise and Protective

2020-07-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 9:1-11.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-11:  In chapter 8, as part of Ezekiel’s vision, God promised not to spare the Israelites who were engaging in idolatry. Here in chapter 9, Ezekiel’s vision continues with God fulfilling this promise. At God’s summoning, six men appear, each with a deadly weapon in his hand, as they have been appointed to execute judgment on the city (v1-2).

Before these six men go throughout the city to kill every idolater, two things happen. First, verse 3 says that the glory of the Lord moves from above the cherubim (most likely a reference to the cherubim statues that sit on top of the ark in the Most Holy Place) to the temple entrance. This signifies that God’s presence has left the temple as a result of the people’s idolatry (see Ezekiel 8:6).

Second, God calls for a man dressed in linen (linen representing purity and righteousness) and with a writing kit to go and place a mark on the foreheads of all those in the city who grieve and lament over the Israelites’ idolatrous practices (v3b-4). This signifies that despite God’s wrath against all the idolaters in the city, God still wanted to protect those in the city who did not bow down to any idol.

大衛在洗革拉

2020-07-07 in /by

詩篇 34章10節   少壯獅子還缺食忍餓，但尋求耶和華的，什麼好處都不缺。

大衛應不應該離開以色列的國境，跑到非利士地呢？有的人認為這是大衛靈裡最軟弱的時候，雖然神在屢次危難時都拯救他，保守他十分平安，但是那種驚嚇和負荷還是讓大衛選擇了離開。人實在很有限，不是嗎？就好像〈路得記〉裡的以利米勒，因為以色列地遭遇饑荒，就帶著妻兒離開伯利恒去摩押地，到最後只剩妻子拿俄米和媳婦路得回到伯利恒。離開神命定的地方，會碰到更多的困難，這是大衛事前沒想到的。

大衛第一次到迦特找亞吉時，為了保命而不得不裝瘋，才得以逃離迦特。但是這次來到迦特，亞吉卻對他另眼相看，還給了他一座城洗革拉。因為在第一次時，亞吉還不知道大衛被掃羅追殺的實情，有可能認為他是間諜，來打探軍情；但是經過了一段時間，掃羅追殺大衛一事已經傳遍各地了，大家都知道大衛是掃羅的眼中釘，因此亞吉大喜，希望把大衛收為自己的僕人。

果然，掃羅聽到大衛逃到非利士地，就不再尋索大衛了。大衛在非利士地住了一年零四個月。這是一段不算短的時間。洗革拉原是猶大南部的一座城，後來給了西緬支派，不知何時卻落入非利士人手中。亞吉又把它賜給大衛。有人說，就因為如此，大衛終於從非利士人那裡得到了冶鐵的知識和方法。因為非利士人恐怕希伯來人製造刀槍，所以不肯教以色列人冶鐵。以色列人要磨鋤、犁、斧、鏟，就下到非利士人那裡去磨，但有銼可以銼鏟、犁、三齒叉、斧子並趕牛錐，所以在爭戰的日子裡，只有掃羅和約拿單有刀有槍（撒上13:19-22）。現在大衛得到了這座非利士城，焉不是神給他的良機嗎？

You Can’t Hide From God

2020-07-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 8:1-18.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-6:  Ezekiel is in his house having a meeting with the elders of Judah when all of a sudden he sees a vision (v1).  In the vision Ezekiel sees a figure who waist down is full of fire and who waist up looks like glowing metal (v2).  As verse 5 confirms, this figure is the same figure Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 1:26-27 and is a picture of the Lord (also known as a theophany).  The Lord reaches out what looks like a hand, grabs Ezekiel by the hair, and pulls him into a vision of the temple in Jerusalem (v3).  Ezekiel sees an idol standing in the north gate of the temple.  This idol is called the idol of jealousy, probably because it stirred God’s jealousy to see this idol standing in what was supposed to be His temple (v3, 5), even while the Lord himself and His glory is standing before Ezekiel (v4). The Lord calls the Israelites’ idolatry “utterly detestable” (v6) and says that these are the kind of “things that will drive me far from my sanctuary” (v6).  And yet even more detestable things are still to come, the Lord says (v6).

What can we learn from this?  God detests idolatry.  As He says in Isaiah 42:8, “”I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.”  A sure-fire way to grieve God’s heart is to worship other gods.

大衛在西弗再饒掃羅

2020-07-06 in /by

撒母耳記上 26章23節 今日耶和華將王交在我手裡，我卻不肯伸手害耶和華的受膏者。耶和華必照各人的公義誠實報應他。

現在出現的人名越來越多了，我們要來看一下，掃羅的元帥是誰？押尼珥是誰？大衛的元帥又是誰？不要小看大衛只有六百多人，也是一個小小的軍隊。掃羅的父親是基士，押尼珥的父親是尼珥，基士和尼珥是兄弟，所以掃羅和押尼珥是堂兄弟。亞比篩、約押和亞撒黑是大衛的姐姐洗魯雅的兒子，算是大衛的外甥。所以不只是華人兄弟親，在以色列人那樣重視宗派的民族裡，親人的份量也很重。

〈歷代志上〉十一章記載了一個故事，當非利士的防營在伯利恆時，防營即防守地方的軍隊；那時大衛躲在亞杜蘭洞的山寨裡，不能下去伯利恒。但是他非常想喝伯利恆城門旁井裡的水。他原只是說說而已，沒想到真的有三個勇士聽到他的話，就闖過非利士人的營盤，從伯利恆城門旁的井裡打水，拿來給大衛喝。大衛知道後卻不肯喝，因為他說那水就好像是三個勇士的血一樣，因為他們冒著生命的危險去為他取水。因此他把水澆奠在耶和華面前。這三個勇士的首領就是大衛的外甥，約押的弟弟亞比篩。亞比篩曾經一個人用槍殺了三百人，這槍不是現代的子彈槍，是古時的長矛槍。所以他被推選為卅個勇士的首領。

亞比篩一生對大衛都非常忠誠，他驍勇善戰，曾率兵擊殺了一萬八千個以東人，也帶頭擊潰了亞捫人，平定後來便雅憫人示巴的叛亂。在大衛最後一次出征時，大衛碰上非利士巨人以實比諾，他的銅槍重三百舍客勒（約三公斤），又佩著新刀，也是亞比篩上前幫忙，殺死以實比諾，救了大衛。也因為忠於大衛，所以凡是有人要對大衛不利，他都會挺身而出，不顧自己的性命。

The Only Thing That Can Save

2020-07-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 7:14-27.  Let’s go!

Ezekiel 7:14-17 (NIV) 
14  Though they blow the trumpet and get everything ready, no one will go into battle, for my wrath is upon the whole crowd.
15  “Outside is the sword, inside are plague and famine; those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague.
16  All who survive and escape will be in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valleys, each because of his sins.
17  Every hand will go limp, and every knee will become as weak as water.
18  They will put on sackcloth and be clothed with terror. Their faces will be covered with shame and their heads will be shaved. 

On verses 14-17:  Though the Israelites may be tempted to put their hope in their own military strength, their military will only disappoint them (v14).  They will be no match for the forces coming against them (v15-18).

What’s the lesson here?  Our own strength is no match for God.  We could never escape God’s wrath by our own strength.

大衛和亞比該

2020-07-05 in /by

撒母耳記上 25章33節   你和你的見識也當稱讚，因為你今日攔阻我親手報仇，流人的血。

這是一段發生在曠野逃亡時的一段愛情故事，也讓我們對大衛的性情多一點理解。因為讀過大衛的逃亡和在隱基底不殺掃羅一事，可能會讓人誤解大衛是個怕事的膽小鬼，讓我們來看看大衛陽剛的一面。

話說大衛帶著六百多人左逃右躲的，去的地方不是曠野就是沙漠或樹林，睡覺可以進山洞或就地，但是他們從哪裡得糧食呢？這裡有三段話可以作為我們的參考。第一個部份就是大衛差人去見拿八時說的話：「 我聽說有人為你剪羊毛，你的牧人在迦密的時候和我們在一處，我們沒有欺負他們，他們也未曾失落什麼。(撒上25:7)」

然後是拿八的僕人對主母亞比該說的話：「那些人待我們甚好，我們在田野與他們來往的時候，沒有受他們的欺負，也未曾失落什麼。 我們在他們那裡牧羊的時候，他們晝夜做我們的保障。(撒上25:15-16)」

第三句是大衛要去找拿八算帳時說的：「我在曠野為那人看守所有的，以致他一樣不失落，實在是徒然了。(撒上25:21)」

可以稍微想像一下，以色列人曾是遊牧民族，其中牛羊就是他們的財產。牛羊一多，要牧養牠們也不容易。大衛就提過在他牧羊時偶有猛獸來銜羊羔，他就得追趕牠，擊打牠，將羊羔從牠口中救出來，並把猛獸打死。除了猛獸，非利士人或迦南人都有可能來偷襲，若是人力不足，很可能就會被搶去大半。因此大衛和從人便做這些人的保障，保護他們沒有損失。然後再向他們的主人要一些「保護費」，這其實很公平，因為大衛和從人付出勞力和心血，讓對方沒有損失，對方付一些費用也很合理。