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Making An Impression

2020-07-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 4:1-17.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-17:  In 2003, illusionist and endurance artist David Blaine put himself in a transparent box suspended 30 feet over the River Thames while going without food for 44 days.  The city of London and millions around the world watched in curiosity.  Approximately 2,600 years before this, the prophet Ezekiel would perform similar stunts in the city of Babylon, except that his stunts were not simply to test his endurance or to entertain the masses.  Rather these stunts were object lessons that carried a spiritual message for the Israelites exiled in Babylon.

The first part of the object lesson seems simple enough for a child to do with Lego bricks (v1-3): make a mini-model of Jerusalem using a writing tablet (or a brick) and show how the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem.

The second part of the object lesson is much stranger (v4-8): Ezekiel is to lie for 390 days on his left side (facing north to symbolize the Northern Kingdom of Israel, some scholars say) and then for 40 days on his right side (facing south to symbolize the Southern Kingdom of Judah, some scholars say).  Each day that Ezekiel lay on his side was to represent a year of the Israelites’ sin.  In this way Ezekiel was to symbolically “bear their sin” (v4). He would be tied up the whole time (v8).

大衛的流亡(3)

2020-07-01 in /by

詩篇16篇1節  神啊，求祢保佑我，因為我投靠祢。

在〈大衛的流亡〉之一裡，筆者的心思逃得比大衛還快，把伊基拉事件放在挪伯事件之後，現在把秩序調過來。

大衛進入哈列的樹林後，有人告訴大衛非利士人在攻擊基伊拉。哈列的樹林和基伊拉都在希伯崙附近，所以顯然有人希望可以向大衛求助，究竟他曾是以色列的第一戰士，打倒巨人歌利亞的英雄。

但是大衛並沒有聽了就立刻奔向戰場，顯示自己的實力。相反地，他先求問神可不可以攻打非利士人。就是這樣的特質，讓我很敬佩大衛。盧雲在耶穌的試探中有一些看法，魔么試探耶穌要求祂把石頭變成餅。這個試探表面上看來是說，耶穌禁食了四十天，應該餓了，可以自己滿足自己吧。事實上，魔鬼是拿人類的需要來試探耶穌，有那麼多窮人，需要幫助的人，只要把石頭變餅，就可以救很多人了。

好像現在世界上很多地方有饑荒，聯合國就到處分糧食。魔鬼的意思就是要鼓動耶穌去展現能力，因而被驕傲所困。我們會不會也落在這樣的迷思裡，把自己當成超人，以為自己很有能力去解決別人的問題？大衛有能力，但是他不迷惑。因為他敬畏神，即使有能力，也要看看是否合神的心意。

不把自己當超人，這就是大衛的越人之處。他把這個需求帶到神面前，求問神可不可以攻打非利士人？我們常說要謙卑，但是怎樣做才是謙卑呢？就是像大衛這樣，把事情帶到神面前，真的把神當主子，把自己當成神的僕人使女。很多信徒都這樣自謙，但是行事為人像不像就不一定了。

大衛的流亡(2)

2020-06-30 in /by

詩篇34篇4節    我曾尋求耶和華，祂就應允我，救我脫離了一切的恐懼。

在大衛離開亞希米勒之後，他的心極為懼怕，不敢再留在以色列的國境內，便逃到了迦特王亞吉那裡。迦特是非利士的一座城，亞吉是他個人的名字，亞比米勒是非利士王的稱號，所以在〈詩篇〉34篇裡所寫的亞比米勒便是亞吉。就好像士師基甸，人稱他為耶路巴力一樣。

〈詩篇〉34篇裡，大衛說神救他脫離了一切的恐懼。因為當他到了亞吉那裡時，他可能和亞吉有不錯的私交，但是亞吉的臣僕提醒亞吉，大衛不是普通人，「這不是以色列國王大衛嗎？那裡的婦女跳舞唱和，不是指著他說『掃羅殺死千千，大衛殺死萬萬』嗎？(撒上21:11)」

大衛聽出了亞吉臣僕的弦外之音，知道自己可能有殺身之禍，為求保命，心生一計，便開始裝瘋。就在眾人面前改變了尋常的舉動，在他們手下假裝瘋癲，在城門的門扇上胡寫亂畫，使唾沫流在鬍子上。亞吉便叫人把大衛趕走了。事實上，我個人認為亞吉也不是那麼好騙的，但是為了救大衛，他就藉機下台，把大衛趕走，也是救了大衛一命。

因此大衛說：「義人呼求，耶和華聽見了，便救他們脫離一切患難。耶和華靠近傷心的人，拯救靈性痛悔的人。義人多有苦難，但耶和華救他脫離這一切，又保全他一身的骨頭，連一根也不折斷。(詩34:17-20)」

大衛那時十分落魄，從他的詩裡，我們看到他在苦難中竭力親近神，尋求神的恩典；在神的應許裡，雖然還在患難中，依然發出讚美：「我要時時稱頌耶和華，讚美他的話必常在我口中。我的心必因耶和華誇耀，謙卑人聽見，就要喜樂。你們和我當稱耶和華為大，一同高舉祂的名。(詩34:1-3)」所以基督徒的喜樂不是因為凡事順利才能喜樂，是因為知道有神的同在，即使在患難中，也有信心與神應對，在苦難中也能看到神的恩典。

A Serious Responsibility

2020-06-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 3:16-27.  Let’s go!

Ezekiel 3:16-21 (NIV) 
16  At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 
17  “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 
18  When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 
19  But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself. 
20  “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 
21  But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
 
On verses 16-21:  No pressure there Ezekiel.  When God says that He has made Ezekiel a watchman for the house of Israel, what does He mean?  A watchman is a soldier who stands guard in a watch tower and watches for any danger coming on the horizon against his city and warns the people accordingly. 

大衛的流亡(1)

2020-06-29 in /by

詩篇57篇1節   神啊，求祢憐憫我，憐憫我，因為我的心投靠祢。我要投靠在祢翅膀的蔭下，等到災害過去。

從英雄變狗熊，在大衛是再切身不過的經驗了。在他殺死巨人歌利亞後，他成了以色列的英雄；但是當掃羅大王開始追殺他之後，他就變成了過街的老鼠，猖狂四逃。比狗熊還不如。到處都有掃羅大王的密探，只要大衛到了哪裡，掃羅大王就帶人追蹤而至。掃羅大王立意殺掉大衛，而且要親自動手，以絕後患。

在米甲的幫助下，大衛成功地逃離基比亞，掃羅的居住地。在倉皇之中，他選擇投奔在拉瑪的撒母耳，那個用油膏他的先知。撒母耳就帶著大衛去拿約，拿約可能是一個比較隱敝的地方，也有人說「拿約」是「住所」、 「學校」或「聖壇」的意思，是專有名詞。但是有人告訴掃羅，掃羅三次打發人去捉大衛，都因為撒母耳在教一班先知受靈的感動說話，派去的人也都受感說話，徒勞而歸。後來掃羅親自過去，也受感說話，就不了了之地回去了。掃羅雖然受感說話，而且一晝一夜露體躺臥，但是當他離開了聖靈運行的地方時，他又變回了自己，沒有生命上的改變。

因為掃羅沒有下手捉大衛，而且他的行蹤也洩露了，他選擇回去把事情弄清楚。這次是約拿單幫他弄清楚掃羅的心思。原來每到初一，王坐席要吃飯，大衛也是座上客之一。大衛連續兩天沒有露面，約拿單替大衛找藉口。這時掃羅罵他: 「耶西的兒子若在世間活著，你和你的國位必站立不住。現在你要打發人去，將他捉拿交給我。他是該死的！(撒上20:31)」確定掃羅的心意後，約拿單告訴大衛。大衛開始逃亡。

When Being Hard-Headed Is A Good Thing

2020-06-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 3:1-15.  Let’s go!

Ezekiel 3:1-3 (NIV) 
1  And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.”
2  So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3  Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. 

On verses 1-3:  Here are just a few lessons we can learn from these verses:

God gave Ezekiel an edible scroll containing His words for Ezekiel to eat.  Likewise, Scripture is food for your soul.  Jesus says, “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)  Don’t starve yourself spiritually but eat of God’s Word every day.
Ezekiel was told to eat God’s Word before going to speak to the house of Israel (v1).  Likewise, if we want to have something good to share with those around us, we need to eat God’s Word and fill ourselves with it.

大衛和約拿單

2020-06-28 in /by

撒母耳記上 18章1節    大衛對掃羅說完了話，約拿單的心與大衛的心深相契合，約拿單愛大衛，如同愛自己的性命。

在大衛的生命中有一些特別重要的人，其中一個是大王子約拿單。因為以一個牧童的出身，大衛斷不敢高攀，與王子為友。但是當約拿單聽完大衛和掃羅的對話後，他的心與大衛的心深相契合。究竟大衛說的哪些話打動了約拿單呢？那時約拿單是掃羅的大兒子，大衛是耶西的么兒，想來約拿單的年記會比大衛要大一些。為何他對大衛的話會產生那樣大的感動呢？

我們來看一下約拿單做過的一件事，就明白為何約拿單和大衛的心會深相契合。在〈撒母耳記上〉14章，在大衛尚未擊殺歌利亞之前，有一日約拿單對拿他兵器的少年人說：「我們不如過到那邊，到非利士人的防營那裡去。」他去那裡做何事呢？

約拿單對拿兵器的少年人說：「我們不如過到未受割禮人的防營那裡去，或者耶和華為我們施展能力。因為耶和華使人得勝，不在乎人多人少。」這句話讓我們知道約拿單想要偷擊非利士人。原來兩軍正堅持不下，掃羅帶了六百人，但是不敢論戰。

約拿單說：「我們要過到那些人那裡去，使他們看見我們。他們若對我們說『你們站住，等我們到你們那裡去』，我們就站住，不上他們那裡去。 他們若說『你們上到我們這裡來』，這話就是我們的證據，我們便上去，因為耶和華將他們交在我們手裡了。」在約拿單行事之前，他先確定一下神是否給他有印證。果然非利士人的防兵看到他們就叫他們上去。他們一上去就開打，一下子就殺了廿幾個人；掃羅他們聽到動靜，也加入戰場，那天以色列人得了大勝。其中有些細節改天再說。但是在這個事情裡，我們看到約拿單是一個心裡尊主為大的人。

Let God’s Word Move You

2020-06-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 2:1-10.  Let’s go!

Ezekiel 2:1-2 (NIV) 
1  He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 
2  As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

On verses 1-2:  Sometimes God’s Word will bring us to our knees.  Sometimes God’s Word will raise us to our feet.  One way or the other, when your heart is humble and open to God, God’s Word will move you. 

Ezekiel 2:3-7 (NIV) 
3  He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. 
4  The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ 
5  And whether they listen or fail to listen–for they are a rebellious house–they will know that a prophet has been among them. 
6  And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. 

活出敬拜的生命

2020-06-26 in /by

馬可福音12章30節      你要盡心、盡性、盡意、盡力愛主你的神。

在這個世界，每個人都有他崇拜的一些東西。崇拜與否不是一種選擇，因為每一人都崇拜，唯一你可以選擇的是你所敬拜的對象。

同時，崇拜不是基督徒的專利品，非基督徒也可以崇拜一些東西。最近，有一個名為《美國偶像》（American Idol）的流行節目，這個節目很受歡迎。在基督教圈子之外，「偶像」一詞常常被用作正面術語。我們必須非常小心因著術語的定義被劫持而做出的改變。

此外我們必須認識到在我們的社會中（包括基督徒和非基督徒），有人崇拜金錢，有人崇拜健康，有人崇拜權力，有人崇拜性，有人崇拜資訊等等。而更重要的，是我們必須認識到我們也會被我們敬拜的東西所改變。

而對於基督徒，三一神當然應該就是我們唯一的敬拜對象，因為這是聖經的命令：「你要盡心、盡性、盡意、盡力愛主你的神。」（馬可福音12:30）上帝不是只要你生命的某一部分，祂要你使用你的全心、全性、全意、全力去敬拜祂。如果你對神只有部分時間的順服及三心二意的委身，相信你可能不知道你敬拜的是誰，因為祂只是你生命的一小部分，而不是你完全的擺上。

信徒集合一起敬拜神，有三方面基本的意義：（一）與神對話，正面回應三位一體真神對人的自我啟示。（二）對神表達完全的奉獻。（三）成為神的形象，成為像基督的生命，在思想、感情、意志、行動上讓基督進入自己生命。

Heaven Ain’t No Boring Place (Part 2)

2020-06-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 1:15-28.  Apparently I ran a little further ahead by writing on yesterday’s passage and today’s passage in my GAME sharing for yesterday.  In case you missed it, below is my GAME sharing concerning Ezekiel 1:15-28.  Let’s go!

Ezekiel 1:15-21 (NIV)
15  As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 
16  This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like chrysolite, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 
17  As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the creatures went. 
18  Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. 
19  When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 
20  Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.