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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。

Judged According to What

2020-07-05 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 7:1-13.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-13:  One phrase that gets repeated over and over in this passage is: “I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices” (v3, 4, 8, 9).  Often times we can have an inflated view of ourselves.  The world would make us want to think that we are pretty good people and that God thinks so too.  I just heard one Hollywood celebrity post on social media, “All I’ve ever tried to do was help people”.  Yet a more accurate and impartial assessment of our lives would show that while we are capable of some good and have probably done some good in our lifetime, we are also capable of much evil and have acted in sin, selfishness and pride.  We must remember that God’s standards are not like ours.  His standards absolutely perfect and that is why the Bible’s assessment of our conduct is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  If God were indeed to judge us according to our conduct, none of us would stand a chance.

God could treat us as our conduct deserves, but praise God that He is much more merciful than that.  For those of us who are humble enough to admit that we are sinners in need of a Saviour and who trust that Jesus is the Saviour we need, God does not treat us as our sins deserve.  Rather He gives us unmerited favour and undeserved grace.  That’s why David would write,

與祢同行

2020-07-03 in /by

當教會開放的日子越來越不可期待時，你和神還是好朋友嗎？

曾經我們以為關閉教會只是鐵幕下的作為，共產國家的逼迫。曾幾何時，因為一隻小小的病毒，北美的教會也都關閉了，我們也嚐到了沒有教會的滋味。在有些地方，沒有公開的教會，也可以偷偷地在隱藏的家庭教會聚會，但是我們連這個都做不到，因為必須居家隔離。

聚集在一起幾乎等於是集體自殺，因為經常有人一聚集，就立刻有人得病了，那隻病毒真的太厲害了。也曾有教會的詩班長距離地一起練詩，很快就有人生病了。這些例子使我們不敢再踏進教會，即使教會開放，我們也不敢進去。

這種情形讓我們怎樣來評價以前的熱心聚會，是否真的沒有價值？這種情形好像撒旦在狂笑，沒有了教會，看你們這些信徒怎麼辦？又好像是神藉著這機會在篩選誰是真門徒。我們被推到了一個沒有教會的時代，我們怎樣敬拜呢？

回想聖經裡的起初，其實也沒有教會。神揀選亞伯拉罕，他就是一個孤單的信徒，只有他一個人相信耶和華神。沒有教會，也沒有牧者，更沒有弟兄姐妹。以撒，雅各，約瑟和其他以色列人都是這樣過來的，可是他們心裡就是有神。真的好奇妙的信仰。

亞伯拉罕和雅各在特別的時候會築壇敬拜神，可是為什麼他們在特別的時候會想起神呢？因為有時在夢裡得到神的指引，有時是完成了某一階段的路程，為了平安而獻上感謝。他們的心裡就是有神。所以，其實在沒有教會，沒有牧者，沒有弟兄姐妹的情況下，神要我們孤單到一個程度，讓我們明白，除了神以外，沒有一個人可以永遠伴著我們。這就是現實。

When Will You Know

2020-07-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 6:1-14.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-14:  Why does God tell Ezekiel to speak to the mountains (v1-3)?  That’s because the mountains of Israel were the site where much of the Israelites’ idol worship took place.

Here God gives Ezekiel a message of judgment and destruction on the Israelites as a result of their rampant and persistent idolatry.  God promises that all the high places, incense altars and idols that the Israelites used to worship other gods will be destroyed, and most of the Israelites along with them (v3b-7).  Despite God revealing Himself to the Israelites time and time again, despite all of His faithfulness to them and the warnings He gave about what would happen if they turned to worship other gods, the Israelites obstinately refused to obey God’s commands or heed God’s warnings.  Thus the consequences God warned them about eventually overtook them.

Still there would be a remnant who would realize the error of their ways and whom God would spare (v8-10).

What can we learn from this?  Notice that one phrase that gets repeated over and over is the phrase: “you/they will know that I am the Lord” (v7, 10, 13, and 14).   One day, sooner or later, whether during this lifetime or after, every person will realize who the Lord is.

Real Wrath, Real Mercy

2020-07-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Ezekiel 5:1-17.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-17:  Here comes another object lesson from Ezekiel, given to catch the attention of the spiritually calloused Israelites.  Ezekiel senses God telling him to shave his head and beard with a sharp sword.  He is to burn one third of the shavings inside the city.  He is to take another third and strike it with the sword, doing this all over the city.  He is also to take the last third of his hair shavings and scatter them to the wind.  All of these actions were to symbolize how, as punishment for their persistent disobedience and idolatry, God would give the Israelites over to famine (possibly symbolized by the fire), military attack (symbolized by the sword), and to wild beasts and disease (symbolized by the wind).   The reference in verse 10 to fathers eating their children and children eating their fathers is talking about how severe the famine would become that the Israelites would resort to cannibalism.

“How could a loving God do this to His own people?” you may ask.  It is worth noting that for centuries God repeatedly and with great clarity warned the Israelites that they should expect such consequences if they continued to disobey Him and persist in rebellion and idolatry.  See, for example, Deuteronomy 28 where Moses warns the people of all the problems they could expect to come upon them if they disobey. 

美麗的隱基底

2020-07-02 in /by

撒母耳記上24章6節   我的主乃是耶和華的受膏者，我在耶和華面前萬不敢伸手害他，因祂是耶和華的受膏者。

現在的隱基底是以色列的國立天然公園，也是一個旅客必然要去的地方，因為它除了有沙漠中的甘泉之外，還含有一個以色列最偉大的國王在這裡發生的故事，帶給後人極大的啟示。

話說大約兩千多年前，大衛還是一個廿歲出頭的小伙子，因為被神揀選，預備當以色列的王，因此受到當時的王掃羅極大的嫉恨，要追殺置他於死地。大衛帶著幾百人在掃羅王的追殺裡四處奔逃，來到了這個乾旱的曠野，到處都是危崖絕壁山洞，卻有湧自崖壁的泉水。這裡，是野羊出没之處，又名「野羊的磐石」。這裡，有一條流淌不息的小溪，名為「大衛河」，是為了紀念大衛在流亡時的一段經歷。

當大衛與從人為了有美好的棲息之所而高興時，有人也把這消息傳給掃羅。掃羅就帶著三千軍兵，往野羊的磐石去尋索大衛和跟隨他的人。

〈撒母耳記上〉24章記著：到了路旁的羊圈，在那裡有洞，掃羅進去大解；當時，大衛和跟隨他的人正藏在洞裡的深處。(怎麼這樣巧?)  大衛本來可以輕而易舉地奪去掃羅的性命，但由於大衛敬畏神，因此不伸手加害耶和華的受膏者，也不讓跟隨的人去殺害他，最後只是悄悄割下掃羅外袍的衣襟。他說：「我的主乃是耶和華的受膏者，我在耶和華面前萬不敢伸手害他，因祂是耶和華的受膏者。」

多好的機會啊! 掃羅己是60多歲之人，大衛正值青年，掃羅大解時身邊也沒有軍士，只要大衛一伸手，這個惡夢就可以解決，大衛就可以登基當王，為什麼不做？換了你，會放過這樣的機會嗎？從人都可以說，是神把他交在你手裡啊!莫負天意!

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).