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Your Redeemer Is For You, Not Against You

2020-02-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 15:17-35. 

Job 19:1-4 (NIV) 
1  Then Job replied: 
2  “How long will you torment me and crush me with words? 
3  Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me. 
4  If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone.
 
On verses 1-4:  Job continues to fight against his friends’ persistent and hurtful attacks.  At the end of this chapter, Job will have a stern warning for his friends.
 
Job 19:5-7 (NIV) 
5  If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me, 
6  then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. 
7  “Though I cry, ‘I’ve been wronged!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.
 

诗篇一百四十一篇

2020-01-31 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 耶和华啊，我曾求告祢，求祢快快临到我这里！我求告祢的时候，愿祢留心听我的声音。
2 愿我的祷告如香陈列在祢面前，愿我举手祈求，如献晚祭。
3 耶和华啊，求祢禁止我的口，把守我的嘴。
4 求祢不叫我的心偏向邪恶，以致我和作孽的人同行恶事，也不叫我吃他们的美食。
5 任凭义人击打我，这算为仁慈，任凭他责备我，这算为头上的膏油，我的头不要躲闪。正在他们行恶的时候，我仍要祈祷。
6 他们的审判官被扔在岩下，众人要听我的话，因为这话甘甜。
7 我们的骨头散在墓旁，好像人耕田刨地的土块。
8 主耶和华啊，我的眼目仰望祢。我投靠祢，求祢不要将我撇得孤苦。
9 求祢保护我脱离恶人为我设的网罗，和作孽之人的圈套。
10 愿恶人落在自己的网里，我却得以逃脱。

大卫的诗是给想学习祷告的人一个很好的范本。大卫的祷告是迫切的，一点也不畏缩，就好像一个孩子在跟父亲说话。

大卫祷告的时候，他很直接地说；“快快临到我这里，留心听我的声音。”不是可有可无，不是客气地说“若你方便”，而是要神快快来，留心听，是非常迫切，毫无怀疑的呼求。也表达了他和神关系的密切。一个和神疏远的人，断断不敢如此祈求。

3 Ways to Respond to Criticism

2020-01-31 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 18:1-21.  Let’s go!

Job 18:1-4 (NIV) 
1  Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2  “When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3  Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight?
4  You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?

On verses 1-21:  Bildad keeps making the same mistake despite receiving feedback from Job.  Job has already repeatedly expressed, with directness and clarity, how he wishes his friends would talk to him differently (Job 6:25-26; Job 13:3-4; 16:2-4).  Yet instead of giving real consideration to what Job is saying, instead of recognizing the error of his ways and adjusting, Bildad at first gets defensive (v3-4) and then continues on with his same mistaken approach.  Bildad continues to attack Job and uses his indirect but not so subtle way of linking what has happened to Job with what happens to wicked people (v5-21).

诗篇一百四十篇

2020-01-30 in /by

大卫的诗，交于伶长。

1 耶和华啊，求祢拯救我脱离凶恶的人，保护我脱离强暴的人。
2 他们心中图谋奸恶，常常聚集要争战。
3 他们使舌头尖利如蛇，嘴里有虺蛇的毒气。（细拉）
4 耶和华啊，求祢拯救我脱离恶人的手，保护我脱离强暴的人，他们图谋推我跌倒。
5 骄傲人为我暗设网罗和绳索，他们在路旁铺下网，设下圈套。（细拉）
6 我曾对耶和华说：「祢是我的神。」耶和华啊，求祢留心听我恳求的声音！
7 主耶和华，我救恩的力量啊，在争战的日子，祢遮蔽了我的头。
8 耶和华啊，求祢不要遂恶人的心愿，不要成就他们的计谋，恐怕他们自高。（细拉）
9 至于那些昂首围困我的人，愿他们嘴唇的奸恶陷害自己。
10 愿火炭落在他们身上，愿他们被丢在火中，抛在深坑里，不能再起来。……

我觉得这是一篇很重要的祈祷文。因为在简短的主祷文里，主耶稣就己经为我们祈求：“救我们脱离凶恶”。天父知道我们的软弱和有限。有位弟兄说起他看过一个异象，神让他看到在所有的凶恶和强暴背后都有撒旦的作为。我们怎能逃脱撒旦的邪恶呢？

大卫形容恶人：他们心中图谋奸恶，常常聚集要争战；他们使舌头尖利如蛇，嘴里有虺蛇的毒气；他们暗设网罗和绳索，在路旁铺下网，设下圈套。勇猛如大卫知道敌人的可怕，知道敌人的心思何等可怕。

The Best Security for You

2020-01-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 17:1-16.  It is one of the harder passages in Job so far to interpret, but the lessons are worth digging for.
 
Job 17:1-3 (NIV) 
1  My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me. 
2  Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility. 
3  “Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me? 

On Job 16:22 to 17:3:  Job feels like his life is slipping away (v1).  He is bothered by those who mock him (v2).  So Job looks to God as his back up (v3).  In verse 3 Job says to God, “Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?” (Job 17:3 (ESV))  What does Job mean?  Job is boldly asking God to put up security on his behalf.  When I put up security for a friend, I’m saying, “If my friend doesn’t perform what he said he would perform, I will perform it for him.  If he owes you anything, take it from me instead.”  The Bible actually warns about the dangers of putting up security for others.  For example, Proverbs 11:15 says, “He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.”

When Job Saw Jesus. Also, Why God Allows Attacks

2020-01-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 16:1-22.  Let’s go!

Job 16:1-6 (NIV) 
1  Then Job replied: 
2  “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all! 
3  Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? 
4  I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. 
5  But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6  “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.
 
On verses 1-6:  Job is in such physical and emotional torment that neither him speaking out nor him trying to stay silent helps (v6).  Job has learned first hand that when a person is experiencing such great pain and loss, what that person needs is to be comforted and encouraged by others, not lectured, judged, accused or argued with him as Job’s friends did with him.  Even if that person’s own poor decisions brought about their suffering, even if their character leaves much to be desired, in the moment of their agony, don’t take that moment to tear them down even more, but hold them up with God’s love.  In so doing, your gentle actions will teach them something about God’s love and grace that your lectures never could.  Save your sermon for later when the pain is less piercing and the grief less agonizing.  
 

诗篇一百卅九篇

2020-01-29 in /by

大卫的诗，交于伶长。

1 耶和华啊，祢已经鉴察我，认识我。
2 我坐下，我起来，祢都晓得，祢从远处知道我的意念。
3 我行路，我躺卧，祢都细察，祢也深知我一切所行的。
4 耶和华啊，我舌头上的话，祢没有一句不知道的。
5 祢在我前后环绕我，按手在我身上。
6 这样的知识奇妙，是我不能测的；至高，是我不能及的。
7 我往哪里去躲避祢的灵？我往哪里逃躲避祢的面？
8 我若升到天上，祢在那里；我若在阴间下榻，祢也在那里。
9 我若展开清晨的翅膀，飞到海极居住，
10 就是在那里，祢的手必引导我，祢的右手也必扶持我。……

有一个阿拉伯人的故事说道：在巴尔克(即今阿富罕北边)有一位君王名叫以布拉因，家财万贯，无人可比；但他一心一意想要成为灵性上非常富足的人。有一天午夜，当他正睡得方酣时，被屋顶上踩踏的声音所惊醒，他惊恐地问：“谁在屋顶上？”屋顶上的人回答：“是一位朋友。我在寻找迷失的骆驼！”以布拉讥笑他：“傻瓜，在屋顶上怎能找到迷失的骆驼？”屋顶上的人反唇相讥：“你才是傻瓜！你穿细丝衣躺在金床上怎能找到上帝呢？”

这句话像针一般刺入以布拉因王的心，让他看出他是在错误的地方，用错误的方法来寻找上帝，因此他感受不到上帝的同在。所以他离开了舒适的王宫，来到受苦的人中间，提供食物和衣服给那些不幸的人。就在他谦卑地服事那些社会上不幸、被遗忘的人们时，他感受到上帝的临在；在人们受苦的声音中，他听到了上帝的声音。

Wisdom Is More About EQ Than IQ

2020-01-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 15:17-35.

Job 15:20-26 (NIV) 
20  All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.
21  Terrifying sounds fill his ears; when all seems well, marauders attack him.
22  He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23  He wanders about–food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24  Distress and anguish fill him with terror; they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,……..

On verses 17-35:  Here Eliphaz, harking back to what he claims to have seen in the past and heard from other wise men (v17-19), tries to paint a picture for Job with his words.  Eliphaz describes a “wicked man” (v20) who “suffers torment” (v20), who is haunted by terrifying sounds (v21), who has been attacked (v21b), who lives in great fear (v22), who wanders without purpose or hope (v23), and who is filled with distress (v24) all “because he shakes his fist at God” (v25).  

诗篇一百卅八篇

2020-01-28 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 我要一心称谢祢，在诸神面前歌颂祢。
2 我要向祢的圣殿下拜，为祢的慈爱和诚实称赞祢的名；因祢使祢的话显为大，过于祢所应许的。
3 我呼求的日子，祢就应允我，鼓励我，使我心里有能力。
4 耶和华啊，地上的君王都要称谢祢，因他们听见了祢口中的言语。
5 他们要歌颂耶和华的作为，因耶和华大有荣耀。
6 耶和华虽高，仍看顾低微的人，祂却从远处看出骄傲的人。
7 我虽行在患难中，祢必将我救活。我的仇敌发怒，祢必伸手抵挡他们，祢的右手也必救我。
8 耶和华必成全关乎我的事。耶和华啊，祢的慈爱永远长存，求祢不要离弃祢手所造的。

大卫说他要一心称谢神，我们都明白，但是为何要在诸神面前歌颂神？难道除了耶和华之外还有神吗？

这里是引用〈撒母耳记〉上第26章里的一句话。那时扫罗在西弗地区追杀大卫，晚上安营睡觉时，大卫和几个从人到了扫罗的营，从他的头旁拿走枪和水瓶，然后跑到与他们相距甚远的一个山顶上，呼叫押尼珥，扫罗的元帅，问他为何没有好好保护扫罗。然后把扫罗的枪和水瓶拿出来，证明押尼珥的失职。

诗篇一百卅七篇

2020-01-27 in /by

1我们曾在巴比伦的河边坐下，一追想锡安就哭了。
2 我们把琴挂在那里的柳树上。
3 因为在那里，掳掠我们的要我们唱歌，抢夺我们的要我们作乐，说：「给我们唱一首锡安歌吧！」
4 我们怎能在外邦唱耶和华的歌呢？
5 耶路撒冷啊，我若忘记你，情愿我的右手忘记技巧！
6 我若不记念你，若不看耶路撒冷过于我所最喜乐的，情愿我的舌头贴于上膛！
7 耶路撒冷遭难的日子，以东人说：「拆毁！拆毁！直拆到根基！」耶和华啊，求你记念这仇！
8 将要被灭的巴比伦城啊，报复你像你待我们的，那人便为有福！
9 拿你的婴孩摔在磐石上的，那人便为有福！

这是一首很悲伤的流浪者之歌。当时犹大被灭，许多犹大人被掳到巴比伦。当他们走到迦巴鲁河边坐下来休息时，那些巴比伦的士兵要求他们弹唱作乐，因为犹太人善于歌唱跳舞。这些巴比伦之囚被强迫，在外邦异地做亡国奴，怎能强颜欢唱？当他们回想锡安故土，以及曾经享有的荣耀就忍不住哭了，为何会落到这样的地步呢?

在〈以西结书〉里，以西结在异象中看到神怎样一步步被赶离圣殿。犹大人在圣殿里拜偶像，拜太阳，污秽圣殿，以致神无法驻留，只得远离，成为流浪的神（结8-10章）。“耶和华的荣耀从殿的门槛那里出去（结10:18a ）”，当神在圣殿中不再有地位时，祂就走了。犹大人以为乭以倚靠所拜的偶像和假神，却尝到呼天天不应，叫地地不灵的情况。