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The Hyphen In Between

2020-02-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 20:1-29.

Job 20:5-8 (NIV) 
5  …the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. 
6  Though his pride reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, 
7  he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ 
8  Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night. 

On verses 1-29:  Here Zophar echoes the same message that Eliphaz and Bildad have spoken in Job 15 and Job 18 respectively: that terror, calamity and disaster are the fate of the wicked.  Zophar, in particular, emphasizes how the wicked die young – how they prosper briefly only to be cut down in the prime of their youth and at the height of their power.  For example, in verse 5 Zophar says, “the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts only a moment”.  About the wicked man Zophar says “the youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust” (v11). 

詩篇一百四十二篇

2020-02-03 in /by

大衛在洞裡作的訓誨詩，乃是祈禱。

1 我發聲哀告耶和華，發聲懇求耶和華。
2 我在祂面前吐露我的苦情，陳說我的患難。
3 我的靈在我裡面發昏的時候，祢知道我的道路。在我行的路上，敵人為我暗設網羅。
4 求祢向我右邊觀看，因為沒有人認識我；我無處避難，也沒有人眷顧我。
5 耶和華啊，我曾向祢哀求，我說：「祢是我的避難所，在活人之地祢是我的福分。」
6 求祢側耳聽我的呼求，因我落到極卑之地；求祢救我脫離逼迫我的人，因為他們比我強盛。
7 求祢領我出離被囚之地，我好稱讚祢的名。義人必環繞我，因為祢是用厚恩待我。

這詩篇是大衛寫的詩篇，而且是在洞裡寫的。根據希伯來文的詩篇，這裡的“洞”是指亞杜蘭洞，也就是大衛在躲避掃羅的追殺時所躲的山洞。那時的大衛非常孤單，他逃到迦特非利士王亞吉那裡，但是亞吉的手下記得大衛殺死歌利亞一事，因此大衛害怕亞吉會因而殺他，只好裝瘋。後來亞吉就把他放了。他就逃回以色列境內，伯利恒附近的亞杜蘭洞裡。

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.
 

詩篇一百四十一篇

2020-01-31 in /by

大衛的詩。

1 耶和華啊，我曾求告祢，求祢快快臨到我這裡！我求告祢的時候，願祢留心聽我的聲音。
2 願我的禱告如香陳列在祢面前，願我舉手祈求，如獻晚祭。
3 耶和華啊，求祢禁止我的口，把守我的嘴。
4 求祢不叫我的心偏向邪惡，以致我和作孽的人同行惡事，也不叫我吃他們的美食。
5 任憑義人擊打我，這算為仁慈，任憑他責備我，這算為頭上的膏油，我的頭不要躲閃。正在他們行惡的時候，我仍要祈禱。
6 他們的審判官被扔在巖下，眾人要聽我的話，因為這話甘甜。
7 我們的骨頭散在墓旁，好像人耕田刨地的土塊。
8 主耶和華啊，我的眼目仰望祢。我投靠祢，求祢不要將我撇得孤苦。
9 求祢保護我脫離惡人為我設的網羅，和作孽之人的圈套。
10 願惡人落在自己的網裡，我卻得以逃脫。

大衛的詩是給想學習禱告的人一個很好的範本。大衛的禱告是迫切的，一點也不畏縮，就好像一個孩子在跟父親說話。

大衛禱告的時候，他很直接地說；“快快臨到我這裡，留心聽我的聲音。”不是可有可無，不是客氣地說“若你方便”，而是要神快快來，留心聽，是非常迫切，毫無懷疑的呼求。也表達了他和神關係的密切。一個和神疏遠的人，斷斷不敢如此祈求。

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).

詩篇一百四十篇

2020-01-30 in /by

大衛的詩，交於伶長。

1 耶和華啊，求祢拯救我脫離凶惡的人，保護我脫離強暴的人。
2 他們心中圖謀奸惡，常常聚集要爭戰。
3 他們使舌頭尖利如蛇，嘴裡有虺蛇的毒氣。（細拉）
4 耶和華啊，求祢拯救我脫離惡人的手，保護我脫離強暴的人，他們圖謀推我跌倒。
5 驕傲人為我暗設網羅和繩索，他們在路旁鋪下網，設下圈套。（細拉）
6 我曾對耶和華說：「祢是我的神。」耶和華啊，求祢留心聽我懇求的聲音！
7 主耶和華，我救恩的力量啊，在爭戰的日子，祢遮蔽了我的頭。
8 耶和華啊，求祢不要遂惡人的心願，不要成就他們的計謀，恐怕他們自高。（細拉）
9 至於那些昂首圍困我的人，願他們嘴唇的奸惡陷害自己。
10 願火炭落在他們身上，願他們被丟在火中，拋在深坑裡，不能再起來。……

我覺得這是一篇很重要的祈禱文。因為在簡短的主禱文裡，主耶穌就己經為我們祈求：“救我們脫離凶惡”。天父知道我們的軟弱和有限。有位弟兄說起他看過一個異象，神讓他看到在所有的凶惡和強暴背後都有撒旦的作為。我們怎能逃脫撒旦的邪惡呢？

大衛形容惡人：他們心中圖謀奸惡，常常聚集要爭戰；他們使舌頭尖利如蛇，嘴裡有虺蛇的毒氣；他們暗設網羅和繩索，在路旁鋪下網，設下圈套。勇猛如大衛知道敵人的可怕，知道敵人的心思何等可怕。

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.  
 

詩篇一百卅九篇

2020-01-29 in /by

大衛的詩，交於伶長。

1 耶和華啊，祢已經鑒察我，認識我。
2 我坐下，我起來，祢都曉得，祢從遠處知道我的意念。
3 我行路，我躺臥，祢都細察，祢也深知我一切所行的。
4 耶和華啊，我舌頭上的話，祢沒有一句不知道的。
5 祢在我前後環繞我，按手在我身上。
6 這樣的知識奇妙，是我不能測的；至高，是我不能及的。
7 我往哪裡去躲避祢的靈？我往哪裡逃躲避祢的面？
8 我若升到天上，祢在那裡；我若在陰間下榻，祢也在那裡。
9 我若展開清晨的翅膀，飛到海極居住，
10 就是在那裡，祢的手必引導我，祢的右手也必扶持我。……

有一個阿拉伯人的故事說道：在巴爾克(即今阿富罕北邊)有一位君王名叫以布拉因，家財萬貫，無人可比；但他一心一意想要成為靈性上非常富足的人。有一天午夜，當他正睡得方酣時，被屋頂上踩踏的聲音所驚醒，他驚恐地問：“誰在屋頂上？”屋頂上的人回答：“是一位朋友。我在尋找迷失的駱駝！”以布拉譏笑他：“傻瓜，在屋頂上怎能找到迷失的駱駝？”屋頂上的人反唇相譏：“你才是傻瓜！你穿細絲衣躺在金床上怎能找到上帝呢？”

這句話像針一般刺入以布拉因王的心，讓他看出他是在錯誤的地方，用錯誤的方法來尋找上帝，因此他感受不到上帝的同在。所以他離開了舒適的王宮，來到受苦的人中間，提供食物和衣服給那些不幸的人。就在他謙卑地服事那些社會上不幸、被遺忘的人們時，他感受到上帝的臨在；在人們受苦的聲音中，他听到了上帝的聲音。

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).