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Worship Is Your Weapon Against the Enemy

2019-09-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 20:20-37.  Let’s go!

2 Chronicles 20:20 (NIV) 
20  Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”

On verse 20:  As Jehoshaphat’s men set out for the Desert of Tekoa to face their attackers early in the morning, Jehoshaphat gives his men a word of encouragement.  He encourages them to have faith in the Lord and in His prophets as their key to success.   What can we learn from this?

One of the best things you can do at the beginning of each morning as you set out for the day is to feed on the encouragement of God’s Word.  Even if you normally have your GAME time later in the day, there is great value in getting some of God’s Word – even a verse – into your mind to.
Your success goes hand in hand with how well you follow and trust God and your God-given leaders.

诗篇卅七篇

2019-09-08 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 不要为作恶的心怀不平，也不要向那行不义的生出嫉妒。
2 因为祂们如草快被割下，又如青菜快要枯干。
3 你当倚靠耶和华而行善，住在地上，以祂的信实为粮。
4 又要以耶和华为乐，祂就将你心里所求的赐给你。
5 当将你的事交托耶和华，并倚靠祂，祂就必成全。
6 祂要使你的公义如光发出，使你的公平明如正午。
7 你当默然倚靠耶和华，耐性等候祂，不要因那道路通达的和那恶谋成就的心怀不平。
8 当止住怒气，离弃愤怒，不要心怀不平，以致作恶。
9 因为作恶的必被剪除，唯有等候耶和华的必承受地土。
10 还有片时，恶人要归于无有，你就是细察他的住处，也要归于无有。……

这是一首非常疗愈的诗篇，非常适合在这个混乱的世代里读。因为我们看新闻时，常常会心里不平，怎么满口粗话不守信用的人会占大位？怎么有的人口不择言地伤人，又不肯道歉？警察本来该保护人民，却变成打人民的；也有人民反打警察？在现代的社会里，充满了不平和怒气。

在学校或工作场所里，也经常有人被霸凌，学生纠众打人，卫生局长醉酒后去急诊室暴打值班的医生，工作时被上司欺负，朋友借钱不还，还有言语上的侮辱或歧视等等。这些事情使我们心怀不平，甚至生出嫉妒，生气神为何不即刻处罚他们，把他们都就地正法! 让世界只留下好人! 就是你跟我囉! 还有对我们好的亲人和朋友，是不是？但是好像日本和南韩最近发生冲突，那么，去掉谁比较好?

How to Pray When You’re Under Pressure

2019-09-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 20:1-19.  Let’s go!

2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV) 
12  “…We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
 
On verses 1-19:  Jehoshaphat gets word that the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites are on their way to attack Jehoshaphat’s land of Judah (v1-2).  Jehoshaphat responds by inquiring of the Lord and proclaiming a fast for all of Judah (v3).  As the people of Judah assemble to seek help from the Lord, Jehoshaphat stands up, recalls who God is (v7), recalls what God has done (v8-9), tells God their current situation (v10-11), admits their desperate need for God and proclaims their trust in Him (v12).  I love what Jehoshaphat says in verse 12: “we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

God responds by giving a word to Jahaziel, telling Jehoshaphat and the people not to be afraid or discouraged.   He also tells them that “you will not have to fight this battle” (v17) “for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v15).  The people only need to take up their positions, face their enemy tomorrow “and see the deliverance the Lord will give you” (v17).
Jeho and the people fall down in worship before the Lord (v18-19).

诗篇卅六篇

2019-09-06 in /by

耶和华的仆人大卫的诗，交于伶长。

1 恶人的罪过，在他心里说：「我眼中不怕神。」
2 他自夸自媚，以为他的罪孽终不显露，不被恨恶。
3 他口中的言语尽是罪孽诡诈，他与智慧善行已经断绝。
4 他在床上图谋罪孽，定意行不善的道，不憎恶恶事。

5 耶和华啊，祢的慈爱上及诸天，祢的信实达到穹苍。

6 祢的公义好像高山，祢的判断如同深渊。耶和华啊，人民、牲畜祢都救护。
7 神啊，祢的慈爱何其宝贵，世人投靠在祢翅膀的荫下。
8 他们必因祢殿里的肥甘得以饱足，祢也必叫他们喝祢乐河的水。
9 因为在祢那里有生命的源头，在祢的光中我们必得见光。
10 愿祢常施慈爱给认识祢的人，常以公义待心里正直的人。……

这是大卫在遭遇恶人的迫害后所写的诗篇，当他回想恶人的所言所行时，情不自禁把他们作恶的本质都写出来。当我们对照大卫的描述时，很可能心里会认同，因为世界业，或说社会上真的有太多邪恶的存在。

人为何行恶？一、是眼中不怕神，二、是以为他的罪孽终不显露，三、连他口中所说的话也都没有良善，四、他每天想的都是图谋害人利己的事。

与恶人相对的是神的慈爱和信实。因为圣经上说，没有义人，一个也没有。所以在蒙主的救恩之前，我们都是恶人。我们的恶和神的爱一对照，很多人就因而被感化了，因为我们实在都不配领受神那样的慈爱和信实。

Getting Up After a Fall

2019-09-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 19:1-11.  Let’s go!

2 Chronicles 19:1-3 (NIV) 
1  When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem,
2  Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
3  There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.”

On verses 1-3:  Whereas King Ahab dies while trying to attack Ramoth Gilead (see the chapter before), his co-attacker Jehoshaphat King of Judah returns safely to Jerusalem (v1).  Upon returning, Jehoshaphat is confronted by Jehu the prophet, who rebukes Jehoshaphat for partnering with the idol-worshiping, prophet-murdering King Ahab in the first place, saying “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” (v2)  Jehoshaphat was fortunate that nothing worse happened to him when he went with Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead.  Jehu also reassures Jehoshaphat that despite his mistake of partnering with Ahab, God still believes in Jehoshaphat and is pleased with how he rid the land of idol worship and has his heart set on seeking God (v3).

When You Ask God for Guidance

2019-09-05 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 18:1-34.  Let’s go!

2 Chronicles 18:3 (NIV) 
3  Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.” 

On verses 1-3:  This chapter is full of irony.  The first irony is that Jehoshaphat, one of the godliest kings in Judah’s history, becomes allies with Ahab, possibly the wickedest king in Israel’s history.  Their alliance came by marriage when Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram marries Ahab’s daughter Athaliah.  This alliance would prove to be a huge mistake for Jehoshaphat’s family, one that would cause much pain and suffering for his family and the nation of Judah.  The first proof that this alliance was a mistake was here when Ahab influences Jehoshaphat to attack Ramoth Gilead, something God did not want Jehoshaphat to do. 

What can we learn from this?  Be careful whom you partner with.  When you partner with someone who does not trust the Lord, the chances are high that that partner will lead you to do things that do not please the Lord.

诗篇卅五篇

2019-09-05 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 耶和华啊，与我相争的，求祢与他们相争；与我相战的，求祢与他们相战。
2 拿着大小的盾牌，起来帮助我；
3 抽出枪来，挡住那追赶我的。求祢对我的灵魂说：「我是拯救你的！」
4 愿那寻索我命的，蒙羞受辱；愿那谋害我的，退后羞愧。
5 愿他们像风前的糠，有耶和华的使者赶逐他们。
6 愿他们的道路又暗又滑，有耶和华的使者追赶他们。
7 因他们无故地为我暗设网罗，无故地挖坑要害我的性命。
8 愿灾祸忽然临到他身上，愿他暗设的网缠住自己，愿他落在其中遭灾祸。
9 我的心必靠耶和华快乐，靠祂的救恩高兴。
10 我的骨头都要说：「耶和华啊，谁能像祢，救护困苦人脱离那比他强壮的，救护困苦穷乏人脱离那抢夺他的？」……..

有人说过祷告要以神为中心，而不是把自己放在中心。从大卫的诗篇里，我们可以很强烈地感受到这一点，大卫的人生坎坷，但是因为他敬畏耶和华，他让神成为他生命里的重心，凡事倚靠神，向神求智慧，求带领，求拯救。他不让环境成为他的主宰，不管环境如何，神都是他的中心。

曾经有人怀疑大卫王存在过的真实性，以为那是以色列人揑造的神话，但是大卫写的诗篇让我们明白，他曾经是一个有血、有肉、有感觉、有思想的人。有一个存在的实体才会有相争的对象。你有没有这样的经历呢？在大大小小的竞争里，我们也都会遇到相争的对象，相争的目的就是打倒对方，使自己胜出。对大卫而言，与他相争的，不仅有目的性，而且想要他的命。

诗篇卅四篇

2019-09-04 in /by

大卫在亚比米勒面前装疯，被他赶出去，就作这诗。

1 我要时时称颂耶和华，赞美祂的话必常在我口中。
2 我的心必因耶和华夸耀，谦卑人听见，就要喜乐。
3 你们和我当称耶和华为大，一同高举祂的名。
4 我曾寻求耶和华，祂就应允我，救我脱离了一切的恐惧。
5 凡仰望祂的便有光荣，祂们的脸必不蒙羞。
6 我这困苦人呼求，耶和华便垂听，救我脱离一切患难。
7 耶和华的使者在敬畏祂的人四围安营，搭救祂们。

8 你们要尝尝主恩的滋味，便知道祂是美善。投靠祂的人有福了！

9 耶和华的圣民哪，你们当敬畏祂，因敬畏祂的一无所缺。
10 少壮狮子还缺食忍饿，但寻求耶和华的，什么好处都不缺。……

读大卫的故事若没有读〈诗篇〉就无法明白大卫所受的苦。大卫被扫罗追逼时，甚至想到去接受非利士人的保护。想想看他曾经杀了非利士人的第一英雄歌利亚，跑到非利士人的境地里是何等危险的一招？有点像自投虎口。

果然大卫一逃到迦特王亚吉那里，亚吉的臣仆立刻对亚吉说：「这不是以色列国王大卫吗？那里的妇女跳舞唱和，不是指着他说『扫罗杀死千千，大卫杀死万万』吗？」大卫将这话放在心里，甚惧怕迦特王亚吉(亚比米勒)，就在众人面前改变了寻常的举动，在他们手下假装疯癫，在城门的门扇上胡写乱画，使唾沫流在胡子上。 于是亚吉派人将大卫赶走，大卫因而保存了性命。

Focus on the Giver, Not the Gifts

2019-09-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

2 Chronicles 17:3-4 (ESV) 
3  The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 
4  but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.

On verses 1-4:  Jehoshaphat takes over from his father Asa as king of Judah.  Notice why the Lord was with Jehoshaphat: “because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David.  He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father” (v3-4).  The fact that verse 3 mentions “the earlier ways of his father” suggests that his father was not faithful to the Lord all his life, but only in his earlier years.  Jehoshaphat had the wisdom and discernment to sift through the lives of those who came before him, learning and applying the good things he saw in them while avoiding their mistakes and bad habits.  Likewise, if you want to maximize God’s power and anointing on your life, learn and apply the good things you see from those who came before you, while at the same time consciously avoiding their mistakes or bad habits.

2 Chronicles 17:5-6 (NIV) 
5  The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. 
6  His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

诗篇卅三篇

2019-09-03 in /by

1义人哪，你们应当靠耶和华欢乐！正直人的赞美是合宜的。
2 你们应当弹琴称谢耶和华，用十弦瑟歌颂祂。
3 应当向祂唱新歌，弹得巧妙，声音洪亮。
4 因为耶和华的言语正直，凡祂所做的尽都诚实。
5 祂喜爱仁义、公平，遍地满了耶和华的慈爱。
6 诸天藉耶和华的命而造，万象藉祂口中的气而成。
7 祂聚集海水如垒，收藏深洋在库房。
8 愿全地都敬畏耶和华，愿世上的居民都惧怕祂。
9 因为祂说有，就有；命立，就立。
10 耶和华使列国的筹算归于无有，使众民的思念无有功效。……

这是一篇赞美诗，是写给义人的赞美诗，因为只有义人对神的赞美才是有意义的。世界上除了耶稣，原没有义人。义人是指相信神，接受了耶稣的宝血遮盖，被神赦免其过的人。

为什么只有义人对神的赞美才有意义呢？因为信仰是指一种生命内在的变化，从前跟上帝没有关系，现在成为家人的关系；也是指一种生命的改变，因为不再是在外面流浪没有家的人，生活的想法和方式就有了改变。假如信仰只是一种外在的宗教行为，那么全世界的宗教就都一样。但是只有在基督里，人才能有生命的改变，和神建立关系。