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诗篇第廿九篇

2019-08-29 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 神的众子啊，你们要将荣耀、能力归给耶和华，归给耶和华！
2 要将耶和华的名所当得的荣耀归给祂，以圣洁的装饰敬拜耶和华！
3 耶和华的声音发在水上，荣耀的神打雷，耶和华打雷在大水之上。
4 耶和华的声音大有能力，耶和华的声音满有威严。
5 耶和华的声音震破香柏树，耶和华震碎黎巴嫩的香柏树。
6 祂也使之跳跃如牛犊，使黎巴嫩和西连跳跃如野牛犊。
7 耶和华的声音使火焰分岔。
8 耶和华的声音震动旷野，耶和华震动加低斯的旷野。
9 耶和华的声音惊动母鹿落胎，树木也脱落净光。凡在他殿中的，都称说祂的荣耀。
10 洪水泛滥之时，耶和华坐着为王；耶和华坐着为王，直到永远。
11 耶和华必赐力量给祂的百姓，耶和华必赐平安的福给祂的百姓。

「神的众子」从希伯来文译为英文是「O divine beings」，直译是「神圣的生命」，也是指所有从神来的生命，都是神的「众子」，广译的可以说是指世界上所有的人；狭义地说，便是神的选民和神的儿女们，应当把荣耀都归给神。

第三节说到「耶和华的声音发在水上，荣耀的神打雷，耶和华打雷在大水之上」，两次都提到水。有位犹太拉比Glazerson说：「水」这字在英文是「water」，在希伯来文是mayim (מים), mayim包含了两个字mem (מ),和 yud (י)，正如英文写的水的号 H2O，代表两个氢原子围绕着一个氧原子；在希伯来文里也正是这个意思，两个mem (מ)代表两个氢原子，一个yud (י)代表氧原子。

Stay Desperate and Hungry for God

2019-08-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 12:1-16.  Let’s go!

 2 Chronicles 12:1-4 (NIV) 
1  After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD. 
2  Because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. 
3  With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites that came with him from Egypt, 
4  he captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

On verses 1-4:  As soon as things got comfortable for Rehoboam, that’s when Rehoboam’s focus shifts away from the Lord.  Like a gazelle sitting comfortably by a brook only to be attacked by a lion, distracted and comfortable Rehoboam, along with all of Judah, falls prey to an attack by Shishak king of Egypt along with Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites.   Shishak captures the very cities whose defenses Rehoboam had built up years before. 

诗篇第廿八 篇

2019-08-28 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 耶和华啊，我要求告祢！我的磐石啊，不要向我缄默！倘若祢向我闭口，我就如将死的人一样。
2 我呼求祢，向祢至圣所举手的时候，求祢垂听我恳求的声音。
3 不要把我和恶人并作孽的一同除掉，他们与邻舍说和平话，心里却是奸恶。
4 愿祢按着他们所做的，并他们所行的恶事待祂们。愿祢照着他们手所做的待他们，将他们所应得的报应加给他们。
5 他们既然不留心耶和华所行的和祂手所做的，祂就必毁坏他们，不建立他们。

6 耶和华是应当称颂的！因为祂听了我恳求的声音。

7 耶和华是我的力量，是我的盾牌，我心里倚靠祂，就得帮助。所以我心中欢乐，我必用诗歌颂赞祂。
8 耶和华是祂百姓的力量，又是祂受膏者得救的保障。
9 求祢拯救祢的百姓，赐福给祢的产业，牧养他们，扶持他们，直到永远。

有的人一生很平稳，有的人一生坎坷，好像大卫一样。平稳的生活固然好，但是坎坷的路往往可以迸出更多生命的果实。就像大卫一样，从小就被派去牧羊，碰到猛兽来袭，要靠自己去抵挡，那是何等地不容易。但也因为他从小倚靠神，他可以淬练出对神的信心，因而面对巨人哥利亚时毫不害怕。

在大卫请战歌利亚时，他对扫罗王说：「你仆人为父亲放羊，有时来了狮子，有时来了熊，从群中衔一只羊羔去，我就追赶牠，击打牠，将羊羔从牠口中救出来。牠起来要害我，我就揪著牠的胡子，将牠打死。 」因此，「耶和华救我脱离狮子和熊的爪，也必救我脱离这非利士人(歌利亚)的手。」狮子和熊与巨人歌利亚相比，哪个更危险？更可怕？但是大卫因为信靠神与他同在，因此不管面对多强大的对手，他总相信能靠着神得胜。这是一种我们渴望的信心，不是吗？

Protect What God Has Placed In Your Care

2019-08-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 11:1-23.  Let’s go!

2 Chronicles 11:4 (NIV) 
4  ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.'” So they obeyed the words of the LORD and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.

On verses 1-4:  King Rehoboam had a very spotty reign as king of Israel.  He is best known for failing to heed his elders’ advice at the beginning of his reign and as a result losing the entire kingdom of Israel (except for the lands of Judah and Benjamin) to Jeroboam.  But in verses 1 to 23, we see some good things that Rehoboam did as king. Let’s take a look starting with verses 1-4.   Here Rehoboam is about to go to war against Israel to regain the kingdom that he lost.  But the Lord speaks through the prophet Shemaiah, warning Rehoboam against going to war and encouraging Rehoboam to surrender his plans to God.  Rehoboam and his troops obey the Lord’s words, and thus save themselves from unnecessary losses and embarrassment. 

What can we learn from this?  Before waging war against someone, or making an important decision, seek the Lord’s advice and heed His warnings.  You are always better off following the Lord’s advice on any matter.

2 Things Great Leaders Do

2019-08-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 10:1-19.  Let’s go!

2 Chronicles 10:1-5 (NIV) 
1  Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king. 
2  When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. 
3  So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 
4  “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” 
5  Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away.

On verses 1-5:  Solomon’s son Rehoboam succeeds Solomon as king of Israel.  Jeroboam son of Nebat leads a nation-wide campaign to ask Rehoboma for less stringent labor requirements on Israelite workers.   Rehoboam’s initial response is to ask for time to consider what to do: “Come back to me in three days”.  This was a wise first move by Rehoboam.  What can we learn from this?  As leaders, when people pressure you to make a leadership decision and you have no clear sense as to what to do, don’t succumb to the pressure and give a quick, rushed decision that you haven’t thought through.  Give yourself time to think before you decide.

诗篇第廿七 篇

2019-08-27 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 耶和华是我的亮光，是我的拯救，我还怕谁呢？耶和华是我性命的保障，我还惧谁呢？
2 那作恶的，就是我的仇敌，前来吃我肉的时候，就绊跌仆倒。
3 虽有军兵安营攻击我，我的心也不害怕；虽然兴起刀兵攻击我，我必仍旧安稳。
4 有一件事，我曾求耶和华，我仍要寻求，就是一生一世住在耶和华的殿中，瞻仰祢的荣美，在祢的殿里求问。
5 因为我遭遇患难，祢必暗暗地保守我，在祢亭子里，把我藏在祢帐幕的隐密处，将我高举在磐石上。
6 现在我得以昂首，高过四面的仇敌。我要在祢的帐幕里欢然献祭，我要唱诗，歌颂耶和华。
7 耶和华啊，我用声音呼吁的时候，求祢垂听，并求祢怜恤我，应允我。
8 祢说：「祢们当寻求我的面。」那时我心向祢说：「耶和华啊，祢的面我正要寻求。」
9 不要向我掩面，不要发怒赶逐仆人，祢向来是帮助我的。救我的神啊，不要丢掉我，也不要离弃我！
10 我父母离弃我，耶和华必收留我。…….

在犹太人的以禄月(西历8-9月)里，也就是迎接新年和赎罪日的前一个月里，犹太人每天早晨(除了每周的安息日以外)都要吹羊角，背诵这首诗篇。吹羊角是为了唤醒人们的灵魂，背诵诗篇是为了提醒众人要仰望神。这样的作法一直要做到新年的来临。今年的犹太新年是西历九月29日开始，也就是说再过两三天就是以禄月的开始，犹太人要开始每天背诵这诗篇了。

诗篇第廿六篇

2019-08-26 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 耶和华啊，求祢为我申冤，因我向来行事纯全，我又倚靠耶和华并不摇动。
2 耶和华啊，求祢察看我，试验我，熬炼我的肺腑心肠。
3 因为祢的慈爱常在我眼前，我也按祢的真理而行。
4 我没有和虚谎人同坐，也不与瞒哄人的同群。
5 我恨恶恶人的会，必不与恶人同坐。
6 耶和华啊，我要洗手表明无辜，才环绕祢的祭坛，
7 我好发称谢的声音，也要述说祢一切奇妙的作为。
8 耶和华啊，我喜爱祢所住的殿和祢显荣耀的居所。
9 不要把我的灵魂和罪人一同除掉，不要把我的性命和流人血的一同除掉，
10 他们的手中有奸恶，右手满有贿赂。……….

这诗篇很像是一个利未人在诗班赞美神时对神的倾诉，说到他对神不动摇的信靠，他不喜欢与恶人同行或同坐，他喜爱神的殿，并且在众会中称颂神。

大卫写这诗篇不是在自夸自己的清洁无辜，乃是在神面前不断地自省，求神察看，求神试验，因为他怕自己做得不够好，害怕有得罪神的地方。他诚然很努力地保守自己，但是在神面前，有谁能称自己是义人？因此即使他在日常生活里保守自己，在事奉前依然要先洗手，才敢环绕神的圣坛。

大卫在这诗篇提醒我们，自守是应该的，自洁是必须的，到神面前省察也是理所当然，让我们可以手洁心清地亲近神。那时我们才能明白神所住的殿何等神圣，神的荣耀何等可畏，而更加感谢神，更不能住口地传扬神奇妙的作为。

Life is a Game of Thrones

2019-08-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 9:13-31.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-18:  Here the Chronicler describes all the gold that Solomon accumulated on an annual basis (v13-16), the gold and ivory throne that he sat on, which was unlike anything that had ever been made for any other kingdom (v17-19), the possessions Solomon amassed (v20, 24, 27), the connections Solomon had (v21), the audience he attracted (v23),  the horses and chariots he collected (v25, 28), and the territories he ruled over (v26).  Verse 22 sums it up: “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.”

Yet as impressive as Solomon’s splendor, wealth and wisdom may have been, the sad reality is that none of it lasted and none of it satisfied.   Here the Chronicler is very gentle in his treatment of Solomon, as he barely alludes to Solomon’s moral failures such as his refusal to obey God in the area of marriage (2 Chronicles 8:11; see also 1 Kings 11:1-13) and his obsession with accumulating gold and horses in violation of God’s instructions to kings (see Deuteronomy 17:16-17).  The Chronicler does not mention the crumbling of Solomon’s relationship with God or the depression and disillusionment that resulted.  But Solomon himself would write in the book of Ecclesiastes that all of the riches, fame, possessions, power and wisdom he accumulated were ultimately and utterly meaningless.  Solomon’s son Rehoboam would take over his father’s throne, only to see most of the kingdom that Solomon had worked so hard to build slip through his fingers.

诗篇第廿五篇

2019-08-25 in /by

大卫的诗。

1 耶和华啊，我的心仰望祢。
2 我的神啊，我素来倚靠祢，求祢不要叫我羞愧，不要叫我的仇敌向我夸胜。
3 凡等候祢的必不羞愧，唯有那无故行奸诈的必要羞愧。
4 耶和华啊，求祢将祢的道指示我，将祢的路教训我。
5 求祢以祢的真理引导我，教训我，因为祢是救我的神，我终日等候祢。
6 耶和华啊，求祢记念祢的怜悯和慈爱，因为这是亘古以来所常有的。
7 求祢不要记念我幼年的罪愆和我的过犯，耶和华啊，求祢因祢的恩惠，按祢的慈爱记念我。
8 耶和华是良善正直的，所以祂必指示罪人走正路。
9 祂必按公平引领谦卑人，将祂的道教训祂们。
10 凡遵守祂的约和祂法度的人，耶和华都以慈爱、诚实待他。……..

这首诗篇里，大卫提醒我们要仰望神。仰望神在英文的版本里有些译为：In you I trust(我信靠祢)。所以我们知道，在仰望中带有信靠的意思，只有当你相信且愿意倚靠时，你才会仰望，你才会祷告，你才会敬拜。

这是一首每一段以希伯来文字母为开始的诗篇，所以又称为字母诗。大卫形容一个心里敬畏神的人对神的敬拜，包括了要理解神的公义和神的道，不是以自己的标准行事为人，而是按著神的心意，因此他求神指示罪人走正路，选择当走的道路。

An Excellent Church for God’s Glory

2019-08-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Chronicles 9:1-12.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-12:  These verses describe Solomon’s interactions with the Queen of Sheba when she came to visit Solomon in Jerusalem.  While the Queen of Sheba had heard great things about Solomon’s wisdom, when she visits Solomon she is blown away (verse 4 says “overwhelmed”) by his wisdom, the palace he built, the kind of food served at Solomon’s table, the way is officials, servants and cupbearers served, and the sacrifices given at the temple.  In fact a running theme in this chapter is that in Solomon’s kingdom people experienced things they had never seen before.  For example:

The Queen of Sheba is blown away by Solomon’s wisdom and the administration of his kingdom
The Queen of Sheba brings an overwhelmingly large number of gifts, including spices that the people of Jerusalem had never seen before (v9)
The use of algumwood from King Hiram to make steps for the temple and the royal palace and to make musical instruments for the temple, such that “nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah” (v11).