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It Matters Who You Let In

2019-12-05 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Nehemiah 13:1-14.  Let’s go!

Nehemiah 13:6-8 (NIV) 
6  But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission
7  and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.
8  I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.

On verses 1-9:  While Nehemiah is away in Persia, Eliashib the priest becomes close friends with Tobiah, Nehemiah’s greatest opponent and an unbeliever.  Eliashib even empties out one of the temple storerooms so that Eliashib can stay in the temple.  This was in direct violation of Deuteronomy 23:3-5 which prohibited Moabites and Ammonites who did not worship the Lord from entering the house of God.  It was not until Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and personally removed Tobiah’s things from the storeroom that the equipment and treasures of the house of God were restored to their rightful place in the store room.

詩篇一百十二篇

2019-12-04 in /by

1你們要讚美耶和華！敬畏耶和華，甚喜愛祂命令的，這人便為有福！
2 他的後裔在世必強盛，正直人的後代必要蒙福。
3 他家中有貨物有錢財，他的公義存到永遠。
4 正直人在黑暗中，有光向他發現，他有恩惠，有憐憫，有公義。
5 施恩於人，借貸於人的，這人事情順利，他被審判的時候，要訴明自己的冤。
6 他永不動搖，義人被記念直到永遠。
7 他必不怕凶惡的信息，他心堅定，倚靠耶和華。
8 他心確定，總不懼怕，直到他看見敵人遭報。
9 他施捨錢財，賙濟貧窮，他的仁義存到永遠。他的角必被高舉，大有榮耀。
10 惡人看見便惱恨，必咬牙而消化，惡人的心願要歸滅絕。

這詩篇也是一首希伯來的字母詩，是三篇“哈利路亞”詩的第二篇。在111篇裡讚美神的奇妙作為，在這篇裡則讚美神，因為敬畏耶和華，喜愛祂命令的人有福了。

有一些人不肯信耶穌，因為有一些誤解，覺得信了主之後束縛太多，這不能做，那也不能做。但是拉比約瑟夫·B·索洛維奇（Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik）說：“猶太人的律法雖然是以神學為中心，但實際上卻是以人類為中心。”他的意思是，雖然神是律法的創始者和中心，但律法實際上是關於人與人，神與人最佳的互動方式。

Worship is a Team Sport

2019-12-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Nehemiah 12:1-47.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-23:  These verses list by name the priests and Levites who led the Israelites in worshiping the Lord.  What can we learn from this?  God sees, remembers and honours those who lead others to worship Jesus.  You were made to lead others in worship too.  You don’t have to be a good singer, musician or speaker to lead others in worship.  Worship is so much more than music and speaking.  Worship is living your life to give God glory in whatever you do or wherever you are.  When you live your life to worship Jesus, you will naturally influence others to worship Jesus too.  Like the people listed in verses 1 to 26, may you be counted among those who led others to worship Jesus.

Nehemiah 12:24-26 (NIV) 
24  And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.

詩篇一百十一篇

2019-12-03 in /by

1你們要讚美耶和華！我要在正直人的大會中，並公會中，一心稱謝耶和華。
2 耶和華的作為本為大，凡喜愛的都必考察。
3 祂所行的是尊榮和威嚴，祂的公義存到永遠。
4 祂行了奇事，使人記念，耶和華有恩惠，有憐憫。
5 祂賜糧食給敬畏祂的人，祂必永遠記念祂的約。
6 祂向百姓顯出大能的作為，把外邦的地賜給他們為業。
7 祂手所行的是誠實、公平，祂的訓詞都是確實的，
8 是永永遠遠堅定的，是按誠實、正直設立的。
9 祂向百姓施行救贖，命定祂的約直到永遠，祂的名聖而可畏。
10 敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端，凡遵行祂命令的是聰明人。耶和華是永遠當讚美的！

這篇詩沒有注明作者，但與112篇卻是並合的，兩篇都是拆句式的希伯來文的體裁，又稱為離合體或字母篇。它每句的頭一個字母都是依著希伯來字母的次序排列。這些資料對一般人而言雖然是隔鞋搔癢，沒有感覺，但說不定哪天您學了希伯來文，就會恍然大悟了。

A New City Awaits You

2019-12-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Nehemiah 11:1-36.  Let’s go!

Nehemiah 11:1-2 (NIV) 
1  Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns.
2  The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

On verses 1-36:  Jerusalem was underpopulated and underdeveloped, with most Jews preferring to live in the neighbouring towns.  Through a system of casting lots, 1 out of every 10 were to live in Jerusalem, while the other 9 could stay in their own towns.  Anyone who volunteered to live in Jerusalem was commended.   This final chapter of Nehemiah lists various Israelites who moved to Jerusalem.

詩篇一百一十篇

2019-12-02 in /by

大衛的詩。

1 耶和華對我主說：「祢坐在我的右邊，等我使你仇敵做祢的腳凳。」
2 耶和華必使祢從錫安伸出能力的杖來，祢要在你仇敵中掌權。
3 當祢掌權的日子，祢的民要以聖潔的裝飾為衣，甘心犧牲自己，祢的民多如清晨的甘露。
4 耶和華起了誓，決不後悔，說：「祢是照著麥基洗德的等次永遠為祭司。」
5 在祢右邊的主，當祂發怒的日子，必打傷列王。
6 祂要在列邦中刑罰惡人，屍首就遍滿各處；祂要在許多國中打破仇敵的頭。
7 祂要喝路旁的河水，因此必抬起頭來。

這是一篇完全在講彌賽亞的“彌賽亞詩篇”(Messianic Psalms)，其中論到彌賽亞為君王亦為祭司，在新約裡更引述此詩篇的內容多達14次。寫這詩的是大衛，主耶穌說大衛被聖靈感動，稱他的後裔(耶穌)為主。法利賽人聽了也無法反駁。

在這詩篇裡，大衛形容彌賽亞是被耶和華神高舉的主。神學家賴希(Max Isaac Reich)在他的著作中說：“詩篇第110篇是歷史的鑰匙。 這位唯一能糾正地上錯謬、止息暴風、砍斷鎖鏈、醫治傷痛、矯正彎曲、驅除黑暗的主，是隱藏在天上的， 因地上沒有地方為祂存留，祂坐在神的右邊，這正是祂身為兒子和後嗣獨有的特權。祂忍耐等候， 直至神親自干預地上的事，那時(在千禧年時)仇敵要成為祂的腳凳。”

We Will Not Neglect God’s House

2019-12-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Nehemiah 10:1-27.  There are so many important lessons we can learn from this passage.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-27:  Here is a list of the priests, Levites and other leaders, along with Nehemiah, who represented the people in signing a written agreement to say, on behalf of the Israelites, that they would obey the Lord and be faithful to Him.  To evidence how serious their commitment was, they put their own names on the line and sealed the document with their personal seals.

What can we learn from this?  I respect the guts of those who were willing to put their names on the line and sign an agreement to say that they will follow all of God’s commands.  Every family, every church, every city, every school, every company and every nation needs people who are willing to stick their neck out on behalf of the people and lead by example in following the Lord.

詩篇一百零九篇

2019-12-01 in /by

大衛的詩，交於伶長。

1 我所讚美的神啊，求祢不要閉口不言！
2 因為惡人的嘴和詭詐人的口已經張開攻擊我，他們用撒謊的舌頭對我說話。
3 他們圍繞我說怨恨的話，又無故地攻打我。
4 他們與我為敵以報我愛，但我專心祈禱。
5 他們向我以惡報善，以恨報愛。
6 願祢派一個惡人轄制他，派一個對頭站在他右邊。
7 他受審判的時候，願他出來擔當罪名，願他的祈禱反成為罪。
8 願他的年日短少，願別人得他的職分。
9 願他的兒女為孤兒，他的妻子為寡婦。
10 願他的兒女漂流討飯，從他們荒涼之處出來求食。……

根據拉比·薩姆森·拉斐爾·赫希（Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch）的解釋，這首詩最有可能是在大衛逃避押沙龍時所寫的。儘管大衛原諒了押沙龍殺死長子暗嫩，又讓他回到京城， 但是後者卻以惡報善，想要掠奪他的王權。在他出城的路上，便雅憫人示每咒詛大衛，更不斷向大衛和從人丟石頭。

大衛遭受到內外敵人的攻擊，心裡的沉痛無以復加，因而求神展現祂的公義和審判。示每指責大衛流掃羅全家的血，然後接續他做王，讓大衛覺得不甚委屈。因為他一直敬重掃羅是神的受膏者，即使機會來到面前，也不肯加害掃羅，而今卻被如此誤會中傷，不免心神俱痛。尤其是在親子叛變之時，不免有全世界都向他壓過來般地恐怖。

My Failure, God’s Faithfulness

2019-12-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Nehemiah 9:16-38.  Let’s go!

Nehemiah 9:33 (NIV) 
33  In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong.

On verses 16-37:  Here the Levites recount how faithful and good God has been to the Israelites throughout their history, and how despite God’s faithfulness, the Israelites persisted in sin and rebellion.  It’s a picture of the constant faithfulness of God juxtaposed against the ongoing failure of the people He loves.  The fact that God never gave up on the Israelites despite how much they grieved Him with their persistent sin shows us how amazing, steadfast, humble, unconditional and faithful is the love of God.

Thank You, Lord, for using this passage to remind me that even though I fail You time and time again, You never fail me.  You are always faithful.  Even in my failure I can always fall back on Your mercy and faithfulness.  Thank You for never giving up on me despite all the times that I have grieved You with my wrong choices.  You deliver me “time after time” (v28).  How amazing is Your faithful love for me! 

詩篇一百零八篇

2019-11-29 in /by

大衛的詩歌。

1 神啊，我心堅定，我口要唱詩歌頌！
2 琴瑟啊，你們當醒起！我自己要極早醒起。
3 耶和華啊，我要在萬民中稱謝祢，在列邦中歌頌祢。
4 因為祢的慈愛大過諸天，祢的誠實達到穹蒼。
5 神啊，願祢崇高過於諸天，願祢的榮耀高過全地！
6 求祢應允我們，用右手拯救我們，好叫祢所親愛的人得救。
7 神已經指著祂的聖潔說：「我要歡樂，我要分開示劍，丈量疏割谷。
8 基列是我的，瑪拿西是我的。以法蓮是護衛我頭的，猶大是我的杖。
9 摩押是我的沐浴盆，我要向以東拋鞋，我必因勝非利士呼喊。」
10 誰能領我進堅固城？誰能引我到以東地？
11 神啊，祢不是丟棄了我們嗎？神啊，祢不和我們的軍兵同去嗎？
12 求祢幫助我們攻擊敵人，因為人的幫助是枉然的。
13 我們倚靠神才得施展大能，因為踐踏我們敵人的就是祂。

這詩篇有一個特色，是由大衛的兩首詩的結尾組成的：前5節引自〈詩篇〉57篇7-11節，後面8節引自〈詩篇〉60篇5-12節。57篇的背景是大衛逃避掃羅的追殺，60篇的背景是大衛王和敵人作戰。所以這詩篇的作者必然是大衛王。從這詩篇裡，詩人讓我們看到，不管大衛是平民或做了王之後，對神的倚靠都沒有改變。有許多人在發達之前非常愛主，但是得勢之後便逐漸遠離主，但是大衛與他們不同，大衛對神的愛始終如一。