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The God of Revival

2019-06-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs,
 
Today’s passage is 2 Kings 23:1-20.  In this passage, King Josiah of Judah has just discovered the long lost Book of the Law (consisting of the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Pentateuch).  He realizes that he and his nation of Judah have not lived up to God’s commands contained inside that book.  So King Josiah assembles the nation of Judah, reads the Book of the Law to them, has them pray and pledge in the presence of God that they will obey God’s commands.  He then proceeds to get rid of all the shrines, altars and sites used to worship idols in Judah. 
 
It’s worth noting that before Josiah, three other kings of Judah had tried to cleanse Judah of these idolatrous shrines, altars and sites — Asa in 1 Kings 15, Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22 and his grandfather Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18.  But Josiah’s efforts are far more extensive. 
 
What is happening here?  God is using Josiah to usher in a time of revival in the land of Judah.  What is revival?  Revival is a spiritual awakening that takes place in a group of people, such as a family, church, city or country.  When there is revival, people are more passionate about worshiping God, more focused on pleasing God with their lives, more inclined to confess their sins and seek God’s help, and more courageous in sharing Christ with others. 

Have a Soft and Responsive Heart toward God’s Word

2019-06-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 22:1-20.  Let’s go!

On verses 1-20:  At just eight years old Josiah becomes king of Judah.  At age 26, Josiah leads a campaign to repair the temple of the Lord.  As the temple is being repaired, workers in the temple recover an old Book of the Law, which most likely contained the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch.  (Some scholars say that during the reign of Josiah’s father King Manasseh, Manasseh tried to destroy all copies of the Pentateuch, and this one copy may have been the only one left.)  

As Josiah reads this Book of the Law, his heart is moved.  In an act of repentance and mourning, Josiah tears his robes and weeps.  Josiah realizes that his nation is incurring the wrath of God because they and their ancestors have not lived in accordance with God’s commands found in this book.  

So Josiah inquires of the Lord by seeking the advice of Huldah, a prophetess.  Huldah informs Josiah that, just as Josiah suspected, disaster is awaiting the people of Judah because they have turned to worship other gods and disobeyed God’s commands.  Huldah also tells Josiah that because Josiah humbled himself in response to God’s Word, tearing his robes and weeping in God’s presence, his generation would not see the disaster that would come to the people of Judah in their lifetime.

兩個兒子的比喻

2019-06-07 in /by

馬太福音21: 28_32_兩個兒子的比喻

28 又說：「一個人有兩個兒子。他來對大兒子說：『我兒，你今天到葡萄園裡去做工。』 29 他回答說『我不去』，以後自己懊悔，就去了。 30 又來對小兒子也是這樣說，他回答說『父啊，我去』，他卻不去。 31 你們想這兩個兒子是哪一個遵行父命呢？」他們說：「大兒子。」耶穌說：「我實在告訴你們：稅吏和娼妓倒比你們先進神的國。 32 因為約翰遵著義路到你們這裡來，你們卻不信他，稅吏和娼妓倒信他。你們看見了，後來還是不懊悔去信他。

根據猶太傳統，七七節是神賜下妥拉的日子，在這天在西乃山上的摩西，得到了妥拉(Matan Torah) (摩西五經)，在這天以色列正式成為一個民族。這是三大耶和華的節期之中的第二個，百姓必須上耶路撒冷，這也是為何有虔誠的猶太人從天下各國來，住在耶路撒冷。七七節是「Matan」的日子，Matan的意思是當新娘和新郎分開時，新郎所送給新娘的訂婚禮物，讓她能受到鼓勵、能變美、能確定這段關係，而這份禮物就是聖靈(也就是耶穌送給信徒的禮物)。(摘自〈以色列美角〉

為何今天要談到七七節呢？因為明天6月9日就是以色列人的五旬節，也是基督徒的聖靈降臨節。在前一晚上十點開始到第二天的六、七點，以色列人就會整夜讀《聖經》，然後才去睡覺。因為傳說上帝給摩西妥拉(摩西五經)時，以色列百姓都在睡覺。所以現在大家不睡覺，會一起讀聖經～代表對領受神話語的渴望。

Even When You’ve Lost Everything, There Is Still Hope

2019-06-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 21:1-26.  Let’s go!

2 Kings 21:11-12 (NIV) 
11  “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. 
12  Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 

On verses 1-18:  Manasseh replaces his father Hezekiah as the king of Judah.  But rather than following the Lord like his father Hezekiah did, Manasseh goes headlong into worshiping idols, committing violent crimes and even sacrificing his own son in the fire as part of idol worship.  Manasseh leads the rest of Judah to commit the same sins such that the nation of Judah ends up committing more evil than any nation that had previously occupied their land.  God’s response to Manasseh’s sins and Judah’s sins is clear and stern:  Judah would be looted, plundered and handed over to their enemies, thereby following in the footsteps of Samaria and the house of Ahab, who had also persistently sinned against Him.

When You’re Facing a Wall, Look Up and Look to God

2019-06-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 20:1-21.  Let’s go!

2 Kings 20:1-3 (NIV) 
1  In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 
2  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 
3  “Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

On verses 1-3:  Hezekiah is suffering from a life-threatening illness.  Initially Isaiah brings a message to Hezekiah from the Lord saying that he must get ready to die.  Turning his face to the wall, Hezekiah prays, weeps, and pleads with God for mercy.

What can we learn from this?  Just as Hezekiah turned and faced a wall and then prayed, when you’re facing a wall — no matter how insurmountable it may seem — let your first instinct be to go to God in prayer.  Pour out your heart to God.  

辯駁耶穌的權柄

2019-06-06 in /by

馬太福音21: 23_27_辯駁耶穌的權柄

23 耶穌進了殿，正教訓人的時候，祭司長和民間的長老來，問他說：「你仗著什麼權柄做這些事？給你這權柄的是誰呢？」 24 耶穌回答說：「我也要問你們一句話，你們若告訴我，我就告訴你們我仗著什麼權柄做這些事。 25 約翰的洗禮是從哪裡來的？是從天上來的，是從人間來的呢？」他們彼此商議說：「我們若說從天上來，他必對我們說：『這樣，你們為什麼不信他呢？』 26 若說從人間來，我們又怕百姓，因為他們都以約翰為先知。」 27 於是回答耶穌說：「我們不知道。」耶穌說：「我也不告訴你們我仗著什麼權柄做這些事。」

說實在的，我特別喜歡讀耶穌被法利賽人或文士刁難的事蹟，因為從每次主耶穌的回答裡都可以學到一些智慧。你有沒有被人刁難過，或是碰到很難處理的事情，你都可以從耶穌處理事情的方法上學到一點東西。在這段經文裡，祭司長和長老來挑戰耶穌的權柄。想想看也是，在當時耶穌在眾人眼中不過是個拉比或先知，有什麼權柄來插手聖殿怎樣使用之事？祭司長和民間的長老來興師問罪是理所當然。

那些商人能夠在聖殿的外院裡做生意很顯然是得到了大祭司的同意，因為大祭司是猶太人的最高宗教領袖，聖殿裡要做什麼事情，他說了算！耶穌是誰呢？難道比大祭司還大嗎？大祭司同意的事，誰敢出來反對？他們的意思其實就是在告訴耶穌：你無權過問此事。

無花果樹被咒詛

2019-06-05 in /by

馬太福音21: 18_22_無花果樹被咒詛

18 早晨回城的時候，他餓了。 19 看見路旁有一棵無花果樹，就走到跟前，在樹上找不著什麼，不過有葉子，就對樹說：「從今以後，你永不結果子！」那無花果樹就立刻枯乾了。 20 門徒看見了，便稀奇說：「無花果樹怎麼立刻枯乾了呢？」 21 耶穌回答說：「我實在告訴你們：你們若有信心，不疑惑，不但能行無花果樹上所行的事，就是對這座山說：『你挪開此地，投在海裡！』，也必成就。 22 你們禱告，無論求什麼，只要信，就必得著。」

現在己經是六月，溫哥華一些無花果樹都己經結了好些果子，但是要到八月中才會成熟可以食用。耶穌此時到耶路撒冷是為了過逾越節，也就是三、四月，想當然無花果樹不會有果子，為何主耶穌會咒詛這棵沒有果子的無花果樹，感覺這棵樹很寃枉？

在《聖經》裡無花果樹經常被提及它的用處：在〈創世記〉裡，亞當和夏娃用無花果的葉子作衣服；希西王的病是用無花果餅貼在瘡上，他的病就痊癒了；在耶利米的異象裡有兩筐無花果，一筐是極好的無花果，好像是初熟的；一筐是極壞的無花果，壞得不可吃。代表以色列民順服神和不順服神的後果。

在先知書裡，先知警誡以色列民，若去敬拜事奉別神，在災難的日子裡，「無花果樹上必沒有果子，葉子也必枯乾。（耶8:13；珥1:12）」甚至因敵人一再侵犯，進行徹底的毀壞，而「剝了無花果樹的皮，剝盡而丟棄，使條枝露白。（珥1:7）」表示以色列極度的窮困，連神最基本的祝福都失去了。

It’s God Who Decides

2019-06-05 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 19:20-37. Let’s go!

2 Kings 19:20 (NIV) 
20  Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. 

On verses 20-21:  Here God responds to King Hezekiah’s plea for help against King Sennacherib of Assyria.  Through the prophet Isaiah, God sends a reassuring message to Hezekiah.  First, the Lord tells Hezekiah that He has heard Hezekiah’s prayer (v20).  Second, the Lord tells Hezekiah what He has spoken against Sennacherib.  The Lord’s message to Sennacherib begins with the words:  “The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you. The Daughter of Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.” (v21)X

What can we learn from this?

1. God hears the prayers of His people.
2. God is committed to defending His people when they are under attack.

耶穌潔淨聖殿

2019-06-04 in /by

馬太福音21: 12_17_耶穌潔淨聖殿

12 耶穌進了神的殿，趕出殿裡一切做買賣的人，推倒兌換銀錢之人的桌子和賣鴿子之人的凳子， 13 對他們說：「經上記著說：『我的殿必稱為禱告的殿』，你們倒使它成為賊窩了！」 14 在殿裡有瞎子、瘸子到耶穌跟前，他就治好了他們。 15 祭司長和文士看見耶穌所行的奇事，又見小孩子在殿裡喊著說「和散那歸於大衛的子孫」，就甚惱怒， 16 對他說：「這些人所說的，你聽見了嗎？」耶穌說：「是的。經上說『你從嬰孩和吃奶的口中完全了讚美』的話，你們沒有念過嗎？」 17 於是離開他們，出城到伯大尼去，在那裡住宿。

陳終道牧師在《金燈台活頁刊》曾對這段經文有所解釋：主耶穌曾經兩次潔淨聖殿。第一次是祂出來傳道的時候。記載在〈約翰福音〉第二章。其餘三福音所記載的是第二次潔淨聖殿，是祂受死前一週所作的事。為甚麼兩次的事這麼相似﹖那正好證明猶太人並沒有因耶穌第一次潔淨聖殿而悔改。主耶穌拿繩子作鞭子，把賣牛羊鴿子的人都趕出去，推翻兌換銀錢之人的桌子，那些人的情形必然十分狼狽。後來主又得再次潔淨聖殿，因為那些受責備的人依然如故！

人如果受了責備而不肯悔改，必不會因所受的責備難過，反而使他們懷恨在心，設法報復。所以在第一次潔淨聖殿之後，猶太人對耶穌說：“你既作這些事，還顯甚麼神蹟給我們看呢﹖”（約2:18）意思是說，你既這樣沒有愛心對待那些人，叫他們血本無歸，還行甚麼神蹟呢﹖但在主耶穌第二次潔淨聖殿時，猶太人就不單埋怨耶穌沒有愛心，而且商量怎樣去除滅耶穌了！（可11:18）

When You’re Under Pressure

2019-06-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

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

2 Kings 19:1-2 (NIV) 
1  When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the LORD. 
2  He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.
 
On verses 1-4:   King Hezekiah’s officials deliver Assyria’s intimidating message to Hezekiah.  In response, Hezekiah does a wise thing: (1) he pours his heart out to God, spending time in His presence; and (2) he seeks counsel from the prophet Isaiah.  What can we learn from this?  Whenever you are under great pressure or receive bad news, the best thing you can do is to go to God and spend time in His presence.  If necessary, seek godly counsel too.
 
On verses 5-13:  Isaiah gives Hezekiah an encouraging, reassuring message from the Lord, promising that the Lord will cut down Assyria’s king Sennacherib.  Shortly after that, Hezekiah receives a letter from King Sennacherib trying to shake Hezekiah’s confidence in God’s Word and trying to show that Israel is no different from all the other nations that Assyria has laid to waste.