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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. 

詩篇第廿八 篇

2019-08-28 in /by

大衛的詩。

1 耶和華啊，我要求告祢！我的磐石啊，不要向我緘默！倘若祢向我閉口，我就如將死的人一樣。
2 我呼求祢，向祢至聖所舉手的時候，求祢垂聽我懇求的聲音。
3 不要把我和惡人並作孽的一同除掉，他們與鄰舍說和平話，心裡卻是奸惡。
4 願祢按著他們所做的，並他們所行的惡事待祂們。願祢照著他們手所做的待他們，將他們所應得的報應加給他們。
5 他們既然不留心耶和華所行的和祂手所做的，祂就必毀壞他們，不建立他們。

6 耶和華是應當稱頌的！因為祂聽了我懇求的聲音。

7 耶和華是我的力量，是我的盾牌，我心裡倚靠祂，就得幫助。所以我心中歡樂，我必用詩歌頌讚祂。
8 耶和華是祂百姓的力量，又是祂受膏者得救的保障。
9 求祢拯救祢的百姓，賜福給祢的產業，牧養他們，扶持他們，直到永遠。

有的人一生很平穩，有的人一生坎坷，好像大衛一樣。平穩的生活固然好，但是坎坷的路往往可以迸出更多生命的果實。就像大衛一樣，從小就被派去牧羊，碰到猛獸來襲，要靠自己去抵擋，那是何等地不容易。但也因為他從小倚靠神，他可以淬練出對神的信心，因而面對巨人哥利亞時毫不害怕。

在大衛請戰歌利亞時，他對掃羅王說：「你僕人為父親放羊，有時來了獅子，有時來了熊，從群中銜一隻羊羔去，我就追趕牠，擊打牠，將羊羔從牠口中救出來。牠起來要害我，我就揪著牠的鬍子，將牠打死。 」因此，「耶和華救我脫離獅子和熊的爪，也必救我脫離這非利士人(歌利亞)的手。」獅子和熊與巨人歌利亞相比，哪個更危險？更可怕？但是大衛因為信靠神與他同在，因此不管面對多強大的對手，他總相信能靠著神得勝。這是一種我們渴望的信心，不是嗎？

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.

詩篇第廿七 篇

2019-08-27 in /by

大衛的詩。

1 耶和華是我的亮光，是我的拯救，我還怕誰呢？耶和華是我性命的保障，我還懼誰呢？
2 那作惡的，就是我的仇敵，前來吃我肉的時候，就絆跌仆倒。
3 雖有軍兵安營攻擊我，我的心也不害怕；雖然興起刀兵攻擊我，我必仍舊安穩。
4 有一件事，我曾求耶和華，我仍要尋求，就是一生一世住在耶和華的殿中，瞻仰祢的榮美，在祢的殿裡求問。
5 因為我遭遇患難，祢必暗暗地保守我，在祢亭子裡，把我藏在祢帳幕的隱密處，將我高舉在磐石上。
6 現在我得以昂首，高過四面的仇敵。我要在祢的帳幕裡歡然獻祭，我要唱詩，歌頌耶和華。
7 耶和華啊，我用聲音呼籲的時候，求祢垂聽，並求祢憐恤我，應允我。
8 祢說：「祢們當尋求我的面。」那時我心向祢說：「耶和華啊，祢的面我正要尋求。」
9 不要向我掩面，不要發怒趕逐僕人，祢向來是幫助我的。救我的神啊，不要丟掉我，也不要離棄我！
10 我父母離棄我，耶和華必收留我。…….

在猶太人的以祿月(西曆8-9月)裡，也就是迎接新年和贖罪日的前一個月裡，猶太人每天早晨(除了每週的安息日以外)都要吹羊角，背誦這首詩篇。吹羊角是為了喚醒人們的靈魂，背誦詩篇是為了提醒眾人要仰望神。這樣的作法一直要做到新年的來臨。今年的猶太新年是西曆九月29日開始，也就是說再過兩三天就是以祿月的開始，猶太人要開始每天背誦這詩篇了。

詩篇第廿六篇

2019-08-26 in /by

大衛的詩。

1 耶和華啊，求祢為我申冤，因我向來行事純全，我又倚靠耶和華並不搖動。
2 耶和華啊，求祢察看我，試驗我，熬煉我的肺腑心腸。
3 因為祢的慈愛常在我眼前，我也按祢的真理而行。
4 我沒有和虛謊人同坐，也不與瞞哄人的同群。
5 我恨惡惡人的會，必不與惡人同坐。
6 耶和華啊，我要洗手表明無辜，才環繞祢的祭壇，
7 我好發稱謝的聲音，也要述說祢一切奇妙的作為。
8 耶和華啊，我喜愛祢所住的殿和祢顯榮耀的居所。
9 不要把我的靈魂和罪人一同除掉，不要把我的性命和流人血的一同除掉，
10 他們的手中有奸惡，右手滿有賄賂。……….

這詩篇很像是一個利未人在詩班讚美神時對神的傾訴，說到他對神不動搖的信靠，他不喜歡與惡人同行或同坐，他喜愛神的殿，並且在眾會中稱頌神。

大衛寫這詩篇不是在自誇自己的清潔無辜，乃是在神面前不斷地自省，求神察看，求神試驗，因為他怕自己做得不夠好，害怕有得罪神的地方。他誠然很努力地保守自己，但是在神面前，有誰能稱自己是義人？因此即使他在日常生活裡保守自己，在事奉前依然要先洗手，才敢環繞神的聖壇。

大衛在這詩篇提醒我們，自守是應該的，自潔是必須的，到神面前省察也是理所當然，讓我們可以手潔心清地親近神。那時我們才能明白神所住的殿何等神聖，神的榮耀何等可畏，而更加感謝神，更不能住口地傳揚神奇妙的作為。

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.

詩篇第廿五篇

2019-08-25 in /by

大衛的詩。

1 耶和華啊，我的心仰望祢。
2 我的神啊，我素來倚靠祢，求祢不要叫我羞愧，不要叫我的仇敵向我誇勝。
3 凡等候祢的必不羞愧，唯有那無故行奸詐的必要羞愧。
4 耶和華啊，求祢將祢的道指示我，將祢的路教訓我。
5 求祢以祢的真理引導我，教訓我，因為祢是救我的神，我終日等候祢。
6 耶和華啊，求祢記念祢的憐憫和慈愛，因為這是亙古以來所常有的。
7 求祢不要記念我幼年的罪愆和我的過犯，耶和華啊，求祢因祢的恩惠，按祢的慈愛記念我。
8 耶和華是良善正直的，所以祂必指示罪人走正路。
9 祂必按公平引領謙卑人，將祂的道教訓祂們。
10 凡遵守祂的約和祂法度的人，耶和華都以慈愛、誠實待他。……..

這首詩篇裡，大衛提醒我們要仰望神。仰望神在英文的版本裡有些譯為：In you I trust(我信靠祢)。所以我們知道，在仰望中帶有信靠的意思，只有當你相信且願意倚靠時，你才會仰望，你才會禱告，你才會敬拜。

這是一首每一段以希伯來文字母為開始的詩篇，所以又稱為字母詩。大衛形容一個心裡敬畏神的人對神的敬拜，包括了要理解神的公義和神的道，不是以自己的標準行事為人，而是按著神的心意，因此他求神指示罪人走正路，選擇當走的道路。

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).

詩篇第廿四篇

2019-08-23 in /by

詩篇第廿四篇

大衛的詩。

1 地和其中所充滿的，世界和住在其間的，都屬耶和華。
2 祂把地建立在海上，安定在大水之上。
3 誰能登耶和華的山？誰能站在祂的聖所？
4 就是手潔心清，不向虛妄，起誓不懷詭詐的人。
5 祂必蒙耶和華賜福，又蒙救祂的神使他成義。
6 這是尋求耶和華的族類，是尋求祢面的雅各。（細拉）

7 眾城門哪，你們要抬起頭來！永久的門戶，你們要被舉起！那榮耀的王將要進來！

8 榮耀的王是誰呢？就是有力有能的耶和華，在戰場上有能的耶和華。
9 眾城門哪，你們要抬起頭來！永久的門戶，你們要把頭抬起！那榮耀的王將要進來！
10 榮耀的王是誰呢？萬軍之耶和華，祂是榮耀的王。（細拉）

這是一篇禮儀詩，是朝聖者進入聖殿時所誦唱的。這詩篇的來源有兩種說法，一是當大衛將約櫃從基列耶琳送到錫安城時，據說就是以這詩篇為歌詞配樂吟頌，68和132篇也是為此行而作。大衛在詩中讚美神的創造，只有創造宇宙者才能知道祂的創作裡所具有的潛力，也只有祂才能決定要把祂的創作與誰分享。在祂的異象中，祂選擇了人類，並且讓以色列人進入迦南地，擁有迦南地。