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安息年和禧年

〈利未記〉25章21-22節    我必在第六年將我所命的福賜給你們,地便生三年的土產。第八年,你們要耕種,也要吃陳糧,等到第九年出產收來的時候,你們還吃陳糧。」

在〈利未記〉24章裡記載了一個不幸的例子。有個以色列但支派的婦人嫁給一個埃及人,很有可能是在埃及歌珊地時,埃及人看上以色列女子而娶來為妻。他們跟著以色列人出埃及,有可能因為在十個神蹟裡看到耶和華神的大能,因此一起跟著摩西出埃及;也可能在逾越節的神蹟之後,埃及人催趕以色列人離開,眾怒難犯,因此那個埃及丈夫不得不跟著出埃及,但是心裡並不是真的跟隨神。

他們生了一個兒子,有一天這個兒子跟一個以色列人爭鬥,這以色列婦人的兒子褻瀆了聖名,並且咒詛。因此被送到摩西那裡。想想看,這個以色列婦人的兒子為何膽敢褻瀆神的聖名,並且咒詛?會不會是在家裡聽到父親如此說話而學起來呢?父母都是兒女學習的榜樣,有好榜樣,也有壞榜樣。因此在爭鬥時,他不自覺地就褻瀆了聖名,並且咒詛。當然,也有可能是他自己不好,不能都怪父母。

我們看到摩西的謙卑和敬虔,在這樣的事上,他先把那人收在監裡,再等候神的指示。摩西的謙卑和尊神為大,永遠是我們學習的功課。我們都太著急,想要憑著自己的聰明去決定事情,不願意等候。但我們的神是不著急的神,凡事在祂永不誤時。

Give God Your Thoughts

How do I detect God’s unseen hand on my shoulder and his inaudible voice in my ear?

Give God your waking thoughts. Before you face the day, face the Father. Psalm 5:3 (NCV) says, “Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.”

Give God your waiting thoughts. Spend time with him in silence.

Give God your whispering thoughts. During your lifetime, you will spend six months at stoplights, eight months opening junk mail. Give these moments to God. Simple phrases, such as “Thank you, Father,” can turn a commute into a pilgrimage.

Give God your waning thoughts. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God. If you fall asleep as you pray, don’t worry. What better place to doze off than in the arms of your Father.

Ever in His Presence

2 Corinthians 6:1 says we are “God’s fellow workers.” Rather than report to God, we work with God. We are always in the presence of God. There is never a nonsacred moment!

Is it possible to live—minute by minute—in the presence of God? Jesus enjoyed unbroken communion with God, and God wants that same abiding intimacy with you and me. He wants to be as close to us as a branch is to a vine. You know it’s impossible to tell where one starts and the other ends. What good news! We are NEVER away from God! And He is NEVER away from us!

As we search the Bible, we realize that unbroken communion with God is the intent and not the exception. Within the reach of every Christian is the unending presence of God.

耶和華的節期

〈利未記〉23章1-3節    耶和華對摩西說:你曉諭以色列人說:耶和華的節期,你們要宣告為聖會的節期。六日要做工,第七日是聖安息日,當有聖會;你們甚麼工都不可做。這是在你們一切的住處向耶和華守的安息日。

在〈約翰福音〉第十章22-23節說,在耶路撒冷有修殿節,是冬天的時候。耶穌在殿裡所羅門的廊下行走。這修殿節又稱為光明節或哈努卡節,在希伯來文是 חנוכה ( Hannukah/ Chanukah )。這是紀念馬加比一家人為真理而戰,在神的幫助下以寡擊眾,戰勝希臘人,奪回被褻瀆的聖殿,贏得將近一百年的獨立。但這個節期不算是耶和華的節期,它和普珥節一樣,都算是猶太人的民間節日。

哪些節日才算是耶和華的節期呢?

你能把它們的秩序按著日期排一下嗎?

1.住棚節    2.無酵節    3.初熟節   4. 吹角節     5.五旬節    6.逾越節     7.贖罪日

我們來回憶一下,摩西領以色列人出埃及前要做何事,法老才終於首肯,讓以色列人離開埃及呢?神派死亡的天使殺了埃及所有頭生的人和牲畜,卻沒有殺以色列人頭生的人和牲畜。因為神叫他們要殺一隻羊,把羊血塗在門楣和兩邊,死亡的天使看到門上有血,就越過去了。所以就訂為逾越節,死亡的天使逾越過去,不殺以色列人,保存他們性命的日子。

祭司要自潔成聖

〈利未記〉21:22   神的食物,無論是聖的、至聖的,他都可以吃。

在舊約裡,祭司是指亞倫沒有殘疾的男性後裔的工作;在新約裡,彼得說:「你們來到主面前,也就像活石,被建造成為靈宮,作聖潔的祭司,藉著耶穌基督奉獻 神所悅納的靈祭。(彼前2:5)」句首的「你們」是指當時的受信人,也就是分散在本都、加拉太、加帕多家、亞細亞、庇推尼寄居的信徒(彼前1:1)。當然,現在這個「你們」就變成「我們」了,就是照父 神的先見被揀選,藉著聖靈得成聖潔,以致順服耶穌基督,又蒙祂血所灑的人(彼前1:2)。

那麼,以前的祭司該守的聖潔條例,我們是不是也要遵守呢?不要害怕,因為在〈使徒行傳〉15章的耶路撒冷會議裡,己經決定不把「我們祖宗和我們所不能負的軛」加在外邦使徒身上,所以我們大可不必驚慌。但是從這一章裡,我們又可以明白一些舊約的事蹟。

例如在亞倫和四個兒子承接祭司之職的第八天,亞倫的兩個兒子拿答和亞比戶各拿自己的香爐,盛上火,加上香,在耶和華面前獻上凡火,是耶和華沒有吩咐他們的。有火從耶和華面前出來,把他們燒滅,他們就死在耶和華面前(利10:1-2)。

Learning to Listen

I believe we can learn to listen to God if we are equipped with the right tools. The first tool is a regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and in a corner of your world, and claim it for God. Take enough time to say what you want and for God to say what he wants.

The second tool is an open Bible. Pray first, asking God to help you understand it. Study the Bible a little at a time. Read until a verse “hits” you. Then meditate on it and write it down.

The third tool is a listening heart. We know we’re listening when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives. If you want to be just like Jesus, spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day, and then apply it.

God’s Invitation

Some of us have tried to have a daily quiet time with God and have not been successful. And all of us are busy. So we let others tell us what God is saying. Isn’t that why we pay preachers? Isn’t that why we read Christian books? If that is your approach, your spiritual experiences are second-hand. Do you do that with other parts of your life—vacation, romance, eating? I don’t think so. There are certain things no one can do for you.

When God asks for your attention, he doesn’t want you to send a substitute. He invites you to vacation in his splendor. He invites you to feel the touch of his hand. He invites you to feast at his table. He wants to spend time with you. And with a little training, your time with God can be the highlight of your day.

與萬民有別

〈利未記〉20章26節    你們要歸我為聖,因為我─耶和華是聖的,並叫你們與萬民有分別,使你們作我的民。

在古老的中國有個傳說,大約是主前五世紀,有個人名叫西門豹。因為他很有才能,被派往黃河旁的一個地方鄴地作縣令。當地有個傳說,黃河裡住著河神,若不給河神娶媳婦,黃河就會發大水。百姓苦不堪言,因為替河神娶媳婦要強徵民女,又徵收額外的稅捐,但是稅捐卻由官府和巫婆們私分。那年又到了河神娶媳婦的時候了,西門豹帶了士兵也去參加。城裡有權勢的富人、官府裡的衙役及被選中的女孩都到了,還有一個七十多歲的老巫婆和她的弟子們。

西門豹說:「把河神的老婆帶過來,看看她漂亮不漂亮。」有人把女孩帶過來,站在西門豹面前。西門豹看了一眼,就回頭對眾人說:「這個女孩不漂亮, 夠不上做河神的老婆。可是河神今天一定等著迎親,就請大巫婆走一趟,到河裡通知河神,等找到一個漂亮的女子,過一天再來。」說著,還沒等眾人明白是怎麼回事,就命令士兵抬起老巫婆,拋進河裡去了。隔了一會兒,西門豹說:「巫婆怎麼走了這麼長時間還沒有回話,叫個徒弟去催催她。」於是又命令士兵把巫婆的一個徒弟扔進河裡,這樣前前後後,扔了三個徒弟到河裡。

A Listening Heart

“Let he who has ears to hear, use them.” Eight times in the Gospels and eight times in the book of Revelation we are reminded that it’s not enough just to have ears—it’s necessary to use them.

Jesus spent regular time with God, praying and listening. Luke 5:16 (NIV) tells us, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” If Jesus, the Son of God, the sinless Savior of humankind, thought it worthwhile to clear his calendar to pray, wouldn’t we be wise to do the same? Jesus also spent regular time in God’s Word. Three times in the wilderness temptation he used the Word of God to repel the attack of Satan.

If we are to be just like Jesus, then we need to imitate his habits of prayer and Bible reading.

你們要聖潔

〈利未記〉19章1-2節     耶和華對摩西說:「你曉諭以色列全會眾說:你們要聖潔,因為我耶和華─你們的 神是聖潔的。」

在網路上流行著一個住在北京的小網紅,她名叫喬治亞Georgia,父親是比利時人,母親是中國人。她才兩歲多,卻己經會用三個國家的語言流利地溝通。她有兩個大大的眼睛,捲曲的頭髮,十分可愛。她的爸爸經常這樣開始:「你今天學到什麼了?」

Geo Geo,他這樣稱呼她,就會開始回想:「不可以把雙手放在桌上……吃飯……要洗手……」有時利用小朋友,教大家怎樣分垃圾。有一次Geo Geo在公園玩不開心,嘟著嘴找爸爸,因為有幾個阿姨看她太可愛,猛拍照。爸爸就問:「Geo Geo不高興,因為這是不禮貌的,對不對?她們要先問Geo Geo可不可以拍,對不對?」小Geo Geo聽了猛點頭。

這個連續的影集叫「家有萌娃」,每一次我都覺得這個比利時爸爸好有智慧地在教導,引導他的小女兒,讓她知道對與錯,建立是與非的觀念。我有時就覺得,神也是如此在引導,教導以色列人。在埃及生活了四百年的以色列人,做了四百年的奴隸,除了以色列人一些家傳的觀念,很多事情都受到埃及人的影響,他們其實非常單純。