06月17日 一年的第169天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:王上08-10章
第08章主要在講:「引約櫃入聖殿與禱告」。
一.那時,所羅門將以色列的長老和各支派的首領,並以色列的族長,招聚到耶路撒冷,要把耶和華的約櫃從大衛城─就是錫安─運上來。就是七月,在節前,以色列人都聚集到所羅門王那裏。以色列長老來到,祭司和利未人將耶和華的約櫃運上來,又將會幕和會幕的一切聖器具都帶上來。祭司從聖所出來的時候,有雲充滿耶和華的殿;
二.所羅門當著以色列會眾,站在耶和華的壇前,向天舉手禱告說:
1.求耶和華─我的神垂顧僕人的禱告祈求,俯聽僕人今日在你面前的祈禱呼籲。人若得罪鄰舍,有人叫他起誓,他來到這殿在你的壇前起誓,求你在天上垂聽,判斷你的僕人:定惡人有罪,照他所行的報應在他頭上;定義人有理,照他的義賞賜他。
2.你的民以色列若得罪你,敗在仇敵面前,又歸向你,承認你的名,在這殿裏祈求禱告, 求你在天上垂聽,赦免你民以色列的罪,使他們歸回你賜給他們列祖之地。
3.求你在天上垂聽,赦免你僕人以色列民的罪,將當行的善道指教他們,使他們在你賜給我們列祖之地上一生一世敬畏你。
4.求你在天上你的居所垂聽,照著外邦人所祈求的而行,使天下萬民都認識你的名,敬畏你像你的民以色列一樣;又使他們知道我建造的這殿是稱為你名下的。
5.你的民若奉你的差遣,無論往何處去與仇敵爭戰,向耶和華所選擇的城與我為你名所建造的殿禱告,求你在天上垂聽他們的禱告祈求,使他們得勝。
三.所羅門在耶和華面前禱告祈求已畢,就起來站著,大聲為以色列全會眾祝福。
四. 王和以色列眾民一同在耶和華面前獻祭。八日,王遣散眾民;他們都為王祝福。因見耶和華向他僕人大衛和他民以色列所施的一切恩惠,就都心中喜樂,各歸各家去了。
◎心得分享:努力耕耘,期待許久的願望終於實現了,這一天當約櫃進入聖殿,有雲充滿耶和華的殿,這是以色列人最引以為傲的日子,所羅門向神獻上感謝的禱告,也替以色列民禱告,這在提醒我們,一個好的領袖,應該常常為他的跟隨著禱告,一方面是祈求神赦免罪惡,另外求神將善道指教神的兒女,使神的百姓得勝,求神幫助我們也學習為我們所帶領的人禱告。
第09章主要在講:「上帝第二次向所羅門顯現與他立約」。
一.所羅門建造耶和華殿和王宮,並一切所願意建造的都完畢了,耶和華就二次向所羅門顯現,如先前在基遍向他顯現一樣,你若效法你父大衛,存誠實正直的心行在我面前,遵行我一切所吩咐你的,謹守我的律例典章,我就必堅固你的國位在以色列中,直到永遠,倘若你們和你們的子孫轉去不跟從我,不守我指示你們的誡命律例,去事奉敬拜別神,我就必將以色列人從我賜給他們的地上剪除,並且我為己名所分別為聖的殿也必捨棄不顧,使以色列人在萬民中作笑談,被譏誚。所羅門建造耶和華殿七年和王宮十三年,這兩所二十年才完畢了。
二.希蘭給所羅門一百二十他連得金子。所羅門王就把加利利地的二十座城給了希蘭。希蘭從泰爾出來,察看所羅門給他的城邑,就不喜悅,
三.所羅門每年三次在他為耶和華所築的壇上獻燔祭和平安祭,又在耶和華面前的壇上燒香。這樣,他建造殿的工程完畢了。
四.所羅門王在以東地紅海邊,靠近以祿的以旬‧迦別製造船隻。希蘭差遣他的僕人,就是熟悉泛海的船家,與所羅門的僕人一同坐船航海。他們到了俄斐,從那裏得了四百二十他連得金子,運到所羅門王那裏。
◎心得分享:有人說:「神的愛是無限的」,當然這只對一半,對一個真心悔改的人,神的愛永遠是無限的,而且能赦免萬重罪,但是對一個不是真心悔改的人,上帝的愛是「有條件的」,當然一個人真心悔改,不是只從他的口的判斷,而是從他的行為,就可以看出來,上帝對祂的百姓常常是有條件的,就像祂跟所羅門王立約一樣,若是效法他父親大衛,就應許堅固祂的王位,若是不守誡命,去敬拜別神,那怕是「智慧過人」,在建聖殿,在人看來是為上帝立下「汗馬功勞」的人,上帝才不管這些,一樣把這樣的人從地上剪除,上帝實在是很可愛,祂不要人只緬懷過去,而忘了上帝是「活人」的上帝,隨時想要跟我們建立更深的關係。
第10章主要在講:「示巴女王來見所羅門王」。
一.示巴女王聽見所羅門因耶和華之名所得的名聲,就來要用難解的話試問所羅門。跟隨她到耶路撒冷的人甚多,又有駱駝馱著香料、寶石,和許多金子。她來見了所羅門王,就把心裏所有的對所羅門都說出來。所羅門王將她所問的都答上了,沒有一句不明白、不能答的。
二.於是,示巴女王將一百二十他連得金子和寶石,與極多的香料,送給所羅門王。她送給王的香料,以後奉來的不再有這樣多。示巴女王一切所要所求的,所羅門王都送給她,另外照自己的厚意餽送她。於是女王和她臣僕轉回本國去了。
三.所羅門每年所得的金子共有六百六十六他連得。所羅門王一切的飲器都是金子的。黎巴嫩林宮裏的一切器皿都是精金的。所羅門年間,銀子算不了甚麼。 所羅門王的財寶與智慧勝過天下的列王。普天下的王都求見所羅門,要聽 神賜給他智慧的話。他們各帶貢物,就是金器、銀器、衣服、軍械、香料、騾馬,每年有一定之例。
四.所羅門聚集戰車馬兵,有戰車一千四百輛,馬兵一萬二千名,安置在屯車的城邑和耶路撒冷,就是王那裏。王在耶路撒冷使銀子多如石頭,香柏木多如高原的桑樹。所羅門的馬是從埃及帶來的,是王的商人一群一群按著定價買來的。
◎心得分享:我們的主耶穌用「南方女王」,也就是「示巴女王」,來說明一個謙卑背願意來聽智慧話的人,來對比當時那些猶大人,拒絕祂講的話語的人,這些人是要被定罪的,因為耶穌是比所羅門王更大,而「示巴女王」是指對智慧真理渴慕的人,求神幫助我們學習像「示巴女王」,對真理充滿切慕的心。
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"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."(Gal. 6:14)
THEY were living to themselves; self with its hopes, and promises and dreams, still had hold of them; but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for contrition, and had surrendered for it to be given them at any cost, and He sent them sorrow; they had asked for purity, and He sent them thrilling anguish; they had asked to be meek, and He had broken their hearts; they had asked to be dead to the world, and He slew all their living hopes; they had asked to be made like unto Him, and He placed them in the furnace, sitting by "as a refiner and purifier of silver," until they should reflect His image; they had asked to lay hold of His cross, and when He had reached it to them it lacerated their hands.
They had asked they knew not what, nor how, but He had taken them at their word, and granted them all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow Him so far, or to draw so night to Him. They had upon them an awe and fear, as Jacob at Bethel, or Eliphaz in the night visions, or as the apostles when they thought that they had seen a spirit, and knew not that it was Jesus. They could almost pray Him to depart from them, or to hide His awfulness. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to do than to give up, to bear the cross than to hang upon it. But they cannot to back, for they have come too near the unseen cross, and its virtues have pierced too deeply within them. He is fulfilling to them His promise, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32).
But now at last their turn has come. Before, they had only heard of the mystery, but now they feel it. He has fastened on them His look of love, as He did on Mary and Peter, and they can but choose to follow.
Little by little, from time to time, by fitting gleams, the mystery of His cross shines out upon them. They behold Him lifted up, they gaze on the glory which rays from the wounds of His holy passion; and as they gaze they advance, and are changed into His likeness, and His name shines out throught them, for He dwells in them. They live alone with Him above, in unspeakable fellowship; willing to lack what others own (and what they might have had), and to be unlike all, so that they are only like Him.
Such, are they in all ages, "who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."
Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in His Kingdom. They would have had Lot's portion, not Abraham's. If they had halted anywhere-if God had taken off His hand and let them stray back-what would they not have lost? What forfeits in the resurrection?
But He stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well night slipped; but He in mercy held them up. Now, even in this life, they know that all He did was done well. It was good to suffer here, that they might reign hereafter; to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but His was done on them and in them.
-Anonymous.
基督曾說過:「我心柔和謙卑,你們當學我的樣式,這樣你們心裏就必得享安息。」這兒有雙重的真理,有忍耐、溫柔、謙卑和與神和好的美德,這與傚法基督或信靠祂有相同的意義;同時因著你有這些美德,可以完全脫離亞當墮落的本性而有信靠主高尚的行為。
連帶而有的福份,是因著脫離罪惡和對基督初步信仰、期望,受基督忍耐、溫柔、謙卑和與神和好的靈引導並管理;當你具有這些德性,你的生命就有目的,是真理和生命的基督才會在你裏面,你不再掌權,而是基督在你裏面活著。除非你願在忍耐、溫柔、謙卑和與神和好裏治死老我,否則神聖愛的靈,因無立足之地而不能在你裏面產生;而當你又為不忍耐、驕傲所困擾之際,馬上完全捨己,求神施恩幫助。當你遇到難處就促使與神親近,最能使你忍耐接受神的幫助,我們對神有多少信心和期望就可得多少的啟示。
「這些雖然很簡短,但是真正確的教義,使我們因賜下的救恩而真正完全順服神的啟示下,也真正宣告承認三而一的真神。」現在願你有個思想:完全將我的心靈獻上,單單尋求救恩,直接藉著溫柔、謙卑、忍耐和與神和好的力量,使我的生命有屬天的德性。
「並且要作這更大的事,因為我往父那裡去。」約翰福音十四章12節
祈禱不是叫我們適於那偉大的工作;祈禱本身就是偉大的工作。我們以為祈禱,是叫我們得到較高的能力,去應付神的工作。但按照耶穌基督的眼光看,祈禱是我本已救贖的奇蹟,藉著神的能力,同時也是別人救贖的奇蹟。結果子之方法,是祈禱,但須記取的,這種祈禱是建立在救贖的痛苦,不是建立於我的痛苦。一個小孩能獲得祈禱的答覆,一個聰明人反而得不著。
你無論在那裡祈禱總是一種戰爭。不管神製造環境的方法怎樣,本分就是祈禱。切不可如此作想──「我所在的地方,不見得有用;」因為你不在的地方,你必沒有有用。無論神安排你在那裡,祈禱,常常向祂祈禱。「你們若奉我的名求甚麼,我必成就。」(約十四13)我們不肯祈禱,我們得不著奮興,就不肯祈禱,那就是靈性自私的極度形態。我們要依照神的指導而勞動,但祂指導我們的是祈禱,「所以你們當求莊稼的主,打發工人出去,收祂的莊稼。
通常的工人對於工作,是沒有興奮的,但是成功通常是工作勞作出來的;同樣基督的概念,沒有那些勞苦的聖徒是不會發現的。你慇勤祈禱,從神的立場看,是無時不發生效果的。當帕子揭開,一種說不出的驚奇必然發現,你可以看出你是慣於接受耶穌基督的命令的,已經為祂收穫了不少的靈魂。
「……亞伯拉罕信神……」羅馬書四章3節
亞伯拉罕的信心是向著神本身的,他認識帶領他的神,所以他對神有絕對的信心。
亞伯拉罕一生的秘訣在於他與神的友誼。他所認識的神是一位偉大、良善、信實的朋友。無怪乎他能聽神的話,從他自身所愛的本家本族出來,走向一條未知的道路。
除了信靠神的話語,我們是否已學會把自己全然交給神呢?神有無限的愛及力量,祂是與我們立約的主並永遠的好朋友。
經上告訴我們,亞伯拉罕因著信心而榮耀了神。最能榮耀神的辦法,乃是讓世人看見神是誰,以及祂的大能力。神並不希望藉著我們所能做的事,讓世人知道祂能做什麼;神也不用那些有乖謬性格的器皿。相反的,祂一直在找尋那些謙卑的人,並用這些人在世世代代中榮耀祂。