06月20日 一年的第172天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:王上17-19章
第17章主要在講:「先知以利亞禱告三年不下雨」。
以利亞對亞哈說:「我指著所事奉永生耶和華─以色列的 神起誓,這幾年我若不禱告,必不降露,不下雨。」
一.耶和華吩咐以利亞,藏在約旦河東邊的基立溪旁。喝那溪裏的水,烏鴉早晚給他叼餅和肉裏供養他。過了些日子,溪水就乾了,因為雨沒有下在地上。
二.耶和華吩咐以利亞往西頓的撒勒法去,寡婦供養他。
1.以利亞就起身往撒勒法去。見有一個寡婦在那裏撿柴,以利亞呼叫她說:「求你用器皿取點水來給我喝。」,她去取水,以利亞又呼叫她說:「也求你拿點餅來給我!」
2.她說:「我沒有餅,罈內只有一把麵,瓶裏只有一點油;我現在找兩根柴,回家要為我和我兒子做餅;我們吃了,死就死吧!」
3.以利亞對她說:「不要懼怕!可以照你所說的去做吧!只要先為我做一個小餅拿來給我,然後為你和你的兒子做餅。因為神說:罈內的麵必不減少,瓶裏的油必不缺短,直到耶和華使雨降在地上的日子。
4.婦人就照以利亞的話去行。罈內的麵,瓶裏的油也不缺短,正如耶和華說的。
三.婦人病得甚重,以致身無氣息。以利亞三次伏在孩子的身上,求告耶和華,耶和華應允以利亞的話,孩子的靈魂仍入他的身體,他就活了。
1.以利亞將孩子從樓上抱下來,進屋子交給他母親,說:「看哪,你的兒子活了!」
2.婦人對以利亞說:「現在我知道你是神人,耶和華藉你口所說的話是真的。」
◎心得分享:上帝聽了以利亞的禱告,三年六個月沒下雨在地上,當然就會產生「飢荒」,然而上帝用烏鴉早晚給他叼餅和肉裏供養他,等溪水乾了,卻用寡婦拿餅來供養他,這讓我們看到,當我們下定決心事奉神,替上帝作事的時候,上帝必然會供養我們,無論是透過「烏鴉」或是「寡婦」,這都是上帝奇妙的恩典,也在告訴我們只要專心服事上帝,我們需要的上帝都會供應給我們。
第18章主要在講:「以利亞獻祭禱告降雨,命令殺450個假先知」。
一.天持續不下雨第三年,神吩咐以利亞去見亞哈;祂要降雨在地上。
1.以利亞就去,在路上遇到敬畏耶和華的俄巴底,要他去找亞哈來。
2.亞哈見了以利亞,便說:「使以色列遭災的就是你嗎?」,以利亞說:「使以色列遭災的不是我,乃是你和你父家;離棄耶和華的誡命,去隨從巴力。
3.你去招聚以色列眾人和事奉巴力的那四百五十個先知,並耶洗別所供養事奉亞舍拉的那四百個先知,使他們都上迦密山去見我。」
二.亞哈就差遣人招聚以色列眾人和先知都上迦密山。
1.以利亞說:「你們求告你們神的名,我也求告耶和華的名。那降火顯應的神,就是 神。」眾民回答說:「這話甚好。」
2.巴力的先知從早晨直到獻晚祭的時候,大聲求告巴力的名,在所築的壇四圍踊跳,按著他們的規矩,用刀槍自割、自刺,直到身體流血,沒有任何事發生。
3.以利亞叫眾民來,重修已經毀壞耶和華的壇,照支派數目,取了十二塊石頭,用石頭為耶和華的名築一座壇,在壇的四圍挖溝,可容榖種二細亞,又在壇上擺好了柴,把牛犢切成塊子放在柴上。
4.以利亞叫眾人用四個桶盛滿水,倒在燔祭和柴上,連續四次,水流在壇的四圍,溝裏也滿了水。
5.到了獻晚祭的時候,先知以利亞近前來,向神禱告,於是,耶和華降下火來,燒盡燔祭、木柴、石頭、塵土,又燒乾溝裏的水。眾民看見了,就俯伏在地,說:「耶和華是 神!耶和華是 神!」
三.以利亞對他們說:「拿住巴力的先知,不容一人逃脫!」眾人就拿住他們。以利亞帶他們到基順河邊,在那裏殺了他們。
四.以利亞對亞哈說:「你現在可以上去吃喝,因為有多雨的響聲了。」
1.以利亞叫對僕人上去,向海觀看。連續七次,僕人就上去觀看,說:「沒有甚麼。」
2.第七次僕人說:「我看見有一小片雲從海裏上來,不過如人手那樣大。」
3.以利亞說:「你上去告訴亞哈,當套車下去,免得被雨阻擋。」 霎時間,天因風雲黑暗,降下大雨。亞哈就坐車往耶斯列去了。
4.耶和華的靈降在以利亞身上,他就束上腰,奔在亞哈前頭,直到耶斯列的城門。
◎心得分享:以利亞用他的命去換來,眾民看見了,就俯伏在地,說:「耶和華是神!耶和華是 神!」,於是以利亞下令殺了四百五十位巴力的假先知,如果我是以利亞,我可能很難下這麼大的賭注,事實上如果上帝沒有降下火來,死的人可能不是假先知,而是以利亞,但是我們看到上帝沒有讓以利亞失望,這在說明上帝是信實的,當我們下定決心事奉神,在危機時,祂必然會拯救我們。
第19章主要在講:「以利亞逃命,在山洞中神向他說話」。
一.耶洗別知道以利亞用刀殺巴力眾先知,差遣人去見以利亞,說要殺他。
1.以利亞逃命,在曠野走了一日的路程,到一棵羅騰樹下,就坐在那裏求死,說:「耶和華啊,罷了!求你取我的性命,因為我不勝於我的列祖。」
A.他睡著了。有一個天使拍他,說:「起來吃吧!」,他見有一瓶水與炭火燒的餅,他就吃了喝了,仍然躺下。
B.天使第二次來拍他,說:「起來吃吧!你當走的路甚遠。」他就起來吃了喝了,
2.仗著這飲食的力,走了四十晝夜,到了 神的山,就是何烈山。
A.他在那裏進了一個洞,就住在洞中。耶和華的話臨到他說:「以利亞啊,你在這裏做甚麼?」,他說:「我為神大發熱心,先知只剩下我一個人,他們還要尋索我的命。」
B.耶和華說:「你出來站在山上,在我面前。」,耶和華不在風中、地震、火中。火後有微小神的聲音。說:「以利亞啊,你在這裏做甚麼?」,他說:「我為神大發熱心;先知只剩下我一個人,他們還要尋索我的命。」
3.耶和華叫以利亞去膏哈薛作亞蘭王,膏耶戶作以色列王,並膏以利沙作先知接續他。
4.耶和華說:「我在以色列人中為自己留下七千人,是未曾向巴力屈膝的,未曾與巴力親嘴的。」
二.以利亞離開那裏走了,遇見沙法的兒子以利沙耕地。
1.在以利沙前頭有十二對牛,自己趕著第十二對。
2.以利亞到他那裏去,將自己的外衣搭在他身上。
3.以利沙就離開牛,說:「求你容我先與父母親嘴,然後我便跟隨你。」,以利亞說:「你回去吧,我向你做了甚麼呢?」
4.以利沙就離開他回去,宰了一對牛,用套牛的器具煮肉給民吃,隨後就起身跟隨以利亞,服事他。
◎心得分享:以利亞有很深的受傷感,他覺得他自己很失敗,有很嚴重的挫折感,他最大的希望,並是很在乎得勝「殺了四百五十位」的假先知,他真正在乎的是希望,國王能悔改,除掉偶像,專一歸向耶和華,但是在偉大的神蹟之後,事實上這一切都沒有改變,結果的是,他「賭命」換來的是要「逃命」,有很嚴重的「求死」念頭,但是上帝卻醫治他,很嚴重的心病。
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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。