07月01日 一年的第183天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:摩01-03章
第01章主要在講:「火燒列國的宮殿」。
當猶大王烏西雅,以色列王約阿施的兒子耶羅波安在位的時候,大地震前二年,提哥亞牧人中的阿摩司得默示論以色列。耶和華必從錫安吼叫發聲;牧人的草場要悲哀枯乾。
一.耶和華如此說:大馬士革三番四次地犯罪,我必不免去她的刑罰;
1.因為她以打糧食的鐵器打過基列。
2.我卻要降火在哈薛的家中,燒滅便哈達的宮殿。
3.我必折斷大馬士革的門閂,剪除亞文平原的居民和伯‧伊甸掌權的。亞蘭人必被擄到吉珥。這是耶和華說的。
二.耶和華如此說:迦薩三番四次地犯罪,我必不免去她的刑罰;
1.因為她擄掠眾民交給以東。
2.我卻要降火在迦薩的城內,燒滅其中的宮殿。
3.我必剪除亞實突的居民和亞實基倫掌權的,也必反手攻擊以革倫。非利士人所餘剩的必都滅亡。這是主耶和華說的。
三.耶和華如此說:推羅三番四次地犯罪,我必不免去她的刑罰;
1.因為她將眾民交給以東,並不記念弟兄的盟約。
2.我卻要降火在推羅的城內,燒滅其中的宮殿。
四.耶和華如此說:以東三番四次地犯罪,我必不免去她的刑罰;
1.因為她拿刀追趕兄弟,毫無憐憫,發怒撕裂,永懷忿怒。
2.我卻要降火在提幔,燒滅波斯拉的宮殿。
五.耶和華如此說:亞捫人三番四次地犯罪,我必不免去他們的刑罰;
1.因為他們剖開基列的孕婦,擴張自己的境界。
2.我卻要在爭戰吶喊的日子,旋風狂暴的時候,點火在拉巴的城內,燒滅其中的宮殿。
3.他們的王和首領必一同被擄去。這是耶和華說的。
◎心得分享:阿摩司寫書的年代是在猶大烏西雅王,以色列耶羅波安王的時候,南國烏西雅王是好王,帶來宗教復興,北國耶羅波是,是以色列的列王時期,政治最強盛,國家的領土是最大的,在整個國家鼎盛時期,阿摩司書宣告了「列國的罪」,共同的一句話就是「三番四次地犯罪」而且上帝都要把他們的「宮殿」降火燒滅,當時先知的話,聽在當時人的耳朵裡,是非常刺耳的,沒有人喜歡,但是事過境遷,證實了先知的話是真的,才流傳至今,提醒我們這世代的人,我們「三番四次地犯罪」,上帝的忍耐寬容,但是上帝終究會審判犯罪的人。
第02章主要在講:「聖殿被火燒以色列勇士逃跑」。
一.耶和華如此說:摩押三番四次地犯罪,我必不免去她的刑罰;
1.因為她將以東王的骸骨焚燒成灰。
2.我卻要降火在摩押,燒滅加略的宮殿。摩押必在鬨嚷吶喊吹角之中死亡。
3.我必剪除摩押中的審判者,將其中的一切首領和他一同殺戮。這是耶和華說的。
二.耶和華如此說:猶大人三番四次地犯罪,我必不免去他們的刑罰;
1.因為他們厭棄耶和華的訓誨,不遵守他的律例。他們列祖所隨從虛假的偶像使他們走迷了。
2.我卻要降火在猶大,燒滅耶路撒冷的宮殿。
三.耶和華如此說:以色列人三番四次地犯罪,我必不免去他們的刑罰;
1.因他們為銀子賣了義人,為一雙鞋賣了窮人。
2.他們見窮人頭上所蒙的灰垂涎,阻礙謙卑人的道路。父子同一個女子行淫,褻瀆我的聖名。他們在各壇旁鋪人所當的衣服,臥在其上,又在他們神的廟中喝受罰之人的酒。
3.我從以色列人面前除滅亞摩利人。我也將你們從埃及地領上來,在曠野引導你們四十年,使你們得亞摩利人之地為業。
4.我從你們子弟中興起先知,又從你們少年人中興起拿細耳人。你們卻給拿細耳人酒喝,囑咐先知說:不要說預言。
5看哪,在你們所住之地,我必壓你們,如同裝滿禾捆的車壓物一樣。
A.快跑的不能逃脫;有力的不能用力;剛勇的也不能自救。
B.拿弓的不能站立;腿快的不能逃脫;騎馬的也不能自救。
C.到那日,勇士中最有膽量的,必赤身逃跑。這是耶和華說的。
◎心得分享:有八個國家「三番四次地犯罪」,這些國家在迦南境內的國家,雖然他們都曾經強極一時,都有勇士,也有戰馬,但是這些他們引以為傲的一切,在上帝審判的日子,都是不堪一擊,人的罪,主要是在兩方面,一個是在「宗教方面」不敬畏神,另一個是在「生活方面」行不公義,以致上帝的忿怒臨到,上帝是全地的主,列國也是都在祂的治理之下。
第03章主要在講:「敵人來圍攻這城」。
一.以色列人哪,你們全家是我從埃及地領上來的,當聽耶和華攻擊你們的話:
1.在地上萬族中,我只認識你們;因此,我必追討你們的一切罪孽。
2.二人若不同心,豈能同行呢?
A.獅子若非抓食,豈能在林中咆哮呢?少壯獅子若無所得,豈能從洞中發聲呢?
B.若沒有機檻,雀鳥豈能陷在網羅裏呢?網羅若無所得,豈能從地上翻起呢?
C.城中若吹角,百姓豈不驚恐呢?災禍若臨到一城,豈非耶和華所降的嗎?
3.主耶和華若不將奧秘指示他的僕人─眾先知,就一無所行。
A.獅子吼叫,誰不懼怕呢?主耶和華發命,誰能不說預言呢?
B.你們要聚集在撒馬利亞的山上,就看見城中有何等大的擾亂與欺壓的事。
4.所以主耶和華如此說:敵人必來圍攻這地,使你的勢力衰微,搶掠你的家宅。
5.耶和華如此說:「牧人怎樣從獅子口中搶回兩條羊腿或半個耳朵,住撒馬利亞的以色列人躺臥在角上或鋪繡花毯的榻上,他們得救也不過如此。」
二.主耶和華─萬軍之 神說:當聽這話,警戒雅各家。
1.我討以色列罪的日子,也要討伯特利祭壇的罪;壇角必被砍下,墜落於地。
2.我要拆毀過冬和過夏的房屋。象牙的房屋也必毀滅;高大的房屋都歸無有。這是耶和華說的。
◎心得分享:先知要宣告以色列人的罪之前,先宣告了列國的罪,從大馬士革的哈薛開始,最後到以色列,雖然共同的都是「三番四次地犯罪」,但是在這一章我們看到上帝對以色列人獨特的愛,上帝說:「在地上萬族中,我只認識你們」,上帝攻擊人,是不需要向人解釋的,但是上帝在攻擊以色列國是先提出「警戒」的話,好讓他們有所預備,而上帝「偷偷的洩題」,是要叫他們先醒過來,在考試的時候可以順利過關,避免在上帝震怒的考驗下陣亡了,是的!我們當聽上帝警戒的話。
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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。