07月13日 一年的第195天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:賽13-15章
第13章主要在講:「預言巴比倫城被毀滅」。
亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞得默示,論巴比倫。
一.應當在淨光的山豎立大旗,向群眾揚聲招手,使他們進入貴冑的門。
1.我吩咐我所挑出來的人;我招呼我的勇士─就是那矜誇高傲之輩,為要成就我怒中所定的。
2.山間有多人的聲音,好像是大國人民。有許多國的民聚集鬨嚷的聲音;這是萬軍之耶和華點齊軍隊,預備打仗。
3.他們從遠方來,從天邊來,就是耶和華並他惱恨的兵器要毀滅這全地。
二.你們要哀號,因為耶和華的日子臨近了!這日來到,好像毀滅從全能者來到。
1.所以,人手都必軟弱;人心都必消化。
2.他們必驚惶悲痛;愁苦必將他們抓住。他們疼痛,好像產難的婦人一樣,彼此驚奇相看,臉如火焰。
3.耶和華的日子臨到,必有殘忍、忿恨、烈怒,使這地荒涼,從其中除滅罪人。
4.天上的眾星群宿都不發光;日頭一出就變黑暗;月亮也不放光。
三.我必因邪惡刑罰世界,因罪孽刑罰惡人,使驕傲人的狂妄止息,制伏強暴人的狂傲。
1.我必使人比精金還少,使人比俄斐純金更少。
2.我─萬軍之耶和華在忿恨中發烈怒的日子,必使天震動,使地搖撼,離其本位。
A.人必像被追趕的鹿,像無人收聚的羊,各歸回本族,各逃到本土。
B.凡被仇敵追上的必被刺死;凡被捉住的必被刀殺。
C.他們的嬰孩必在他們眼前摔碎;他們的房屋必被搶奪;他們的妻子必被玷污。
3.我必激動米底亞人來攻擊他們。米底亞人不注重銀子,也不喜愛金子。
他們必用弓擊碎少年人,不憐憫婦人所生的,眼也不顧惜孩子。
4.巴比倫素來為列國的榮耀,為迦勒底人所矜誇的華美,必像 神所傾覆的所多瑪、蛾摩拉一樣。
A.其內必永無人煙,世世代代無人居住。阿拉伯人也不在那裏支搭帳棚;牧羊的人也不使羊群臥在那裏。
B.只有曠野的走獸臥在那裏;咆哮的獸滿了房屋。鴕鳥住在那裏;野山羊在那裏跳舞。
C.豺狼必在它宮中呼號;野狗必在它華美殿內吼叫。巴比倫受罰的時候臨近;它的日子必不長久。
◎心得分享:前幾章都是論到上帝審判猶大,但是這章卻論到上帝審判外邦人巴比倫地,巴比倫是「矜誇高傲之輩」,也是邪惡強暴的人,以自己的榮美自誇,因為這樣上帝要刑罰巴比倫,宣告巴比倫將會驚惶悲痛哀哭,在上帝忿怒發烈怒,巴比倫受刑罰,巴比倫城將會永無人煙世世代代無人居住,走獸居住之地。巴比倫的一切就像繁華如夢,多少的時候,繁華總是讓人羡慕,但是神的話卻告訴我們:「你心中不要嫉妒罪人,只要終日敬畏耶和華,因為至終必有善報,你的指望也不至斷絕」,求神幫助我們,放下對繁華的羡慕,使我們知足常樂,以神為樂。
第14章主要在講:「預言巴比倫名號和人都要被剪除,非利士全地消化。」。
一.耶和華要憐恤雅各,必再揀選以色列,將他們安置在本地。寄居的必與他們聯合,緊貼雅各家。
1.外邦人必將他們帶回本土;以色列家必在耶和華的地上得外邦人為僕婢,也要擄掠先前擄掠他們的,轄制先前欺壓他們的。
2.當耶和華使你脫離愁苦、煩惱,並人勉強你做的苦工,得享安息的日子,
你必題這詩歌論巴比倫王說:欺壓人的何竟息滅?強暴的何竟止息?
3.耶和華折斷了惡人的杖,轄制人的圭,
就是在忿怒中連連攻擊眾民的,在怒氣中轄制列國,行逼迫無人阻止的。
4.現在全地得安息,享平靜;人皆發聲歡呼。
松樹和黎巴嫩的香柏樹都因你歡樂,說:自從你仆倒,再無人上來砍伐我們。
5.你下到陰間,陰間就因你震動來迎接你,又因你驚動在世曾為首領的陰魂,並使那曾為列國君王的,都離位站起。
A.他們都要發言對你說:你也變為軟弱像我們一樣嗎?你也成了我們的樣子嗎?
B.你的威勢和你琴瑟的聲音都下到陰間。你下鋪的是蟲,上蓋的是蛆。
二.明亮之星,早晨之子啊,你何竟從天墜落?你這攻敗列國的何竟被砍倒在地上?
1.你心裏曾說:
A.我要升到天上;我要高舉我的寶座在 神眾星以上;
B.我要坐在聚會的山上,在北方的極處。
C.我要升到高雲之上;我要與至上者同等。
2.然而,你必墜落陰間,到坑中極深之處。
3.凡看見你的都要定睛看你,留意看你,說:使大地戰抖,使列國震動,
A.使世界如同荒野,使城邑傾覆,不釋放被擄的人歸家,是這個人嗎?
B.列國的君王俱各在自己陰宅的榮耀中安睡。
C.惟獨你被拋棄,不得入你的墳墓,好像可憎的枝子,以被殺的人為衣,就是被刀刺透,墜落坑中石頭那裏的;你又像被踐踏的屍首一樣。
4.你不得與君王同葬;因為你敗壞你的國,殺戮你的民。惡人後裔的名,必永不提說。
先人既有罪孽,就要預備殺戮他的子孫,免得他們興起來,得了遍地,在世上修滿城邑。
三.萬軍之耶和華說:我必興起攻擊他們,將巴比倫的名號和所餘剩的人,連子帶孫一併剪除。這是耶和華說的。
1.我必使巴比倫為箭豬所得,又變為水池;我要用滅亡的掃掃淨它。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。
2.萬軍之耶和華起誓說:我怎樣思想,必照樣成就;我怎樣定意,必照樣成立,
A.就是在我地上打折亞述人,在我山上將他踐踏。他加的軛必離開以色列人;他加的重擔必離開他們的肩頭。
B.這是向全地所定的旨意;這是向萬國所伸出的手。
3.萬軍之耶和華既然定意,誰能廢棄呢?他的手已經伸出,誰能轉回呢?
四.亞哈斯王崩的那年,就有以下的默示:
1.非利士全地啊,不要因擊打你的杖折斷就喜樂。因為從蛇的根必生出毒蛇;牠所生的是火焰的飛龍。
2.貧寒人的長子必有所食;窮乏人必安然躺臥。我必以饑荒治死你的根;你所餘剩的人必被殺戮。
3.門哪,應當哀號!城啊,應當呼喊!非利士全地啊,你都消化了!因為有煙從北方出來,他行伍中並無亂隊的。
4.可怎樣回答外邦〔或指非利士〕的使者呢?必說:耶和華建立了錫安;他百姓中的困苦人必投奔在其中。
◎心得分享:巴比倫被比喻成「明亮之星、早晨之子」也就是魔鬼撒但,巴比倫的彊界,不會比瑪代波斯來的大,但是巴比倫的繁華,是遠勝於其它列強的繁華,雖然它曾是上帝所愛,也是上帝所祝福的,但是卻因為「驕傲」被神擊打,下到陰間,非利士因此喜樂起來,但上帝卻說非利士,也必消化,只有錫安被耶和華建立。人的驕傲,必定帶來跌倒,求神幫助我們「謙卑」。
第15章主要在講:「預言摩押人為國家滅亡,大大哀號」。
論摩押的默示:
一.一夜之間,摩押的亞珥變為荒廢,歸於無有;一夜之間,摩押的基珥變為荒廢,歸於無有。
1.他們上巴益,又往底本,到高處去哭泣。摩押人因尼波和米底巴哀號,各人頭上光禿,鬍鬚剃淨。
2.他們在街市上都腰束麻布,在房頂上和寬闊處俱各哀號,眼淚汪汪。
3.希實本和以利亞利悲哀的聲音達到雅雜,所以摩押帶兵器的高聲喊嚷,人心戰兢。
二.我心為摩押悲哀;他的貴冑逃到瑣珥,到伊基拉‧施利施亞。他們上魯希坡,隨走隨哭;在何羅念的路上,因毀滅舉起哀聲。
1.因為寧林的水成為乾涸,青草枯乾,嫩草滅沒,青綠之物,一無所有。
2.因此,摩押人所得的財物和所積蓄的都要運過柳樹河。
3.哀聲遍聞摩押的四境;哀號的聲音達到以基蓮;哀號的聲音達到比珥‧以琳。
4.底們的水充滿了血;我還要加增底們的災難,叫獅子來追上摩押逃脫的民和那地上所餘剩的人。
◎心得分享:摩押人是猶大的仇敵,常常侵略神的百姓,這一章預言到摩押國家滅亡,大大哀號,先知書常常讓我們發現的上帝對列國的審判與刑罰,神的百姓也不能倖免,主要原因是:「世人無視於上帝的存在,以為人犯罪上帝不會鑒察」。然而先知的話,一再提醒我們,上帝都知道,上帝必審判,神要翻轉世人想法,讓世人知道祂仍然在乎、關心世人。
今天: | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
昨天: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
總計: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
"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。