07月20日 一年的第202天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:賽34-36章
第34章主要在講:「耶和華為祂的民復仇伸冤」。
一.列國啊,要近前來聽!眾民哪,要側耳而聽!地和其上所充滿的,世界和其中一切所出的都應當聽!34:1
1.因為耶和華向萬國發忿恨,向他們的全軍發烈怒,將他們滅盡,交出他們受殺戮。34:2
2.被殺的必然拋棄,屍首臭氣上騰;諸山被他們的血融化。34:3
3.天上的萬象都要消沒;天被捲起,好像書卷。其上的萬象要殘敗,像葡萄樹的葉子殘敗,又像無花果樹的葉子殘敗一樣。34:4
4.因為我的刀在天上已經喝足;這刀必臨到以東和我所咒詛的民,要施行審判。34:5
二.耶和華的刀滿了血,用脂油和羊羔、公山羊的血,並公綿羊腰子的脂油滋潤的;因為耶和華在波斯拉有獻祭的事,在以東地大行殺戮。34:6
1.野牛、牛犢,和公牛要一同下來。他們的地喝醉了血;他們的塵土因脂油肥潤。34:7
2.因耶和華有報仇之日,為錫安的爭辯有報應之年。34:8
三.以東的河水要變為石油,塵埃要變為硫磺;地土成為燒著的石油,34:9
1.晝夜總不熄滅,煙氣永遠上騰,必世世代代成為荒廢,永永遠遠無人經過。34:10
2.鵜鶘、箭豬卻要得為業;貓頭鷹、烏鴉要住在其間。耶和華必將空虛的準繩,混沌的線鉈,拉在其上。34:11
3.以東人要召貴冑來治國;那裏卻無一個,首領也都歸於無有。34:12
4.以東的宮殿要長荊棘;保障要長蒺藜和刺草;要作野狗的住處,鴕鳥的居所。34:13
A.曠野的走獸要和豺狼相遇;野山羊要與伴偶對叫。夜間的怪物必在那裏棲身,自找安歇之處。34:14
B.箭蛇要在那裏做窩,下蛋,菢蛋,生子,聚子在其影下;鷂鷹各與伴偶聚集在那裏。34:15
四.你們要查考宣讀耶和華的書。這都無一缺少,無一沒有伴偶;因為我的口已經吩咐,他的靈將牠們聚集。34:16
他也為牠們拈鬮,又親手用準繩給牠們分地;牠們必永得為業,世世代代住在其間。34:17
◎心得分享:這章是講到耶和華要為祂的民報仇,刑罰「以東」,臨到以東,施行審判,以東的河水要變為石油,塵埃要變為硫磺;地土成為燒著的石油,晝夜總不熄滅,煙氣永遠上騰,必世世代代成為荒廢,永永遠遠無人經過,變成曠野走獸、豺狼、野山羊安歇之處,這是給我們在患難中鼓勵的希望,先知在講這些話時,以東可能正得勢,盛氣凌人的樣子,然而先知要我們,不要只看眼前,而是要看到未來,耶和華要為祂的民報仇。
第35章主要在講:「耶和華救贖的民歸回喜樂」。
一.曠野和乾旱之地必然歡喜;沙漠也必快樂;又像玫瑰開花,35:1
必開花繁盛,樂上加樂,而且歡呼。黎巴嫩的榮耀,並迦密與沙崙的華美,必賜給它。人必看見耶和華的榮耀,我們 神的華美。35:2
二.你們要使軟弱的手堅壯,無力的膝穩固。35:3
1.對膽怯的人說:你們要剛強,不要懼怕。看哪,你們的 神必來報仇,必來施行極大的報應;他必來拯救你們。35:4
2.那時,瞎子的眼必睜開;聾子的耳必開通。35:5
A.那時,瘸子必跳躍像鹿;啞巴的舌頭必能歌唱。在曠野必有水發出;在沙漠必有河湧流。35:6
B.發光的沙〔或譯:蜃樓〕要變為水池;乾渴之地要變為泉源。在野狗躺臥之處,必有青草、蘆葦,和蒲草。4.35:7
3.在那裏必有一條大道,稱為聖路。污穢人不得經過,必專為贖民行走;行路的人雖愚昧,也不致失迷。35:8
4.在那裏必沒有獅子,猛獸也不登這路;在那裏都遇不見,只有贖民在那裏行走。35:9
5.並且耶和華救贖的民必歸回,歌唱來到錫安;永樂必歸到他們的頭上;他們必得著歡喜快樂,憂愁歎息盡都逃避。35:10
◎心得分享:這章又帶入另一個更積極的高潮,人必看見耶和華的榮耀,我們神的華美,所以我們要使軟弱的手堅壯,無力的膝穩固,對膽怯的人說:你們要剛強,不要懼怕。看哪,你們的神必來報仇,必來施行極大的報應;必來拯救我你們,並且耶和華救贖的民必歸回,歌唱來到錫安;永樂必歸到他們的頭上;他們必得著歡喜快樂,憂愁歎息盡都逃避,是的!我們在患難的日子,總是要帶著積極的盼望,我們不斷的讚美,上帝必為我們成就大事。
第36章主要在講:「亞述王攻城,拉伯沙基口說狂語」。
一.希西家王十四年,亞述王西拿基立上來攻擊猶大的一切堅固城,將城攻取。36:1
1.亞述王從拉吉差遣拉伯沙基率領大軍往耶路撒冷,到希西家王那裏去。他就站在上池的水溝旁,在漂布地的大路上。36:2
2.於是希勒家的兒子家宰以利亞敬,並書記舍伯那和亞薩的兒子史官約亞,出來見拉伯沙基。36:3
A.拉伯沙基對他們說:「你們去告訴希西家說,亞述大王如此說:『你所倚靠的有甚麼可仗賴的呢?36:4
B.你說,有打仗的計謀和能力,我看不過是虛話。你到底倚靠誰才背叛我呢?36:5
a.看哪,你所倚靠的埃及是那壓傷的葦杖,人若靠這杖,就必刺透他的手。埃及王法老向一切倚靠他的人也是這樣。36:6
b.你若對我說:我們倚靠耶和華─我們的 神。希西家豈不是將 神的邱壇和祭壇廢去,且對猶大和耶路撒冷的人說:你們當在這壇前敬拜嗎?36:7
C.現在你把當頭給我主亞述王,我給你二千匹馬,看你這一面騎馬的人夠不夠。36:8
D.若不然,怎能打敗我主臣僕中最小的軍長呢?你竟倚靠埃及的戰車馬兵嗎?36:9
E.現在我上來攻擊毀滅這地,豈沒有耶和華的意思嗎?耶和華吩咐我說,你上去攻擊毀滅這地吧!』」36:10
3.以利亞敬、舍伯那、約亞對拉伯沙基說:「求你用亞蘭言語和僕人說話,因為我們懂得;不要用猶大言語和我們說話,達到城上百姓的耳中。」36:11
4.拉伯沙基說:「我主差遣我來,豈是單對你和你的主說這些話嗎?不也是對這些坐在城上、要與你們一同吃自己糞喝自己尿的人說嗎?」36:12
5.於是,拉伯沙基站著,用猶大言語大聲喊著說:「你們當聽亞述大王的話。36:13
A.王如此說:『你們不要被希西家欺哄了,因他不能拯救你們。36:14
a.也不要聽希西家使你們倚靠耶和華說:耶和華必要拯救我們,這城必不交在亞述王的手中。36:15
b.不要聽希西家的話,因亞述王如此說:你們要與我和好。出來投降我,各人就可以吃自己葡萄樹和無花果樹的果子,喝自己井裏的水。36:16
B.等我來領你們到一個地方,與你們本地一樣,就是有五殼和新酒之地,有糧食和葡萄園之地。36:17
C.你們要謹防,恐怕希西家勸導你們說:耶和華必拯救我們。列國的神有哪一個救他本國脫離亞述王的手呢?36:18
D.哈馬和亞珥拔的神在哪裏呢?西法瓦音的神在哪裏呢?他們曾救撒馬利亞脫離我的手嗎?36:19
E.這些國的神有誰曾救自己的國脫離我的手呢?難道耶和華能救耶路撒冷脫離我的手嗎?』」36:20
二.百姓靜默不言,並不回答一句,因為王曾吩咐說:「不要回答他。」36:21
當下希勒家的兒子家宰以利亞敬和書記舍伯那,並亞薩的兒子史官約亞,都撕裂衣服,來到希西家那裏,將拉伯沙基的話告訴了他。36:22
◎心得分享:這一章又換一個布景,另一個危機臨到,是亞述王西拿基立上來攻擊猶大的一切堅固城,不只狂妄的嘲笑,猶大國的軟弱,說他們是:「吃自己糞喝自己尿的人」,而且藐視耶和華上帝,不能救他們脫離亞述的手,然而百姓「靜默不言」,因為希西家吩咐他們不要回答,面對仇敵,不是「以惡報惡、以辱罵還辱罵」,而是「靜默不言」,寧可讓步,聽憑主怒,主說:「伸冤在祂,祂必報應」。
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。