07月24日 一年的第206天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:賽46-48章
第46章主要在講:「巴比倫將受到審判」。
一.彼勒屈身,尼波彎腰;巴比倫的偶像馱在獸和牲畜上。他們所抬的如今成了重馱,使牲畜疲乏,46:1
都一同彎腰屈身,不能保全重馱,自己倒被擄去。46:2
二.雅各家,以色列家一切餘剩的要聽我言:你們自從生下,就蒙我保抱,自從出胎,便蒙我懷搋。46:3
1.直到你們年老,我仍這樣;直到你們髮白,我仍懷搋。我已造作,也必保抱;我必懷抱,也必拯救。46:4
2.你們將誰與我相比,與我同等,可以與我比較,使我們相同呢?46:5
3.那從囊中抓金子,用天平平銀子的人,雇銀匠製造神像,他們又俯伏,又叩拜。46:6
4.他們將神像抬起,扛在肩上,安置在定處,它就站立,不離本位;人呼求它,它不能答應,也不能救人脫離患難。46:7
三.你們當想念這事,自己作大丈夫。悖逆的人哪,要心裏思想。46:8
1.你們要追念上古的事。因為我是 神,並無別神;我是 神,再沒有能比我的。46:9
2.我從起初指明末後的事,從古時言明未成的事,說:我的籌算必立定;凡我所喜悅的,我必成就。46:10
3.我召鷙鳥從東方來,召那成就我籌算的人從遠方來。我已說出,也必成就;我已謀定,也必做成。46:11
4.你們這些心中頑梗、遠離公義的,當聽我言。46:12
5.我使我的公義臨近,必不遠離。我的救恩必不遲延;我要為以色列─我的榮耀,在錫安施行救恩。46:13
◎心得分享:本章分為三段:第一段是在講「巴比倫偶像,不能保護人,只會使畜牲疲乏,甚至被擄」,第二段是在講「上帝對祂百姓的慈愛,造作、懷抱、拯救,祂的百姓」,第三段是在講:「我們要數算上帝的恩典,作大丈夫」。。
第47章主要在講:「巴比倫將敗落淪亡」。
一.巴比倫的處女啊,下來坐在塵埃;迦勒底的閨女啊,沒有寶座,要坐在地上;因為你不再稱為柔弱嬌嫩的。47:1
1.要用磨磨麵,揭去帕子,脫去長衣,露腿河。47:2
2.你的下體必被露出;你的醜陋必被看見。我要報仇,誰也不寬容。47:3
二.我們救贖主的名是萬軍之耶和華─以色列的聖者。47:4
三.迦勒底的閨女啊,你要默然靜坐,進入暗中,因為你不再稱為列國的主母。47:5
1.我向我的百姓發怒,使我的產業被褻瀆,將他們交在你手中,你毫不憐憫他們,把極重的軛加在老年人身上。47:6
2.你自己說:我必永為主母,所以你不將這事放在心上,也不思想這事的結局。47:7
3.你這專好宴樂、安然居住的,現在當聽這話。你心中說:惟有我,除我以外再沒有別的。我必不致寡居,也不遭喪子之事。47:8
4.哪知,喪子、寡居這兩件事在一日轉眼之間必臨到你;正在你多行邪術、廣施符咒的時候,這兩件事必全然臨到你身上。47:9
A.你素來倚仗自己的惡行,說:無人看見我。你的智慧聰明使你偏邪,並且你心裏說:惟有我,除我以外再沒有別的。47:10
B.因此,禍患要臨到你身;你不知何時發現災害落在你身上,你也不能除掉;所不知道的毀滅也必忽然臨到你身。47:11
C.站起來吧!用你從幼年勞神施行的符咒和你許多的邪術;或者可得益處,或者可得強勝。47:12
D.你籌劃太多,以致疲倦。讓那些觀天象的,看星宿的,在月朔說預言的,都站起來,救你脫離所要臨到你的事。47:13
E.他們要像碎秸被火焚燒,不能救自己脫離火焰之力;這火並非可烤的炭火,也不是可以坐在其前的火。47:14
5.你所勞神的事都要這樣與你無益;從幼年與你貿易的也都各奔各鄉,無人救你。47:15
◎心得分享:本章論到上帝對巴比倫的審判,為什麼要審判巴比倫呢?因為1.他褻瀆了神了產業,2.巴比倫是神興起,對付猶大的工具,然而他卻毫不憐憫他們,3.專好宴樂,4.多行邪術、廣施符咒。結果是要像碎秸被火焚燒,不能救自己脫離火焰之力,求神幫助我們,對人要有憐憫,因為憐憫人的,就是像審判者跨勝。
第48章主要在講:「責備以色列頑梗」。
一.雅各家,稱為以色列名下,從猶大水源出來的,當聽我言!你們指著耶和華的名起誓,提說以色列的 神,卻不憑誠實,不憑公義。48:1
1.他們自稱為聖城的人,所倚靠的是名為萬軍之耶和華─以色列的 神。48:2
2.主說:早先的事,我從古時說明,已經出了我的口,也是我所指示的;我忽然行做,事便成就。48:3
A.因為我素來知道你是頑梗的─你的頸項是鐵的;你的額是銅的。48:4
B.所以,我從古時將這事給你說明,在未成以先指示你,免得你說:這些事是我的偶像所行的,是我雕刻的偶像和我鑄造的偶像所命定的。48:5
二.你已經聽見,現在要看見這一切;你不說明嗎?從今以後,我將新事,就是你所不知道的隱密事指示你。48:6
1.這事是現今造的,並非從古就有;在今日以先,你也未曾聽見,免得你說:這事我早已知道了。48:7
2.你未曾聽見,未曾知道;你的耳朵從來未曾開通。我原知道你行事極其詭詐,你自從出胎以來,便稱為悖逆的。48:8
3.我為我的名暫且忍怒,為我的頌讚向你容忍,不將你剪除。48:9
4.我熬煉你,卻不像熬煉銀子;你在苦難的爐中,我揀選你。48:10
5.我為自己的緣故必行這事,我焉能使我的名被褻瀆?我必不將我的榮耀歸給假神。48:11
三.雅各─我所選召的以色列啊,當聽我言:我是耶和華,我是首先的,也是末後的。48:12
1.我手立了地的根基;我右手鋪張諸天;我一招呼便都立住。48:13
2.你們都當聚集而聽,他們內中誰說過這些事?耶和華所愛的人必向巴比倫行他所喜悅的事;他的膀臂也要加在迦勒底人身上。48:14
3.惟有我曾說過,我又選召他,領他來,他的道路就必亨通。48:15
4.你們要就近我來聽這話:我從起頭並未曾在隱密處說話;自從有這事,我就在那裏。現在,主耶和華差遣我和他的靈來〔或譯:耶和華和他的靈差遣我來〕。48:16
三.耶和華─你的救贖主,以色列的聖者如此說:我是耶和華─你的 神,教訓你,使你得益處,引導你所當行的路。48:17
1.甚願你素來聽從我的命令!你的平安就如河水;你的公義就如海浪。48:18
你的後裔也必多如海沙;你腹中所生的也必多如沙粒。他的名在我面前必不剪除,也不滅絕。48:19
2.你們要從巴比倫出來,從迦勒底人中逃脫,以歡呼的聲音傳揚說:耶和華救贖了他的僕人雅各!你們要將這事宣揚到地極。48:20
3.耶和華引導他們經過沙漠。他們並不乾渴;他為他們使水從磐石而流,分裂磐石,水就湧出。48:21
4.耶和華說:惡人必不得平安!48:22
◎心得分享:本章上帝對猶大的責備,責備他們,常提神的名,也指著耶和華起誓,卻不憑公義,不憑誠實作事,是頑梗、悖逆的,神要為自己的緣故,要在苦難的爐中,熬煉,揀選祂的百姓,所以上帝要祂的選民,聽從神的命令,要從巴比倫出來,要到地極宣揚,上帝救贖他們引導他們的見證,是的!上帝愛我們,我們也要聽從神的話,神的話是我們腳前的燈,路上的光。
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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。