08月05日 一年的第218天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:耶1-2章
第01章主要在講:「耶利米年幼蒙召當先知」。
一.便雅憫地亞拿突城的祭司中,希勒家的兒子耶利米的話記在下面。耶1:1
1.猶大王亞們的兒子約西亞在位十三年,耶和華的話臨到耶利米。耶1:2
2.從猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬在位的時候,直到猶大王約西亞的兒子西底家在位的末年,就是十一年五月間耶路撒冷人被擄的時候,耶和華的話也常臨到耶利米。耶1:3
3.耶利米說,耶和華的話臨到我說:耶1:4
A.我未將你造在腹中,我已曉得你;你未出母胎,我已分別你為聖;我已派你作列國的先知。耶1:5
B.我就說:主耶和華阿,我不知怎樣說,因為我是年幼的。耶1:6
C.耶和華對我說:你不要說我是年幼的,因為我差遣你到誰那裏去,你都要去;我吩咐你說甚麼話,你都要說。耶1:7
D.你不要懼怕他們,因為我與你同在,要拯救你。這是耶和華說的。耶1:8
4.於是耶和華伸手按我的口,對我說:我已將當說的話傳給你。耶1:9
5.看哪,我今日立你在列邦列國之上,為要施行拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆,又要建立、栽植。耶1:10
二.耶和華的話又臨到我說:「耶利米,你看見甚麼?」我說:「我看見一根杏樹枝。」耶1:11
耶和華對我說:「你看得不錯;因為我留意保守我的話,使得成就。」耶1:12
三.耶和華的話第二次臨到我說:「你看見甚麼?」我說:「我看見一個燒開的鍋,從北而傾。」耶1:13
1.耶和華對我說:「必有災禍從北方發出,臨到這地的一切居民。」耶1:14
2.耶和華說:「看哪,我要召北方列國的眾族;他們要來,各安座位在耶路撒冷的城門口,周圍攻擊城牆,又要攻擊猶大的一切城邑。耶1:15
3.至於這民的一切惡,就是離棄我、向別神燒香、跪拜自己手所造的,我要發出我的判語,攻擊他們。耶1:16
四.所以你當束腰,起來將我所吩咐你的一切話告訴他們;不要因他們驚惶,免得我使你在他們面前驚惶。耶1:17
1.看哪,我今日使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆,與全地和猶大的君王、首領、祭司,並地上的眾民反對。耶1:18
2.他們要攻擊你,卻不能勝你;因為我與你同在,要拯救你。這是耶和華說的。」耶1:19
◎心得分享:這一章道出了「流淚先知耶利米的蒙召」,在人看來是個「不幸的開始」,在上帝來看是個「榮耀的開始」。上帝呼招他成為「列國的先知」,他看了一下自己,發現自己是「年幼」的,上帝對他說:「沒錯!你是年幼的,是個小兵,但是只要你順服我,我叫你去你就去,叫你說你就說,我要使你小兵立大功」,神所要用的人,第一個條件是「順服」,第二條件是「不要懼怕,要相信神」,第三個條件是「要有屬靈的看見」,知道上帝對他的啟示,第四個條件是「知道會受攻擊,不要逃避,上帝與同在與拯救」。「生命的結果,是在於最初的選擇」,是的!不是我們有信心,可以完成,而是只要我們願意順服事,就可以完成。
第02章主要在講:「百姓兩件惡事1.離棄活水泉源2.為自己鑿出破裂池子」。
一.耶和華的話臨到我說:耶2:1
1.你去向耶路撒冷人的耳中喊叫說,耶和華如此說:你幼年的恩愛,婚姻的愛情,你怎樣在曠野,在未曾耕種之地跟隨我,我都記得。耶2:2
2.那時以色列歸耶和華為聖,作為土產初熟的果子;凡吞喫他的必算為有罪,災禍必臨到他們。這是耶和華說的。耶2:3
3.雅各家、以色列家的各族阿,你們當聽耶和華的話。耶2:4
二.耶和華如此說:你們的列祖見我有甚麼不義,竟遠離我,隨從虛無的神,自己成為虛妄的呢?耶2:5
1.他們也不說:那領我們從埃及地上來,引導我們經過曠野,沙漠有深坑之地,和乾旱死蔭、無人經過、無人居住之地的耶和華在哪裏呢?耶2:6
2.我領你們進入肥美之地,使你們得喫其中的果子和美物;但你們進入的時候就玷污我的地,使我的產業成為可憎的。耶2:7
3.祭司都不說,耶和華在那裏呢?傳講律法的都不認識我。官長違背我;先知藉巴力說豫言,隨從無益的神。耶2:8
4.耶和華說:我因此必與你們爭辯,也必與你們的子孫爭辯。耶2:9
5.你們且過到基提海島去察看,打發人往基達去留心查考,看曾有這樣的事沒有。耶2:10
豈有一國換了他的神麼?其實這不是神!但我的百姓將他們的榮耀換了那無益的神。耶2:11
三.諸天哪,要因此驚奇,極其恐慌,甚為淒涼!這是耶和華說的。耶2:12
1.因為我的百姓作了兩件惡事,就是離棄我這活水的泉源,為自己鑿出池子,是破裂不能存水的池子。耶2:13
A.以色列是僕人麼?是家中生的奴僕麼?為何成為掠物呢?耶2:14
B.少壯獅子向他咆哮,大聲吼叫,使他的地荒涼;城邑也都焚燒,無人居住。耶2:15
C.挪弗人和答比匿人也打破你的頭頂。耶2:16
2.這事臨到你身上,不是你自招的麼?不是因耶和華你神引你行路的時候,你離棄他麼?耶2:17
A.現今你為何在埃及路上要喝西曷的水呢?你為何在亞述路上要喝大河的水呢?耶2:18
B.你自己的惡必懲治你;你背道的事必責備你。由此可知可見,你離棄耶和華你的神,不存敬畏我的心,乃為惡事,為苦事。這是主萬軍之耶和華說的。耶2:19
C.我在古時折斷你的軛,解開你的繩索。你說:我必不事奉耶和華;因為你在各高岡上、各青翠樹下屈身行淫?或作:我在古時折斷你的軛,解開你的繩索,你就說:我必不事奉別神。誰知你在各高岡上、各青翠樹下仍屈身行淫?。耶2:20
D.然而,我栽你是上等的葡萄樹,全然是真種子;你怎麼向我變為外邦葡萄樹的壞枝子呢?耶2:21
E.你雖用鹼、多用肥皂洗濯,你罪孽的痕跡仍然在我面前顯出。這是主耶和華說的。耶2:22
3.你怎能說:我沒有玷污、沒有隨從眾巴力?你看你谷中的路,就知道你所行的如何。你是快行的獨駝,狂奔亂走。耶2:23
A.你是野驢,慣在曠野,慾心發動就吸風;起性的時候誰能使他轉去呢?凡尋找他的必不致疲乏;在他的月分必能尋見。耶2:24
B.我說:你不要使腳上無鞋,喉嚨乾渴。你倒說:這是枉然。我喜愛別神,我必隨從他們。耶2:25
C.賊被捉拿,怎樣羞愧,﹞以色列家和他們的君王、首領、祭司、先知也都照樣羞愧。耶2:26
D.他們向木頭說:你是我的父;向石頭說:你是生我的。他們以背向我,不以面向我;及至遭遇患難的時候卻說:起來拯救我們。耶2:27
E.你為自己作的神在那裏呢?你遭遇患難的時候,叫他們起來拯救你罷!猶大阿,你神的數目與你城的數目相等。耶2:28
4.耶和華說:你們為何與我爭辯呢?你們都違背了我。耶2:29
5.我責打你們的兒女是徒然的,他們不受懲治。你們自己的刀吞滅你們的先知,好像殘害的獅子。耶2:30
四.這世代的人哪,你們要看明耶和華的話。我豈向以色列作曠野呢?或作幽暗之地呢?我的百姓為何說:我們脫離約束,再不歸向你了?耶2:31
1.處女豈能忘記他的妝飾呢?新婦豈能忘記他的美衣呢?我的百姓卻忘記了我無數的日子!耶2:32
2.你怎麼修飾你的道路要求愛情呢?就是惡劣的婦人你也叫他們行你的路。耶2:33
並且你的衣襟上有無辜窮人的血;你殺他們並不是遇見他們挖窟窿,乃是因這一切的事。耶2:34
3.你還說:我無辜;耶和華的怒氣必定向我消了。看哪,我必審問你;因你自說:我沒有犯罪。耶2:35
4.你為何東跑西奔要更換你的路呢?你必因埃及蒙羞,像從前因亞述蒙羞一樣。耶2:36
5.你也必兩手抱頭從埃及出來;因為耶和華已經棄絕你所倚靠的,你必不因他們得順利。耶2:37
◎心得分享:「健忘」是人的特質,有人說:「貴人多忘事」,我們也總以為「上帝很會忘事,只會記得我們的罪,每一天都在罵我們」,其實不是這樣,上帝要耶利米去向耶路撒冷人的耳中喊叫說,耶和華如此說:你幼年的恩愛,婚姻的愛情,你怎樣在曠野,在未曾耕種之地跟隨我,我都記得,原來上帝都記得,只是我們不記得,因為神的百姓不記得,所以導致兩個很嚴重的罪,也就是作了兩件惡事,第一個是「離棄上帝這活水的泉源,為自己鑿出池子,是破裂不能存水的池子。」,第二個是「耶和華你神引你行路的時候,你離棄他」。當「神的百姓,以為可以靠自己活的更精彩,就是失敗痛苦的開始」。
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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。