08月06日 一年的第219天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:耶03-05章
第03章主要在講:「耶和華呼喚背道的猶大回轉,祂要醫治」。
一.有話說:人若休妻,妻離他而去,作了別人的妻,前夫豈能再收回他來?若收回他來,那地豈不是大大玷污了麼?但你和許多親愛的行邪淫,還可以歸向我。這是耶和華說的。耶3:1
1.你向淨光的高處舉目觀看,你在何處沒有淫行呢?你坐在道旁等候,好像亞拉伯人在曠野埋伏一樣,並且你的淫行邪惡玷污了全地。耶3:2
2.因此甘霖停止,春(原文是晚)雨不降。你還是有娼妓之臉,不顧羞恥。耶3:3
3.從今以後,你豈不向我呼叫說:我父阿,你是我幼年的恩主。耶3:4
4.耶和華豈永遠懷怒,存留到底麼?看哪,你又發惡言又行壞事,隨自己的私意而行(或作:你雖這樣說,還是行惡放縱慾心)。耶3:5
二.約西亞王在位的時候,耶和華又對我說:「背道的以色列所行的,你看見沒有?他上各高山,在各青翠樹下行淫。耶3:6
1.他行這些事以後,我說他必歸向我,他卻不歸向我。他奸詐的妹妹猶大也看見了。耶3:7
2.背道的以色列行淫,我為這緣故給他休書休他;我看見他奸詐的妹妹猶大,還不懼怕,也去行淫。耶3:8
3.因以色列輕忽了他的淫亂,和石頭木頭行淫,地就被玷污了。耶3:9
4.雖有這一切的事,他奸詐的妹妹猶大還不一心歸向我,不過是假意歸我。這是耶和華說的。」耶3:10
三.耶和華對我說:「背道的以色列比奸詐的猶大還顯為義。耶3:11
1.你去向北方宣告說:耶和華說:背道的以色列阿,回來罷!我必不怒目看你們;因為我是慈愛的,我必不永遠存怒。這是耶和華說的。耶3:12
2.只要承認你的罪孽,就是你違背耶和華你的神,在各青翠樹下向別神東奔西跑,沒有聽從我的話。這是耶和華說的。耶3:13
3.耶和華說:背道的兒女阿,回來罷!因為我作你們的丈夫,並且我必將你們從一城取一人,從一族取兩人,帶到錫安。耶3:14
4.我也必將合我心的牧者賜給你們。他們必以知識和智慧牧養你們。耶3:15
四.耶和華說:「你們在國中生養眾多;當那些日子,人必不再提說耶和華的約櫃,不追想,不記念,不覺缺少,也不再製造。耶3:16
1.那時,人必稱耶路撒冷為耶和華的寶座;萬國必到耶路撒冷,在耶和華立名的地方聚集。他們必不再隨從自己頑梗的惡心行事。耶3:17
2.當那些日子,猶大家要和以色列家同行,從北方之地一同來到我賜給你們列祖為業之地。」耶3:18
3.我說:我怎樣將你安置在兒女之中,賜給你美地,就是萬國中肥美的產業。我又說:你們必稱我為父,也不再轉去不跟從我。耶3:19
4.以色列家,你們向我行詭詐,真像妻子行詭詐離開他丈夫一樣。這是耶和華說的。耶3:20
5.在淨光的高處聽見人聲,就是以色列人哭泣懇求之聲,乃因他們走彎曲之道,忘記耶和華他們的神。耶3:21
五.你們這背道的兒女阿,回來罷!我要醫治你們背道的病。看哪,我們來到你這裏,因你是耶和華我們的神。耶3:22
1.仰望從小山或從大山的喧嚷中得幫助,真是枉然的。以色列得救,誠然在乎耶和華我們的神。耶3:23
2.從我們幼年以來,那可恥的偶像將我們列祖所勞碌得來的羊群、牛群,和他們的兒女都吞喫了。耶3:24
3.我們在羞恥中躺臥罷!願慚愧將我們遮蓋;因為從立國(原文是幼年)以來,我們和我們的列祖常常得罪耶和華我們的神,沒有聽從耶和華我們神的話。耶3:25
◎心得分享:上帝用「夫妻的關係」,來形容祂跟祂的百姓我們的關係,有話說:人若休妻,妻離他而去,作了別人的妻,前夫豈能再收回他來?若收回他來,那地豈不是大大玷污了麼?但你和許多親愛的行邪淫,還可以歸向我。這是耶和華說的,上帝對我們的愛是饒恕,呼喚我們回轉歸向祂,當時以色列國已被被亞述滅了,而剩餘的猶大國,在好王約西亞的號召下,百姓仍然「無動於衷」繼續拜偶像,上帝說:「猶大國的奸詐,比以色列背道更可惡,你們這背道的兒女阿,回來罷!我要醫治你們背道的病。看哪,我們來到你這裏,因你是耶和華我們的神。」,求神幫助我們歸向祂,因為祂要醫治我們。
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。