08月08日 一年的第221天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:耶09-12章
第11章主要在講:「不聽從這約之話的人必受咒詛」。
一.耶和華的話臨到耶利米說:耶11:1
1.當聽這約的話,告訴猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民,耶11:2
2.對他們說,耶和華以色列的神如此說:不聽從這約之話的人必受咒詛。耶11:3
3.這約是我將你們列祖從埃及地領出來、脫離鐵爐的那日所吩咐他們的,說:『你們要聽從我的話,照我一切所吩咐的去行。』這樣,你們就作我的子民,我也作你們的神;耶11:4
4.我好堅定向你們列祖所起的誓,給他們流奶與蜜之地,正如今日一樣。」我就回答說:「耶和華阿,阿們!」耶11:5
二.耶和華對我說:「你要在猶大城邑中和耶路撒冷街市上,宣告這一切話說:你們當聽從遵行這約的話。耶11:6
1.因為我將你們列祖從埃及地領出來的那日,直到今日,都是從早起來,切切誥誡他們說:『你們當聽從我的話。』耶11:7
2.他們卻不聽從,不側耳而聽,竟隨從自己頑梗的惡心去行。所以我使這約中一切咒詛的話臨到他們身上;這約是我吩咐他們行的,他們卻不去行。」耶11:8
3.耶和華對我說:「在猶大人和耶路撒冷居民中有同謀背叛的事。耶11:9
A.他們轉去效法他們的先祖,不肯聽我的話,犯罪作孽,又隨從別神,事奉他。以色列家和猶大家背了我與他們列祖所立的約。耶11:10
B.所以耶和華如此說:「我必使災禍臨到他們,是他們不能逃脫的。他們必向我哀求,我卻不聽。耶11:11
C.那時,猶大城邑的人和耶路撒冷的居民要去哀求他們燒香所供奉的神;只是遭難的時候,這些神毫不拯救他們。耶11:12
D.猶大阿,你神的數目與你城的數目相等;你為那可恥的巴力所築燒香的壇也與耶路撒冷街道的數目相等。耶11:13
三.所以你不要為這百姓祈禱,不要為他們呼求禱告;因為他們遭難向我哀求的時候,我必不應允。耶11:14
1.我所親愛的,既行許多淫亂,聖肉也離了你,你在我殿中作甚麼呢?你作惡就喜樂。耶11:15
2.從前耶和華給你起名叫青橄欖樹,又華美又結好果子;如今他用鬨嚷之聲,點火在其上,枝子也被折斷。耶11:16
3.原來栽培你的萬軍之耶和華已經說,要降禍攻擊你,是因以色列家和猶大家行惡,向巴力燒香,惹我發怒,是自作自受。耶11:17
四.耶和華指示我,我就知道;你將他們所行的給我指明。耶11:18
1.我卻像柔順的羊羔被牽到宰殺之地;我並不知道他們設計謀害我,說:我們把樹連果子都滅了罷!將他從活人之地剪除,使他的名不再被記念。耶11:19
2.按公義判斷、察驗人肺腑心腸的萬軍之耶和華阿,我卻要見你在他們身上報仇,因我將我的案件向你稟明了。耶11:20
3.所以,耶和華論到尋索你命的亞拿突人如此說:「他們說:你不要奉耶和華的名說豫言,免得你死在我們手中。耶11:21
A.所以萬軍之耶和華如此說:看哪,我必刑罰他們;他們的少年人必被刀劍殺死,他們的兒女必因饑荒滅亡,耶11:22
B.並且沒有餘剩的人留給他們;因為在追討之年,我必使災禍臨到亞拿突人。耶11:23
◎心得分享:本章上帝要耶利米去告訴猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民,當聽從遵行這約的話,不聽從這約之話的人必受咒詛,但是他們不聽,反而災難臨到,同謀背叛,犯罪作孽,又隨從別神,事奉他,去哀求他們燒香所供奉的神。所以上帝對耶利米說:你不要為這百姓祈禱,不要為他們呼求禱告;因為他們遭難向我哀求的時候,我必不應允。此時,上帝給耶利米知道將要發生的事,耶利米像柔順的羊羔被牽到宰殺之地;他並不知道他們設計謀害他,說:我們把樹連果子都滅了罷!將他從活人之地剪除,使他的名不再被記念。接著耶利米禱告:按公義判斷、察驗人肺腑心腸的萬軍之耶和華阿,我卻要見你在他們身上報仇,因我將我的案件向你稟明了。為義受逼迫的人有福了,天國是他們的。
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。