08月20日 一年的第233天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:耶50-52章
第50章主要在講:「預言巴比倫受到攻擊」。
一.耶和華藉先知耶利米論巴比倫和迦勒底人之地所說的話。耶50:1
1.你們要在萬國中傳揚報告,豎立大旗;要報告,不可隱瞞,說:巴比倫被攻取,彼勒蒙羞,米羅達驚惶。巴比倫的神像都蒙羞;他的偶像都驚惶。耶50:2
A.「因有一國從北方上來攻擊他,使他的地荒涼,無人居住,連人帶牲畜都逃走了。」耶50:3
B.耶和華說:「當那日子、那時候,以色列人要和猶大人同來,隨走隨哭,尋求耶和華他們的神。耶50:4
C.他們必訪問錫安,又面向這裏,說:『來罷,你們要與耶和華聯合為永遠不忘的約。』耶50:5
D.我的百姓作了迷失的羊,牧人使他們走差路,使他們轉到山上。他們從大山走到小山,竟忘了安歇之處。耶50:6
E.凡遇見他們的,就把他們吞滅。敵人說:『我們沒有罪;因他們得罪那作公義居所的耶和華,就是他們列祖所仰望的耶和華。』耶50:7
2.我民哪,你們要從巴比倫中逃走,從迦勒底人之地出去,要像羊群前面走的公山羊。耶50:8
A.因我必激動聯合的大國從北方上來攻擊巴比倫,他們要擺陣攻擊他;他必從那裏被攻取。他們的箭好像善射之勇士的箭,一枝也不徒然返回。耶50:9
B.迦勒底必成為掠物;凡擄掠他的都必心滿意足。這是耶和華說的。耶50:10
C.搶奪我產業的阿,你們因歡喜快樂,且像踹榖撒歡的母牛犢,又像發嘶聲的壯馬。耶50:11
D.你們的母巴比倫就極其抱愧,生你們的必然蒙羞。他要列在諸國之末,成為曠野、旱地、沙漠。耶50:12
3.因耶和華的忿怒,必無人居住,要全然荒涼。凡經過巴比倫的要受驚駭,又因他所遭的災殃嗤笑。耶50:13
A.所有拉弓的,你們要在巴比倫的四圍擺陣,射箭攻擊他。不要愛惜箭枝,因他得罪了耶和華。耶50:14
B.你們要在他四圍吶喊;他已經投降。外郭坍塌了,城牆拆毀了,因為這是耶和華報仇的事。你們要向巴比倫報仇;他怎樣待人,也要怎樣待他。耶50:15
C.你們要將巴比倫撒種的和收割時拿鐮刀的都剪除了。他們各人因怕欺壓的刀劍,必歸回本族,逃到本土。耶50:16
4.「以色列是打散的羊,是被獅子趕出的。首先是亞述王將他吞滅,末後是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒將他的骨頭折斷。」耶50:17
A.所以萬軍之耶和華以色列的神如此說:「我必罰巴比倫王和他的地,像我從前罰亞述王一樣。耶50:18
B.我必再領以色列回他的草場,他必在迦密和巴珊喫草,又在以法蓮山上和基列境內得以飽足。」耶50:19
5.耶和華說:「當那日子、那時候,雖尋以色列的罪孽,一無所有;雖尋猶大的罪惡,也無所見;因為我所留下的人,我必赦免。」耶50:20
二.耶和華說:上去攻擊米拉大翁之地,又攻擊比割的居民。要追殺滅盡,照我一切所吩咐你的去行。耶50:21
1.境內有打仗和大毀滅的響聲。耶50:22
2.全地的大錘何竟砍斷破壞?巴比倫在列國中何竟荒涼?耶50:23
3.巴比倫哪,我為你設下網羅,你不知不覺被纏住。你被尋著,也被捉住;因為你與耶和華爭競。耶50:24
A.耶和華已經開了武庫,拿出他惱恨的兵器;因為主萬軍之耶和華在迦勒底人之地有當作的事。耶50:25
B.你們要從極遠的邊界來攻擊他,開他的倉廩,將他堆如高堆,毀滅淨盡,絲毫不留。耶50:26
C.要殺他的一切牛犢,使他們下去遭遇殺戮。他們有禍了,因為追討他們的日子已經來到。耶50:27
D.(有從巴比倫之地逃避出來的人,在錫安揚聲報告耶和華我們的神報仇,就是為他的殿報仇。)耶50:28
E.招集一切弓箭手來攻擊巴比倫。要在巴比倫四圍安營,不要容一人逃脫,照著他所作的報應他;他怎樣待人,也要怎樣待他,因為他向耶和華以色列的聖者發了狂傲。耶50:29
4.所以他的少年人必仆倒在街上。當那日,一切兵丁必默默無聲。這是耶和華說的。」耶50:30
三.主萬軍之耶和華說:你這狂傲的阿,我與你反對,因為我追討你的日子已經來到。耶50:31
1.狂傲的必絆跌仆倒,無人扶起。我也必使火在他的城邑中裏起來,將他四圍所有的盡行燒滅。耶50:32
2.萬軍之耶和華如此說:「以色列人和猶大人一同受欺壓;凡擄掠他們的都緊緊抓住他們,不肯釋放。耶50:33
3.他們的救贖主大有能力,萬軍之耶和華是他的名。他必伸清他們的冤,好使全地得平安,並攪擾巴比倫的居民。」耶50:34
4.耶和華說:有刀劍臨到迦勒底人和巴比倫的居民,並他的首領與智慧人。耶50:35
A.有刀劍臨到矜誇的人,他們就成為愚昧;有刀劍臨到他的勇士,他們就驚惶。耶50:36
B.有刀劍臨到他的馬匹、車輛,和其中雜族的人民;他們必像婦女一樣。有刀劍臨到他的寶物,就被搶奪。耶50:37
C.有乾旱臨到他的眾水,就必乾涸;因為這是有雕刻偶像之地,人因偶像而顛狂。耶50:38
5.所以曠野的走獸和豺狼必住在那裏,鴕鳥也住在其中,永無人煙,世世代代無人居住。」耶50:39
四.耶和華說:「必無人住在那裏,也無人在其中寄居,要像我傾覆所多瑪、蛾摩拉,和鄰近的城邑一樣。耶50:40
1.看哪,有一種民從北方而來,並有一大國和許多君王被激動,從地極來到。耶50:41
2.他們拿弓和槍,性情殘忍,不施憐憫;他們的聲音像海浪匉訇。巴比倫城(原文是女子)阿,他們騎馬,都擺隊伍如上戰場的人,要攻擊你。耶50:42
3.巴比倫王聽見他們的風聲,手就發軟,痛苦將他抓住,疼痛彷彿產難的婦人。耶50:43
4.仇敵必像獅子從約但河邊的叢林上來,攻擊堅固的居所。轉眼之間,我要使他們逃跑,離開這地。誰蒙揀選,我就派誰治理這地。誰能比我呢?誰能給我定規日期呢?有何牧人能在我面前站立得住呢?耶50:44
五.你們要聽耶和華攻擊巴比倫所說的謀略和他攻擊迦勒底人之地所定的旨意。仇敵定要將他們群眾微弱的拉去,定要使他們的居所荒涼。耶50:45
因巴比倫被取的聲音,地就震動,人在列邦都聽見呼喊的聲音。耶50:46
◎心得分享:先知是不屬於「任何黨、任何國家」,是屬上帝的,雖然上帝要他向猶大傳講「順服巴比倫的擄掠」,但是他不是屬巴比倫的,他順服上帝的話,當巴比倫正鼎盛時期,耶利米發出對巴比倫的預言,主萬軍之耶和華說:「你這狂傲的阿,我與你反對,因為我追討你的日子已經來到。巴比倫被攻取,彼勒蒙羞,米羅達驚惶。巴比倫的神像都蒙羞;他的偶像都驚惶,必無人住在那裏,也無人在其中寄居,要像我傾覆所多瑪、蛾摩拉,和鄰近的城邑一樣」,是的!我們常受個人主觀的想法影響,那一個國家政治最好、最安定,適合人住?但是真的沒有一個國家是「好」的,只要我們順服神,任何國家,上帝都使他們為我們效力。
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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。