08月20日 一年的第233天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:耶50-52章
第51章主要在講:「預言巴比倫城被毀成為亂堆」。
一.耶和華如此說:我必使毀滅的風颳起,攻擊巴比倫和住在立加米的人。耶51:1
1.我要打發外邦人來到巴比倫,簸揚他,使他的地空虛。在他遭禍的日子,他們要周圍攻擊他。耶51:2
A.拉弓的,要向拉弓的和貫甲挺身的射箭。不要憐惜他的少年人;要滅盡他的全軍。耶51:3
B.他們必在迦勒底人之地被殺仆倒,在巴比倫的街上被刺透。耶51:4
2.以色列和猶大雖然境內充滿違背以色列聖者的罪,卻沒有被他的神萬軍之耶和華丟棄。耶51:5
3.你們要從巴比倫中逃奔,各救自己的性命!不要陷在他的罪孽中一同滅亡;因為這是耶和華報仇的時候,他必向巴比倫施行報應。耶51:6
A.巴比倫素來是耶和華手中的金杯,使天下沉醉;萬國喝了他的酒就顛狂了。耶51:7
B.巴比倫忽然傾覆毀壞;要為他哀號;為止他的疼痛,拿乳香或者可以治好。耶51:8
C.我們想醫治巴比倫,他卻沒有治好。離開他罷!我們各人歸回本國;因為他受的審判通於上天,達到穹蒼。耶51:9
二.耶和華已經彰顯我們的公義。來罷!我們可以在錫安報告耶和華我們神的作為。耶51:10
1.你們要磨尖了箭頭,抓住盾牌。耶和華定意攻擊巴比倫,將他毀滅,所以激動了瑪代君王的心;因這是耶和華報仇,就是為自己的殿報仇。耶51:11
2.你們要豎立大旗,攻擊巴比倫的城牆;要堅固瞭望臺,派定守望的設下埋伏;因為耶和華指著巴比倫居民所說的話、所定的意,他已經作成。耶51:12
3.住在眾水之上多有財寶的阿,你的結局到了!你貪婪之量滿了!耶51:13
4.萬軍之耶和華指著自己起誓說:我必使敵人充滿你,像螞蚱一樣;他們必吶喊攻擊你。耶51:14
A.耶和華用能力創造大地,用智慧建立世界,用聰明鋪張穹蒼。耶51:15
B.他一發聲,空中便有多水激動;他使雲霧從地極上騰。他造電隨雨而閃,從他府庫中帶出風來。耶51:16
C.各人都成了畜類,毫無知識。各銀匠都因他的偶像羞愧;他所鑄的偶像本是虛假的,其中並無氣息,耶51:17
D.都是虛無的,是迷惑人的工作,到追討的時候,必被除滅。耶51:18
三.雅各的分不像這些,因他是造作萬有的主;以色列也是他產業的支派。萬軍之耶和華是他的名。耶51:19
1.你是我爭戰的斧子和打仗的兵器;我要用你打碎列國,用你毀滅列邦;耶51:20
A.用你打碎馬和騎馬的;用你打碎戰車和坐在其上的;耶51:21
B.用你打碎男人和女人;用你打碎老年人和少年人;用你打碎壯丁和處女;耶51:22
C.用你打碎牧人和他的群畜;用你打碎農夫和他一對牛;用你打碎省長和副省長。耶51:23
2.耶和華說:「我必在你們眼前報復巴比倫人和迦勒底居民在錫安所行的諸惡。」耶51:24
A.耶和華說:你這行毀滅的山哪,就是毀滅天下的山,我與你反對。我必向你伸手,將你從山巖滾下去,使你成為燒燬的山。耶51:25
a.人必不從你那裏取石頭為房角石,也不取石頭為根基石;你必永遠荒涼。這是耶和華說的。耶51:26
b.要在境內豎立大旗,在各國中吹角,使列國豫備攻擊巴比倫,將亞拉臘、米尼、亞實基拿各國招來攻擊他;又派軍長來攻擊他,使馬匹上來如螞蚱,耶51:27
c.使列國和瑪代君王,與省長和副省長,並他們所管全地之人,都豫備攻擊他。耶51:28
B.地必震動而瘠苦;因耶和華向巴比倫所定的旨意成立了,使巴比倫之地荒涼,無人居住。耶51:29
C.巴比倫的勇士止息爭戰,藏在堅壘之中。他們的勇力衰盡,好像婦女一樣。巴比倫的住處有火著起,門閂都折斷了。耶51:30
D.通報的要彼此相遇,送信的要互相迎接,報告巴比倫王說:城的四方被攻取了,耶51:31
E.渡口被佔據了,葦塘被火燒了,兵丁也驚慌了。耶51:32
四.萬軍之耶和華以色列的神如此說:巴比倫城好像踹榖的禾場;再過片時,收割他的時候就到了。耶51:33
1.以色列人說:巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒吞滅我,壓碎我,使我成為空虛的器皿。他像大魚將我吞下,用我的美物充滿他的肚腹,又將我趕出去。耶51:34
2.錫安的居民要說:巴比倫以強暴待我,損害我的身體,願這罪歸給他。耶路撒冷人要說:願流我們血的罪歸到迦勒底的居民。耶51:35
A.所以,耶和華如此說:我必為你伸冤,為你報仇;我必使巴比倫的海枯竭,使他的泉源乾涸。耶51:36
B.巴比倫必成為亂堆,為野狗的住處,令人驚駭、嗤笑,並且無人居住。耶51:37
C.他們要像少壯獅子咆哮,像小獅子吼叫。耶51:38
D.他們火熱的時候,我必為他們設擺酒席,使他們沉醉,好叫他們快樂,睡了長覺,永不醒起。這是耶和華說的。耶51:39
3.我必使他們像羊羔、像公綿羊和公山羊下到宰殺之地。耶51:40
A.示沙克(就是巴比倫)何竟被攻取?天下所稱讚的何竟被佔據?巴比倫在列國中何竟變為荒場?耶51:41
B.海水漲起,漫過巴比倫;他被許多海浪遮蓋。耶51:42
C.他的城邑變為荒場、旱地、沙漠,無人居住,無人經過之地。耶51:43
D.我必刑罰巴比倫的彼勒,使他吐出所吞的。萬民必不再流歸他那裏;巴比倫的城牆也必坍塌了。耶51:44
4.我的民哪,你們要從其中出去!各人拯救自己,躲避耶和華的烈怒。耶51:45
A.你們不要心驚膽怯,也不要因境內所聽見的風聲懼怕;因為這年有風聲傳來;那年也有風聲傳來,境內有強暴的事,官長攻擊官長。耶51:46
B.日子將到,我必刑罰巴比倫雕刻的偶像。他全地必然抱愧;他被殺的人必在其中仆倒。耶51:47
a.那時,天地和其中所有的,必因巴比倫歡呼,因為行毀滅的要從北方來到他那裏。這是耶和華說的。耶51:48
b.巴比倫怎樣使以色列被殺的人仆倒,照樣他全地被殺的人也必在巴比倫仆倒。耶51:49
c.你們躲避刀劍的要快走,不要站住!要在遠方記念耶和華,心中追想耶路撒冷。耶51:50
d.我們聽見辱罵就蒙羞,滿面慚愧,因為外邦人進入耶和華殿的聖所。耶51:51
C.耶和華說:日子將到,我必刑罰巴比倫雕刻的偶像,通國受傷的人必唉哼。耶51:52
5.巴比倫雖升到天上,雖使他堅固的高處更堅固,還有行毀滅的從我這裏到他那裏。這是耶和華說的。耶51:53
A.有哀號的聲音從巴比倫出來;有大毀滅的響聲從迦勒底人之地發出。耶51:54
B.因耶和華使巴比倫變為荒場,使其中的大聲滅絕。仇敵彷彿眾水,波浪匉訇,響聲已經發出。耶51:55
C.這是行毀滅的臨到巴比倫。巴比倫的勇士被捉住,他們的弓折斷了;因為耶和華是施行報應的神,必定施行報應。耶51:56
D.君王名為萬軍之耶和華的說:我必使巴比倫的首領、智慧人、省長、副省長,和勇士都沉醉,使他們睡了長覺,永不醒起。耶51:57
E.萬軍之耶和華如此說:巴比倫寬闊的城牆必全然傾倒;他高大的城門必被火焚燒。眾民所勞碌的必致虛空;列國所勞碌的被火焚燒,他們都必困乏。耶51:58
五.猶大王西底家在位第四年,上巴比倫去的時候,瑪西雅的孫子、尼利亞的兒子西萊雅與王同去(西萊雅是王宮的大臣),先知耶利米有話吩咐他。耶51:59
1.耶利米將一切要臨到巴比倫的災禍,就是論到巴比倫的一切話,寫在書上。耶51:60
2.耶利米對西萊雅說:「你到了巴比倫務要念這書上的話;耶51:61
又說:『耶和華阿,你曾論到這地方說:要剪除,甚至連人帶牲畜沒有在這裏居住的,必永遠荒涼。』耶51:62
3.你念完了這書,就把一塊石頭拴在書上,扔在伯拉河中,耶51:63
4.說:『巴比倫因耶和華所要降與他的災禍,必如此沉下去,不再興起,人民也必困乏。』」耶利米的話到此為止。耶51:64
◎心得分享:這一章又是耶利米,預言巴比倫要有災禍,耶和華如此說:「我必使毀滅的風颳起,攻擊巴比倫和住在立加米的人,巴比倫必成為亂堆,為野狗的住處,令人驚駭、嗤笑,並且無人居住。」,耶利米對西萊雅說:「你到了巴比倫務要念這書上的話說:『耶和華阿,你曾論到這地方說:要剪除,甚至連人帶牲畜沒有在這裏居住的,必永遠荒涼,你念完了這書,就把一塊石頭拴在書上,扔在伯拉河中,說:『巴比倫因耶和華所要降與他的災禍,必如此沉下去,不再興起,人民也必困乏。』,原來「刑罰巴比倫的預言」,是要給正在受苦被擄的猶太人安慰的,讓他們知道痛苦不會白受的,上帝說伸冤在祂,祂必報應。
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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。