09月04日 一年的第248天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:代下14-16章
第14章主要在講:「亞撒繼位呼求神,打敗古實王」。
一.亞比雅與他列祖同睡,葬在大衛城裏。他兒子亞撒接續他作王。亞撒年間,國中太平十年。代下14:1
1.亞撒行耶和華他神眼中看為善為正的事,代下14:2
A.除掉外邦神的壇和邱壇,打碎柱像,砍下木偶,代下14:3
B.吩咐猶大人尋求耶和華他們列祖的神,遵行他的律法、誡命;代下14:4
C.又在猶大各城邑除掉邱壇和日像,那時國享太平;代下14:5
2.又在猶大建造了幾座堅固城。國中太平數年,沒有戰爭,因為耶和華賜他平安。代下14:6
3.他對猶大人說:「我們要建造這些城邑,四圍築牆,蓋樓,安門,作閂;地還屬我們,是因尋求耶和華我們的神;我們既尋求他,他就賜我們四境平安。」於是建造城邑,諸事亨通。代下14:7
4.亞撒的軍兵,出自猶大拿盾牌拿槍的三十萬人;出自便雅憫拿盾牌拉弓的二十八萬人。這都是大能的勇士。代下14:8
二.有古實王謝拉率領軍兵一百萬,戰車三百輛,出來攻擊猶大人,到了瑪利沙。代下14:9
1.於是亞撒出去與他迎敵,就在瑪利沙的洗法谷彼此擺陣。代下14:10
2.亞撒呼求耶和華他的神說:「耶和華阿,惟有你能幫助軟弱的,勝過強盛的。耶和華我們的神阿,求你幫助我們;因為我們仰賴你,奉你的名來攻擊這大軍。耶和華阿,你是我們的神,不要容人勝過你。」代下14:11
3.於是耶和華使古實人敗在亞撒和猶大人面前,古實人就逃跑了;代下14:12
4.亞撒和跟隨他的軍兵追趕他們,直到基拉耳。古實人被殺的甚多,不能再強盛,因為敗在耶和華與他軍兵面前。猶大人就奪了許多財物,代下14:13
A.又打破基拉耳四圍的城邑;耶和華使其中的人都甚恐懼。猶大人又將所有的城擄掠一空,因其中的財物甚多,代下14:14
B.又毀壞了群畜的圈,奪取許多的羊和駱駝,就回耶路撒冷去了。代下14:15
◎心得分享:亞撒是猶大國的第一位好王,亞撒行耶和華他神眼中看為善為正的事,古實王來攻擊猶大人,亞撒出去迎敵,亞撒呼求耶和華他的神說:「耶和華阿,惟有你能幫助軟弱的,勝過強盛的。耶和華我們的神阿,求你幫助我們;因為我們仰賴你,奉你的名來攻擊這大軍。耶和華阿,你是我們的神,不要容人勝過你。」耶和華使古實人敗在亞撒和猶大人面前。亞撒讓我們看見,禱告是得勝的秘訣。
第15章主要在講:「亞撒定意尋求神砍下祖母拜的偶像」。
一.神的靈感動俄德的兒子亞撒利雅。代下15:1
1.他出來迎接亞撒,對他說:「亞撒和猶大、便雅憫眾人哪,要聽我說:你們若順從耶和華,耶和華必與你們同在;你們若尋求他,就必尋見;你們若離棄他,他必離棄你們。代下15:2
2.以色列人不信真神,沒有訓誨的祭司,也沒有律法,已經好久了;代下15:3
A.但他們在急難的時候歸向耶和華以色列的神,尋求他,他就被他們尋見。代下15:4
B.那時,出入的人不得平安,列國的居民都遭大亂;代下15:5
C.這國攻擊那國,這城攻擊那城,互相破壞,因為神用各樣災難擾亂他們。代下15:6
3.現在你們要剛強,不要手軟,因你們所行的必得賞賜。」代下15:7
二.亞撒聽見這話和俄德兒子先知亞撒利雅的豫言,就壯起膽來,在猶大、便雅憫全地,並以法蓮山地所奪的各城,將可憎之物盡都除掉,又在耶和華殿的廊前重新修築耶和華的壇;代下15:8
1.又招聚猶大、便雅憫的眾人,並他們中間寄居的以法蓮人、瑪拿西人、西緬人。有許多以色列人歸降亞撒,因見耶和華他的神與他同在。代下15:9
2.亞撒十五年三月,他們都聚集在耶路撒冷。代下15:10
A.當日他們從所取的擄物中,將牛七百隻、羊七千隻獻給耶和華。代下15:11
B.他們就立約,要盡心盡性地尋求耶和華他們列祖的神。代下15:12
C.凡不尋求耶和華以色列神的,無論大小、男女,必被治死。代下15:13
D.他們就大聲歡呼,吹號吹角,向耶和華起誓。代下15:14
3.猶大眾人為所起的誓歡喜;因他們是盡心起誓,盡意尋求耶和華,耶和華就被他們尋見,且賜他們四境平安。代下15:15
◎心得分享:亞撒聽見這話和先知亞撒利雅的豫言,壯起膽來,將可憎之物盡都除掉,又在耶和華殿的廊前重新修築耶和華的壇,猶大眾人盡心起誓,盡意尋求耶和華,耶和華就被他們尋見,且賜他們四境平安。是的!上帝是信實的,尋找就尋見,叩門就給他開門,祈求的就得著。
第16章主要在講:「以色列攻猶大亞撒求亞蘭先知責備」。
一.亞撒三十六年,以色列王巴沙上來攻擊猶大,修築拉瑪,不許人從猶大王亞撒那裏出入。代下16:1
1.於是亞撒從耶和華殿和王宮的府庫裏拿出金銀來,送與住大馬色的亞蘭王便哈達,說:代下16:2
A.「你父曾與我父立約,我與你也要立約。現在我將金銀送給你,求你廢掉你與以色列王巴沙所立的約,使他離開我。」代下16:3
B.便哈達聽從亞撒王的話,派軍長去攻擊以色列的城邑。他們就攻破以雲、但、亞伯瑪音,和拿弗他利一切的積貨城。代下16:4
2.巴沙聽見就停工,不修築拉瑪了。代下16:5
3.於是亞撒王率領猶大眾人,將巴沙修築拉瑪所用的石頭、木頭都運去,用以修築迦巴和米斯巴。代下16:6
二.那時,先見哈拿尼來見猶大王亞撒,對他說:「因你仰賴亞蘭王,沒有仰賴耶和華你的神,所以亞蘭王的軍兵脫離了你的手。代下16:7
1.古實人、路比人的軍隊不是甚大麼?戰車馬兵不是極多麼?只因你仰賴耶和華,他便將他們交在你手裏。代下16:8
2.耶和華的眼目遍察全地,要顯大能幫助向他心存誠實的人。你這事行得愚昧;此後,你必有爭戰的事。」代下16:9
3.亞撒因此惱恨先見,將他囚在監裏。那時亞撒也虐待一些人民。代下16:10
三.亞撒所行的事,自始至終都寫在猶大和以色列諸王記上。代下16:11
1.亞撒作王三十九年,他腳上有病,而且甚重。病的時候沒有求耶和華,只求醫生。代下16:12
2.他作王四十一年而死,與他列祖同睡,代下16:13
3. 16:14 葬在大衛城自己所鑿的墳墓裏,放在床上,其床堆滿各樣馨香的香料,就是按作香的作法調和的香料,又為他燒了許多的物件。代下
◎心得分享:以色列王巴沙上來攻擊猶大,修築拉瑪,不許人從猶大王亞撒那裏出入,亞撒從耶和華殿和王宮的府庫裏拿出金銀來,給亞蘭王便哈達,叫他派軍長去攻擊以色列的城邑,先見哈拿尼來見猶大,責備他這事行得愚昧;此後你必有爭戰的事,亞撒因此惱恨先見,將他囚在監裏,也虐待一些人民,他腳上有病,而且甚重。病的時候沒有求耶和華,只求醫生,隔二年後就死了。亞撒讓我們看見,無論曾經有多少上帝的恩典與見證,後來卻不願意聽真話,腦羞成怒,最後也會對上帝也生氣,生病不禱告,最後就死了,這是很可惜的事。
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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。