09月10日 一年的第254天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:代下33-36章
一.約西亞在耶路撒冷向耶和華守逾越節。正月十四日,就宰了逾越節的羊羔。代下35:1
1.王分派祭司各盡其職,又勉勵他們辦耶和華殿中的事;代下35:2
2.又對那歸耶和華為聖、教訓以色列人的利未人說:「你們將聖約櫃安放在以色列王大衛兒子所羅門建造的殿裏,不必再用肩扛抬。現在要事奉耶和華你們的神,服事他的民以色列。代下35:3
3.你們應當按著宗族,照著班次,遵以色列王大衛和他兒子所羅門所寫的,自己豫備。代下35:4
4.要按著你們的弟兄,這民宗族的班次,站在聖所,每班中要利未宗族的幾個人。代下35:5
5.要宰逾越節的羊羔,潔淨自己,為你們的弟兄豫備了,好遵守耶和華藉摩西所吩咐的話。代下35:6
二.約西亞從群畜中賜給在那裏所有的人民,綿羊羔和山羊羔三萬隻,牛三千隻,作逾越節的祭物;這都是出自王的產業中。代下35:7
1.約西亞的眾首領也樂意將犧牲給百姓和祭司利未人;又有管理神殿的希勒家、撒迦利亞、耶歇將羊羔二千六百隻,牛三百隻,給祭司作逾越節的祭物。代下35:8
2.利未人的族長歌楠雅和他兩個兄弟示瑪雅、拿坦業,與哈沙比雅、耶利、約撒拔將羊羔五千隻,牛五百隻,給利未人作逾越節的祭物。代下35:9
3.這樣,供獻的事齊備了。祭司站在自己的地方,利未人按著班次站立,都是照王所吩咐的。代下35:10
A.利未人宰了逾越節的羊羔,祭司從他們手裏接過血來灑在壇上;利未人剝皮,代下35:11
B.將燔祭搬來,按著宗族的班次分給眾民,好照摩西書上所寫的,獻給耶和華;獻牛也是這樣。代下35:12
C.他們按著常例,用火烤逾越節的羊羔。別的聖物用鍋,用釜,用罐煮了,速速地送給眾民。代下35:13
D.然後為自己和祭司豫備祭物;因為祭司亞倫的子孫獻燔祭和脂油,直到晚上。所以利未人為自己和祭司亞倫的子孫,豫備祭物。代下35:14
4.歌唱的亞薩之子孫,照著大衛、亞薩、希幔,和王的先見耶杜頓所吩咐的,站在自己的地位上。守門的看守各門,不用離開他們的職事,因為他們的弟兄利未人給他們豫備祭物。代下35:15
三.當日,供奉耶和華的事齊備了,就照約西亞王的吩咐守逾越節,獻燔祭在耶和華的壇上。代下35:16
1.當時在耶路撒冷的以色列人守逾越節,又守除酵節七日。代下35:17
2.自從先知撒母耳以來,在以色列中沒有守過這樣的逾越節,以色列諸王也沒有守過,像約西亞、祭司、利未人、在那裏的猶大人,和以色列人,以及耶路撒冷居民所守的逾越節。代下35:18
3.這逾越節是約西亞作王十八年守的。代下35:19
三.這事以後,約西亞修完了殿,有埃及王尼哥上來,要攻擊靠近伯拉河的迦基米施;約西亞出去抵擋他。代下35:20
1.他差遣使者來見約西亞,說:「猶大王阿,我與你何干?我今日來不是要攻擊你,乃是要攻擊與我爭戰之家,並且神吩咐我速行,你不要干豫神的事,免得他毀滅你,因為神是與我同在。」代下35:21
2.約西亞卻不肯轉去離開他,改裝要與他打仗,不聽從神藉尼哥之口所說的話,便來到米吉多平原爭戰。代下35:22
3.弓箭手射中約西亞王。王對他的臣僕說:「我受了重傷,你拉我出陣罷!」代下35:23
4.他的臣僕扶他下了戰車,上了次車,送他到耶路撒冷,他就死了,葬在他列祖的墳墓裏。猶大人和耶路撒冷人都為他悲哀。代下35:24
三.耶利米為約西亞作哀歌。所有歌唱的男女也唱哀歌,追悼約西亞,直到今日;而且在以色列中成了定例。這歌載在哀歌書上。代下35:25
四.約西亞其餘的事和他遵著耶和華律法上所記而行的善事,代下35:26
並他自始至終所行的,都寫在以色列和猶大列王記上。代下35:27
◎心得分享:約西亞在耶路撒冷向耶和華守逾越節,約西亞修完了殿,有埃及王尼哥上來,要攻擊靠近伯拉河的迦基米施;約西亞出去抵擋他,約西亞改裝要與他打仗,不聽從神藉尼哥之口所說的話,便來到米吉多平原爭戰,弓箭手射中約西亞王,送他到耶路撒冷,他就死了,耶利米為約西亞作哀歌。約西亞最大的敗筆是「多管閒事」埃及與別人的戰爭,是應該沒關係,他卻不聽別人的忠告,導致被殺身亡,可悲。
第36章主要在講:「約哈斯作王,約雅敬作王,西底家作王被擄」。
一.國民立約西亞的兒子約哈斯在耶路撒冷接續他父作王。代下36:1
1.約哈斯登基的時候年二十三歲,在耶路撒冷作王三個月。代下36:2
2.埃及王在耶路撒冷廢了他,又罰猶大國銀子一百他連得,金子一他連得。代下36:3
二.埃及王尼哥立約哈斯的哥哥以利雅敬作猶大和耶路撒冷的王,改名叫約雅敬,又將約哈斯帶到埃及去了。代下36:4
1.約雅敬登基的時候年二十五歲,在耶路撒冷作王十一年,行耶和華他神眼中看為惡的事。代下36:5
2.巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒上來攻擊他,用銅鍊鎖著他,要將他帶到巴比倫去。代下36:6
3.尼布甲尼撒又將耶和華殿裏的器皿帶到巴比倫,放在他神的廟裏(或作:自己的宮裏)。代下36:7
三.約雅敬其餘的事和他所行可憎的事,並他一切的行為,都寫在以色列和猶大列王記上。他兒子約雅斤接續他作王。代下36:8
1.約雅斤登基的時候年八歲(在列王下二十四章八節是十八歲),在耶路撒冷作王三個月零十天,行耶和華眼中看為惡的事。代下36:9
2.過了一年,尼布甲尼撒差遣人將約雅斤和耶和華殿裏各樣寶貴的器皿帶到巴比倫,就立約雅斤的叔叔(原文是兄)西底家作猶大和耶路撒冷的王。代下36:10
四.西底家登基的時候年二十一歲,在耶路撒冷作王十一年,代下36:11
1.行耶和華他神眼中看為惡的事。先知耶利米以耶和華的話勸他,他仍不在耶利米面前自卑。代下36:12
2.尼布甲尼撒曾使他指著神起誓,他卻背叛,強項硬心,不歸服耶和華以色列的神。代下36:13
3.眾祭司長和百姓也大大犯罪,效法外邦人一切可憎的事,污穢耶和華在耶路撒冷分別為聖的殿。代下36:14
A.耶和華他們列祖的神因為愛惜自己的民和他的居所,從早起來差遣使者去警戒他們。代下36:15
B.他們卻嘻笑神的使者,藐視他的言語,譏誚他的先知,以致耶和華的忿怒向他的百姓發作,無法可救。代下36:16
C.所以,耶和華使迦勒底人的王來攻擊他們,在他們聖殿裏用刀殺了他們的壯丁,不憐恤他們的少男處女、老人白叟。耶和華將他們都交在迦勒底王手裏。代下36:17
D.迦勒底王將神殿裏的大小器皿與耶和華殿裏的財寶,並王和眾首領的財寶,都帶到巴比倫去了。代下36:18
4.迦勒底人焚燒神的殿,拆毀耶路撒冷的城牆,用火燒了城裏的宮殿,毀壞了城裏寶貴的器皿。代下36:19
5.凡脫離刀劍的,迦勒底王都擄到巴比倫去,作他和他子孫的僕婢,直到波斯國興起來。代下36:20
五.這就應驗耶和華藉耶利米口所說的話:地享受安息;因為地土荒涼便守安息,直滿了七十年。代下36:21
1.波斯王古列元年,耶和華為要應驗藉耶利米口所說的話,就激動波斯王古列的心,使他下詔通告全國,說:代下36:22
2.「波斯王古列如此說:耶和華天上的神已將天下萬國賜給我,又囑咐我在猶大的耶路撒冷為他建造殿宇。你們中間凡作他子民的,可以上去,願耶和華他的神與他同在。」代下36:23
◎心得分享:約西亞有三個兒子,1.「約哈斯」,被埃及王在耶路撒冷廢了他,2.約雅敬,是埃及王尼哥立的,3.西底家行耶和華他神眼中看為惡的事,不聽先知耶利米以耶和華的話,不在耶利米面前自卑,背叛巴比倫,導致聖殿被火焚燒。整卷書到最後作總結,這就應驗耶和華藉耶利米口所說的話,波斯王古列元年,耶和華為要應驗藉耶利米口所說的話,就激動波斯王古列的心,使他下詔通告全國,中間凡作神子民的,可以上去,為祂建造殿宇,願耶和華他的神與他同在。總結是「敬畏上帝,遠離偶像與惡事的人,才會蒙受祝福」。
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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。