09月15日 一年的第259天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:結15-18章
第17章主要在講:「二鷹葡萄樹喻指:西底家毀約背叛巴比倫,定死在巴比倫城」
耶和華的話臨到我說:結17:1
一.人子阿,你要向以色列家出謎語,設比喻,結17:2
1.說主耶和華如此說:有一大鷹,翅膀大,翎毛長,羽毛豐滿,彩色俱備,來到利巴嫩,將香柏樹梢擰去,結17:3
A.就是折去香柏樹儘尖的嫩枝,叼到貿易之地,放在買賣城中;結17:4
B.又將以色列地的枝子栽於肥田裏,插在大水旁,如插柳樹,結17:5
C.就漸漸生長,成為蔓延矮小的葡萄樹。其枝轉向那鷹,其根在鷹以下,於是成了葡萄樹,生出枝子,發出小枝。結17:6
2.又有一大鷹,翅膀大,羽毛多。這葡萄樹從栽種的畦中向這鷹彎過根來,發出枝子,好得他的澆灌。結17:7
3.這樹栽於肥田多水的旁邊,好生枝子,結果子,成為佳美的葡萄樹。結17:8
4.你要說,主耶和華如此說:這葡萄樹豈能發旺呢?鷹豈不拔出他的根來,芟除他的果子,使他枯乾,使他發的嫩葉都枯乾了麼?也不用大力和多民,就拔出他的根來。結17:9
5.葡萄樹雖然栽種,豈能發旺呢?一經東風,豈不全然枯乾麼?必在生長的畦中枯乾了。」結17:10
二.耶和華的話臨到我說:結17:11
1.你對那悖逆之家說:你們不知道這些事是甚麼意思麼?你要告訴他們說,巴比倫王曾到耶路撒冷,將其中的君王和首領帶到巴比倫自己那裏去。結17:12
A.從以色列的宗室中取一人與他立約,使他發誓,並將國中有勢力的人擄去,結17:13
B.使國低微不能自強,惟因守盟約得以存立。結17:14
C.他卻背叛巴比倫王,打發使者往埃及去,要他們給他馬匹和多民。他豈能亨通呢?行這樣事的人豈能逃脫呢?他背約豈能逃脫呢?結17:15
a.他輕看向王所起的誓,背棄王與他所立的約。主耶和華說:我指著我的永生起誓,他定要死在立他作王、巴比倫王的京都。結17:16
b.敵人築壘造臺,與他打仗的時候,為要剪除多人,法老雖領大軍隊和大群眾,還是不能幫助他。結17:17
2他輕看誓言,背棄盟約,已經投降,卻又作這一切的事,他必不能逃脫。」結17:18
三.所以主耶和華如此說:「我指著我的永生起誓,他既輕看指我所起的誓,背棄指我所立的約,我必要使這罪歸在他頭上。結17:19
1.我必將我的網撒在他身上,他必在我的網羅中纏住。我必帶他到巴比倫,並要在那裏因他干犯我的罪刑罰他。結17:20
2.他的一切軍隊,凡逃跑的,都必倒在刀下;所剩下的,也必分散四方(方:原文是風)。你們就知道說這話的是我耶和華。」結17:21
四.主耶和華如此說:「我要將香柏樹梢擰去栽上,就是從儘尖的嫩枝中折一嫩枝,栽於極高的山上;結17:22
1.在以色列高處的山栽上。他就生枝子,結果子,成為佳美的香柏樹,各類飛鳥都必宿在其下,就是宿在枝子的蔭下。結17:23
2.田野的樹木都必知道我耶和華使高樹矮小,矮樹高大;青樹枯乾,枯樹發旺。我耶和華如此說,也如此行了。」結17:24
◎心得分享:「二鷹」是指巴比倫王,「葡萄樹」是指猶大國,第一隻鷹與葡萄樹,指「巴比倫是要祝福猶大國」,第二隻鷹與葡萄樹,指「猶大國背叛,西底家毀約背叛巴比倫,巴比倫將會毀了猶大國,定死在巴比倫城」。聖經提到「順服才能真正蒙福」,背叛毀約,結果就是刑罰。
第18章主要在講:「主耶和華必按各人所行審判,當回頭離開罪過」。
一.耶和華的話又臨到我說:結18:1
1.「你們在以色列地怎麼用這俗語說『父親喫了酸葡萄,兒子的牙酸倒了』呢?」結18:2
2.主耶和華說:「我指著我的永生起誓,你們在以色列中,必不再有用這俗語的因由。結18:3
二.看哪,世人都是屬我的;為父的怎樣屬我,為子的也照樣屬我;犯罪的,他必死亡。結18:4
1.人若是公義,且行正直與合理的事:結18:5
A.未曾在山上喫過祭偶像之物,未曾仰望以色列家的偶像,未曾玷污鄰舍的妻,未曾在婦人的經期內親近他,結18:6
B.未曾虧負人,乃將欠債之人的當頭還給他;未曾搶奪人的物件,卻將食物給飢餓的人喫,將衣服給赤身的人穿;結18:7
C.未曾向借錢的弟兄取利,也未曾向借糧的弟兄多要,縮手不作罪孽,在兩人之間,按至理判斷;結18:8
D.遵行我的律例,謹守我的典章,按誠實行事這人是公義的,必定存活。這是主耶和華說的。結18:9
2.他若生一個兒子,作強盜,是流人血的,不行以上所說之善,反行其中之惡,乃在山上喫過祭偶像之物,並玷污鄰舍的妻,結18:10
A.虧負困苦和窮乏的人,搶奪人的物,未曾將當頭還給人,仰望偶像,並行可憎的事,結18:12
B.向借錢的弟兄取利,向借糧的弟兄多要,這人豈能存活呢?他必不能存活。他行這一切可憎的事,必要死亡,他的罪(原文是血)必歸到他身上。結18:13
3.他若生一個兒子,見父親所犯的一切罪便懼怕(有古卷:思量),不照樣去作;結18:14
A.未曾在山上喫過祭偶像之物,未曾仰望以色列家的偶像,未曾玷污鄰舍的妻,結18:15
B.未曾虧負人,未曾取人的當頭,未曾搶奪人的物件,卻將食物給飢餓的人喫,將衣服給赤身的人穿,結18:16
C.縮手不害貧窮人,未曾向借錢的弟兄取利,也未曾向借糧的弟兄多要;他順從我的典章,遵行我的律例,就不因父親的罪孽死亡,定要存活。結18:17
D.至於他父親;因為欺人太甚,搶奪弟兄,在本國的民中行不善,他必因自己的罪孽死亡。結18:18
4.你們還說:『兒子為何不擔當父親的罪孽呢?』兒子行正直與合理的事,謹守遵行我的一切律例,他必定存活。結18:19
三.惟有犯罪的,他必死亡。兒子必不擔當父親的罪孽,父親也不擔當兒子的罪孽。義人的善果必歸自己,惡人的惡報也必歸自己。結18:20
1.惡人若回頭離開所作的一切罪惡,謹守我一切的律例,行正直與合理的事,他必定存活,不致死亡。結18:21
2.他所犯的一切罪過都不被記念,因所行的義,他必存活。結18:22
3.主耶和華說:惡人死亡,豈是我喜悅的麼?不是喜悅他回頭離開所行的道存活麼?結18:23
4.義人若轉離義行而作罪孽,照著惡人所行一切可憎的事而行,他豈能存活麼?他所行的一切義都不被記念;他必因所犯的罪、所行的惡死亡。結18:24
◎心得分享:先知提到上帝要刑罰「猶大」,有人就用俗語回答說『父親喫了酸葡萄,兒子的牙酸倒了』,但是上帝說要停止說這話,世人都是屬我的;為父的怎樣屬我,為子的也照樣屬我;犯罪的,他必死亡,惟有犯罪的,他必死亡。兒子必不擔當父親的罪孽,父親也不擔當兒子的罪孽,義人的善果必歸自己,惡人的惡報也必歸自己,主耶和華說:惡人死亡,豈是我喜悅的麼?不是喜悅他回頭離開所行的道存活麼?。刑罰罪人,不是上帝原本意思,是因為不得己才要作,上帝的心意是要惡人,回頭離開所行惡。
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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。