09月20日 一年的第264天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:結31-33章
第31章主要在講:「埃及像亞述因驕傲而漸敗落」。
十一年三月初一日,耶和華的話臨到我說:結31:1
一.人子阿,你要向埃及王法老和他的眾人說:在威勢上誰能與你相比呢?結31:2
1.亞述王曾如利巴嫩中的香柏樹,枝條榮美,影密如林,極其高大,樹尖插入雲中。結31:3
2.眾水使他生長;深水使他長大。所栽之地有江河圍流,汊出的水道延到田野諸樹。結31:4
3.所以他高大超過田野諸樹;發旺的時候,枝子繁多,因得大水之力枝條長長。結31:5
A.空中的飛鳥都在枝子上搭窩;田野的走獸都在枝條下生子;所有大國的人民都在他蔭下居住。結31:6
B.樹大條長,成為榮美,因為根在眾水之旁。結31:7
C.神園中的香柏樹不能遮蔽他;松樹不及他的枝子;楓樹不及他的枝條;神園中的樹都沒有他榮美。結31:8
4.我使他的枝條蕃多,成為榮美,以致神伊甸園中的樹都嫉妒他。結31:9
二.所以主耶和華如此說:「因他高大,樹尖插入雲中,心驕氣傲,結31:10
1.我就必將他交給列國中大有威勢的人;他必定辦他。我因他的罪惡,已經驅逐他。結31:11
2.外邦人,就是列邦中強暴的,將他砍斷棄掉。他的枝條落在山間和一切谷中,他的枝子折斷,落在地的一切河旁。地上的眾民已經走去,離開他的蔭下。結31:12
3.空中的飛鳥都要宿在這敗落的樹上,田野的走獸都要臥在他的枝條下,結31:13
4.好使水旁的諸樹不因高大而自尊,也不將樹尖插入雲中,並且那些得水滋潤、有勢力的,也不得高大自立。因為他們在世人中,和下坑的人都被交與死亡,到陰府去了。結31:14
三.主耶和華如此說:「他下陰間的那日,我便使人悲哀。我為他遮蓋深淵,使江河凝結,大水停流;我也使利巴嫩為他悽慘,田野的諸樹都因他發昏。結31:15
1.我將他扔到陰間,與下坑的人一同下去。那時,列國聽見他墜落的響聲就都震動,並且伊甸的一切樹就是利巴嫩得水滋潤、最佳最美的樹都在陰府受了安慰。結31:16
2.他們也與他同下陰間,到被殺的人那裏。他們曾作他的膀臂,在列國中他的蔭下居住。結31:17
3.在這樣榮耀威勢上,在伊甸園諸樹中,誰能與你相比呢?然而你要與伊甸的諸樹一同下到陰府,在未受割禮的人中,與被殺的人一同躺臥。「法老和他的群眾乃是如此。這是主耶和華說的。」結31:18
◎心得分享:亞述因他高大,樹尖插入雲中,心驕氣傲,在這樣榮耀威勢上,在伊甸園諸樹中,誰能與你相比呢?然而你要與伊甸的諸樹一同下到陰府,「法老和他的群眾乃是如此。這是主耶和華說的」。這是以西結對埃及的預言,用亞述的結局,說到埃及的結局,歷史常常是這樣,人的失敗,常常是因為不會從別人的失敗中學到功課。
第32章主要在講:「埃及必被巴比倫所滅」。
一.十二年十二月初一日,耶和華的話臨到我說:結32:1
1.人子阿,你要為埃及王法老作哀歌,說:從前你在列國中,如同少壯獅子;現在你卻像海中的大魚。你衝出江河,用爪攪動諸水,使江河渾濁。結32:2
2.主耶和華如此說:我必用多國的人民,將我的網撒在你身上,把你拉上來。結32:3
A.我必將你丟在地上,拋在田野,使空中的飛鳥都落在你身上,使遍地的野獸喫你得飽。結32:4
B.我必將你的肉丟在山間,用你高大的屍首填滿山谷。結32:5
C.我又必用你的血澆灌你所游泳之地,漫過山頂;河道都必充滿。結32:6
3.我將你撲滅的時候,要把天遮蔽,使眾星昏暗,以密雲遮掩太陽,月亮也不放光。結32:7
A.我必使天上的亮光都在你以上變為昏暗,使你的地上黑暗。這是主耶和華說的。結32:8
B.我使你敗亡的風聲傳到你所不認識的各國。那時,我必使多民的心因你愁煩。結32:9
C.我在許多國民和君王面前向你掄我的刀,國民就必因你驚奇,君王也必因你極其恐慌。在你仆倒的日子,他們各人為自己的性命時刻戰兢。」結32:10
4.主耶和華如此說:「巴比倫王的刀必臨到你。結32:11
A.我必藉勇士的刀使你的眾民仆倒;這勇士都是列國中強暴的。他們必使埃及的驕傲歸於無有;埃及的眾民必被滅絕。結32:12
B.我必從埃及多水旁除滅所有的走獸;人腳獸蹄必不再攪渾這水。結32:13
C.那時,我必使埃及河澄清,江河像油緩流。這是主耶和華說的。結32:14
D.我使埃及地變為荒廢淒涼;這地缺少從前所充滿的,又擊殺其中一切的居民。那時,他們就知道我是耶和華。結32:15
E.「人必用這哀歌去哀哭,列國的女子為埃及和他的群眾也必以此悲哀。這是主耶和華說的。」結32:16
二.十二年十二月十五日,耶和華的話臨到我說:結32:17
1.人子阿,你要為埃及群眾哀號,又要將埃及和有名之國的女子,並下坑的人,一同扔到陰府去。結32:18
A.你埃及的美麗勝過誰呢?你下去與未受割禮的人一同躺臥罷!結32:19
B.他們必在被殺的人中仆到。他被交給刀劍,要把他和他的群眾拉去。結32:20
C.強盛的勇士要在陰間對埃及王和幫助他的說話;他們是未受割禮被殺的人,已經下去,躺臥不動。結32:21
2.亞述和他的眾民都在那裏,他民的墳墓在他四圍;他們都是被殺倒在刀下的。結32:22
他們的墳墓在坑中極深之處。他的眾民在他墳墓的四圍,都是被殺倒在刀下的;他們曾在活人之地使人驚恐。結32:23
3.以攔也在那裏,他的群眾在他墳墓的四圍,都是被殺倒在刀下、未受割禮而下陰府的;他們曾在活人之地使人驚恐,並且與下坑的人一同擔當羞辱。結32:24
人給他和他的群眾在被殺的人中設立床榻。他民的墳墓在他四圍,他們都是未受割禮被刀殺的;他們曾在活人之地使人驚恐,並且與下坑的人一同擔當羞辱。以攔已經放在被殺的人中。結32:25
4.米設、土巴,和他們的群眾都在那裏。他民的墳墓在他四圍,他們都是未受割禮被刀殺的;他們曾在活人之地使人驚恐。結32:26
他們不得與那未受割禮仆倒的勇士一同躺臥;這些勇士帶著兵器下陰間,頭枕刀劍,骨頭上有本身的罪孽;他們曾在活人之地使勇士驚恐。結32:27
5.法老阿,你必在未受割禮的人中敗壞,與那些被殺的人一同躺臥。結32:28
A.以東也在那裏。他君王和一切首領雖然仗著勢力,還是放在被殺的人中;他們必與未受割禮的和下坑的人一同躺臥。結32:29
B.在那裏有北方的眾王子和一切西頓人,都與被殺的人下去。他們雖然仗著勢力使人驚恐,還是蒙羞。他們未受割禮,和被刀殺的一同躺臥,與下坑的人一同擔當羞辱。結32:30
C.法老看見他們,便為他被殺的軍隊受安慰。這是主耶和華說的。結32:31
D.我任憑法老在活人之地使人驚恐,法老和他的群眾必放在未受割禮和被殺的人中。這是主耶和華說的。」結32:32
◎心得分享:本章論到到埃及悲慘的結局,巴比倫王的刀必臨到,勇士的刀使眾民仆倒;這勇士都是列國中強暴的。他們必使埃及的驕傲歸於無有;埃及的眾民必被滅絕,法老阿必在未受割禮的人中敗壞,與那些被殺的人一同躺臥。埃及預表世界,埃及的豐富,是人人羡慕的,但是結局是「人人避之危恐不急」,這在告訴我們,不要羡慕有錢人,有衣有食就當知足。
今天: | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
昨天: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
總計: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
"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。