10月05日 一年的第279天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:拉08-10章
第08章主要在講:「禁食奉獻金銀獻燔祭」。
一.當亞達薛西王年間,同我從巴比倫上來的人,他們的族長和他們的家譜記在下面:拉8:1
1.屬非尼哈的子孫有革順;屬以他瑪的子孫有但以理;屬大衛的子孫有哈突;拉8:2
2.屬巴錄的後裔,就是示迦尼的子孫有撒迦利亞,同著他,按家譜計算,男丁一百五十人;拉8:3
3.屬巴哈摩押的子孫有西拉希雅的兒子以利約乃,同著他有男丁二百;拉8:4
4.屬示迦尼的子孫有雅哈悉的兒子,同著他有男丁三百;拉8:5
5.屬亞丁的子孫有約拿單的兒子以別,同著他有男丁五十;拉8:6
6.屬以攔的子孫有亞他利雅的兒子耶篩亞,同著他有男丁七十;拉8:7
7.屬示法提雅的子孫有米迦勒的兒子西巴第雅,同著他有男丁八十;拉8:8
8.屬約押的子孫有耶歇的兒子俄巴底亞,同著他有男丁二百一十八;拉8:9
9.屬示羅密的子孫有約細斐的兒子,同著他有男丁一百六十;拉8:10
10.屬比拜的子孫有比拜的兒子撒迦利亞,同著他有男丁二十八;拉8:11
11.屬押甲的子孫有哈加坦的兒子約哈難,同著他有男丁一百一十;拉8:12
12.屬亞多尼干的子孫,就是末尾的,他們的名字是以利法列、耶利、示瑪雅,同著他們有男丁六十;拉8:13
13.屬比革瓦伊的子孫有烏太和撒布,同著他們有男丁七十。拉8:14
二.我招聚這些人在流入亞哈瓦的河邊,我們在那裏住了三日。我查看百姓和祭司,見沒有利未人在那裏,拉8:15
1.召首領以利以謝、亞列、示瑪雅、以利拿單、雅立、以利拿單、拿單、撒迦利亞、米書蘭,又召教習約雅立和以利拿單。拉8:16
A.我打發他們往迦西斐雅地方去見那裏的首領易多,又告訴他們當向易多和他的弟兄尼提寧說甚麼話,叫他們為我們神的殿帶使用的人來。拉8:17
B.蒙我們神施恩的手幫助我們,他們在以色列的曾孫、利未的孫子、抹利的後裔中帶一個通達人來;還有示利比和他的眾子與弟兄共一十八人。拉8:18
C.又有哈沙比雅,同著他有米拉利的子孫耶篩亞,並他的眾子和弟兄共二十人。拉8:19
D.從前大衛和眾首領派尼提寧服事利未人,現在從這尼提寧中也帶了二百二十人來,都是按名指定的。拉8:20
2.那時,我在亞哈瓦河邊宣告禁食,為要在我們神面前克苦己心,求他使我們和婦人孩子,並一切所有的,都得平坦的道路。拉8:21
A.那時,我在亞哈瓦河邊宣告禁食,為要在我們神面前克苦己心,求他使我們和婦人孩子,並一切所有的,都得平坦的道路。拉8:21
B.我求王撥步兵馬兵幫助我們抵擋路上的仇敵,本以為羞恥;因我曾對王說:「我們神施恩的手必幫助一切尋求他的;但他的能力和忿怒必攻擊一切離棄他的。」拉8:22
C. 所以我們禁食祈求我們的神,他就應允了我們。拉8:23
三.我分派祭司長十二人,就是示利比、哈沙比雅,和他們的弟兄十人,拉8:24
1.將王和謀士、軍長,並在那裏的以色列眾人為我們神殿所獻的金銀和器皿,都秤了交給他們。拉8:25
A.我秤了交在他們手中的銀子有六百五十他連得;銀器重一百他連得;金子一百他連得;拉8:26
B.金碗二十個,重一千達利克;上等光銅的器皿兩個,寶貴如金。拉8:27
2.我對他們說:「你們歸耶和華為聖,器皿也為聖;金銀是甘心獻給耶和華你們列祖之神的。拉8:28
3.你們當警醒看守,直到你們在耶路撒冷耶和華殿的庫內,在祭司長和利未族長,並以色列的各族長面前過了秤。」拉8:29
A.於是,祭司、利未人按著分量接受金銀和器皿,要帶到耶路撒冷我們神的殿裏。拉8:30
B. 正月十二日,我們從亞哈瓦河邊起行,要往耶路撒冷去。我們神的手保佑我們,救我們脫離仇敵和路上埋伏之人的手。拉8:31
C.我們到了耶路撒冷,在那裏住了三日。拉8:32
D.第四日,在我們神的殿裏把金銀和器皿都秤了,交在祭司烏利亞的兒子米利末的手中。同著他有非尼哈的兒子以利亞撒,還有利未人耶書亞的兒子約撒拔和賓內的兒子挪亞底。拉8:33
E.當時都點了數目,按著分量寫在冊上。拉8:34
4.從擄到之地歸回的人向以色列的神獻燔祭,就是為以色列眾人獻公牛十二隻,公綿羊九十六隻,綿羊羔七十七隻,又獻公山羊十二隻作贖罪祭,這都是向耶和華焚獻的。拉8:35
5.他們將王的諭旨交給王所派的總督與河西的省長,他們就幫助百姓,又供給神殿裏所需用的。拉8:36
◎心得分享:聖殿重建完成,第一項是「敬拜讚美獻祭」的恢復,在以斯拉記第六章,第二項是「律法書上帝話語培靈」的恢復,在以斯拉記第七章,這一章是,第三項「奉獻金銀獻燔祭」的恢復。奉獻是從神領受祝福的條件,因為你的財寶在那裡,你的心就在那裡,當我們把財寶獻給上帝,我們的心就跑到上帝那裡。
第09章主要在講:「通婚以斯拉認罪悔改」。
一.這事作完了,眾首領來見我,說:「以色列民和祭司並利未人,沒有離絕迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人、亞摩利人,仍效法這些國的民,行可憎的事。拉9:1
1.因他們為自己和兒子娶了這些外邦女子為妻,以致聖潔的種類和這些國的民混雜;而且首領和官長在這事上為罪魁。拉9:2
2.我一聽見這事,就撕裂衣服和外袍,拔了頭髮和鬍鬚,驚懼憂悶而坐。拉9:3
3.凡為以色列神言語戰兢的,都因這被擄歸回之人所犯的罪聚集到我這裏來。我就驚懼憂悶而坐,直到獻晚祭的時候。拉9:4
二.獻晚祭的時候我起來,心中愁苦,穿著撕裂的衣袍,雙膝跪下向耶和華我的神舉手,拉9:5
1. 說:「我的神啊,我抱愧蒙羞,不敢向我神仰面;因為我們的罪孽滅頂,我們的罪惡滔天。拉9:6
A.從我們列祖直到今日,我們的罪惡甚重;因我們的罪孽,我們和君王、祭司都交在外邦列王的手中,殺害、擄掠、搶奪、臉上蒙羞正如今日的光景。拉9:7
B.現在耶和華我們的神暫且施恩與我們,給我們留些逃脫的人,使我們安穩如釘子釘在他的聖所,我們的神好光照我們的眼目,使我們在受轄制之中稍微復興。拉9:8
C.我們是奴僕,然而在受轄制之中,我們的神仍沒有丟棄我們,在波斯王眼前向我們施恩,叫我們復興,能重建我們神的殿,修其毀壞之處,使我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有牆垣。拉9:9
2.我們的神啊,既是如此,我們還有甚麼話可說呢?因為我們已經離棄你的命令,拉9:10
A.就是你藉你僕人眾先知所吩咐的說:『你們要去得為業之地是污穢之地;因列國之民的污穢和可憎的事,叫全地從這邊直到那邊滿了污穢。拉9:11
B.所以不可將你們的女兒嫁他們的兒子,也不可為你們的兒子娶他們的女兒,永不可求他們的平安和他們的利益,這樣你們就可以強盛,喫這地的美物,並遺留這地給你們的子孫永遠為業。』拉9:12
3.神啊,我們因自己的惡行和大罪,遭遇了這一切的事,並且你刑罰我們輕於我們罪所當得的,又給我們留下這些人。拉9:13
A.我們豈可再違背你的命令,與這行可憎之事的民結親呢?若這樣行,你豈不向我們發怒,將我們滅絕,以致沒有一個剩下逃脫的人嗎?拉9:14
B.耶和華以色列的神啊,因你是公義的,我們這剩下的人纔得逃脫,正如今日的光景。看哪,我們在你面前有罪惡,因此無人在你面前站立得住。拉9:15
◎心得分享:以色列民和祭司並利未人,沒有離絕迦南人,仍效法這些國的民,行可憎的事,因他們為自己和兒子娶了這些外邦女子為妻,以致聖潔的種類和這些國的民混雜;而且首領和官長在這事上為罪魁,以斯拉就撕裂衣服和外袍在神的面前,為神的選民以色列認罪悔改。是的!許多罪的源頭就是「混雜」,也就是在「信仰的忠誠度上妥協」,一旦我們如此,就會導致我們犯罪得罪神,求神幫助我們不要「混雜」的信仰態度。
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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。