詩篇36:1-12

36:1 （耶和華的僕人大衛的詩，交與伶長。）惡人的罪過在他心裡說：我眼中不怕上帝！
36:2 他自誇自媚，以為他的罪孽終不顯露，不被恨惡。
36:3 他口中的言語盡是罪孽詭詐；他與智慧善行已經斷絕。
36:4 他在床上圖謀罪孽，定意行不善的道，不憎惡惡事。
36:5 耶和華啊，你的慈愛上及諸天；你的信實達到穹蒼。
36:6 你的公義好像高山；你的判斷如同深淵。耶和華啊，人民、牲畜，你都救護。
36:7 上帝啊，你的慈愛何其寶貴！世人投靠在你翅膀的蔭下。
36:8 他們必因你殿裡的肥甘得以飽足；你也必叫他們喝你樂河的水。
36:9 因為，在你那裡有生命的源頭；在你的光中，我們必得見光。
36:10 願你常施慈愛給認識你的人，常以公義待心裡正直的人。
36:11 不容驕傲人的腳踐踏我；不容凶惡人的手趕逐我。
36:12 在那裡，作孽的人已經仆倒；他們被推倒，不能再起來。

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.

¹ I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
    before their eyes.

² In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.
³ The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
    they fail to act wisely or do good.
⁴ Even on their beds they plot evil;
    they commit themselves to a sinful course
    and do not reject what is wrong.

⁵ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
⁷ How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

¹⁰ Continue your love to those who know you,
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.
¹¹ May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!

*************

    惡人之所以做惡，是因為不認識上帝，以自我為中心，更是以搶奪別人為樂事。以至於他們與上帝隔絕，不能得著上帝的賜福。也因為如此，他們的結局是滅亡！

    當然惡人想盡辦法攻擊與搶奪別人，運用小聰明，似乎攻無不克！義人沒有惡人的作為，表面上是弱者，其實是真正的強者。因為他們有上帝為依靠和保護，從來沒有任何勢力可以超越上帝，惡人更是為上帝所抵擋，最後勝利是屬上帝和他的子民。

    因此，我們從詩人的話語中明白，有上帝的同在，就不怕一切的惡勢力！因為其他的勢力都無法與上帝抵擋，只有上帝才是真實可靠，甚至比自己更可靠，而且是永遠可靠的！

民數記23章

             民數記23:1-30 , 民數記23:19   ,

民數記23:1-30

23:1 巴蘭對巴勒說：「你在這裡給我築七座壇，為我預備七隻公牛，七隻公羊。」
23:2 巴勒照巴蘭的話行了。巴勒和巴蘭在每座壇上獻一隻公牛，一隻公羊。
23:3 巴蘭對巴勒說：「你站在你的燔祭旁邊，我且往前去，或者耶和華來迎見我。他指示我甚麼，我必告訴你。」於是巴蘭上一淨光的高處。
23:4 上帝迎見巴蘭；巴蘭說：「我預備了七座壇，在每座壇上獻了一隻公牛，一隻公羊。」
23:5 耶和華將話傳給巴蘭，又說：「你回到巴勒那裡，要如此如此說。」
23:6 他就回到巴勒那裡，見他同摩押的使臣都站在燔祭旁邊。
23:7 巴蘭便題起詩歌說：巴勒引我出亞蘭，摩押王引我出東山，說：來啊，為我咒詛雅各；來啊，怒罵以色列。
23:8 上帝沒有咒詛的，我焉能咒詛？耶和華沒有怒罵的，我焉能怒罵？
23:9 我從高峰看他，從小山望他；這是獨居的民，不列在萬民中。
23:10 誰能數點雅各的塵土？誰能計算以色列的四分之一？我願如義人之死而死；我願如義人之終而終。
23:11 巴勒對巴蘭說：「你向我做的是甚麼事呢？我領你來咒詛我的仇敵，不料，你竟為他們祝福。」
23:12 他回答說：「耶和華傳給我的話，我能不謹慎傳說嗎？」
23:13 巴勒說：「求你同我往別處去，在那裡可以看見他們；你不能全看見，只能看見他們邊界上的人。在那裡要為我咒詛他們。」
23:14 於是領巴蘭到了瑣腓田，上了毘斯迦山頂，築了七座壇；每座壇上獻一隻公牛，一隻公羊。
23:15 巴蘭對巴勒說：「你站在這燔祭旁邊，等我往那邊去迎見耶和華。」
23:16 耶和華臨到巴蘭那裡，將話傳給他；又說：「你回到巴勒那裡，要如此如此說。」
23:17 他就回到巴勒那裡，見他站在燔祭旁邊；摩押的使臣也和他在一處。巴勒問他說：「耶和華說了甚麼話呢？」
23:18 巴蘭就題詩歌說：巴勒，你起來聽；西撥的兒子，你聽我言。
23:19 上帝非人，必不致說謊，也非人子，必不致後悔。他說話豈不照著行呢？他發言豈不要成就呢？
23:20 我奉命祝福；上帝也曾賜福，此事我不能翻轉。
23:21 他未見雅各中有罪孽，也未見以色列中有奸惡。耶和華─他的上帝和他同在；有歡呼王的聲音在他們中間。
23:22 上帝領他們出埃及；他們似乎有野牛之力。
23:23 斷沒有法術可以害雅各，也沒有占卜可以害以色列。現在必有人論及雅各，就是論及以色列說：上帝為他行了何等的大事！
23:24 這民起來，彷彿母獅，挺身，好像公獅，未曾吃野食，未曾喝被傷者之血，決不躺臥。
23:25 巴勒對巴蘭說：「你一點不要咒詛他們，也不要為他們祝福。」
23:26 巴蘭回答巴勒說：「我豈不是告訴你說『凡耶和華所說的，我必須遵行』嗎？」
23:27 巴勒對巴蘭說：「來吧，我領你往別處去，或者上帝喜歡你在那裡為我咒詛他們。」
23:28 巴勒就領巴蘭到那下望曠野的毘珥山頂上。
23:29 巴蘭對巴勒說：「你在這裡為我築七座壇，又在這裡為我預備七隻公牛，七隻公羊。」
23:30 巴勒就照巴蘭的話行，在每座壇上獻一隻公牛，一隻公羊。

  Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” ² Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

³ Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.
⁴ God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
⁵ The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
⁶ So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. ⁷ Then Balaam spoke his message:

“Balak brought me from Aram,
    the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.
‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me;
    come, denounce Israel.’
⁸ How can I curse
    those whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce
    those whom the Lord has not denounced?
⁹ From the rocky peaks I see them,
    from the heights I view them.
I see a people who live apart
    and do not consider themselves one of the nations.
¹⁰ Who can count the dust of Jacob
    or number even a fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,
    and may my final end be like theirs!”

¹¹ Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”

¹² He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”
¹³ Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.” ¹⁴ So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
¹⁵ Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”
¹⁶ The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
¹⁷ So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
¹⁸ Then he spoke his message:

“Arise, Balak, and listen;
    hear me, son of Zippor.
¹⁹ God is not human, that he should lie,
    not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
    Does he promise and not fulfill?
²⁰ I have received a command to bless;
    he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

²¹ “No misfortune is seen in Jacob,
    no misery observed^[a] in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them;
    the shout of the King is among them.
²² God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.
²³ There is no divination against^[b] Jacob,
    no evil omens against^[c] Israel.
It will now be said of Jacob
    and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
²⁴ The people rise like a lioness;
    they rouse themselves like a lion
that does not rest till it devours its prey
    and drinks the blood of its victims.”

²⁵ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

²⁶ Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”
²⁷ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” ²⁸ And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
²⁹ Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” ³⁰ Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

************

    巴勒要巴蘭先知咒詛以色列人，可是巴蘭卻一而再、再而三的祝福以色列人。也因為這樣，讓巴勒很不高興。巴蘭卻故意戲弄巴勒，要他一在換位置，其實他深知上帝地幫助以色列人！

    巴蘭祝福以色列人，也讓我們感受到上帝的心意是不被人的作為改變的，人再多的花樣是沒有意義的，重要的還是人要順應上帝的旨意來行事，人是無法改變與抗拒上帝的旨意的！

    親愛的弟兄姊妹，既然知道上帝的旨意是無法抗拒的，我們就要越發相信：耶穌基督必定再來，上帝的國必定實現！耶穌基督已經復活、升天、坐在上帝的右邊，祂的再來是不會落空的，我們當存歡喜快樂的心來面對！

詩篇35篇

                     詩篇35:1-28  ,

                      詩篇35:1-3  ,   詩篇35:3   , 

                     詩篇35:4-6  ,

                    詩篇35:22-23    ,

詩篇35:1-28

35:1 （大衛的詩。）耶和華啊，與我相爭的，求你與他們相爭！與我相戰的，求你與他們相戰！
35:2 拿著大小的盾牌，起來幫助我。
35:3 抽出槍來，擋住那追趕我的；求你對我的靈魂說：我是拯救你的。
35:4 願那尋索我命的，蒙羞受辱！願那謀害我的，退後羞愧！
35:5 願他們像風前的糠，有耶和華的使者趕逐他們。
35:6 願他們的道路又暗又滑，有耶和華的使者追趕他們。
35:7 因他們無故地為我暗設網羅，無故地挖坑，要害我的性命。
35:8 願災禍忽然臨到他身上！願他暗設的網纏住自己！願他落在其中遭災禍！
35:9 我的心必靠耶和華快樂，靠他的救恩高興。
35:10 我的骨頭都要說：耶和華啊，誰能像你救護困苦人脫離那比他強壯的，救護困苦窮乏人脫離那搶奪他的？
35:11 凶惡的見證人起來，盤問我所不知道的事。
35:12 他們向我以惡報善，使我的靈魂孤苦。
35:13 至於我，當他們有病的時候，我便穿麻衣，禁食，刻苦己心；我所求的都歸到自己的懷中。
35:14 我這樣行，好像他是我的朋友，我的弟兄；我屈身悲哀，如同人為母親哀痛。
35:15 我在患難中，他們卻歡喜，大家聚集。我所不認識的那些下流人聚集攻擊我；他們不住地把我撕裂。
35:16 他們如同席上好嬉笑的狂妄人向我咬牙。
35:17 主啊，你看著不理要到幾時呢？求你救我的靈魂脫離他們的殘害！救我的生命（生命：原文是獨一者）脫離少壯獅子！
35:18 我在大會中要稱謝你，在眾民中要讚美你。
35:19 求你不容那無理與我為仇的向我誇耀！不容那無故恨我的向我擠眼！
35:20 因為他們不說和平話，倒想出詭詐的言語害地上的安靜人。
35:21 他們大大張口攻擊我，說：阿哈，阿哈，我們的眼已經看見了！
35:22 耶和華啊，你已經看見了，求你不要閉口！主啊，求你不要遠離我！
35:23 我的上帝我的主啊，求你奮興醒起，判清我的事，伸明我的冤！
35:24 耶和華─我的上帝啊，求你按你的公義判斷我，不容他們向我誇耀！
35:25 不容他們心裡說：阿哈，遂我們的心願了！不容他們說：我們已經把他吞了！
35:26 願那喜歡我遭難的一同抱愧蒙羞！願那向我妄自尊大的披慚愧，蒙羞辱！
35:27 願那喜悅我冤屈得伸的（冤屈得伸：原文是公義）歡呼快樂；願他們常說：當尊耶和華為大！耶和華喜悅他的僕人平安。
35:28 我的舌頭要終日論說你的公義，時常讚美你。

Of David.

¹ Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me.
² Take up shield and armor;
    arise and come to my aid.
³ Brandish spear and javelin^[a]
    against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
    “I am your salvation.”

⁴ May those who seek my life
    be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back in dismay.
⁵ May they be like chaff before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
⁶ may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

⁷ Since they hid their net for me without cause
    and without cause dug a pit for me,
⁸ may ruin overtake them by surprise—
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
⁹ Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord
    and delight in his salvation.
¹⁰ My whole being will exclaim,
    “Who is like you, Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
    the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

¹¹ Ruthless witnesses come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
¹² They repay me evil for good
    and leave me like one bereaved.
¹³ Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
    and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
¹⁴     I went about mourning
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.
¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered me without ceasing.
¹⁶ Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;^[b]
    they gnashed their teeth at me.

¹⁷ How long, Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life from these lions.
¹⁸ I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
    among the throngs I will praise you.
¹⁹ Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
    maliciously wink the eye.
²⁰ They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations
    against those who live quietly in the land.
²¹ They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

²² Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far from me, Lord.
²³ Awake, and rise to my defense!
    Contend for me, my God and Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat over me.
²⁵ Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ May all who gloat over my distress
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
²⁷ May those who delight in my vindication
    shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

²⁸ My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
    your praises all day long.

*******************

    咒詛和讚美可以在一起嗎？詩人很巧妙將這兩者放在一起，來說明上帝的善與人的惡。使人透過這樣的詩歌，面對人的逼迫與傷害之時，仍然可以讚美上帝與仰望上帝。

    當然上帝的善與人的惡能分別，人才可以避免將不必要的抱怨歸給上帝，進而能在困境中得上帝的安慰與拯救。上帝的善是就上帝的本質來說；另一方面，人的惡是因為人的行為，不是本質。也因為這樣，我們可以明白耶穌基督為甚麼是獅子又是羔羊：對於人的惡行，耶穌基督是獅子，要除去人的罪行；對於人受轄制的本性，因耶穌基督為羔羊的代贖，勝過死與罪，好使具有上帝之形象的本性得釋放。

    求主保守我們，讓我們倚靠上帝在基督裡的拯救，因為唯有如此，人才有真正的平安，才能夠終日論說上帝的公義，時常讚美上帝。