申命記19章

        申命記19:1-21  ,

申命記19:1-21

19:1 「耶和華─你上帝將列國之民剪除的時候，耶和華─你上帝也將他們的地賜給你，你接著住他們的城邑並他們的房屋，
19:2 就要在耶和華─你上帝所賜你為業的地上分定三座城。
19:3 要將耶和華─你上帝使你承受為業的地分為三段；又要預備道路，使誤殺人的，都可以逃到那裡去。
19:4 「誤殺人的逃到那裡可以存活，定例乃是這樣：凡素無仇恨，無心殺了人的，
19:5 就如人與鄰舍同入樹林砍伐樹木，手拿斧子一砍，本想砍下樹木，不料，斧頭脫了把，飛落在鄰舍身上，以致於死，這人逃到那些城的一座城，就可以存活，
19:6 免得報血仇的，心中火熱追趕他，因路遠就追上，將他殺死；其實他不該死，因為他與被殺的素無仇恨。
19:7 所以我吩咐你說，要分定三座城。
19:8 耶和華─你上帝若照他向你列祖所起的誓擴張你的境界，將所應許賜你列祖的地全然給你，
19:9 你若謹守遵行我今日所吩咐的這一切誡命，愛耶和華─你的上帝，常常遵行他的道，就要在這三座城之外，再添三座城，
19:10 免得無辜之人的血流在耶和華─你上帝所賜你為業的地上，流血的罪就歸於你。
19:11 「若有人恨他的鄰舍，埋伏著起來擊殺他，以致於死，便逃到這些城的一座城，
19:12 本城的長老就要打發人去，從那裡帶出他來，交在報血仇的手中，將他治死。
19:13 你眼不可顧惜他，卻要從以色列中除掉流無辜血的罪，使你可以得福。」
19:14 「在耶和華─你上帝所賜你承受為業之地，不可挪移你鄰舍的地界，那是先人所定的。」
19:15 「人無論犯甚麼罪，作甚麼惡，不可憑一個人的口作見證，總要憑兩三個人的口作見證才可定案。
19:16 若有凶惡的見證人起來，見證某人作惡，
19:17 這兩個爭訟的人就要站在耶和華面前，和當時的祭司，並審判官面前，
19:18 審判官要細細地查究，若見證人果然是作假見證的，以假見證陷害弟兄，
19:19 你們就要待他如同他想要待的弟兄。這樣，就把那惡從你們中間除掉。
19:20 別人聽見都要害怕，就不敢在你們中間再行這樣的惡了。
19:21 你眼不可顧惜，要以命償命，以眼還眼，以牙還牙，以手還手，以腳還腳。」

When the Lord your God has destroyed the nations whose land he is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their towns and houses, ² then set aside for yourselves three cities in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess. ³ Determine the distances involved and divide into three parts the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.

⁴ This is the rule concerning anyone who kills a person and flees there for safety—anyone who kills a neighbor unintentionally, without malice aforethought. ⁵ For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life. ⁶ Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought. ⁷ This is why I command you to set aside for yourselves three cities.

⁸ If the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he promised on oath to your ancestors, and gives you the whole land he promised them, ⁹ because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today—to love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to him—then you are to set aside three more cities. ¹⁰ Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

¹¹ But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor, and then flees to one of these cities, ¹² the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die. ¹³ Show no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.

¹⁴ Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

¹⁵ One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

¹⁶ If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, ¹⁷ the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. ¹⁸ The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, ¹⁹ then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. ²⁰ The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. ²¹ Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

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    法律的目的是要維持社會的正義，聖經本身也看重正義的維持，所以在生命的保護上是十分用心，在摩西的時代就想到設立逃城，就好像是「庇護城」一般要保護那些不是故意要殺害人的人。

    當然聖經也提到摩西為了遏止作假見證害人的，設定底下的條例：「人無論犯甚麼罪，作甚麼惡，不可憑一個人的口作見證，總要憑兩三個人的口作見證才可定案。若有凶惡的見證人起來，見證某人作惡，這兩個爭訟的人就要站在耶和華面前，和當時的祭司，並審判官面前，審判官要細細地查究，若見證人果然是作假見證的，以假見證陷害弟兄，你們就要待他如同他想要待的弟兄。這樣，就把那惡從你們中間除掉。別人聽見都要害怕，就不敢在你們中間再行這樣的惡了。你眼不可顧惜，要以命償命，以眼還眼，以牙還牙，以手還手，以腳還腳。」

    在今日講求廢除死刑的風氣，聖經這段話讓我們感受到，廢死刑並無法滿足正義的要求，更是無法保護人的生命！這也是我們要深思的課題，不可以為廢死刑是先進、滿足人道要求，其實也有其該思考的反效果！我們若希望保護生命，需要回到聖經的原則：「別人聽見都要害怕，就不敢在你們中間再行這樣的惡了。你眼不可顧惜，要以命償命，以眼還眼，以牙還牙，以手還手，以腳還腳。」

約書亞記22:5

只要切切地謹慎遵行耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐你們的誡命律法，愛耶和華─你們的　神，行他一切的道，守他的誡命，專靠他，盡心盡性事奉他。

Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

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    這是約書亞對呂便人、迦得人、和瑪拿西半支派的人說的話。一方面他們遵守諾言和其他支派的人越過約旦河和他們一起爭戰，現在已完成使命，另一方面現在他們卻要與其他支派的人相離。所以約書亞勉勵他們。

    在此約書亞要求他們遵守摩西律法，另一方求他們要盡心盡性是奉耶和華。其實這不僅是他們要做的，也是我們今日要如此行的。我們要意遵行上帝的律法為記號，好使人因我們言行，認識我們是屬耶穌基督的。

    當然我們之所以可以行出上帝的旨意，專一信靠主是非常必要的，若沒有上帝的幫助與引導，是沒有人做得到的。

馬太福音3:15

耶穌回答說：「你暫且許我，因為我們理當這樣盡諸般的義（或譯：禮）。」於是約翰許了他。

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

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耶穌基督是「義」的代表，所以祂也成為「義」的模範，因為上帝要求人要認罪悔改並且受洗，才能進入上帝所設立之「義」的團體，所以耶穌在這時候「要求」施洗約翰要為祂施行洗禮，已表明祂願意完成上帝的旨意，成為得救之人的代表，使上帝與人透過祂有合宜的關係。

這對我們有重大之意義，使我們與上帝的關係是的的確確建立在耶穌基督這根基上，而不是靠著別的因素或關係，也好使人不要有別的想法與概念。因為人很容易用眼見的、可以自我表現之方式來宣揚自己認為「對」的標準，而不是義上帝的旨意為標準。

更明顯的事，就是人喜歡對自己或別人歌功頌德，好藉由這樣的作為與別人或自己有好的關係，好得一些好處。也因為如此，人不願意透過耶穌基督為基礎與上帝建立關係，總覺得透過耶穌基督要放下自己。因此，除非聖靈的感動，人無法稱耶穌基督為主，並且順服祂，以祂為生命的依歸，與上帝和好關係之基礎。

詩篇66篇

        詩篇66:1-20 ,

        詩篇66:12  ,

詩篇66:1-20

66:1 （一篇詩歌，交與伶長。）全地都當向上帝歡呼！
66:2 歌頌他名的榮耀！用讚美的言語將他的榮耀發明！
66:3 當對上帝說：你的作為何等可畏！因你的大能，仇敵要投降你。
66:4 全地要敬拜你，歌頌你，要歌頌你的名。（細拉）
66:5 你們來看上帝所行的，他向世人所做之事是可畏的。
66:6 他將海變成乾地，眾民步行過河；我們在那裡因他歡喜。
66:7 他用權能治理萬民，直到永遠。他的眼睛鑒察列邦；悖逆的人不可自高。（細拉）
66:8 萬民哪，你們當稱頌我們的上帝，使人得聽讚美他的聲音。
66:9 他使我們的性命存活，也不叫我們的腳搖動。
66:10 上帝啊，你曾試驗我們，熬煉我們，如熬煉銀子一樣。
66:11 你使我們進入網羅，把重擔放在我們的身上。
66:12 你使人坐車軋我們的頭；我們經過水火，你卻使我們到豐富之地。
66:13 我要用燔祭進你的殿，向你還我的願，
66:14 就是在急難時我嘴唇所發的、口中所許的。
66:15 我要把肥牛作燔祭，將公羊的香祭獻給你，又把公牛和山羊獻上。（細拉）
66:16 凡敬畏上帝的人，你們都來聽！我要述說他為我所行的事。
66:17 我曾用口求告他；我的舌頭也稱他為高。
66:18 我若心裡注重罪孽，主必不聽。
66:19 但上帝實在聽見了；他側耳聽了我禱告的聲音。
66:20 上帝是應當稱頌的！他並沒有推卻我的禱告，也沒有叫他的慈愛離開我。

For the director of music. A song. A psalm.

¹ Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
²     Sing the glory of his name;
    make his praise glorious.
³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
    So great is your power
    that your enemies cringe before you.
⁴ All the earth bows down to you;
    they sing praise to you,
    they sing the praises of your name.”^[a]

⁵ Come and see what God has done,
    his awesome deeds for mankind!
⁶ He turned the sea into dry land,
    they passed through the waters on foot—
    come, let us rejoice in him.
⁷ He rules forever by his power,
    his eyes watch the nations—
    let not the rebellious rise up against him.

⁸ Praise our God, all peoples,
    let the sound of his praise be heard;
⁹ he has preserved our lives
    and kept our feet from slipping.
¹⁰ For you, God, tested us;
    you refined us like silver.
¹¹ You brought us into prison
    and laid burdens on our backs.
¹² You let people ride over our heads;
    we went through fire and water,
    but you brought us to a place of abundance.

¹³ I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
    and fulfill my vows to you—
¹⁴ vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
    when I was in trouble.
¹⁵ I will sacrifice fat animals to you
    and an offering of rams;
    I will offer bulls and goats.

¹⁶ Come and hear, all you who fear God;
    let me tell you what he has done for me.
¹⁷ I cried out to him with my mouth;
    his praise was on my tongue.
¹⁸ If I had cherished sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened;
¹⁹ but God has surely listened
    and has heard my prayer.
²⁰ Praise be to God,
    who has not rejected my prayer
    or withheld his love from me!

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    詩人心中的感動是來自於：「但上帝實在聽見了；他側耳聽了我禱告的聲音。上帝是應當稱頌的！他並沒有推卻我的禱告，也沒有叫他的慈愛離開我。」

    這不一定說是上帝應允禱告，照著詩人的禱告成就，而是詩人感受到上帝的看重，認定他是一個義人，就是與上帝有合宜關係的人，因為「我若心裡注重罪孽，主必不聽。」

    然而我們如何認定我們是上帝眼中的義人呢？是透過主耶穌！我們信靠主耶穌之後，就是披戴基督，基督的義就成為我們的義，就能為上帝所接納成為上帝的兒女，活在上帝的賜福之中，而不是憤怒之中！

申命記18:1-22

18:1 「祭司利未人和利未全支派必在以色列中無分無業；他們所吃用的就是獻給耶和華的火祭和一切所捐的。
18:2 他們在弟兄中必沒有產業；耶和華是他們的產業，正如耶和華所應許他們的。
18:3 祭司從百姓所當得的分乃是這樣：凡獻牛或羊為祭的，要把前腿和兩腮並脾胃給祭司。
18:4 初收的五穀、新酒和油，並初剪的羊毛，也要給他；
18:5 因為耶和華─你的上帝從你各支派中將他揀選出來，使他和他子孫永遠奉耶和華的名侍立，事奉。
18:6 「利未人無論寄居在以色列中的哪一座城，若從那裡出來，一心願意到耶和華所選擇的地方，
18:7 就要奉耶和華─他上帝的名事奉，像他眾弟兄利未人侍立在耶和華面前事奉一樣。
18:8 除了他賣祖父產業所得的以外，還要得一分祭物與他們同吃。」
18:9 「你到了耶和華─你上帝所賜之地，那些國民所行可憎惡的事，你不可學著行。
18:10 你們中間不可有人使兒女經火，也不可有占卜的、觀兆的、用法術的、行邪術的、
18:11 用迷術的、交鬼的、行巫術的、過陰的。
18:12 凡行這些事的都為耶和華所憎惡；因那些國民行這可憎惡的事，所以耶和華─你的上帝將他們從你面前趕出。
18:13 你要在耶和華─你的上帝面前作完全人。」
18:14 「因你所要趕出的那些國民都聽信觀兆的和占卜的，至於你，耶和華─你的上帝從來不許你這樣行。
18:15 耶和華─你的上帝要從你們弟兄中間給你興起一位先知，像我，你們要聽從他。
18:16 正如你在何烈山大會的日子求耶和華─你上帝一切的話，說：『求你不再叫我聽見耶和華─我上帝的聲音，也不再叫我看見這大火，免得我死亡。』
18:17 耶和華就對我說：『他們所說的是。
18:18 我必在他們弟兄中間給他們興起一位先知，像你。我要將當說的話傳給他；他要將我一切所吩咐的都傳給他們。
18:19 誰不聽他奉我名所說的話，我必討誰的罪。
18:20 若有先知擅敢託我的名說我所未曾吩咐他說的話，或是奉別神的名說話，那先知就必治死。』
18:21 你心裡若說：『耶和華所未曾吩咐的話，我們怎能知道呢？』
18:22 先知託耶和華的名說話，所說的若不成就，也無效驗，這就是耶和華所未曾吩咐的，是那先知擅自說的，你不要怕他。」

The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the Lord, for that is their inheritance. ² They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.

³ This is the share due the priests from the people who sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the internal organs and the meat from the head. ⁴ You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep, ⁵ for the Lord your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the Lord’s name always.

⁶ If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living, and comes in all earnestness to the place the Lord will choose, ⁷ he may minister in the name of the Lord his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the Lord. ⁸ He is to share equally in their benefits, even though he has received money from the sale of family possessions.

⁹ When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. ¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ¹¹ or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. ¹³ You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

¹⁴ The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. ¹⁵ The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. ¹⁶ For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”

¹⁷ The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. ¹⁸ I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. ¹⁹ I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. ²⁰ But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

²¹ You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” ²² If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

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    上帝是不會虧待自己的僕人，正如在這裡明文地說到自己必照顧利未人，祂是他們的產業，必讓他們不至於缺乏，而且是享受最好的，因為以色列人要將最好的獻給耶和華，由利未人代表享用！

    同樣今日的教會讀到這段經文要想到在教會中事奉的傳道人，他們為了事奉上帝沒有到社會工作，也因此沒有在社會上賺錢，就像利未人沒有產業，也因為這樣上帝就是他們的產業！我們將最好的獻給上帝，他們就是代表上帝享用，如同利未人一般！

    因此，教會沒有好好的供應傳道人，是教會的弟兄姊妹虧欠上帝！虧欠人還好，虧欠上帝的，上帝必定追討！教會若要復興，當然要先從敬畏上帝開始，敬畏上帝的表現，就是好好照顧傳道人！