2020年10月3日 星期六
撒母耳記上23:1-29
23:1 有人告訴大衛說：「非利士人攻擊基伊拉，搶奪禾場。」
23:2 所以大衛求問耶和華說：「我去攻打那些非利士人可以不可以？」耶和華對大衛說：「你可以去攻打非利士人，拯救基伊拉。」
23:3 跟隨大衛的人對他說：「我們在猶大地這裡尚且懼怕，何況往基伊拉去攻打非利士人的軍旅呢？」
23:4 大衛又求問耶和華。耶和華回答說：「你起身下基伊拉去，我必將非利士人交在你手裡。」
23:5 大衛和跟隨他的人往基伊拉去，與非利士人打仗，大大殺敗他們，又奪獲他們的牲畜。這樣，大衛救了基伊拉的居民。
23:6 亞希米勒的兒子亞比亞他逃到基伊拉見大衛的時候，手裡拿著以弗得。
23:7 有人告訴掃羅說：「大衛到了基伊拉。」掃羅說：「他進了有門有閂的城，困閉在裡頭；這是上帝將他交在我手裡了。」
23:8 於是掃羅招聚眾民，要下去攻打基伊拉城，圍困大衛和跟隨他的人。
23:9 大衛知道掃羅設計謀害他，就對祭司亞比亞他說：「將以弗得拿過來。」
23:10 大衛禱告說：「耶和華─以色列的上帝啊，你僕人聽真了掃羅要往基伊拉來，為我的緣故滅城。
23:11 基伊拉人將我交在掃羅手裡不交？掃羅照著你僕人所聽的話下來不下來？耶和華─以色列的上帝啊，求你指示僕人！」耶和華說：「掃羅必下來。」
23:12 大衛又說：「基伊拉人將我和跟隨我的人交在掃羅手裡不交？」耶和華說：「必交出來。」
23:13 大衛和跟隨他的約有六百人，就起身出了基伊拉，往他們所能往的地方去。有人告訴掃羅，大衛離開基伊拉逃走；於是掃羅不出來了。
23:14 大衛住在曠野的山寨裡，常在西弗曠野的山地。掃羅天天尋索大衛，上帝卻不將大衛交在他手裡。
23:15 大衛知道掃羅出來尋索他的命。那時，他住在西弗曠野的樹林裡；
23:16 掃羅的兒子約拿單起身，往那樹林裡去見大衛，使他倚靠上帝得以堅固，
23:17 對他說：「不要懼怕！我父掃羅的手必不加害於你；你必作以色列的王，我也作你的宰相。這事我父掃羅知道了。」
23:18 於是二人在耶和華面前立約。大衛仍住在樹林裡，約拿單回家去了。
23:19 西弗人上到基比亞見掃羅，說：「大衛不是在我們那裡的樹林裡山寨中、曠野南邊的哈基拉山藏著嗎？
23:20 王啊，請你隨你的心願下來，我們必親自將他交在王的手裡。」
23:21 掃羅說：「願耶和華賜福與你們，因你們顧恤我。
23:22 請你們回去，再確實查明他的住處和行蹤，是誰看見他在那裡，因為我聽見人說他甚狡猾。
23:23 所以要看準他藏匿的地方，回來據實地告訴我，我就與你們同去。他若在猶大的境內，我必從千門萬戶中搜出他來。」
23:24 西弗人就起身，在掃羅以先往西弗去。大衛和跟隨他的人卻在瑪雲曠野南邊的亞拉巴。
23:25 掃羅和跟隨他的人去尋找大衛；有人告訴大衛，他就下到磐石，住在瑪雲的曠野。掃羅聽見，便在瑪雲的曠野追趕大衛。
23:26 掃羅在山這邊走，大衛和跟隨他的人在山那邊走。大衛急忙躲避掃羅；因為掃羅和跟隨他的人，四面圍住大衛和跟隨他的人，要拿獲他們。
23:27 忽有使者來報告掃羅說：「非利士人犯境搶掠，請王快快回去！」
23:28 於是掃羅不追趕大衛，回去攻打非利士人。因此那地方名叫西拉‧哈瑪希羅結。
23:29 大衛從那裡上去，住在隱‧基底的山寨裡。
When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” 2 he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
4 Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. 6 (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
7 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” 8 And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” 10 David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”
And the Lord said, “He will.”
12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?”
And the Lord said, “They will.”
13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that[a] Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
19 The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? 20 Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands.”
21 Saul replied, “The Lord bless you for your concern for me. 22 Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. 23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah.”
24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon. 25 Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.
26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” 28 Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.[b] 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.[c]
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大衛雖然是上帝的受膏者，但是以色列人甚至猶大的百姓，並不一定馬上認同，畢竟掃羅的勢力還是存在，而且這個勢力隨時都會威脅到大衛的安危，甚至於以色列的百姓更是處處為掃羅，因為掃羅現在是以色列王！
其實大衛的處境也是今日基督徒的處境，我們雖然是上帝的兒女，生活在這世界，但是我們並不屬於這世界的，我們是屬乎上帝的！然而這世界有一天會過去，上帝國有一天必完全實現！在這種情況下，我們要不斷跟惡者征戰，就是反對上帝的勢力！當然這惡者在世界仍然是有能力的，正如保羅所說：「那時，你們在其中行事為人，隨從今世的風俗，順服空中掌權者的首領，就是現今在悖逆之子心中運行的邪靈。我們從前也都在他們中間，放縱肉體的私慾，隨著肉體和心中所喜好的去行，本為可怒之子，和別人一樣。」(以弗所書2:2-3)「因我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰（原文是摔跤；下同），乃是與那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的，以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。」(以弗所書6:12)
既然如此，我們要靠堅強的信心和那惡者爭戰，更要相信主已經在十字架上勝過那惡者，現在只是困獸之鬥。因為那惡者是無法勝過上帝的，正如黑暗無法勝過光明一樣！在《啟示錄》中這樣宣告：「第七位天使吹號，天上就有大聲音說：世上的國成了我主和主基督的國；他要作王，直到永永遠遠。」（11:15）
而在歷史上掃羅後來敗亡之後，大衛接續成為以色列的王。所以，上帝的應許必不落空，一定會成就的！
傳道書9:11
我又轉念：見日光之下，快跑的未必能贏；力戰的未必得勝；智慧的未必得糧食；明哲的未必得資財；靈巧的未必得喜悅。所臨到眾人的是在乎當時的機會。
I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or
the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or
wealth to the brilliant
or
favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.
****************
每次想到自己人生的經歷，心中的感觸就是才能高低與人是否有成就是沒有直接的關係，反倒是機會與人的成就的關係比較大！所以，能夠把握機會的人，通常會趁勢而發！
正如以賽亞書40章31節所說：「但那等候耶和華的必重新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰；他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。」
先知這樣說是要告訴我們，我們要像老鷹一樣要等候風起來的時候，展開翅膀讓風來發揮作用，利用滑翔的原理，讓老鷹飛的又高，看得又遠！我們若如老鷹順勢而行，必定有這樣的結果，就是「奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏」！就像以利亞，吃了天使給他的餅和水，走了四十晝夜，到了上帝的山，就是何烈山。（列王記上19:7-8）
所以，不在我們能力有多少，而在乎我們有沒有順應上帝的引導，把握上帝給我們「當時的機會」！機會若沒有把握好，是一去不回頭的！求主幫助，讓我們可以把握時機來榮耀主名，發揮生命的意義！
2020年10月2日 星期五
約伯記5:1-27
5:1 你且呼求，有誰答應你？諸聖者之中，你轉向哪一位呢？
5:2 忿怒害死愚妄人；嫉妒殺死癡迷人。
5:3 我曾見愚妄人扎下根，但我忽然咒詛他的住處。
5:4 他的兒女遠離穩妥的地步，在城門口被壓，並無人搭救。
5:5 他的莊稼有飢餓的人吃盡了，就是在荊棘裡的也搶去了；他的財寶有網羅張口吞滅了。
5:6 禍患原不是從土中出來；患難也不是從地裡發生。
5:7 人生在世必遇患難，如同火星飛騰。
5:8 至於我，我必仰望上帝，把我的事情託付他。
5:9 他行大事不可測度，行奇事不可勝數：
5:10 降雨在地上，賜水於田裡；
5:11 將卑微的安置在高處，將哀痛的舉到穩妥之地；
5:12 破壞狡猾人的計謀，使他們所謀的不得成就。
5:13 他叫有智慧的中了自己的詭計，使狡詐人的計謀速速滅亡。
5:14 他們白晝遇見黑暗，午間摸索如在夜間。
5:15 上帝拯救窮乏人脫離他們口中的刀和強暴人的手。
5:16 這樣，貧寒的人有指望，罪孽之輩必塞口無言。
5:17 上帝所懲治的人是有福的！所以你不可輕看全能者的管教。
5:18 因為他打破，又纏裹；他擊傷，用手醫治。
5:19 你六次遭難，他必救你；就是七次，災禍也無法害你。
5:20 在饑荒中，他必救你脫離死亡；在爭戰中，他必救你脫離刀劍的權力。
5:21 你必被隱藏，不受口舌之害；災殃臨到，你也不懼怕。
5:22 你遇見災害饑饉，就必嬉笑；地上的野獸，你也不懼怕。
5:23 因為你必與田間的石頭立約；田裡的野獸也必與你和好。
5:24 你必知道你帳棚平安，要查看你的羊圈，一無所失；
5:25 也必知道你的後裔將來發達，你的子孫像地上的青草。
5:26 你必壽高年邁才歸墳墓，好像禾捆到時收藏。
5:27 這理，我們已經考察，本是如此。你須要聽，要知道是與自己有益。
“Call if you will, but who will
answer you?
To
which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Resentment kills a
fool,
and
envy slays the simple.
3 I myself have seen a
fool taking root,
but
suddenly his house was cursed.
4 His children are far
from safety,
crushed
in court without a defender.
5 The hungry consume his
harvest,
taking
it even from among thorns,
and
the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 For hardship does not
spring from the soil,
nor
does trouble sprout from the ground.
7 Yet man is born to
trouble
as
surely as sparks fly upward.
8 “But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
I
would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders
that cannot be fathomed,
miracles
that cannot be counted.
10 He provides rain for
the earth;
he
sends water on the countryside.
11 The lowly he sets on
high,
and
those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans
of the crafty,
so
that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise
in their craftiness,
and
the schemes of the wily are swept away.
14 Darkness comes upon
them in the daytime;
at
noon they grope as in the night.
15 He saves the needy
from the sword in their mouth;
he
saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
16 So the poor have hope,
and
injustice shuts its mouth.
17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
so
do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a]
18 For he wounds, but he
also binds up;
he
injures, but his hands also heal.
19 From six calamities
he will rescue you;
in
seven no harm will touch you.
20 In famine he will
deliver you from death,
and
in battle from the stroke of the sword.
21 You will be protected
from the lash of the tongue,
and
need not fear when destruction comes.
22 You will laugh at
destruction and famine,
and
need not fear the wild animals.
23 For you will have a
covenant with the stones of the field,
and
the wild animals will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that
your tent is secure;
you
will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
25 You will know that
your children will be many,
and
your descendants like the grass of the earth.
26 You will come to the
grave in full vigor,
like
sheaves gathered in season.
27 “We have examined this, and it is true.
So
hear it and apply it to yourself.”
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提幔人以利法在這裡說的好想比前一章說得更有智慧，但是聽在約伯的耳中還是讓他非常難過，因為還是說約伯是有過失，所以會遭今天患難！他要約伯做的是要悔改認罪，將來才會盟上帝的賜福！
以利法的說法和許多基督徒對人的勸說很像，讓我們讀了之後頗扎心的，讓我們感覺到為甚麼勸人要信靠主耶穌無效的原因：因為我們一直在定人的罪，讓人的尊嚴受損，人為了面子問題情願不要信！
對於未信的人還不明白真理，聽了以後心中不悅當然沒有進一步接受福音的心。對於信主的人，他們心中感覺主已經赦免了他們的罪，為何還要說他們有罪呢？所以也聽不進去！
因此，我們勸告人不是責備他們的罪，而是要說到上帝的接納，要他們來尋求上帝的幫助，相信上帝必定透過耶穌基督施恩典和憐憫給我們，必定帶領我們經過險境道平安之處！
這也讓我們學習在危機竟輔導之中，不是責備在先，而是邀請一起來經歷上帝的慈愛恩惠，不是說上帝正義的審判。認罪的事使要聖靈會感動人，人自然會俯伏在上帝面前。但是在患難開始，上帝不是要人懊悔與認罪，而是要靠上帝的恩待脫離困境！
其實我們也經歷過危機和困境，要將心比心，想想我們期盼的是什麼？正如主耶穌說：「你們雖然不好，尚且知道拿好東西給兒女，何況你們在天上的父，豈不更把好東西給求他的人嗎？所以，無論何事，你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人，因為這就是律法和先知的道理。」（馬太福音7:11-12）