約伯記10章

     約伯記10:1-22   ,

約伯記10:1-22

 

10:1 我厭煩我的性命，必由著自己述說我的哀情；因心裡苦惱，我要說話，
10:2 對上帝說：不要定我有罪，要指示我，你為何與我爭辯？
10:3 你手所造的，你又欺壓，又藐視，卻光照惡人的計謀。這事你以為美嗎？
10:4 你的眼豈是肉眼？你查看豈像人查看嗎？
10:5 你的日子豈像人的日子，你的年歲豈像人的年歲，
10:6 就追問我的罪孽，尋察我的罪過嗎？
10:7 其實，你知道我沒有罪惡，並沒有能救我脫離你手的。
10:8 你的手創造我，造就我的四肢百體，你還要毀滅我。
10:9 求你記念─製造我如摶泥一般，你還要使我歸於塵土嗎？
10:10 你不是倒出我來好像奶，使我凝結如同奶餅嗎？
10:11 你以皮和肉為衣給我穿上，用骨與筋把我全體聯絡。
10:12 你將生命和慈愛賜給我；你也眷顧保全我的心靈。
10:13 然而，你待我的這些事早已藏在你心裡；我知道你久有此意。
10:14 我若犯罪，你就察看我，並不赦免我的罪孽。
10:15 我若行惡，便有了禍；我若為義，也不敢抬頭，正是滿心羞愧，眼見我的苦情。
10:16 我若昂首自得，你就追捕我如獅子，又在我身上顯出奇能。
10:17 你重立見證攻擊我，向我加增惱怒，如軍兵更換著攻擊我。
10:18 你為何使我出母胎呢？不如我當時氣絕，無人得見我；
10:19 這樣，就如沒有我一般，一出母胎就被送入墳墓。
10:20 我的日子不是甚少嗎？求你停手寬容我，叫我在往而不返之先─就是往黑暗和死蔭之地以先─可以稍得暢快。
10:21 【併於上節】
10:22 那地甚是幽暗，是死蔭混沌之地；那裡的光好像幽暗。

 

“I loathe my very life;
    therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
    and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.
² I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,
    but tell me what charges you have against me.
³ Does it please you to oppress me,
    to spurn the work of your hands,
    while you smile on the plans of the wicked?
⁴ Do you have eyes of flesh?
    Do you see as a mortal sees?
⁵ Are your days like those of a mortal
    or your years like those of a strong man,
⁶ that you must search out my faults
    and probe after my sin—
⁷ though you know that I am not guilty
    and that no one can rescue me from your hand?

⁸ “Your hands shaped me and made me.
    Will you now turn and destroy me?
⁹ Remember that you molded me like clay.
    Will you now turn me to dust again?
¹⁰ Did you not pour me out like milk
    and curdle me like cheese,
¹¹ clothe me with skin and flesh
    and knit me together with bones and sinews?
¹² You gave me life and showed me kindness,
    and in your providence watched over my spirit.

¹³ “But this is what you concealed in your heart,
    and I know that this was in your mind:
¹⁴ If I sinned, you would be watching me
    and would not let my offense go unpunished.
¹⁵ If I am guilty—woe to me!
    Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,
for I am full of shame
    and drowned in^[a] my affliction.
¹⁶ If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion
    and again display your awesome power against me.
¹⁷ You bring new witnesses against me
    and increase your anger toward me;
    your forces come against me wave upon wave.

¹⁸ “Why then did you bring me out of the womb?
    I wish I had died before any eye saw me.
¹⁹ If only I had never come into being,
    or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!
²⁰ Are not my few days almost over?
    Turn away from me so I can have a moment’s joy
²¹ before I go to the place of no return,
    to the land of gloom and utter darkness,
²² to the land of deepest night,
    of utter darkness and disorder,
    where even the light is like darkness.”

 

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

 

    透過約伯向上帝的質問和自我答辯，我們看出約瑟是和上帝有親密的關係，這是約伯和他的朋友談論的教訓之中有不同的地方，因為他的朋友大多說到上帝的屬性，沒有談到上帝和他們的關係！

 

    我們和上帝的關係是不是建立在對話之中？還是建立在客觀的事實當中？這兩者在我們的信仰都很重要，但是我們信靠上帝的人，是要和上帝建立關係，不是只是在知識上認識祂。而主耶穌的拯救，也就要促成我們和上帝建立關係！正如主耶穌所說：「我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉著我，沒有人能到父那裡去。你們若認識我，也就認識我的父。從今以後，你們認識他，並且已經看見他。」(約翰福音14:5-7)

 

    當然我們知道約伯本身是怎樣敬畏上帝，然而苦難的淬鍊，卻是越發彰顯約伯與上帝之間不是外表的遵行禮儀或是單單「善有善報、惡有惡報」的認識，讓他思考上帝為何如此這樣對他時，與上帝有更深的對話，將內心的感受像上帝抒發！

 

    所以，上帝讓約伯受到苦難似乎好像與撒但賭氣，卻進而讓約伯的生命得著成長！在我們的現實生命中，也像約伯的生命一樣，要經過苦難的陶造，激發出我們生命的光輝，這也是上帝的成全！

 

約伯記9:1-35

 

9:1 約伯回答說：
9:2 我真知道是這樣；但人在上帝面前怎能成為義呢？
9:3 若願意與他爭辯，千中之一也不能回答。
9:4 他心裡有智慧，且大有能力。誰向上帝剛硬而得亨通呢？
9:5 他發怒，把山翻倒挪移，山並不知覺。
9:6 他使地震動，離其本位，地的柱子就搖撼。
9:7 他吩咐日頭不出來，就不出來，又封閉眾星。
9:8 他獨自鋪張蒼天，步行在海浪之上。
9:9 他造北斗、參星、昴星，並南方的密宮；
9:10 他行大事，不可測度，行奇事，不可勝數。
9:11 他從我旁邊經過，我卻不看見；他在我面前行走，我倒不知覺。
9:12 他奪取，誰能阻擋？誰敢問他：你做甚麼？
9:13 上帝必不收回他的怒氣；扶助拉哈伯的，屈身在他以下。
9:14 既是這樣，我怎敢回答他，怎敢選擇言語與他辯論呢？
9:15 我雖有義，也不回答他，只要向那審判我的懇求。
9:16 我若呼籲，他應允我；我仍不信他真聽我的聲音。
9:17 他用暴風折斷我，無故地加增我的損傷。
9:18 我就是喘一口氣，他都不容，倒使我滿心苦惱。
9:19 若論力量，他真有能力！若論審判，他說誰能將我傳來呢？
9:20 我雖有義，自己的口要定我為有罪；我雖完全，我口必顯我為彎曲。
9:21 我本完全，不顧自己；我厭惡我的性命。
9:22 善惡無分，都是一樣；所以我說，完全人和惡人，他都滅絕。
9:23 若忽然遭殺害之禍，他必戲笑無辜的人遇難。
9:24 世界交在惡人手中；蒙蔽世界審判官的臉，若不是他，是誰呢？
9:25 我的日子比跑信的更快，急速過去，不見福樂。
9:26 我的日子過去如快船，如急落抓食的鷹。
9:27 我若說：我要忘記我的哀情，除去我的愁容，心中暢快；
9:28 我因愁苦而懼怕，知道你必不以我為無辜。
9:29 我必被你定為有罪，我何必徒然勞苦呢？
9:30 我若用雪水洗身，用鹼潔淨我的手，
9:31 你還要扔我在坑裡，我的衣服都憎惡我。
9:32 他本不像我是人，使我可以回答他，又使我們可以同聽審判。
9:33 我們中間沒有聽訟的人可以向我們兩造按手。
9:34 願他把杖離開我，不使驚惶威嚇我。
9:35 我就說話，也不懼怕他，現在我卻不是那樣。

 

Then Job replied:

² “Indeed, I know that this is true.
    But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
³ Though they wished to dispute with him,
    they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
⁴ His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
    Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
⁵ He moves mountains without their knowing it
    and overturns them in his anger.
⁶ He shakes the earth from its place
    and makes its pillars tremble.
⁷ He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
    he seals off the light of the stars.
⁸ He alone stretches out the heavens
    and treads on the waves of the sea.
⁹ He is the Maker of the Bear^[a] and Orion,
    the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
¹⁰ He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
    miracles that cannot be counted.
¹¹ When he passes me, I cannot see him;
    when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
¹² If he snatches away, who can stop him?
    Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
¹³ God does not restrain his anger;
    even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.

¹⁴ “How then can I dispute with him?
    How can I find words to argue with him?
¹⁵ Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;
    I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
¹⁶ Even if I summoned him and he responded,
    I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
¹⁷ He would crush me with a storm
    and multiply my wounds for no reason.
¹⁸ He would not let me catch my breath
    but would overwhelm me with misery.
¹⁹ If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!
    And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him^[b]?
²⁰ Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
    if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

²¹ “Although I am blameless,
    I have no concern for myself;
    I despise my own life.
²² It is all the same; that is why I say,
    ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
²³ When a scourge brings sudden death,
    he mocks the despair of the innocent.
²⁴ When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,
    he blindfolds its judges.
    If it is not he, then who is it?

²⁵ “My days are swifter than a runner;
    they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
²⁶ They skim past like boats of papyrus,
    like eagles swooping down on their prey.
²⁷ If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
    I will change my expression, and smile,’
²⁸ I still dread all my sufferings,
    for I know you will not hold me innocent.
²⁹ Since I am already found guilty,
    why should I struggle in vain?
³⁰ Even if I washed myself with soap
    and my hands with cleansing powder,
³¹ you would plunge me into a slime pit
    so that even my clothes would detest me.

³² “He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him,
    that we might confront each other in court.
³³ If only there were someone to mediate between us,
    someone to bring us together,
³⁴ someone to remove God’s rod from me,
    so that his terror would frighten me no more.
³⁵ Then I would speak up without fear of him,
    but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

 

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

 

    約伯還是有約伯的睿智，他雖然還是以「善有善報」的立場，不敢侵犯上帝的是正義的屬性。但是，他不敢自以為義，他用一些反問的話語來彰顯上帝有絕對的主權：「我真知道是這樣；但人在上帝面前怎能成為義呢？」、「他心裡有智慧，且大有能力。誰向上帝剛硬而得亨通呢？」、「他奪取，誰能阻擋？誰敢問他：你做甚麼？」、「既是這樣，我怎敢回答他，怎敢選擇言語與他辯論呢？」、「若論力量，他真有能力！若論審判，他說誰能將我傳來呢？」、「世界交在惡人手中；蒙蔽世界審判官的臉，若不是他，是誰呢？」、「我必被你定為有罪，我何必徒然勞苦呢？」

 

    要是我們想到上帝的威嚴，誰敢在上帝面前自稱為義人呢？誰敢說自己從來沒有犯罪？誰敢在上帝面前爭辯呢？的確！我們無法、無能、更是沒有資格和地位爭辯，若是上帝的安排，我們只能默默無聲地承受，雖然不是自己所盼望的！正如約伯雖然做了許多的措施，但是這些措施在上帝面前也是無效的，他的財產沒了，兒女都死了，身體也被毒瘡所害，老婆恥笑他，朋友教訓他，搭家都認為他自作惡受報應！在此時，約伯只能承認上帝的主權！

 

    想到約伯的事件臨到我們，要是我們也是以敬虔的心來過生活，是不是也這樣無奈的承認，一切都在上帝的主權之下，誰都無法反抗！甚至會消極到，我們所行的一切，在上帝的眼中都被看為惡，因為上帝是善惡的決定者，他認定是惡的，即使人看為善的也是惡的！

 

    其實許多宗教對義人受苦的看法，大多是認為人本是邪惡，人無法和至高永恆者爭辯，所以義人和歹人受到災害和刑罰都是應該的，這世人應該地的結局！正如《道德經》第五章，老子說了一句名言「天地不仁以萬物為芻狗，聖人不仁以百姓為芻狗」

 

    雖然這句話如果只看字面意思，很容易理解為天地不仁慈、虐待萬物，聖人不仁慈、魚肉百姓，但如果這樣理解是有問題的。但是，現實的世界是讓人有這樣的感受！宗教家有時候也是這樣勸告人要認命，不要與至高永恆者相爭！正如約伯的面對現實之後，他產生這樣的感想！

 

    親愛的弟兄姊妹，你是不是也以為：上帝是用這種方式在使人能夠順服祂的主權呢？若是這樣的想法，其實是沒有進入基督徒該有的信念，還是認為人是受命運操弄的宿命論！

 

    若是人是這樣的受上帝壓抑，豈能說上帝給人自由、給人愛呢？給人脫離惡的轄制呢？在這樣之下的敬畏、順服、敬拜是發自內心還是被上帝的權勢所迫？讓人感覺人在屋簷下不得不低頭，這是真的有福嗎？

 

    當然你會說不是！因為我們的上帝不是用權勢來壓迫我們的上帝，要是這樣祂何苦犧牲祂的愛子耶穌基督為我們死在十字架上呢？祂何苦用犧牲的愛呢？要何苦自己主動來成就上帝與人和好的救贖大功？就是我們無法明白上帝成全的愛，所以祂賜下聖經和聖靈，讓我們明白耶穌基督的救贖和成全，以及祂願意接納本是有罪的我們，藉由耶穌基督的拯救脫離罪惡，可以進入祂的榮耀境，與祂同享永恆的主權與福樂！

 

    這也是讓我們從「義人受苦」轉化到上帝真正的心意！雖然現實讓我們看見義仁和歹人都有苦難，但是主耶穌也說：「這樣就可以作你們天父的兒子；因為他叫日頭照好人，也照歹人；降雨給義人，也給不義的人。」(馬太福音5:45)

 

    這也是說上帝使好人和壞人都享福氣，也受災害！但是，上帝最後的心意是要人都離棄罪惡、歸向上帝，也就是都要悔改，上帝透過耶穌基督的贖罪大功，以及聖靈的有效呼召，就是要將祂的救恩臨到每一位屬祂的兒女，不分地位、財富、善惡、…，重要的是要聽到這呼召而歸向祂，就得想永生之福！雖然在世界上暫時有苦難，但是卻有永恆的平安和不變的愛為屬祂的人而預備！只要你願意回頭歸向祂，這一切都要成全在你身上！我們之所以尊崇與敬畏，都因上帝這樣主動的作為！

 

 

 

撒母耳記上26章

     撒母耳記上26:1-25 ,

撒母耳記上26:1-25

 

26:1 西弗人到基比亞見掃羅，說：「大衛不是在曠野前的哈基拉山藏著嗎？」
26:2 掃羅就起身，帶領以色列人中挑選的三千精兵下到西弗的曠野，要在那裡尋索大衛。
26:3 掃羅在曠野前的哈基拉山，在道路上安營。大衛住在曠野，聽說掃羅到曠野來追尋他，
26:4 就打發人去探聽，便知道掃羅果然來到。
26:5 大衛起來，到掃羅安營的地方，看見掃羅和他的元帥尼珥的兒子押尼珥睡臥之處；掃羅睡在輜重營裡，百姓安營在他周圍。
26:6 大衛對赫人亞希米勒和洗魯雅的兒子約押的兄弟亞比篩說：「誰同我下到掃羅營裡去？」亞比篩說：「我同你下去。」
26:7 於是大衛和亞比篩夜間到了百姓那裡，見掃羅睡在輜重營裡；他的槍在頭旁，插在地上。押尼珥和百姓睡在他周圍。
26:8 亞比篩對大衛說：「現在上帝將你的仇敵交在你手裡，求你容我拿槍將他刺透在地，一刺就成，不用再刺。」
26:9 大衛對亞比篩說：「不可害死他。有誰伸手害耶和華的受膏者而無罪呢？」
26:10 大衛又說：「我指著永生的耶和華起誓，他或被耶和華擊打，或是死期到了，或是出戰陣亡；
26:11 我在耶和華面前，萬不敢伸手害耶和華的受膏者。現在你可以將他頭旁的槍和水瓶拿來，我們就走。」
26:12 大衛從掃羅的頭旁拿了槍和水瓶，二人就走了，沒有人看見，沒有人知道，也沒有人醒起，都睡著了，因為耶和華使他們沉沉地睡了。
26:13 大衛過到那邊去，遠遠地站在山頂上，與他們相離甚遠。
26:14 大衛呼叫百姓和尼珥的兒子押尼珥說：「押尼珥啊，你為何不答應呢？」押尼珥說：「你是誰？竟敢呼叫王呢？」
26:15 大衛對押尼珥說：「你不是個勇士嗎？以色列中誰能比你呢？民中有人進來要害死王─你的主，你為何沒有保護王─你的主呢？
26:16 你這樣是不好的！我指著永生的耶和華起誓，你們都是該死的；因為沒有保護你們的主，就是耶和華的受膏者。現在你看看王頭旁的槍和水瓶在哪裡。」
26:17 掃羅聽出是大衛的聲音，就說：「我兒大衛，這是你的聲音嗎？」大衛說：「主─我的王啊，是我的聲音」；
26:18 又說：「我做了甚麼？我手裡有甚麼惡事？我主竟追趕僕人呢？
26:19 求我主我王聽僕人的話：若是耶和華激發你攻擊我，願耶和華收納祭物；若是人激發你，願他在耶和華面前受咒詛；因為他現今趕逐我，不容我在耶和華的產業上有分，說：『你去事奉別神吧！』
26:20 現在求王不要使我的血流在離耶和華遠的地方。以色列王出來是尋找一個虼蚤，如同人在山上獵取一個鷓鴣一般。」
26:21 掃羅說：「我有罪了！我兒大衛，你可以回來，因你今日看我的性命為寶貴；我必不再加害於你。我是糊塗人，大大錯了。」
26:22 大衛說：「王的槍在這裡，可以吩咐一個僕人過來拿去。
26:23 今日耶和華將王交在我手裡，我卻不肯伸手害耶和華的受膏者。耶和華必照各人的公義誠實報應他。
26:24 我今日重看你的性命，願耶和華也重看我的性命，並且拯救我脫離一切患難。」
26:25 掃羅對大衛說：「我兒大衛，願你得福！你必做大事，也必得勝。」於是大衛起行，掃羅回他的本處去了。

 

 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”

² So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. ³ Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, ⁴ he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

⁵ Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

⁶ David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸ Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴ He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

¹⁵ David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” ¹⁸ And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? ¹⁹ Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰ Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

²² “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³ The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

 

***********

 

    同樣的事情常常是一而再、再而三的發生，就像掃羅和大衛之間的恩恩怨怨，讓人看起來糾結不清！掃羅總是想找機會除掉大衛，只要有人向他報告大衛的行蹤，他就領大軍要去捉拿大衛。而大衛這邊卻常常有機會可以除掉掃羅，卻又因為尊重掃羅是上帝的受膏者，從來沒有殺他。

 

    然而這也展現掃羅的失敗之處，因為他沒有將軍隊訓練好之外，又展現其個人的人格上的缺陷，他的心胸不僅狹小，又在受大衛之恩待後，並沒有悔改的心，仍然我行我素，不敬畏上帝，把自己一步步推向滅亡的境地！

 

    對於我們屬上帝的人，我們當然要效法大衛對上帝敬畏的心，進而尊重上帝的兒女，和教會的弟兄姊妹維持美好的關係！就像我們平日不是在家裡看電視做禮拜，一定要參加教會，和弟兄姊妹相處過教會生活，才能操練出對上帝的敬畏！

 

    使徒約翰也教訓我們：人若說「我愛上帝」，卻恨他的弟兄，就是說謊話的；不愛他所看見的弟兄，就不能愛沒有看見的上帝（有古卷：怎能愛沒有看見的上帝呢）。（約翰一書4:20）

 

    所以有傳道人直接了當的教導弟兄姊妹：「要到教會過教會生活的人，才是真正的基督徒！」

 

    人靠自己是無法成為基督徒，要和弟兄姊妹互動才能成就基督徒的生命！因為沒有和弟兄姊妹互動，就無法成為敬畏上帝的人，也無法彰顯敬畏上帝的心，正如大衛沒有和掃羅之間的恩怨情仇，我們就看不出他是敬畏上帝的！