約伯記21章

     約伯記21:1-34 ,

約伯記21:1-34

 

21:1 約伯回答說：
21:2 你們要細聽我的言語，就算是你們安慰我。
21:3 請寬容我，我又要說話；說了以後，任憑你們嗤笑吧！
21:4 我豈是向人訴冤？為何不焦急呢？
21:5 你們要看著我而驚奇，用手摀口。
21:6 我每逢思想，心就驚惶，渾身戰兢。
21:7 惡人為何存活，享大壽數，勢力強盛呢？
21:8 他們眼見兒孫，和他們一同堅立。
21:9 他們的家宅平安無懼；上帝的杖也不加在他們身上。
21:10 他們的公牛孳生而不斷絕；母牛下犢而不掉胎。
21:11 他們打發小孩子出去，多如羊群；他們的兒女踴躍跳舞。
21:12 他們隨著琴鼓歌唱，又因簫聲歡喜。
21:13 他們度日諸事亨通，轉眼下入陰間。
21:14 他們對上帝說：離開我們吧！我們不願曉得你的道。
21:15 全能者是誰，我們何必事奉他呢？求告他有甚麼益處呢？
21:16 看哪，他們亨通不在乎自己；惡人所謀定的離我好遠。
21:17 惡人的燈何嘗熄滅？患難何嘗臨到他們呢？上帝何嘗發怒，向他們分散災禍呢？
21:18 他們何嘗像風前的碎秸，如暴風颳去的糠秕呢？
21:19 你們說：上帝為惡人的兒女積蓄罪孽；我說：不如本人受報，好使他親自知道。
21:20 願他親眼看見自己敗亡，親自飲全能者的忿怒。
21:21 他的歲月既盡，他還顧他本家嗎？
21:22 上帝既審判那在高位的，誰能將知識教訓他呢？
21:23 有人至死身體強壯，盡得平靖安逸；
21:24 他的奶桶充滿，他的骨髓滋潤。
21:25 有人至死心中痛苦，終身未嘗福樂的滋味；
21:26 他們一樣躺臥在塵土中，都被蟲子遮蓋。
21:27 我知道你們的意思，並誣害我的計謀。
21:28 你們說：霸者的房屋在哪裡？惡人住過的帳棚在哪裡？
21:29 你們豈沒有詢問過路的人嗎？不知道他們所引的證據嗎？
21:30 就是惡人在禍患的日子得存留，在發怒的日子得逃脫。
21:31 他所行的，有誰當面給他說明？他所做的，有誰報應他呢？
21:32 然而他要被抬到塋地；並有人看守墳墓。
21:33 他要以谷中的土塊為甘甜；在他以先去的無數，在他以後去的更多。
21:34 你們對答的話中既都錯謬，怎麼徒然安慰我呢？

 

 Then Job replied:

² “Listen carefully to my words;
    let this be the consolation you give me.
³ Bear with me while I speak,
    and after I have spoken, mock on.

⁴ “Is my complaint directed to a human being?
    Why should I not be impatient?
⁵ Look at me and be appalled;
    clap your hand over your mouth.
⁶ When I think about this, I am terrified;
    trembling seizes my body.
⁷ Why do the wicked live on,
    growing old and increasing in power?
⁸ They see their children established around them,
    their offspring before their eyes.
⁹ Their homes are safe and free from fear;
    the rod of God is not on them.
¹⁰ Their bulls never fail to breed;
    their cows calve and do not miscarry.
¹¹ They send forth their children as a flock;
    their little ones dance about.
¹² They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;
    they make merry to the sound of the pipe.
¹³ They spend their years in prosperity
    and go down to the grave in peace.
¹⁴ Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
    We have no desire to know your ways.
¹⁵ Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’
¹⁶ But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

¹⁷ “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?
    How often does calamity come upon them,
    the fate God allots in his anger?
¹⁸ How often are they like straw before the wind,
    like chaff swept away by a gale?
¹⁹ It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’
    Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!
²⁰ Let their own eyes see their destruction;
    let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.
²¹ For what do they care about the families they leave behind
    when their allotted months come to an end?

²² “Can anyone teach knowledge to God,
    since he judges even the highest?
²³ One person dies in full vigor,
    completely secure and at ease,
²⁴ well nourished in body,
    bones rich with marrow.
²⁵ Another dies in bitterness of soul,
    never having enjoyed anything good.
²⁶ Side by side they lie in the dust,
    and worms cover them both.

²⁷ “I know full well what you are thinking,
    the schemes by which you would wrong me.
²⁸ You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,
    the tents where the wicked lived?’
²⁹ Have you never questioned those who travel?
    Have you paid no regard to their accounts—
³⁰ that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,
    that they are delivered from the day of wrath?
³¹ Who denounces their conduct to their face?
    Who repays them for what they have done?
³² They are carried to the grave,
    and watch is kept over their tombs.
³³ The soil in the valley is sweet to them;
    everyone follows after them,
    and a countless throng goes before them.

³⁴ “So how can you console me with your nonsense?
    Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”

 

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    約伯對於三個朋友的論調提出反論，是就現實的現象可以看見惡人反而興旺，不像他們說的！也就是說，「善有善報、惡有惡報」這套理論是與現實狀態不符合，更何況這三位朋友是應該來安慰他，不是來和他理論他是有多麼壞，才會受上帝懲罰，才有今日的下場！

 

    約伯說的事情，其實在現實的狀態中的確是如此！那些大家看為壞蛋的人，反而是家道豐富，不管是子孫或是錢財都是比大家認為的好人多，而且這些人偏偏都很長壽，甚至於是善終，而且還是平平安安的去呢！

 

    就拿中共政權來說，他們號稱「槍桿子出政權」，搶奪了國民政府的執政權，雖然刷是殺人無數的政權，卻統治中國大陸比國民政府更久！雖然很惡劣，強調自己是無神論，迫害宗教、違背中國的傳統，甚至還散播病毒危害世界！但是，依然在這個世界呼風喚雨，在聯合國還拍桌子大罵別的國家！

 

    這是不是「善有善報、惡有惡報」這套理論反差呢？怪不得他們推崇鬼谷子的《厚黑學》：心要黑、臉要厚！不僅心地邪惡，更是行事卑鄙！

 

    然而對基督徒而言這些並不可怕，因為上帝必得永恆的勝利，在上帝國實現時，上帝的正義要完全實現，這些邪惡者必定受到上帝審判！他們的興旺只是一時，終究會滅亡，正如聖經說到主耶穌再來的時候，要審判萬民！只有蒙耶穌基督拯救的人才能享受永生，其他未蒙拯救的必至滅亡！上帝的話必定會實現，必定不落空！

 

 

 

 

撒母耳記下7:18-29

 

7:18 於是大衛王進去，坐在耶和華面前，說：「主耶和華啊，我是誰？我的家算甚麼？你竟使我到這地步呢？
7:19 主耶和華啊，這在你眼中還看為小，又應許你僕人的家至於久遠。主耶和華啊，這豈是人所常遇的事嗎？
7:20 主耶和華啊，我還有何言可以對你說呢？因為你知道你的僕人。
7:21 你行這大事使僕人知道，是因你所應許的話，也是照你的心意。
7:22 主耶和華啊，你本為大，照我們耳中聽見，沒有可比你的；除你以外再無上帝。
7:23 世上有何民能比你的民以色列呢？你從埃及救贖他們作自己的子民，又在你贖出來的民面前行大而可畏的事，驅逐列邦人和他們的上帝，顯出你的大名。
7:24 你曾堅立你的民以色列作你的子民，直到永遠；你─耶和華也作了他們的上帝。
7:25 「耶和華上帝啊，你所應許僕人和僕人家的話，求你堅定，直到永遠；照你所說的而行。
7:26 願人永遠尊你的名為大，說：『萬軍之耶和華是治理以色列的上帝。』這樣，你僕人大衛的家必在你面前堅立。
7:27 萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝啊，因你啟示你的僕人說：『我必為你建立家室』，所以僕人大膽向你如此祈禱。
7:28 「主耶和華啊，惟有你是上帝。你的話是真實的；你也應許將這福氣賜給僕人。
7:29 現在求你賜福與僕人的家，可以永存在你面前。主耶和華啊，這是你所應許的。願你永遠賜福與僕人的家！」

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹ And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!^[c]

²⁰ “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. ²¹ For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

²² “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. ²³ And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?^{[d] 24} You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

²⁵ “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, ²⁶ so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.

²⁷ “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. ²⁸ Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. ²⁹ Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

 

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

 

    感謝上帝！大衛聽明白拿單的話，用這樣美的禱告回應上帝！的確，大衛然貴為君王，但是他清楚今天有這樣的地位是出於上帝，不是他比別人更有資格，他清楚自己不過是一個放羊的孩子，出身也不是很高的家庭，是因為上帝的眷顧才有今天！所以，他以感謝的心來到上帝的面前！

 

    讀了大衛這樣的禱告，就想到保羅寫給哥林多教會的書信中說：「弟兄們，我為你們的緣故，拿這些事轉比自己和亞波羅，叫你們效法我們不可過於聖經所記，免得你們自高自大，貴重這個，輕看那個。使你與人不同的是誰呢？你有甚麼不是領受的呢？若是領受的，為何自誇，彷彿不是領受的呢？」（哥林多前書4:6-7）

 

    的確，我們一切都是從上帝來的，我們本是一無所有、一無所知、一無所是，要不是上帝的保守和賞賜，我們真的是沒有甚麼可誇的！但是，人的罪行常常讓任炫耀自己所有、所做、所能，忘記賞賜的上帝，竊取上帝的榮耀，這樣的情形就是驕傲！

 

    而人為有在聖靈的引導下才會認識自己本是一無所有，本是低下與卑賤，而且是有罪的，需要上帝的賜福與保守，人才可以活出真正人的樣式，就是讓上帝的榮光通過我們流露出來！

 

 

撒母耳記下7:1-17

 

7:1 王住在自己宮中，耶和華使他安靖，不被四圍的仇敵擾亂。
7:2 那時，王對先知拿單說：「看哪，我住在香柏木的宮中，上帝的約櫃反在幔子裡。」
7:3 拿單對王說：「你可以照你的心意而行，因為耶和華與你同在。」
7:4 當夜，耶和華的話臨到拿單說：
7:5 「你去告訴我僕人大衛，說耶和華如此說：『你豈可建造殿宇給我居住呢？
7:6 自從我領以色列人出埃及直到今日，我未曾住過殿宇，常在會幕和帳幕中行走。
7:7 凡我同以色列人所走的地方，我何曾向以色列一支派的士師，就是我吩咐牧養我民以色列的說：你們為何不給我建造香柏木的殿宇呢？』
7:8 「現在，你要告訴我僕人大衛，說萬軍之耶和華如此說：『我從羊圈中將你召來，叫你不再跟從羊群，立你作我民以色列的君。
7:9 你無論往哪裡去，我常與你同在，剪除你的一切仇敵。我必使你得大名，好像世上大大有名的人一樣。
7:10 我必為我民以色列選定一個地方，栽培他們，使他們住自己的地方，不再遷移；凶惡之子也不像從前擾害他們，
7:11 並不像我命士師治理我民以色列的時候一樣。我必使你安靖，不被一切仇敵擾亂，並且我─耶和華應許你，必為你建立家室。
7:12 你壽數滿足、與你列祖同睡的時候，我必使你的後裔接續你的位；我也必堅定他的國。
7:13 他必為我的名建造殿宇；我必堅定他的國位，直到永遠。
7:14 我要作他的父，他要作我的子；他若犯了罪，我必用人的杖責打他，用人的鞭責罰他。
7:15 但我的慈愛仍不離開他，像離開在你面前所廢棄的掃羅一樣。
7:16 你的家和你的國必在我（原文是你）面前永遠堅立。你的國位也必堅定，直到永遠。』」
7:17 拿單就按這一切話，照這默示，告訴大衛。

After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ² he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

³ Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴ But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? ⁶ I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. ⁷ Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

⁸ “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. ¹⁰ And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning ¹¹ and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders^[a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: ¹² When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. ¹⁵ But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me^[b]; your throne will be established forever.’”

¹⁷ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

 

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

 

    大衛經過了一連串的苦難之後，上帝使他享受美好的生活！不僅是個人享受安寧，也讓國家安定！正如經文所說的：「王住在自己宮中，耶和華使他安靖，不被四圍的仇敵擾亂。」

 

    然而大衛是一位愛主的君王，他對先知拿單說：「看哪，我住在香柏木的宮中，上帝的約櫃反在幔子裡。」

 

    可見他想為上帝建一座聖殿，讓上帝的名可以得著尊崇！然而上帝透過先知拿單讓他知道，是上帝的榮耀要與人同在，不是人能夠增加上帝的榮耀！他要拿單向大衛說：「我從羊圈中將你召來，叫你不再跟從羊群，立你作我民以色列的君。你無論往哪裡去，我常與你同在，剪除你的一切仇敵。我必使你得大名，好像世上大大有名的人一樣。我必為我民以色列選定一個地方，栽培他們，使他們住自己的地方，不再遷移；凶惡之子也不像從前擾害他們，並不像我命士師治理我民以色列的時候一樣。我必使你安靖，不被一切仇敵擾亂，並且我─耶和華應許你，必為你建立家室。」

 

    其實我們屬於上帝的人也要有這樣的認識：上帝比我們偉大，一切榮耀本是屬於祂，我們只能倚靠上帝，只有上帝的榮光與我們同在，我們才能活出生命的意義，因為我們是照著上帝的形象造的！上帝要人類遍滿天地之間，是要讓祂的榮耀充滿在天地之間！

 

    為何不能從人發出來榮耀上帝，或為上帝做什麼？因為住樣人會自誇，自以為了不起，任為上帝的榮耀是人給的，這樣反而使人驕傲，對人有害無益！上帝為了避免大衛走掃羅自高自傲的路，所以不要他來建聖殿！同樣，今天上帝攔阻我們做自己認為有意義的事，也是為了保護我們，免得我們驕傲遠離上帝！