但以理書10:1-3

10:1 波斯王古列第三年，有事顯給稱為伯提沙撒的但以理。這事是真的，是指著大爭戰；但以理通達這事，明白這異象。

10:2 當那時，我─但以理悲傷了三個七日。

10:3 美味我沒有吃，酒肉沒有入我的口，也沒有用油抹我的身，直到滿了三個七日。

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.

***********

    這裡讓我們看見但以理面對上帝的一項是如此的慎重，正如他所說的：「當那時，我─但以理悲傷了三個七日。美味我沒有吃，酒肉沒有入我的口，也沒有用油抹我的身，直到滿了三個七日。」

    然而這事讓我們不禁想到：雖說我們不能用禁食苦行來要脅上帝，但是禁食、苦行卻仍然是以往的信徒生命中重要的一件事。此處沒有提及但以理為何要禁            食（事實上是「禁美食」），但這個舉動的確是表達他正預備希望能夠領受異象。我們不需要過度高舉苦行與禁食的能力或意義，因為這裡也看不出異象的啟示是透過苦行才獲得的。但我們也不必刻意去躲避苦行或禁食，因為如果內心真的是悲傷的話，又怎能吃喝的下美食呢？

    所以，我們得屬靈生命是要順其自然，不是刻意要怎樣，正如從聽聽過屬靈長輩說過：月屬靈的人是越自然的，越真實表現自己。所以，越屬靈的人，是越不做作！越做作的人，就越不屬靈了！靈命越不成熟，因為刻意表現給人看，是越虛假！

但以理書9:20-27

9:20 我說話，禱告，承認我的罪和本國之民以色列的罪，為我上帝的聖山，在耶和華─我上帝面前懇求。

9:21 我正禱告的時候，先前在異象中所見的那位加百列，奉命迅速飛來，約在獻晚祭的時候，按手在我身上。

9:22 他指教我說：「但以理啊，現在我出來要使你有智慧，有聰明。

9:23 你初懇求的時候，就發出命令，我來告訴你，因你大蒙眷愛；所以你要思想明白這以下的事和異象。

9:24 為你本國之民和你聖城，已經定了七十個七。要止住罪過，除淨罪惡，贖盡罪孽，引進（或譯：彰顯）永義，封住異象和預言，並膏至聖者（者：或譯所）。

9:25 你當知道，當明白，從出令重新建造耶路撒冷，直到有受膏君的時候，必有七個七和六十二個七。正在艱難的時候，耶路撒冷城連街帶濠都必重新建造。

9:26 過了六十二個七，那（或譯：有）受膏者必被剪除，一無所有；必有一王的民來毀滅這城和聖所，至終必如洪水沖沒。必有爭戰，一直到底，荒涼的事已經定了。

9:27 一七之內，他必與許多人堅定盟約；一七之半，他必使祭祀與供獻止息。那行毀壞可憎的（或譯：使地荒涼的）如飛而來，並且有忿怒傾在那行毀壞的身上（或譯：傾在那荒涼之地），直到所定的結局。」

20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, "O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

24 "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty- two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty- two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."

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

    天使長加百列轉達七十個七的異象。「七十個七」是「七十個七期」？「七十個七天」？「七十個七年」？意義究竟為何，我們無法確知，所以翻譯為「七十個七期」是比較妥當的。而且「七」與「七十」很可能只是象徵性的數字，而非確定的「七」或「七十」個特定長度的時間。

    「七個七」，可能指耶利米發出預言到古列王准許以色列人回國的時間。「六十二個七」，可能指以色列人歸回到聖殿重建完成的時間。

    當然最讓人難以理解的是，最後的「一七之內」和「一七之半」，這也是預言中一直提到的「三年半」。而馬太福音24章主耶穌所談論的，是我們明白此異象之重要根據，我們要將這事交在天父手中，因為那日子沒有人知道，只有父知道，連主耶穌都不知道！意思就是說，我們要隨時準備好，迎接主再來的日子，但是不要去探究是哪一天，那是無意義的！

 

 

*** 繼續閱讀:    但以理書9章  

但以理書9:11-19

9:11 以色列眾人都犯了你的律法，偏行，不聽從你的話；因此，在你僕人摩西律法上所寫的咒詛和誓言都傾在我們身上，因我們得罪了上帝。

9:12 他使大災禍臨到我們，成就了警戒我們和審判我們官長的話；原來在普天之下未曾行過像在耶路撒冷所行的。

9:13 這一切災禍臨到我們身上是照摩西律法上所寫的，我們卻沒有求耶和華─我們上帝的恩典，使我們回頭離開罪孽，明白你的真理。

9:14 所以耶和華留意使這災禍臨到我們身上，因為耶和華─我們的上帝在他所行的事上都是公義；我們並沒有聽從他的話。

9:15 主─我們的上帝啊，你曾用大能的手領你的子民出埃及地，使自己得了名，正如今日一樣。我們犯了罪，作了惡。

9:16 主啊，求你按你的大仁大義，使你的怒氣和忿怒轉離你的城耶路撒冷，就是你的聖山。耶路撒冷和你的子民，因我們的罪惡和我們列祖的罪孽被四圍的人羞辱。

9:17 我們的上帝啊，現在求你垂聽僕人的祈禱懇求，為自己使臉光照你荒涼的聖所。

9:18 我的上帝啊，求你側耳而聽，睜眼而看，眷顧我們荒涼之地和稱為你名下的城。我們在你面前懇求，原不是因自己的義，乃因你的大憐憫。

9:19 求主垂聽，求主赦免，求主應允而行，為你自己不要遲延。我的上帝啊，因這城和這民都是稱為你名下的。」

prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

16 "O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name."

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

    但以理承認以色列人違背律法，以至於大災禍降臨，這是上帝公義的審判。但以理所痛心的是，因為以色列人已經按照律法被懲罰到了前無古人的地步，以色列人還是不回頭，沒有求耶和華的恩典，終於讓上帝把刑罰持續到最後。

    我們常常希望自己透過信仰得福、得能力享受，遭遇痛苦就會質疑上帝的公義、慈愛或自己的信心。但我們是否想過，自己今天的痛苦正是上帝公義的展現。正如：不讀書就考不好、不夠努力就沒賺到錢，這豈不是上帝公義的展現？

    所以但以理提及上帝以往曾經領以色列人出埃及，求上帝眷顧赦免以色列人，復興荒涼的耶路撒冷。我們之所以敢向上帝求，是因為上帝的憐憫、恩典與維護自己榮耀的決心。讓我們頻著上帝是信實、公義與慈愛，來開口認罪，離棄罪惡來歸向祂！

 

 

 *** 繼續閱讀:    但以理書9章  

但以理書9:4-10

9:4 我向耶和華─我的上帝祈禱、認罪，說：「主啊，大而可畏的上帝，向愛主、守主誡命的人守約施慈愛。

9:5 我們犯罪作孽，行惡叛逆，偏離你的誡命典章，

9:6 沒有聽從你僕人眾先知奉你名向我們君王、首領、列祖，和國中一切百姓所說的話。

9:7 主啊，你是公義的，我們是臉上蒙羞的；因我們猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民，並以色列眾人，或在近處，或在遠處，被你趕到各國的人，都得罪了你，正如今日一樣。

9:8 主啊，我們和我們的君王、首領、列祖因得罪了你，就都臉上蒙羞。

9:9 主─我們的上帝是憐憫饒恕人的，我們卻違背了他，

9:10 也沒有聽從耶和華─我們上帝的話，沒有遵行他藉僕人眾先知向我們所陳明的律法。

 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

**********

    但以理向上帝認罪，承認以色列人犯罪悖逆上帝，以致蒙羞。但以理說「我們犯罪作孽」，把自己也當成是整體以色列人中的一份子。我們在處理國家、社會的罪惡問題時，是否僅僅把罪惡當成是別人的事，而把自己排除在外？其實在社會整體的敗壞中，我們又怎能真正完全置身度外呢？

    當然這和我們與社會或國家之認同有關係，台灣人一直覺得自己是受外來者統治，所以對國家社會的認同是不太高。這事歷史造成的問題，但是近年來台灣民主化的進步較多，相信認同上有提升，只是讓人難過的是，台灣一直被矮化為中國的一部分。但事實上，中國政府並沒有統治過這個地方，這又怎麼說呢？

    雖然過去的國民政府把此當「逃城」，而現今的台灣人卻又沒有認清：上帝讓我們在此成為主地的主人時，我們該如何謙卑敬拜上帝？榮耀上帝？還是受到過去當附庸者的心態影響，常常看附近大國的眼色生活，覺得可悲啊！這或許是我們該認的罪吧！

 

 

 *** 繼續閱讀:    但以理書9章  

 

但以理書9章

      但以理書9:1-3   , 

      但以理書9:4-10  ,

      但以理書9:11-19   ,

      但以理書9:20-27  , 但以理書9:22-23 ,