以西結書20:18-26

20:18 「我在曠野對他們的兒女說：不要遵行你們父親的律例，不要謹守他們的惡規，也不要因他們的偶像玷污自己。

20:19 我是耶和華─你們的上帝，你們要順從我的律例，謹守遵行我的典章，

20:20 且以我的安息日為聖。這日在我與你們中間為證據，使你們知道我是耶和華─你們的上帝。

20:21 只是他們的兒女悖逆我，不順從我的律例，也不謹守遵行我的典章（人若遵行就必因此活著），干犯我的安息日。「我就說，要將我的忿怒傾在他們身上，在曠野向他們成就我怒中所定的。

20:22 雖然如此，我卻為我名的緣故縮手沒有這樣行，免得我的名在我領他們出埃及的列國人眼前被褻瀆。

20:23 並且我在曠野向他們起誓，必將他們分散在列國，四散在列邦；

20:24 因為他們不遵行我的典章，竟厭棄我的律例，干犯我的安息日，眼目仰望他們父親的偶像。

20:25 我也任他們遵行不美的律例，謹守不能使人活著的惡規。

20:26 因他們將一切頭生的經火，我就任憑他們在這供獻的事上玷污自己，好叫他們淒涼，使他們知道我是耶和華。

18 "And I said to their children in the wilderness, Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, 20 and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God. 21 But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths.

 "Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my rules, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers 'idols. 25 Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life, 26 and I defiled them through their very gifts in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it that they might know that I am the Lord.

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

    此處描述出埃及第二代以色列人也與他們父親輩一樣背逆上帝，上帝就讓他們活在其他的律例之下，讓他們無法「驕傲有尊嚴的存在於天地之間」。

    這不僅是以色列人的警告，也是基督徒的警告。若是我們認為「因信稱義」的恩典是不夠的，想要遵行其他法則或自我努力實行什麼規條，才算是義人，那就與聖經教導相違背了！聖經說的人的稱義，是從基督在十字架上所完成的功勞，因著信而領受到的，成為上帝的兒女。而我們要有這樣的地位與身分，才可以遵行上帝的律法，活出上帝子民的樣式！

    若是我們捨棄基督為我們立的基礎，那我們就是拒絕救恩，及使我們努力到達到自覺很聖潔的狀態，仍然是不聖潔的，因為我們若沒有靠耶穌基督在十字架上的救恩，就與聖潔無分了，因為聖潔是上帝透過耶穌基督賜給我們的，不是修行來的！

以西結書20章

      以西結書20章1-44節 ,

     以西結書20:1-17  ,

     以西結書20:18-26  , 以西結書20:19  ,

     以西結書20:27-32   ,

    以西結書20:33-38  , 

    以西結書20:39-44  ,

    以西結書20:45-49  , 以西結書20章45-49節  ,

以西結書20:1-17

20:1 第七年五月初十日，有以色列的幾個長老來求問耶和華，坐在我面前。

20:2 耶和華的話臨到我說：

20:3 「人子啊，你要告訴以色列的長老說，主耶和華如此說：你們來是求問我嗎？主耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓，我必不被你們求問。

20:4 人子啊，你要審問審問他們嗎？你當使他們知道他們列祖那些可憎的事，

20:5 對他們說，主耶和華如此說：當日我揀選以色列，向雅各家的後裔起誓，在埃及地將自己向他們顯現，說：我是耶和華─你們的上帝。

20:6 那日我向他們起誓，必領他們出埃及地，到我為他們察看的流奶與蜜之地；那地在萬國中是有榮耀的。

20:7 我對他們說，你們各人要拋棄眼所喜愛那可憎之物，不可因埃及的偶像玷污自己。我是耶和華─你們的上帝。

20:8 他們卻悖逆我，不肯聽從我，不拋棄他們眼所喜愛那可憎之物，不離棄埃及的偶像。「我就說，我要將我的忿怒傾在他們身上，在埃及地向他們成就我怒中所定的。

20:9 我卻為我名的緣故沒有這樣行，免得我名在他們所住的列國人眼前被褻瀆；我領他們出埃及地，在這列國人的眼前將自己向他們顯現。

20:10 這樣，我就使他們出埃及地，領他們到曠野，

20:11 將我的律例賜給他們，將我的典章指示他們；人若遵行就必因此活著。

20:12 又將我的安息日賜給他們，好在我與他們中間為證據，使他們知道我─耶和華是叫他們成為聖的。

20:13 以色列家卻在曠野悖逆我，不順從我的律例，厭棄我的典章（人若遵行就必因此活著），大大干犯我的安息日。「我就說，要在曠野將我的忿怒傾在他們身上，滅絕他們。

20:14 我卻為我名的緣故，沒有這樣行，免得我的名在我領他們出埃及的列國人眼前被褻瀆。

20:15 並且我在曠野向他們起誓，必不領他們進入我所賜給他們流奶與蜜之地（那地在萬國中是有榮耀的）；

20:16 因為他們厭棄我的典章，不順從我的律例，干犯我的安息日，他們的心隨從自己的偶像。

20:17 雖然如此，我眼仍顧惜他們，不毀滅他們，不在曠野將他們滅絕淨盡。

1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me:3 "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. 4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Let them know the abominations of their fathers, 5 and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God. 6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. 7 And I said to them, Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God. 8 But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.

"Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. 12 Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned.

"Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them. 14 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands, 16 because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness.

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

這一段並沒有說明長老們到底要來求問什麼。不過西元前592年法老森美忒庫二世訪問巴勒斯坦時可能與西底家訂立了條約。此時被擄的以色列人一定認為猶大很有機會可以在埃及的幫助下脫離巴比倫的轄制，他們就可以回國了。因此他們來求問未來局勢的發展如何？如果是這樣上帝的回答就是：「背逆的以色列人目前只能被懲罰，不可能有其他的機會，但未來以色列人還是會歸回本地」。

上帝揀選以色列人出埃及，最重要的要求就是他們應該改變信仰，離開偶像歸向真神。無奈以色列人似乎無法達成這個目標。而上帝為了自己的名，還是把他們領出埃及，並進一步彰顯自己給以色列人看。

先知在此重申《利未記》18章5節：「所以，你們要守我的律例典章；人若遵行，就必因此活著。我是耶和華」。這裏的「活著」不單單是一種「處罰威脅的反面」，而是一個人之所以能夠「驕傲有尊嚴的存在於天地之間」，的那種「算是一個存活的萬物之靈」的「真正活著」。

    這正說明，人要歸向上帝才會活出人真正的意義，而這樣有尊嚴的活，就是來自耶穌基督代贖與拯救，使人透過聖靈重生，才能真正離棄偶像來歸向上帝，成為上帝的兒女！

以西結書19:10-14

19:10 你的母親先前如葡萄樹，極其茂盛（原文是在你血中），栽於水旁。因為水多，就多結果子，滿生枝子；

19:11 生出堅固的枝幹，可作掌權者的杖。這枝幹高舉在茂密的枝中，而且它生長高大，枝子繁多，遠遠可見。

19:12 但這葡萄樹因忿怒被拔出摔在地上；東風吹乾其上的果子，堅固的枝幹折斷枯乾，被火燒毀了；

19:13 如今栽於曠野乾旱無水之地。

19:14 火也從它枝幹中發出，燒滅果子，以致沒有堅固的枝幹可作掌權者的杖。這是哀歌，也必用以作哀歌。

10 Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard

planted by the water,

 fruitful and full of branches

 by reason of abundant water.

11 Its strong stems became

rulers 'scepters;

it towered aloft

among the thick boughs;

it was seen in its height

with the mass of its branches.

12 But the vine was plucked up in fury,

cast down to the ground;

 the east wind dried up its fruit;

they were stripped off and withered.

As for its strong stem,

fire consumed it.

13 Now it is planted in the wilderness,

in a dry and thirsty land.

14 And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots,

has consumed its fruit,

 so that there remains in it no strong stem,

no scepter for ruling.

This is a lamentation and has become a lamentation.

**********

    這段是描寫猶大民族本來有自己的王朝，興盛繁茂。但是現在已經被上帝拔出，種於難以生存的環境，不再能夠有獨立的王朝，這是已經發生的事情。因為他們被擄到別國去了！

    但是上帝並沒有斷絕自己對大衛的應許，因為我們知道：稱為萬王之王的耶穌基督，按肉體說是大衛的子孫。也因此，這個應許並沒有斷絕，上帝依然沒有忘記他對人的拯救！

    讓我們靠著耶穌基督成為上帝的兒女，進入上帝在萬古以先，在基督裡為我們預備的恩典！

以西結書19章

    以西結書19:1-9   ,  以西結書19:10-14    ,

以西結書19:1-9

19:1 你當為以色列的王作起哀歌，

19:2 說：你的母親是甚麼呢？是個母獅子，蹲伏在獅子中間，在少壯獅子中養育小獅子。

19:3 在牠小獅子中養大一個，成了少壯獅子，學會抓食而吃人。

19:4 列國聽見了就把他捉在他們的坑中，用鉤子拉到埃及地去。

19:5 母獅見自己等候失了指望，就從牠小獅子中又將一個養為少壯獅子。

19:6 牠在眾獅子中走來走去，成了少壯獅子，學會抓食而吃人。

19:7 他知道列國的宮殿，又使他們的城邑變為荒場；因他咆哮的聲音，遍地和其中所有的就都荒廢。

19:8 於是四圍邦國各省的人來攻擊他，將網撒在他身上，捉在他們的坑中。

19:9 他們用鉤子鉤住他，將他放在籠中，帶到巴比倫王那裡，將他放入堅固之所，使他的聲音在以色列山上不再聽見。

1 And you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 and say:

What was your mother? A lioness!

Among lions she crouched;

in the midst of young lions

she reared her cubs.

3 And she brought up one of her cubs;

 he became a young lion,

 and he learned to catch prey;

he devoured men.

4 The nations heard about him;

 he was caught in their pit,

 and they brought him with hooks

to the land of Egypt.

5 When she saw that she waited in vain,

that her hope was lost,

 she took another of her cubs

and made him a young lion.

6 He prowled among the lions;

he became a young lion,

and he learned to catch prey;

he devoured men,

7 and seized their widows.

He laid waste their cities,

and the land was appalled and all who were in it

at the sound of his roaring.

8 Then the nations set against him

from provinces on every side;

 they spread their net over him;

 he was taken in their pit.

9 With hooks they put him in a cage

and brought him to the king of Babylon;

they brought him into custody,

that his voice should no more be heard

on the mountains of Israel.

**********

    這是先知為猶大兩個王：約哈斯約哈斯(王下 23:32-34)和約雅斤(王下24 : 13 -15)做哀歌。也有人認為第二隻獅子是西底家或約雅敬(王下 24:1-6)。由於約雅敬是否曾經被擄到巴比倫，學者們有爭議，如果他曾經被擄去巴比倫，這樣以他的事蹟最可能是第二隻少壯獅子。如果排除約雅敬的話，西底家應該就是另一個最可能的選擇。

    不過這是要告訴我們猶大的王的下場，猶大的王不聽從上帝的話，隨己意行事造成以色列的滅國，雖然他們是大衛的子孫，大衛的義行也就不了他們。只有靠上帝的應許的恩典，才使他們有歸回重建的盼望。

    所以，人不能誇口自己，只能謙卑領受上帝的恩典。自己無法救自己，只能靠耶穌基督而得救。