民數記1:1-16

1:1 以色列人出埃及地後，第二年二月初一日，耶和華在西奈的曠野、會幕中曉諭摩西說：
1:2 「你要按以色列全會眾的家室、宗族、人名的數目計算所有的男丁。
1:3 凡以色列中，從二十歲以外，能出去打仗的，你和亞倫要照他們的軍隊數點。
1:4 每支派中必有一人作本支派的族長，幫助你們。
1:5 他們的名字：屬流便的，有示丟珥的兒子以利蓿；
1:6 屬西緬的，有蘇利沙代的兒子示路蔑；
1:7 屬猶大的，有亞米拿達的兒子拿順；
1:8 屬以薩迦的，有蘇押的兒子拿坦業；
1:9 屬西布倫的，有希倫的兒子以利押；
1:10 約瑟子孫、屬以法蓮的，有亞米忽的兒子以利沙瑪；屬瑪拿西的，有比大蓿的兒子迦瑪列；
1:11 屬便雅憫的，有基多尼的兒子亞比但；
1:12 屬但的，有亞米沙代的兒子亞希以謝；
1:13 屬亞設的，有俄蘭的兒子帕結；
1:14 屬迦得的，有丟珥的兒子以利雅薩；
1:15 屬拿弗他利的，有以南的兒子亞希拉。
1:16 這都是從會中選召的，各作本支派的首領，都是以色列軍中的統領。」

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: ² “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. ³ You and Aaron are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army. ⁴ One man from each tribe, each of them the head of his family, is to help you. ⁵ These are the names of the men who are to assist you:

from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

⁶ from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

⁷ from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

⁸ from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

⁹ from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

¹⁰ from the sons of Joseph:

from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud;

from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

¹¹ from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

¹² from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

¹³ from Asher, Pagiel son of Okran;

¹⁴ from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

¹⁵ from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”

¹⁶ These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.

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

    上帝在此很清楚讓摩西知道：點數百姓的目的是要清楚有多少男丁。「你要按以色列全會眾的家室、宗族、人名的數目計算所有的男丁。凡以色列中，從二十歲以外，能出去打仗的，你和亞倫要照他們的軍隊數點。」

    當然這是一個艱鉅的工作，不是摩西和亞倫兩個人可以完成的，需要每一個支派的族長來做這事，也就是要層層負責，這樣才能快速和準確的點數男丁的人數，以便在將來進迦南地時，可以安排軍隊之隊伍。

    數量不只代表一個數字，更是代表力量與能力，就像今日最流行的一句話就是：「數自是會說話的！」

    也因為這樣，現代人迷失於「大數據」，想靠自己的智慧成就大事，享用數字來顯揚自己，其實真正的能力是來自上帝，不是數字！讓我們透過信仰的認知打破數字的迷失，上帝常常是利用「少數」來改變「多數」，而不是用「多數」來消滅「少數」！

詩篇12篇

            詩篇12:1-8 ,

            詩篇12:6 ,

詩篇12:1-8

12:1 （大衛的詩，交與伶長。調用第八。）耶和華啊，求你幫助，因虔誠人斷絕了；世人中間的忠信人沒有了。
12:2 人人向鄰舍說謊；他們說話，是嘴唇油滑，心口不一。
12:3 凡油滑的嘴唇和誇大的舌頭，耶和華必要剪除。
12:4 他們曾說：我們必能以舌頭得勝；我們的嘴唇是我們自己的，誰能作我們的主呢？
12:5 耶和華說：因為困苦人的冤屈和貧窮人的歎息，我現在要起來，把他安置在他所切慕的穩妥之地。
12:6 耶和華的言語是純淨的言語，如同銀子在泥爐中煉過七次。
12:7 耶和華啊，你必保護他們；你必保佑他們永遠脫離這世代的人。
12:8 下流人在世人中升高，就有惡人到處遊行。

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

¹ Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
² Everyone lies to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.

³ May the Lord silence all flattering lips
    and every boastful tongue—
⁴ those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵ “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
⁶ And the words of the Lord are flawless,
    like silver purified in a crucible,
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷ You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,
⁸ who freely strut about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

***********

     世界上的人，包括我們自己，沒有一個人可以在上帝面前有資格稱為義人，都是被罪惡所污染的人，要不是上帝透過耶穌基督拯救我們，我們必定沉淪和別人沒有兩樣。所以，我們無法誇口自己，必須謙卑面對上帝與世人。

    當然，聖靈在我們心中動工，使我們看見與認識自己的不義，我們才能夠在上帝面前認罪，正如約翰福音所說：「然而，我將真情告訴你們，我去是與你們有益的；我若不去，保惠師就不到你們這裡來；我若去，就差他來。    他既來了，就要叫世人為罪、為義、為審判，自己責備自己。」（16:7-8）

    可是人若沒有上帝在基督裡的拯救，就無法覺悟，仍然活在罪中，依然覺得自己很好，從來不會認識到自己是：「人人向鄰舍說謊；他們說話，是嘴唇油滑，心口不一。」「我們必能以舌頭得勝；我們的嘴唇是我們自己的，誰能作我們的主呢？」

    求主幫助我們，透過聖靈可以認識自己的本相，求聖靈更新我們，讓我們可以活出聖潔，使我們在這世界可以如明燈照耀，榮耀主名！

利未記27章

      利未記27:1-34  ,

利未記27:1-34

27:1 耶和華對摩西說：
27:2 「你曉諭以色列人說：人還特許的願，被許的人要按你所估的價值歸給耶和華。
27:3 你估定的，從二十歲到六十歲的男人，要按聖所的平，估定價銀五十舍客勒。
27:4 若是女人，你要估定三十舍客勒。
27:5 若是從五歲到二十歲，男子你要估定二十舍客勒，女子估定十舍客勒。
27:6 若是從一月到五歲，男子你要估定五舍客勒，女子估定三舍客勒。
27:7 若是從六十歲以上，男人你要估定十五舍客勒，女人估定十舍客勒。
27:8 他若貧窮，不能照你所估定的價，就要把他帶到祭司面前，祭司要按許願人的力量估定他的價。
27:9 「所許的若是牲畜，就是人獻給耶和華為供物的，凡這一類獻給耶和華的，都要成為聖。
27:10 人不可改換，也不可更換，或是好的換壞的，或是壞的換好的。若以牲畜更換牲畜，所許的與所換的都要成為聖。
27:11 若牲畜不潔淨，是不可獻給耶和華為供物的，就要把牲畜安置在祭司面前。
27:12 祭司就要估定價值；牲畜是好是壞，祭司怎樣估定，就要以怎樣為是。
27:13 他若一定要贖回，就要在你所估定的價值以外加上五分之一。
27:14 「人將房屋分別為聖，歸給耶和華，祭司就要估定價值。房屋是好是壞，祭司怎樣估定，就要以怎樣為定。
27:15 將房屋分別為聖的人，若要贖回房屋，就必在你所估定的價值以外加上五分之一，房屋仍舊歸他。
27:16 「人若將承受為業的幾分地分別為聖，歸給耶和華，你要按這地撒種多少估定價值，若撒大麥一賀梅珥，要估價五十舍客勒。
27:17 他若從禧年將地分別為聖，就要以你所估定的價為定。
27:18 倘若他在禧年以後將地分別為聖，祭司就要按著未到禧年所剩的年數推算價值，也要從你所估的減去價值。
27:19 將地分別為聖的人若定要把地贖回，他便要在你所估的價值以外加上五分之一，地就准定歸他。
27:20 他若不贖回那地，或是將地賣給別人，就再不能贖了。
27:21 但到了禧年，那地從買主手下出來的時候，就要歸耶和華為聖，和永獻的地一樣，要歸祭司為業。
27:22 他若將所買的一塊地，不是承受為業的，分別為聖歸給耶和華，
27:23 祭司就要將你所估的價值給他推算到禧年。當日，他要以你所估的價銀為聖，歸給耶和華。
27:24 到了禧年，那地要歸賣主，就是那承受為業的原主。
27:25 凡你所估定的價銀都要按著聖所的平：二十季拉為一舍客勒。
27:26 「惟獨牲畜中頭生的，無論是牛是羊，既歸耶和華，誰也不可再分別為聖，因為這是耶和華的。
27:27 若是不潔淨的牲畜生的，就要按你所估定的價值加上五分之一贖回；若不贖回，就要按你所估定的價值賣了。
27:28 「但一切永獻的，就是人從他所有永獻給耶和華的，無論是人，是牲畜，是他承受為業的地，都不可賣，也不可贖。凡永獻的是歸給耶和華為至聖。
27:29 凡從人中當滅的都不可贖，必被治死。」
27:30 「地上所有的，無論是地上的種子是樹上的果子，十分之一是耶和華的，是歸給耶和華為聖的。
27:31 人若要贖這十分之一的甚麼物，就要加上五分之一。
27:32 凡牛群羊群中，一切從杖下經過的，每第十隻要歸給耶和華為聖。
27:33 不可問是好是壞，也不可更換；若定要更換，所更換的與本來的牲畜都要成為聖，不可贖回。」
27:34 這就是耶和華在西奈山為以色列人所吩咐摩西的命令。

The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value, ³ set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels^[a] of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel^[b]; ⁴ for a female, set her value at thirty shekels^[c]; ⁵ for a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels^[d] and of a female at ten shekels^[e]; ⁶ for a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels^[f] of silver and that of a female at three shekels^[g] of silver; ⁷ for a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels^[h] and of a female at ten shekels. ⁸ If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, the person being dedicated is to be presented to the priest, who will set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.

⁹ “‘If what they vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord, such an animal given to the Lord becomes holy. ¹⁰ They must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if they should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy. ¹¹ If what they vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal—one that is not acceptable as an offering to the Lord—the animal must be presented to the priest, ¹² who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be. ¹³ If the owner wishes to redeem the animal, a fifth must be added to its value.

¹⁴ “‘If anyone dedicates their house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain. ¹⁵ If the one who dedicates their house wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become theirs.

¹⁶ “‘If anyone dedicates to the Lord part of their family land, its value is to be set according to the amount of seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver to a homer^[i] of barley seed. ¹⁷ If they dedicate a field during the Year of Jubilee, the value that has been set remains. ¹⁸ But if they dedicate a field after the Jubilee, the priest will determine the value according to the number of years that remain until the next Year of Jubilee, and its set value will be reduced. ¹⁹ If the one who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the field will again become theirs. ²⁰ If, however, they do not redeem the field, or if they have sold it to someone else, it can never be redeemed. ²¹ When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the Lord; it will become priestly property.

²² “‘If anyone dedicates to the Lord a field they have bought, which is not part of their family land, ²³ the priest will determine its value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the owner must pay its value on that day as something holy to the Lord. ²⁴ In the Year of Jubilee the field will revert to the person from whom it was bought, the one whose land it was. ²⁵ Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.

²⁶ “‘No one, however, may dedicate the firstborn of an animal, since the firstborn already belongs to the Lord; whether an ox^[j] or a sheep, it is the Lord’s. ²⁷ If it is one of the unclean animals, it may be bought back at its set value, adding a fifth of the value to it. If it is not redeemed, it is to be sold at its set value.

²⁸ “‘But nothing that a person owns and devotes^[k] to the Lord—whether a human being or an animal or family land—may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord.

²⁹ “‘No person devoted to destruction^[l] may be ransomed; they are to be put to death.

³⁰ “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. ³¹ Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. ³² Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. ³³ No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’”

³⁴ These are the commands the Lord gave Moses at Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

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

    許願是一件非常慎重的事情，是不可以隨便的，所以要付的代價是很高的。當然上帝本身不是靠人的許願來做事，是照顧人的需要，才開許願的條例，使人知道發誓要講信用，不可隨意發誓！

    主耶穌也提醒人不用要用發誓來掩蓋自己的罪惡，正如在登山寶訓中有說：「你們又聽見有吩咐古人的話，說：『不可背誓，所起的誓總要向主謹守。』只是我告訴你們，甚麼誓都不可起。不可指著天起誓，因為天是上帝的座位；不可指著地起誓，因為地是他的腳凳；也不可指著耶路撒冷起誓，因為耶路撒冷是大君的京城；又不可指著你的頭起誓，因為你不能使一根頭髮變黑變白了。你們的話，是，就說是；不是，就說不是；若再多說，就是出於那惡者（或譯：就是從惡裡出來的）。」（馬太福音5:33-37）

    許願同發誓，更是不可欺騙上帝！因為上帝比人更是清楚人的內心，發誓都不可以騙人，許願更當然不可以欺騙上帝！想想使徒行傳5章說的亞拿尼亞夫妻，欺騙上帝的下場！