民數記22:1-20

22:1 以色列人起行，在摩押平原、約旦河東，對著耶利哥安營。
22:2 以色列人向亞摩利人所行的一切事，西撥的兒子巴勒都看見了。
22:3 摩押人因以色列民甚多，就大大懼怕，心內憂急，
22:4 對米甸的長老說：「現在這眾人要把我們四圍所有的一概餂盡，就如牛餂盡田間的草一般。」那時西撥的兒子巴勒作摩押王。
22:5 他差遣使者往大河邊的毘奪去，到比珥的兒子巴蘭本鄉那裡，召巴蘭來，說：「有一宗民從埃及出來，遮滿地面，與我對居。
22:6 這民比我強盛，現在求你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能得勝，攻打他們，趕出此地。因為我知道，你為誰祝福，誰就得福；你咒詛誰，誰就受咒詛。」
22:7 摩押的長老和米甸的長老手裡拿著卦金，到了巴蘭那裡，將巴勒的話都告訴了他。
22:8 巴蘭說：「你們今夜在這裡住宿，我必照耶和華所曉諭我的回報你們。」摩押的使臣就在巴蘭那裡住下了。
22:9 上帝臨到巴蘭那裡，說：「在你這裡的人都是誰？」
22:10 巴蘭回答說：「是摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒打發人到我這裡來，說：
22:11 『從埃及出來的民遮滿地面，你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能與他們爭戰，把他們趕出去。』」
22:12 上帝對巴蘭說：「你不可同他們去，也不可咒詛那民，因為那民是蒙福的。」
22:13 巴蘭早晨起來，對巴勒的使臣說：「你們回本地去吧，因為耶和華不容我和你們同去。」
22:14 摩押的使臣就起來，回巴勒那裡去，說：「巴蘭不肯和我們同來。」
22:15 巴勒又差遣使臣，比先前的又多又尊貴。
22:16 他們到了巴蘭那裡，對他說：「西撥的兒子巴勒這樣說：『求你不容甚麼事攔阻你不到我這裡來，
22:17 因為我必使你得極大的尊榮。你向我要甚麼，我就給你甚麼；只求你來為我咒詛這民。』」
22:18 巴蘭回答巴勒的臣僕說：「巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我，我行大事小事也不得越過耶和華─我上帝的命。
22:19 現在我請你們今夜在這裡住宿，等我得知耶和華還要對我說甚麼。」
22:20 當夜，上帝臨到巴蘭那裡，說：「這些人若來召你，你就起來同他們去，你只要遵行我對你所說的話。」

 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.

² Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³ and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
⁴ The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ⁵ sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. ⁶ Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

⁷ The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

⁸ “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
⁹ God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
¹⁰ Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: ¹¹ ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
¹² But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
¹³ The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
¹⁴ So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
¹⁵ Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. ¹⁶ They came to Balaam and said:
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, ¹⁷ because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”

¹⁸ But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. ¹⁹ Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”

²⁰ That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”

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    巴蘭雖然不在以色列人中間，卻是耶和華的先知。巴勒王不知他的來歷，卻相信巴蘭是有能力的先知，差遣使者往大河邊的毘奪去，召巴蘭來，說：「有一宗民從埃及出來，遮滿地面，與我對居。這民比我強盛，現在求你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能得勝，攻打他們，趕出此地。因為我知道，你為誰祝福，誰就得福；你咒詛誰，誰就受咒詛。」

    當然上帝不准巴蘭去咒詛，可是巴蘭實在受不了金錢的誘惑，所以誤認了上帝的感動，以為「這些人若來召你，你就起來同他們去，你只要遵行我對你所說的話。」

    而巴蘭先知之所以有這樣的誤認，是因為人的感覺會誤判上帝的感動，以致於讓自己的意思成了上帝的引導。彼得對他的評論是：「他們離棄正路，就走差了，隨從比珥之子巴蘭的路。巴蘭就是那貪愛不義之工價的先知，」(彼得後書2:15)

    也因為如此，我們不可以隨便聽信所謂「先知」的話，要以聖經來查驗，以免一同誤入歧途！

詩篇34:1-22

34:1 （大衛在亞比米勒面前裝瘋，被他趕出去，就作這詩。）我要時時稱頌耶和華；讚美他的話必常在我口中。

34:2 我的心必因耶和華誇耀；謙卑人聽見就要喜樂。

34:3 你們和我當稱耶和華為大，一同高舉他的名。

34:4 我曾尋求耶和華，他就應允我，救我脫離了一切的恐懼。

34:5 凡仰望他的，便有光榮；他們的臉必不蒙羞。

34:6 我這困苦人呼求，耶和華便垂聽，救我脫離一切患難。

34:7 耶和華的使者在敬畏他的人四圍安營，搭救他們。

34:8 你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味，便知道他是美善；投靠他的人有福了！

34:9 耶和華的聖民哪，你們當敬畏他，因敬畏他的一無所缺。

34:10 少壯獅子還缺食忍餓，但尋求耶和華的甚麼好處都不缺。

34:11 眾弟子啊，你們當來聽我的話！我要將敬畏耶和華的道教訓你們。

34:12 有何人喜好存活，愛慕長壽，得享美福，

34:13 就要禁止舌頭不出惡言，嘴唇不說詭詐的話。

34:14 要離惡行善，尋求和睦，一心追趕。

34:15 耶和華的眼目看顧義人；他的耳朵聽他們的呼求。

34:16 耶和華向行惡的人變臉，要從世上除滅他們的名號。

34:17 義人呼求，耶和華聽見了，便救他們脫離一切患難。

34:18 耶和華靠近傷心的人，拯救靈性痛悔的人。

34:19 義人多有苦難，但耶和華救他脫離這一切，

34:20 又保全他一身的骨頭，連一根也不折斷。

34:21 惡必害死惡人；恨惡義人的，必被定罪。

34:22 耶和華救贖他僕人的靈魂；凡投靠他的，必不致定罪。

 

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;

    his praise will always be on my lips.

2 I will glory in the Lord;

    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 Glorify the Lord with me;

    let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

    he delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;

    their faces are never covered with shame.

6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

    he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

    and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;

    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

    for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,

    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, listen to me;

    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Whoever of you loves life

    and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil

    and your lips from telling lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good;

    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

    and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

    to blot out their name from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

    he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,

    but the Lord delivers him from them all;

20 he protects all his bones,

    not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;

    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 The Lord will rescue his servants;

    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

 

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    大衛逃避掃羅的追殺，只好逃到迦特王亞吉那裡，沒想到「掃羅殺死千千，大衛殺死萬萬」的傳言也到了那裏，還被號稱為「以色列國王」，怕引起殺身之禍，大衛只好裝瘋，使他免除災害。

 

 

    大衛有這樣的日子，我們每一位敬畏上帝的人，也是會遇見許多人生的考驗。雖然我們感受到被逼迫，甚至性命受到威脅，但是我們卻可以回頭倚靠上帝，就可以感受到投靠上帝才有真正的平安。

 

    也因為大衛這首詩歌，讓我們感受到上帝的護理(攝理)的奇妙，「義人多有苦難，但耶和華救他脫離這一切，又保全他一身的骨頭，連一根也不折斷」。而且是十分美好，「你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味，便知道他是美善；投靠他的人有福了！」

 

    求主幫助，讓我們也像大衛一般，即使在苦難中，心中卻蒙上帝的賜福，十分平安，並且「離惡行善，尋求和睦，一心追趕」。這裡的「一心追趕」，就是努力尋求！

民數記21:21-35

21:21 以色列人差遣使者去見亞摩利人的王西宏，說：
21:22 「求你容我們從你的地經過；我們不偏入田間和葡萄園，也不喝井裡的水，只走大道（原文是王道），直到過了你的境界。」
21:23 西宏不容以色列人從他的境界經過，就招聚他的眾民出到曠野，要攻擊以色列人，到了雅雜與以色列人爭戰。
21:24 以色列人用刀殺了他，得了他的地，從亞嫩河到雅博河，直到亞捫人的境界，因為亞捫人的境界多有堅壘。
21:25 以色列人奪取這一切的城邑，也住亞摩利人的城邑，就是希實本與希實本的一切鄉村。
21:26 這希實本是亞摩利王西宏的京城；西宏曾與摩押的先王爭戰，從他手中奪取了全地，直到亞嫩河。
21:27 所以那些作詩歌的說：你們來到希實本；願西宏的城被修造，被建立。
21:28 因為有火從希實本發出，有火焰出於西宏的城，燒盡摩押的亞珥和亞嫩河邱壇的祭司（祭司原文是主）。
21:29 摩押啊，你有禍了！基抹的民哪，你們滅亡了！基抹的男子逃奔，女子被擄，交付亞摩利的王西宏。
21:30 我們射了他們；希實本直到底本盡皆毀滅。我們使地變成荒場，直到挪法；這挪法直延到米底巴。
21:31 這樣，以色列人就住在亞摩利人之地。
21:32 摩西打發人去窺探雅謝，以色列人就佔了雅謝的鎮市，趕出那裡的亞摩利人。
21:33 以色列人轉回，向巴珊去。巴珊王噩和他的眾民都出來，在以得來與他們交戰。
21:34 耶和華對摩西說：「不要怕他！因我已將他和他的眾民，並他的地，都交在你手中；你要待他像從前待住希實本的亞摩利王西宏一般。」
21:35 於是他們殺了他和他的眾子，並他的眾民，沒有留下一個，就得了他的地。

²¹ Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:

²² “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”

²³ But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. ²⁴ Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified. ²⁵ Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements. ²⁶ Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.

²⁷ That is why the poets say:

“Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
    let Sihon’s city be restored.

²⁸ “Fire went out from Heshbon,
    a blaze from the city of Sihon.
It consumed Ar of Moab,
    the citizens of Arnon’s heights.
²⁹ Woe to you, Moab!
    You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!
He has given up his sons as fugitives
    and his daughters as captives
    to Sihon king of the Amorites.

³⁰ “But we have overthrown them;
    Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.
We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
    which extends to Medeba.”

³¹ So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.

³² After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. ³³ Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.

³⁴ The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

³⁵ So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.

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    經過休養生息以後，從上帝那裏重新得力，如鷹展翅上騰，以色列人就變成所向無敵的軍隊了，就連續打敗了兩個國王和他們的子民！這兩個王分別是亞摩利人的王西宏，和巴珊王噩。也因為這樣，以色列人因為有上帝的同在的名聲就傳出去了！

    就是今天的我們也需要與上帝同行，正如羅馬書8章37-39節所說：「然而，靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。因為我深信無論是死，是生，是天使，是掌權的，是有能的，是現在的事，是將來的事，是高處的，是低處的，是別的受造之物，都不能叫我們與上帝的愛隔絕；這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。」

    也因為這樣，「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛上帝的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人」（羅馬書8:39），我們為此來歡呼與讚美上帝！