民數記24:1-25

24:1 巴蘭見耶和華喜歡賜福與以色列，就不像前兩次去求法術，卻面向曠野。
24:2 巴蘭舉目，看見以色列人照著支派居住。上帝的靈就臨到他身上，
24:3 他便題起詩歌說：比珥的兒子巴蘭說，眼目閉住（或譯：睜開）的人說，
24:4 得聽上帝的言語，得見全能者的異象，眼目睜開而仆倒的人說：
24:5 雅各啊，你的帳棚何等華美！以色列啊，你的帳幕何其華麗！
24:6 如接連的山谷，如河旁的園子，如耶和華所栽的沉香樹，如水邊的香柏木。
24:7 水要從他的桶裡流出；種子要撒在多水之處。他的王必超過亞甲；他的國必要振興。
24:8 上帝領他出埃及；他似乎有野牛之力。他要吞吃敵國，折斷他們的骨頭，用箭射透他們。
24:9 他蹲如公獅，臥如母獅，誰敢惹他？凡給你祝福的，願他蒙福；凡咒詛你的，願他受咒詛。
24:10 巴勒向巴蘭生氣，就拍起手來，對巴蘭說：「我召你來為我咒詛仇敵，不料，你這三次竟為他們祝福。
24:11 如今你快回本地去吧！我想使你得大尊榮，耶和華卻阻止你不得尊榮。」
24:12 巴蘭對巴勒說：「我豈不是對你所差遣到我那裡的使者說：
24:13 『巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我，我也不得越過耶和華的命，憑自己的心意行好行歹。耶和華說甚麼，我就要說甚麼』？」
24:14 「現在我要回本族去。你來，我告訴你這民日後要怎樣待你的民。」
24:15 他就題起詩歌說：比珥的兒子巴蘭說：眼目閉住（或譯：睜開）的人說，
24:16 得聽上帝的言語，明白至高者的意旨，看見全能者的異象，眼目睜開而仆倒的人說：
24:17 我看他卻不在現時；我望他卻不在近日。有星要出於雅各，有杖要興於以色列，必打破摩押的四角，毀壞擾亂之子。
24:18 他必得以東為基業，又得仇敵之地西珥為產業；以色列必行事勇敢。
24:19 有一位出於雅各的，必掌大權；他要除滅城中的餘民。
24:20 巴蘭觀看亞瑪力，就題起詩歌說：亞瑪力原為諸國之首，但他終必沉淪。
24:21 巴蘭觀看基尼人，就題起詩歌說：你的住處本是堅固；你的窩巢做在巖穴中。
24:22 然而基尼必至衰微，直到亞述把你擄去。
24:23 巴蘭又題起詩歌說：哀哉！上帝行這事，誰能得活？
24:24 必有人乘船從基提界而來，苦害亞述，苦害希伯；他也必至沉淪。
24:25 於是巴蘭起來，回他本地去；巴勒也回去了。

 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. ² When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him ³ and he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
⁴ the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
    who sees a vision from the Almighty,^[a]
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

⁵ “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
    your dwelling places, Israel!

⁶ “Like valleys they spread out,
    like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
    like cedars beside the waters.
⁷ Water will flow from their buckets;
    their seed will have abundant water.

“Their king will be greater than Agag;
    their kingdom will be exalted.

⁸ “God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
    and break their bones in pieces;
    with their arrows they pierce them.
⁹ Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
    like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessed
    and those who curse you be cursed!”

¹⁰ Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. ¹¹ Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”

¹² Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, ¹³ ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? ¹⁴ Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
¹⁵ Then he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
¹⁶ the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
    who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

¹⁷ “I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
    a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
    the skulls^[b] of^[c] all the people of Sheth.^[d]
18 Edom will be conquered;
    Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
    but Israel will grow strong.
¹⁹ A ruler will come out of Jacob
    and destroy the survivors of the city.”

²⁰ Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
    but their end will be utter destruction.”

²¹ Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:

“Your dwelling place is secure,
    your nest is set in a rock;
²² yet you Kenites will be destroyed
    when Ashur takes you captive.”

²³ Then he spoke his message:

“Alas! Who can live when God does this?^[e]
24     Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;
they will subdue Ashur and Eber,
    but they too will come to ruin.”

²⁵ Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

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

    巴蘭先知總共發了七次預言，都是照著耶和華上帝的心意，在這些預言中不僅祝福以色列人，更是說到基督將要從以色列人中產生，讓我們再次確認舊約是在預言基督的降臨與工作為核心！

    從巴蘭的預言中我們再次感受到聖經的中心是基督，不管是新約和舊約，都是指向上帝的救贖是在耶穌基督裡，離了耶穌基督就沒有救恩了！過去的人將在基督裡等同是在教會裡，以致於發出「在教會之外沒有救恩的論調」！

    然而在馬丁路德的時代，教會已經偏離了聖經的教導，教宗宣稱自己是教會之首，取代了基督的地位，也因此他要藉宗教改革，要教會回到聖經，尊基督為主、為中保，從新回到聖經的教導，以基督為信仰的中心。

    今日的教會受到形式主義的影響，只注重外表的活動、禮儀和各樣的訓練課程，沒有強調唯有基督是主，唯有靠基督才能與上帝和好，成為上帝的兒女。以至於以外表的表現取代了內心的信靠，沒有讓聖靈的更新實現在人的內心，更沒有真正的悔改在生命之中！

    也因為如此，我們要回到上帝的道，在基督裡與上帝相遇，如此我們才真正有永生的確據，感受到一切都是出於上帝的恩典，若不是上帝的恩典，我們就沒有辦法得救贖了！

詩篇36:1-12

36:1 （耶和華的僕人大衛的詩，交與伶長。）惡人的罪過在他心裡說：我眼中不怕上帝！
36:2 他自誇自媚，以為他的罪孽終不顯露，不被恨惡。
36:3 他口中的言語盡是罪孽詭詐；他與智慧善行已經斷絕。
36:4 他在床上圖謀罪孽，定意行不善的道，不憎惡惡事。
36:5 耶和華啊，你的慈愛上及諸天；你的信實達到穹蒼。
36:6 你的公義好像高山；你的判斷如同深淵。耶和華啊，人民、牲畜，你都救護。
36:7 上帝啊，你的慈愛何其寶貴！世人投靠在你翅膀的蔭下。
36:8 他們必因你殿裡的肥甘得以飽足；你也必叫他們喝你樂河的水。
36:9 因為，在你那裡有生命的源頭；在你的光中，我們必得見光。
36:10 願你常施慈愛給認識你的人，常以公義待心裡正直的人。
36:11 不容驕傲人的腳踐踏我；不容凶惡人的手趕逐我。
36:12 在那裡，作孽的人已經仆倒；他們被推倒，不能再起來。

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.

¹ I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
    before their eyes.

² In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.
³ The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
    they fail to act wisely or do good.
⁴ Even on their beds they plot evil;
    they commit themselves to a sinful course
    and do not reject what is wrong.

⁵ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
⁷ How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

¹⁰ Continue your love to those who know you,
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.
¹¹ May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!

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

    惡人之所以做惡，是因為不認識上帝，以自我為中心，更是以搶奪別人為樂事。以至於他們與上帝隔絕，不能得著上帝的賜福。也因為如此，他們的結局是滅亡！

    當然惡人想盡辦法攻擊與搶奪別人，運用小聰明，似乎攻無不克！義人沒有惡人的作為，表面上是弱者，其實是真正的強者。因為他們有上帝為依靠和保護，從來沒有任何勢力可以超越上帝，惡人更是為上帝所抵擋，最後勝利是屬上帝和他的子民。

    因此，我們從詩人的話語中明白，有上帝的同在，就不怕一切的惡勢力！因為其他的勢力都無法與上帝抵擋，只有上帝才是真實可靠，甚至比自己更可靠，而且是永遠可靠的！

民數記23章

             民數記23:1-30 ,

              民數記23:19   ,

              民數記23:19  ,

民數記23:1-30

23:1 巴蘭對巴勒說：「你在這裡給我築七座壇，為我預備七隻公牛，七隻公羊。」
23:2 巴勒照巴蘭的話行了。巴勒和巴蘭在每座壇上獻一隻公牛，一隻公羊。
23:3 巴蘭對巴勒說：「你站在你的燔祭旁邊，我且往前去，或者耶和華來迎見我。他指示我甚麼，我必告訴你。」於是巴蘭上一淨光的高處。
23:4 上帝迎見巴蘭；巴蘭說：「我預備了七座壇，在每座壇上獻了一隻公牛，一隻公羊。」
23:5 耶和華將話傳給巴蘭，又說：「你回到巴勒那裡，要如此如此說。」
23:6 他就回到巴勒那裡，見他同摩押的使臣都站在燔祭旁邊。
23:7 巴蘭便題起詩歌說：巴勒引我出亞蘭，摩押王引我出東山，說：來啊，為我咒詛雅各；來啊，怒罵以色列。
23:8 上帝沒有咒詛的，我焉能咒詛？耶和華沒有怒罵的，我焉能怒罵？
23:9 我從高峰看他，從小山望他；這是獨居的民，不列在萬民中。
23:10 誰能數點雅各的塵土？誰能計算以色列的四分之一？我願如義人之死而死；我願如義人之終而終。
23:11 巴勒對巴蘭說：「你向我做的是甚麼事呢？我領你來咒詛我的仇敵，不料，你竟為他們祝福。」
23:12 他回答說：「耶和華傳給我的話，我能不謹慎傳說嗎？」
23:13 巴勒說：「求你同我往別處去，在那裡可以看見他們；你不能全看見，只能看見他們邊界上的人。在那裡要為我咒詛他們。」
23:14 於是領巴蘭到了瑣腓田，上了毘斯迦山頂，築了七座壇；每座壇上獻一隻公牛，一隻公羊。
23:15 巴蘭對巴勒說：「你站在這燔祭旁邊，等我往那邊去迎見耶和華。」
23:16 耶和華臨到巴蘭那裡，將話傳給他；又說：「你回到巴勒那裡，要如此如此說。」
23:17 他就回到巴勒那裡，見他站在燔祭旁邊；摩押的使臣也和他在一處。巴勒問他說：「耶和華說了甚麼話呢？」
23:18 巴蘭就題詩歌說：巴勒，你起來聽；西撥的兒子，你聽我言。
23:19 上帝非人，必不致說謊，也非人子，必不致後悔。他說話豈不照著行呢？他發言豈不要成就呢？
23:20 我奉命祝福；上帝也曾賜福，此事我不能翻轉。
23:21 他未見雅各中有罪孽，也未見以色列中有奸惡。耶和華─他的上帝和他同在；有歡呼王的聲音在他們中間。
23:22 上帝領他們出埃及；他們似乎有野牛之力。
23:23 斷沒有法術可以害雅各，也沒有占卜可以害以色列。現在必有人論及雅各，就是論及以色列說：上帝為他行了何等的大事！
23:24 這民起來，彷彿母獅，挺身，好像公獅，未曾吃野食，未曾喝被傷者之血，決不躺臥。
23:25 巴勒對巴蘭說：「你一點不要咒詛他們，也不要為他們祝福。」
23:26 巴蘭回答巴勒說：「我豈不是告訴你說『凡耶和華所說的，我必須遵行』嗎？」
23:27 巴勒對巴蘭說：「來吧，我領你往別處去，或者上帝喜歡你在那裡為我咒詛他們。」
23:28 巴勒就領巴蘭到那下望曠野的毘珥山頂上。
23:29 巴蘭對巴勒說：「你在這裡為我築七座壇，又在這裡為我預備七隻公牛，七隻公羊。」
23:30 巴勒就照巴蘭的話行，在每座壇上獻一隻公牛，一隻公羊。

  Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” ² Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

³ Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.
⁴ God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
⁵ The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
⁶ So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. ⁷ Then Balaam spoke his message:

“Balak brought me from Aram,
    the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.
‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me;
    come, denounce Israel.’
⁸ How can I curse
    those whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce
    those whom the Lord has not denounced?
⁹ From the rocky peaks I see them,
    from the heights I view them.
I see a people who live apart
    and do not consider themselves one of the nations.
¹⁰ Who can count the dust of Jacob
    or number even a fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,
    and may my final end be like theirs!”

¹¹ Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”

¹² He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”
¹³ Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.” ¹⁴ So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
¹⁵ Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”
¹⁶ The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
¹⁷ So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
¹⁸ Then he spoke his message:

“Arise, Balak, and listen;
    hear me, son of Zippor.
¹⁹ God is not human, that he should lie,
    not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
    Does he promise and not fulfill?
²⁰ I have received a command to bless;
    he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

²¹ “No misfortune is seen in Jacob,
    no misery observed^[a] in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them;
    the shout of the King is among them.
²² God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.
²³ There is no divination against^[b] Jacob,
    no evil omens against^[c] Israel.
It will now be said of Jacob
    and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
²⁴ The people rise like a lioness;
    they rouse themselves like a lion
that does not rest till it devours its prey
    and drinks the blood of its victims.”

²⁵ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

²⁶ Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”
²⁷ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” ²⁸ And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
²⁹ Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” ³⁰ Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

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

    巴勒要巴蘭先知咒詛以色列人，可是巴蘭卻一而再、再而三的祝福以色列人。也因為這樣，讓巴勒很不高興。巴蘭卻故意戲弄巴勒，要他一在換位置，其實他深知上帝地幫助以色列人！

    巴蘭祝福以色列人，也讓我們感受到上帝的心意是不被人的作為改變的，人再多的花樣是沒有意義的，重要的還是人要順應上帝的旨意來行事，人是無法改變與抗拒上帝的旨意的！

    親愛的弟兄姊妹，既然知道上帝的旨意是無法抗拒的，我們就要越發相信：耶穌基督必定再來，上帝的國必定實現！耶穌基督已經復活、升天、坐在上帝的右邊，祂的再來是不會落空的，我們當存歡喜快樂的心來面對！

詩篇35篇

                     詩篇35:1-28  ,

                      詩篇35:1-3  ,   詩篇35:3   , 

                     詩篇35:4-6  ,

                    詩篇35:22-23    ,