詩篇68:1-35

68:1 （大衛的詩歌，交與伶長。）願上帝興起，使他的仇敵四散，叫那恨他的人從他面前逃跑。
68:2 他們被驅逐，如煙被風吹散；惡人見上帝之面而消滅，如蠟被火鎔化。
68:3 惟有義人必然歡喜，在上帝面前高興快樂。
68:4 你們當向上帝唱詩，歌頌他的名；為那坐車行過曠野的修平大路。他的名是耶和華，要在他面前歡樂！
68:5 上帝在他的聖所作孤兒的父，作寡婦的伸冤者。
68:6 上帝叫孤獨的有家，使被囚的出來享福；惟有悖逆的住在乾燥之地。
68:7 上帝啊，你曾在你百姓前頭出來，在曠野行走。（細拉）
68:8 那時，地見上帝的面而震動，天也落雨；西奈山見以色列上帝的面也震動。
68:9 上帝啊，你降下大雨；你產業以色列疲乏的時候，你使他堅固。
68:10 你的會眾住在其中；上帝啊，你的恩惠是為困苦人預備的。
68:11 主發命令，傳好信息的婦女成了大群。
68:12 統兵的君王逃跑了，逃跑了；在家等候的婦女分受所奪的。
68:13 你們安臥在羊圈的時候，好像鴿子的翅膀鍍白銀，翎毛鍍黃金一般。
68:14 全能者在境內趕散列王的時候，勢如飄雪在撒們。
68:15 巴珊山是上帝的山；巴珊山是多峰多嶺的山。
68:16 你們多峰多嶺的山哪，為何斜看上帝所願居住的山？耶和華必住這山，直到永遠！
68:17 上帝的車輦累萬盈千；主在其中，好像在西奈聖山一樣。
68:18 你已經升上高天，擄掠仇敵；你在人間，就是在悖逆的人間，受了供獻，叫耶和華上帝可以與他們同住。
68:19 天天背負我們重擔的主，就是拯救我們的上帝，是應當稱頌的！（細拉）
68:20 上帝是為我們施行諸般救恩的上帝；人能脫離死亡是在乎主耶和華。
68:21 但上帝要打破他仇敵的頭，就是那常犯罪之人的髮頂。
68:22 主說：我要使眾民從巴珊而歸，使他們從深海而回，
68:23 使你打碎仇敵，你的腳踹在血中，使你狗的舌頭從其中得分。
68:24 上帝啊，你是我的上帝，我的王；人已經看見你行走，進入聖所。
68:25 歌唱的行在前，作樂的隨在後，都在擊鼓的童女中間。
68:26 從以色列源頭而來的，當在各會中稱頌主上帝！
68:27 在那裡，有統管他們的小便雅憫，有猶大的首領和他們的群眾，有西布倫的首領，有拿弗他利的首領。
68:28 以色列的能力是上帝所賜的；上帝啊，求你堅固你為我們所成全的事！
68:29 因你耶路撒冷的殿，列王必帶貢物獻給你。
68:30 求你叱喝蘆葦中的野獸和群公牛，並列邦中的牛犢。把銀塊踹在腳下；上帝已經趕散好爭戰的列邦。
68:31 埃及的公侯要出來朝見上帝；古實人要急忙舉手禱告。
68:32 世上的列國啊，你們要向上帝歌唱；願你們歌頌主！
68:33 歌頌那自古駕行在諸天以上的主！他發出聲音，是極大的聲音。
68:34 你們要將能力歸給上帝。他的威榮在以色列之上；他的能力是在穹蒼。
68:35 上帝啊，你從聖所顯為可畏；以色列的上帝是那將力量權能賜給他百姓的。上帝是應當稱頌的！

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.

¹ May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
    may his foes flee before him.
² May you blow them away like smoke—
    as wax melts before the fire,
    may the wicked perish before God.
³ But may the righteous be glad
    and rejoice before God;
    may they be happy and joyful.

⁴ Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
    extol him who rides on the clouds^[b];
    rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
    is God in his holy dwelling.
⁶ God sets the lonely in families,^[c]
    he leads out the prisoners with singing;
    but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

⁷ When you, God, went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness,^[d]
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
⁹ You gave abundant showers, O God;
    you refreshed your weary inheritance.
¹⁰ Your people settled in it,
    and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.

¹¹ The Lord announces the word,
    and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
¹² “Kings and armies flee in haste;
    the women at home divide the plunder.
¹³ Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,^[e]
    the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
    its feathers with shining gold.”
¹⁴ When the Almighty^[f] scattered the kings in the land,
    it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.

¹⁵ Mount Bashan, majestic mountain,
    Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
¹⁶ why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
    at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
    where the Lord himself will dwell forever?
¹⁷ The chariots of God are tens of thousands
    and thousands of thousands;
    the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.^[g]
18 When you ascended on high,
    you took many captives;
    you received gifts from people,
even from^[h] the rebellious—
    that you,^[i] Lord God, might dwell there.

¹⁹ Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
    who daily bears our burdens.
²⁰ Our God is a God who saves;
    from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
²¹ Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies,
    the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
²² The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
    I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
²³ that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,
    while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”

²⁴ Your procession, God, has come into view,
    the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
²⁵ In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
    with them are the young women playing the timbrels.
²⁶ Praise God in the great congregation;
    praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.
²⁷ There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them,
    there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
    and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

²⁸ Summon your power, God^[j];
    show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.
²⁹ Because of your temple at Jerusalem
    kings will bring you gifts.
³⁰ Rebuke the beast among the reeds,
    the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
    Scatter the nations who delight in war.
³¹ Envoys will come from Egypt;
    Cush^[k] will submit herself to God.

³² Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,
    sing praise to the Lord,
³³ to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
    who thunders with mighty voice.
³⁴ Proclaim the power of God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    whose power is in the heavens.
³⁵ You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
    the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

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    雖然是描寫以色列人得勝的凱歌，卻讓我們想到將來上帝國實現的景況！上帝得著最後且永恆的勝利，世上的萬國萬民都要歸向上帝！正如詩人在這裡所說：「埃及的公侯要出來朝見上帝；古實人要急忙舉手禱告。世上的列國啊，你們要向上帝歌唱；願你們歌頌主！」

    這樣的景象在今日已經實現了，因為世上的萬國和萬民都可以透過耶穌基督來敬拜上帝，就是以色列的上帝！每一週的主日，世界上各個國家，都有基督徒聚集敬拜上帝，所以「歌頌那自古駕行在諸天以上的主！他發出聲音，是極大的聲音。你們要將能力歸給上帝。他的威榮在以色列之上；他的能力是在穹蒼。上帝啊，你從聖所顯為可畏；以色列的上帝是那將力量權能賜給他百姓的。上帝是應當稱頌的！」

    感謝上帝，讓我們生長在這樣的年代，看見萬國萬民都歸於上帝，相信上帝國完全實現的日子近了！主耶穌也快快再來，讓我們以歡喜快樂的心來迎接！一切都將過去，唯有遵行上帝旨意的永遠長存，並且要進入永遠的榮耀中！

申命記20章

       申命記20:1-20 ,

申命記20:1-20

20:1 「你出去與仇敵爭戰的時候，看見馬匹、車輛，並有比你多的人民，不要怕他們，因為領你出埃及地的耶和華─你上帝與你同在。
20:2 你們將要上陣的時候，祭司要到百姓面前宣告
20:3 說：『以色列人哪，你們當聽，你們今日將要與仇敵爭戰，不要膽怯，不要懼怕戰兢，也不要因他們驚恐；
20:4 因為耶和華─你們的上帝與你們同去，要為你們與仇敵爭戰，拯救你們。』
20:5 官長也要對百姓宣告說：『誰建造房屋，尚未奉獻，他可以回家去，恐怕他陣亡，別人去奉獻。
20:6 誰種葡萄園，尚未用所結的果子，他可以回家去，恐怕他陣亡，別人去用。
20:7 誰聘定了妻，尚未迎娶，他可以回家去，恐怕他陣亡，別人去娶。』
20:8 官長又要對百姓宣告說：『誰懼怕膽怯，他可以回家去，恐怕他弟兄的心消化，和他一樣。』
20:9 官長對百姓宣告完了，就當派軍長率領他們。
20:10 「你臨近一座城、要攻打的時候，先要對城裡的民宣告和睦的話。
20:11 他們若以和睦的話回答你，給你開了城，城裡所有的人都要給你效勞，服事你；
20:12 若不肯與你和好，反要與你打仗，你就要圍困那城。
20:13 耶和華─你的上帝把城交付你手，你就要用刀殺盡這城的男丁。
20:14 惟有婦女、孩子、牲畜，和城內一切的財物，你可以取為自己的掠物。耶和華─你上帝把你仇敵的財物賜給你，你可以吃用。
20:15 離你甚遠的各城，不是這些國民的城，你都要這樣待他。
20:16 但這些國民的城，耶和華─你上帝既賜你為業，其中凡有氣息的，一個不可存留；
20:17 只要照耶和華─你上帝所吩咐的將這赫人、亞摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人都滅絕淨盡，
20:18 免得他們教導你們學習一切可憎惡的事，就是他們向自己神所行的，以致你們得罪耶和華─你們的上帝。
20:19 「你若許久圍困、攻打所要取的一座城，就不可舉斧子砍壞樹木；因為你可以吃那樹上的果子，不可砍伐。田間的樹木豈是人，叫你糟蹋嗎？
20:20 惟獨你所知道不是結果子的樹木可以毀壞、砍伐，用以修築營壘，攻擊那與你打仗的城，直到攻塌了。」

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. ² When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. ³ He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. ⁴ For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

⁵ The officers shall say to the army: “Has anyone built a new house and not yet begun to live in it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may begin to live in it. ⁶ Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it. ⁷ Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.” ⁸ Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too.” ⁹ When the officers have finished speaking to the army, they shall appoint commanders over it.

¹⁰ When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace. ¹¹ If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you. ¹² If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. ¹³ When the Lord your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. ¹⁴ As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the Lord your God gives you from your enemies. ¹⁵ This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

¹⁶ However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. ¹⁷ Completely destroy^[a] them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you. ¹⁸ Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.

¹⁹ When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?^{[b] 20} However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.

***********

    有許多人自稱是和平主義者，反對戰爭！他們也認為上帝看重和平，也必定反對戰爭。然而這些和平主義者，並不是真正看重和平，而是害怕戰爭的殘忍，認為戰爭必定有人尚失性命。

    然而上帝在這裡似乎不吝惜生命，命令以色列人：「但這些國民的城，耶和華─你上帝既賜你為業，其中凡有氣息的，一個不可存留；只要照耶和華─你上帝所吩咐的將這赫人、亞摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人都滅絕淨盡，免得他們教導你們學習一切可憎惡的事，就是他們向自己神所行的，以致你們得罪耶和華─你們的上帝。」

    也就是說，以色列人進入迦南地，必須將當地的迦南人全部除滅！目的就是要以色列人不受這些人影響，而去崇拜偶像，導致以色列遠離上帝。也因此，在聖經中上帝不斷宣告要除去邱壇，因為邱壇是敬拜偶像的地方。上帝命令以色列人進迦南地之後，遵行祂藉著摩西頒布的律法，活出聖潔子民的樣式！

    所以，以色列人在迦南地征戰的目的，不僅要得地為業，更是要為上帝的聖潔彰顯而戰！然而今天耶穌基督已經來到世界，基督徒參與戰爭的目的也是為了聖潔而戰，只是今日的聖潔是和平和公義，戰爭的目的是要讓破壞和平和公義者獲得制裁，讓上帝的和平和公義被高舉！

詩篇67篇

      詩篇67:1-7  ,

詩篇67:1-7

67:1 （一篇詩歌，交與伶長。用絲弦的樂器。）願上帝憐憫我們，賜福與我們，用臉光照我們，（細拉）
67:2 好叫世界得知你的道路，萬國得知你的救恩。
67:3 上帝啊，願列邦稱讚你！願萬民都稱讚你！
67:4 願萬國都快樂歡呼；因為你必按公正審判萬民，引導世上的萬國。（細拉）
67:5 上帝啊，願列邦稱讚你！願萬民都稱讚你！
67:6 地已經出了土產；上帝─就是我們的上帝要賜福與我們。
67:7 上帝要賜福與我們；地的四極都要敬畏他！

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

¹ May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face shine on us—^[b]
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
    your salvation among all nations.

³ May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.
⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you rule the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations of the earth.
⁵ May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.

⁶ The land yields its harvest;
    God, our God, blesses us.
⁷ May God bless us still,
    so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

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    上帝的賜福當然包括了物質方面，尤其是經濟的來源！如同詩人在這裡所說：「地已經出了土產；上帝─就是我們的上帝要賜福與我們。上帝要賜福與我們；地的四極都要敬畏他！」

    然而對教會而言，上帝賜給我們的「土產」就是教勢的發展，我們希望奉獻與人數充足，好使教會對世界更有影響力，使教會可以順利推動更多的事工與活動，這樣才是上帝的賜福。

    但是事實上並非如此，教會常常是非常弱小，尤其是在草創之初，要人沒人，要錢沒有錢，只能維持禮拜進行或一次的週間聚會。會友因為人數少救覺得來聚會有甚麼意義，抑制越來越消沉，最後乾脆停止了！

    感謝上帝！因為牧過這樣的教會，在剛開始覺得挫折與艱難，現在回想起來卻是覺得與主耶穌最親近的時候，也體會到要教會能維持需要讓牧者先沒有經濟上的掛慮，才能在最終有「土產」可收！

    請各位弟兄姊妹，千萬要記住，開拓教會要先保證牧者的收入，讓牧者可以全心為教會的拓展努力，到教會成熟時，才會真正有「土產」，不要讓牧者在經濟上拮据，就會失去動力的！