詩篇91:1-16

91:1 住在至高者隱密處的，必住在全能者的蔭下。
91:2 我要論到耶和華說：他是我的避難所，是我的山寨，是我的上帝，是我所倚靠的。
91:3 他必救你脫離捕鳥人的網羅和毒害的瘟疫。
91:4 他必用自己的翎毛遮蔽你；你要投靠在他的翅膀底下；他的誠實是大小的盾牌。
91:5 你必不怕黑夜的驚駭，或是白日飛的箭，
91:6 也不怕黑夜行的瘟疫，或是午間滅人的毒病。
91:7 雖有千人仆倒在你旁邊，萬人仆倒在你右邊，這災卻不得臨近你。
91:8 你惟親眼觀看，見惡人遭報。
91:9 耶和華是我的避難所；你已將至高者當你的居所，
91:10 禍患必不臨到你，災害也不挨近你的帳棚。
91:11 因他要為你吩咐他的使者，在你行的一切道路上保護你。
91:12 他們要用手托著你，免得你的腳碰在石頭上。
91:13 你要踹在獅子和虺蛇的身上，踐踏少壯獅子和大蛇。
91:14 上帝說：因為他專心愛我，我就要搭救他；因為他知道我的名，我要把他安置在高處。
91:15 他若求告我，我就應允他；他在急難中，我要與他同在；我要搭救他，使他尊貴。
91:16 我要使他足享長壽，將我的救恩顯明給他。

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

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

    雖然上帝是自足的上帝，祂不需要人的愛，但是上帝仍然盼望人能夠愛祂，所以應許：「因為他專心愛我，我就要搭救他；因為他知道我的名，我要把他安置在高處。他若求告我，我就應允他；他在急難中，我要與他同在；我要搭救他，使他尊貴。我要使他足享長壽，將我的救恩顯明給他。」

    這也就是說，我們願意專心愛上帝，是不會吃虧的，上帝必定紀念！必定大大的賜福給他，甚至於「有千人仆倒在你旁邊，萬人仆倒在你右邊，這災卻不得臨近你。」「他必救你脫離捕鳥人的網羅和毒害的瘟疫。他必用自己的翎毛遮蔽你；你要投靠在他的翅膀底下；他的誠實是大小的盾牌。你必不怕黑夜的驚駭，或是白日飛的箭，也不怕黑夜行的瘟疫，或是午間滅人的毒病。」

    正如現今「新冠病毒」肆虐全世界，有千千萬萬的人受到感染，但是願意愛上帝、信靠上帝的人，就蒙保守得十分平安！這一切都是上帝在基督裡的恩典，正如主耶穌說：「我留下平安給你們；我將我的平安賜給你們。我所賜的，不像世人所賜的。你們心裡不要憂愁，也不要膽怯。」（約翰福音14:27）

約書亞記7章

       約書亞記7:1-26  ,

約書亞記7:1-26

7:1 以色列人在當滅的物上犯了罪；因為猶大支派中，謝拉的曾孫，撒底的孫子，迦米的兒子亞干取了當滅的物；耶和華的怒氣就向以色列人發作。
7:2 當下，約書亞從耶利哥打發人往伯特利東邊、靠近伯‧亞文的艾城去，吩咐他們說：「你們上去窺探那地。」他們就上去窺探艾城。
7:3 他們回到約書亞那裡，對他說：「眾民不必都上去，只要二三千人上去就能攻取艾城；不必勞累眾民都去，因為那裡的人少。」
7:4 於是民中約有三千人上那裡去，竟在艾城人面前逃跑了。
7:5 艾城的人擊殺了他們三十六人，從城門前追趕他們，直到示巴琳，在下坡殺敗他們；眾民的心就消化如水。
7:6 約書亞便撕裂衣服；他和以色列的長老把灰撒在頭上，在耶和華的約櫃前俯伏在地，直到晚上。
7:7 約書亞說：「哀哉！主耶和華啊，你為甚麼竟領這百姓過約旦河，將我們交在亞摩利人的手中，使我們滅亡呢？我們不如住在約旦河那邊倒好。
7:8 主啊，以色列人既在仇敵面前轉背逃跑，我還有甚麼可說的呢？
7:9 迦南人和這地一切的居民聽見了就必圍困我們，將我們的名從地上除滅。那時你為你的大名要怎樣行呢？」
7:10 耶和華吩咐約書亞說：「起來！你為何這樣俯伏在地呢？
7:11 以色列人犯了罪，違背了我所吩咐他們的約，取了當滅的物；又偷竊，又行詭詐，又把那當滅的放在他們的家具裡。
7:12 因此，以色列人在仇敵面前站立不住。他們在仇敵面前轉背逃跑，是因成了被咒詛的；你們若不把當滅的物從你們中間除掉，我就不再與你們同在了。
7:13 你起來，叫百姓自潔，對他們說：『你們要自潔，預備明天，因為耶和華─以色列的上帝這樣說：以色列啊，你們中間有當滅的物，你們若不除掉，在仇敵面前必站立不住！』
7:14 到了早晨，你們要按著支派近前來；耶和華所取的支派，要按著宗族近前來；耶和華所取的宗族，要按著家室近前來；耶和華所取的家室，要按著人丁，一個一個地近前來。
7:15 被取的人有當滅的物在他那裡，他和他所有的必被火焚燒；因他違背了耶和華的約，又因他在以色列中行了愚妄的事。」
7:16 於是，約書亞清早起來，使以色列人按著支派近前來，取出來的是猶大支派；
7:17 使猶大支派（原文是宗族）近前來，就取了謝拉的宗族；使謝拉的宗族，按著家室人丁，一個一個地近前來，取出來的是撒底；
7:18 使撒底的家室，按著人丁，一個一個地近前來，就取出猶大支派的人謝拉的曾孫，撒底的孫子，迦米的兒子亞干。
7:19 約書亞對亞干說：「我兒，我勸你將榮耀歸給耶和華─以色列的上帝，在他面前認罪，將你所做的事告訴我，不要向我隱瞞。」
7:20 亞干回答約書亞說：「我實在得罪了耶和華─以色列的上帝。我所做的事如此如此：
7:21 我在所奪的財物中看見一件美好的示拿衣服，二百舍客勒銀子，一條金子重五十舍客勒，我就貪愛這些物件，便拿去了。現今藏在我帳棚內的地裡，銀子在衣服底下。」
7:22 約書亞就打發人跑到亞干的帳棚裡。那件衣服果然藏在他帳棚內，銀子在底下。
7:23 他們就從帳棚裡取出來，拿到約書亞和以色列眾人那裡，放在耶和華面前。
7:24 約書亞和以色列眾人把謝拉的曾孫亞干和那銀子、那件衣服、那條金子，並亞干的兒女、牛、驢、羊、帳棚，以及他所有的，都帶到亞割谷去。
7:25 約書亞說：「你為甚麼連累我們呢？今日耶和華必叫你受連累。」於是以色列眾人用石頭打死他，將石頭扔在其上，又用火焚燒他所有的（原文是他們）。
7:26 眾人在亞干身上堆成一大堆石頭，直存到今日。於是耶和華轉意，不發他的烈怒。因此那地方名叫亞割谷（就是連累的意思），直到今日。

 

 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things^[a]; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,^[b] the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.

² Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

³ When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” ⁴ So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, ⁵ who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

⁶ Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. ⁷ And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! ⁸ Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? ⁹ The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”

¹⁰ The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. ¹² That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

¹³ “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

¹⁴ “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. ¹⁵ Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”

¹⁶ Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. ¹⁷ The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. ¹⁸ Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.

¹⁹ Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

²⁰ Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: ²¹ When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia,^[c] two hundred shekels^[d] of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels,^[e] I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

²² So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. ²³ They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.

²⁴ Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. ²⁵ Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. ²⁶ Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor^[f] ever since.

 

**********

 

    亞干犯罪導致以色列人在艾城的失利，讓人覺的罪的影響力實在很大。也因為如此，信仰團體的聖潔是很重要的，因為上帝是聖潔的上帝，信靠與跟隨祂的人也必須是聖潔的！

 

    然而說到聖潔在人身上卻有一個張力，因為人本身是受到罪性的汙染，是完全敗壞的，怎麼能夠達到上帝所立聖潔的標準呢？就像亞干因為貪心而犯罪，以致得罪上帝，讓以色列人失去上帝的同在！

 

    或許你會問難道只有亞干犯罪，別人沒有犯罪嗎？就實際狀況來說好像不太可能只有亞干犯罪，應該還有別人。但是，上帝看重以色列人對罪的處理態度，就是他們感勇敢將有罪的人處死，並且銷毀贓物，讓人看見罪的嚴重性！

 

    也因為這樣，所以聖經說：「於是耶和華轉意，不發他的烈怒」。表示人若體貼上帝的心，恨惡罪惡，就必能止息上帝的怒氣！不要忘記，罪惡所造成的代價就是耶穌基督死在十字架上，這可是極大的代價！

 

    因此，我們要靠上帝的恩典來對付罪，時時刻刻想念耶穌的犧牲，我們才可以在上帝面前有聖潔的地位！也因為如此，我們要像戰士一般和「世界―魔鬼―肉體」三合一敵人爭戰一生一世，相信主耶穌在十字架上已經得勝了，到上帝國完全實現時，我們必得永恆的勝利，高唱凱歌讚美主！

以斯拉記1章

       以斯拉記1:1-11  ,

       以斯拉記1:1 ,

       以斯拉記1:2-4  ,     

•        以斯拉記1:5-6 ,

以斯拉記1:1

波斯王塞魯士元年，耶和華為要應驗藉耶利米口所說的話，就激動波斯王塞魯士的心，使他下詔通告全國說：

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared.

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

    被擄歸回是出於上帝的心意，在猶大滅國及百姓被擄之前，上帝就已經透過先知耶利米來預告這事了！正如《歷代志下》36章20 節，也有說到這事。也因為這樣，讓我們感受到上帝的信實和奇妙！

    上帝對以色列和猶大的悖逆感到憤怒，但是在怒氣之後上帝仍然施恩於祂的百姓，祂沒有忘記祂對以色列先祖亞伯拉罕與大衛王的承諾，以及祂所立的永約。所以，上帝在時間滿足的時候，「就激動波斯王塞魯士的心」！

    從這個事件也讓我們認識到：推動歷史的巨輪，就是上帝的手！正如《箴言》21章1節所說：「王的心在耶和華手中，好像隴溝的水隨意流轉。」

    也因為如此，我們不要害怕面對「潛藏」的時刻，在這樣的時刻正因為什麼都不能做，倒不如好好親近上帝，讓上帝來引導我們，正如彼得前書5章6-11節所說：「所以，你們要自卑，服在上帝大能的手下，到了時候，他必叫你們升高。你們要將一切的憂慮卸給上帝，因為他顧念你們。務要謹守，警醒。因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。你們要用堅固的信心抵擋他，因為知道你們在世上的眾弟兄也是經歷這樣的苦難。那賜諸般恩典的上帝曾在基督裡召你們，得享他永遠的榮耀，等你們暫受苦難之後，必要親自成全你們，堅固你們，賜力量給你們。願權能歸給他，直到永永遠遠。阿們！」

    舊約中許多上帝所重用的人何嘗不是如此呢！甚至大衛的子孫約雅斤王於巴比倫被擄後三十七年，巴比倫王以未提他出監，又對他說恩言，使他的位高過與他一同在巴比倫眾王的位，給他脫了囚服。他終身常在巴比倫王面前吃飯。（列王紀下25:27-29）