撒母耳記上5:1-12

5:1 非利士人將上帝的約櫃從以便以謝抬到亞實突。
5:2 非利士人將上帝的約櫃抬進大袞廟，放在大袞的旁邊。
5:3 次日清早，亞實突人起來，見大袞仆倒在耶和華的約櫃前，臉伏於地，就把大袞仍立在原處。
5:4 又次日清早起來，見大袞仆倒在耶和華的約櫃前，臉伏於地，並且大袞的頭和兩手都在門檻上折斷，只剩下大袞的殘體。
5:5 （因此，大袞的祭司和一切進亞實突、大袞廟的人都不踏大袞廟的門檻，直到今日。）
5:6 耶和華的手重重加在亞實突人身上，敗壞他們，使他們生痔瘡。亞實突和亞實突的四境都是如此。
5:7 亞實突人見這光景，就說：「以色列上帝的約櫃不可留在我們這裡，因為他的手重重加在我們和我們神大袞的身上」；
5:8 就打發人去請非利士的眾首領來聚集，問他們說：「我們向以色列上帝的約櫃應當怎樣行呢？」他們回答說：「可以將以色列上帝的約櫃運到迦特去。」於是將以色列上帝的約櫃運到那裡去。
5:9 運到之後，耶和華的手攻擊那城，使那城的人大大驚慌，無論大小都生痔瘡。
5:10 他們就把上帝的約櫃送到以革倫。上帝的約櫃到了，以革倫人就喊嚷起來說：「他們將以色列上帝的約櫃運到我們這裡，要害我們和我們的眾民！」
5:11 於是打發人去請非利士的眾首領來，說：「願你們將以色列上帝的約櫃送回原處，免得害了我們和我們的眾民！」原來上帝的手重重攻擊那城，城中的人有因驚慌而死的；
5:12 未曾死的人都生了痔瘡。合城呼號，聲音上達於天。

 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. ² Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. ³ When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. ⁴ But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. ⁵ That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.

⁶ The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.^{[a] 7} When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” ⁸ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?”

They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

⁹ But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.^{[b] 10} So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.

As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” ¹¹ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it^[c] will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. ¹² Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

 

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    上帝的約櫃雖然不是上帝本身，但是上帝仍然要彰顯祂的威嚴，讓非利士人看見上帝不像他們的神明，也不像那些偶像，祂是有能力的，祂可以賜福也可以降禍，是沒有任何能力可以阻擋的，即使是非利士人戰勝以色列人，上帝仍然是勝過個邦國的神明！

 

    上帝是大有能力，並且是獨行奇事上帝！卻是不受人限制的上帝，人也無法限制上帝要做什麼！所以，非常不贊同有些說法說到：「不要讓你的想法限制上帝的作為！」這樣說起來好像上帝很小，受人的思想來限制！還有教導人說：「你想要上帝賜給你什麼，就要心中一值想像，讓它具體浮現在你的心中，上帝要你明確的禱告才會賜給你！」仔細想想這樣的教導並非聖經來的，聖經教導的是：「你們不可效法他們；因為你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。」（馬太福音6:8）

 

    所以，要再次強調，我們不要讓一些無意義不合聖經的說法充斥在我們的頭腦，要好好思考上帝在聖經所啟示的是甚麼，不要人云亦云，隨著世俗之風飄東飄西，毫無定向！我們要像保羅所說的：「豈不知在場上賽跑的都跑，但得獎賞的只有一人？你們也當這樣跑，好叫你們得著獎賞。凡較力爭勝的，諸事都有節制，他們不過是要得能壞的冠冕；我們卻是要得不能壞的冠冕。所以，我奔跑不像無定向的；我鬥拳不像打空氣的。」（哥林多前書9:24-26）

 

 

詩篇135篇

      詩篇135:1-21  ,

      詩篇135:3 , 詩篇135:6  ,

詩篇135:1-21

135:1 你們要讚美耶和華！你們要讚美耶和華的名！耶和華的僕人站在耶和華殿中；站在我們上帝殿院中的，你們要讚美他！
135:2 【併於上節】
135:3 你們要讚美耶和華！耶和華本為善；要歌頌他的名，因為這是美好的。
135:4 耶和華揀選雅各歸自己，揀選以色列特作自己的子民。
135:5 原來我知道耶和華為大，也知道我們的主超乎萬神之上。
135:6 耶和華在天上，在地下，在海中，在一切的深處，都隨自己的意旨而行。
135:7 他使雲霧從地極上騰，造電隨雨而閃，從府庫中帶出風來。
135:8 他將埃及頭生的，連人帶牲畜都擊殺了。
135:9 埃及啊，他施行神蹟奇事，在你當中，在法老和他一切臣僕身上。
135:10 他擊殺許多的民，又殺戮大能的王，
135:11 就是亞摩利王西宏和巴珊王噩，並迦南一切的國王，
135:12 將他們的地賞賜他的百姓以色列為業。
135:13 耶和華啊，你的名存到永遠！耶和華啊，你可記念的名存到萬代！
135:14 耶和華要為他的百姓伸冤，為他的僕人後悔。
135:15 外邦的偶像是金的，銀的，是人手所造的；
135:16 有口卻不能言，有眼卻不能看，
135:17 有耳卻不能聽，口中也沒有氣息。
135:18 造他的要和他一樣，凡靠他的也要如此。
135:19 以色列家啊，你們要稱頌耶和華！亞倫家啊，你們要稱頌耶和華！
135:20 利未家啊，你們要稱頌耶和華！你們敬畏耶和華的，要稱頌耶和華！
135:21 住在耶路撒冷的耶和華該從錫安受稱頌。你們要讚美耶和華！

 

¹ Praise the Lord.^[a]

Praise the name of the Lord;
    praise him, you servants of the Lord,
² you who minister in the house of the Lord,
    in the courts of the house of our God.

³ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
⁴ For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own,
    Israel to be his treasured possession.

⁵ I know that the Lord is great,
    that our Lord is greater than all gods.
⁶ The Lord does whatever pleases him,
    in the heavens and on the earth,
    in the seas and all their depths.
⁷ He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
    he sends lightning with the rain
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

⁸ He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    the firstborn of people and animals.
⁹ He sent his signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt,
    against Pharaoh and all his servants.
¹⁰ He struck down many nations
    and killed mighty kings—
¹¹ Sihon king of the Amorites,
    Og king of Bashan,
    and all the kings of Canaan—
¹² and he gave their land as an inheritance,
    an inheritance to his people Israel.

¹³ Your name, Lord, endures forever,
    your renown, Lord, through all generations.
¹⁴ For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants.

¹⁵ The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
    made by human hands.
¹⁶ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
    eyes, but cannot see.
¹⁷ They have ears, but cannot hear,
    nor is there breath in their mouths.
¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

¹⁹ All you Israelites, praise the Lord;
    house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
²⁰ house of Levi, praise the Lord;
    you who fear him, praise the Lord.
²¹ Praise be to the Lord from Zion,
    to him who dwells in Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

 

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    在詩歌的開頭與結尾，都是「哈利路亞」（你們要讚美耶和華）！

 

    而這首詩敘述了上帝拯救以色列人出埃及，又帶領以色列人勝過在曠野地的亞摩利王西宏和巴珊王噩，不只如此還帶領以色列人進入迦南地，勝過迦南一切的國王，將他們的地賞賜給以色列人，祂的百姓為業。

 

    詩人回想到這一切之後，就開始將榮耀歸給上帝；「耶和華啊，你的名存到永遠！耶和華啊，你可記念的名存到萬代！」因為耶和華上帝真的為祂的百姓申冤，讓他們不再受到欺壓；不僅如此，上帝還讓最深的憐憫臨到自己的僕人們！也就是說上帝真的眷顧以色列人，滿足他們的需要！

 

    詩人這樣說，更是要凸顯上帝是勝過迦南人所拜的神明，因為這些神明「是人手所造的；有口卻不能言，有眼卻不能看，有耳卻不能聽，口中也沒有氣息」。然而這些造神明的和拜這些神明的，最後的下場也和這些神明一樣，只有外表的形體，沒有真正的生命，下場就是滅亡！但是，被上帝拯救的人不是如此，上帝會賜下永生，保守直到永遠！正如今日，上帝拯救我們歸入主耶穌的名下，就和主耶穌一樣領受上帝兒女的名分，並且在將來上帝國完全實現的時候，與主耶穌一同做王到永遠！

 

    詩人最後吩咐：「以色列家啊，你們要稱頌耶和華！亞倫家啊，你們要稱頌耶和華！利未家啊，你們要稱頌耶和華！你們敬畏耶和華的，要稱頌耶和華！住在耶路撒冷的耶和華該從錫安受稱頌。你們要讚美耶和華！」

 

    而我們在基督裡被揀選與拯救的，也要像這樣讚美上帝，歡呼：「哈利路亞！」

 

撒母耳記上4:12-22

 

4:12 當日，有一個便雅憫人從陣上逃跑，衣服撕裂，頭蒙灰塵，來到示羅。
4:13 到了的時候，以利正在道旁坐在自己的位上觀望，為上帝的約櫃心裡擔憂。那人進城報信，合城的人就都呼喊起來。
4:14 以利聽見呼喊的聲音就問說：「這喧嚷是甚麼緣故呢？」那人急忙來報信給以利。
4:15 那時以利九十八歲了，眼目發直，不能看見。
4:16 那人對以利說：「我是從陣上來的，今日我從陣上逃回。」以利說：「我兒，事情怎樣？」
4:17 報信的回答說：「以色列人在非利士人面前逃跑，民中被殺的甚多！你的兩個兒子何弗尼、非尼哈也都死了，並且上帝的約櫃被擄去。」
4:18 他一提上帝的約櫃，以利就從他的位上往後跌倒，在門旁折斷頸項而死；因為他年紀老邁，身體沉重。以利作以色列的士師四十年。
4:19 以利的兒婦、非尼哈的妻懷孕將到產期，她聽見上帝的約櫃被擄去，公公和丈夫都死了，就猛然疼痛，曲身生產；
4:20 將要死的時候，旁邊站著的婦人們對她說：「不要怕！你生了男孩子了。」她卻不回答，也不放在心上。
4:21 她給孩子起名叫以迦博，說：「榮耀離開以色列了！」這是因上帝的約櫃被擄去，又因她公公和丈夫都死了。
4:22 她又說：「榮耀離開以色列，因為上帝的約櫃被擄去了。」

¹² That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. ¹³ When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.

¹⁴ Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”

The man hurried over to Eli, ¹⁵ who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. ¹⁶ He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”

Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”

¹⁷ The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

¹⁸ When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led^[b] Israel forty years.

¹⁹ His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. ²⁰ As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.

²¹ She named the boy Ichabod,^[c] saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. ²² She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

 

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    以利的媳婦感嘆說：「榮耀離開以色列，因為上帝的約櫃被擄去了。」

 

    這是真的嗎？我們當然說這不是真的！因為約櫃不是上帝，沒有約櫃仍然可以敬拜上帝，祭司死了依然可以獻祭！所以說，上帝並沒有離開以色列，上帝仍然與以色列同在！不是因為約櫃被擄，上帝的榮耀就離開以色列！

 

    所以，我們在講台傳信息要很小心，不要將人的榮辱或成敗當成是上帝的榮辱和成敗！上帝是永不失敗的，上帝是永遠榮耀的！失敗和羞辱是因為人自己犯罪，偏行己路，不遵守上的的誡命所導致，與上帝的榮辱和成敗是不相干的！

 

    反倒是人在面對羞辱與失敗之時，若願意認罪悔改來歸向上帝，上帝的慈愛永不改變，繼續扶持和引導，使我們得著永遠的福樂！這時反而要求主保守，使我們堅定倚賴上帝，相信上帝恆保守，如此我們才會有真正的平安！

 

 

 

撒母耳記上4章

      撒母耳記上4:1-11 ,

      撒母耳記上4:12-22 ,