撒母耳記上10:1-27

10:1 撒母耳拿瓶膏油倒在掃羅的頭上，與他親嘴，說：「這不是耶和華膏你作他產業的君嗎？
10:2 你今日與我離別之後，在便雅憫境內的泄撒，靠近拉結的墳墓，要遇見兩個人。他們必對你說：『你去找的那幾頭驢已經找著了。現在你父親不為驢掛心，反為你擔憂，說：我為兒子怎麼才好呢？』
10:3 你從那裡往前行，到了他泊的橡樹那裡，必遇見三個往伯特利去拜上帝的人：一個帶著三隻山羊羔，一個帶著三個餅，一個帶著一皮袋酒。
10:4 他們必問你安，給你兩個餅，你就從他們手中接過來。
10:5 此後你到上帝的山，在那裡有非利士人的防兵。你到了城的時候，必遇見一班先知從邱壇下來，前面有鼓瑟的、擊鼓的、吹笛的、彈琴的，他們都受感說話。
10:6 耶和華的靈必大大感動你，你就與他們一同受感說話；你要變為新人。
10:7 這兆頭臨到你，你就可以趁時而做，因為上帝與你同在。
10:8 你當在我以先下到吉甲，我也必下到那裡獻燔祭和平安祭。你要等候七日，等我到了那裡，指示你當行的事。」
10:9 掃羅轉身離別撒母耳，上帝就賜他一個新心。當日這一切兆頭都應驗了。
10:10 掃羅到了那山，有一班先知遇見他，上帝的靈大大感動他，他就在先知中受感說話。
10:11 素來認識掃羅的，看見他和先知一同受感說話，就彼此說：「基士的兒子遇見甚麼了？掃羅也列在先知中嗎？」
10:12 那地方有一個人說：「這些人的父親是誰呢？」此後有句俗語說：「掃羅也列在先知中嗎？」
10:13 掃羅受感說話已畢，就上邱壇去了。
10:14 掃羅的叔叔問掃羅和他僕人說：「你們往哪裡去了？」回答說：「找驢去了。我們見沒有驢，就到了撒母耳那裡。」
10:15 掃羅的叔叔說：「請將撒母耳向你們所說的話告訴我。」
10:16 掃羅對他叔叔說：「他明明地告訴我們驢已經找著了。」至於撒母耳所說的國事，掃羅卻沒有告訴叔叔。
10:17 撒母耳將百姓招聚到米斯巴耶和華那裡，
10:18 對他們說：「耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：『我領你們以色列人出埃及，救你們脫離埃及人的手，又救你們脫離欺壓你們各國之人的手。』
10:19 你們今日卻厭棄了救你們脫離一切災難的上帝，說：『求你立一個王治理我們。』現在你們應當按著支派、宗族都站在耶和華面前。」
10:20 於是，撒母耳使以色列眾支派近前來掣籤，就掣出便雅憫支派來；
10:21 又使便雅憫支派按著宗族近前來，就掣出瑪特利族，從其中又掣出基士的兒子掃羅。眾人尋找他卻尋不著，
10:22 就問耶和華說：「那人到這裡來了沒有？」耶和華說：「他藏在器具中了。」
10:23 眾人就跑去從那裡領出他來。他站在百姓中間，身體比眾民高過一頭。
10:24 撒母耳對眾民說：「你們看耶和華所揀選的人，眾民中有可比他的嗎？」眾民就大聲歡呼說：「願王萬歲！」
10:25 撒母耳將國法對百姓說明，又記在書上，放在耶和華面前，然後遣散眾民，各回各家去了。
10:26 掃羅往基比亞回家去，有上帝感動的一群人跟隨他。
10:27 但有些匪徒說：「這人怎能救我們呢？」就藐視他，沒有送他禮物；掃羅卻不理會。

 

 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?^{[a] 2} When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’

³ “Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. ⁴ They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.

⁵ “After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. ⁶ The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. ⁷ Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.

⁸ “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”

⁹ As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. ¹⁰ When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. ¹¹ When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

¹² A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” ¹³ After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place.

¹⁴ Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?”

“Looking for the donkeys,” he said. “But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.”

¹⁵ Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.”

¹⁶ Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

¹⁷ Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah ¹⁸ and said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ ¹⁹ But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”

²⁰ When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. ²¹ Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. ²² So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”

²³ They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. ²⁴ Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”

Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

²⁵ Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.

²⁶ Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. ²⁷ But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.

 

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    掃羅一開始的表現讓人覺得他還算是謙卑的人，也沒有什麼野心的感覺，而且還有被「聖靈充滿」的現象。在就任的那一天還演「失蹤」的戲碼，當大家找不到他的時候，就求問耶和華：「「那人到這裡來了沒有？」耶和華說：「他藏在器具中了。」

 

    然而他的外表並不輸人，他站在百姓中間，身體比眾民高過一頭。撒母耳對眾民說：「你們看耶和華所揀選的人，眾民中有可比他的嗎？」眾民就大聲歡呼說：「願王萬歲！」

 

   當然不見得每個人都尊重他，聖經也告訴我們有些匪徒說：「這人怎能救我們呢？」就藐視他，沒有送他禮物；掃羅卻不理會。

 

    然而這樣的一位的國王，從來沒有人想到他會成為耶和華不喜悅的王！他的事蹟也是我們重要的借鏡，正如有人說：「權力使人腐化，絕對的權力使人絕對的腐化。」

 

    求主保守我們，讓我們有權力時，讓我們使用權力來完成上帝旨意，不是圖謀個人的利益！正如摩西一樣，在上帝和人中間做稱職的忠保，為百姓向上帝代求，求上帝不要發怒懲罰以色列人，讓上帝的慈愛可以彰顯。

 

 

 

 

詩篇142篇

     詩篇142:1-7  ,

詩篇142:1-7

 

142:1 （大衛在洞裡作的訓誨詩，乃是祈禱。）我發聲哀告耶和華，發聲懇求耶和華。
142:2 我在他面前吐露我的苦情，陳說我的患難。
142:3 我的靈在我裡面發昏的時候，你知道我的道路。在我行的路上，敵人為我暗設網羅。
142:4 求你向我右邊觀看，因為沒有人認識我；我無處避難，也沒有人眷顧我。
142:5 耶和華啊，我曾向你哀求。我說：你是我的避難所；在活人之地，你是我的福分。
142:6 求你側耳聽我的呼求，因我落到極卑之地；求你救我脫離逼迫我的人，因為他們比我強盛。
142:7 求你領我出離被囚之地，我好稱讚你的名。義人必環繞我，因為你是用厚恩待我。

 

A maskil^[b] of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

¹ I cry aloud to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
² I pour out before him my complaint;
    before him I tell my trouble.

³ When my spirit grows faint within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
⁴ Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
    no one cares for my life.

⁵ I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”

⁶ Listen to my cry,
    for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong for me.
⁷ Set me free from my prison,
    that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.

 

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    大衛一生常常躲避掃羅的追殺，以至於要躲在「洞」中，正如有學者認為這裡所提的「洞」是《撒母耳記上》24章1-7節所說的「隱‧基底的曠野」的一個洞。2-3節說到：「掃羅就從以色列人中挑選三千精兵，率領他們往野羊的磐石去，尋索大衛和跟隨他的人。到了路旁的羊圈，在那裡有洞，掃羅進去大解。大衛和跟隨他的人正藏在洞裡的深處。」

 

    然而大衛在這受詩中，示意呼求上帝的拯救為主題，因為他感受到他的人生中有許多受到人欺壓的事情，讓他覺的上帝是他唯一且安全的倚靠，所以向上帝述說苦狀：「我發聲哀告耶和華，發聲懇求耶和華。我在他面前吐露我的苦情，陳說我的患難。我的靈在我裡面發昏的時候，你知道我的道路。在我行的路上，敵人為我暗設網羅。」

 

    也因為這樣他能做的，只有「求你向我右邊觀看，因為沒有人認識我；我無處避難，也沒有人眷顧我。耶和華啊，我曾向你哀求。我說：你是我的避難所；在活人之地，你是我的福分。求你側耳聽我的呼求，因我落到極卑之地；求你救我脫離逼迫我的人，因為他們比我強盛。求你領我出離被囚之地，我好稱讚你的名。」

 

    我們在患難中，不知如何處理的時候，上帝就是我們的倚靠與幫助，我們要勇敢的求告上帝！因為祂創造的人有一個生存法則就是：「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。不要自以為有智慧；要敬畏耶和華，遠離惡事。」（箴言3:5-7）

 

 

 

撒母耳記上9章

       撒母耳記上9:1-27 ,

撒母耳記上9:1-27

 

9:1 有一個便雅憫人，名叫基士，是便雅憫人亞斐亞的玄孫，比歌拉的曾孫，洗羅的孫子，亞別的兒子，是個大能的勇士（或譯：大財主）。
9:2 他有一個兒子，名叫掃羅，又健壯、又俊美，在以色列人中沒有一個能比他的；身體比眾民高過一頭。
9:3 掃羅的父親基士丟了幾頭驢，他就吩咐兒子掃羅說：「你帶一個僕人去尋找驢。」
9:4 掃羅就走過以法蓮山地，又過沙利沙地，都沒有找著；又過沙琳地，驢也不在那裡；又過便雅憫地，還沒有找著。
9:5 到了蘇弗地，掃羅對跟隨他的僕人說：「我們不如回去，恐怕我父親不為驢掛心，反為我們擔憂。」
9:6 僕人說：「這城裡有一位神人，是眾人所尊重的，凡他所說的全都應驗。我們不如往他那裡去，或者他能將我們當走的路指示我們。」
9:7 掃羅對僕人說：「我們若去，有甚麼可以送那人呢？我們囊中的食物都吃盡了，也沒有禮物可以送那神人，我們還有甚麼沒有？」
9:8 僕人回答掃羅說：「我手裡有銀子一舍客勒的四分之一，可以送那神人，請他指示我們當走的路。」
9:9 （從前以色列中，若有人去問上帝，就說：「我們問先見去吧！」現在稱為「先知」的，從前稱為「先見」。）
9:10 掃羅對僕人說：「你說的是，我們可以去。」於是他們往神人所住的城裡去了。
9:11 他們上坡要進城，就遇見幾個少年女子出來打水，問她們說：「先見在這裡沒有？」
9:12 女子回答說：「在這裡，他在你們前面。快去吧！他今日正到城裡，因為今日百姓要在邱壇獻祭。
9:13 在他還沒有上邱壇吃祭物之先，你們一進城必遇見他；因他未到，百姓不能吃，必等他先祝祭，然後請的客才吃。現在你們上去，這時候必遇見他。」
9:14 二人就上去；將進城的時候，撒母耳正迎著他們來，要上邱壇去。
9:15 掃羅未到的前一日，耶和華已經指示撒母耳說：
9:16 「明日這時候，我必使一個人從便雅憫地到你這裡來，你要膏他作我民以色列的君。他必救我民脫離非利士人的手；因我民的哀聲上達於我，我就眷顧他們。」
9:17 撒母耳看見掃羅的時候，耶和華對他說：「看哪，這人就是我對你所說的，他必治理我的民。」
9:18 掃羅在城門裡走到撒母耳跟前，說：「請告訴我，先見的寓所在哪裡？」
9:19 撒母耳回答說：「我就是先見。你在我前面上邱壇去，因為你們今日必與我同席；明日早晨我送你去，將你心裡的事都告訴你。
9:20 至於你前三日所丟的那幾頭驢，你心裡不必掛念，已經找著了。以色列眾人所仰慕的是誰呢？不是仰慕你和你父的全家嗎？」
9:21 掃羅說：「我不是以色列支派中至小的便雅憫人嗎？我家不是便雅憫支派中至小的家嗎？你為何對我說這樣的話呢？」
9:22 撒母耳領掃羅和他僕人進了客堂，使他們在請來的客中坐首位；客約有三十個人。
9:23 撒母耳對廚役說：「我交給你收存的那一分祭肉現在可以拿來。」
9:24 廚役就把收存的腿拿來，擺在掃羅面前，撒母耳說：「這是所留下的，放在你面前。吃吧！因我請百姓的時候，特意為你存留這肉到此時。」當日，掃羅就與撒母耳同席。
9:25 眾人從邱壇下來進城，撒母耳和掃羅在房頂上說話。
9:26 次日清早起來，黎明的時候，掃羅在房頂上。撒母耳呼叫他說：「起來吧，我好送你回去。」掃羅就起來，和撒母耳一同出去。
9:27 二人下到城角，撒母耳對掃羅說：「要吩咐僕人先走（僕人就先走了）；你且站在這裡，等我將上帝的話傳與你聽。」

 

 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.^{[a] 2} The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. ³ But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

⁴ So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead^[b] us, such as all the other nations have.”

⁶ But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. ⁸ As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. ⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

¹⁰ Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. ¹¹ He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ¹² Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. ¹⁶ Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle^[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

¹⁹ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. ²⁰ Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

²¹ When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. ²² The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

 

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    掃羅的失驢事件，竟然連上了以色列尋找上一位王的事蹟。這其中讓我們看見上帝巧妙的安排，因為若不是上帝的作為，就無法將這兩件事情連接在一起，使上帝的美意臨到以色列人，不管將來發展到如何，上帝是掌管一切的上帝，凡事都是按著祂的計畫與旨意進行！

 

    然而上帝創造宇宙之後，不是放任宇宙讓它自由發展，是按祂的旨意來護理與保守。而對於我們的人生，上帝是主動來參與與引導，也因為這樣，我們必須倚靠上帝來生活，來行事為人！

 

    掃羅當然不知自己為何失驢，但是上帝就是有意讓他出現在以色列人面前，向以色列顯明他就是上帝所預備的君王！這是上帝的預旨，祂要高升、祂要拔去，都是在祂的護理之中。

 

    也因為這樣，基督徒要認定，不管我們人生處順境、或是在逆境，我們都是在上帝的榮耀之下生活，都有上帝的護理，我們更要相信上帝在基督裡所預備的一切，都是為了祂的榮耀的名獲得稱讚的緣故！正如《以弗所書》1章所說：「我們也在他裡面得（得：或譯成）了基業；這原是那位隨己意行、做萬事的，照著他旨意所預定的，叫他的榮耀從我們這首先在基督裡有盼望的人可以得著稱讚。」(11-12節)

 

詩篇141篇

      詩篇141:1-10  ,