約伯記7:1-21

 

7:1 人在世上豈無爭戰嗎？他的日子不像雇工人的日子嗎？
7:2 像奴僕切慕黑影，像雇工人盼望工價；
7:3 我也照樣經過困苦的日月，夜間的疲乏為我而定。
7:4 我躺臥的時候便說：我何時起來，黑夜就過去呢？我盡是反來覆去，直到天亮。
7:5 我的肉體以蟲子和塵土為衣；我的皮膚才收了口又重新破裂。
7:6 我的日子比梭更快，都消耗在無指望之中。
7:7 求你想念，我的生命不過是一口氣；我的眼睛必不再見福樂。
7:8 觀看我的人，他的眼必不再見我；你的眼目要看我，我卻不在了。
7:9 雲彩消散而過；照樣，人下陰間也不再上來。
7:10 他不再回自己的家；故土也不再認識他。
7:11 我不禁止我口；我靈愁苦，要發出言語；我心苦惱，要吐露哀情。
7:12 我對上帝說：我豈是洋海，豈是大魚，你竟防守我呢？
7:13 若說：我的床必安慰我，我的榻必解釋我的苦情，
7:14 你就用夢驚駭我，用異象恐嚇我，
7:15 甚至我寧肯噎死，寧肯死亡，勝似留我這一身的骨頭。
7:16 我厭棄性命，不願永活。你任憑我吧，因我的日子都是虛空。
7:17 人算甚麼，你竟看他為大，將他放在心上？
7:18 每早鑒察他，時刻試驗他？
7:19 你到何時才轉眼不看我，才任憑我咽下唾沫呢？
7:20 鑒察人的主啊，我若有罪，於你何妨？為何以我當你的箭靶子，使我厭棄自己的性命？
7:21 為何不赦免我的過犯，除掉我的罪孽？我現今要躺臥在塵土中；你要殷勤地尋找我，我卻不在了。

 

“Do not mortals have hard service on earth?
    Are not their days like those of hired laborers?
² Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,
    or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,
³ so I have been allotted months of futility,
    and nights of misery have been assigned to me.
⁴ When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’
    The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
⁵ My body is clothed with worms and scabs,
    my skin is broken and festering.

⁶ “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
    and they come to an end without hope.
⁷ Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;
    my eyes will never see happiness again.
⁸ The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
    you will look for me, but I will be no more.
⁹ As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
    so one who goes down to the grave does not return.
¹⁰ He will never come to his house again;
    his place will know him no more.

¹¹ “Therefore I will not keep silent;
    I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,
    I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
¹² Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep,
    that you put me under guard?
¹³ When I think my bed will comfort me
    and my couch will ease my complaint,
¹⁴ even then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify me with visions,
¹⁵ so that I prefer strangling and death,
    rather than this body of mine.
¹⁶ I despise my life; I would not live forever.
    Let me alone; my days have no meaning.

¹⁷ “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,
¹⁸ that you examine them every morning
    and test them every moment?
¹⁹ Will you never look away from me,
    or let me alone even for an instant?
²⁰ If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?
    Have I become a burden to you?^[a]
21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
    and forgive my sins?
For I will soon lie down in the dust;
    you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

 

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    約伯為自己遭遇感嘆之餘，也想到自己現實狀況，全身長滿瘡，又破裂、又流汁，只能靠灰燼來乾燥，靠瓦片來刮除結痂，又痛苦、又繁瑣，睡也睡不好，心中充滿絕望和懼怕，讓他覺得生不死！

 

    人沒有經歷苦難是不能體會與了解在苦難中的痛苦，相信在人生經歷過苦楚的人，讀了約伯這段話會有感觸。因此，在我們的生命中經歷過苦難是有福的，可以幫助我們安慰在苦難中的人。正如《哥林多後書》1章3-4節說到：「願頌讚歸與我們的主耶穌基督的父上帝，就是發慈悲的父，賜各樣安慰的上帝。我們在一切患難中，他就安慰我們，叫我們能用上帝所賜的安慰去安慰那遭各樣患難的人。」

 

    因此，上帝要造就一位好的牧者，不是在書房中，不是博覽群書，而是要常經苦難，正如保羅自從蒙召以來，不是受到人的敬奉，而是東奔西走，經歷各樣的患難。正如保羅自己像哥林多教會所說的：「他們是基督的僕人嗎？（我說句狂話，）我更是。我比他們多受勞苦，多下監牢，受鞭打是過重的，冒死是屢次有的。被猶太人鞭打五次，每次四十減去一下；被棍打了三次；被石頭打了一次；遇著船壞三次，一晝一夜在深海裡。又屢次行遠路，遭江河的危險、盜賊的危險、同族的危險、外邦人的危險、城裡的危險、曠野的危險、海中的危險、假弟兄的危險。受勞碌、受困苦，多次不得睡，又飢又渴，多次不得食，受寒冷，赤身露體。除了這外面的事，還有為眾教會掛心的事，天天壓在我身上。」(哥林多後書11:23-28)

 

    既然如此，我們所受的苦楚還不算多！但是，我們不要忘記，我們要靠主勇敢來操練自己，讓苦難如同老鷹所面對的狂風，越大的風，把我們吹得越高，越彰顯主耶穌的榮美在我們身上，好成為多人的安慰！

 

 

約翰福音8:10-11

 

8:10 耶穌就直起腰來，對她說：「婦人，那些人在哪裡呢？沒有人定你的罪嗎？」

8:11 她說：「主啊，沒有。」耶穌說：「我也不定你的罪。去吧，從此不要再犯罪了！」

 

Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

 

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    人常常將刑罰當城成解決犯罪的方法，連摩西的律法中也有用死刑來處理。《民數記》15章32-36節，說到有人在安息日出去撿柴，就被摩西判死刑。在我們今日看來，覺得有這麼嚴重嗎﹖需要這樣做嗎﹖在當時是為了徹底遵行上帝的話語，讓百姓產生敬畏的心，摩西採取強烈的手段。

 

    對於姦淫的事情在《利未記》20章10-16節及《申命記》22章22-24節，皆有說到男和女都要處死。所以這些法利賽人和文士只將行淫的婦人抓來是一件詭異的事情，有淫婦那姦夫在哪裡呢﹖而主耶穌面對這樣的事情，更要考慮到羅馬的法律，可說是非常棘手的事情！

 

    然而人外表裝得再聖潔、再道貌岸然，可是面對自己的良心時，總是無法隱藏，騙得了別人，總是騙不了自己的良心！主耶穌說：「你們中間誰是沒有罪的，誰就可以先拿石頭打她。」

 

    接下來的狀況是：主耶穌又彎著腰，用指頭在地上畫字。他們(法利賽人和文士)聽見這話，就從老到少，一個一個地都出去了，只剩下耶穌一人，還有那婦人仍然站在當中。這是多麼有趣的畫面啊！可見，每一位都發現自己是有罪的人，誰也沒有辦法去執行這個「正義的行動」！

 

    然而在這是以後，主耶穌確告訴她：「我也不定你的罪。去吧，從此不要再犯罪了！」

 

    這不是主耶穌輕乎罪的嚴重性，而是要我們不要自以為義，認為自己有資格定人的罪，控告別人的惡行。其實我們反省自己的言行和心態，發現自己並沒有好到哪裡去呢！所以，不要做一個定別人罪的人，罵別人容易，有沒有想到自己呢﹖

 

    《啟示錄》12章10節：「我上帝的救恩、能力、國度，並他基督的權柄，現在都來到了！因為那在我們上帝面前晝夜控告我們弟兄的，已經被摔下去了。」

 

    這「在我們上帝面前晝夜控告我們弟兄的」，就是指魔鬼！你要和魔鬼作一樣的事嗎﹖定人的罪就是控告人的，下場就是與上帝遠離，你希望有這樣的下場嗎﹖

 

 

 

 

撒母耳記上24章

         撒母耳記上24:1-22  ,

撒母耳記上24:1-22

 

24:1 掃羅追趕非利士人回來，有人告訴他說：「大衛在隱‧基底的曠野。」
24:2 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。
24:3 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。
24:4 跟隨的人對大衛說：「耶和華曾應許你說：『我要將你的仇敵交在你手裡，你可以任意待他。』如今時候到了！」大衛就起來，悄悄地割下掃羅外袍的衣襟。
24:5 隨後大衛心中自責，因為割下掃羅的衣襟；
24:6 對跟隨他的人說：「我的主乃是耶和華的受膏者，我在耶和華面前萬不敢伸手害他，因他是耶和華的受膏者。」
24:7 大衛用這話攔住跟隨他的人，不容他們起來害掃羅。掃羅起來，從洞裡出去行路。
24:8 隨後大衛也起來，從洞裡出去，呼叫掃羅說：「我主，我王！」掃羅回頭觀看，大衛就屈身、臉伏於地下拜。
24:9 大衛對掃羅說：「你為何聽信人的讒言，說大衛想要害你呢？
24:10 今日你親眼看見在洞中，耶和華將你交在我手裡；有人叫我殺你，我卻愛惜你，說：『我不敢伸手害我的主，因為他是耶和華的受膏者。』
24:11 我父啊，看看你外袍的衣襟在我手中。我割下你的衣襟，沒有殺你；你由此可以知道我沒有惡意叛逆你。你雖然獵取我的命，我卻沒有得罪你。
24:12 願耶和華在你我中間判斷是非，在你身上為我伸冤，我卻不親手加害於你。
24:13 古人有句俗語說：『惡事出於惡人。』我卻不親手加害於你。
24:14 以色列王出來要尋找誰呢？追趕誰呢？不過追趕一條死狗，一個虼蚤就是了。
24:15 願耶和華在你我中間施行審判，斷定是非，並且鑒察，為我伸冤，救我脫離你的手。」
24:16 大衛向掃羅說完這話，掃羅說：「我兒大衛，這是你的聲音嗎？」就放聲大哭，
24:17 對大衛說：「你比我公義；因為你以善待我，我卻以惡待你。
24:18 你今日顯明是以善待我；因為耶和華將我交在你手裡，你卻沒有殺我。
24:19 人若遇見仇敵，豈肯放他平安無事地去呢？願耶和華因你今日向我所行的，以善報你。
24:20 我也知道你必要作王，以色列的國必堅立在你手裡。
24:21 現在你要指著耶和華向我起誓，不剪除我的後裔，在我父家不滅沒我的名。」
24:22 於是大衛向掃羅起誓，掃羅就回家去；大衛和跟隨他的人上山寨去了。

 

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

 

3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said[b] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

 

5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

 

8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.

 

14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”

 

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”

 

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

 

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    大衛在此展現的君王風範勝過了掃羅，掃羅求大衛：「我也知道你必要作王，以色列的國必堅立在你手裡。現在你要指著耶和華向我起誓，不剪除我的後裔，在我父家不滅沒我的名。」

 

    雖然掃羅向他示好，當然並不是從此以後掃羅與大衛之間就平安無事，掃羅依然是心胸狹小，仍然時時刻刻想除掉大衛！只是大衛保持一個原則，就是不可以傷害耶和華的受膏者！他不是不恨惡掃羅，是因為耶和華的緣故尊重保羅而已！

 

    其實對一位事奉上帝的人，尊重教會中有權柄的人也是非常必要的！因為尊重上帝的僕人，就是敬畏上帝！正如大衛尊重掃羅的背後原因，不是害怕掃羅的權勢，而是因為敬畏上帝！

 

    我們要成為一位敬畏上帝的人，就需要從這樣的操練開始，為主的緣故尊重在教會中的領袖，就如牧師、長老、執事和傳道師、…等等，不在乎他們如何，而是在乎設立他們的主！