約伯記12:1-25

 

12:1 約伯回答說：
12:2 你們真是子民哪，你們死亡，智慧也就滅沒了。
12:3 但我也有聰明，與你們一樣，並非不及你們。你們所說的，誰不知道呢？
12:4 我這求告上帝、蒙他應允的人竟成了朋友所譏笑的；公義完全人竟受了人的譏笑。
12:5 安逸的人心裡藐視災禍；這災禍常常等待滑腳的人。
12:6 強盜的帳棚興旺，惹上帝的人穩固，上帝多將財物送到他們手中。
12:7 你且問走獸，走獸必指教你；又問空中的飛鳥，飛鳥必告訴你；
12:8 或與地說話，地必指教你；海中的魚也必向你說明。
12:9 看這一切，誰不知道是耶和華的手做成的呢？
12:10 凡活物的生命和人類的氣息都在他手中。
12:11 耳朵豈不試驗言語，正如上膛嘗食物嗎？
12:12 年老的有智慧；壽高的有知識。
12:13 在上帝有智慧和能力；他有謀略和知識。
12:14 他拆毀的，就不能再建造；他捆住人，便不得開釋。
12:15 他把水留住，水便枯乾；他再發出水來，水就翻地。
12:16 在他有能力和智慧，被誘惑的與誘惑人的都是屬他。
12:17 他把謀士剝衣擄去，又使審判官變成愚人。
12:18 他放鬆君王的綁，又用帶子捆他們的腰。
12:19 他把祭司剝衣擄去，又使有能的人傾敗。
12:20 他廢去忠信人的講論，又奪去老人的聰明。
12:21 他使君王蒙羞被辱，放鬆有力之人的腰帶。
12:22 他將深奧的事從黑暗中彰顯，使死蔭顯為光明。
12:23 他使邦國興旺而又毀滅；他使邦國開廣而又擄去。
12:24 他將地上民中首領的聰明奪去，使他們在荒廢無路之地漂流；
12:25 他們無光，在黑暗中摸索，又使他們東倒西歪，像醉酒的人一樣。

 

Then Job replied:

² “Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!
³ But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?

⁴ “I have become a laughingstock to my friends,
    though I called on God and he answered—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
⁵ Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
⁶ The tents of marauders are undisturbed,
    and those who provoke God are secure—
    those God has in his hand.

⁷ “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
⁸ or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
⁹ Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
¹⁰ In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.
¹¹ Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?
¹² Is not wisdom found among the aged?
    Does not long life bring understanding?

¹³ “To God belong wisdom and power;
    counsel and understanding are his.
¹⁴ What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;
    those he imprisons cannot be released.
¹⁵ If he holds back the waters, there is drought;
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.
¹⁶ To him belong strength and insight;
    both deceived and deceiver are his.
¹⁷ He leads rulers away stripped
    and makes fools of judges.
¹⁸ He takes off the shackles put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth around their waist.
¹⁹ He leads priests away stripped
    and overthrows officials long established.
²⁰ He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.
²¹ He pours contempt on nobles
    and disarms the mighty.
²² He reveals the deep things of darkness
    and brings utter darkness into the light.
²³ He makes nations great, and destroys them;
    he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
²⁴ He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
²⁵ They grope in darkness with no light;
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.

 

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    約伯面對朋友們的講話，心中好笑又好氣，因為他們自以為聰明、自以為有見地，真不知如何回他們，只好說一些反諷的話語，一方面吐吐心中的不平，另一方面也教訓這一群愚頑的人！

 

    有時我們的生命也和約伯一樣，受到了一些冤屈和誤解，真希望上帝出來申冤與安慰，可是卻聽到一些人的冷嘲熱諷，甚是用鄙視漢輕看的眼光來對待我們，就像烏雲遮蔽一般，看不清楚將來的方向。當然這時候，真希望上帝能賜下智慧和能力給我們，好覺我們能突破！但是，我們還是不可以放棄對上帝的盼望，相信這是約伯能堅持到最後之原因。

 

    當然約伯能對他的朋友說一些反諷的話，也是因為心中能然相信上帝，才可以生出的一種特別幽默。我們不要輕忽這樣的反諷，這是讓我們思考如何幫助約伯這樣處境的人的引導，因為他們多麼盼望上帝能真正為他們申冤呢！

 

 

路加福音8:16-18

 

8:16 「沒有人點燈用器皿蓋上，或放在床底下，乃是放在燈臺上，叫進來的人看見亮光。

8:17 因為掩藏的事沒有不顯出來的；隱瞞的事沒有不露出來被人知道的。

8:18 所以，你們應當小心怎樣聽；因為凡有的，還要加給他；凡沒有的，連他自以為有的，也要奪去。」

 

¹⁶ “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. ¹⁷ For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. ¹⁸ Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

 

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    光看18節或許會讓人誤解，已為秘密是守不住的！其實也不見得，因為有許多人離開世界，是帶著秘密離開的。甚至彌迦書7章5節說：「不要倚賴鄰舍；不要信靠密友。要守住你的口；不要向你懷中的妻提說。」就像參孫因守不住秘密帶來殺身之禍。當然在上帝面前是沒有祕密的，正如希伯來書4章13節所說：「並且被造的沒有一樣在他面前不顯然的；原來萬物在那與我們有關係的主眼前，都是赤露敞開的。」

 

    然而這一段話不是說我們是無法保守秘密的，而是要告訴我們，基督徒自然而然會把主在我們身上的做為見證出來！就像燈台上的燈光一樣，本來就是要放在適當的位置來照亮房間，是無法隱藏的，即使是刻意不讓人家之道也是不可能的！因為，我們屬基督的人，自然會展現基督的樣式在我們身上，人一看就知道的。也因為如此，沒有所謂的「隱藏的基督徒」！

 

    既然是如此，我門就要勇敢為主做見證，不要隱藏自己是基督徒的身分，隱藏到最後使自己沉淪是划不來的！所以主耶穌會說：「所以，你們應當小心怎樣聽；因為凡有的，還要加給他；凡沒有的，連他自以為有的，也要奪去。」

 

    這本是對羅馬帝國時代害怕承認自己是基督徒而會受迫害的人說的，更是對世世代代的基督徒說的，因為成為基督徒總是讓人家覺的不屬於這世界的人◦會被人排斥與疏離；但是，我們還是要承認自己是基督徒，要把別人的不接受當成正常，正如彼得前書4章3-5節所說：「因為往日隨從外邦人的心意行邪淫、惡慾、醉酒、荒宴、群飲，並可惡拜偶像的事，時候已經夠了。他們在這些事上，見你們不與他們同奔那放蕩無度的路，就以為怪，毀謗你們。他們必在那將要審判活人死人的主面前交帳。」

 

    因此，不要害怕人的眼光，勇敢的活出基督徒的生命，為主做見證、如燈發亮光，這樣的生命本是我們該有的表現！

 

 

 

撒母耳記上28:1-25

 

28:1 那時，非利士人聚集軍旅，要與以色列人打仗。亞吉對大衛說：「你當知道，你和跟隨你的人都要隨我出戰。」
28:2 大衛對亞吉說：「僕人所能做的事，王必知道。」亞吉對大衛說：「這樣，我立你永遠作我的護衛長。」
28:3 那時撒母耳已經死了，以色列眾人為他哀哭，葬他在拉瑪，就是在他本城裡。掃羅曾在國內不容有交鬼的和行巫術的人。
28:4 非利士人聚集，來到書念安營；掃羅聚集以色列眾人在基利波安營。
28:5 掃羅看見非利士的軍旅就懼怕，心中發顫。
28:6 掃羅求問耶和華，耶和華卻不藉夢，或烏陵，或先知回答他。
28:7 掃羅吩咐臣僕說：「當為我找一個交鬼的婦人，我好去問她。」臣僕說：「在隱‧多珥有一個交鬼的婦人。」
28:8 於是掃羅改了裝，穿上別的衣服，帶著兩個人，夜裡去見那婦人。掃羅說：「求你用交鬼的法術，將我所告訴你的死人，為我招上來。」
28:9 婦人對他說：「你知道掃羅從國中剪除交鬼的和行巫術的。你為何陷害我的性命，使我死呢？」
28:10 掃羅向婦人指著耶和華起誓說：「我指著永生的耶和華起誓，你必不因這事受刑。」
28:11 婦人說：「我為你招誰上來呢？」回答說：「為我招撒母耳上來。」
28:12 婦人看見撒母耳，就大聲呼叫，對掃羅說：「你是掃羅，為甚麼欺哄我呢？」
28:13 王對婦人說：「不要懼怕，你看見了甚麼呢？」婦人對掃羅說：「我看見有神從地裡上來。」
28:14 掃羅說：「他是怎樣的形狀？」婦人說：「有一個老人上來，身穿長衣。」掃羅知道是撒母耳，就屈身，臉伏於地下拜。
28:15 撒母耳對掃羅說：「你為甚麼攪擾我，招我上來呢？」掃羅回答說：「我甚窘急；因為非利士人攻擊我，上帝也離開我，不再藉先知或夢回答我。因此請你上來，好指示我應當怎樣行。」
28:16 撒母耳說：「耶和華已經離開你，且與你為敵，你何必問我呢？
28:17 耶和華照他藉我說的話，已經從你手裡奪去國權，賜與別人，就是大衛。
28:18 因你沒有聽從耶和華的命令；他惱怒亞瑪力人，你沒有滅絕他們，所以今日耶和華向你這樣行，
28:19 並且耶和華必將你和以色列人交在非利士人的手裡。明日你和你眾子必與我在一處了；耶和華必將以色列的軍兵交在非利士人手裡。」
28:20 掃羅猛然仆倒，挺身在地，因撒母耳的話甚是懼怕；那一晝一夜，沒有吃甚麼，就毫無氣力。
28:21 婦人到掃羅面前，見他極其驚恐，對他說：「婢女聽從你的話，不顧惜自己的性命，遵從你所吩咐的。
28:22 現在求你聽婢女的話，容我在你面前擺上一點食物，你吃了，可以有氣力行路。」
28:23 掃羅不肯，說：「我不吃。」但他的僕人和婦人再三勸他，他才聽了他們的話，從地上起來，坐在床上。
28:24 婦人急忙將家裡的一隻肥牛犢宰了，又拿麵摶成無酵餅烤了，
28:25 擺在掃羅和他僕人面前。他們吃完，當夜就起身走了。

 

 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

² David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

³ Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. ⁵ When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. ⁶ He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. ⁷ Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said.

⁸ So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

⁹ But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

¹⁰ Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

¹¹ Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

¹³ The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure^[a] coming up out of the earth.”

¹⁴ “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

¹⁵ Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

¹⁶ Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷ The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. ¹⁸ Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. ¹⁹ The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

²⁰ Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

²¹ When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. ²² Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

²³ He refused and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

²⁴ The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. ²⁵ Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

 

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    大衛在非利士人當中好像過得不錯，甚至得到亞吉的信任。雖然亞吉說：「你當知道，你和跟隨你的人都要隨我出戰。」大衛也勇敢對亞吉說：「僕人所能做的事，王必知道。」亞吉對大衛說：「這樣，我立你永遠作我的護衛長。」可見亞及對大衛十分放心。

 

    然而掃羅王可不是那麼好過，撒母耳過世之後，沒有上帝的啟示。掃羅又看見非利士的軍旅就懼怕，心中發顫。掃羅求問耶和華，耶和華卻不藉夢，或烏陵，或先知回答他。於是他動念頭到交鬼去了，竟然去找交鬼的女人要召撒母耳上來。不管那女人所召的鬼是不是撒母耳，卻給他害怕的消息：「耶和華已經離開你，且與你為敵，你何必問我呢？耶和華照他藉我說的話，已經從你手裡奪去國權，賜與別人，就是大衛。因你沒有聽從耶和華的命令；他惱怒亞瑪力人，你沒有滅絕他們，所以今日耶和華向你這樣行，並且耶和華必將你和以色列人交在非利士人的手裡。明日你和你眾子必與我在一處了；耶和華必將以色列的軍兵交在非利士人手裡。」

 

    掃羅這樣的事件，讓我們看見上帝的旨意是不會改變的，因為掃羅不遵行上帝的道，已經被上帝厭棄了！而掃羅之所以被厭棄是因為不悔改，沒有耐心等候上帝，隨己意而行！正如他的獻祭以及交鬼的事，就讓我們看出他是隨己意而行的人，這在聖經的說法就是：任意妄為！

 

    從掃羅的身上我們看見，不是「積極」去做一些事就會蒙上帝的喜悅，而是要照上帝的心意去做，甚至有時候還要等待上帝的時間。大衛和掃羅最大的差別，就是大衛會忍耐等候，不會任意而為，凡事照上帝的心意而行。這也就是敬畏上帝和不敬畏上帝的差別，這兩個人的所行所為是我們的借鏡，希望我們從當中德著智慧的心！