撒母耳記下7:18-29

 

7:18 於是大衛王進去，坐在耶和華面前，說：「主耶和華啊，我是誰？我的家算甚麼？你竟使我到這地步呢？
7:19 主耶和華啊，這在你眼中還看為小，又應許你僕人的家至於久遠。主耶和華啊，這豈是人所常遇的事嗎？
7:20 主耶和華啊，我還有何言可以對你說呢？因為你知道你的僕人。
7:21 你行這大事使僕人知道，是因你所應許的話，也是照你的心意。
7:22 主耶和華啊，你本為大，照我們耳中聽見，沒有可比你的；除你以外再無上帝。
7:23 世上有何民能比你的民以色列呢？你從埃及救贖他們作自己的子民，又在你贖出來的民面前行大而可畏的事，驅逐列邦人和他們的上帝，顯出你的大名。
7:24 你曾堅立你的民以色列作你的子民，直到永遠；你─耶和華也作了他們的上帝。
7:25 「耶和華上帝啊，你所應許僕人和僕人家的話，求你堅定，直到永遠；照你所說的而行。
7:26 願人永遠尊你的名為大，說：『萬軍之耶和華是治理以色列的上帝。』這樣，你僕人大衛的家必在你面前堅立。
7:27 萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝啊，因你啟示你的僕人說：『我必為你建立家室』，所以僕人大膽向你如此祈禱。
7:28 「主耶和華啊，惟有你是上帝。你的話是真實的；你也應許將這福氣賜給僕人。
7:29 現在求你賜福與僕人的家，可以永存在你面前。主耶和華啊，這是你所應許的。願你永遠賜福與僕人的家！」

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹ And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!^[c]

²⁰ “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. ²¹ For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

²² “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. ²³ And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?^{[d] 24} You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

²⁵ “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, ²⁶ so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.

²⁷ “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. ²⁸ Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. ²⁹ Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

 

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    感謝上帝！大衛聽明白拿單的話，用這樣美的禱告回應上帝！的確，大衛然貴為君王，但是他清楚今天有這樣的地位是出於上帝，不是他比別人更有資格，他清楚自己不過是一個放羊的孩子，出身也不是很高的家庭，是因為上帝的眷顧才有今天！所以，他以感謝的心來到上帝的面前！

 

    讀了大衛這樣的禱告，就想到保羅寫給哥林多教會的書信中說：「弟兄們，我為你們的緣故，拿這些事轉比自己和亞波羅，叫你們效法我們不可過於聖經所記，免得你們自高自大，貴重這個，輕看那個。使你與人不同的是誰呢？你有甚麼不是領受的呢？若是領受的，為何自誇，彷彿不是領受的呢？」（哥林多前書4:6-7）

 

    的確，我們一切都是從上帝來的，我們本是一無所有、一無所知、一無所是，要不是上帝的保守和賞賜，我們真的是沒有甚麼可誇的！但是，人的罪行常常讓任炫耀自己所有、所做、所能，忘記賞賜的上帝，竊取上帝的榮耀，這樣的情形就是驕傲！

 

    而人為有在聖靈的引導下才會認識自己本是一無所有，本是低下與卑賤，而且是有罪的，需要上帝的賜福與保守，人才可以活出真正人的樣式，就是讓上帝的榮光通過我們流露出來！

 

 

撒母耳記下7:1-17

 

7:1 王住在自己宮中，耶和華使他安靖，不被四圍的仇敵擾亂。
7:2 那時，王對先知拿單說：「看哪，我住在香柏木的宮中，上帝的約櫃反在幔子裡。」
7:3 拿單對王說：「你可以照你的心意而行，因為耶和華與你同在。」
7:4 當夜，耶和華的話臨到拿單說：
7:5 「你去告訴我僕人大衛，說耶和華如此說：『你豈可建造殿宇給我居住呢？
7:6 自從我領以色列人出埃及直到今日，我未曾住過殿宇，常在會幕和帳幕中行走。
7:7 凡我同以色列人所走的地方，我何曾向以色列一支派的士師，就是我吩咐牧養我民以色列的說：你們為何不給我建造香柏木的殿宇呢？』
7:8 「現在，你要告訴我僕人大衛，說萬軍之耶和華如此說：『我從羊圈中將你召來，叫你不再跟從羊群，立你作我民以色列的君。
7:9 你無論往哪裡去，我常與你同在，剪除你的一切仇敵。我必使你得大名，好像世上大大有名的人一樣。
7:10 我必為我民以色列選定一個地方，栽培他們，使他們住自己的地方，不再遷移；凶惡之子也不像從前擾害他們，
7:11 並不像我命士師治理我民以色列的時候一樣。我必使你安靖，不被一切仇敵擾亂，並且我─耶和華應許你，必為你建立家室。
7:12 你壽數滿足、與你列祖同睡的時候，我必使你的後裔接續你的位；我也必堅定他的國。
7:13 他必為我的名建造殿宇；我必堅定他的國位，直到永遠。
7:14 我要作他的父，他要作我的子；他若犯了罪，我必用人的杖責打他，用人的鞭責罰他。
7:15 但我的慈愛仍不離開他，像離開在你面前所廢棄的掃羅一樣。
7:16 你的家和你的國必在我（原文是你）面前永遠堅立。你的國位也必堅定，直到永遠。』」
7:17 拿單就按這一切話，照這默示，告訴大衛。

After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ² he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

³ Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴ But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? ⁶ I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. ⁷ Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

⁸ “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. ¹⁰ And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning ¹¹ and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders^[a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: ¹² When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. ¹⁵ But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me^[b]; your throne will be established forever.’”

¹⁷ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

 

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    大衛經過了一連串的苦難之後，上帝使他享受美好的生活！不僅是個人享受安寧，也讓國家安定！正如經文所說的：「王住在自己宮中，耶和華使他安靖，不被四圍的仇敵擾亂。」

 

    然而大衛是一位愛主的君王，他對先知拿單說：「看哪，我住在香柏木的宮中，上帝的約櫃反在幔子裡。」

 

    可見他想為上帝建一座聖殿，讓上帝的名可以得著尊崇！然而上帝透過先知拿單讓他知道，是上帝的榮耀要與人同在，不是人能夠增加上帝的榮耀！他要拿單向大衛說：「我從羊圈中將你召來，叫你不再跟從羊群，立你作我民以色列的君。你無論往哪裡去，我常與你同在，剪除你的一切仇敵。我必使你得大名，好像世上大大有名的人一樣。我必為我民以色列選定一個地方，栽培他們，使他們住自己的地方，不再遷移；凶惡之子也不像從前擾害他們，並不像我命士師治理我民以色列的時候一樣。我必使你安靖，不被一切仇敵擾亂，並且我─耶和華應許你，必為你建立家室。」

 

    其實我們屬於上帝的人也要有這樣的認識：上帝比我們偉大，一切榮耀本是屬於祂，我們只能倚靠上帝，只有上帝的榮光與我們同在，我們才能活出生命的意義，因為我們是照著上帝的形象造的！上帝要人類遍滿天地之間，是要讓祂的榮耀充滿在天地之間！

 

    為何不能從人發出來榮耀上帝，或為上帝做什麼？因為住樣人會自誇，自以為了不起，任為上帝的榮耀是人給的，這樣反而使人驕傲，對人有害無益！上帝為了避免大衛走掃羅自高自傲的路，所以不要他來建聖殿！同樣，今天上帝攔阻我們做自己認為有意義的事，也是為了保護我們，免得我們驕傲遠離上帝！

 

 

約伯記20章

    約伯記20:1-29  ,

約伯記20:1-29

 

20:1 拿瑪人瑣法回答說：
20:2 我心中急躁，所以我的思念叫我回答。
20:3 我已聽見那羞辱我，責備我的話；我的悟性叫我回答。
20:4 你豈不知亙古以來，自從人生在地，
20:5 惡人誇勝是暫時的，不敬虔人的喜樂不過轉眼之間嗎？
20:6 他的尊榮雖達到天上，頭雖頂到雲中，
20:7 他終必滅亡，像自己的糞一樣；素來見他的人要說：他在哪裡呢？
20:8 他必飛去如夢，不再尋見，速被趕去，如夜間的異象。
20:9 親眼見過他的，必不再見他；他的本處也再見不著他。
20:10 他的兒女要求窮人的恩；他的手要賠還不義之財。
20:11 他的骨頭雖然有青年之力，卻要和他一同躺臥在塵土中。
20:12 他口內雖以惡為甘甜，藏在舌頭底下，
20:13 愛戀不捨，含在口中；
20:14 他的食物在肚裡卻要化為酸，在他裡面成為虺蛇的惡毒。
20:15 他吞了財寶，還要吐出；上帝要從他腹中掏出來。
20:16 他必吸飲虺蛇的毒氣；蝮蛇的舌頭也必殺他。
20:17 流奶與蜜之河，他不得再見。
20:18 他勞碌得來的要賠還，不得享用（原文是吞下）；不能照所得的財貨歡樂。
20:19 他欺壓窮人，且又離棄；強取非自己所蓋的房屋（或譯：強取房屋不得再建造）。
20:20 他因貪而無厭，所喜悅的連一樣也不能保守。
20:21 其餘的沒有一樣他不吞滅，所以他的福樂不能長久。
20:22 他在滿足有餘的時候，必到狹窄的地步；凡受苦楚的人都必加手在他身上。
20:23 他正要充滿肚腹的時候，上帝必將猛烈的忿怒降在他身上；正在他吃飯的時候，要將這忿怒像雨降在他身上。
20:24 他要躲避鐵器；銅弓的箭要將他射透。
20:25 他把箭一抽，就從他身上出來；發光的箭頭從他膽中出來，有驚惶臨在他身上。
20:26 他的財寶歸於黑暗；人所不吹的火要把他燒滅，要把他帳棚中所剩下的燒毀。
20:27 天要顯明他的罪孽；地要興起攻擊他。
20:28 他的家產必然過去；上帝發怒的日子，他的貨物都要消滅。
20:29 這是惡人從上帝所得的分，是上帝為他所定的產業。

 

 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

² “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
    because I am greatly disturbed.
³ I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,
    and my understanding inspires me to reply.

⁴ “Surely you know how it has been from of old,
    ever since mankind^[a] was placed on the earth,
⁵ that the mirth of the wicked is brief,
    the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
⁶ Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens
    and his head touches the clouds,
⁷ he will perish forever, like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
⁸ Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found,
    banished like a vision of the night.
⁹ The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.
¹⁰ His children must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.
¹¹ The youthful vigor that fills his bones
    will lie with him in the dust.

¹² “Though evil is sweet in his mouth
    and he hides it under his tongue,
¹³ though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,
¹⁴ yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;
    it will become the venom of serpents within him.
¹⁵ He will spit out the riches he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit them up.
¹⁶ He will suck the poison of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.
¹⁷ He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
¹⁸ What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.
¹⁹ For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute;
    he has seized houses he did not build.

²⁰ “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;
    he cannot save himself by his treasure.
²¹ Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.
²² In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;
    the full force of misery will come upon him.
²³ When he has filled his belly,
    God will vent his burning anger against him
    and rain down his blows on him.
²⁴ Though he flees from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
²⁵ He pulls it out of his back,
    the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors will come over him;
²⁶     total darkness lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire unfanned will consume him
    and devour what is left in his tent.
²⁷ The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.
²⁸ A flood will carry off his house,
    rushing waters^[b] on the day of God’s wrath.
²⁹ Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.”

 

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    約伯說完了，下台一鞠躬。接著是稱為「麻雀」的拿瑪人瑣法上台說話了，他好像等了很久，有點不耐煩一上台就說：「我心中急躁，所以我的思念叫我回答。我已聽見那羞辱我，責備我的話；我的悟性叫我回答。你豈不知亙古以來，自從人生在地，惡人誇勝是暫時的，不敬虔人的喜樂不過轉眼之間嗎？」

 

    什麼跟什麼！一上台又是罵約伯是惡人，不僅如此接下去的更難聽：「他的尊榮雖達到天上，頭雖頂到雲中，他終必滅亡，像自己的糞一樣；素來見他的人要說：他在哪裡呢？」

 

    竟然罵人罵得那麼難聽，把約伯用「糞」來比喻，這也太不禮貌了！到底是來安慰約伯，還是來損約伯？讓讀者都為約伯叫屈，真是誤交了損友，有這樣的朋友真是不幸！

 

    而這個稱為「麻雀」的拿瑪人瑣法，竟然在這段談話的最後下這樣的結論：「天要顯明他的罪孽；地要興起攻擊他。他的家產必然過去；上帝發怒的日子，他的貨物都要消滅。這是惡人從上帝所得的分，是上帝為他所定的產業。」

 

    瑣法的言論就像一些「自以為義」的基督徒一般，認為自己是正義的使者，要打擊罪惡，對於「傷風敗俗」的事總是先跳出來責備一番，而他們的禱告真的像主耶穌所說的比喻中的法利賽人的禱告：「上帝啊，我感謝你，我不像別人勒索、不義、姦淫，也不像這個稅吏。我一個禮拜禁食兩次，凡我所得的都捐上十分之一。」（路加福音18:11-12）

 

    說到好事都是自己做的，說到壞事都是別人做的！不僅如此，臉不紅、氣不粗，向人炫耀自己多麼敬虔和愛主，多麼委身於教會的事奉呢！將來必得主大大的獎賞，還要人效法他呢！

 

    在以前我也很尊敬這樣的人，覺得他們是很好的基督徒，應該會帶領很多人信主！但是，實際上並非如此，他周邊的人都受不了他，因為他們太愛自誇了！怪不得，會有許多爭執發生在他的生活圈。

 

    也因為這樣，常常向主禱告，讓我不要成為這樣的人，能夠學習保羅成為真正謙卑的人，所以常常拿保羅說的來自勉：「弟兄們，我為你們的緣故，拿這些事轉比自己和亞波羅，叫你們效法我們不可過於聖經所記，免得你們自高自大，貴重這個，輕看那個。使你與人不同的是誰呢？你有甚麼不是領受的呢？若是領受的，為何自誇，彷彿不是領受的呢？」（哥林多前書4:6-7）