使徒行傳5:33-42

 

5:33 公會的人聽見就極其惱怒，想要殺他們。
5:34 但有一個法利賽人，名叫迦瑪列，是眾百姓所敬重的教法師，在公會中站起來，吩咐人把使徒暫且帶到外面去，
5:35 就對眾人說：「以色列人哪，論到這些人，你們應當小心怎樣辦理。
5:36 從前杜達起來，自誇為大；附從他的人約有四百，他被殺後，附從他的全都散了，歸於無有。
5:37 此後，報名上冊的時候，又有加利利的猶大起來，引誘些百姓跟從他；他也滅亡，附從他的人也都四散了。
5:38 現在，我勸你們不要管這些人，任憑他們吧！他們所謀的、所行的，若是出於人，必要敗壞；
5:39 若是出於上帝，你們就不能敗壞他們，恐怕你們倒是攻擊上帝了。」
5:40 公會的人聽從了他，便叫使徒來，把他們打了，又吩咐他們不可奉耶穌的名講道，就把他們釋放了。
5:41 他們離開公會，心裡歡喜，因被算是配為這名受辱。
5:42 他們就每日在殿裡、在家裡不住地教訓人，傳耶穌是基督。

 

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴² Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

 

**************

 

    使徒們站在公會前，為主耶穌作見證。因為這群人不信耶穌是基督，更是不能接受耶穌基督從死人中復活的事實，也因此他們的反應是：「極其惱怒，想要殺他們。」

 

    但是上帝卻用人想不到的方式保守他們的性命，就是透過當時最有智慧的法利賽人，名叫迦瑪列，是眾百姓所敬重的教法師，他也是保羅的老師，提出一個卸責的說法：「現在，我勸你們不要管這些人，任憑他們吧！他們所謀的、所行的，若是出於人，必要敗壞；若是出於上帝，你們就不能敗壞他們，恐怕你們倒是攻擊上帝了。」

 

    然而這樣的處理方式，反而讓使徒們得著激勵！雖然公會禁止他們傳揚主耶穌，但是照聖經記載：「他們離開公會，心裡歡喜，因被算是配為這名受辱。他們就每日在殿裡、在家裡不住地教訓人，傳耶穌是基督。」

 

    從使徒們的見證，我們學習到一個重要的功課，我們當靠著主耶穌存著勇敢的心！雖然世界會用各樣的勢力和壓力禁止我們宣揚福音，我們不可退縮，上帝必定會為我們開一條路，好讓主的道可以傳揚出去，因為主的道是不受綑鎖的，是大有能力的！

撒母耳記下8章

       撒母耳記下8:1-18   ,

撒母耳記下8:1-18

 

8:1 此後，大衛攻打非利士人，把他們治服，從他們手下奪取了京城的權柄（原文是母城的嚼環）；
8:2 又攻打摩押人，使他們躺臥在地上，用繩量一量：量二繩的殺了，量一繩的存留。摩押人就歸服大衛，給他進貢。
8:3 瑣巴王利合的兒子哈大底謝往大河去，要奪回他的國權。大衛就攻打他，
8:4 擒拿了他的馬兵一千七百，步兵二萬，將拉戰車的馬砍斷蹄筋，但留下一百輛車的馬。
8:5 大馬士革的亞蘭人來幫助瑣巴王哈大底謝，大衛就殺了亞蘭人二萬二千。
8:6 於是大衛在大馬士革的亞蘭地設立防營，亞蘭人就歸服他，給他進貢。大衛無論往哪裡去，耶和華都使他得勝。
8:7 他奪了哈大底謝臣僕所拿的金盾牌，帶到耶路撒冷。
8:8 大衛王又從屬哈大底謝的比他和比羅他城中奪取了許多的銅。
8:9 哈馬王陀以聽見大衛殺敗哈大底謝的全軍，
8:10 就打發他兒子約蘭去見大衛王，問他的安，為他祝福，因為他殺敗了哈大底謝（原來陀以與哈大底謝常常爭戰）。約蘭帶了金銀銅的器皿來，
8:11 大衛王將這些器皿和他治服各國所得來的金銀都分別為聖，獻給耶和華，
8:12 就是從亞蘭、摩押、亞捫、非利士、亞瑪力人所得來的，以及從瑣巴王利合的兒子哈大底謝所掠之物。
8:13 大衛在鹽谷擊殺了亞蘭（或譯：以東，見詩篇六十篇詩題）一萬八千人回來，就得了大名；
8:14 又在以東全地設立防營，以東人就都歸服大衛。大衛無論往哪裡去，耶和華都使他得勝。
8:15 大衛作以色列眾人的王，又向眾民秉公行義。
8:16 洗魯雅的兒子約押作元帥；亞希律的兒子約沙法作史官；
8:17 亞希突的兒子撒督和亞比亞他的兒子亞希米勒作祭司長；西萊雅作書記；
8:18 耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅統轄基利提人和比利提人。大衛的眾子都作領袖。

 

In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.

² David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

³ Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at^[a] the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers^[b] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. ⁶ He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

⁷ David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Tebah^[c] and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

⁹ When Tou^[d] king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ he sent his son Joram^[e] to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.

¹¹ King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: ¹² Edom^[f] and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites^[g] in the Valley of Salt.

¹⁴ He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

¹⁵ David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ¹⁷ Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; ¹⁸ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.

 

*************

 

    上帝讓大衛成為一個常勝的君王，在列邦中高舉他！正如經文所說：「大衛無論往哪裡去，耶和華都使他得勝。」(8:14下)

 

    當然大衛之所以成為得勝的君王，不僅是自己的努力，更是上帝讓他有一群很好的官員，正如在這裡的經文說：「大衛作以色列眾人的王，又向眾民秉公行義。洗魯雅的兒子約押作元帥；亞希律的兒子約沙法作史官；亞希突的兒子撒督和亞比亞他的兒子亞希米勒作祭司長；西萊雅作書記；耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅統轄基利提人和比利提人。大衛的眾子都作領袖。」

 

    從聖經這樣的描述，讓我們感受到系統性的行政團隊是很重要的，每一個人要各司其職，發揮上帝給他的恩賜，就可以成就超乎人可以想像的偉大事工。不僅國家如此，教會更是如此！

 

    說到教會需要系統性的服事團隊，保羅用身體和肢體來形容教會和弟兄姊妹之關係，正如羅馬書12章3-5節所說：「我憑著所賜我的恩對你們各人說：不要看自己過於所當看的；要照著上帝所分給各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道。正如我們一個身子上有好些肢體，肢體也不都是一樣的用處。我們這許多人，在基督裡成為一身，互相聯絡作肢體，也是如此。」

 

    在哥林多前書12章22-27節更說到：「不但如此，身上肢體人以為軟弱的，更是不可少的。身上肢體，我們看為不體面的，越發給它加上體面；不俊美的，越發得著俊美。我們俊美的肢體，自然用不著裝飾；但上帝配搭這身子，把加倍的體面給那有缺欠的肢體，免得身上分門別類，總要肢體彼此相顧。若一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦；若一個肢體得榮耀，所有的肢體就一同快樂。你們就是基督的身子，並且各自作肢體。」

 

    所以，教會要成為主所喜悅的，除了要互相接納之外，更要互相成全，讓基督的榮美彰顯出來！保羅也這樣勉勵我們：「他所賜的，有使徒，有先知，有傳福音的，有牧師和教師，為要成全聖徒，各盡其職，建立基督的身體，直等到我們眾人在真道上同歸於一，認識上帝的兒子，得以長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量！」(以弗所書4:11-13)

 

約伯記21章

     約伯記21:1-34 ,

約伯記21:1-34

 

21:1 約伯回答說：
21:2 你們要細聽我的言語，就算是你們安慰我。
21:3 請寬容我，我又要說話；說了以後，任憑你們嗤笑吧！
21:4 我豈是向人訴冤？為何不焦急呢？
21:5 你們要看著我而驚奇，用手摀口。
21:6 我每逢思想，心就驚惶，渾身戰兢。
21:7 惡人為何存活，享大壽數，勢力強盛呢？
21:8 他們眼見兒孫，和他們一同堅立。
21:9 他們的家宅平安無懼；上帝的杖也不加在他們身上。
21:10 他們的公牛孳生而不斷絕；母牛下犢而不掉胎。
21:11 他們打發小孩子出去，多如羊群；他們的兒女踴躍跳舞。
21:12 他們隨著琴鼓歌唱，又因簫聲歡喜。
21:13 他們度日諸事亨通，轉眼下入陰間。
21:14 他們對上帝說：離開我們吧！我們不願曉得你的道。
21:15 全能者是誰，我們何必事奉他呢？求告他有甚麼益處呢？
21:16 看哪，他們亨通不在乎自己；惡人所謀定的離我好遠。
21:17 惡人的燈何嘗熄滅？患難何嘗臨到他們呢？上帝何嘗發怒，向他們分散災禍呢？
21:18 他們何嘗像風前的碎秸，如暴風颳去的糠秕呢？
21:19 你們說：上帝為惡人的兒女積蓄罪孽；我說：不如本人受報，好使他親自知道。
21:20 願他親眼看見自己敗亡，親自飲全能者的忿怒。
21:21 他的歲月既盡，他還顧他本家嗎？
21:22 上帝既審判那在高位的，誰能將知識教訓他呢？
21:23 有人至死身體強壯，盡得平靖安逸；
21:24 他的奶桶充滿，他的骨髓滋潤。
21:25 有人至死心中痛苦，終身未嘗福樂的滋味；
21:26 他們一樣躺臥在塵土中，都被蟲子遮蓋。
21:27 我知道你們的意思，並誣害我的計謀。
21:28 你們說：霸者的房屋在哪裡？惡人住過的帳棚在哪裡？
21:29 你們豈沒有詢問過路的人嗎？不知道他們所引的證據嗎？
21:30 就是惡人在禍患的日子得存留，在發怒的日子得逃脫。
21:31 他所行的，有誰當面給他說明？他所做的，有誰報應他呢？
21:32 然而他要被抬到塋地；並有人看守墳墓。
21:33 他要以谷中的土塊為甘甜；在他以先去的無數，在他以後去的更多。
21:34 你們對答的話中既都錯謬，怎麼徒然安慰我呢？

 

 Then Job replied:

² “Listen carefully to my words;
    let this be the consolation you give me.
³ Bear with me while I speak,
    and after I have spoken, mock on.

⁴ “Is my complaint directed to a human being?
    Why should I not be impatient?
⁵ Look at me and be appalled;
    clap your hand over your mouth.
⁶ When I think about this, I am terrified;
    trembling seizes my body.
⁷ Why do the wicked live on,
    growing old and increasing in power?
⁸ They see their children established around them,
    their offspring before their eyes.
⁹ Their homes are safe and free from fear;
    the rod of God is not on them.
¹⁰ Their bulls never fail to breed;
    their cows calve and do not miscarry.
¹¹ They send forth their children as a flock;
    their little ones dance about.
¹² They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;
    they make merry to the sound of the pipe.
¹³ They spend their years in prosperity
    and go down to the grave in peace.
¹⁴ Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
    We have no desire to know your ways.
¹⁵ Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’
¹⁶ But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

¹⁷ “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?
    How often does calamity come upon them,
    the fate God allots in his anger?
¹⁸ How often are they like straw before the wind,
    like chaff swept away by a gale?
¹⁹ It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’
    Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!
²⁰ Let their own eyes see their destruction;
    let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.
²¹ For what do they care about the families they leave behind
    when their allotted months come to an end?

²² “Can anyone teach knowledge to God,
    since he judges even the highest?
²³ One person dies in full vigor,
    completely secure and at ease,
²⁴ well nourished in body,
    bones rich with marrow.
²⁵ Another dies in bitterness of soul,
    never having enjoyed anything good.
²⁶ Side by side they lie in the dust,
    and worms cover them both.

²⁷ “I know full well what you are thinking,
    the schemes by which you would wrong me.
²⁸ You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,
    the tents where the wicked lived?’
²⁹ Have you never questioned those who travel?
    Have you paid no regard to their accounts—
³⁰ that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,
    that they are delivered from the day of wrath?
³¹ Who denounces their conduct to their face?
    Who repays them for what they have done?
³² They are carried to the grave,
    and watch is kept over their tombs.
³³ The soil in the valley is sweet to them;
    everyone follows after them,
    and a countless throng goes before them.

³⁴ “So how can you console me with your nonsense?
    Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”

 

*************

 

    約伯對於三個朋友的論調提出反論，是就現實的現象可以看見惡人反而興旺，不像他們說的！也就是說，「善有善報、惡有惡報」這套理論是與現實狀態不符合，更何況這三位朋友是應該來安慰他，不是來和他理論他是有多麼壞，才會受上帝懲罰，才有今日的下場！

 

    約伯說的事情，其實在現實的狀態中的確是如此！那些大家看為壞蛋的人，反而是家道豐富，不管是子孫或是錢財都是比大家認為的好人多，而且這些人偏偏都很長壽，甚至於是善終，而且還是平平安安的去呢！

 

    就拿中共政權來說，他們號稱「槍桿子出政權」，搶奪了國民政府的執政權，雖然刷是殺人無數的政權，卻統治中國大陸比國民政府更久！雖然很惡劣，強調自己是無神論，迫害宗教、違背中國的傳統，甚至還散播病毒危害世界！但是，依然在這個世界呼風喚雨，在聯合國還拍桌子大罵別的國家！

 

    這是不是「善有善報、惡有惡報」這套理論反差呢？怪不得他們推崇鬼谷子的《厚黑學》：心要黑、臉要厚！不僅心地邪惡，更是行事卑鄙！

 

    然而對基督徒而言這些並不可怕，因為上帝必得永恆的勝利，在上帝國實現時，上帝的正義要完全實現，這些邪惡者必定受到上帝審判！他們的興旺只是一時，終究會滅亡，正如聖經說到主耶穌再來的時候，要審判萬民！只有蒙耶穌基督拯救的人才能享受永生，其他未蒙拯救的必至滅亡！上帝的話必定會實現，必定不落空！