撒母耳記下17:1-29

 

17:1 亞希多弗又對押沙龍說：「求你准我挑選一萬二千人，今夜我就起身追趕大衛，
17:2 趁他疲乏手軟，我忽然追上他，使他驚惶；跟隨他的民必都逃跑，我就單殺王一人，
17:3 使眾民都歸順你。你所尋找的人既然死了，眾民就如已經歸順你；這樣，也都平安無事了。」
17:4 押沙龍和以色列的長老都以這話為美。
17:5 押沙龍說：「要召亞基人戶篩來，我們也要聽他怎樣說。」
17:6 戶篩到了押沙龍面前，押沙龍向他說：「亞希多弗是如此如此說的，我們照著他的話行可以不可以？若不可，你就說吧！」
17:7 戶篩對押沙龍說：「亞希多弗這次所定的謀不善。」
17:8 戶篩又說：「你知道，你父親和跟隨他的人都是勇士，現在他們心裡惱怒，如同田野丟崽子的母熊一般，而且你父親是個戰士，必不和民一同住宿。
17:9 他現今或藏在坑中或在別處，若有人首先被殺，凡聽見的必說：『跟隨押沙龍的民被殺了。』
17:10 雖有人膽大如獅子，他的心也必消化；因為以色列人都知道你父親是英雄，跟隨他的人也都是勇士。
17:11 依我之計，不如將以色列眾人─從但直到別是巴，如同海邊的沙那樣多─聚集到你這裡來，你也親自率領他們出戰。
17:12 這樣，我們在何處遇見他，就下到他那裡，如同露水下在地上一般，連他帶跟隨他的人，一個也不留下。
17:13 他若進了哪一座城，以色列眾人必帶繩子去，將那城拉到河裡，甚至連一塊小石頭都不剩下。」
17:14 押沙龍和以色列眾人說：「亞基人戶篩的計謀比亞希多弗的計謀更好！」這是因耶和華定意破壞亞希多弗的良謀，為要降禍與押沙龍。
17:15 戶篩對祭司撒督和亞比亞他說：「亞希多弗為押沙龍和以色列的長老所定的計謀是如此如此，我所定的計謀是如此如此。
17:16 現在你們要急速打發人去，告訴大衛說：『今夜不可住在曠野的渡口，務要過河，免得王和跟隨他的人都被吞滅。』」
17:17 那時，約拿單和亞希瑪斯在隱‧羅結那裡等候，不敢進城，恐怕被人看見。有一個使女出來，將這話告訴他們，他們就去報信給大衛王。
17:18 然而有一個童子看見他們，就去告訴押沙龍。他們急忙跑到巴戶琳某人的家裡；那人院中有一口井，他們就下到井裡。
17:19 那家的婦人用蓋蓋上井口，又在上頭鋪上碎麥，事就沒有洩漏。
17:20 押沙龍的僕人來到那家，問婦人說：「亞希瑪斯和約拿單在哪裡？」婦人說：「他們過了河了。」僕人找他們，找不著，就回耶路撒冷去了。
17:21 他們走後，二人從井裡上來，去告訴大衛王說：「亞希多弗如此如此定計害你，你們務要起來，快快過河。」
17:22 於是大衛和跟隨他的人都起來，過約旦河。到了天亮，無一人不過約旦河的。
17:23 亞希多弗見不依從他的計謀，就備上驢，歸回本城；到了家，留下遺言，便吊死了，葬在他父親的墳墓裡。
17:24 大衛到了瑪哈念，押沙龍和跟隨他的以色列人也都過了約旦河。
17:25 押沙龍立亞瑪撒作元帥，代替約押。亞瑪撒是以實瑪利人（又作以色列人）以特拉的兒子。以特拉曾與拿轄的女兒亞比該親近；這亞比該與約押的母親洗魯雅是姊妹。
17:26 押沙龍和以色列人都安營在基列地。
17:27 大衛到了瑪哈念，亞捫族的拉巴人拿轄的兒子朔比，羅‧底巴人亞‧米利的兒子瑪吉，基列的羅基琳人巴西萊，
17:28 帶著被、褥、盆、碗、瓦器、小麥、大麥、麥麵、炒穀、豆子、紅豆、炒豆、
17:29 蜂蜜、奶油、綿羊、奶餅，供給大衛和跟隨他的人吃；他們說：「民在曠野，必飢渴困乏了。」

 

 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would^[a] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. ² I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king ³ and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

⁵ But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” ⁶ When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”

⁷ Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. ⁸ You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops. ⁹ Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first,^[b] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ ¹⁰ Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.

¹¹ “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba—as numerous as the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. ¹² Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. ¹³ If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not so much as a pebble is left.”

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

¹⁵ Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. ¹⁶ Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”

¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A female servant was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. ¹⁸ But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left at once and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. ¹⁹ His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.

²⁰ When Absalom’s men came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.”^[c] The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ After they had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.” ²² So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

²⁴ David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. ²⁵ Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,^[d] an Ishmaelite^[e] who had married Abigail,^[f] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. ²⁶ The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim ²⁸ brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,^{[g] 29} honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.”

 

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

 

    上帝真的是保守大衛的上帝，因為如果照亞希多弗的辦法，大衛的軍隊一定會慘敗，他所採用的的就是暗地進行，人而後一舉消滅，是非常穩當的辦法，再加上亞希多弗自己來執行，可見他的決心和野心，讓人感覺是他想取代大衛成為以色列王，只是拿押沙龍來當魁儡！

 

    然而上帝卻藉由戶篩來突破他的詭計，不讓他達成他的企圖！而且戶篩在策略的鋪陳上比他高明，這是戶篩能說服大家的原因。亞希多弗城府過深導致他的表達能力不夠順暢，這也是他敗筆之處！他只適合當陰謀者，不適合當領袖！

 

    當然戶篩傳遞信息的過程驚險萬分，也讓人讀來不時捏一把冷汗，十分有故事性，要是拍成電影必定讓人看得津津有味！但是，無論如何的驚險，最終在上帝的保守下也讓信息傳到大衛那裏，使大衛避過災難！

 

    大衛到約旦河那邊避難時，上帝也不時藉由各路人馬來補足需要！正如經文所說：「大衛到了瑪哈念，亞捫族的拉巴人拿轄的兒子朔比，羅‧底巴人亞‧米利的兒子瑪吉，基列的羅基琳人巴西萊，帶著被、褥、盆、碗、瓦器、小麥、大麥、麥麵、炒穀、豆子、紅豆、炒豆、蜂蜜、奶油、綿羊、奶餅，供給大衛和跟隨他的人吃！」

 

    當然那位害人的亞希多弗也是沉不住氣的人，也不是什麼高明的人物，因為策略不被採納，就備上驢，歸回本城；到了家，留下遺言，便吊死了，葬在他父親的墳墓裡。

 

    這種種也顯示押沙龍部隊的外強中乾，根本不是大衛陣營的對手！也讓我們看見這個背叛組織根本只是一群愚昧的人，因為他們沒有上帝的同在！這也提醒我們，謀事的成敗，不是在自己想做甚麼就做什麼，只為了個人的野心和私利，最會就是自取敗亡！我們做任何事都要以「榮神義人」為前提！

 

 

 

約伯記29章

     約伯記29:1-25  ,

約伯記29:1-25

 

29:1 約伯又接著說：
29:2 惟願我的景況如從前的月份，如上帝保守我的日子。
29:3 那時他的燈照在我頭上；我藉他的光行過黑暗。
29:4 我願如壯年的時候：那時我在帳棚中，上帝待我有密友之情；
29:5 全能者仍與我同在；我的兒女都環繞我。
29:6 奶多可洗我的腳；磐石為我出油成河。
29:7 我出到城門，在街上設立座位；
29:8 少年人見我而迴避，老年人也起身站立；
29:9 王子都停止說話，用手摀口；
29:10 首領靜默無聲，舌頭貼住上膛。
29:11 耳朵聽我的，就稱我有福；眼睛看我的，便稱讚我；
29:12 因我拯救哀求的困苦人和無人幫助的孤兒。
29:13 將要滅亡的為我祝福；我也使寡婦心中歡樂。
29:14 我以公義為衣服，以公平為外袍和冠冕。
29:15 我為瞎子的眼，瘸子的腳。
29:16 我為窮乏人的父；素不認識的人，我查明他的案件。
29:17 我打破不義之人的牙床，從他牙齒中奪了所搶的。
29:18 我便說：我必死在家中（原文是窩中），必增添我的日子，多如塵沙。
29:19 我的根長到水邊；露水終夜霑在我的枝上。
29:20 我的榮耀在身上增新；我的弓在手中日強。
29:21 人聽見我而仰望，靜默等候我的指教。
29:22 我說話之後，他們就不再說；我的言語像雨露滴在他們身上。
29:23 他們仰望我如仰望雨，又張開口如切慕春雨。
29:24 他們不敢自信，我就向他們含笑；他們不使我臉上的光改變。
29:25 我為他們選擇道路，又坐首位；我如君王在軍隊中居住，又如弔喪的安慰傷心的人。

 

Job continued his discourse:

² “How I long for the months gone by,
    for the days when God watched over me,
³ when his lamp shone on my head
    and by his light I walked through darkness!
⁴ Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,
    when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house,
⁵ when the Almighty was still with me
    and my children were around me,
⁶ when my path was drenched with cream
    and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.

⁷ “When I went to the gate of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
⁸ the young men saw me and stepped aside
    and the old men rose to their feet;
⁹ the chief men refrained from speaking
    and covered their mouths with their hands;
¹⁰ the voices of the nobles were hushed,
    and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
¹¹ Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
    and those who saw me commended me,
¹² because I rescued the poor who cried for help,
    and the fatherless who had none to assist them.
¹³ The one who was dying blessed me;
    I made the widow’s heart sing.
¹⁴ I put on righteousness as my clothing;
    justice was my robe and my turban.
¹⁵ I was eyes to the blind
    and feet to the lame.
¹⁶ I was a father to the needy;
    I took up the case of the stranger.
¹⁷ I broke the fangs of the wicked
    and snatched the victims from their teeth.

¹⁸ “I thought, ‘I will die in my own house,
    my days as numerous as the grains of sand.
¹⁹ My roots will reach to the water,
    and the dew will lie all night on my branches.
²⁰ My glory will not fade;
    the bow will be ever new in my hand.’

²¹ “People listened to me expectantly,
    waiting in silence for my counsel.
²² After I had spoken, they spoke no more;
    my words fell gently on their ears.
²³ They waited for me as for showers
    and drank in my words as the spring rain.
²⁴ When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
    the light of my face was precious to them.^[a]
25 I chose the way for them and sat as their chief;
    I dwelt as a king among his troops;
    I was like one who comforts mourners.

 

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    約伯回想過去平安的日子，他發現一切的美好是從與上帝有好的關係開始，正如他所說：「惟願我的景況如從前的月份，如上帝保守我的日子。那時他的燈照在我頭上；我藉他的光行過黑暗。我願如壯年的時候：那時我在帳棚中，上帝待我有密友之情；全能者仍與我同在；我的兒女都環繞我。奶多可洗我的腳；磐石為我出油成河。」

 

    其實我們的生命也是如此，需要與上帝有美好的關係，我們的演目才會精準的看見上帝的恩典，知道上帝是何等的眷顧，祂的愛是何等的長擴與高深！所以，保羅說：「一切都是出於上帝；他藉著基督使我們與他和好，又將勸人與他和好的職分賜給我們。這就是上帝在基督裡，叫世人與自己和好，不將他們的過犯歸到他們身上，並且將這和好的道理託付了我們。所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像上帝藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與上帝和好。上帝使那無罪（無罪：原文是不知罪）的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裡面成為上帝的義。」(哥林多後書5:18-21)

 

    要與上帝和好透過耶穌基督，這是保羅勸哥林多教會的信徒的！今天我們成為福音的使者，我們也要這樣去勸告我們身邊的人們，透過耶穌基督與上帝和好，能享受上帝在基督耶穌裡所預備的一切福分！(以弗所書1:3)

 

    也唯有我們在基督裡享受到上帝的豐盛恩典，我們才會將榮耀歸給上帝並過聖潔的生活，進而感受到喜樂與滿足，人生才會發揮意義，正如約伯在這裡所說的人生經歷！

 

 

 

撒母耳記下16章

     撒母耳記下16:1-23  ,

撒母耳記下16:1-23

 

16:1 大衛剛過山頂，見米非波設的僕人洗巴拉著備好了的兩匹驢，驢上馱著二百麵餅，一百葡萄餅，一百個夏天的果餅，一皮袋酒來迎接他。
16:2 王問洗巴說：「你帶這些來是甚麼意思呢？」洗巴說：「驢是給王的家眷騎的；麵餅和夏天的果餅是給少年人吃的；酒是給在曠野疲乏人喝的。」
16:3 王問說：「你主人的兒子在哪裡呢？」洗巴回答王說：「他仍在耶路撒冷，因他說：『以色列人今日必將我父的國歸還我。』」
16:4 王對洗巴說：「凡屬米非波設的都歸你了。」洗巴說：「我叩拜我主我王，願我在你眼前蒙恩。」
16:5 大衛王到了巴戶琳，見有一個人出來，是掃羅族基拉的兒子，名叫示每。他一面走一面咒罵，
16:6 又拿石頭砍大衛王和王的臣僕；眾民和勇士都在王的左右。
16:7 示每咒罵說：「你這流人血的壞人哪，去吧去吧！
16:8 你流掃羅全家的血，接續他作王；耶和華把這罪歸在你身上，將這國交給你兒子押沙龍。現在你自取其禍，因為你是流人血的人。」
16:9 洗魯雅的兒子亞比篩對王說：「這死狗豈可咒罵我主我王呢？求你容我過去，割下他的頭來。」
16:10 王說：「洗魯雅的兒子，我與你們有何關涉呢？他咒罵是因耶和華吩咐他說：『你要咒罵大衛。』如此，誰敢說你為甚麼這樣行呢？」
16:11 大衛又對亞比篩和眾臣僕說：「我親生的兒子尚且尋索我的性命，何況這便雅憫人呢？由他咒罵吧！因為這是耶和華吩咐他的。
16:12 或者耶和華見我遭難，為我今日被這人咒罵，就施恩與我。」
16:13 於是大衛和跟隨他的人往前行走。示每在大衛對面山坡，一面行走一面咒罵，又拿石頭砍他，拿土揚他。
16:14 王和跟隨他的眾人疲疲乏乏地到了一個地方，就在那裡歇息歇息。
16:15 押沙龍和以色列眾人來到耶路撒冷；亞希多弗也與他同來。
16:16 大衛的朋友亞基人戶篩去見押沙龍，對他說：「願王萬歲！願王萬歲！」
16:17 押沙龍問戶篩說：「這是你恩待朋友嗎？為甚麼不與你的朋友同去呢？」
16:18 戶篩對押沙龍說：「不然，耶和華和這民，並以色列眾人所揀選的，我必歸順他，與他同住。
16:19 再者，我當服事誰呢？豈不是前王的兒子嗎？我怎樣服事你父親，也必照樣服事你。」
16:20 押沙龍對亞希多弗說：「你們出個主意，我們怎樣行才好？」
16:21 亞希多弗對押沙龍說：「你父所留下看守宮殿的妃嬪，你可以與她們親近。以色列眾人聽見你父親憎惡你，凡歸順你人的手就更堅強。」
16:22 於是人為押沙龍在宮殿的平頂上支搭帳棚；押沙龍在以色列眾人眼前，與他父的妃嬪親近。
16:23 那時亞希多弗所出的主意好像人問上帝的話一樣；他昔日給大衛，今日給押沙龍所出的主意，都是這樣。

 

 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.

² The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

³ The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”

Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

⁴ Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”

“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

⁵ As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. ⁶ He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. ⁷ As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! ⁸ The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

⁹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

¹⁰ But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”

¹¹ David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. ¹² It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

¹³ So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. ¹⁴ The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. ¹⁶ Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”

¹⁸ Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. ¹⁹ Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

²⁰ Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

²¹ Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” ²² So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

²³ Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

 

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

 

    大衛雖然一路逃亡，他卻是一路鎮靜，不管掃羅的族人對他好與不好，他都默默的承受，毫無抱怨的說：「洗魯雅的兒子，我與你們有何關涉呢？他咒罵是因耶和華吩咐他說：『你要咒罵大衛。』如此，誰敢說你為甚麼這樣行呢？」

 

    不僅如此，大衛又對亞比篩和眾臣僕說：「我親生的兒子尚且尋索我的性命，何況這便雅憫人呢？由他咒罵吧！因為這是耶和華吩咐他的。或者耶和華見我遭難，為我今日被這人咒罵，就施恩與我。」

 

    相信大衛會有這樣的反應，除了心裡難過，更是將一切結果交給上帝了！因為對兒子用平定叛軍的手段，右下不了手；可是讓押沙龍反叛成功也不是他所願意的，真是兩難啊！

 

    然而卻押沙龍受到亞希多弗的影響，一直引導押沙龍走向敗亡的路上，竟然要押沙龍做羞辱大衛的事！亞希多弗對押沙龍說：「你父所留下看守宮殿的妃嬪，你可以與她們親近。以色列眾人聽見你父親憎惡你，凡歸順你人的手就更堅強。」

 

    這個沒有腦袋的押沙龍竟然聽他的話，在宮殿的平頂上支搭帳棚；押沙龍在以色列眾人眼前，與他父的妃嬪親近。真是搞不清楚狀況，忘記自己是誰，竟讓自己陷入險境之中！

 

    從押沙龍的身上讓我們感受到，一位領袖只憑著自己的外表，不敬畏上帝，是無法擔當重責大任，成就不了甚麼功業，只會造成自己所屬的團體或組織的禍患！

 

    也因此，要成為領袖或上帝的代表，在上帝所安排的團體或組織中，必須要有敬畏上帝的心、遠離惡事，如此才能有上帝所賜的智慧和聰明來承擔重責大任，造福所屬的團體或組織！