撒母耳記下19:1-43

 

19:1 有人告訴約押說：「王為押沙龍哭泣悲哀。」
19:2 眾民聽說王為他兒子憂愁，他們得勝的歡樂卻變成悲哀。
19:3 那日眾民暗暗地進城，就如敗陣逃跑、慚愧的民一般。
19:4 王蒙著臉，大聲哭號說：「我兒押沙龍啊！押沙龍，我兒，我兒啊！」
19:5 約押進去見王，說：「你今日使你一切僕人臉面慚愧了！他們今日救了你的性命和你兒女妻妾的性命，
19:6 你卻愛那恨你的人，恨那愛你的人。你今日明明地不以將帥、僕人為念。我今日看明，若押沙龍活著，我們都死亡，你就喜悅了。
19:7 現在你當出去，安慰你僕人的心。我指著耶和華起誓：你若不出去，今夜必無一人與你同在一處；這禍患就比你從幼年到如今所遭的更甚！」
19:8 於是王起來，坐在城門口。眾民聽說王坐在城門口，就都到王面前。以色列人已經逃跑，各回各家去了。
19:9 以色列眾支派的人紛紛議論說：「王曾救我們脫離仇敵的手，又救我們脫離非利士人的手，現在他躲避押沙龍逃走了。
19:10 我們膏押沙龍治理我們，他已經陣亡。現在為甚麼不出一言請王回來呢？」
19:11 大衛王差人去見祭司撒督和亞比亞他，說：「你們當向猶大長老說：『以色列眾人已經有話請王回宮，你們為甚麼落在他們後頭呢？
19:12 你們是我的弟兄，是我的骨肉，為甚麼在人後頭請王回來呢？』
19:13 也要對亞瑪撒說：『你不是我的骨肉嗎？我若不立你替約押常作元帥，願上帝重重地降罰與我！』」
19:14 如此就挽回猶大眾人的心，如同一人的心。他們便打發人去見王，說：「請王和王的一切臣僕回來。」
19:15 王就回來，到了約旦河。猶大人來到吉甲，要去迎接王，請他過約旦河。
19:16 巴戶琳的便雅憫人、基拉的兒子示每急忙與猶大人一同下去迎接大衛王。
19:17 跟從示每的有一千便雅憫人，還有掃羅家的僕人洗巴和他十五個兒子，二十個僕人；他們都逿過約旦河迎接王。
19:18 有擺渡船過去，渡王的家眷，任王使用。王要過約旦河的時候，基拉的兒子示每就俯伏在王面前，
19:19 對王說：「我主我王出耶路撒冷的時候，僕人行悖逆的事，現在求我主不要因此加罪與僕人，不要記念，也不要放在心上。
19:20 僕人明知自己有罪，所以約瑟全家之中，今日我首先下來迎接我主我王。」
19:21 洗魯雅的兒子亞比篩說：「示每既咒罵耶和華的受膏者，不應當治死他嗎？」
19:22 大衛說：「洗魯雅的兒子，我與你們有何關涉，使你們今日與我反對呢？今日在以色列中豈可治死人呢？我豈不知今日我作以色列的王嗎？」
19:23 於是王對示每說：「你必不死。」王就向他起誓。
19:24 掃羅的孫子米非波設也下去迎接王。他自從王去的日子，直到王平平安安地回來，沒有修腳，沒有剃鬍鬚，也沒有洗衣服。
19:25 他來到耶路撒冷迎接王的時候，王問他說：「米非波設，你為甚麼沒有與我同去呢？」
19:26 他回答說：「我主我王，僕人是瘸腿的。那日我想要備驢騎上，與王同去，無奈我的僕人欺哄了我，
19:27 又在我主我王面前讒毀我。然而我主我王如同上帝的使者一般，你看怎樣好，就怎樣行吧！
19:28 因為我祖全家的人，在我主我王面前都算為死人，王卻使僕人在王的席上同人吃飯，我現在向王還能辨理訴冤嗎？」
19:29 王對他說：「你何必再提你的事呢？我說，你與洗巴均分地土。」
19:30 米非波設對王說：「我主我王既平平安安地回宮，就任憑洗巴都取了也可以。」
19:31 基列人巴西萊從羅基琳下來，要送王過約旦河，就與王一同過了約旦河。
19:32 巴西萊年紀老邁，已經八十歲了。王住在瑪哈念的時候，他就拿食物來供給王；他原是大富戶。
19:33 王對巴西萊說：「你與我同去，我要在耶路撒冷那裡養你的老。」
19:34 巴西萊對王說：「我在世的年日還能有多少，使我與王同上耶路撒冷呢？
19:35 僕人現在八十歲了，還能嘗出飲食的滋味、辨別美惡嗎？還能聽男女歌唱的聲音嗎？僕人何必累贅我主我王呢？
19:36 僕人只要送王過約旦河，王何必賜我這樣的恩典呢？
19:37 求你准我回去，好死在我本城，葬在我父母的墓旁。這裡有王的僕人金罕，讓他同我主我王過去，可以隨意待他。」
19:38 王說：「金罕可以與我同去，我必照你的心願待他。你向我求甚麼，我都必為你成就。」
19:39 於是眾民過約旦河，王也過去。王與巴西萊親嘴，為他祝福，巴西萊就回本地去了。
19:40 王過去，到了吉甲，金罕也跟他過去。猶大眾民和以色列民的一半也都送王過去。
19:41 以色列眾人來見王，對他說：「我們弟兄猶大人為甚麼暗暗送王和王的家眷，並跟隨王的人過約旦河？」
19:42 猶大眾人回答以色列人說：「因為王與我們是親屬，你們為何因這事發怒呢？我們吃了王的甚麼呢？王賞賜了我們甚麼呢？」
19:43 以色列人回答猶大人說：「按支派，我們與王有十分的情分；在大衛身上，我們也比你們更有情分。你們為何藐視我們，請王回來不先與我們商量呢？」但猶大人的話比以色列人的話更硬。

 

  Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” ² And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” ³ The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. ⁴ The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

⁵ Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. ⁶ You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. ⁷ Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.”

⁸ So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they all came before him.

Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.

⁹ Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom; ¹⁰ and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

¹¹ King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? ¹² You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ ¹³ And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.’”

¹⁴ He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.” ¹⁵ Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.

Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. ¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul’s household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. ¹⁸ They crossed at the ford to take the king’s household over and to do whatever he wished.

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king ¹⁹ and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. ²⁰ For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”

²¹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord’s anointed.”

²² David replied, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t I know that today I am king over Israel?” ²³ So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him on oath.

²⁴ Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. ²⁵ When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”

²⁶ He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba my servant betrayed me. ²⁷ And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever you wish. ²⁸ All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”

²⁹ The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.”

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”

³¹ Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. ³² Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”

³⁴ But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? ³⁵ I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? ³⁷ Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.”

³⁸ The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”

³⁹ So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell, and Barzillai returned to his home.

⁴⁰ When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.

⁴¹ Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?”

⁴² All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”

⁴³ Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?”

But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel.

 

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

 

    押沙龍的事件過後，大衛仍然沉溺在悲傷之中，還好約押的勸告，使得大衛不至於走不出來，重新望前看，好準備繼續治理國家。而在回耶路撒冷的時候，酬謝那些幫助過他的人，也寬容那些刺激他和辱罵他的人，讓國家繼續回到正常的狀態。

 

    然而在這個過程中也讓我們看見猶大支派的角色漸漸凸顯出來，但這也種下後來國家分裂的隱憂，因為猶大在接大衛重新回京做王，和以色列其他支派有些較勁的感覺，正如經文所說：「但猶大人的話比以色列人的話更硬。」

 

    國家中有爭競的事，會讓國家紛亂，在教會中也是如此！保羅在提多書中也說到：「要遠避無知的辯論和家譜的空談，以及紛爭，並因律法而起的爭競，因為這都是虛妄無益的。」（提多書3:9）

 

    人很容易在一些無意義的議題上爭競，以至於因為意見不同而產生分裂，這是教會的傷害。但是，為了明辨真理而有教義上的討論，這反而是好事！因為經過這樣的過程，使要透過聖經的話和聖靈的光照，這樣才不會對真理產生曲解而害人害己。

 

    就像我們常常會面對到的救恩的教義上的問題，正如1618年在荷蘭多特召開的議會的，處理當時阿民念派在教會中製造了許多紛爭，他們不接納加爾文的救恩神學觀點，不認為上帝在人的救恩上有主權。當時有35位本地的牧師，幾位長老，5位神學家，18位國家顧問，及27位外國代表列席，包括蘇格蘭、英格蘭、比利時、瑞士、法蘭西等。最後經過2年的討論後，訂定了有名的《多特信經》使人清楚得救是來自上帝的主權，讓人回歸到聖經所說的「因信稱義」！

 

    也因為這樣，為了教義我們要用明辨，不可以偏離聖經的教導，這是非常重要的！要是不明辨，會讓教會成為異端的溫床，這樣就對不起主了！

 

約伯記31章

      約伯記31:1-40  , 

       約伯記31:1-4   ,

      約伯記31:9-12 ,

約伯記31:1-40

 

31:1 我與眼睛立約，怎能戀戀瞻望處女呢？
31:2 從至上的上帝所得之分，從至高全能者所得之業是甚麼呢？
31:3 豈不是禍患臨到不義的，災害臨到作孽的呢？
31:4 上帝豈不是察看我的道路，數點我的腳步呢？
31:5 我若與虛謊同行，腳若追隨詭詐；
31:6 （我若被公道的天平稱度，使上帝可以知道我的純正；）
31:7 我的腳步若偏離正路，我的心若隨著我的眼目，若有玷污粘在我手上；
31:8 就願我所種的有別人吃，我田所產的被拔出來。
31:9 我若受迷惑，向婦人起淫念，在鄰舍的門外蹲伏，
31:10 就願我的妻子給別人推磨，別人也與她同室。
31:11 因為這是大罪，是審判官當罰的罪孽。
31:12 這本是火焚燒，直到毀滅，必拔除我所有的家產。
31:13 我的僕婢與我爭辯的時候，我若藐視不聽他們的情節；
31:14 上帝興起，我怎樣行呢？他察問，我怎樣回答呢？
31:15 造我在腹中的，不也是造他嗎？將他與我摶在腹中的豈不是一位嗎？
31:16 我若不容貧寒人得其所願，或叫寡婦眼中失望，
31:17 或獨自吃我一點食物，孤兒沒有與我同吃；
31:18 （從幼年時孤兒與我同長，好像父子一樣；我從出母腹就扶助（原文是引領）寡婦。）
31:19 我若見人因無衣死亡，或見窮乏人身無遮蓋；
31:20 我若不使他因我羊的毛得暖，為我祝福；
31:21 我若在城門口見有幫助我的，舉手攻擊孤兒；
31:22 情願我的肩頭從缺盆骨脫落，我的膀臂從羊矢骨折斷。
31:23 因上帝降的災禍使我恐懼；因他的威嚴，我不能妄為。
31:24 我若以黃金為指望，對精金說：你是我的倚靠；
31:25 我若因財物豐裕，因我手多得資財而歡喜；
31:26 我若見太陽發光，明月行在空中，
31:27 心就暗暗被引誘，口便親手；
31:28 這也是審判官當罰的罪孽，又是我背棄在上的上帝。
31:29 我若見恨我的遭報就歡喜，見他遭災便高興；
31:30 （我沒有容口犯罪，咒詛他的生命；）
31:31 若我帳棚的人未嘗說，誰不以主人的食物吃飽呢？
31:32 （從來我沒有容客旅在街上住宿，卻開門迎接行路的人；）
31:33 我若像亞當（或譯：別人）遮掩我的過犯，將罪孽藏在懷中；
31:34 因懼怕大眾，又因宗族藐視我使我驚恐，以致閉口無言，杜門不出；
31:35 惟願有一位肯聽我！（看哪，在這裡有我所劃的押，願全能者回答我！）
31:36 願那敵我者所寫的狀詞在我這裡！我必帶在肩上，又綁在頭上為冠冕。
31:37 我必向他述說我腳步的數目，必如君王進到他面前。
31:38 我若奪取田地，這地向我喊冤，犁溝一同哭泣；
31:39 我若吃地的出產不給價值，或叫原主喪命；
31:40 願這地長蒺藜代替麥子，長惡草代替大麥。約伯的話說完了。

 

“I made a covenant with my eyes
    not to look lustfully at a young woman.
² For what is our lot from God above,
    our heritage from the Almighty on high?
³ Is it not ruin for the wicked,
    disaster for those who do wrong?
⁴ Does he not see my ways
    and count my every step?

⁵ “If I have walked with falsehood
    or my foot has hurried after deceit—
⁶ let God weigh me in honest scales
    and he will know that I am blameless—
⁷ if my steps have turned from the path,
    if my heart has been led by my eyes,
    or if my hands have been defiled,
⁸ then may others eat what I have sown,
    and may my crops be uprooted.

⁹ “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
    or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
¹⁰ then may my wife grind another man’s grain,
    and may other men sleep with her.
¹¹ For that would have been wicked,
    a sin to be judged.
¹² It is a fire that burns to Destruction^[a];
    it would have uprooted my harvest.

¹³ “If I have denied justice to any of my servants,
    whether male or female,
    when they had a grievance against me,
¹⁴ what will I do when God confronts me?
    What will I answer when called to account?
¹⁵ Did not he who made me in the womb make them?
    Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

¹⁶ “If I have denied the desires of the poor
    or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,
¹⁷ if I have kept my bread to myself,
    not sharing it with the fatherless—
¹⁸ but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
    and from my birth I guided the widow—
¹⁹ if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
    or the needy without garments,
²⁰ and their hearts did not bless me
    for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,
²¹ if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
    knowing that I had influence in court,
²² then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
    let it be broken off at the joint.
²³ For I dreaded destruction from God,
    and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

²⁴ “If I have put my trust in gold
    or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’
²⁵ if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,
    the fortune my hands had gained,
²⁶ if I have regarded the sun in its radiance
    or the moon moving in splendor,
²⁷ so that my heart was secretly enticed
    and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,
²⁸ then these also would be sins to be judged,
    for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.

²⁹ “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune
    or gloated over the trouble that came to him—
³⁰ I have not allowed my mouth to sin
    by invoking a curse against their life—
³¹ if those of my household have never said,
    ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’—
³² but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
    for my door was always open to the traveler—
³³ if I have concealed my sin as people do,^[b]
    by hiding my guilt in my heart
³⁴ because I so feared the crowd
    and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
    that I kept silent and would not go outside—

³⁵ (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!
    I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
    let my accuser put his indictment in writing.
³⁶ Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,
    I would put it on like a crown.
³⁷ I would give him an account of my every step;
    I would present it to him as to a ruler.)—

³⁸ “if my land cries out against me
    and all its furrows are wet with tears,
³⁹ if I have devoured its yield without payment
    or broken the spirit of its tenants,
⁴⁰ then let briers come up instead of wheat
    and stinkweed instead of barley.”

 

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

 

    約伯在此最後的談論，是要說到自己的道德是多麼高超也是沒有瑕疵的！而他的高超的道德是凡事都為別人著想，不是為個人的好處或滿足自己的慾望，更是常常施捨關心困苦人！

 

    讀到約伯這樣的論述，心中感到慚愧，因為和約伯比較起來實在差太多了！然而這樣冰清玉潔的人實在是遭魔鬼的忌妒，所以祂遭受這麼大的災害不是因為上帝的懲罰，而是上帝要證實約伯是真正敬畏主的人！這也就是說他所以有今天，不是因為犯罪而是上帝要證明約伯的敬畏上帝是真實的，有永遠的冠冕為他預備！正如保羅說：「那美好的仗我已經打過了，當跑的路我已經跑盡了，所信的道我已經守住了。從此以後，有公義的冠冕為我存留，就是按著公義審判的主到了那日要賜給我的；不但賜給我，也賜給凡愛慕他顯現的人。」（提摩太後書4:7-8）

 

    主耶穌的兄弟雅各也說：「忍受試探的人是有福的，因為他經過試驗以後，必得生命的冠冕；這是主應許給那些愛他之人的。」（雅各書1:12）

 

    除了約伯為義受苦，主耶穌也是為義受苦，使徒彼得也鼓勵我們要為義受苦，「倘若人為叫良心對得住上帝，就忍受冤屈的苦楚，這是可喜愛的。你們若因犯罪受責打，能忍耐，有甚麼可誇的呢？但你們若因行善受苦，能忍耐，這在上帝看是可喜愛的。你們蒙召原是為此；因基督也為你們受過苦，給你們留下榜樣，叫你們跟隨他的腳蹤行。」（彼得前書2:19-21）

 

    今日的基督徒大多不明白「為義受苦」的意義，但是歷代的信徒卻有這樣的經歷，並且以此為榮！他們認為「為義受苦」也是背十字架跟隨主的表現，是證明自己真為耶穌基督的門徒！

 

    也因為如此使徒此彼得說：「因此，你們是大有喜樂；但如今，在百般的試煉中暫時憂愁，叫你們的信心既被試驗，就比那被火試驗仍然能壞的金子更顯寶貴，可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候得著稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。」(彼得前書1:6-7)

 

    因此為義受逼迫，也是促使我們以喜樂的心盼望耶穌基督再來，並且清楚那是得榮耀的日子，是美的無比的！

 

 

 

撒母耳記下18章

         撒母耳記下18:1-33  ,