歷代志下1:1-17

 

1:1 大衛的兒子所羅門國位堅固；耶和華─他的上帝與他同在，使他甚為尊大。
1:2 所羅門吩咐以色列眾人，就是千夫長、百夫長、審判官、首領與族長都來。
1:3 所羅門和會眾都往基遍的邱壇去，因那裡有上帝的會幕，就是耶和華僕人摩西在曠野所製造的。
1:4 只是上帝的約櫃，大衛已經從基列‧耶琳搬到他所預備的地方，因他曾在耶路撒冷為約櫃支搭了帳幕，
1:5 並且戶珥的孫子、烏利的兒子比撒列所造的銅壇也在基遍耶和華的會幕前。所羅門和會眾都就近壇前。
1:6 所羅門上到耶和華面前會幕的銅壇那裡，獻一千犧牲為燔祭。
1:7 當夜，上帝向所羅門顯現，對他說：「你願我賜你甚麼，你可以求。」
1:8 所羅門對上帝說：「你曾向我父大衛大施慈愛，使我接續他作王。
1:9 耶和華上帝啊，現在求你成就向我父大衛所應許的話；因你立我作這民的王，他們如同地上塵沙那樣多。
1:10 求你賜我智慧聰明，我好在這民前出入；不然，誰能判斷這眾多的民呢？」
1:11 上帝對所羅門說：「我已立你作我民的王。你既有這心意，並不求資財、豐富、尊榮，也不求滅絕那恨你之人的性命，又不求大壽數，只求智慧聰明好判斷我的民；
1:12 我必賜你智慧聰明，也必賜你資財、豐富、尊榮。在你以前的列王都沒有這樣，在你以後也必沒有這樣的。」
1:13 於是，所羅門從基遍邱壇會幕前回到耶路撒冷，治理以色列人。
1:14 所羅門聚集戰車馬兵，有戰車一千四百輛，馬兵一萬二千名，安置在屯車的城邑和耶路撒冷，就是王那裡。
1:15 王在耶路撒冷使金銀多如石頭，香柏木多如高原的桑樹。
1:16 所羅門的馬是從埃及帶來的，是王的商人一群一群按著定價買來的。
1:17 他們從埃及買來的車，每輛價銀六百舍客勒，馬每匹一百五十舍客勒。赫人諸王和亞蘭諸王所買的車馬，也是按這價值經他們手買來的。

 

Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

² Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— ³ and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. ⁴ Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. ⁵ But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. ⁶ Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

⁷ That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

⁸ Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. ⁹ Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. ¹⁰ Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

¹¹ God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, ¹² therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

¹³ Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.

¹⁴ Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses,^[a] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. ¹⁵ The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. ¹⁶ Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue^[b]—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. ¹⁷ They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels^[c] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.^[d] They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

 

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    所羅門王接續大衛王成為以色列王，雖然貴為國王，上帝向他顯現時，對他說：「你願我賜你甚麼，你可以求。」所羅門對上帝說：「你曾向我父大衛大施慈愛，使我接續他作王。耶和華上帝啊，現在求你成就向我父大衛所應許的話；因你立我作這民的王，他們如同地上塵沙那樣多。求你賜我智慧聰明，我好在這民前出入；不然，誰能判斷這眾多的民呢？」

 

    從這樣的對話中，我們看見所羅門王不是利慾薰心的人，他知道成為一位王的責任，就是要代表上帝照顧好上帝的百姓，不是為了自己的利益和財富，更不是為了肉身的享受。

 

    也因此上帝回應他：「我已立你作我民的王。你既有這心意，並不求資財、豐富、尊榮，也不求滅絕那恨你之人的性命，又不求大壽數，只求智慧聰明好判斷我的民；我必賜你智慧聰明，也必賜你資財、豐富、尊榮。在你以前的列王都沒有這樣，在你以後也必沒有這樣的。」

 

    只是人很可惜，無法擺脫自己的罪性。所羅門雖然一開始是明君，可以年老以後迷失了自己而得罪了上帝，使得後來以色列國分裂，甚至走向滅亡的道路，真是很可惜！

 

 

 

路加福音15:11-32

 

15:11 耶穌又說：「一個人有兩個兒子。
15:12 小兒子對父親說：『父親，請你把我應得的家業分給我。』他父親就把產業分給他們。
15:13 過了不多幾日，小兒子就把他一切所有的都收拾起來，往遠方去了。在那裡任意放蕩，浪費資財。
15:14 既耗盡了一切所有的，又遇著那地方大遭饑荒，就窮苦起來。
15:15 於是去投靠那地方的一個人；那人打發他到田裡去放豬。
15:16 他恨不得拿豬所吃的豆莢充飢，也沒有人給他。
15:17 他醒悟過來，就說：『我父親有多少的雇工，口糧有餘，我倒在這裡餓死嗎？
15:18 我要起來，到我父親那裡去，向他說：父親！我得罪了天，又得罪了你；
15:19 從今以後，我不配稱為你的兒子，把我當作一個雇工吧！』
15:20 於是起來，往他父親那裡去。相離還遠，他父親看見，就動了慈心，跑去抱著他的頸項，連連與他親嘴。
15:21 兒子說：『父親！我得罪了天，又得罪了你；從今以後，我不配稱為你的兒子。』
15:22 父親卻吩咐僕人說：『把那上好的袍子快拿出來給他穿；把戒指戴在他指頭上；把鞋穿在他腳上；
15:23 把那肥牛犢牽來宰了，我們可以吃喝快樂；
15:24 因為我這個兒子是死而復活，失而又得的。』他們就快樂起來。
15:25 那時，大兒子正在田裡。他回來，離家不遠，聽見作樂跳舞的聲音，
15:26 便叫過一個僕人來，問是甚麼事。
15:27 僕人說：『你兄弟來了；你父親因為得他無災無病地回來，把肥牛犢宰了。』
15:28 大兒子卻生氣，不肯進去；他父親就出來勸他。
15:29 他對父親說：『我服事你這多年，從來沒有違背過你的命，你並沒有給我一隻山羊羔，叫我和朋友一同快樂。
15:30 但你這個兒子和娼妓吞盡了你的產業，他一來了，你倒為他宰了肥牛犢。』
15:31 父親對他說：『兒啊！你常和我同在，我一切所有的都是你的；
15:32 只是你這個兄弟是死而復活、失而又得的，所以我們理當歡喜快樂。』」

 

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

 

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    在這裡我們看見人之所以悔改的原因：就是認清自己的景況與羨慕上帝的家，正如這位浪子也就是如此：「我父親有多少的雇工，口糧有餘，我倒在這裡餓死嗎？我要起來，到我父親那裡去，向他說：父親！我得罪了天，又得罪了你；從今以後，我不配稱為你的兒子，把我當作一個雇工吧！」

 

    就像《雅歌》中說道：「願你吸引我，我們就快跑跟隨你。王帶我進了內室，我們必因你歡喜快樂。我們要稱讚你的愛情，勝似稱讚美酒。他們愛你是理所當然的。」(1:4)

 

    然而為何父的家能吸引我們？是因為來自聖靈的開啟，使我們感受自己的貧窮和不足，然而在父家中是何等富足與豐盛呢？更重要的是我們要與父有關係才能享受這一切！

 

    而這關係是要靠主耶穌的作為來修復，主耶穌在十字架上的代贖，使我們重新恢復與上帝的關係，就是與上帝和好，享受從上帝來的福份！

 

 

 

路加福音15:8-10

 

15:8 「或是一個婦人有十塊錢，若失落一塊，豈不點上燈，打掃屋子，細細地找，直到找著嗎？
15:9 找著了，就請朋友鄰舍來，對他們說：『我失落的那塊錢已經找著了，你們和我一同歡喜吧！』
15:10 我告訴你們，一個罪人悔改，在上帝的使者面前也是這樣為他歡喜。」

 

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 

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    使徒保羅說到上帝的心思是：「他願意萬人得救，明白真道。」

   

    正如這段經文所說，當一個罪人悔改，歸到上帝面前，在上帝的使者面前也是這樣為他歡喜。也就說，上帝的心是盼望人悔改歸向祂！

 

    但是，事實上人是悖逆上帝的，因為自始祖犯罪以來，罪就轄制人，使人無法悔改歸向上帝，是與上帝爭戰的！所以，我們要帶領人信主是不容易的，要認認罪悔改是不可能的。

 

    然而上帝是化不可能為可能的上帝，祂差遣聖靈保惠師，在人心中做感動的工作。使悖逆的人的意志被釋放，得著真正的自由的時候，人會透過基督與上帝和好！使人感受到是上帝的慈愛和溫柔的聲音在呼召，而願意應答上帝的呼召，這就是所謂的：有效的呼召 ！

 

    當然人轉回歸向上帝，是上帝最喜悅的事情！也因為這樣，不管得時、不得時，總要將主的道傳揚出去！

路加福音14:25-35

 

14:25 有極多的人和耶穌同行。他轉過來對他們說：
14:26 「人到我這裡來，若不愛我勝過愛（愛我勝過愛：原文是恨）自己的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姊妹，和自己的性命，就不能作我的門徒。
14:27 凡不背著自己十字架跟從我的，也不能作我的門徒。
14:28 你們哪一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下算計花費，能蓋成不能呢？
14:29 恐怕安了地基，不能成功，看見的人都笑話他，說：
14:30 『這個人開了工，卻不能完工。』
14:31 或是一個王出去和別的王打仗，豈不先坐下酌量，能用一萬兵去敵那領二萬兵來攻打他的嗎？
14:32 若是不能，就趁敵人還遠的時候，派使者去求和息的條款。
14:33 這樣，你們無論甚麼人，若不撇下一切所有的，就不能作我的門徒。」
14:34 「鹽本是好的；鹽若失了味，可用甚麼叫它再鹹呢？
14:35 或用在田裡，或堆在糞裡，都不合式，只好丟在外面。有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」

 

²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

 

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    主耶穌要人來跟雖祂時要計算好代價，因為代價是要背負十字架，要但是要得的獎賞卻是無價的！因為上帝要給我們的獎賞就是基督，是我們的至寶，勝過世上一切所有！

 

    當然，這樣的重價恩典，是勝過一切，所以主耶穌：「你們無論甚麼人，若不撇下一切所有的，就不能作我的門徒。」

 

    你感受到主耶穌的寶貴之後，你會向主回應：我寧願有主耶穌勝過一切嗎？