歷代志下15:1-19

 

15:1 上帝的靈感動俄德的兒子亞撒利雅。
15:2 他出來迎接亞撒，對他說：「亞撒和猶大、便雅憫眾人哪，要聽我說：你們若順從耶和華，耶和華必與你們同在；你們若尋求他，就必尋見；你們若離棄他，他必離棄你們。
15:3 以色列人不信真上帝，沒有訓誨的祭司，也沒有律法，已經好久了；
15:4 但他們在急難的時候歸向耶和華─以色列的上帝，尋求他，他就被他們尋見。
15:5 那時，出入的人不得平安，列國的居民都遭大亂；
15:6 這國攻擊那國，這城攻擊那城，互相破壞，因為上帝用各樣災難擾亂他們。
15:7 現在你們要剛強，不要手軟，因你們所行的必得賞賜。」
15:8 亞撒聽見這話和俄德兒子先知亞撒利雅的預言，就壯起膽來，在猶大、便雅憫全地，並以法蓮山地所奪的各城，將可憎之物盡都除掉，又在耶和華殿的廊前重新修築耶和華的壇；
15:9 又招聚猶大、便雅憫的眾人，並他們中間寄居的以法蓮人、瑪拿西人、西緬人。有許多以色列人歸降亞撒，因見耶和華─他的上帝與他同在。
15:10 亞撒十五年三月，他們都聚集在耶路撒冷。
15:11 當日他們從所取的擄物中，將牛七百隻、羊七千隻獻給耶和華。
15:12 他們就立約，要盡心盡性地尋求耶和華─他們列祖的上帝。
15:13 凡不尋求耶和華─以色列上帝的，無論大小、男女，必被治死。
15:14 他們就大聲歡呼，吹號吹角，向耶和華起誓。
15:15 猶大眾人為所起的誓歡喜；因他們是盡心起誓，盡意尋求耶和華，耶和華就被他們尋見，且賜他們四境平安。
15:16 亞撒王貶了他祖母瑪迦太后的位，因她造了可憎的偶像亞舍拉。亞撒砍下她的偶像，搗得粉碎，燒在汲淪溪邊。
15:17 只是邱壇還沒有從以色列中廢去，然而亞撒的心一生誠實。
15:18 亞撒將他父所分別為聖、與自己所分別為聖的金銀和器皿都奉到上帝的殿裡。
15:19 從這時直到亞撒三十五年，都沒有爭戰的事。

 

The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. ² He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. ³ For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. ⁴ But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. ⁵ In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. ⁶ One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. ⁷ But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

⁸ When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of^[a] Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple.

⁹ Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

¹⁰ They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. ¹¹ At that time they sacrificed to the Lord seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back. ¹² They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. ¹³ All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. ¹⁴ They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. ¹⁵ All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side.

¹⁶ King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley. ¹⁷ Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. ¹⁸ He brought into the temple of God the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.

¹⁹ There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

 

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    讀到亞撒王的事蹟，尤其是他敬畏耶和華，帶給猶大國蒙福，也號召了以色列敬畏上帝的人，大家一同來享受上帝的賜福！而這福份不是一時的，照經文所說：「從這時直到亞撒三十五年，都沒有爭戰的事。」

 

 

    然而在這樣的描述中，也讓我們有淡淡的不安，這樣的黃金歲月可以維持多久呢？因為就人類的歷史來看，太平盛世並不多，許多的時候都是充滿戰火和動盪不安。即使是現在好像世界和平，也是不斷有零星戰火和冷戰的情形。

 

    當然我們不要忘記，真正永恆的平安是在上帝國完全實現的時候，這才是我們可以期盼的，不要一時的平安與安定而忘記了那真正的永恆的平安！當然今日COVID-19疫情肆虐，其實更是激發我們盼望上帝國快快完全實現！

 

 

約翰福音6: 60-71

 

6:60 他的門徒中有好些人聽見了，就說：「這話甚難，誰能聽呢？」
6:61 耶穌心裡知道門徒為這話議論，就對他們說：「這話是叫你們厭棄（原文是跌倒）嗎？
6:62 倘或你們看見人子升到他原來所在之處，怎麼樣呢？
6:63 叫人活著的乃是靈，肉體是無益的。我對你們所說的話就是靈，就是生命。
6:64 只是你們中間有不信的人。」耶穌從起頭就知道誰不信他，誰要賣他。
6:65 耶穌又說：「所以我對你們說過，若不是蒙我父的恩賜，沒有人能到我這裡來。」
6:66 從此，他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。
6:67 耶穌就對那十二個門徒說：「你們也要去嗎？」
6:68 西門•彼得回答說：「主啊，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？
6:69 我們已經信了，又知道你是上帝的聖者。」
6:70 耶穌說：「我不是揀選了你們十二個門徒嗎？但你們中間有一個是魔鬼。」
6:71 耶穌這話是指著加略人西門的兒子猶大說的；他本是十二個門徒裡的一個，後來要賣耶穌的。

 

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! ⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^[e] and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ⁶⁵ He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

⁷⁰ Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” ⁷¹ (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

 

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    多麼美的認信：「主啊，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？我們已經信了，又知道你是上帝的聖者。」

 

    然而這樣的話若是沒有聖靈的支持，仍然是空話一場！因為任何美好的話，都會從人的口中說出來，若是不實在的，就是謊話一篇！也因為這樣，我們不能說一口好話，我們要有實實在在的信再來說這一段話，才不是天大的謊言！

 

    然而人要認識永生之道唯有透過聖靈的啟示，若沒有聖靈的引導，人心是罪惡綑綁，是被不信的惡心所充滿，是無法真心信靠主耶穌的，也因為這樣賣主耶穌的猶大也混在使徒中間，其實是不信的！

 

    教會也是這樣，不是混在基督徒中間多年就是基督徒。其實有很多在教會中混的人，一點也沒有得著聖靈的啟示，心中仍然是充滿不信的惡心。表現上好像是基督徒，有善行與善言，卻不信主耶穌是上帝的兒子，也不將榮耀歸給上帝，只想得人的認同與稱讚，這等人是多麼可憐啊！

 

 

 

約翰福音6: 25-59

 

6:25 既在海那邊找著了，就對他說：「拉比，是幾時到這裡來的？」
6:26 耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，你們找我，並不是因見了神蹟，乃是因吃餅得飽。
6:27 不要為那必壞的食物勞力，要為那存到永生的食物勞力，就是人子要賜給你們的，因為人子是父上帝所印證的。」
6:28 眾人問他說：「我們當行甚麼才算做上帝的工呢？」
6:29 耶穌回答說：「信上帝所差來的，這就是做上帝的工。」
6:30 他們又說：「你行甚麼神蹟，叫我們看見就信你；你到底做甚麼事呢？
6:31 我們的祖宗在曠野吃過嗎哪，如經上寫著說：『他從天上賜下糧來給他們吃。』」
6:32 耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，那從天上來的糧不是摩西賜給你們的，乃是我父將天上來的真糧賜給你們。
6:33 因為上帝的糧就是那從天上降下來、賜生命給世界的。」
6:34 他們說：「主啊，常將這糧賜給我們！」
6:35 耶穌說：「我就是生命的糧。到我這裡來的，必定不餓；信我的，永遠不渴。
6:36 只是我對你們說過，你們已經看見我，還是不信。
6:37 凡父所賜給我的人必到我這裡來；到我這裡來的，我總不丟棄他。
6:38 因為我從天上降下來，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我來者的意思行。
6:39 差我來者的意思就是：他所賜給我的，叫我一個也不失落，在末日卻叫他復活。
6:40 因為我父的意思是叫一切見子而信的人得永生，並且在末日我要叫他復活。」
6:41 猶太人因為耶穌說「我是從天上降下來的糧」，就私下議論他，
6:42 說：「這不是約瑟的兒子耶穌嗎？他的父母我們豈不認得嗎？他如今怎麼說『我是從天上降下來的』呢？」
6:43 耶穌回答說：「你們不要大家議論。
6:44 若不是差我來的父吸引人，就沒有能到我這裡來的；到我這裡來的，在末日我要叫他復活。
6:45 在先知書上寫著說：『他們都要蒙上帝的教訓。』凡聽見父之教訓又學習的，就到我這裡來。
6:46 這不是說有人看見過父，惟獨從上帝來的，他看見過父。
6:47 我實實在在地告訴你們，信的人有永生。
6:48 我就是生命的糧。
6:49 你們的祖宗在曠野吃過嗎哪，還是死了。
6:50 這是從天上降下來的糧，叫人吃了就不死。
6:51 我是從天上降下來生命的糧；人若吃這糧，就必永遠活著。我所要賜的糧就是我的肉，為世人之生命所賜的。」
6:52 因此，猶太人彼此爭論說：「這個人怎能把他的肉給我們吃呢？」
6:53 耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，你們若不吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血，就沒有生命在你們裡面。
6:54 吃我肉、喝我血的人就有永生，在末日我要叫他復活。
6:55 我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。
6:56 吃我肉、喝我血的人常在我裡面，我也常在他裡面。
6:57 永活的父怎樣差我來，我又因父活著；照樣，吃我肉的人也要因我活著。
6:58 這就是從天上降下來的糧。吃這糧的人就永遠活著，不像你們的祖宗吃過嗎哪還是死了。」
6:59 這些話是耶穌在迦百農會堂裡教訓人說的。

 

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’^[c]”

³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

⁴¹ At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’^[d] Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

⁵² Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹ He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

 

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    主耶穌是看透人心的主，祂看清楚這一群尋求祂的人，不是要神蹟，是要餅來吃。因為主耶穌之前行的神蹟是使用「五餅二魚」餵飽五千人，以至於祂們盼望主耶穌能在行這樣的神蹟，好有餅好吃，他們不在意耶穌基督真正的身分。

 

    也因為這樣，主耶穌看出他們不信的惡心，甚至主耶穌向他們說到要吃上帝所賜永生的糧食時，竟然議論起主耶穌的身分。正如經文的敘述：因為耶穌說「我是從天上降下來的糧」，就私下議論他，說：「這不是約瑟的兒子耶穌嗎？他的父母我們豈不認得嗎？他如今怎麼說『我是從天上降下來的』呢？」

 

    這也讓我們感受到基督信仰所強調的，和一般人的想法不同。一般人都以為做了甚麼，才有資格領受上帝所賜的。然而基督信仰是要人信靠主耶穌、相信祂是上帝的兒子，而不是做了什麼！

 

    也因為如此，我們要透過信將榮耀歸給上帝，而不是要做甚麼來的人的稱讚與榮耀，這是竊取上帝的榮耀！因為人要給上帝榮耀，不是要將榮耀給人或得人的榮耀！若是不將榮耀歸給上帝，不信靠主耶穌，就是「不信的惡心」！