約翰福音12章12-16節

 

  12:12 第二天，一大群到耶路撒冷過節的人聽說耶穌就要進城。 12:13 於是他們拿著棕樹枝出去迎接他，歡呼說：「讚美上帝！願上帝賜福給那位奉主的名而來的！願上帝賜福給以色列的君王！」 12:14 耶穌找到一匹驢，騎上去，正如聖經所記載的： 12:15 錫安城的兒女們哪，不要懼怕。看哪，你們的君王騎著小驢來了！ 12:16 起初，他的門徒不明白這事的意義，到了耶穌得了榮耀以後才想起聖經的話是指著他說的，而且他們果然照所說的做了。

  The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Blessed is the King of Israel!' Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 'Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt.' At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

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      『錫安的居民哪，要歡喜快樂！耶路撒冷的人民哪，要歡呼！看，你們的君王來了！他得勝，凱旋而來，卻謙虛地騎 著一匹驢─騎著一匹小驢。』（撒迦利亞書9章9節）

      這段話在耶穌進入耶路撒冷時應驗了，因為耶穌如同一位君王般，進入這城，受到大家之歡呼：『讚美上帝！願上帝賜福給那位奉主的名而來的！願上帝賜福給以色列的君王！』

      當然，人心是不穩定的，這時候是以君王的姿態出現，但是過了一週之後卻成為死刑犯。不過，耶穌基督釘十字架是上帝的旨意，也是祂降世為人之目的。

      耶穌說：『沒有人奪我的命去，是我自己捨的。我有權柄捨了，也有權柄取回來。這是我從我父所受的命令。』（約翰福音10章18節）

      所以，耶穌雖然是被動順服，也是主動配合上帝的旨意。所以，不是猶大的出賣，是耶穌基督為完成上帝的旨意，祂毅然決然奔上十字架。若不是祂主動，人也無法將送上十字上。

      當有人要來捕捉耶穌時，彼得起來反抗時對他說：「把刀收起來！因為凡動刀的，一定在刀下喪命。難道你不知道我可以向我父親求援，而他會立刻調來十二營多的天使嗎？如果我這樣做，聖經上所說、事情必須這樣發生的那些話又怎能實現呢？」（馬太福音26章52-54節）

      因此，耶穌是愛上帝與愛人的典範，我們應該將祂的愛傳揚出去，使人來跟隨耶穌，接受祂完成的救恩，與上帝和好，成為上帝的兒女。

申命記33章12-16節

 

  33:12 對便雅憫支族，他祝福說：上主喜愛並保護便雅憫，終日庇護他們；在他面前他們享受安寧。 33:13 對約瑟支族，他祝福說：願上主祝福他們的土地，從天上沛降甘霖，從地下湧出泉水。 33:14 願他們的田園陽光充足，年年豐收；願他們的土地四季都結佳果。 33:15 願他們古老的山岡長滿著優良的果樹。 33:16 願那在焚燒的荊棘裏呼喚的上主厚厚地賜福給他們，使他們遍地都是美物。願這一切福澤臨到約瑟支族，因為他是兄弟中的領袖。

  About Benjamin he said: 'Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.' About Joseph he said: 'May the LORD bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

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      這是摩西臨終時對便雅憫支族和約瑟支族之祝福。其實約瑟支族又分瑪拿西和以法蓮兩個支族，因為約瑟是雅各的長子，所以有兩份產業。而以法蓮雖然比瑪拿西後出生，可是在雅各心中卻是長孫。

      祝福也是一種禱告，希望上帝賜福給被祝福的對象。而以色列人更看重臨終祝福，甚至相信這時候的祝福，上帝必定實現。

      而摩西在臨終時，仍然記念上帝是「在焚燒的荊棘裏呼喚的上主」。所以，上帝的呼召是他這一生最重要之事件，他也因這事件而偉大。

  我們的人生，也因上帝的呼召而不同、而偉大，讓我們永遠記念我們開始遇見上帝的那一刻，也一生一世，好好維持這美好之關係。也讓我們如基督之使者，向人傳揚「與上帝和好」之福音，成為祝福之傳遞者。

雅各書1:22-27

 

  1:22 但是，你們不要欺騙自己，以為只要聽道就夠了；相反地，你們必須行道。 1:23 那聽道而不去實行的，正像一個人對著鏡子，看看自己的面目， 1:24 端詳了一會兒，然後走開，立刻忘了自己的長相。 1:25 但是，嚴密查考那完整又使人得自由的法則而謹守的人，不是聽了就忘掉，而是切實行道的人；這樣的人在他所做的事上一定蒙上帝賜福。 1:26 誰自以為虔誠，卻不管束自己的舌頭，便是欺騙自己；他的虔誠毫無價值。 1:27 在父上帝眼中，那純潔沒有缺點的虔誠便是：照顧苦難中的孤兒寡婦和保守自己不受世界的腐化。

  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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      照這段經文中我們看到上帝賜福給行道的人，就是『嚴密查考那完整又使人得自由的法則而謹守的人，不是聽了就忘掉，而是切實行道的人；這樣的人在他所做的事上一定蒙上帝賜福。』

      雖然是「因信稱義」，但是行道的必蒙上帝賜福，充滿喜樂！

加拉太書3:6-14

 

  3:6 正如聖經提到亞伯拉罕的時候說：「他信上帝，因他的信，上帝認他為義人。」 3:7 所以，你們知道，有了信的人就是亞伯拉罕的真子孫。 3:8 聖經預先看到，上帝要使外邦人因信而跟他有合宜的關係，所以早已把這福音傳給亞伯拉罕，說：「萬民都要藉著你蒙上帝賜福！」 3:9 亞伯拉罕信了，因而蒙福；這樣，一切信了的人也要跟他一同蒙福。 3:10 以遵守法律為憑藉的人都是活在詛咒之下。因為聖經上說：「凡不事事遵守法律書上一切規條的人都要受上帝詛咒。」 3:11 可見沒有人能靠遵守法律而得以跟上帝有合宜的關係；因為聖經上說：「因信而得以跟上帝有合宜關係的人將得生命。」 3:12 但是，法律並不是以信為憑藉的，而是像聖經所說：「那遵守法律的人將因法律而存活。」 3:13 基督已經為我們承擔詛咒，藉此救贖我們脫離了法律的詛咒；因為聖經上說：「凡被掛在木頭上的人都受上帝詛咒。」 3:14 基督這樣做的目的是要使外邦人藉著基督耶穌獲得上帝應許給亞伯拉罕的福澤；這樣，我們能藉著信而領受上帝所應許的聖靈。

  Consider Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.' Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith.' The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, 'The man who does these things will live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

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      保羅在此宣告一個重要信息：『基督已經為我們承擔詛咒，藉此救贖我們脫離了法律的詛咒；因為聖經上說：「凡被掛在木頭上的人都受上帝詛咒。」基督這樣做的目的是要使外邦人藉著基督耶穌獲得上帝應許給亞伯拉罕的福澤；這樣，我們能藉著信而領受上帝所應許的聖靈。』

      所以，我們『因信而得以跟上帝有合宜關係的人將得生命』。這一切都是由耶穌基督而來，並且是祂付了重價，為我們的罪而死在十字架。當然祂藉由自己的死，敗壞死亡，第三日從死人中復活。

      因此，我們要為此奇妙之救恩讚美上帝，將榮耀歸給三一真神！

雅各書1:23-25

  1:23 那聽道而不去實行的，正像一個人對著鏡子，看看自己的面目， 1:24 端詳了一會兒，然後走開，立刻忘了自己的長相。 1:25 但是，嚴密查考那完整又使人得自由的法則而謹守的人，不是聽了就忘掉，而是切實行道的人；這樣的人在他所做的事上一定蒙上帝賜福。

   Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

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      我們都希望所做的事上一定蒙上帝賜福，這樣就會覺得很有成就感，並且心滿意足。這裡聖經告訴我們蒙福之應許：『嚴密查考那完整又使人得自由的法則而謹守的人，不是聽了就忘掉，而是切實行道的人；這樣的人在他所做的事上一定蒙上帝賜福。』

      不要光光聽道，也要行道。如此，上帝應許給我們的福氣，就真正會實現的，絕對不會落空的。正如令外一篇所說：『惟有那以愛的行動表現出來的信心才算重要。』

      所以，要讓信仰有動力，就必須要遵行上帝的話語，用愛的行動，表現從上帝而來之信心。

詩篇3：1-8

 

  3:1 上主啊，我竟然有這麼多仇敵！有這麼多的人攻擊我！ 3:2 他們談論著我，說：上帝不救助他！ 3:3 但上主啊，你是衛護我的盾牌；你讓我得勝，使我抬得起頭。 3:4 我向上主呼求援助，他從他的聖山應答我。 3:5 我躺下睡覺，我睡醒起來，上主都保護我。 3:6 縱使有千萬敵人圍困我，我也不怕。 3:7 上主啊，你來吧！我的上帝啊，救我吧！你擊爛我所有仇敵的面頰，敲掉了作惡之人的牙齒。 3:8 勝利從上主那裏來；願他賜福給他的子民！

  O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' Selah But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah

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      這是大衛逃避他兒子押沙龍的時候作的詩。

      雖然這時候，大衛王面對兒子和臣民的叛變，但是他並不懼怕。因為：『上主啊，你是衛護我的盾牌；你讓我得勝，使我抬得起頭。我向上主呼求援助，他從他的聖山應答我。我躺下睡覺，我睡醒起來，上主都保護我。縱使有千萬敵人圍困我，我也不怕。』

      所以，上帝是大衛唯一之倚靠，也是他在這麼之狀況下，重新站起來的力量。

      因此，他宣告：『勝利從上主那裏來；願他賜福給他的子民！』

      同樣，我們今日也相信，永遠的勝利是屬於上帝，連「死亡」和「罪惡」都無法勝過上帝！因此，靠著耶穌基督有永生的盼望！

路得記2:17-23

 

  2:17 這樣，路得在田間拾取麥穗，直到晚上，將所拾取的打了，約有一伊法大麥。 2:18 她就把所拾取的帶進城去給婆婆看，又把她吃飽了所剩的給了婆婆。 2:19 婆婆問她說：「你今日在哪裏拾取麥穗，在哪裏做工呢？願那顧恤你的得福。」路得就告訴婆婆說：「我今日在一個名叫波阿斯的人那裏做工。」 2:20 拿俄米對兒婦說：「願那人蒙耶和華賜福，因為他不斷地恩待活人死人」。拿俄米又說：「那是我們本族的人，是一個至近的親屬。」 2:21 摩押女子路得說：「他對我說：『你要緊隨我的僕人拾取麥穗，直等他們收完了我的莊稼。』」 2:22 拿俄米對兒婦路得說：「女兒啊，你跟著他的使女出去，不叫人遇見你在別人田間，這才為好。」 2:23 於是路得與波阿斯的使女常在一處拾取麥穗，直到收完了大麥和小麥。路得仍與婆婆同住。

  Ruth 2:17-23

New International Version (NIV)

 17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah.[a]18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.

 19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!”

   Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.

 20 “The LORD bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.[b]”

 21 Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’”

 22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.”

 23 So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Footnotes:

1. Ruth 2:17 That is, probably about 30 pounds or about 13 kilograms
2. Ruth 2:20 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55).

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      路得因著到波阿斯的田中撿麥穗，讓她的生命有所改變。

      在我們人生的路途中，也如路得一樣，上帝為我們安排許多的機會，等待我們一一去經歷與突破，我只要耐心等候與仰望，存著信心，上帝的愛我們就可以感受與經歷到。