阿摩司書6章

       阿摩司書6:1-7   ,   阿摩司書6:8-14  ,

阿摩司書6:1-7

6:1 國為列國之首，人最著名，且為以色列家所歸向，在錫安和撒馬利亞山安逸無慮的，有禍了！

6:2 你們要過到甲尼察看，從那裡往大城哈馬去，又下到非利士人的迦特。看那些比你們的國還強嗎？境界比你們的境界還寬嗎？

6:3 你們以為降禍的日子還遠，坐在位上盡行強暴（或譯：行強暴使審判臨近）。

6:4 你們躺臥在象牙床上，舒身在榻上，吃群中的羊羔，棚裡的牛犢；

6:5 彈琴鼓瑟，唱消閑的歌曲，為自己製造樂器，如同大衛所造的；

6:6 以大碗喝酒，用上等的油抹身，卻不為約瑟的苦難擔憂。

6:7 所以這些人必在被擄的人中首先被擄，舒身的人荒宴之樂必消滅了。

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,

and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,

the notable men of the first of the nations,

to whom the house of Israel comes!

  Pass over to Calneh, and see,

and from there go to Hamath the great;

then go down to Gath of the Philistines.

Are you better than these kingdoms?

Or is their territory greater than your territory,

  O you who put far away the day of disaster

and bring near the seat of violence?

  “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory

and stretch themselves out on their couches,

and eat lambs from the flock

and calves from the midst of the stall,

  who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp

and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,

  who drink wine in bowls

and anoint themselves with the finest oils,

  but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

  Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile,

and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”

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    先知在此警告那些為首的人，不要以為日子永遠是安逸的，不要亦為自己享受一切的好處，就心高氣傲，自以為是！因為上帝不喜悅人，自己建立權柄，不倚靠上帝，不敬畏上帝，欺壓別人。

    猶太人自以為上帝的選民，自以為比別國優秀，常常看不起其他國家。然而，上帝卻是阻擋驕傲的仁和驕傲的國，讓人在上帝面前心存謙卑。

    然而真正謙卑的人士高舉上帝，對上帝心存感恩的人，知道自己不能，要靠上帝才能。

阿摩司書5:18-27

5:18 想望耶和華日子來到的有禍了！你們為何想望耶和華的日子呢？那日黑暗沒有光明，

5:19 景況好像人躲避獅子又遇見熊，或是進房屋以手靠牆，就被蛇咬。

5:20 耶和華的日子不是黑暗沒有光明嗎？不是幽暗毫無光輝嗎？

5:21 我厭惡你們的節期，也不喜悅你們的嚴肅會。

5:22 你們雖然向我獻燔祭和素祭，我卻不悅納，也不顧你們用肥畜獻的平安祭；

5:23 要使你們歌唱的聲音遠離我，因為我不聽你們彈琴的響聲。

5:24 惟願公平如大水滾滾，使公義如江河滔滔。

5:25 「以色列家啊，你們在曠野四十年，豈是將祭物和供物獻給我呢？

5:26 你們抬著為自己所造之摩洛的帳幕和偶像的龕，並你們的神星。

5:27 所以我要把你們擄到大馬士革以外。」這是耶和華、名為萬軍之上帝說的。

18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!

Why would you have the day of the Lord?

 It is darkness, and not light,

19 as if a man fled from a lion,

and a bear met him,

or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,

and a serpent bit him.

20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,

and gloom with no brightness in it?

21 "I hate, I despise your feasts,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

I will not look upon them.

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;

to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

24 But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever- flowing stream.

25 "Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 26 You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star- god—your images that you made for yourselves, 27 and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

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    上帝對以色列人的要求就是「惟願公平如大水滾滾，使公義如江河滔滔」。也因此，光有宗教的外表，沒有敬虔的實際，這樣的信仰不是上帝所喜悅，這也是先知要警告以色列人的。

    這也讓我們看見一個重要的真理：要有公平與公義，才有真正的平安！因為人與人之間有虧欠，人與上帝之間有虧欠，就沒有真正的平安，沒有平安就充滿憤怒，就永遠沒有安息。這是因為罪進入人的生命，所造成的結果。

    而耶穌基督來的目的就是為「人與人之間有虧欠，人與上帝之間有虧欠」，來補足，使人可以脫離罪惡，享受上帝同在，並領受兒女地位與實際的生命，這就是永生！

阿摩司書5:14-17

5:14 你們要求善，不要求惡，就必存活。這樣，耶和華─萬軍之上帝必照你們所說的與你們同在。

5:15 要惡惡好善，在城門口秉公行義；或者耶和華─萬軍之上帝向約瑟的餘民施恩。

5:16 主耶和華─萬軍之上帝如此說：在一切寬闊處必有哀號的聲音；在各街市上必有人說：哀哉！哀哉！又必叫農夫來哭號，叫善唱哀歌的來舉哀。

5:17 在各葡萄園必有哀號的聲音，因為我必從你中間經過。這是耶和華說的。

Seek good, and not evil,

that you may live;

and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,

as you have said.

  Hate evil, and love good,

and establish justice in the gate;

it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,

will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

  Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord:      

“In all the squares there shall be wailing,

and in all the streets they shall say, ‘Alas! Alas!’

They shall call the farmers to mourning

and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation,

  and in all vineyards there shall be wailing,

for I will pass through your midst,”

says the Lord.

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    雖然有許多人違背上帝的旨意，但是上帝卻為自己存留餘民，讓他們繼續將上帝的榮美形象保留下去，使上帝的救贖得以成全。

    教會在世界上也是扮演上帝餘民的角色，所以要活出上帝要我們活的生命，就是在聖靈用聖經來引導我們活在基督裡，享受上帝兒女的福樂，成為上帝國的繼承人。

    如此，我們就可以見證上帝的榮美，表現在地如天的生命！