約伯記33章

    約伯記33:1-33  ,

約伯記33:1-33

 

33:1 約伯啊，請聽我的話，留心聽我一切的言語。
33:2 我現在開口，用舌發言。
33:3 我的言語要發明心中所存的正直；我所知道的，我嘴唇要誠實地說出。
33:4 上帝的靈造我；全能者的氣使我得生。
33:5 你若回答我，就站起來，在我面前陳明。
33:6 我在上帝面前與你一樣，也是用土造成。
33:7 我不用威嚴驚嚇你，也不用勢力重壓你。
33:8 你所說的，我聽見了，也聽見你的言語，說：
33:9 我是清潔無過的，我是無辜的；在我裡面也沒有罪孽。
33:10 上帝找機會攻擊我，以我為仇敵，
33:11 把我的腳上了木狗，窺察我一切的道路。
33:12 我要回答你說：你這話無理，因上帝比世人更大。
33:13 你為何與他爭論呢？因他的事都不對人解說？
33:14 上帝說一次、兩次，世人卻不理會。
33:15 人躺在床上沉睡的時候，上帝就用夢和夜間的異象，
33:16 開通他們的耳朵，將當受的教訓印在他們心上，
33:17 好叫人不從自己的謀算，不行驕傲的事（原文是將驕傲向人隱藏），
33:18 攔阻人不陷於坑裡，不死在刀下。
33:19 人在床上被懲治，骨頭中不住地疼痛，
33:20 以致他的口厭棄食物，心厭惡美味。
33:21 他的肉消瘦，不得再見；先前不見的骨頭都凸出來。
33:22 他的靈魂臨近深坑；他的生命近於滅命的。
33:23 一千天使中，若有一個作傳話的與上帝同在，指示人所當行的事，
33:24 上帝就給他開恩，說：救贖他免得下坑；我已經得了贖價。
33:25 他的肉要比孩童的肉更嫩；他就返老還童。
33:26 他禱告上帝，上帝就喜悅他，使他歡呼朝見上帝的面；上帝又看他為義。
33:27 他在人前歌唱說：我犯了罪，顛倒是非，這竟與我無益。
33:28 上帝救贖我的靈魂免入深坑；我的生命也必見光。
33:29 上帝兩次、三次向人行這一切的事，
33:30 為要從深坑救回人的靈魂，使他被光照耀，與活人一樣。
33:31 約伯啊，你當側耳聽我的話，不要作聲，等我講說。
33:32 你若有話說，就可以回答我；你只管說，因我願以你為是。
33:33 若不然，你就聽我說；你不要作聲，我便將智慧教訓你。

 

“But now, Job, listen to my words;
    pay attention to everything I say.
² I am about to open my mouth;
    my words are on the tip of my tongue.
³ My words come from an upright heart;
    my lips sincerely speak what I know.
⁴ The Spirit of God has made me;
    the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
⁵ Answer me then, if you can;
    stand up and argue your case before me.
⁶ I am the same as you in God’s sight;
    I too am a piece of clay.
⁷ No fear of me should alarm you,
    nor should my hand be heavy on you.

⁸ “But you have said in my hearing—
    I heard the very words—
⁹ ‘I am pure, I have done no wrong;
    I am clean and free from sin.
¹⁰ Yet God has found fault with me;
    he considers me his enemy.
¹¹ He fastens my feet in shackles;
    he keeps close watch on all my paths.’

¹² “But I tell you, in this you are not right,
    for God is greater than any mortal.
¹³ Why do you complain to him
    that he responds to no one’s words^[a]?
¹⁴ For God does speak—now one way, now another—
    though no one perceives it.
¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds,
¹⁶ he may speak in their ears
    and terrify them with warnings,
¹⁷ to turn them from wrongdoing
    and keep them from pride,
¹⁸ to preserve them from the pit,
    their lives from perishing by the sword.^[b]

¹⁹ “Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain
    with constant distress in their bones,
²⁰ so that their body finds food repulsive
    and their soul loathes the choicest meal.
²¹ Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
    and their bones, once hidden, now stick out.
²² They draw near to the pit,
    and their life to the messengers of death.^[c]
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
    a messenger, one out of a thousand,
    sent to tell them how to be upright,
²⁴ and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
    ‘Spare them from going down to the pit;
    I have found a ransom for them—
²⁵ let their flesh be renewed like a child’s;
    let them be restored as in the days of their youth’—
²⁶ then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,
    they will see God’s face and shout for joy;
    he will restore them to full well-being.
²⁷ And they will go to others and say,
    ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right,
    but I did not get what I deserved.
²⁸ God has delivered me from going down to the pit,
    and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’

²⁹ “God does all these things to a person—
    twice, even three times—
³⁰ to turn them back from the pit,
    that the light of life may shine on them.

³¹ “Pay attention, Job, and listen to me;
    be silent, and I will speak.
³² If you have anything to say, answer me;
    speak up, for I want to vindicate you.
³³ But if not, then listen to me;
    be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

 

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

 

    以利戶和約伯的三個朋友的口氣有大大的差別，差別在哪裡，你有沒有從字裡行間發現呢？

 

    首先，以利戶並不是禁止約伯不要說話，也沒有一下子說約伯是有罪，自己是無罪的！他從來不是站在自己的立場說話，雖然他心中有許多話要說！他向約伯說：「你若回答我，就站起來，在我面前陳明。」「你若有話說，就可以回答我；你只管說，因我願以你為是。」

 

    現代中文譯本用白話一點的翻譯是：「如果你有話，就答覆我；請準備你的答辯。」「你如果有話要說，我願意聽；你只管說，我準備承認你理直。」

 

    在這裡看見了傳道者該有的氣度，我們輔導弟兄姊妹時，不可以先定罪，要讓人解釋和答辯的機會，並且要好好的聆聽，這樣才能使弟兄姊妹的心敞開，才聽得進去我們從上帝來的感動的話，使他們得幫助！

 

    以利戶在這樣的心理建設之後，就重述約伯所說的話，因為他聽到約伯所表達的是：「我是清潔無過的，我是無辜的；在我裡面也沒有罪孽。上帝找機會攻擊我，以我為仇敵，把我的腳上了木狗，窺察我一切的道路。」

 

    同樣我們輔導弟兄姊妹時，將對方的話重述是很重要，讓他們感受到我們有聽見去，也表示上帝也有聽進去！讓他感覺自己有被重視，不是沒有人理會他！當然在這個重述中，若是有出入的情形，要讓他答辯與解釋，好清楚他的心意為何！

 

    然後以利戶向約伯說：「但約伯啊，我告訴你，你錯了；上帝比任何人都偉大。你為甚麼指責上帝，說他總不答覆人的申訴呢？上帝一再開口，但是沒有人留心聽他的話。」

 

    以利戶大膽站在上帝的立場，直接了當說約伯錯了！這是很重要的轉折，因為人在上帝面前永遠是錯的，要讓人清楚自己是悖逆上帝，不是上帝悖逆人！因為世人依上帝，不是上帝依人，主權在上帝的手中，不是在人的手中！這是每一位傳道人輔導別人的時候，要清楚表達的！正如人常常覺得上帝不聽他們的，但是實際上是人不聽上帝的！這話很重要，照樣才能使人依上帝的心意行！

 

    以利戶在這裡也清楚表達，上帝為何要人聽他的話！「上帝發言，要人離棄罪行，使他們不至於自高自大。他不願見他們下陰間；他要拯救他們脫離死亡」。上帝更是願人「公開承認：我有罪了，我顛倒是非；但上帝沒有照我的罪懲罰我。他使我不至於墜入死亡的深坑；我至今仍然得見光明」。不僅如此，「上帝做這一切，接二連三地為人做這些事，為要救人脫離死亡的深坑，使他享受生命的亮光。」

 

   在這裡更說到：「釋放他吧，他不必往死亡的深坑去；我有贖金可買回他的自由。他的身體要返老還童；他青春的歲月又回來了。他禱告，上帝要應答；他要以愉快的心敬拜上帝；上帝要使他恢復他原有的義。」

 

    可見上帝是盼望人與祂和好，好得著該有的義，生命得著更新，再次從新得力！也就向使徒約翰所說：「我們將這些話寫給你們，使你們（有古卷：我們）的喜樂充足。」（約翰一書1:4）

 

    是的上帝要透過祂的話，讓我們在一次經歷生命的大能，正如他要透過以利戶來引導約伯一樣！讓我們也透過閱讀聖經在聖靈的引導下，運用上帝的話在我們和弟兄姊妹的生命中，使大家的喜樂滿溢！

 

 

撒母耳記下20章

      撒母耳記下20:1-26  ,

撒母耳記下20:1-26

20:1 在那裡恰巧有一個匪徒，名叫示巴，是便雅憫人比基利的兒子。他吹角，說：「我們與大衛無分，與耶西的兒子無涉。以色列人哪，你們各回各家去吧！」
20:2 於是以色列人都離開大衛，跟隨比基利的兒子示巴。但猶大人從約旦河直到耶路撒冷，都緊緊跟隨他們的王。
20:3 大衛王來到耶路撒冷，進了宮殿，就把從前留下看守宮殿的十個妃嬪禁閉在冷宮，養活她們，不與她們親近。她們如同寡婦被禁，直到死的日子。
20:4 王對亞瑪撒說：「你要在三日之內將猶大人招聚了來，你也回到這裡來。」
20:5 亞瑪撒就去招聚猶大人，卻耽延過了王所限的日期。
20:6 大衛對亞比篩說：「現在恐怕比基利的兒子示巴加害於我們比押沙龍更甚。你要帶領你主的僕人追趕他，免得他得了堅固城，躲避我們。」
20:7 約押的人和基利提人、比利提人，並所有的勇士，都跟著亞比篩，從耶路撒冷出去追趕比基利的兒子示巴。
20:8 他們到了基遍的大磐石那裡，亞瑪撒來迎接他們。那時約押穿著戰衣，腰束佩刀的帶子，刀在鞘內；約押前行，刀從鞘內掉出來。
20:9 約押左手拾起刀來，對亞瑪撒說：「我兄弟，你好啊！」就用右手抓住亞瑪撒的鬍子，要與他親嘴。
20:10 亞瑪撒沒有防備約押手裡所拿的刀；約押用刀刺入他的肚腹，他的腸子流在地上，沒有再刺他，就死了。約押和他兄弟亞比篩往前追趕比基利的兒子示巴。
20:11 有約押的一個少年人站在亞瑪撒屍身旁邊，對眾人說：「誰喜悅約押，誰歸順大衛，就當跟隨約押去。」
20:12 亞瑪撒在道路上滾在自己的血裡。那人見眾民經過都站住，就把亞瑪撒的屍身從路上挪到田間，用衣服遮蓋。
20:13 屍身從路上挪移之後，眾民就都跟隨約押去追趕比基利的兒子示巴。
20:14 他走遍以色列各支派，直到伯‧瑪迦的亞比拉，並比利人的全地；那些地方的人也都聚集跟隨他。
20:15 約押和跟隨的人到了伯‧瑪迦的亞比拉，圍困示巴，就對著城築壘；跟隨約押的眾民用錘撞城，要使城塌陷。
20:16 有一個聰明婦人從城上呼叫說：「聽啊，聽啊，請約押近前來，我好與他說話。」
20:17 約押就近前來，婦人問他說：「你是約押不是？」他說：「我是。」婦人說：「求你聽婢女的話。」約押說：「我聽。」
20:18 婦人說：「古時有話說，當先在亞比拉求問，然後事就定妥。
20:19 我們這城的人在以色列人中是和平、忠厚的。你為何要毀壞以色列中的大城，吞滅耶和華的產業呢？」
20:20 約押回答說：「我決不吞滅毀壞，
20:21 乃因以法蓮山地的一個人─比基利的兒子示巴─舉手攻擊大衛王，你們若將他一人交出來，我便離城而去。」婦人對約押說：「那人的首級必從城牆上丟給你。」
20:22 婦人就憑她的智慧去勸眾人。他們便割下比基利的兒子示巴的首級，丟給約押。約押吹角，眾人就離城而散，各歸各家去了。約押回耶路撒冷，到王那裡。
20:23 約押作以色列全軍的元帥；耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅統轄基利提人和比利提人；
20:24 亞多蘭掌管服苦的人；亞希律的兒子約沙法作史官；
20:25 示法作書記；撒督和亞比亞他作祭司長；
20:26 睚珥人以拉作大衛的宰相。

 

  Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,

“We have no share in David,
    no part in Jesse’s son!
Every man to his tent, Israel!”

² So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

³ When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

⁴ Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” ⁵ But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

⁶ David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.”^{[a] 7} So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

⁸ While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.

⁹ Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. ¹⁰ Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.

¹¹ One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” ¹² Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. ¹³ After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

¹⁴ Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites,^[b] who gathered together and followed him. ¹⁵ All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, ¹⁶ a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” ¹⁷ He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he answered.

She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”

“I’m listening,” he said.

¹⁸ She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. ¹⁹ We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”

²⁰ “Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! ²¹ That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”

The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.”

²² Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

²³ Joab was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; ²⁴ Adoniram^[c] was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ²⁵ Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; ²⁶ and Ira the Jairite^[d] was David’s priest.

 

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

 

    押沙龍的叛變之後，讓猶大之派的人緊緊地跟隨大衛，對大衛忠心，卻和一些以色列人發生衝突，而有一個敗類示巴趁機而起，他吹角，說：「我們與大衛無分，與耶西的兒子無涉。以色列人哪，你們各回各家去吧！」

 

    大衛也利用這個機會來考驗一下新的元帥亞瑪撒，大衛對亞瑪撒說：「你要在三日之內將猶大人招聚了來，你也回到這裡來。」

 

    然而這位亞瑪撒卻耽延過了王所限的日期，可見忠誠度不夠或是能力有問題，大衛只好另立元帥亞比篩說：「恐怕示巴給我們的傷害比押沙龍更大。你帶我的部隊去追他吧！不然他會佔據設防的城鎮，從我們眼前消失無蹤。」

 

    於是亞比篩就乃領著他的兄弟約押的部隊、宮廷侍衛隊，和所有的勇士都跟亞比篩一起離開耶路撒冷去追趕示巴。

 

    在這過程中出現一個小插曲，就是約押遇見亞瑪撒就將他除掉，讓猶大之派的人更加忠心於大衛，使他後來有能力可以除掉示巴於伯‧瑪迦的亞比拉，靠著「聰明婦人」！

 

    這些過程好像沒有明顯說出上帝的作為，但是我們清楚這一切都是上帝在背後做各樣的安排，使大衛的軍隊能夠順利平亂！正如所羅門的詩歌說：「若不是耶和華建造房屋，建造的人就枉然勞力；若不是耶和華看守城池，看守的人就枉然警醒。」（詩篇127:1）

 

    是的，我們的一生都在上帝保守與預備中，正如上帝保守大衛的王朝，主應許我們將來必定進入榮耀的新天新地，與主耶穌一同座王道永遠，是必定會實現的，祂必保守我們直到那日！