列王紀上2章

     列王紀上2:1-46  ,

列王紀上2:1-46

 

2:1 大衛的死期臨近了，就囑咐他兒子所羅門說：
2:2 「我現在要走世人必走的路。所以，你當剛強，作大丈夫，
2:3 遵守耶和華─你上帝所吩咐的，照著摩西律法上所寫的行主的道，謹守他的律例、誡命、典章、法度。這樣，你無論做甚麼事，不拘往何處去，盡都亨通。
2:4 耶和華必成就向我所應許的話說：『你的子孫若謹慎自己的行為，盡心盡意誠誠實實地行在我面前，就不斷人坐以色列的國位。』
2:5 你知道洗魯雅的兒子約押向我所行的，就是殺了以色列的兩個元帥：尼珥的兒子押尼珥和益帖的兒子亞瑪撒。他在太平之時流這二人的血，如在爭戰之時一樣，將這血染了腰間束的帶和腳上穿的鞋。
2:6 所以你要照你的智慧行，不容他白頭安然下陰間。
2:7 你當恩待基列人巴西萊的眾子，使他們常與你同席吃飯；因為我躲避你哥哥押沙龍的時候，他們拿食物來迎接我。
2:8 在你這裡有巴戶琳的便雅憫人，基拉的兒子示每；我往瑪哈念去的那日，他用狠毒的言語咒罵我，後來卻下約旦河迎接我，我就指著耶和華向他起誓說：『我必不用刀殺你。』
2:9 現在你不要以他為無罪。你是聰明人，必知道怎樣待他，使他白頭見殺，流血下到陰間。」
2:10 大衛與他列祖同睡，葬在大衛城。
2:11 大衛作以色列王四十年：在希伯崙作王七年，在耶路撒冷作王三十三年。
2:12 所羅門坐他父親大衛的位，他的國甚是堅固。
2:13 哈及的兒子亞多尼雅去見所羅門的母親拔示巴，拔示巴問他說：「你來是為平安嗎？」回答說：「是為平安」；
2:14 又說：「我有話對你說。」拔示巴說：「你說吧。」
2:15 亞多尼雅說：「你知道國原是歸我的，以色列眾人也都仰望我作王，不料，國反歸了我兄弟，因他得國是出乎耶和華。
2:16 現在我有一件事求你，望你不要推辭。」拔示巴說：「你說吧。」
2:17 他說：「求你請所羅門王將書念的女子亞比煞賜我為妻，因他必不推辭你。」
2:18 拔示巴說：「好，我必為你對王提說。」
2:19 於是，拔示巴去見所羅門王，要為亞多尼雅提說；王起來迎接，向她下拜，就坐在位上，吩咐人為王母設一座位，她便坐在王的右邊。
2:20 拔示巴說：「我有一件小事求你，望你不要推辭。」王說：「請母親說，我必不推辭。」
2:21 拔示巴說：「求你將書念的女子亞比煞賜給你哥哥亞多尼雅為妻。」
2:22 所羅門王對他母親說：「為何單替他求書念的女子亞比煞呢？也可以為他求國吧！他是我的哥哥，他有祭司亞比亞他和洗魯雅的兒子約押為輔佐。」
2:23 所羅門王就指著耶和華起誓說：「亞多尼雅這話是自己送命，不然，願上帝重重地降罰與我。
2:24 耶和華堅立我，使我坐在父親大衛的位上，照著所應許的話為我建立家室；現在我指著永生的耶和華起誓，亞多尼雅今日必被治死。」
2:25 於是所羅門王差遣耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅，將亞多尼雅殺死。
2:26 王對祭司亞比亞他說：「你回亞拿突歸自己的田地去吧！你本是該死的，但因你在我父親大衛面前抬過主耶和華的約櫃，又與我父親同受一切苦難，所以我今日不將你殺死。」
2:27 所羅門就革除亞比亞他，不許他作耶和華的祭司。這樣，便應驗耶和華在示羅論以利家所說的話。
2:28 約押雖然沒有歸從押沙龍，卻歸從了亞多尼雅。他聽見這風聲，就逃到耶和華的帳幕，抓住祭壇的角。
2:29 有人告訴所羅門王說：「約押逃到耶和華的帳幕，現今在祭壇的旁邊。」所羅門就差遣耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅，說：「你去將他殺死。」
2:30 比拿雅來到耶和華的帳幕，對約押說：「王吩咐說，你出來吧！」他說：「我不出去，我要死在這裡。」比拿雅就去回覆王，說約押如此如此回答我。
2:31 王說：「你可以照著他的話行，殺死他，將他葬埋，好叫約押流無辜人血的罪不歸我和我的父家了。
2:32 耶和華必使約押流人血的罪歸到他自己的頭上；因為他用刀殺了兩個比他又義又好的人，就是以色列元帥尼珥的兒子押尼珥和猶大元帥益帖的兒子亞瑪撒，我父親大衛卻不知道。
2:33 故此，流這二人血的罪必歸到約押和他後裔的頭上，直到永遠；惟有大衛和他的後裔，並他的家與國，必從耶和華那裡得平安，直到永遠。」
2:34 於是耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅上去，將約押殺死，葬在曠野約押自己的墳墓（原文是房屋）裡。
2:35 王就立耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅作元帥，代替約押，又使祭司撒督代替亞比亞他。
2:36 王差遣人將示每召來，對他說：「你要在耶路撒冷建造房屋居住，不可出來往別處去。
2:37 你當確實地知道，你何日出來過汲淪溪，何日必死！你的罪（原文是血）必歸到自己的頭上。」
2:38 示每對王說：「這話甚好！我主我王怎樣說，僕人必怎樣行。」於是示每多日住在耶路撒冷。
2:39 過了三年，示每的兩個僕人逃到迦特王瑪迦的兒子亞吉那裡去。有人告訴示每說：「你的僕人在迦特。」
2:40 示每起來，備上驢，往迦特到亞吉那裡去找他的僕人，就從迦特帶他僕人回來。
2:41 有人告訴所羅門說：「示每出耶路撒冷往迦特去，回來了。」
2:42 王就差遣人將示每召了來，對他說：「我豈不是叫你指著耶和華起誓，並且警戒你說『你當確實地知道，你哪日出來往別處去，那日必死』嗎？你也對我說：『這話甚好，我必聽從。』
2:43 現在你為何不遵守你指著耶和華起的誓和我所吩咐你的命令呢？」
2:44 王又對示每說：「你向我父親大衛所行的一切惡事，你自己心裡也知道，所以耶和華必使你的罪惡歸到自己的頭上；
2:45 惟有所羅門王必得福，並且大衛的國位必在耶和華面前堅定，直到永遠。」
2:46 於是王吩咐耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅，他就去殺死示每。這樣，便堅定了所羅門的國位。

 

When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

² “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, ³ and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go ⁴ and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

⁵ “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. ⁶ Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

⁷ “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

⁸ “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ ⁹ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

¹⁰ Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. ¹¹ He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. ¹² So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

¹³ Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?”

He answered, “Yes, peacefully.” ¹⁴ Then he added, “I have something to say to you.”

“You may say it,” she replied.

¹⁵ “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from the Lord. ¹⁶ Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.”

“You may make it,” she said.

¹⁷ So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

¹⁸ “Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.”

¹⁹ When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand.

²⁰ “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.”

The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”

²¹ So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”

²² King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”

²³ Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request! ²⁴ And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!” ²⁵ So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

²⁶ To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” ²⁷ So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.

²⁸ When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar. ²⁹ King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the Lord and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, “Go, strike him down!”

³⁰ So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’”

But he answered, “No, I will die here.”

Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”

³¹ Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed. ³² The Lord will repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he. ³³ May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.”

³⁴ So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. ³⁵ The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.

³⁶ Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. ³⁷ The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”

³⁸ Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.

³⁹ But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.” ⁴⁰ At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath.

⁴¹ When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, ⁴² the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, ‘On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’ ⁴³ Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?”

⁴⁴ The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. ⁴⁵ But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the Lord forever.”

⁴⁶ Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and he died.

The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.

 

********

 

    大衛雖然是合上帝心意的人，是上帝所喜悅的王，在世也做了40年的王，但是中有離開的一天，正如大衛對所羅門說的話：「我現在要走世人必走的路。」這也就是說人終究有離世的一天，誰也逃不掉的！然而大衛卻是安然離世，因為他可以看見自己喜歡的兒子成為以色列的王，接續他坐在王位上！

 

    然而從大衛臨終交代所羅門王的幾件事，讓我們看見大衛不方便做的事，就由所羅門來執行。而做這些事，是要教導所羅門，王的責任和使命就是行公平正義！正如保羅在《羅馬書》中說到：「在上有權柄的，人人當順服他，因為沒有權柄不是出於上帝的。凡掌權的都是上帝所命的。所以，抗拒掌權的就是抗拒上帝的命；抗拒的必自取刑罰。」（13:1-2）

 

    所羅門王領受了父親的銜命，他並沒有以仁慈的緣故不去行，反倒是積極的去行！而上帝也很奇妙，在這個時候，安排耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅來執行這些事情，使約押、示每等人知道自己所行的事多麼得罪上帝！

 

    從大衛離世到所羅門完全為王，讓我們看見上帝是歷史的主！多少人處心積慮想接大衛的王位，若沒有上帝的允許，所圖謀的都歸於虛空！正如耶利米知道自己一生的使命是要成為上帝的先知，對著他的書記巴錄說：「你要這樣告訴他，耶和華如此說：我所建立的，我必拆毀；我所栽植的，我必拔出；在全地我都如此行。你為自己圖謀大事嗎？不要圖謀！我必使災禍臨到凡有血氣的。但你無論往哪裡去，我必使你以自己的命為掠物。這是耶和華說的。」（耶利米書45:4-5）

 

    然而我們一生也是在上帝的手中，但有一事我們必定要看得明白：這些人都是存著信心死的，並沒有得著所應許的；卻從遠處望見，且歡喜迎接，又承認自己在世上是客旅，是寄居的。…他們卻羨慕一個更美的家鄉，就是在天上的。所以上帝被稱為他們的上帝，並不以為恥，因為他已經給他們預備了一座城。」（希伯來書11:13,16）

 

    感謝主耶穌，我們確信主所預備的家鄉，有一天我們要回去並與主同在那裏一同做王，享受永生福樂到永遠！

 

 

 

 

 

約伯記36章

      約伯記36:1-33  ,

約伯記36:1-33

 

36:1 以利戶又接著說：
36:2 你再容我片時，我就指示你，因我還有話為上帝說。
36:3 我要將所知道的從遠處引來，將公義歸給造我的主。
36:4 我的言語真不虛謊；有知識全備的與你同在。
36:5 上帝有大能，並不藐視人；他的智慧甚廣。
36:6 他不保護惡人的性命，卻為困苦人伸冤。
36:7 他時常看顧義人，使他們和君王同坐寶座，永遠要被高舉。
36:8 他們若被鎖鍊捆住，被苦難的繩索纏住，
36:9 他就把他們的作為和過犯指示他們，叫他們知道有驕傲的行動。
36:10 他也開通他們的耳朵得受教訓，吩咐他們離開罪孽轉回。
36:11 他們若聽從事奉他，就必度日亨通，歷年福樂；
36:12 若不聽從，就要被刀殺滅，無知無識而死。
36:13 那心中不敬虔的人積蓄怒氣；上帝捆綁他們，他們竟不求救；
36:14 必在青年時死亡，與污穢人一樣喪命。
36:15 上帝藉著困苦救拔困苦人，趁他們受欺壓開通他們的耳朵。
36:16 上帝也必引你出離患難，進入寬闊不狹窄之地；擺在你席上的必滿有肥甘。
36:17 但你滿口有惡人批評的言語；判斷和刑罰抓住你。
36:18 不可容忿怒觸動你，使你不服責罰；也不可因贖價大就偏行。
36:19 你的呼求（或譯：資財），或是你一切的勢力，果有靈驗，叫你不受患難嗎？
36:20 不要切慕黑夜，就是眾民在本處被除滅的時候。
36:21 你要謹慎，不可重看罪孽，因你選擇罪孽過於選擇苦難。
36:22 上帝行事有高大的能力；教訓人的有誰像他呢？
36:23 誰派定他的道路？誰能說：你所行的不義？
36:24 你不可忘記稱讚他所行的為大，就是人所歌頌的。
36:25 他所行的，萬人都看見；世人也從遠處觀看。
36:26 上帝為大，我們不能全知；他的年數不能測度。
36:27 他吸取水點，這水點從雲霧中就變成雨；
36:28 雲彩將雨落下，沛然降與世人。
36:29 誰能明白雲彩如何鋪張，和上帝行宮的雷聲呢？
36:30 他將亮光普照在自己的四圍；他又遮覆海底。
36:31 他用這些審判眾民，且賜豐富的糧食。
36:32 他以電光遮手，命閃電擊中敵人（或譯：中了靶子）。
36:33 所發的雷聲顯明他的作為，又向牲畜指明要起暴風。

 

Elihu continued:

² “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
³ I get my knowledge from afar;
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
⁴ Be assured that my words are not false;
    one who has perfect knowledge is with you.

⁵ “God is mighty, but despises no one;
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
⁶ He does not keep the wicked alive
    but gives the afflicted their rights.
⁷ He does not take his eyes off the righteous;
    he enthrones them with kings
    and exalts them forever.
⁸ But if people are bound in chains,
    held fast by cords of affliction,
⁹ he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.
¹⁰ He makes them listen to correction
    and commands them to repent of their evil.
¹¹ If they obey and serve him,
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
    and their years in contentment.
¹² But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword^[a]
    and die without knowledge.

¹³ “The godless in heart harbor resentment;
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
¹⁴ They die in their youth,
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.
¹⁵ But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering;
    he speaks to them in their affliction.

¹⁶ “He is wooing you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place free from restriction,
    to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
¹⁷ But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
¹⁸ Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
¹⁹ Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
²⁰ Do not long for the night,
    to drag people away from their homes.^[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.

²² “God is exalted in his power.
    Who is a teacher like him?
²³ Who has prescribed his ways for him,
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
²⁴ Remember to extol his work,
    which people have praised in song.
²⁵ All humanity has seen it;
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
²⁶ How great is God—beyond our understanding!
    The number of his years is past finding out.

²⁷ “He draws up the drops of water,
    which distill as rain to the streams^[c];
²⁸ the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers fall on mankind.
²⁹ Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders from his pavilion?
³⁰ See how he scatters his lightning about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.
³¹ This is the way he governs^[d] the nations
    and provides food in abundance.
³² He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.
³³ His thunder announces the coming storm;
    even the cattle make known its approach.

 

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

 

    以利戶繼續延伸他的論點，就是上帝是永遠公平正直的，是永不改變的！反倒是人不可以自傲，不可以自以為是，要在上帝面前做一個謙卑受教的義人。即使上帝讓苦難臨到我們的生命，也是在教導和管教我們，事對我們有益處的！

 

    保羅曾經說過：「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛上帝的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。」(羅馬書8:28）又說：「誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？難道是患難嗎？是困苦嗎？是逼迫嗎？是飢餓嗎？是赤身露體嗎？是危險嗎？是刀劍嗎？如經上所記：我們為你的緣故終日被殺；人看我們如將宰的羊。然而，靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。因為我深信無論是死，是生，是天使，是掌權的，是有能的，是現在的事，是將來的事，是高處的，是低處的，是別的受造之物，都不能叫我們與上帝的愛隔絕；這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。」（羅馬書8:35-39）

 

    因此，我們再苦難中要想到基督的愛是永不改變，沒有甚麼事叫我們與上帝的愛隔絕！更如保羅在哥林多後書12章9節，提到主對他說：「我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」

 

    也因為這樣保羅不懼怕面對人生負面的事情，他說：「所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、急難、逼迫、困苦為可喜樂的；因我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。」（哥林多後書12:9b-10）

 

    相信以利戶要對約伯說的，正是保羅從主領受的「得勝秘訣」！讓我們也靠聖靈的引導相信主的應許：「我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」