2016年9月26日 星期一

但以理書11:5-20



11:5 南方的王必強盛,他將帥中必有一個比他更強盛,執掌權柄,他的權柄甚大。
11:6 過些年後,他們必互相連合,南方王的女兒必就了北方王來立約;但這女子幫助之力存立不住,王和他所倚靠之力也不能存立。這女子和引導她來的,並生她的,以及當時扶助她的,都必交與死地。
11:7 但這女子的本家(原文是根)必另生一子(子:原文是枝)繼續王位,他必率領軍隊進入北方王的保障,攻擊他們,而且得勝;
11:8 並將他們的神像和鑄成的偶像,與金銀的寶器掠到埃及去。數年之內,他不去攻擊北方的王。
11:9 北方的王(原文是他)必入南方王的國,卻要仍回本地。
11:10 北方王(原文是他)的二子必動干戈,招聚許多軍兵。這軍兵前去,如洪水氾濫,又必再去爭戰,直到南方王的保障。
11:11 南方王必發烈怒,出來與北方王爭戰,擺列大軍;北方王的軍兵必交付他手。
11:12 他的眾軍高傲,他的心也必自高;他雖使數萬人仆倒,卻不得常勝。
11:13 北方王必回來擺列大軍,比先前的更多。滿了所定的年數,他必率領大軍,帶極多的軍裝來。
11:14 那時,必有許多人起來攻擊南方王,並且你本國的強暴人必興起,要應驗那異象,他們卻要敗亡。
11:15 北方王必來築壘攻取堅固城;南方的軍兵必站立不住,就是選擇的精兵(原文是民)也無力站住。
11:16 來攻擊他的,必任意而行,無人在北方王(原文是他)面前站立得住。他必站在那榮美之地,用手施行毀滅。
11:17 他必定意用全國之力而來,立公正的約,照約而行,將自己的女兒給南方王為妻,想要敗壞他(或譯:埃及),這計卻不得成就,與自己毫無益處。
11:18 其後他必轉回奪取了許多海島。但有一大帥,除掉他令人受的羞辱,並且使這羞辱歸他本身。
11:19 他就必轉向本地的保障,卻要絆跌仆倒,歸於無有。
11:20 那時,必有一人興起接續他為王,使橫征暴斂的人通行國中的榮美地。這王不多日就必滅亡,卻不因忿怒,也不因爭戰。

5 "Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. 6 After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times.
7 "And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. 8 He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north. 9 Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.
10 "His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress. 11 Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. 12 And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 13 For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first. And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies.
14 "In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. 15 Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well- fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. 16 But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand. 17 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage. 18 Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.
20 "Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle.

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    亞歷山大後的南北兩王朝之鬥爭歷史預言。西元前301年以後,希臘帝國分成迦散達、利絲馬哥、西流基、多利買四個國家。迦散達管理馬其頓與希臘,利絲馬哥管理小亞細亞與特拉西,西流基管理敘利亞和巴比倫,多利買管轄埃及。

    這是異象嗎?還是歷史?大部分的解經書都把這段時間的歷史講了一次。我們閱讀經文,也覺得這個預言連宮廷的鬥爭細節都紀錄了,實在是精確得匪夷所思。但是,我們不要因此就認為這是後人補進去,我們寧可相信一切都在上帝的安排中,上帝是歷史的主宰。

    聖經是人受上帝啟示所寫的,本來就有其準確性,不要以人的不精準來思考,以為人的作品不可能這麼「準」,就推測這事後人補寫的,這樣就否認了聖經的啟示或默示性了這是無意義的

但以理書11章

   但以理書11:1-4     ,   但以理書11:5-20    ,   但以理書11:21-35   , 但以理書11:36-45   ,

但以理書11:1-4



11:1 又說:「當瑪代王大利烏元年,我曾起來扶助米迦勒,使他堅強。
11:2 現在我將真事指示你:波斯還有三王興起,第四王必富足遠勝諸王。他因富足成為強盛,就必激動大眾攻擊希臘國。
11:3 必有一個勇敢的王興起,執掌大權,隨意而行。
11:4 他興起的時候,他的國必破裂,向天的四方(方:原文是風)分開,卻不歸他的後裔,治國的權勢也都不及他;因為他的國必被拔出,歸與他後裔之外的人。

1 "And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.
2 "And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. 3 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. 4 And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.

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    關於波斯與亞歷山大的異象,雖然那時候時間未到,卻講得清清楚楚,讓人不禁感覺上帝啟示的奇妙!然而上帝對未來的預言不僅和人類歷史有關,更是與人類的救贖有關,尤其是關乎耶穌基督的事情。

    而這樣的預言在歷史上一一應驗時,不禁任人有許多的感傷,尤其是君王的生命是大起大落,其實「有為者」不是人是上帝,但人卻常常要成為「有為者」好來呼風喚雨。而呼風喚雨者,中有一天會敗落,因為他們只不過是被上帝賦於權力,若不敬畏謙卑,自然會走向滅亡

    也因為如此,在教會中做上帝代表的領袖們,也要有如此的認識,不是自己有甚麼可取之處,完全是上帝的憐憫與恩典,使用我們為器皿來服事眾弟兄姊妹,是上帝給的權柄,權柄不是我們,權柄是上帝,要照上帝所喜悅地來行,不是照自己的理想與想法,這事很重要的,不要自以為有使命、有負擔,就可以做甚麼,非也上帝給權柄不是要我們圖謀大事,是要我們遵行上帝命令,完成上帝旨意

2016年9月25日 星期日

但以理書10:15-21



10:15 他向我這樣說,我就臉面朝地,啞口無聲。
10:16 不料,有一位像人的,摸我的嘴唇,我便開口向那站在我面前的說:「我主啊,因見這異象,我大大愁苦,毫無氣力。
10:17 我主的僕人怎能與我主說話呢?我一見異象就渾身無力,毫無氣息。」
10:18 有一位形狀像人的又摸我,使我有力量。
10:19 他說:「大蒙眷愛的人哪,不要懼怕,願你平安!你總要堅強。」他一向我說話,我便覺得有力量,說:「我主請說,因你使我有力量。」
10:20 他就說:「你知道我為何來見你嗎?現在我要回去與波斯的魔君爭戰,我去後,希臘(原文是雅完)的魔君必來。
10:21 但我要將那錄在真確書上的事告訴你。除了你們的大君米迦勒之外,沒有幫助我抵擋這兩魔君的。」

When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute.  And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength.  How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.  And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”  Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.  But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.

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天使讓但以理有力量,並鼓勵但以理堅強,又提及靈界間的戰爭。其實我們並不瞭解此處所說得屬靈爭戰實況,天使在此表達的重點應該是「上帝控制並干預歷史的進行」、「人間歷史運作的背後有靈界勢力的干預」。但這些靈界的事情,聖經並沒有提到我們是否要參與,天使也沒有呼召但以理要參與,所以我們還是定睛在上帝明確要我們做的事情上吧!

說到這裡人要謙卑不要以為我們是歷史的創造者或是說歷史是用我們的行動寫成好像我們可以左右一切我們更不要以為我們的努力所以上帝的國才可以實現非也,我們只不過是「落葉」,落葉要靠「風」(聖靈)才能飄動,才有美麗的「舞姿」,來榮耀上帝!

我們不要自以為,今日的教會是我們努力出來的成果,一切都是上帝在運行,上帝在作為,我們只不過活在上帝的作為中,一切都是上帝榮耀的作為,歸榮耀給上帝!

但以理書10:10-14



10:10 忽然,有一手按在我身上,使我用膝和手掌支持微起。
10:11 他對我說:「大蒙眷愛的但以理啊,要明白我與你所說的話,只管站起來,因為我現在奉差遣來到你這裡。」他對我說這話,我便戰戰兢兢地立起來。
10:12 他就說:「但以理啊,不要懼怕!因為從你第一日專心求明白將來的事,又在你上帝面前刻苦己心,你的言語已蒙應允;我是因你的言語而來。
10:13 但波斯國的魔君攔阻我二十一日。忽然有大君(就是天使長;二十一節同)中的一位米迦勒來幫助我,我就停留在波斯諸王那裡。
10:14 現在我來,要使你明白本國之民日後必遭遇的事,因為這異象關乎後來許多的日子。」

10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty- one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come."

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天使加給但以理力量,要他站起來。並對但以理表示他的懇求已經蒙應允,天使就是為但以理而來,要告訴他以色列人要遭遇的事。只不過因為波斯魔君延遲了一段時間,所以現在才到達。

由天使長的話中,我們知道但以理剛剛祈求(第一日)上帝就要派天使長來啟示但以理。亦即但以理並不需要刻苦己心三週才能獲得啟示,而是上帝一早就應允,只是因為魔君的阻擋才延遲一段時間。這裡讓我們知道上帝不是一個需要祂的百姓「禁食付出代價」才願意啟示祂自己的上帝,而但以理也不是因為知道上帝是慷慨的,就在第一時間停止禁食、禱告。這樣出於愛與真誠的關係,比現在許多人教導把「禱告」與「應允」之間用功利關係連結起來(要多人禱告、虔誠禱告、禁食禱告,上帝才會應允)的信仰,美多了。

也因此,上帝要透過聖靈的工作,讓我們切切實實感受到上帝的愛與恩惠,讓我們自然而然產生愛主與服事主的心,絕對不會勉強的,或刻意的,讓我們感受一切都是主的恩典、主的作為,不是人的刻意維持,讓人無所誇口。