2020年1月2日 星期四

民數記6:27

他們要如此奉我的名為以色列人祝福;我也要賜福給他們。

So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.

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

    祭司除了要獻祭給上帝,也要奉主的名祝福上帝的百姓。而當祭司這樣做的時候,上帝就賜福給他們。


    這裡有兩個詞要用得正確,一個是「賜福」,另一個是「祝福」。我們可以為人「祝福」,但是唯有上帝可以「賜福」給人。所以,我們要善用這兩個詞,不要混淆,以免讓人混亂。

    在教會聽到許多奇奇怪怪的話,或是信徒有奇奇怪怪的思想,都是源於牧者自創的想法,教導出去以,後信徒因為信任牧者,不去查驗聖經如何說,就照單全收。

    這是件很可怕的事情,因為這樣的影響是無遠弗界的,後人查覺不對時,也很難扭轉,正如許多人常常說:「願上帝祝福你」,其實應該說:「願上帝賜福予你」!




民數記16:5

對可拉和他一黨的人說:「到了早晨,耶和華必指示誰是屬他的,誰是聖潔的,就叫誰親近他;他所揀選的是誰,必叫誰親近他。

and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him.

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

    可拉也是利未支派的一員,也是在會幕中服事上帝的人,卻因為個人的私利,起來攻擊摩西和亞倫說:「你們擅自專權!全會眾個個既是聖潔,耶和華也在他們中間,你們為甚麼自高,超過耶和華的會眾呢?」(民數記16:3

    於是摩西用謙卑的心,『俯伏在地』向他們說:「到了早晨,耶和華必指示誰是屬他的,誰是聖潔的,就叫誰親近他;他所揀選的是誰,必叫誰親近他。」

    這是一個屬靈領袖要有的風範,面對自立權柄之人的攻擊時,肯放下自己的尊嚴,讓上帝來定奪,不去爭辯、不去解釋。既是來自上帝的權柄,是上帝所揀選的僕人,上帝必定彰顯祂的權能來讓人知道。

    因為服事上帝的人,是上帝揀選,非出於人的「自願」。一個人能成為基督徒,成為上帝的兒女,也是上帝的恩典。同樣人無法自立權柄,更不可按己意來親近上帝,必須按照上帝的旨意來服事上帝。

    因此,我們要透過上帝的啟示:上帝的話與上帝的靈,才能服事上帝。我們要知道如何服事上帝,就必須好好研讀聖經。祂要透過聖經教導我們這些蒙揀選的人,進行合他心意的服事。讀經的重要性也是如此。




民數記6:25

願耶和華使他的臉光照你,賜恩給你。

the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

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

   這仍然是「祝福」用的文句,希望受祝福的人,能夠被耶和華的臉光照。因為,上帝喜悅的人,必在上帝面得著上帝的尊重,使他大有榮光,以至可以使人也尊敬他。

    說到「賜恩」的希伯來文是〈chanan〉,有「懇求」的意思,也就是說恩典是來自上帝;我們若不向上帝求,恩典就不會臨到我們。所以,我們要得恩,一定要像上帝懇求。也因為如此,我們要向上帝禱告。

    所以,人要蒙福,是必須和上帝有交通、有關係。



民數記6:24

願耶和華賜福給你,保護你。

The Lord bless you and keep you;

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

    當我們的年歲越來越多時,越經歷人生的各樣風風雨雨之時,我們越感受到我們需要耶和華的賜福與保護。

    說到賜福,希伯來文為〈barak〉,這個字有「跪下、稱頌(與崇拜的動作有關)」的意思,也就是「賜福」和敬拜上帝有關係。說得更明白就是:沒有敬拜,就沒有賜福。也就說明,賜福是從敬拜上帝而來。

    人人都希望上帝賜福,但是若不敬拜上帝,就沒有蒙受福氣的機會。這也是我們要反思之處,我們是不是一直盼望得福,卻遠離上帝呢?以為努力賺錢,就會得福呢?

    接著我們來看「保護」,希伯來文為〈shamar〉,是「圍籬笆」的意思,也就說上帝要在四圍保護我們,使我們不受惡者的攻擊,這也是上帝與我們同在的表記。正如耶穌基督有另一個名字「以馬內利」,這和舊約時代耶和華的約櫃在以色列人中間的意義相同。祂樂意成為我們的上帝,我們也成為他的子民,有他的同在是美得無比的!

    同樣,我也祝福我的讀者:『願耶和華賜福給你,保護你。』



2020年1月1日 星期三

民數記15:22-41


15:22 「你們有錯誤的時候,不守耶和華所曉諭摩西的這一切命令,
15:23
就是耶和華藉摩西一切所吩咐你們的,自那日以至你們的世世代代,
15:24
若有誤行,是會眾所不知道的,後來全會眾就要將一隻公牛犢作燔祭,並照典章把素祭和奠祭一同獻給耶和華為馨香之祭,又獻一隻公山羊作贖罪祭。
15:25
祭司要為以色列全會眾贖罪,他們就必蒙赦免,因為這是錯誤。他們又因自己的錯誤,把供物,就是向耶和華獻的火祭和贖罪祭,一並奉到耶和華面前。
15:26
以色列全會眾和寄居在他們中間的外人就必蒙赦免,因為這罪是百姓誤犯的。
15:27
「若有一個人誤犯了罪,他就要獻一歲的母山羊作贖罪祭。
15:28
那誤行的人犯罪的時候,祭司要在耶和華面前為他贖罪,他就必蒙赦免。
15:29
以色列中的本地人和寄居在他們中間的外人,若誤行了甚麼事,必歸一樣的條例。
15:30
但那擅敢行事的,無論是本地人是寄居的,他褻瀆了耶和華,必從民中剪除。
15:31
因他藐視耶和華的言語,違背耶和華的命令,那人總要剪除;他的罪孽要歸到他身上。」
15:32
以色列人在曠野的時候,遇見一個人在安息日撿柴。
15:33
遇見他撿柴的人,就把他帶到摩西、亞倫並全會眾那裡,
15:34
將他收在監內;因為當怎樣辦他,還沒有指明。
15:35
耶和華吩咐摩西說:「總要把那人治死;全會眾要在營外用石頭把他打死。」
15:36
於是全會眾將他帶到營外,用石頭打死他,是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。
15:37
耶和華曉諭摩西說:
15:38
「你吩咐以色列人,叫他們世世代代在衣服邊上做繸子,又在底邊的繸子上釘一根藍細帶子。
15:39
你們佩帶這繸子,好叫你們看見就記念遵行耶和華一切的命令,不隨從自己的心意、眼目行邪淫,像你們素常一樣;
15:40
使你們記念遵行我一切的命令,成為聖潔,歸與你們的上帝。
15:41
「我是耶和華你們的上帝,曾把你們從埃及地領出來,要作你們的上帝。我是耶和華你們的上帝。」

  22 “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses— 23 any of the Lord’s commands to you through him, from the day the Lord gave them and continuing through the generations to come— 24 and if this is done unintentionally without the community being aware of it, then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, along with its prescribed grain offering and drink offering, and a male goat for a sin offering.[g] 25 The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering and a sin offering. 26 The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.
27 “‘But if just one person sins unintentionally, that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering. 28 The priest is to make atonement before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven. 29 One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.
30 “‘But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the Lord and must be cut off from the people of Israel. 31 Because they have despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.’”
32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.” 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses.
37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’”

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    上帝非常看重祂和以色列的關係,所以祂常常會宣告:「我是耶和華─你們的上帝,曾把你們從埃及地領出來,要作你們的上帝。我是耶和華─你們的上帝。」

    也因為這樣,上帝看重以色列人要聽從祂的話,於是說:「若有一個人誤犯了罪,他就要獻一歲的母山羊作贖罪祭。那誤行的人犯罪的時候,祭司要在耶和華面前為他贖罪,他就必蒙赦免。以色列中的本地人和寄居在他們中間的外人,若誤行了甚麼事,必歸一樣的條例。但那擅敢行事的,無論是本地人是寄居的,他褻瀆了耶和華,必從民中剪除。因他藐視耶和華的言語,違背耶和華的命令,那人總要剪除;他的罪孽要歸到他身上。」

    這也是說,上帝的子民不可以藐視耶和華的言語,並且要遵行上的的命令!於是上帝用一個記號在他們的衣著:「你吩咐以色列人,叫他們世世代代在衣服邊上做繸子,又在底邊的繸子上釘一根藍細帶子。你們佩帶這繸子,好叫你們看見就記念遵行耶和華一切的命令,不隨從自己的心意、眼目行邪淫,像你們素常一樣;使你們記念遵行我一切的命令,成為聖潔,歸與你們的上帝。」

    同樣,今日我們也要以記念遵行上帝一切的命令,成為聖潔,歸與我們的上帝。因為上帝透過耶穌基督拯救我們,就是要成為聖潔!既然耶穌基督的聖潔已經臨到我們,我們更要以決意聖潔來回應上帝,感謝上帝的恩典!

民數記15章

     民數記15:1-21  ,

     民數記15:22-41  , 民數記15:37-41   ,

民數記15:1-21


15:1 耶和華對摩西說:
15:2
「你曉諭以色列人說:你們到了我所賜給你們居住的地,
15:3
若願意從牛群羊群中取牛羊作火祭,獻給耶和華,無論是燔祭是平安祭,為要還特許的願,或是作甘心祭,或是逢你們節期獻的,都要奉給耶和華為馨香之祭。
15:4
那獻供物的就要將細麵伊法十分之一,並油一欣四分之一,調和作素祭,獻給耶和華。
15:5
無論是燔祭是平安祭,你要為每隻綿羊羔,一同預備奠祭的酒一欣四分之一。
15:6
為公綿羊預備細麵伊法十分之二,並油一欣三分之一,調和作素祭,
15:7
又用酒一欣三分之一作奠祭,獻給耶和華為馨香之祭。
15:8
你預備公牛作燔祭,或是作平安祭,為要還特許的願,或是作平安祭,獻給耶和華,
15:9
就要把細麵伊法十分之三,並油半欣,調和作素祭,和公牛一同獻上,
15:10
又用酒半欣作奠祭,獻給耶和華為馨香的火祭。
15:11
「獻公牛、公綿羊、綿羊羔、山羊羔,每隻都要這樣辦理。
15:12
照你們所預備的數目,按著隻數都要這樣辦理。
15:13
凡本地人將馨香的火祭獻給耶和華,都要這樣辦理。
15:14
若有外人和你們同居,或有人世世代代住在你們中間,願意將馨香的火祭獻給耶和華,你們怎樣辦理,他也要照樣辦理。
15:15
至於會眾,你們和同居的外人都歸一例,作為你們世世代代永遠的定例,在耶和華面前,你們怎樣,寄居的也要怎樣。
15:16
你們並與你們同居的外人當有一樣的條例,一樣的典章。」
15:17
耶和華對摩西說:
15:18
「你曉諭以色列人說:你們到了我所領你們進去的那地,
15:19
吃那地的糧食,就要把舉祭獻給耶和華。
15:20
你們要用初熟的麥子磨麵,做餅當舉祭奉獻;你們舉上,好像舉禾場的舉祭一樣。
15:21
你們世世代代要用初熟的麥子磨麵,當舉祭獻給耶和華。

  The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the Lord—whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings— then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin[b] of olive oil. With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.
“‘With a ram prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[c] of the finest flour mixed with a third of a hin[d] of olive oil, and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
“‘When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow or a fellowship offering to the Lord, bring with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah[e] of the finest flour mixed with half a hin[f] of olive oil, 10 and also bring half a hin of wine as a drink offering. This will be a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 11 Each bull or ram, each lamb or young goat, is to be prepared in this manner. 12 Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.
13 “‘Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when they present a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 14 For the generations to come, whenever a foreigner or anyone else living among you presents a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, they must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.’”
17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land to which I am taking you 19 and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the Lord. 20 Present a loaf from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor. 21 Throughout the generations to come you are to give this offering to the Lord from the first of your ground meal.

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

    雖然以色列人仍在曠野,他們只能從事牧養牛和羊的工作,但是上帝卻讓他們看見,在將來應許之地會做農耕的事情,因為上帝要摩西對以色列人說:「你們到了我所領你們進去的那地,吃那地的糧食,就要把舉祭獻給耶和華。你們要用初熟的麥子磨麵,做餅當舉祭奉獻;你們舉上,好像舉禾場的舉祭一樣。你們世世代代要用初熟的麥子磨麵,當舉祭獻給耶和華。」

    對於我們而言,上帝在我們身上的帶領,也會有許多我們想像不到的事。不能以現在的情形來推斷我們明日將如何,因為上帝既然是行奇事的上帝,就會讓許多超乎想像的事臨到我們。因此,我們要為每一天來仰望上帝,交託在祂的手中!

    保羅也這樣勉勵教會的信徒:「應當一無掛慮,只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求,和感謝,將你們所要的告訴上帝。上帝所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念。」(腓立比書4:6-7