2020年5月4日 星期一

詩篇79:1-13


79:1 (亞薩的詩。)上帝啊,外邦人進入你的產業,污穢你的聖殿,使耶路撒冷變成荒堆,
79:2
把你僕人的屍首交與天空的飛鳥為食,把你聖民的肉交與地上的野獸,
79:3
在耶路撒冷周圍流他們的血如水,無人葬埋。
79:4
我們成為鄰國的羞辱,成為我們四圍人的嗤笑譏刺。
79:5
耶和華啊,這到幾時呢?你要動怒到永遠嗎?你的憤恨要如火焚燒嗎?
79:6
願你將你的忿怒倒在那不認識你的外邦和那不求告你名的國度。
79:7
因為他們吞了雅各,把他的住處變為荒場。
79:8
求你不要記念我們先祖的罪孽,向我們追討;願你的慈悲快迎著我們,因為我們落到極卑微的地步。
79:9
拯救我們的上帝啊,求你因你名的榮耀幫助我們!為你名的緣故搭救我們,赦免我們的罪。
79:10
為何容外邦人說他們的上帝在哪裡呢?願你使外邦人知道你在我們眼前伸你僕人流血的冤。
79:11
願被囚之人的歎息達到你面前;願你按你的大能力存留那些將要死的人。
79:12
主啊,願你將我們鄰邦所羞辱你的羞辱加七倍歸到他們身上。
79:13
這樣,你的民,你草場的羊,要稱謝你,直到永遠;要述說讚美你的話,直到萬代。

A psalm of Asaph.
O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
    they have defiled your holy temple,
    they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
They have left the dead bodies of your servants
    as food for the birds of the sky,
    the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
They have poured out blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there is no one to bury the dead.
We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
    of scorn and derision to those around us.
How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out your wrath on the nations
    that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
    that do not call on your name;
for they have devoured Jacob
    and devastated his homeland.
Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.
Help us, God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
Before our eyes, make known among the nations
    that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
    the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
    will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
    we will proclaim your praise.

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

    上帝和一般人想像的神祉不同,一般人拜神是為了求平安與賺大錢!但是,上帝對待以色列人不是一般人所說的平安,反倒是讓他們遭受大難,國家被滅亡、君王被殺、百姓被擄走、聖殿被毀、!這是讓人難以想像的,更是無法明白的!

    舊約以色列人遭受到這樣的對待,新約的時候更是好不到哪裡去!號稱上帝的兒子的耶穌基督是死在十字架上,耶穌基督的門徒和跟隨者也受到極大的迫害,很少有所謂的「善終」!

    想到過去聖經的記載和早期教會的歷史,讓人不禁要問這是一個賜人「平安」的信仰嗎?這個信仰可以帶給人福祉還是禍害?正如詩人在這裡所說:「上帝啊,外邦人進入你的產業,污穢你的聖殿,使耶路撒冷變成荒堆,把你僕人的屍首交與天空的飛鳥為食,把你聖民的肉交與地上的野獸,在耶路撒冷周圍流他們的血如水,無人葬埋。我們成為鄰國的羞辱,成為我們四圍人的嗤笑譏刺。耶和華啊,這到幾時呢?你要動怒到永遠嗎?你的憤恨要如火焚燒嗎?」

    要說是因為罪孽的緣故遭上帝的大怒氣那不信上帝的外邦人呢所以詩人向上帝禱告:「主啊,願你將我們鄰邦所羞辱你的羞辱加七倍歸到他們身上。這樣,你的民,你草場的羊,要稱謝你,直到永遠;要述說讚美你的話,直到萬代。」

    然而上帝的報仇臨到外邦人嗎?我們可以讀以賽亞書611-3節:「主耶和華的靈在我身上;因為耶和華用膏膏我,叫我傳好信息給謙卑的人(或譯:傳福音給貧窮的人),差遣我醫好傷心的人,報告被擄的得釋放,被囚的出監牢;報告耶和華的恩年,和我們上帝報仇的日子;安慰一切悲哀的人,賜華冠與錫安悲哀的人,代替灰塵;喜樂油代替悲哀;讚美衣代替憂傷之靈;使他們稱為『公義樹』,是耶和華所栽的,叫他得榮耀。」

    上帝的報仇就是透過耶穌基督恢復以色列的榮耀!使世人因著耶穌基督歸榮耀給上帝,因為那本是軟弱、被欺壓的以色列,卻成為上帝的長子,拯救世人脫離罪惡和死亡的權勢,使人因著耶穌基督得著生命和聖靈!

    這樣的是已經成就了,正如彼得在五旬節的時候宣告:「「你們各人要悔改,奉耶穌基督的名受洗,叫你們的罪得赦,就必領受所賜的聖靈;因為這應許是給你們和你們的兒女,並一切在遠方的人,就是主─我們上帝所召來的。」(使徒行傳2:38-39)



路加福音22章

       路加福音22:1-6   ,

       路加福音22:7-38  ,  路加福音22:31-32 ,

       路加福音22:39-46    ,

       路加福音22:44 , 路加福音22:46  ,

       路加福音22:47-53  ,

       路加福音22:54-62  ,

       路加福音22:63-65  ,  

      路加福音22:66-71  ,




路加福音22:44


耶穌極其傷痛,禱告更加懇切,汗珠如大血點滴在地上。

In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

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

    有許多人認為耶穌「極其傷痛」是因為他要面對死亡,所以在人性上的軟弱造成這種反應。因為耶穌向上帝禱告:「父啊!你若願意,就把這杯撤去;然而,不要成就我的意思,只要成就你的意思。」(路加福音22:42

    其實耶穌基督早就知道自己所要面對曾經對門徒說過:「看哪,我們上耶路撒冷去,先知所寫的一切事都要成就在人子身上。他將要被交給外邦人;他們要戲弄他,凌辱他,吐唾沫在他臉上,並要鞭打他,殺害他;第三日他要復活。」路加福音18:31-33

    主耶穌清楚上帝的旨意,就是要透過祂的死來完成上帝的救贖計畫,祂也堅定來面對,也因為這樣祂才來到耶路撒冷。所以「極其傷痛」不是為自己的死,而是為自己的軟弱,這也是祂未曾感受過的,竟然在最後的時刻,會這樣展現出肉體的軟弱,也因此主耶穌在此「禱告更加懇切」!

    耶穌基督都有這樣的軟弱,更何況是我們呢﹖我們常常會慷慨激昂、信誓旦旦的宣告,要如何為主圖謀大事!但是真正面對時,卻是退縮、害怕、無助、孤單、,正如主耶穌在面對十字架時的感受一般。

    這時我們也要效法主耶穌「禱告更加懇切」,讓聖靈來大大做工在我們身上,正如保羅所說:「況且,我們的軟弱有聖靈幫助;我們本不曉得當怎樣禱告,只是聖靈親自用說不出來的歎息替我們禱告。因為他預先所知道的人,就預先定下效法他兒子的模樣,使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。」(羅馬書8:26,29)

    來吧!不要害怕自己的軟弱,讓我們用「禱告更加懇切」靠主得勝吧!


2020年5月3日 星期日

申命記29:1-29


29:1 這是耶和華在摩押地吩咐摩西與以色列人立約的話,是在他和他們於何烈山所立的約之外。
29:2
摩西召了以色列眾人來,對他們說:「耶和華在埃及地,在你們眼前向法老和他眾臣僕,並他全地所行的一切事,你們都看見了,
29:3
就是你親眼看見的大試驗和神蹟,並那些大奇事。
29:4
但耶和華到今日沒有使你們心能明白,眼能看見,耳能聽見。
29:5
我領你們在曠野四十年,你們身上的衣服並沒有穿破,腳上的鞋也沒有穿壞。
29:6
你們沒有吃餅,也沒有喝清酒濃酒。這要使你們知道,耶和華是你們的上帝。
29:7
你們來到這地方,希實本王西宏、巴珊王噩都出來與我們交戰,我們就擊殺了他們,
29:8
取了他們的地給流便支派、迦得支派,和瑪拿西半支派為業。
29:9
所以你們要謹守遵行這約的話,好叫你們在一切所行的事上亨通。
29:10
「今日,你們的首領、族長(原文是支派)、長老、官長、以色列的男丁,你們的妻子兒女,和營中寄居的,以及為你們劈柴挑水的人,都站在耶和華你們的上帝面前,
29:11
【併於上節】
29:12
為要你順從耶和華你上帝今日與你所立的約,向你所起的誓。
29:13
這樣,他要照他向你所應許的話,又向你列祖亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所起的誓,今日立你作他的子民,他作你的上帝。
29:14
我不但與你們立這約,起這誓,
29:15
凡與我們一同站在耶和華我們上帝面前的,並今日不在我們這裡的人,我也與他們立這約,起這誓。
29:16
「我們曾住過埃及地,也從列國經過;這是你們知道的。
29:17
你們也看見他們中間可憎之物,並他們木、石、金、銀的偶像。
29:18
惟恐你們中間,或男或女,或族長或支派長,今日心裡偏離耶和華我們的上帝,去事奉那些國的上帝;又怕你們中間有惡根生出苦菜和茵蔯來,
29:19
聽見這咒詛的話,心裡仍是自誇說:『我雖然行事心裡頑梗,連累眾人,卻還是平安。』
29:20
耶和華必不饒恕他;耶和華的怒氣與憤恨要向他發作,如煙冒出,將這書上所寫的一切咒詛都加在他身上。耶和華又要從天下塗抹他的名,
29:21
也必照著寫在律法書上、約中的一切咒詛將他從以色列眾支派中分別出來,使他受禍。
29:22
你們的後代,就是以後興起來的子孫,和遠方來的外人,看見這地的災殃,並耶和華所降與這地的疾病,
29:23
又看見遍地有硫磺,有鹽鹵,有火跡,沒有耕種,沒有出產,連草都不生長好像耶和華在忿怒中所傾覆的所多瑪、蛾摩拉、押瑪、洗扁一樣
29:24
所看見的人,連萬國人,都必問說:『耶和華為何向此地這樣行呢?這樣大發烈怒是甚麼意思呢?』
29:25
人必回答說:『是因這地的人離棄了耶和華他們列祖的上帝,領他們出埃及地的時候與他們所立的約,
29:26
去事奉敬拜素不認識的別神,是耶和華所未曾給他們安排的。
29:27
所以耶和華的怒氣向這地發作,將這書上所寫的一切咒詛都降在這地上。
29:28
耶和華在怒氣、忿怒、大惱恨中將他們從本地拔出來,扔在別的地上,像今日一樣。』
29:29
「隱祕的事是屬耶和華我們上帝的;惟有明顯的事是永遠屬我們和我們子孫的,好叫我們遵行這律法上的一切話。」

These are the terms of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.
Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them:
Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. Yet the Lord says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.”
When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them. We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. 10 All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel, 11 together with your children and your wives, and the foreigners living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water. 12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, 13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you 15 who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God but also with those who are not here today.
16 You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here. 17 You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold. 18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.
19 When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 20 The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven. 21 The Lord will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.
22 Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the Lord has afflicted it. 23 The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger. 24 All the nations will ask: “Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?”
25 And the answer will be: “It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. 26 They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them. 27 Therefore the Lord’s anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book. 28 In furious anger and in great wrath the Lord uprooted them from their land and thrust them into another land, as it is now.”
29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

*********

    人常常因為罪性的影響,以至於無法認識上帝,也看不清祂的作為,總是自以為是,以為上帝不存在,可以任意而為,以自我為中心!這不只是現代人的特徵,也是當時以色列人的特徵,雖然他們的祖先亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各曾經和上帝立約;但是他們仍然不認識也不敬畏上帝。

    摩西在這裡告訴他們,是上帝領他們出埃及為奴之地,是上帝在這曠野中照顧他們四十年,更是向他們諄諄教誨要敬畏上帝、遵行上帝的律法,更是不可以離開上帝,遭受上帝的咒詛!不僅他們遵守,更要他們教導子孫遵守!

    摩西要他們信靠上帝的信仰,不是神祕主義,也不是不可知的奧秘,是明明可知的,正如摩西所說:「隱祕的事是屬耶和華─我們上帝的;惟有明顯的事是永遠屬我們和我們子孫的,好叫我們遵行這律法上的一切話。」

    同樣今日我們屬主耶穌的人的信仰也是如此,正如保羅所說:「自從造天地以來,上帝的永能和神性是明明可知的,雖是眼不能見,但藉著所造之物就可以曉得,叫人無可推諉。」(羅馬書1:20