2020年5月11日 星期一

申命記33:1-29


33:1 以下是神人摩西在未死之先為以色列人所祝的福:
33:2
他說:耶和華從西奈而來,從西珥向他們顯現,從巴蘭山發出光輝,從萬萬聖者中來臨,從他右手為百姓傳出烈火的律法。
33:3
他疼愛百姓;眾聖徒都在他手中。他們坐在他的腳下,領受他的言語。
33:4
摩西將律法傳給我們,作為雅各會眾的產業。
33:5
百姓的眾首領,以色列的各支派,一同聚會的時候,耶和華(原文是他)在耶書崙中為王。
33:6
願流便存活,不致死亡;願他人數不致稀少。
33:7
為猶大祝福說:求耶和華俯聽猶大的聲音,引導他歸於本族;他曾用手為自己爭戰,你必幫助他攻擊敵人。
33:8
論利未說:耶和華啊,你的土明和烏陵都在你的虔誠人那裡。你在瑪撒曾試驗他,在米利巴水與他爭論。
33:9
他論自己的父母說:我未曾看見;他也不承認弟兄,也不認識自己的兒女。這是因利未人遵行你的話,謹守你的約。
33:10
他們要將你的典章教訓雅各,將你的律法教訓以色列。他們要把香焚在你面前,把全牲的燔祭獻在你的壇上。
33:11
求耶和華降福在他的財物上,悅納他手裡所辦的事。那些起來攻擊他和恨惡他的人,願你刺透他們的腰,使他們不得再起來。
33:12
論便雅憫說:耶和華所親愛的必同耶和華安然居住;耶和華終日遮蔽他,也住在他兩肩之中。
33:13
論約瑟說:願他的地蒙耶和華賜福,得天上的寶物、甘露,以及地裡所藏的泉水;
33:14
得太陽所曬熟的美果,月亮所養成的寶物;
33:15
得上古之山的至寶,永世之嶺的寶物;
33:16
得地和其中所充滿的寶物,並住荊棘中上主的喜悅。願這些福都歸於約瑟的頭上,歸於那與弟兄迥別之人的頂上。
33:17
他為牛群中頭生的,有威嚴;他的角是野牛的角,用以牴觸萬邦,直到地極。這角是以法蓮的萬萬,瑪拿西的千千。
33:18
論西布倫說:西布倫哪,你出外可以歡喜。以薩迦啊,在你帳棚裡可以快樂。
33:19
他們要將列邦召到山上,在那裡獻公義的祭;因為他們要吸取海裡的豐富,並沙中所藏的珍寶。
33:20
論迦得說:使迦得擴張的應當稱頌!迦得住如母獅;他撕裂膀臂,連頭頂也撕裂。
33:21
他為自己選擇頭一段地,因在那裡有設立律法者的分存留。他與百姓的首領同來;他施行耶和華的公義和耶和華與以色列所立的典章。
33:22
論但說:但為小獅子,從巴珊跳出來。
33:23
論拿弗他利說:拿弗他利啊,你足沾恩惠,滿得耶和華的福,可以得西方和南方為業。
33:24
論亞設說:願亞設享受多子的福樂,得他弟兄的喜悅,可以把腳蘸在油中。
33:25
你的門閂(或譯:鞋)是銅的,鐵的。你的日子如何,你的力量也必如何。
33:26
耶書崙哪,沒有能比上帝的。他為幫助你,乘在天空,顯其威榮,駕行穹蒼。
33:27
永生的上帝是你的居所;他永久的膀臂在你以下。他在你前面攆出仇敵,說:毀滅吧。
33:28
以色列安然居住;雅各的本源獨居五穀新酒之地。他的天也滴甘露。
33:29
以色列啊,你是有福的!誰像你這蒙耶和華所拯救的百姓呢?他是你的盾牌,幫助你,是你威榮的刀劍。你的仇敵必投降你;你必踏在他們的高處。

This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. He said:
“The Lord came from Sinai
    and dawned over them from Seir;
    he shone forth from Mount Paran.
He came with[a] myriads of holy ones
    from the south, from his mountain slopes.[b]
Surely it is you who love the people;
    all the holy ones are in your hand.
At your feet they all bow down,
    and from you receive instruction,
the law that Moses gave us,
    the possession of the assembly of Jacob.
He was king over Jeshurun[c]
    when the leaders of the people assembled,
    along with the tribes of Israel.
“Let Reuben live and not die,
    nor[d] his people be few.”
And this he said about Judah:
“Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah;
    bring him to his people.
With his own hands he defends his cause.
    Oh, be his help against his foes!”
About Levi he said:
“Your Thummim and Urim belong
    to your faithful servant.
You tested him at Massah;
    you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
He said of his father and mother,
    ‘I have no regard for them.’
He did not recognize his brothers
    or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
    and guarded your covenant.
10 He teaches your precepts to Jacob
    and your law to Israel.
He offers incense before you
    and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11 Bless all his skills, Lord,
    and be pleased with the work of his hands.
Strike down those who rise against him,
    his foes till they rise no more.”
12 About Benjamin he said:
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,
    for he shields him all day long,
    and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”
13 About Joseph he said:
“May the Lord bless his land
    with the precious dew from heaven above
    and with the deep waters that lie below;
14 with the best the sun brings forth
    and the finest the moon can yield;
15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains
    and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
    and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
    on the brow of the prince among[e] his brothers.
17 In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;
    his horns are the horns of a wild ox.
With them he will gore the nations,
    even those at the ends of the earth.
Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;
    such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
18 About Zebulun he said:
“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,
    and you, Issachar, in your tents.
19 They will summon peoples to the mountain
    and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous;
they will feast on the abundance of the seas,
    on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
20 About Gad he said:
“Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain!
    Gad lives there like a lion,
    tearing at arm or head.
21 He chose the best land for himself;
    the leader’s portion was kept for him.
When the heads of the people assembled,
    he carried out the Lord’s righteous will,
    and his judgments concerning Israel.”
22 About Dan he said:
“Dan is a lion’s cub,
    springing out of Bashan.”
23 About Naphtali he said:
“Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord
    and is full of his blessing;
    he will inherit southward to the lake.”
24 About Asher he said:
“Most blessed of sons is Asher;
    let him be favored by his brothers,
    and let him bathe his feet in oil.
25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,
    and your strength will equal your days.
26 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
    who rides across the heavens to help you
    and on the clouds in his majesty.
27 The eternal God is your refuge,
    and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemies before you,
    saying, ‘Destroy them!’
28 So Israel will live in safety;
    Jacob will dwell[f] secure
in a land of grain and new wine,
    where the heavens drop dew.
29 Blessed are you, Israel!
    Who is like you,
    a people saved by the Lord?
He is your shield and helper
    and your glorious sword.
Your enemies will cower before you,
    and you will tread on their heights.”

*********

    聖經常常記載臨終的人未人祝福,如同一種道別,希望被祝福的人,可以在上帝的保守下,繼續活在上帝的恩典之中,甚至於要有所作為,不要讓離開的人感到失望!

    在這樣的祝福當中,讓我們感受到生命的可貴,也讓人感受到惟有上帝的同在人才是真正有福的!而以色列人命運的變化,也是來自上帝的主動介入!不然他們是在埃及做奴隸,毫無前途可言!

    然而摩西遇見上帝之後,上帝將以色列古老的族長與祂對他們的應許啟示給摩西知道,讓以色列人重新拾回他們的身分,清楚他們是上帝的選民,他們才有自己的名字!不然奴隸是沒有名字、沒有身分!

    同樣,基督徒也和以色列一樣,有一個榮耀的名字!正如以色列是上帝的王子,是多麼尊貴!我們因著主耶穌也是十分尊貴,我們成了上帝的兒女!是王子、是公主、是萬王之王的兄弟!我們也是盟賜福的一群!

希伯來書10:23


也要堅守我們所承認的指望,不至搖動,因為那應許我們的是信實的。

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful.

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

    上帝的信實是我們信仰的根基,也惟有上帝得保守我們才能堅持到底!我們要承認靠自己的意志和努力是無法堅持信仰的,因為人心是浮動與不安定的,更是無法承受各樣的驚嚇,右是時常會擔憂,加上各樣的情欲和情緒的影響,可以說是搖擺不定的!因此,我們無法靠自己的持守,讓我們一直信靠到見主面。

    保羅曾經這樣說過:「上帝拯救我們,呼召我們作他的子民,並不是因為我們有甚麼好行為,而是出於他的旨意和恩典。他在萬世以前就藉著基督耶穌把這恩典賜給了我們,現在由於我們的救主基督耶穌的來臨而實現了。基督已經毀滅了死亡的權勢,更藉著福音把不朽的生命彰顯出來。為了這福音,上帝指派我作傳道者、使徒,和教師。因此,我才受這些苦難。但是,我仍然滿懷確信;因為我知道我所信靠的是誰,也深信他能夠保守他所付託給我的,直到主再來的日子。」(提摩太後書19-12節)

    成為基督徒不管在什麼年代、什麼地方,都是不容易的,都是承受各樣的考驗與壓力!這些不只是外在的,也有內在的。不只是現在,還有過去與將來的一切,都會成為我們的攪擾和掙扎!但是,不要忘記:「我知道我所信靠的是誰,也深信他能夠保守他所付託給我的,直到主再來的日子。」

    是的,不要灰心喪志•要堅定我們的心•我們所信的上帝是信實可靠的•他在基督理的應許,必定成就!



2020年5月10日 星期日

詩篇82篇

     詩篇82:1-8  ,







詩篇82:1-8


82:1 (亞薩的詩。)上帝站在有權力者的會中,在諸神中行審判,
82:2
說:你們審判不秉公義,徇惡人的情面,要到幾時呢?(細拉)
82:3
你們當為貧寒的人和孤兒伸冤;當為困苦和窮乏的人施行公義。
82:4
當保護貧寒和窮乏的人,救他們脫離惡人的手。
82:5
你們仍不知道,也不明白,在黑暗中走來走去;地的根基都搖動了。
82:6
我曾說:你們是神,都是至高者的兒子。
82:7
然而,你們要死,與世人一樣,要仆倒,像王子中的一位。
82:8
上帝啊,求你起來審判世界,因為你要得萬邦為業。

A psalm of Asaph.
God presides in the great assembly;
    he renders judgment among the “gods”:
“How long will you[a] defend the unjust
    and show partiality to the wicked?[b]
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
    uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
    They walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
“I said, ‘You are “gods”;
    you are all sons of the Most High.’
But you will die like mere mortals;
    you will fall like every other ruler.”
Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
    for all the nations are your inheritance.

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

    亞薩透過這首詩歌要教導我們,唯有上帝是可靠的上帝,外邦的神明都是虛假的,和人一樣是無法存到永遠的,也因為這樣,我們不要去信靠這些外邦的神明!所以,詩人說:「我曾說:你們是神,都是至高者的兒子。然而,你們要死,與世人一樣,要仆倒,像王子中的一位。」

    當然這些神明和不義的判官,之所以不可以倚靠,都是因為上帝的公義勝過這一切,而且上帝的公義更是要拯救祂的百姓,不要受這些假神欺騙,也救他們脫離不義的判官!這些在上帝面前都是站立不住的,都會敗亡受到上帝永遠得懲罰!

    同樣在今日,我們要確信:只有耶穌基督是道路、真理、生命,只有透過耶穌基督才會得著上帝所賞賜的公義和聖潔,也唯有靠耶穌基督我們才是真正正是上帝的兒女!這一切都是出於上帝的恩典,讓我們奉主耶穌的名悔改歸向上帝,上帝必定接受我們為兒女直到永遠!