2020年6月26日 星期五

約書亞記21章

        約書亞記21:1-45  ,

        約書亞記21:43-45   ,


約書亞記21:1-45


21:1 那時,利未人的眾族長來到祭司以利亞撒和嫩的兒子約書亞,並以色列各支派的族長面前,
21:2
在迦南地的示羅對他們說:「從前耶和華藉著摩西吩咐給我們城邑居住,並城邑的郊野可以牧養我們的牲畜。」
21:3
於是以色列人照耶和華所吩咐的,從自己的地業中,將以下所記的城邑和城邑的郊野給了利未人。
21:4
為哥轄族拈鬮:利未人的祭司、亞倫的子孫,從猶大支派、西緬支派、便雅憫支派的地業中,按鬮得了十三座城。
21:5
哥轄其餘的子孫,從以法蓮支派、但支派、瑪拿西半支派的地業中,按鬮得了十座城。
21:6
革順的子孫,從以薩迦支派、亞設支派、拿弗他利支派、住巴珊的瑪拿西半支派的地業中,按鬮得了十三座城。
21:7
米拉利的子孫,按著宗族,從流便支派、迦得支派、西布倫支派的地業中,按鬮得了十二座城。
21:8
以色列人照著耶和華藉摩西所吩咐的,將這些城邑和城邑的郊野,按鬮分給利未人。
21:9
從猶大支派、西緬支派的地業中,將以下所記的城給了利未支派哥轄宗族亞倫的子孫;因為給他們拈出頭一鬮,
21:10
【併於上節】
21:11
將猶大山地的基列亞巴和四圍的郊野給了他們。亞巴是亞衲族的始祖。(基列亞巴就是希伯崙)。
21:12
惟將屬城的田地和村莊給了耶孚尼的兒子迦勒為業。
21:13
以色列人將希伯崙,就是誤殺人的逃城和屬城的郊野,給了祭司亞倫的子孫;又給他們立拿和屬城的郊野,
21:14
雅提珥和屬城的郊野,以實提莫和屬城的郊野,
21:15
何崙和屬城的郊野,底璧和屬城的郊野,
21:16
亞因和屬城的郊野,淤他和屬城的郊野,伯示麥和屬城的郊野,共九座城,都是從這二支派中分出來的。
21:17
又從便雅憫支派的地業中給了他們基遍和屬城的郊野,迦巴和屬城的郊野,
21:18
亞拿突和屬城的郊野,亞勒們和屬城的郊野,共四座城。
21:19
亞倫子孫作祭司的共有十三座城,還有屬城的郊野。
21:20
利未支派中哥轄的宗族,就是哥轄其餘的子孫,拈鬮所得的城有從以法蓮支派中分出來的。
21:21
以色列人將以法蓮山地的示劍,就是誤殺人的逃城和屬城的郊野,給了他們;又給他們基色和屬城的郊野,
21:22
基伯先和屬城的郊野,伯和崙和屬城的郊野,共四座城;
21:23
又從但支派的地業中給了他們伊利提基和屬城的郊野,基比頓和屬城的郊野,
21:24
亞雅崙和屬城的郊野,迦特臨門和屬城的郊野,共四座城;
21:25
又從瑪拿西半支派的地業中給了他們他納和屬城的郊野,迦特臨門和屬城的郊野,共兩座城。
21:26
哥轄其餘的子孫共有十座城,還有屬城的郊野。
21:27
以色列人又從瑪拿西半支派的地業中將巴珊的哥蘭,就是誤殺人的逃城和屬城的郊野,給了利未支派革順的子孫;又給他們比施提拉和屬城的郊野,共兩座城;
21:28
又從以薩迦支派的地業中給了他們基善和屬城的郊野,大比拉和屬城的郊野,
21:29
耶末和屬城的郊野,隱干寧和屬城的郊野,共四座城;
21:30
又從亞設支派的地業中給了他們米沙勒和屬城的郊野,押頓和屬城的郊野,
21:31
黑甲和屬城的郊野,利合和屬城的郊野,共四座城;
21:32
又從拿弗他利支派的地業中將加利利的基低斯,就是誤殺人的逃城和屬城的郊野,給了他們;又給他們哈末多珥和屬城的郊野,加珥坦和屬城的郊野,共三座城。
21:33
革順人按著宗族所得的城,共十三座,還有屬城的郊野。
21:34
其餘利未支派米拉利子孫,從西布倫支派的地業中所得的,就是約念和屬城的郊野,加珥他和屬城的郊野,
21:35
丁拿和屬城的郊野,拿哈拉和屬城的郊野,共四座城;
21:36
又從流便支派的地業中給了他們比悉和屬城的郊野,雅雜和屬城的郊野,
21:37
基底莫和屬城的郊野,米法押和屬城的郊野,共四座城;
21:38
又從迦得支派的地業中,將基列的拉末,就是誤殺人的逃城和屬城的郊野,給了他們;又給他們瑪哈念和屬城的郊野,
21:39
希實本和屬城的郊野,雅謝和屬城的郊野,共四座城。
21:40
其餘利未支派的人,就是米拉利的子孫,按著宗族拈鬮所得的,共十二座城。
21:41
利未人在以色列人的地業中所得的城,共四十八座,並有屬城的郊野。
21:42
這些城四圍都有屬城的郊野,城城都是如此。
21:43
這樣,耶和華將從前向他們列祖起誓所應許的全地賜給以色列人,他們就得了為業,住在其中。
21:44
耶和華照著向他們列祖起誓所應許的一切話,使他們四境平安;他們一切仇敵中,沒有一人在他們面前站立得住。耶和華把一切仇敵都交在他們手中。
21:45
耶和華應許賜福給以色列家的話一句也沒有落空,都應驗了。

  Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock.” So, as the Lord had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:
The first lot came out for the Kohathites, according to their clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.
The descendants of Gershon were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
The descendants of Merari, according to their clans, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.
So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name 10 (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):
11 They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 12 But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.
13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, 16 Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands—nine towns from these two tribes.
17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba, 18 Anathoth and Almon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.
19 The total number of towns for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.
20 The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:
21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer, 22 Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.
23 Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24 Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—four towns.
25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands—two towns.
26 All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.
27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given:
from the half-tribe of Manasseh,
Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshterah, together with their pasturelands—two towns;
28 from the tribe of Issachar,
Kishion, Daberath, 29 Jarmuth and En Gannim, together with their pasturelands—four towns;
30 from the tribe of Asher,
Mishal, Abdon, 31 Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands—four towns;
32 from the tribe of Naphtali,
Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands—three towns.
33 The total number of towns of the Gershonite clans came to thirteen, together with their pasturelands.
34 The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given:
from the tribe of Zebulun,
Jokneam, Kartah, 35 Dimnah and Nahalal, together with their pasturelands—four towns;
36 from the tribe of Reuben,
Bezer, Jahaz, 37 Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands—four towns;
38 from the tribe of Gad,
Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim, 39 Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands—four towns in all.
40 The total number of towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, came to twelve.
41 The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands. 42 Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.
43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

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    利未人雖然沒有固定的地區當根據地,卻是散居在各支派當中,可以讓各地區都有利未人在其中,使以色列人可以看重敬拜上帝的事情,讓各個支派都可以有祭司在它們中間,教導他們律法和進行獻祭的事情。

    在今日基督徒散居在世界各個角落,也要發揮祭司的功能,帶領人來認識上帝的救恩,使人知道要敬畏上帝,並且只有靠耶穌基督的代贖,人才可以享受上帝的賜福,脫離罪和死的轄制,獲得聖靈和生命成為將來與基督同做王的憑據!

    我們既然有這樣的呼召,就不要掛意自己是不是全職的傳道人,只要是立志要跟隨耶穌基督為救主,就要勇敢為主耶穌做見證,使人離開罪惡的權勢,進入光明的國度!



詩篇65:1

神啊,錫安的人都等候讚美你;所許的願也要向你償還。

Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion; And unto thee shall the vow be performed.

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

    這是一篇禮拜的詩篇,因為上帝行奇妙的事,所以『錫安的人都等候讚美祂;所許的願也要向祂償還』。

    這是人面對困難時,向上帝有所祈求,所以向上帝許願。在舊約時代許願大多以牛、羊為祭牲獻上,或是金錢奉獻。在新約時代,因為不獻牛、羊為祭,大多以獻身傳道為許願的方式。

    說到這些,有些人是這樣奉獻自己成為傳道者。當然也有些是受到上帝的呼召,心存敬畏並希望能建立教會在主的真道上,所以奉獻自己。兩者都是上帝所喜悅的。只是我們不要忘記,上帝呼召,耽延上帝的工。




2020年6月25日 星期四

詩篇60:4

你把旌旗賜給敬畏你的人,可以為真理揚起來。(細拉)


You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah


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

       顯現期的意義為:看見基督耶穌一而再地向全世界的人類顯現。我們要看見祂為普世的人捨了祂自己的生命,並提醒我們必須把祂的救人之道傳遍世界。

    今日的經文告訴我們:『你把旌旗賜給敬畏你的人,可以為真理揚起來。』

    也因為如此,我們這一群領受上帝恩典和真理的人,要把上帝的「旌旗」高舉,這「旌旗」就是真理的道,更直接的就是「道成肉身」的耶穌基督。

    耶穌基督也曾經說:『我若從地上被舉起來,就要吸引萬人來歸我。』(約翰福音 12:32)

    今天我們常常舉起其他自認吸引人的旗幟,却沒有高舉耶穌基督,導致教會變質,不再是耶穌基督的教會,稱不上是基督的身體。就連高舉基督的「基督長老教會」,常常被稱為「長老會」,一直被認為是「長老的教會」,忘記當初加爾文所提出的以「長老治會」的制度來高舉「基督」,讓教會是以基督為頭、為主,而不是以少數人或教宗為首。

    今日教會要重新回到基督為首、為主,就是要回到聖靈與聖經的引導,不是受某些人或時代性的風潮和思潮來左右教會,如此教會才能成為真正的教會,基督才能做主做王,傳揚福音才不致偏差。


羅馬書8:16

聖靈與我們的心同證,我們是神的兒女;


The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,


***********

    對基督徒而言這是很重要之宣告,我們的身分是上帝的兒女,而且我們可以承受上帝國為產業,在將來耶穌基督得榮耀時,我們也與基督一同做王。而這個憑據就是「聖靈」。也因此保羅說:『聖靈與我們的心同證,我們是上帝的兒女』。也因此,我們要存感謝與敬畏的心來讚美主,因為這是上帝所賜的恩典。


    也因為如此,我們要檢視所謂傳福音的內容,我們傳福音是要使人認識耶穌基督,然後接受祂的救恩成為上帝的兒女,可以承受永生呢?還是說信了耶穌以後會使人生的問題獲得解決,凡事都順利,生活富裕呢?我們自己都感受到信耶穌後不是一帆風順,無災無難,變得有錢,我們就不要將這樣的支票開給人,這樣好像在誘惑人。我們可以得到的應許是:能信靠耶穌基督是來自上帝的心意,是從上帝生的,而且上帝要收納祂為兒女,並應許將來耶穌基督在來後,我們要與眾聖徒同復活,與基督一同做王到永遠!


    我們沒有別的福音,別的信息,就是只有這福音,若是傳別的,可咒可詛。讓我們專一的傳講天國的福音,也更要宣告人只有因著耶穌基督的信實,被上帝恆保守到永生,人只有信靠與順服,沒有所謂善功或功德可言。人得救贖完全是耶穌基督的代死與復活,不是自己的修行或持守,更不是自己的善功或禱告。



 

但以理書2:28

只有一位在天上的神能顯明奧祕的事。他已將日後必有的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。你的夢和你在床上腦中的異象是這樣,

but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:

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

    上帝愛我們用我們能理解和接受的方式向我們啟示,但是不是說上帝就是這麼簡單,祂還有許多我們不明白,不知道的事,我們在祂面前當謙卑與敬畏,承認自己的一無所知、一無所能、一無所是。

    但是像尼布甲尼撒王所發生的事,上帝卻清楚。王做夢忘記了,但是上帝知道,他也要藉這夢向人啟示未來的事,也就是「奧祕的事」。所以,當但以理尋求上帝,上帝就顯現給但以理看,藉由他傳遞出來。

    關於這樣的事,我們不要猜想上帝是位甚麼緣故特別喜歡但以理,讓但以理可以做這樣的事,反倒要尊重上帝的主權,上帝有權決定祂要揀選誰,這是沒有條件的。而我們尊重被揀選的人,不是他們比較高尚,是因為上帝的緣故。所以,我們不要強求甚麼職位,一切讓上帝來引導,好好預備自己,好好做門徒,領人歸主比較實在。主要用得是普通的才幹卻願意順服的人,不是有許多才幹而不順服的人。順服與忠心是最重要之條件。但是我們不可以因為順服與忠心就認為,一定要有轟轟烈烈的事,平常微小的事也是很重要的事,上帝也看顧與運行。

 

彌迦書1:4

眾山在他以下必消化,諸谷必崩裂,如蠟化在火中,如水沖下山坡。

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

    看見這段經文,就想到詩篇97:5-7

97:5 諸山見耶和華的面,就是全地之主的面,便消化如蠟。
97:6 諸天表明他的公義;萬民看見他的榮耀。
97:7 願一切事奉雕刻的偶像,靠虛無之神自誇的,都蒙羞愧。萬神哪,你們都當拜他。

    可見上帝的烈怒是何等可怕,我們豈可不敬畏,豈可不尋求耶穌基督的救恩,誰在上帝面前站立得住呢?