2020年12月7日 星期一

列王紀上4:1-34

 


4:1 所羅門作以色列眾人的王。
4:2
他的臣子記在下面:撒督的兒子亞撒利雅作祭司,
4:3
示沙的兩個兒子以利何烈、亞希亞作書記,亞希律的兒子約沙法作史官,
4:4
耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅作元帥,撒督和亞比亞他作祭司長,
4:5
拿單的兒子亞撒利雅作眾吏長,王的朋友拿單的兒子撒布得作領袖,
4:6
亞希煞作家宰,亞比大的兒子亞多尼蘭掌管服苦的人。
4:7
所羅門在以色列全地立了十二個官吏,使他們供給王和王家的食物,每年各人供給一月。
4:8
他們的名字記在下面:在以法蓮山地有便戶珥;
4:9
在瑪迦斯、沙賓、伯示麥、以倫哈南有便底甲;
4:10
在亞魯泊有便希悉,他管理梭哥和希弗全地;
4:11
在多珥山岡(或譯:全境)有便亞比拿達,他娶了所羅門的女兒她法為妻;
4:12
在他納和米吉多,並靠近撒拉他拿、耶斯列下邊的伯.善全地,從伯.善到亞伯.米何拉直到約念之外,有亞希律的兒子巴拿;
4:13
在基列的拉末有便基別,他管理在基列的瑪拿西子孫睚珥的城邑,巴珊的亞珥歌伯地的大城六十座,都有城牆和銅閂;
4:14
在瑪哈念有易多的兒子亞希拿達;
4:15
在拿弗他利有亞希瑪斯,他也娶了所羅門的一個女兒巴實抹為妻;
4:16
在亞設和亞祿有戶篩的兒子巴拿;
4:17
在以薩迦有帕路亞的兒子約沙法;
4:18
在便雅憫有以拉的兒子示每;
4:19
在基列地,就是從前屬亞摩利王西宏和巴珊王噩之地,有烏利的兒子基別一人管理。
4:20
猶大人和以色列人如同海邊的沙那樣多,都吃喝快樂。
4:21
所羅門統管諸國,從大河到非利士地,直到埃及的邊界。所羅門在世的日子,這些國都進貢服事他。
4:22
所羅門每日所用的食物:細麵三十歌珥,粗麵六十歌珥,
4:23
肥牛十隻,草場的牛二十隻,羊一百隻,還有鹿、羚羊、麃子,並肥禽。
4:24
所羅門管理大河西邊的諸王,以及從提弗薩直到迦薩的全地,四境盡都平安。
4:25
所羅門在世的日子,從但到別是巴的猶大人和以色列人都在自己的葡萄樹下和無花果樹下安然居住。
4:26
所羅門有套車的馬四萬,還有馬兵一萬二千。
4:27
那十二個官吏各按各月供給所羅門王,並一切與他同席之人的食物,一無所缺。
4:28
眾人各按各分,將養馬與快馬的大麥和乾草送到官吏那裡。
4:29
上帝賜給所羅門極大的智慧聰明和廣大的心,如同海沙不可測量。
4:30
所羅門的智慧超過東方人和埃及人的一切智慧。
4:31
他的智慧勝過萬人,勝過以斯拉人以探,並瑪曷的兒子希幔、甲各、達大的智慧。他的名聲傳揚在四圍的列國。
4:32
他作箴言三千句,詩歌一千零五首。
4:33
他講論草木,自黎巴嫩的香柏樹直到牆上長的牛膝草,又講論飛禽走獸、昆蟲水族。
4:34
天下列王聽見所羅門的智慧,就都差人來聽他的智慧話。

 

So King Solomon ruled over all Israel. And these were his chief officials:

Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;

Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder;

Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander in chief;

Zadok and Abiathar—priests;

Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors;

Zabud son of Nathan—a priest and adviser to the king;

Ahishar—palace administrator;

Adoniram son of Abda—in charge of forced labor.

Solomon had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year. These are their names:

Ben-Hur—in the hill country of Ephraim;

Ben-Deker—in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan;

10 Ben-Hesed—in Arubboth (Sokoh and all the land of Hepher were his);

11 Ben-Abinadab—in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);

12 Baana son of Ahilud—in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;

13 Ben-Geber—in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars);

14 Ahinadab son of Iddo—in Mahanaim;

15 Ahimaaz—in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);

16 Baana son of Hushai—in Asher and in Aloth;

17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah—in Issachar;

18 Shimei son of Ela—in Benjamin;

19 Geber son of Uri—in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.

20 The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy. 21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and were Solomon’s subjects all his life.

22 Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors[a] of the finest flour and sixty cors[b] of meal, 23 ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl. 24 For he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and had peace on all sides. 25 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.

26 Solomon had four[c] thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.[d]

27 The district governors, each in his month, supplied provisions for King Solomon and all who came to the king’s table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking. 28 They also brought to the proper place their quotas of barley and straw for the chariot horses and the other horses.

29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

 

********

 

    所羅門求智慧,上帝就給他智慧,展現在國家的治理當中。從經文中我們看見他是多麼有系統的治理國家,不是沒有章法!不僅如此,他還是「人盡其才,物盡其用」!

 

    在此經文這樣描寫他的智慧所產生的結果:「上帝賜給所羅門極大的智慧聰明和廣大的心,如同海沙不可測量。所羅門的智慧超過東方人和埃及人的一切智慧。他的智慧勝過萬人,勝過以斯拉人以探,並瑪曷的兒子希幔、甲各、達大的智慧。他的名聲傳揚在四圍的列國。他作箴言三千句,詩歌一千零五首。他講論草木,自黎巴嫩的香柏樹直到牆上長的牛膝草,又講論飛禽走獸、昆蟲水族。天下列王聽見所羅門的智慧,就都差人來聽他的智慧話。」

 

    而在這樣的描述中,讓我們知道所羅門王之所以有如此的智慧,是上帝所賜予的!正如《箴言》所說:「敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端;認識至聖者便是聰明。」(9:10

 

    然而我們求智慧的時候,更要有一個體認:「使你與人不同的是誰呢?你有甚麼不是領受的呢?若是領受的,為何自誇,彷彿不是領受的呢?」(哥林多前書4:7

 

    也因為一切都是上帝所賜的,我們要心存感謝,將榮耀歸給上帝!這樣才是是真謙卑、真智慧!也因為這樣,我們才能確信上帝必定讓我們進入祂的榮耀境,與祂享受永生福分到永遠,才不會迷失!

 

2020年12月6日 星期日

約伯記38章

   約伯記38:1-41  ,

   約伯記38:4  ,

約伯記38:1-41

 


38:1 那時,耶和華從旋風中回答約伯說:
38:2
誰用無知的言語使我的旨意暗昧不明?
38:3
你要如勇士束腰;我問你,你可以指示我。
38:4
我立大地根基的時候,你在哪裡呢?你若有聰明,只管說吧!
38:5
你若曉得就說,是誰定地的尺度?是誰把準繩拉在其上?
38:6
地的根基安置在何處?地的角石是誰安放的?
38:7
那時,晨星一同歌唱;上帝的眾子也都歡呼。
38:8
海水衝出,如出胎胞,那時誰將它關閉呢?
38:9
是我用雲彩當海的衣服,用幽暗當包裹它的布,
38:10
為它定界限,又安門和閂,
38:11
說:你只可到這裡,不可越過;你狂傲的浪要到此止住。
38:12
你自生以來,曾命定晨光,使清晨的日光知道本位,
38:13
叫這光普照地的四極,將惡人從其中驅逐出來嗎?
38:14
因這光,地面改變如泥上印印,萬物出現如衣服一樣。
38:15
亮光不照惡人;強橫的膀臂也必折斷。
38:16
你曾進到海源,或在深淵的隱密處行走嗎?
38:17
死亡的門曾向你顯露嗎?死蔭的門你曾見過嗎?
38:18
地的廣大你能明透嗎?你若全知道,只管說吧!
38:19
光明的居所從何而至?黑暗的本位在於何處?
38:20
你能帶到本境,能看明其室之路嗎?
38:21
你總知道,因為你早已生在世上,你日子的數目也多。
38:22
你曾進入雪庫,或見過雹倉嗎?
38:23
這雪雹乃是我為降災,並打仗和爭戰的日子所預備的。
38:24
光亮從何路分開?東風從何路分散遍地?
38:25
誰為雨水分道?誰為雷電開路?
38:26
使雨降在無人之地、無人居住的曠野?
38:27
使荒廢淒涼之地得以豐足,青草得以發生?
38:28
雨有父嗎?露水珠是誰生的呢?
38:29
冰出於誰的胎?天上的霜是誰生的呢?
38:30
諸水堅硬(或譯:隱藏)如石頭;深淵之面凝結成冰。
38:31
你能繫住昴星的結嗎?能解開參星的帶嗎?
38:32
你能按時領出十二宮嗎?能引導北斗和隨它的眾星(星:原文是子)嗎?
38:33
你知道天的定例嗎?能使地歸在天的權下嗎?
38:34
你能向雲彩揚起聲來,使傾盆的雨遮蓋你嗎?
38:35
你能發出閃電,叫它行去,使它對你說:我們在這裡?
38:36
誰將智慧放在懷中?誰將聰明賜於心內?
38:37
誰能用智慧數算雲彩呢?塵土聚集成團,土塊緊緊結連;那時,誰能傾倒天上的瓶呢?
38:38
【併於上節】
38:39
母獅子在洞中蹲伏,少壯獅子在隱密處埋伏;你能為牠們抓取食物,使牠們飽足嗎?
38:40
【併於上節】
38:41
烏鴉之雛因無食物飛來飛去,哀告上帝;那時,誰為牠預備食物呢?

 

“ Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans
    with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
    or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?

“Who shut up the sea behind doors
    when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it
    and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
    here is where your proud waves halt’?

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
    or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
    its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
    and their upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
    Tell me, if you know all this.

19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
    And where does darkness reside?
20 Can you take them to their places?
    Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!
    You have lived so many years!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
    or seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I reserve for times of trouble,
    for days of war and battle?
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
    or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,
26 to water a land where no one lives,
    an uninhabited desert,
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
    and make it sprout with grass?
28 Does the rain have a father?
    Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen?

31 “Can you bind the chains[b] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?
32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons[c]
    or lead out the Bear[d] with its cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?
    Can you set up God’s[e] dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[f]
    or gives the rooster understanding?[g]
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens
38 when the dust becomes hard
    and the clods of earth stick together?

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
    and satisfy the hunger of the lions
40 when they crouch in their dens
    or lie in wait in a thicket?
41 Who provides food for the raven
    when its young cry out to God
    and wander about for lack of food?

 

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

 

    上帝顯現自己來面對約伯卻是用一連串的問話來讓約伯思考,並不向約伯回答他所問的問題,也不替約伯在他的朋友面前辯駁什麼,而是像以利戶的話語的接續,要約伯放下自己來面對上帝的偉大作為好得智慧的心,不要再質疑上帝為何讓他遇見這麼大的苦難!

 

    這樣的表達好像是在啟示錄69-11節中的記載:

 

6:9 揭開第五印的時候,我看見在祭壇底下,有為上帝的道、並為作見證被殺之人的靈魂,
6:10
大聲喊著說:「聖潔真實的主啊,你不審判住在地上的人,給我們伸流血的冤,要等到幾時呢?」
6:11
於是有白衣賜給他們各人;又有話對他們說,還要安息片時,等著一同作僕人的和他們的弟兄也像他們被殺,滿足了數目。

 

    這些為主而被殺的人照自己的想法要主快快為他們伸冤以至於像抱怨的口氣像主說:「聖潔真實的主啊,你不審判住在地上的人,給我們伸流血的冤,要等到幾時呢?」

 

    主卻要他們繼續等候,對他們說:「還要安息片時,等著一同作僕人的和他們的弟兄也像他們被殺,滿足了數目。」

 

   而主這樣做的緣故是為了「完全」,正如希伯來書1139-40節說:「  這些人都是因信得了美好的證據,卻仍未得著所應許的;因為上帝給我們預備了更美的事,叫他們若不與我們同得,就不能完全。」

 

    同樣「滿足了數目」,也是為了「完全」!因此,上帝的伸冤是一定會成就,而這個成就是在我們將來在榮耀境時的到「完全」的安慰!因為我們一見了主的榮面,主就將一切為我們補足了!因為他將我們失去的,用自己來滿足我們!有甚麼比基督更好呢?

 

    因此,上帝像約伯顯現自己,是要讓約伯清楚有上帝勝過了一切的冤屈!所以,上帝給我一個美好的名號「以馬內利」,也就是上帝的同在!