2019年8月30日星期五

Make Me An Empty Vessel

2 Kings 4:1-7
The Oil of the Widow Increased
A member of the company of prophets passed away, leaving behind a widow and two children. The widow and her children had lost all their support for livelihood. They were extremely poor that they piled up insurmountable debts.
This widow cried out to Elisha, the leader of the prophets, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two children to be his slaves.” (v. 1)
This woman had lost her husband, and now she was about to lose her two children. Misfortune indeed did not come singly for her. Her life seemed to come to a dead end. She was a desperate mother on earth! Who can help her?
God’s prophets often prophesied on national issues. Does God care about a widow?
Elisha was willing to help this widow, but he wanted her to play her part in the first place so that miracles could happen. God alone created the whole universe. He spoke into being the world, firmly established by His Word. God continues His work since then, but He invites men and women to partner him in His work.
Human beings bear the image of God, and are endowed with the ability to respond to his call. This is the prevenient Grace of God. Human beings are also commissioned to be God’s earthly representatives who will co-labor and co-create with Him. This is the “cultural mandate” and “vocation”.
Elisha asked her, “Tell me, what do you have in your house?” (v.2)
The widow answered honestly, “Your servant has nothing there at all, except a small jar of oil.” (v.2)
Indeed, her predicament was far beyond the intimidation of having her children taken away by her creditors. She found it hard to feed herself too. She was running out of her next meal!
Then Elisha instructed the widow, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbours, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels, and when one is full, set it aside.”
The widow obeyed the words of the prophet. She really did exactly what was told by the prophet, by asking her son to collect as many jars as possible. Then they shut their door behind them and filled their empty jars with oil.
Finally, she told her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.”
Then the oil stopped flowing (v.6).
The widow was thrilled with the miraculous provision but she was careful enough to first consult the man of God how she should proceed further. We need to take note of the undertone of “being obedient to God’s command” in the narrative.
The man of God said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” (v.7)
The story started with Elisha (v.1) and ended with him, the man of God (v.7), forming a neat inclusio. Apparently, it emphasized on God’s provision for man. But we are also told in the middle that the widow and her sons were quick to co-operate with the prophet.
So, the emphasis of this miracle was more than God supplying for human needs. The form of the passage foregrounds the importance of human obedience to God so that miracles can happen.
Offer for God’s Use Your Only Jar of Oil
The miracle of abundant oil started from the first jar of oil which the widow surrendered for God’s use. The widow was really impoverished and she had with her only a jar of oil. Her one and only jar of oil spoke about her poverty and shortage.
Yet in the eyes of the prophet, it became a means through which God could accomplish great thing. This little and humble jar of oil filled up many empty jars eventually. From a jar of oil, it turned out to be many jars of oil!
What we possess might be small in number. It might be insufficient and insignificant in the eyes of men. But God uses the little we have to accomplish something great. God’s grace is sufficient for us!
No one is so lacking, frail, and helpless and poverty stricken that he has nothing at all to offer up. Likewise, no one is so backslidden and fallen away beyond God’s restoration. There will always be a ray of hope that shines forth in the darkest moment of our lives!
As long as we do not give up and continue to hold on to the grace of God, and offer up our “only jar”; this last desperate effort will bring in the final victory! It is because our God is a faithful God who does the work of “increase, expand and secure” in the lives of his people.
The grace of God is sufficient for us! What does God expect from you this day? What do you have in your hand right now?
Though it may be little and insignificant, do not give up but instead, offer them to God. Miracle will happen! With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. The end of man is the beginning of God. Are you willing to submit to God by offering your very last jar of oil?
If we refuse to obey God, the jar of oil will remain as it is, and you may end up finishing it tomorrow. Which ending would you choose? To experience increase, or to be consumed to its very last drop of oil?
To Have Faith Means to Be Obedient
The stronger the faith the widow and her sons had, the more the empty jars would they borrow from their neighbours. The more empty jars they had, the more blessing they would contain.
Mother and children had to shut their door behind them and fill in the empty jars with oil. The air was indeed tense and exciting! It means that they were to do the operation all by themselves.
The volume of oil contained and the size of blessing received by the widow solely depended on her level of faith and obedience to God. And she was not supposed to rely on others. We might get used to rely on others and God to carry out our tasks. We remain idle and are even lazy to pray because we rely on others to pray for us. This is a wrong attitude!
God wants our participation. He wants us to be responsible. We have to toil by putting in our efforts, and pray for things to happen, adverse circumstance to be turned around!
The money from the sale proceeds of the oil was more than enough for the widow to repay her debts. Not only that, she had surplus to sustain the livelihood of her family. When God’s grace is poured down on us, we will be set free from our past debt, bondage and guilt, and our future will also be secured!
God’s blessings for this desperate widow included “increase, expansion, deliverance from past guilt, and a secured future”.
Today, God is willing to bless us with these too. The problem is, how should our attitude be as we work with God to experience His blessing?
We should attempt great things for God, and also for our family, health, study, career and ministry. For the blessing, God bestowed on us includes “increase, expansion and security”.
We need not limit ourselves by holding on to a jar of oil which seems to be flowing all the times without the aspiration of “increasing, enlarging and securing future”. We can have many jars of oil. It all depends on our faith and obedience to God.
The more faith we have, the more we are willing to obey God’s instruction in preparing our empty jars. The more empty jars we have, the more we display the characters of “humility, self-emptying, self-sacrifice, teachableness and submission to God”.
Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father in all glory, riches and might but he was obedient to God’s sending and emptied himself, rid of all the riches.
Philippians 2:5-8, Paul says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in the human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on cross.”
Christ emptied himself, was weak and impoverished, died on the cross so that we could be made whole, adopted as God’s children and receive abundant life. We were once like the widow, so impoverished and laden with sins and guilt, but now we are set free because Christ has sacrificed himself to stand in for us.
All love contains the element of “substitutionary sacrifice”, without which there can’t be genuine love. God loved us even when we were yet sinners, being enemies of God. He sent Christ to die for us.
Today, do you love God? What sacrifices have you made for God?
vv.9-11 continues, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Today, what areas do you expect God to bless you abundantly, to raise you up and fill you up with overflow blessing? Offer to God this day many of your “empty jars”— “humility, self-emptying, self-sacrifice, teachableness and submission to God”.
For only empty jars are able to contain the oil of God pouring down from heaven! If the jars you gather around are filled with greed, arrogance, bitterness, selfishness, pride and self-centeredness, you will not be able to receive the fullness of God’s blessing. Instead, you may be indebted more and more. Your life will be in trouble!
We also notice that if not for the blessing of God, the widow’s children would be captives of their past debt and would continue to be enslaved by it! The deliverance of God for the widow was wholesome, i.e. clearing her past debt and securing her future livelihood.
Today God also want to bless us with a wholesome salvation and deliverance. Are you still living under the shadow of your past? Are you still carrying with you unresolved hurt and guilt? Are you feeling despair because you are facing shortages right now?
Come to Jesus now with your “empty jars”!
Calling for unbelievers to receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour:
Jesus Christ emptied himself to become human and died on the cross so that we can be free to experience his salvation. For whoever places his faith on Christ, he will be a new creation. All his sins are forgiven and abundant power and grace will overflow in his life.
For those who have yet to make a decision to receive Jesus Christ into your life, and to receive Him as your personal Saviour, today is the right time for you to receive Jesus. You just need to humble yourself like an empty jar, to receive Jesus into your life as Lord and saviour.  Then you can forget about the past and come to experience the saving grace of Christ!
For those who have already received Jesus as Lord and saviour, let us continue to rely on his fullness of grace to break free from our past sins, hurts, curse and present bondages, shortages. Christ has saved us when we accepted him and he will save us till the end.

We need not worry or be anxious over the difficulties that we are facing now or the unknown future. Trust in Christ and find rest in him. He will take care of you, for you are God’s precious children. 

2019年8月29日星期四

信心是未见之事的实底


列王纪下六8—23
亚兰军队围困以利沙
古代的亚兰就是今天的叙利亚。亚兰和以色列经常处于敌对状态。亚兰人正进行埋伏和暗杀以色列王。然而,以色列的先知以利沙,每次都看穿亚兰人的计谋,送信通知以色列王逃过伏兵。
亚兰王很懊恼,召集臣仆问:『是谁做内奸,把我们房间里私下的商议,泄漏消息出去?』
亚兰王知道是先知以利沙充当战事情报员,就派军队到多抓拿以利沙,打算一劳永逸除掉这阻碍。亚兰大军夜间到达目的地,把城围住,四周一片宁静,似乎城里的人还在睡梦中!这次以利沙插翼难飞?
肉眼看不见的属灵争战
这里提到两种看见:一种是被上帝开启眼睛后的看见,乃是属天的眼界,看见真实的一面;另一种是属灵眼目受蒙蔽,只是看见属地的表象,乃是假象。
首先,神人的侍从大清早起来,走出屋子看见亚兰的军队,车马围住了城,就呼喊:『惨啦!』(15节)
神人回答说:『不要怕,因为和我们在一起的比和他们在一起的更多。』
然后神人就祷告说:『耶和华啊!请你开他的眼睛,让他能看见。』
于是,上帝开了仆人的眼睛,他就看见山上布满了火马火车,围绕着以利沙(17节)。
第二处是上帝击打亚兰的军队,使他们瞎眼,然后以利沙领他们到了北国的腹地,撒玛利亚。当时他们还蒙然不懂,以为是围绕着以利沙住的城坍。以利沙第二次祷告,求上帝开启他们的眼睛,使他们看见。他们就看见了,发现原来自己身在撒玛利亚城中!
基督徒在世上处于属灵争战。保罗在《以弗所书》第六章12节也清楚的指出这点:“我们并不是与属血气的争战,乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的,以及空中属灵气的恶魔争战。”
属灵争战不是冲着人而去的,而是冲着那肉眼看不见的、管辖这幽暗世界的“空中属灵气的恶魔”而去的。这是我们应当清楚的概念,我们争战的对象不是人,而是灵界的恶者。
原来魔鬼在许多人物和事件背后搞鬼,目的是引诱神的子民犯罪,以及使到这个社会人心道德沦亡,暴力人欲念横行!
表面上耶稣基督软弱的被钉死在十字架。十字架是羞辱的记号,但背后是一场肉眼看不见的属灵争战。基督的死正正是粉碎了魔鬼的权势,叫罪人得释放。基督得胜了。基督的胜利就是我们的胜利。
十字架是我们得胜的记号!保罗说,我们单单要夸基督的十字架。他的胜利成为了我们的胜利,因此给了我们勇气和保障去过每一天的生活。
今天我们周遭许多现象乃是真真假假,叫人难以掌握。许多人被眼前的苦难和引诱所迷惑,做出错误的决定,选择放弃信仰。求神开启我们信心的眼目,让我们看见表象背后的真相。
真相是,上帝在背后一直支持我们,保护我们,给了我们许多意想不到的属灵资源,支援我们克服眼前的困难。不要惧怕,那与我们同在的,必与他们同在的更多!约伯受到撒但攻击,受苦的故事就是一个活生生的例子。
从另一角度看,一些信徒走上不讨上帝喜悦的道路,甚至是抵挡上帝的旨意。他们以为一切都很顺利了,已经胜卷在握。其实上帝一直来给他们机会悔改。这是上帝的恩典,但是他们利用上帝的恩典来抵挡神。上帝容许他们硬心,顽梗下去。他们是一步一步的走入陷阱,最后搞到一败涂地!
今天你的心是否被肉眼所见牵引着,就越来越远离上帝呢?不要被眼前的诱惑战胜,也不要被眼前的困难吓唬。求上帝开启你属灵的眼睛,看见上帝是信实和神圣可畏。能看到「那在你们里面的,比那在世界上的更大」(约壹四10)。
其实北国以色列的撒马利亚一度被敌人围困和欺压,不是因为耶和华不拯救或无能拯救,乃是因为以色列一直来悖逆神,不寻求神。愿神给属天的眼界,受到神的国的美牵引,在俗世生活里,在苦难当中也坚定的寻求神,跟从主。这样你就会活出果敢,智慧,诚信和圣洁的生命。
上帝的作为超乎人的想象
以利沙的仆人以属地的眼目,看见敌人的兵马团团围困城,然而真实的情况乃是上帝的火车火马,布满山上,围绕着神人,保护着神人。不单如此,上帝的天军能力与数量,远远超过亚兰王的兵马。这里清楚指出上帝的能力,远远超过敌人的攻击力。无论现实情况如何糟糕,上帝仍然在掌权!
在另一处,当亚兰的军队被围困在撒马利亚城时,以色列王建议动刀和弓杀掉他们。这是轻而易举,阡灭敌军的办法。然而神人吩咐王必须给敌人食物和水,让他们吃喝,然后放他们回亚兰去。结果是,亚兰军不再侵犯以色列地了。
『食物和水』可以取代『弓和刀』,后果是带来和平,取代了另一轮仇杀。上帝的谋略永远高过人的谋略。如果当时以色列王真的将亚兰军队全体歼灭了,可能会激发起另一番的仇杀。当亚兰军平安地回到本国,上帝的恩典和威信反而叫他们决定不敢再次来犯境了。
今天你的行事为人是依赖人的能力,人的谋略,还是寻求上帝的能力,上帝的策略和法则?
基督徒行事为人若不是坚持根据圣经的教导,以神的话语为准则,就会随波逐流,以世俗学问和处事方式作为领航指南。结果今日的我推翻作日的我;一位屠龙英雄自己变成了邪恶的龙!
我们应该百分百地信任上帝,无论我们遭受什么攻击,遇见什么困难,当知道在上帝里,没有难成的事。虽然目前情况不理想,不明朗,然而愿意坚持以上帝的法则行事,遵守他旨意的人,就是行公义,好怜悯。
站在正义,站在上帝那边的,终必取得最后的胜利,因为上帝还会用一种超乎我们想象的方式来施行拯救。
选择与上帝为友
亚兰人攻击以色列不断在升级:从密室的密议,到派兵埋伏,然后派遣军队围困全城,这都难不倒上帝,因为战局老早在上帝的掌握之下。敌人夜间的行军,在白天被识破和公开地被愚弄。最后出乎意料,上帝施行恩典和慈爱来终止人间的战火。亚兰王慑于上帝的恩慈和威力,不敢与以色列敌对了。
经文开首说,『亚兰王与以色列人争战』(8节),结尾说,『从此亚兰军不再犯以色列境了』(23节)。这经文结构显出前后呼应 (inclusio)非常工整。
今天人与人之间,国与国之间,敌对的状况可能越来越严重。很多时候我不犯人,人却来犯我,而且斗争不断升级。然而,上帝要求我们以爱心的原则来处理许多的纷争。往往饶恕和爱心,乃是化解仇恨的最好办法。
亚兰王的反应也提醒我们,应当正面的回应上帝的恩慈,就是化干戈为玉帛,与爱对人。一位真正领受了上帝的爱的人,一定也会以爱对人,心中没有仇恨。
许多时候,我们选择了以敌对方式来处理人际关系,结果伤害了一些人,甚至于伤害了上帝的教会。然而,上帝是慈爱的上帝,他给我们足够的恩典去回转。让我成为上帝祝福的出口,而不是伤害他人的祸首。
遵守爱心原则待人的人,和臣服于上帝恩威的人,就是与上帝为友的人。然而,那不选择与上帝为友的人,难免成了上帝的敌人,得罪上帝,自己还不察觉到。你是与上帝为友还是与上帝为敌呢? 

2019年8月26日星期一

A Choice of the Moment That Determines Eternity



Joshua 2:1-24
Rahab and the Two Spies
Joshua the successor of Moses, was leading Israelite to occupy the Promised Land—Canaan. They were supposed to attack the first city—Jericho. Joshua first sent out two spies into the city.
40 years before, Moses sent twelve spies into the land of Canaan. However, 10 of the 12 spies did not have faith in God and because of this, the whole of Israel were not able to enter the Promised Land. Now Joshua only sent two spies, will they succeed in their mission?
The two spies were supposed to spy out the city. However, they went to the house of a prostitute – Rahab. What is going on here?
A Choice of the Moment that Determines Eternity
The two spies hid in Rahab’s house. They king of Jericho got the news very quickly and sent a few men to apprehend the spies, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” (V.3)
In a moment of urgency, Rahab made a quick decision and said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from but they left. Go after them quickly!” (V.5)
Rahab did not say that the spies had not come to her house. Instead, she said that she did not know who they were and that they had already left. This is a very skilled answer. The men of Jericho believed her and immediately rushed out the city in pursuit, then the gates of the city were shut.
Rahab knew that those two Israelites were spies, yet she hid them. That was an action that put her life in danger.
Then Rahab went up to the roof to negotiate with the two spies, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them —and that you will save us from death.” (verse 9-13)
The words that Rahab said was as if she was proclaiming her belief of the salvation of Yahweh (Deut 4:39). She realized that Yahweh is the God of the whole world, and at the same time saying that all the gods in the land of Canaan were not real gods. Not only did she wanted salvation, she was even more willing to worship and be loyal to Yahweh.
Rahab knew Yahweh through “hearing” and not “seeing”. After hearing, she put it into action to show her trust in Yahweh. The king of Jericho also “heard” the works of Yahweh but was defensive and resistant.
Rahab’s faith was not only an affirmation of the mind, but of a total makeover of her life. Rahab was not betting on the word of the two spies, but on Yahweh whom she trusted in, because she wanted the two spies to swear to her “by the Lord”.
At that very moment, Rahab decided to side with the Israelites. Rahab recognized and believed in Yahweh’s sovereignty. She accepted His promises to the people of Israel and then she became an Israelite herself.
The decision that Rahab made in a moment in time determined her fate and life for the rest of eternity. The spies promised her that as long as she didn’t reveal their location and safeguard their life, they would fulfil her wishes. (V.14)
We see that Rahab took the upper hand with her keen and decisive actions when dealing with the two groups of men. Her agile thinking and prompt decision making led her to securing hers and her family’s salvation before the city of Jericho was destroyed.
God had already mentioned that the city of Jericho must be completely destroyed together with all the living things in it, and Israelites cannot make covenants with Gentiles (Ex 23:32-33, Deu 7:2-5, 20:10-18).
Rahab had faith in Yahweh and made the right decision to protect the two spies. God had compassion on Rahab, and by His grace He gave salvation to Rahab and her family. Rahab and her family became the survivors of Jericho. All in all, the decision that Rahab made in a moment was enough to turn around their fates!
Today, we must make a similar decision to fully give ourselves to serve God. This decision can turn around our lives, leading us to a breakthrough in our adversity.
It’s a pity that many Christians only believe in Christ with head knowledge. Their belief does not come from their hearts that they do not build a relationship with God. They are indifferent and doubtful; they ask God for “religious vacation”; their hearts are filled with complaints and are always having disputes with others. In the end, they fall and back slide. These kind of faith is very different from Rahab’s bold and determined faith!
The genuine faith in Christ is one that when God revealed Christ to us, we would be impacted to go and reveal Christ through us. A Christian has more than an intellectual belief in Christ; they sense a personal relationship.
And they know that this relationship is not given to them solely for their own person comfort and joy. They know they have a responsibility to reveal Christ to others through what they are, do, and say.
Like Rahab, let us take heed and make up our minds to love God with all our hearts and to serve Him even before our “walls of Jericho” falls, because only the kingdom of God will last forever. The decision that we make today will determine whether our lives will be full, meaningful, and eternal.
In Christ, We Have the Victory
Rahab let the two spies to the ground by a rope through the window. This is because her house was part of the city wall (V.15). Rahab was living at the edge of the society: on the city wall.
She was also a prostitute, a person at the edge of society; a marginalized person. She was also a Gentile, but she had confidence and was loyal to the beliefs of Israel, and became a spiritually marginalized person. She also had to carry the responsibility of taking care of her family. As a woman, it should not be her responsibility, but a father or a son’s.
Today, there are people who are in situations similar to Rahab. They carry many responsibilities and are looked down by others, pariah, in danger and marginalized. They often blame their bad surroundings and give up fighting, not wanting to change their lives.
Rahab, however, was different. She had faith and depended on God to overcome her adversity. She took hold of the opportunity to turn her fate around and managed to have a breakthrough! Rahab asked the two spies to hide in the mountains for three days until the pursuers returned before going back to the Israelite camp (V.16).
The two spies said to her, “When we enter the land, tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, then you and all in your home will be spared.” (VV. 18-19)
Rahab followed their advice and tied the scarlet cord in her window. Rahab’s home became a shelter, and the scarlet cord in her window became the marker for the Israelites to determine her house. Up until here, Rahab’s actions signified that she had totally surrendered to Israel. This indicated that she and her family would eventually be saved!
“Salvation through the scarlet cord in the window” echoes the blood of the Passover lamb and the blood of Christ. These are the symbols of salvation. In the chaos and confusion of the destruction of the walls of Jericho, Joshua sent men to save Rahab and her family.
Rahab let down the two spies with a rope from the window on the city wall, and later on she was also saved by the scarlet cord in the window on the city wall. Where she was weak and being obedient to God, there she also became strong and obtained salvation.
Because Rahab identified herself with the Israelites, she experienced what the Israelites experienced, and became a part of the history of the salvation of the Israelites.
When we see Rahab’s difficult life experienced a breakthrough and a turn for the better, it tells us that we should not passively expect our environment to change to suit us. Instead, we should change ourselves.
We can change the way we think and our attitudes through dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit. We can change the way we live our lives and our relationship with others through dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit. Changing our mind-set and attitude will make our lives becoming very much different.
Today, if you feel that you are in a negative environment, facing poverty and sickness, if you do not want others to know about it, and build a wall around your heart and feel very depressed every day, or if you feel that you were born into a worse environment compared to others, then, you need to change your thinking.
These kind of negative thoughts can cause us to very easily fall into self-pity, bitterness, feeling of being rejected and misunderstood. May God help us to overcome these negative thoughts.
In fact, every one of us face many unpredictable tragedies, political persecution, economic downturn, and public order problems which cause us to be insecure and worrisome. We cannot control every blessings and misfortunes and every encounter in our lives, no matter good or bad.
Our only certainty is our dependence on God, by having faith in God and hanging up our scarlet cord to lift up the precious blood of Christ. Christ has saved when we first accepted him as saviour and he will save us till the end.
In all of life’s unpredictability where we have no control over, our only hope is on the blood of Christ that can bring us salvation and guard us. We cannot pray to God for a smooth ride, but we can look to Christ’s salvation in our adversities and find hope. The truth is, the disciples of Christ witnessed God’s protection and blessings in most part of their lives.
We also notice that Rahab did not ask for salvation for herself only. She also asked it for her family. She became a vessel of grace. She was no longer marginalized. Instead, she became the core person of her family.
Rahab’s faith also changed the perspective of the two spies. After listening to what Rahab had to say to them, God’s Promised Land to them was not something which they would obtain in the future. It was something that was concurrently happening.
They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” (verse 24)
In Matthew 1:5, Rahab’s name was recorded in the genealogy of Jesus. She became the ancestor of the house of King David and Jesus. This is amazing indeed!
Today, we should not build a wall around our hearts and isolate ourselves. We need to cross over this wall and breakthrough from our adversity and no longer be marginalized.
We can become a precious pearl, a vessel of salvation for our families, church and society, bringing hope and revival to everyone. We should contribute our talents and resources so that we will turn around the negative situations around us.

2019年8月25日星期日

王者之风



撒母耳记上十七32-51
大卫击杀巨人歌利亚
以色列与非利士两军对垒,非利士的巨人歌利亚,穿上全副盔甲,站在以拉山谷隔空叫阵,达四十天之久。以色列军中没有人敢出来应战。非利士军队之前已经多次与以色列军交手。他们有造铁器技术,实力在以色列之上。以色列军队在强敌前溃败,并且心都消化了。
少年大卫因为探访在战场争战的兄长,看见这情况就挺身而出,对扫罗王说:『不必惧怕那非利士人。让我去与那非利士人战斗。』
扫罗答应让大卫上阵,就把自己的战衣给大卫穿上,将铜盔给他戴上,又给他穿上铠甲。大卫把刀跨在战衣外,却是走不动。一个已经失去神喜悦的王的战衣,又怎么会适合大卫穿呢!
大卫拿起自己牧羊的杖,又在溪中挑选了五块光滑石子,放在袋里,就是牧人带的囊。他拿着甩石的机弦,就去迎那巨人歌利亚。这是一场不对称的决斗!
巨人歌利亚迎着大卫来,藐视他,因为他正少年,面色光红,容貌俊美。
歌利亚对大卫说:『你拿杖到我这里来,我岂是狗呢?就指着自己的神咒诅大卫,来罢!我将你的肉给空中的飞鸟、田野的走兽吃。』(43-44节)
大卫回敬歌利亚说:『你来攻击我,是靠着刀枪和铜戟;我来攻击你,是靠着万军之耶和华的名,就是你所怒骂带领以色列军队的神。今日耶和华必将你交在我手里。我必杀你,斩你的头,又将非利士军兵的尸首给空中的飞鸟、地上的野兽吃,使普天下的人都知道以色列中有神;又使这众人知道争战的胜败全在乎耶和华。』(45-46节)
歌利亚起身,拖着笨重的脚步向着大卫走来。大卫也迎着非利士人跑去。可以想象风吹起他的牧羊人外袍,姿态潇洒飘逸。他突然用手从囊中掏出一块石子来,用机弦向着巨人甩去。石子如子弹破空快速射去,命中了巨人的头部。石子进入巨人的额内,他就仆倒,面伏於地!
大卫用机弦甩石击倒了歌利亚。不知道他死了吗?大卫当时手中却没有刀。他跑过去,站在非利士人身旁,将他的刀从鞘中拔出来,割了他的头下来。大卫举起歌利亚的头颅。
非利士众人看见他们的勇士死了,就都逃跑(48-49节)。以色列军队追赶非利士人,把他们歼灭了。
解经
这段叙事不是强调谁对上帝的权能有信心,作战就必得胜。以色列战士多次跟非利士争战而败下阵来。不是只有大卫一个人对神有信心,赶迎击非利士而得胜利。其实这段叙事是强调上帝为子民预备一位拯救者来替子民争战,救赎子民。
我们从故事布局来解读这段叙事。
17章有两条主线把故事高潮推到大卫砍下歌利亚的人头。
首先,扫罗对大卫说:『你不能去与那非利士人战斗;因为你年纪太轻,他自幼就作战士。』
大卫对扫罗说:『你仆人为父亲放羊,有时来了狮子,有时来了熊,从群中衔一只羊羔去。我就追赶他,击打他,将羊羔从他口中救出来。他起来要害我,我就揪着他的胡子,将他打死。你仆人曾打死狮子和熊,这未受割礼的非利士人向永生神的军队骂阵,也必像狮子和熊一般。』(34-35节)
叙述者突显大卫是一位好牧人,舍命打倒死熊和狮子,拯救他的羊群。今天他在以色列全民众目睽睽下,挺身而出击杀了歌利亚,从仇敌手里拯救了以色列众民。
叙述者是要宣告,上帝拣选的一位王者,子民的拯救者诞生了!他就是大卫。大卫是全国人民的大牧者,而子民就好像王的羊群。
大卫这位牧者挺身而出救子民。从此口碑传开——扫罗杀死千千,大卫杀死万万!以前撒母耳先知暗地里膏立大卫,现在大卫在全民面前宣示王者,拯救者的风范。
第二,大卫以牧羊人的装束,牧羊人的杖和甩石来对付歌利亚。这表示大卫以对付野兽的方法来对付歌利亚。歌利亚的话突显这点: 『你拿着仗到我这里来,我岂是狗吗?』(43节)
叙述者在此强调这位拯救者大卫,拥有非凡的眼界。人们把歌利亚看成令人畏惧的巨人勇士,大卫看他只是一头叫嚣的野兽。不但如此,大卫是以一位软弱者的姿态来迎战,却可以把巨人打倒,然后将胜利的果实归于受压制的子民。
大卫的功绩预表耶稣基督。耶稣是我们的大牧者。他为了拯救我们罪人,就软弱的死在十字架上。耶稣在十字架上的死,击败了魔鬼,叫我们从罪中得释放。他在十架上牺牲自己的性命救赎了我们,他就会拯救我们到底!
我们信主那一刻,主基督拯救了我们。接下来,我们一生人还是靠着主的救恩存活,战胜一切的困难和挑战,因此在基督里,我们是有盼望的。基督得胜了魔鬼。他的胜利就是我们的胜利。
现在我们可以从容面对生命的巨人”—苦难、疾病、失败、批评、困难。在“巨人”面前,我们不必惧怕或崩溃。
应用
第一、活出王者之风。
我们活在世上必然面临各式各样“巨人在叫嚣,吓唬我们,攻击我们,叫我们丧胆。然而,基督已经得胜了“巨人“,他的胜利就是我们的胜利。
我们在基督里被神塑造成为君尊,圣洁的子民。彼得前书二9:『惟有你们是被拣选的族类,是有君尊的祭司,是圣洁的国度,是属神的子民,要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。』
我们在基督里是新造的人,旧事已过,都变成新的了。我们要天天靠着圣灵的更新,使我们的生命不断成长,以致于和君尊圣洁的身份,和新造的人的身份相符合。
我们在世人面前当活出不卑不亢,堂堂正正的基督徒生命,展示王者之风。在任何情况下,我们要勇敢承认是基督徒。这是毫不需要羞愧的。我们在各个领域,要做到最好,为主发光作见证。
然而,我们若是在哪里失败,也不必气馁,因为主耶稣爱我们,他已经接纳我们作神儿女,他也一定赦免我们的软弱和过错。
我们在地上代表神,与神同工,抵抗罪恶,伸张正义,好叫神的旨意、公义和慈爱行在地上如同行在天上。我们当抱着这个健康的,积极的王者的形象,在每天的生活里活出精彩。我们要杜绝整天怨天尤人、自卑心作祟、自残自毁的消极心态。
为何信徒的生命还会如此消极无望呢?为何那么快在巨人面前跪低呢?因为他还不知道或不真的相信基督已经得胜了,他是丰盛的救主,他的胜利就是我们的胜利,我们现在就是得胜的王者!
第二,拥有王者的眼界。
我们作为神的子民,在地上与基督一同争战就当以王者的眼界来看世界。这王者的眼界是超乎世人的眼界,就是和世人拥有不相同的价值观和视角。
生意人、艺术家、环保分子,不同人看上同一棵树时,都有不同的看见,因为他们拥有不同的眼界。世俗眼光倾慕强者必得胜,向强者谄媚,基督的门徒却是怜恤弱者和尊重弱者,并且透过软弱而得胜,显出刚强。
今天你的眼界对比世人的眼界,有不同吗?
魔鬼是透过『威逼利诱』来攻击我们。魔鬼要使我们与罪恶妥协,放弃信仰立场。我们不要给魔鬼恶留地步,不要以世俗的价值观来判断得与失。不要被金钱收买而出卖信仰原则。
世人执着手中的钞票,钞票就成了毒蛇叫人堕落犯罪。但我们有上头来的眼光,知道自己只是神在地上的管家,金银财宝就不能像毒蛇那样伤害我们!我们以圣经的原则,神的法度和权能去审视和透视生命每一个困难而作出抉择。
今天巨人就在你的面前,不要胆怯,不要跪低。神要给你一个超越的眼光,帮助你看透眼前的困难,以及魔鬼的诡计。主耶稣得胜了“巨人,他的胜利也是你的胜利。圣灵要给你的能力为主做工,取得胜利。勇敢上前抵挡“巨人,把巨人击倒!
结语
基督在十字架上舍身战胜了魔鬼。他救赎了你,就会拯救你到底。你现在起来实现你君尊王者的身份,伸张你的眼界,积极无惧地过每一天的生活。你纵然软弱,但基督是丰盛和满有恩典的。站在基督的胜利的应许上,你可以好像大卫那样,击倒生命中所有的“巨人,活出精彩,展示王者之风。