从苦到甜的生命

出埃及记十五22–27

玛拉和以琳的水泉

当我们的生命面临困难和危机，我们当如何反应呢？

这些困难或危机可能是来自环境的艰难、工作或事业不顺利；身体健康亮红灯或遇见意外；或者只是一些日常生活的不如意，譬如说：失去服事的机会、失去爱情、失去友谊、读书成绩差强人意等。当人处在真实的苦难状况中，往往是难以克服心态上的不平衡，做出不理性，没有信心的反应。

出埃及记记载，上帝行了神迹，叫红海的海水分开，以色列人就从乾地走过红海。然后海水回流，把埃及军队淹没在海里。以色列百姓看见后，就敬畏上帝和他的仆人摩西（十四31）。在红海边，以色列人欢呼、击鼓跳舞、大唱凯歌和称颂耶和华。

然而，这只是一个很好的开始。他们从红海启程，不久到了书珥的旷野。他们在旷野将面对什么困难呢？

生命进入旷野

基于红海的救赎和凯旋经验，以色列人期待前面有“天堂”, 但是却是来到了“旷野”！旷野是不毛之地、是鸟不生蛋、没有水和没有食物的地方。这里是困难和没有盼望的地方，比起繁荣的埃及地，差太远了！

以色列民难以想象, 为何上帝带领他们到了这个地方。而且他们走了三天，举目望天，还是旷野。当时百姓身体软弱、干渴、快忍不住了就要倒下去……。

就在这时候，他们看见水！全体百姓雀跃无比，快步跑过去，争先恐后地拿水喝。再次，百姓觉得被欺骗，感到很沮丧，因为口里尝到苦水——不能够喝下去的水！

为何看见希望，却又带来失望？百姓再也按奈不住，就向摩西发怨言，说：『我们喝什么呢？』百姓尝到“苦水”，叫他们想起在埃及时候经历的“苦楚”，上帝曾经答应把他们从奴役中救赎出来。然而，为何现在会面对一个更加苦的光景呢？可能要葬身在旷野！

这好像一些基督徒得救后的经验。我们得救后，心中期待天堂在前面，但是却是来到了玛拉，尝到了苦水。我们和以色列百姓作出相同的反应，就是怀疑上帝和口出怨言。以色列百姓怎么进入旷野，我们信主的生命，也怎么进入旷野。

这时候我们感到生活很苦，我们产生怀疑，到处奔波要找出路，但是找到的是假的希望。人的自然反应是怨天尤人，甚至归咎于教会领袖，归咎于牧师……为什么我的日子越来越苦？

信靠与顺服上帝

摩西就呼求上帝。上帝给他指示一棵树，他就把树丢进水里，水就变甜了。经文说：『耶和华在那里为百姓立了律列和典章，也在那里试验了他们。』（25节）

感谢主！虽然我们信心软弱，还在埋怨的时候，上帝为我们带来医治，使苦水变成甜水。这证明上帝体念人的软弱和不完美。

许多时候，会友看见教会和牧者的软弱、缺乏、失败和不完美之处，就产生埋怨，甚至大发雷霆。然而，教会或牧者，难道不也是看见，并且有权力去埋怨会友的软弱和不完美吗？我们不应该互相埋怨，而是要互相体念彼此的软弱和不完美之处。

百姓遇见苦水，乃是因为上帝要试验他们。这是以色列人出埃及后的第一个试验。上帝试验他们，目的是要他们学习信靠和顺服的功课。什么是信靠和顺服的功课呢？就是在困难的处境当中，也要服从上帝的带领，遵守上帝的律例和典章。

耶和华又说：『如果你们留意听耶和华，你神的声音，行他眼中看为正的事，侧耳听他的戒命，遵守他的一切律例；这样，我决不把加在埃及人身上的一切疾病加在你们身上，因为我是医治你的耶和华。』 (26节)

 『留意听……行他眼中……；侧耳听……遵守他的……』；这里很清楚指出，首先听上帝的话，然后执行他的吩咐。

今天，许多人不愿意聆听上帝的话语，却是很快地就作出批评、埋怨和不满的声浪。如果我们首先谦卑下来，聆听，试图去了解和同情，那么众多批评和埋怨的声音自然会减少。

经历『玛拉』是信徒的一个试验，上帝要透过实际的生活体验来教导我们，装备我们，好叫我们懂得顺服他的旨意，遵守他的命令。从苦水到甜水，从埋怨到顺服；上帝可以使苦水变成甜水，我们应当化埋怨作顺服。

今天我们的行事为人，有遵守上帝的命令？如果我们遵守，信靠和顺服上帝，上帝能够保护我们，医治我们的种种苦难。

上帝在『玛拉』使苦水变成甜水，就是实物证据，告诉我们他做得到，叫信靠他的人经历从苦到甜。

在新约，耶稣给门徒带来的第一个功课，也是有关于水。当时，耶稣在迦拿的婚宴以水变酒，把无用的水化作宴席欢庆用的美酒，显出他有拯救和转化危难的权能。耶稣应许给信靠他的人，从他们的腹中要留出活水的江河（约翰福音七38）。这活水的江河乃是圣灵的浇灌，给人的生命满有力量和喜乐！

每当我们回顾人生的时候，最值得我们回味的不是生活如何愉快的日子，却是在玛拉尝到苦水的日子。这些伤痕和苦水都成了上帝的恩典的记号。

再爱主多一点

经文说，以色列百姓后来到了以琳，那里有十二股水泉，七十棵棕树。他们就在那里靠近水边的地方安营（27节）。以琳是绿州、有水泉、有树，乃资源丰盛的地方。这里离开玛拉，只有7里之遥，距离不远。

百姓到了玛拉，就在那里发怨言，眼目被困在那里，看不见以琳，原来就在走多几里路的前方而已。

今天你是否被困在 『失败经历、 丢失、不完美、 不满意、 自我中心』 的牢笼里，看不见前方的『以琳』？我们不知道前路，但是我们要再忍耐多一点；再信靠主多一天；再爱主多一点！

读书，做工和服事，的确是很辛苦，并且可能付出后，还看不见效果。然而，让我们继续努力，忍耐煎熬地前进。瘟疫的肆虐、经济不景气似乎没有好转迹象？祷告追求上帝似乎出现疲乏？人生某一方面还是做到不足？我们来坚持下去，紧贴着上帝，跟从主犹如往常一样。原来绿州就在前面不远！

Unused Opportunities

2 Kings 13:14-21

Elisha Met King Jehoash Before His Death

Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness of which he was to die. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

The king sought Elisha, the prophet’s help before his death. He addressed Elisha as the chariots and horsemen of Israel because the prophet did many miracles in Israel and he was well respected by all. The king felt that the nation would lose its vital combative power and it would be conquered by its enemies once the prophet passed on.

Elisha was a powerful and anointed charismatic prophet, how then could he become seriously ill to the point of dying? Elijah, the mentor of Elisha, was also known as the chariots and horsemen of Israel (2:12), and he was indeed taken up by the chariots and horsemen and ascended to heaven in a whirlwind. Why didn’t Elisha also leave in a miraculous way? Would he leave behind a powerful legacy after his death? Elisha was about to die; he could not even help himself, how likely then could the king receive help from him? The narrative starts with much tension and queries!

Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so.

“Take the bow in your hands.” The king then held the bow in his hands.

“Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it.

“Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot.

“The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”

The prophet used “acts” to symbolize the Lord’s victory over Aram. Here appeared a principle: “the king observed the instructions given by the prophet.” A series of well-knitted verbs were used to highlight the instructions given by the prophet and the king followed them exactly!

But the story did not end here. The prophet went on to instruct the king, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped.

Elisha was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”

The readers might ask, “Why didn’t the prophet tell him clearly in advance how many times he had to strike the ground? Will the prophecies given by the prophet be fulfilled?”

Complete victory is achieved by human initiatives with the empowerment from God

The king obeyed Elisha completely and he acted according to the instructions given to him: He took the arrows, opened the window, and shot towards the east. It was the arrow of victory of the LORD, so it was God’s victory. God promised that the Israelite army was able to destroy the Aramean army completely! When God is at work, is there any room or any need for man’s participation? Of course. There is!

The king obeyed the instruction of the prophet Elisha the second time: striking the ground with the arrows. But he was reprimanded because he only struck the ground three times. Elisha should have told the king in advance how many times he needed to strike the ground. But he did not. His instruction was uncertain and unclear, but this ambiguity provided room and opportunity for the king to be more proactive, assertive and participative .

God has promised a complete victory to the king, so an opportunity was given to him. But he did not harness the opportunity fully. Don’t we also encounter situations in life which are unclear and uncertain when we take heed of God’s instructions? God also does not provide us complete and stringent instructions in all things when we act upon them.

We observe that the interaction between the prophet and the king carried out in a pattern: the prophet instructed while the king obeyed. And it was a “two steps progression” pattern: the king shot the arrow eastward, and he stroke the arrow on the ground.

The first step shows us that it is God who helps us to be successful (the arrow of God’s victory). However, in the second step, God does not exempt us from displaying self-initiatives, perseverance, determination and spiritual alertness. These are the vital human factors which ensure complete victory.

If the king of Israel had initiatives, determination, perseverance and spiritual alertness, he would have stricken the ground more than three times. Like what was said by the prophet, he should strike five or six times, and then he could have complete victory over the Arameans! The king paid the price for the rise and fall of his nation with his indiscreet (tak apa) attitude! He had wasted a golden opportunity given by God.

Nowadays, as parents, we teach and nurture our children, we also expect our children to be independent, so we train them in this way too. We provide for our children sufficient resources, education and guidance, but we also want them to come to self-realization, to take their own initiation and to strive strenuously.

In fact, the king’s failure to grab the opportunity of complete victory did reflect his wavering attitude towards the LORD. He gave the credit of all security and prosperity of the nation to Elisha, but he never attributed the success of the nation to God. His fear at that moment also revealed that he lacked spiritual alertness or insight. No wonder the king failed to overcome the Aramean completely even when the prophet had spent many years with him. He had to seek the prophet’s help at the prophet’s dying moment.

The real problem of the king lied with his lack of knowing the Lord personally, following Him, submitting to Him, and being vigilant at all times. This highlights to us that:

If we do not have a right attitude, or are not faithful to God, or if we are slack, or lack determination and are not serious in serving Him, or if we are wavering all the whiles; we will not have complete victory over the many challenges of life, even if God were to intervene to help us. A complete victorious life is built upon a life that is pro-active, firm and spiritually vigilant through having a personally relationship with God.

Today, is your involvement in the ministry, your attitude in giving, and your seeking to know God well-aligned with God? Are you lukewarm, inconsistent in your faith? And do you maintain a watchful attitude toward God’s presence and his Words? Do you only come to seek Jesus when you encounter danger? Do you desire to live a victorious life? Do you come to a point where your spiritual life is stagnant, and you do not have breakthroughs and you even fall into temptation easily?

Let us be faithful to God and walk with Him at all times. These will help us to be pro-active and courageous in serving the Lord. We must take full responsibility whether we are working in our workplace or serving in the church. We should not shirk from our responsibility, rather we need to walk the extra mile in accomplishing the task given to us, although there are elements of risk and we must pay the price!

God will surely provide us with all kinds of helps and resources, and together with our positive attitudes, we will rise to complete victories in all areas which will in turn glorify God.

Man is weak but the power of God’s words remains forever

Elisha died eventually. He was just an ordinary man. He could not escape from the normal cycles of life and death, health, and sickness.

When the new year came, a group of Moabites made their inroad to the land of Israel. Some people were burying their dead. They were frightened by the Moabites and they threw the dead body and ran away. The dead body fell on the tomb of Elisha accidentally, and it touched the bones of Elisha, and the dead came to life again.

This narrative story corresponds to the tension presented in the beginning: The sickness and the death of Elisha was a journey that common men would travel even though he was a charismatic prophet. But his bones brought forth the saving power of life, and this miracle was compatible to the miraculous ascension of Elijah. It also foreshadows that the prophecy given by Elisha to the king would surely be fulfilled after his death.

Elisha became weak physically and he was on his sick bed, facing a definite death. This man of God left us like any ordinary man. Though he no longer lived on earth, the power of God was still effective. Thus, we can be sure that the prophet’s words will surely be fulfilled.

On whom do you build your faith today?

We ought to build our faith in God, to know and to follow His Word, and to build an intimate relationship with Him. Problems arise when our faith is built on charismatic leaders, relationship with people, software and hardware of the Church and ministries!

If someone whom you trust becomes weak, or stumbles and falls, or even fall away from God, you will not be able to stand strong. If you lost your ministry, you might stop following the Lord or stop serving Him. The software and hardware facilities of the church could only provide you a short-term attraction, but they are not able to help you grow in faith, or to help you keep watch and grow closer with God in the long run.

Let us build a closer relationship with our Lord today and deepen our faith in Him. We need to discipline ourselves to read the bible and pray each day. The Holy Spirit will enlighten us and empower us to be more sensitive spiritually and more effective in the ministries. We also need to practice our faith, and to involve actively in all kinds of ministry and giving of money to support the ministries in church.

Through our works of piety which take root in prayers and the Word of God, and our works of mercy by practical serving and giving, we will surely be connected to God, grow in faith and holiness, and be fruitful! We shall live a victorious life of faith.

Like the life of Elisha, who manifested extraordinary anointings with an ordinary life, we too will be able to bring blessings to our community, transform society, and awaken dead souls. Grow deeper in Christ through the works of piety and works of mercy is the emphasis of the historical Methodist faith.

人生如箭场

列王纪下13:14-21

以利沙临终見約阿施王

先知以利沙(Elisha)患了必死的病。以色列王—约阿施 (Jehoash)下来看他，伏在他脸上哭泣，说：『我父啊！我父啊！以色列的战车马兵啊！』

我们看见以色列王在先知临终前才来求他帮助。王称先知以利沙是以色列的战车和骑兵，因为先知在以色列行了许多神迹而备受尊崇。王觉得先知若不在了，国家会失去战斗力而受敌人征服。

然而，以利沙既是大能的灵恩先知，何以患重病，而且必然死的呢？以利沙的师傅--以利亚 (Elijah)也被称为以色列的战车和骑兵（2:12），而且是战车和骑兵在旋风中接他升天。

为何以利沙不是神奇式离世而是病死？以利沙死后会留下什么力量吗？以利沙将要病死，自身难保，王去见他还能得到帮助吗？这个故事一开始就呈现许多张力和疑问！

以利沙吩咐王：『拿弓箭来。』王就拿来。

『你用手拿着弓。』王就用手拿弓。

『打开向东的窗户。』王就打开。

『射箭吧！』王就射箭。

以利沙接着宣告说：『这是耶和华胜利的箭，就是战胜亚兰人的箭；因为你必在亚弗攻打亚兰人，直到灭尽他们。』

先知以“王的动作”象征耶和华将亲自打胜亚兰。这里出现『先知吩咐；王遵守』的模式，以及一连串紧凑的动词突出先知吩咐，王就做！

然而，事情没有停在这里，因先知又吩咐王：『拿几枝箭来。』王就拿来。

以利亚说：『击打地吧！』王就以箭击打地上，打了三下，就停了。

以利沙向他发怒说：『应当击打五次或六次，就能攻打亚兰人，直到灭尽。现在只能打败亚兰人三次。』

读者可能会问：『为何先知不老早说清楚，应该击打多少下？先知预言王的局部胜利会成就吗？』

他力加上自力，促成完全的胜利

以利沙第一次吩咐王行动，王完全听从吩咐：拿箭来，打开窗，向东放箭。这是耶和华胜利的箭，是上帝自己的胜利。上帝应许以色列可以灭尽亚兰。当神应许了，神又行动了，人还有什么空间参与呢？人有必要参与吗？当然有啊！

因此我们看见以利沙第二次吩咐王行动，王也是遵守先知的吩咐。王以箭击打地，却遭到责备因为只击打了三次。以利沙没有老早说清楚，应该击打多少次乃是要给王机会表现或参与。

今天我们跟从神的日子里，不也是会遇见模糊，不明朗状况吗？我们在做一些合乎神的旨意的事上，神有时候也没有给我们完整又明确的指示如何做。

我们留意到，先知和王的互动，表现在先知命令，王遵守的规律，而且是『双重渐进式』的：

王向东方放箭了，然后以箭击打地上。这表示第一步，上帝应许给我们完全的成功。上帝会出手帮助我们取得成功（上帝胜利的箭）。但在第二步，上帝没有取代我们自己应该持有的自发性、坚持、决心和属灵的警觉性。这是人自己必须做到。

以色列王若有积极的态度，有决心和坚持，有属灵警觉，他自然会击打地上超过三下，好像先知说的，击打五或六下，那么他就会彻底成功！上帝给他机会取得完成的成功，他却没有抓住这机会。王为他自己的轻率举动付出了国家战败的代价！

今天父母亲教导和培养孩子成年，期望他们能够过独立生活，也是如此训练他们。父母会提供孩子足够的资源、教育和引导，但是也期待孩子自己能够开窍、有自发性去奋斗。

其实，王在第二步的失败，反映他一向来对耶和华神信仰冷淡或摇摆不定。他把国家安全和繁荣都归于以利沙，却没有将这功劳归于神。他来见先知时的惶恐也显示他缺少属灵的悟性或警觉。难怪先知在世多年和王一起，王都不能彻底胜过亚兰，而必须等到先知临终时刻来抱住先知哀悼。

王真正的问题是缺乏决心认识神，跟从和顺服神，并保持警醒。其实这是北国以色列王一贯的属灵软弱。所有的北国以色列的王不认识神，对神不忠诚，不依靠神去抵抗敌人。他们表面上还向神献祭，但他们对神拯救的信心乃是摇摆不定，一时冷，一时热。他们对神的律法冷淡，缺乏纯正的信仰。

如果人平常态度不正确，对神不忠心、做事敷衍、事奉神事上轻忽，摇摆不定，那么当机会来到，他也会错失良机；或是危机来到时，他就临时抱『神的脚』，这样的人不能取得真正的胜利。一个完全得胜的人生，乃是建立在时刻都积极、自发、坚定和警醒的态度上。

今天你对神的国和神的义是否兴致勃勃？你对神的能力是否信心满满？你参与服事、奉献的态度是否校对了？是不冷不热、时冷时热、还是持久的保持警醒？你是面对危险時，才临时赶来抱住上帝吗？你是否觉得灵命停滞不前，没有突破，甚至很容易就跌入试探？你有渴望过一个完全得胜的生命吗？你渴慕神给你一个更大的成功，更大的胜利吗？

神会出手帮助我们，给我们许多机会和资源。我们每天的生活也应该是积极、主动地、勇敢地投入行动，并且时刻警醒。我们无论是在外做事或者在教会服侍，都必须积极参与，不推卸责任，虽然当中有冒险和有付出的成分。忠心于上帝，与上帝同行乃是一生人细水长流的坚持和纪律生活。

这样在机会来到时，我们就很自然抓紧机会，尽力打拼，取得最高胜利。而在危机来到时，我们也很自然懂得如何转危成为良机，脱颖而出，取得胜利。神要祝福他的儿女们在各方面都得胜有余，活出荣耀神，见证主耶稣的生命！

人是脆弱的，但神话语的力量常存

以利沙终于死了。他只是一个普通人，逃不过生老病死。然而，到了新年，有一群摩押人犯境，同时有人正在埋葬死人，看见摩押人出现，他们感到惊慌，就丢下尸体逃走。尸体意外的掉在以利沙的坟墓里，碰触到以利沙尸骨，死人就复活起来。

这个叙事是呼应之前，一开头呈现的张力：以利沙的病死是平常人必经之路，但是他的尸骨带来拯救生命的力量，可以媲美以利亚神奇的升天。这也预示了，以利沙给王的预言，在他死后将继续有力量，必然成就—以色列王只能够局部战胜敌人。

以利沙软弱了，卧病在床，而且必然死。这位神人像平常人一般的离开我们。他虽然不在了，神的力量依然是有效的，神的话语必然成就的。今天你的信心是建立在那里？

我们的信心必须建立在神的身上；认识和遵从上帝的话语，以及跟神建立密切的关系。我们的信心若是建立在魅力领袖身上、人的关系上、教会的硬体、软体上、事工上，那问题就来了！

如果你身边某一个你信靠的人，软弱，跌倒了，或是离开了，你就站不住了。

若你失去了你的『事工』，你就不继续跟从主，服侍主了。

教会先进的硬体或软体设备只能够给你短期的吸引力，却无法帮助你长期的在信心上成长，保持警醒的心，以及与神更密切。

今天我们来与主建立更密切的关系，在信仰上进深。我们每天都规定有祷告和读经生活。圣灵一定会启迪我们，叫我们认识神和获得从神而来的力量和智慧。我们也要操练信心，凭信心积极的参与各种服侍和奉献金钱资助教会的事工。

透过我们在祷告和神的话语上的扎根（works of piety），以及实际上的服侍和奉献(works of mercy)，我们一定能够与主连接，灵命长进，并且结果累累！我们就会过着得胜的信仰生命，好像以利沙的生命在平凡中产生极大不平凡的属灵力量，使身边的人蒙福，周边的人心得更新，以及叫尸体（沉睡中的灵魂）苏醒过来！

Home is where God is

Deuteronomy 6:4-19

The Greatest Commandment

Mark 12:28-31:

One of the teachers of the law came and asked Jesus, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus was actually quoting from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:4-5:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

If we read Deuteronomy Chapter 6 carefully, we will understand why God asked us to love Him with all our hearts. And this passage also tells us how to love God wholeheartedly.

Why Are We to Love God Wholeheartedly? (vv.4-5)

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 indicate that the LORD “our God” is “One”, the LORD is “your God”. This is something we have to pay attention to: the LORD is our God.

The preceding verses recapitulate the incident of the Israelites reaching Mount Sinai, where God covenanted with them and gave them the Ten Commandments.

The first commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me.” Prior to this, God revealed to the Israelites who He was: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Deut 5:6)

Hence, God told the Israelites to obey His Commandments so that they could pay attention to who their God really was. Who was the One who rescued them? Of course, it was the LORD (YHWH)!

Since the Israelites knew that only the LORD was their God, who had rescued them, they have to love Him with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their strength, and to worship and serve Him only.

Today we have experienced God’s wonderful salvation. It is the Lord Jesus who have saved us through his death on the cross. He loves us and He makes His covenant with us with His blood, so that we can become the children of God.

How shall we respond to the Lord who rescues us and who makes His covenant with us?

Of course, we also have to love him and serve Him with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul and with all our strength. Now the question is:

What to do so as to Remain Faithful to the End of our life to the Lord? （vv. 6-9）

Keeping the Word of the Lord in our heart is the most important thing we should do. We are to teach and obey God’s Word in our daily life.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 are vivid and comprehensive in requesting God’s people to talk about the instructions of God whenever they sit at home, whenever they walk along the road, whenever they lie down, and whenever they get up.

And they have to tie the Word of God as symbols on their hands and bind them on their foreheads, and write them on the doorframes of their houses and on their gates. All these help us to keep the Word of God in our hearts, and to apply it in our daily living.

We have to love God and to keep remembering His commandments, and to teach His commandments to our children, and to live in accordance to His Word daily.

God emphasizes very much the duty of parents to impart the Word of God to their children. Parents are not to shift their responsibility to the Church or to the Sunday School.

The Bible provides for us many practical teachings where we can use. It is insufficient to just rely on a weekly bible study class or a Sunday sermon. A family that fears God and a harmonious family starts with the teaching of the truth of God at home.

The Israelites made religion the centre of their life, and they had done it successfully. Their religious education was life-centred, and not merely a head knowledge. Using daily living as their context, they taught about the things of God.

If you want your children to follow God, you have to make God to be a part of their normal daily life. Be diligent to teach your children, and help them to encounter God through all things in their lives, not merely things which are related to church.

Verses 10-19 emphasize that, keeping the Word of God in our heart helps us to not forget all the kindness He had shown us; and to keep us from sinning against God. Moses issued three warnings to the Israelites to keep them safe from forgetting God and sinning against God.

1.      Beware That People Tend to Forget God’s Kindness (vv.10-13)

Moses warned those Israelites who were to enter the land of Canaan, that after they had enjoyed all kinds of blessings and goodness, that they would “be careful that they do not forget the Lord, who brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (v.12)

People tend to be forgetful. When we are well-fed, we will forget the God who blesses us. It will be harder for the rich to have clear spiritual visions than the poor, for riches make people conceited and they will crave for more wealth.

It is very easy to become self-sufficient and complacent when our churches now grow in number and ministry, and we have accumulated much achievements and all things seem to go smoothly.

In the situation of complacency or comfort zone, we seldom think that we need God. We are only keen on self-exaltation rather than thanking God for the growth and achievement we have, and serving Him faithfully.

Now the most parts of the world are hit by the Covid 19 pandemic. Human lives are threatened and distanced. Economic activities are halted. Service industries are extremely affected. Many businesses are closing down, workers laid off.

So, as people of God, instead of complaining and moaning in depressed state, we should take this opportunity to realign our lives: live simple, contemplate God’s word, clinging to God through prayer and discovering how to live by God’s grace. God will surely take care of us. 

The Lord Jesus has rescued us so that we not only receive the forgiveness of sins and the blessed eternal life, but also to receive many blessings in this life on earth. All these are not some coincidences.

The Bible reminds us to be careful, to not forget the Lord who saves us. We have to keep the Word of God in our heart, and to remember that Jesus Christ is our Savior.

Whenever we partake the communion, we are reminded of Jesus’ words, saying that His body is given up for us, and His blood is shed for us. It is the Lord Jesus who enables us to receive this abundant life. We have to worship Him wholeheartedly, and to give Him all thanksgiving and praises.

2.      People Are Easily Tempted (vv.14-15)

Moses warned the Israelites that the inhabitants in the land of Canaan worshipped many other gods, but they had to worship and serve the LORD only and not to follow after other gods.

If the Israelites did not keep the Word of God in their hearts, they would easily follow after the nations in worshipping all kinds of false gods and seek for their increase in harvest or descendant. They would forget completely that all these blessings were given by the Lord.

We, too, face temptations along the way when we follow the Lord. There are all kinds of things that will distract us and tempt us not to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, for example, our pursuit of money, material things or other life goals.

These cause us to eventually rely on all kinds of experiences or strategies to achieve our goals, and we no longer rely on the leading of our God, and we also won’t be following Him wholeheartedly. Man is very easy to be tempted. Therefore, we have to keep the Word of God in our heart, so that we can be reminded to keep focusing on following the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

3.      People Tend to Test God in Their Difficulties (vv.16-19)

Moses warned the Israelites, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.” (v.16)

The meaning of “Massah” is “testing”.

When the Israelites crossed over the Red Sea and they left Elim, they came to a place where there was no water, and they grumbled against Moses who took them out from the Egypt and caused them to die of thirsty in the wilderness.

Moses called out to the LORD, and the LORD asked him to hit on the rock, so that water would gush out for the consumption of Israelites. Moses named that place Massah, because there the Israelites tested the LORD, and asked, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:1-7)

We will still face difficulties in life after our conversion. We may be shaken in our faith whenever we face predicament and whenever we are in despair, like the Israelites who were on the verge of dying of thirst, when they started murmuring against God’s leading and doubting of God’s presence with them.

However, Moses reminded us not to test God, but to pay attention to His Word (v17).

We will definitely struggle whenever we face difficulties in life, and Satan tests us by shifting our focus on the problems themselves rather than remembering our God who is the great and mighty One. Satan caused us to grumble against God and to not listen to Him.

Do you remember how the serpent tempted Eve to doubt God’s good intention? Yet, who are we going to follow? Whose voice are we taking heed of?

It is easy for us to test God in our difficulties. We have to keep the Word of God in our hearts, so that we will not test God in our difficult moments, but instead listen to His voice.

We are to imitate Jesus, who persisted in listening to the voice of God when He was tempted, and He said, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” (Mt 4:10)

Conclusion

May the Holy Spirit remind us the teaching of the Lord, so that we will always remember God’s grace and keep our focus on following Him. May He help us take heed of His voice when we are in difficulties.

Let’s love God and serve Him with all our heart and with all our mind and with all our soul and with all our strength in our lifetime, to be a people that God is pleased with.

谁主王朝？

但以理书一1—21

但以理拒绝吃王的膳食

公元前605年，巴比伦王—尼布甲尼撒率兵攻打耶路撒冷，击败了犹大王约雅敬。耶路撒冷圣殿里的财物以及贵族孩子都被掳去巴比伦。但以理和他的朋友就在被掳的行列中。巴比伦王如此掏空了犹大，目的是弘扬君威、阻止犹大人精英复国，以及利用他们来建设巴比伦。

这些被掳到巴比伦王宫的贵族孩子是年少、没有残疾、相貌俊美、通达各样学问、知识才能具备。他们首先是学习巴比伦的语言文字为期三年，又被优待吃王的佳肴美酒，为了使他们的身体长得健壮。然而，但以理和他的朋友们拒绝吃这些不洁净食物，包括敬拜过偶像的食物，免得玷污自己。

太监长强迫他们吃，他们就请求太监长给他们十天的试验期，容许他们只吃素菜和喝清水。结果十天后，他们长得更加俊美健壮。王接见了这群犹大的亲年才俊，又试验过他们的机智和才能，就非常赏识他们的智慧聪明。王就留他们在身边服事自己，做自己的谋士。

信徒有所为，有所不为

为了使但以理和他的三个朋友融入巴比伦的社会文化，王为他们改了巴比伦人的名字。这些巴比伦人的名字都与巴比伦的偶像有关。他们的『旧名字』对照『新名字』，正是表示『犹大，耶和华』对照『巴比伦，偶像』。他们正经历一场身份和信仰被同化的危机。他们没有坚决的反对改名字。然而，他们却坚持不吃不洁净的食物，纵然这是一项特权，优待。试问，谁能抵挡王的优待呢？

原来名字改了，是可以的，却不能吃影响到信仰的不洁净的食物。他们在饮食习惯上选择效忠耶和华。名字改了，只是被冠以新的称号，这没有叫他们违反信仰规条；吃不洁净的食物是背道的行为。

他们在一个与神为敌的环境中，坚持按照神的标准来生活。当人面对非常的时期，异常的环境时，应该有所为，有所不为。今天我们也有机会落入一些受压迫的状况，就必须作出“有所为，有所不为”的抉择。

但以理和他的朋友在新的文化环境中接受新的名字、努力学习新事物、祷告寻求神的看顾、保持正直的气节，并且努力工作以取得最佳的表现。这是他们的“有所为”。与此同时，他们坚持对神的忠诚，不吃巴比伦不洁净的食物。这是他们的“有所不为”。神就赐给他们智慧和才能去胜过生活上的压迫和挑战。

我们也会一天遇到陌生环境，比如新的工作、新的学校或新的住所。当我们面对变化和新环境时候，同样会觉得自己是个外来人。但我们可以遵循当年犹大人在巴比伦生存的原则，既能适应陌生的环境，又不背离神的旨意。

我们可以在不违背神的律法的前提下，做出适当的调整来适应社会的文化。文化本身不一定是神的敌人，只要不违反神的旨意，文化也可以帮助成就神的工。我们追随神的人，完全可以在文化中起带头作用。

然而，我们必须首先保证对神忠诚，在信仰立场上不妥协。我们要确定：我们只有一位神，一位主。金钱、地位、权力或强权政府不是我们神，不是我们的主。求上帝给我们智慧，知道什么是可以妥协，什么是不能够妥协的。

但以理到了晚年也是坚持信仰，每天三次敬拜神。当时是玛代波斯王朝，大利乌王在位。但以理在异地生活了大概七十年了。那时候他是统领全国事务的三位总长之一。由于但以理凡是精明，深得大利乌王新人，就遭到其他官员妒忌。他们设计攻击但以理，唆使大利乌王颁下禁令，禁止任何人在三十天内，在大利乌王以外，向任何神明或人祈求，有违例者将被丢进狮子坑中。

但以理六9-10：『于是大利乌王立这禁令，加盖玉璽。但以理知道这禁令盖了玉璽，就到自己家里，（他的楼上的窗户，开向耶路撒冷）一日三次，双膝跪在他上帝面前，祷告感谢，与素常一样』

但以理清楚明白王的禁令，但还是每日三次，面向耶路撒冷，向上帝祷告，这个习以为常的行动是公然违抗王命。其实他可以忍住三十天不敬拜神。他却是坚持不停止敬拜神。这反映了一种忠心于神，视死如归的心态。

但以理知道遵从万军之耶和华的命令，比遵守王的命令更加重要。唯有耶和华是废王立王的神。最终，但以理真的被丢进狮子坑中，但是上帝与他同在，保护他，使到但以理从狮子坑中全身而退，毫无损伤。而但以理的仇敌却被抛入狮子坑中，还没到坑底，已经被狮子抓住，咬碎骨头。

不屈服于环境的压迫，忠心于上帝，仰望神的保守

上帝首先施恩，使到太监允许但以理和他的朋友，尝试十天不吃王的食物。上帝又保守他们，叫他们在清茶淡饭下也表露出容貌俊美健壮，还有聪明智慧，好过其他人。上帝没有改变环境，却要求我们勇敢的去面对艰难的环境。

神使用无形的手，改变这个巴比伦太监长的心。神应许他的子民，在他们面对考验和试探时与他们同在。我们要坚持神的道，相信他会用我们所不能察觉的方式保护我们。在逆境里上帝会帮助那些忠心的子民。

但以理和他的朋友立志不参与影响信仰的举动。“立志”（8节）是一个十分强烈的用词，表示坚持原则并付诸行动。但以理立志不玷污自己，表明他终生要做神所喜悦的事，不向恶势力屈服。

我们常会因受到周围的压力，而妥协降低自己的标准，混同世俗，随波逐流。仅仅敬慕神的道不足以抵挡诱惑和攻击，我们必须像但以理那样立志遵从神，只忠心于他。

今天我们是否很快就受不住环境的压迫而投降了？我们是否情愿典当信仰，以取得利益？上帝容许环境的变更与恶化，来考验我们对上帝的忠诚。我们要在诱惑和逼迫来临之前就立志忠心于神，并且定下底线。在诱惑出现时我们就能够胸有成竹的抵挡它们。

上帝一直在掌权，他的国度长存

但以理书一21说，古列元年，但以里还在。从尼布甲尼撒到古列，相隔大概七十年，已经是另一个的波斯朝代了。古列是战胜巴比伦的波斯王。曾经雄霸天下的巴比伦不在了，但以理还在。这是强调不论什么朝代，君王都在变更，但是上帝仍然在掌权，掌管和主宰历史。上帝使用巴比伦来惩罚犹大的叛逆，也能够使用马代波斯来灭掉巴比伦，但是忠心上帝的但以理依然还在！

先知一再提醒我们，犹大战败是因为上帝将犹大王以及圣殿的器皿交给尼布甲尼撒，这是强调上帝一直都掌权，是他容许巴比伦肆虐，巴比伦才能够得逞。上帝允许这样的事情发生，目的是透过巴比伦的兴起来惩罚那些多行不义，心硬背道的子民。类似苦难发生也是一种公义得以彰显的方法。

犹大圣殿的器皿被收入了巴比伦的神殿里，这对耶和华神是极大的羞辱。可想而知，犹大亡国，上帝也是蒙受极大的伤痛！爱神的人看见神的圣殿被毁，神的名被羞辱，一定会深感痛绝。当教会遭受破坏、分裂、因财政、或其他困难而关闭，或因丑闻而声誉受损时，我们也会感到沮丧不已。

今天在瘟疫肆虐之下，世界各地无论人命、经济或外交都受到极大的破坏；人与人关系的疏离；学校和宗教活动被迫停止。这时候难免人心惶惶，对未来感到忐忑不安。我们不知道神为何会允许他的教会也遭遇如此灾难，但犹如那些目睹圣殿遭亵渎的犹大人一样，我们要相信神仍然掌管这一切，并看顾那些信靠他的人。

今天什么因素在影响着我们的行事为人或价值判断呢？是眼前的经济状况，政治气候，大国崛起吗？是民族主义，国家主义吗？或是人际关系的利益得失？其实这些无非是潮起潮落，人事变更的过眼云烟，有的纯粹是政治野心家在愚弄人民的手段。我们不要受到这些因素所影响。

我们应当注目在上帝身上。只有上帝是那常数，不变的掌权者。只有上帝的真理能够释放人，给人带来生命。我们要做个智慧人，唯有遵行上帝的旨意，让圣经真理作为我们判断事情的基础。我们要像但以理一样，全然信靠这位创造天地和护理世界的主宰。唯有他掌管历史，兴邦丧邦，废王立王，也唯有他（而非地上的掌权者）才是必须敬畏的对象。

我们不要惧怕强权的压迫，也不要参与它们的邪恶勾当。我们尽管行公义好怜悯，传扬基督拯救人的福音。邪不能胜正，上帝的审判必然临到，为受害者申冤，公义得到彰显。上帝在掌权, 只有他的国度和旨意长存。一切荣耀归于上帝！