旧约以西结书 20:1–44
前情提要
上回说到
昨天():两只大鹰和葡萄树的谜语,说犹大王背弃与巴比伦的盟约、投靠埃及,必不能逃脱;18 章说“犯罪的,他必死亡”,各人为自己的罪负责,但神不喜悦人死亡,恶人回头就必存活;19 章为以色列的君王作哀歌。
今天你会读到
长老又来求问,神却不肯被他们求问,要以西结回顾以色列的历史:在埃及、在旷野、进了迦南,百姓一代又一代悖逆、拜偶像、干犯安息日,神却“为我名的缘故”一次次没有灭绝他们。最后神应许要从列国招聚他们,在圣山上悦纳他们。
阅读小提示
留意反复出现的“为我名的缘故”(、、、)。以色列能存留,不是因为他们配得,而是因为神要守住自己的名和应许。
■ 当时 □ 预言所指
点时代可看说明
的“第七年五月初十日”约是主前 591 年夏天。这章从出埃及一路讲到被掳,是以色列历史的一次总回顾。
点经节可选取,长按即复制点经节可选取,按 Ctrl+C⌘C 复制
以西结书 第 20 章
长老来求问
1第七年五月初十日,有以色列的几个长老来求问耶和华,坐在我面前。In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me.
2耶和华的话临到我说:Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
3“人子啊,你要告诉以色列的长老说,主耶和华如此说:你们来是求问我吗?主耶和华说:我指着我的永生起誓,我必不被你们求问。“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.
4人子啊,你要他们吗?你当使他们知道他们列祖那些可憎的事,Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers
在埃及的悖逆
5对他们说,主耶和华如此说:当日我拣选以色列,向雅各家的后裔起誓,在埃及地将自己向他们显现,说:我是耶和华—你们的 神。and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’
6那日我向他们起誓,必领他们出埃及地,到我为他们察看的;那地在万国中是有荣耀的。On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.
7我对他们说,你们各人要抛弃眼所喜爱那,不可因埃及的玷污自己。我是耶和华—你们的 神。And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
8他们却悖逆我,不肯听从我,不抛弃他们眼所喜爱那可憎之物,不离弃埃及的偶像。“我就说,我要将我的忿怒倾在他们身上,在埃及地向他们成就我怒中所定的。But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.
9我却为我名的缘故没有这样行,免得我名在他们所住的列国人眼前被亵渎;我领他们出埃及地,在这列国人的眼前将自己向他们显现。But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
在旷野的悖逆
10这样,我就使他们出埃及地,领他们到旷野,So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.
11将我的律例赐给他们,将我的典章指示他们;人若遵行就必因此活着。And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.
12又将我的赐给他们,好在我与他们中间为证据,使他们知道我—耶和华是叫他们成为圣的。I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
13以色列家却在旷野悖逆我,不顺从我的律例,厌弃我的典章(人若遵行就必因此活着),大大我的安息日。“我就说,要在旷野将我的忿怒倾在他们身上,灭绝他们。Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness.
14我却为我名的缘故,没有这样行,免得我的名在我领他们出埃及的列国人眼前被亵渎。But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
15并且我在旷野向他们起誓,必不领他们进入我所赐给他们流奶与蜜之地(那地在万国中是有荣耀的);Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—
16因为他们厌弃我的典章,不顺从我的律例,干犯我的安息日,他们的心随从自己的偶像。because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.
17虽然如此,我眼仍他们,不毁灭他们,不在旷野将他们灭绝净尽。Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.
第二代仍然悖逆
18“我在旷野对他们的儿女说:不要遵行你们父亲的律例,不要谨守他们的恶规,也不要因他们的偶像玷污自己。In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
19我是耶和华—你们的 神,你们要顺从我的律例,谨守遵行我的典章,I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.
20且以我的安息日为圣。这日在我与你们中间为证据,使你们知道我是耶和华—你们的 神。Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
21只是他们的儿女悖逆我,不顺从我的律例,也不谨守遵行我的典章(人若遵行就必因此活着),干犯我的安息日。“我就说,要将我的忿怒倾在他们身上,在旷野向他们成就我怒中所定的。But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.
22虽然如此,我却为我名的缘故缩手没有这样行,免得我的名在我领他们出埃及的列国人眼前被亵渎。But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
23并且我在旷野向他们起誓,必将他们分散在列国,四散在列邦;However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.
24因为他们不遵行我的典章,竟厌弃我的律例,干犯我的安息日,眼目仰望他们父亲的偶像。For they did not practice My ordinances, but they rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers.
25我也任他们遵行,谨守不能使人活着的恶规。I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.
26因他们将一切头生的,我就任凭他们在这供献的事上玷污自己,好叫他们凄凉,使他们知道我是耶和华。And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.
进了应许之地仍拜偶像
27“人子啊,你要告诉以色列家说,主耶和华如此说:你们的列祖在得罪我的事上亵渎我;Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me.
28因为我领他们到了我起誓应许赐给他们的地,他们看见各高山、各茂密树,就在那里献祭,奉上惹我发怒的供物,也在那里焚烧馨香的祭牲,并浇上。When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.
29我就对他们说:你们所上的那高处叫什么呢?(那高处的名字叫直到今日。)So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah.)
30所以你要对以色列家说,主耶和华如此说:你们仍照你们列祖所行的玷污自己吗?仍照他们可憎的事行邪淫吗?Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, prostituting yourselves with their abominations?
31你们奉上供物使你们儿子经火的时候,仍将一切偶像玷污自己,直到今日吗?以色列家啊,我岂被你们求问吗?主耶和华说:我指着我的永生起誓,我必不被你们求问。When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!
神要作王治理你们
32“你们说:我们要像外邦人和列国的宗族一样,去事奉木头与石头。你们所起的这心意万不能成就。”When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never come to pass.
33主耶和华说:“我指着我的永生起誓,我总要作王,用大能的手和,并倾出来的忿怒,治理你们。As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will rule over you.
34我必用大能的手和伸出来的膀臂,并倾出来的忿怒,将你们从万民中领出来,从分散的列国内聚集你们。With a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered.
在旷野当面刑罚
35我必带你们到,在那里当面刑罚你们。And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
36我怎样在埃及地的旷野刑罚你们的列祖,也必照样刑罚你们。这是主耶和华说的。Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD.
37我必使你们,使你们被约。I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38我必从你们中间除净叛逆和得罪我的人,将他们从所寄居的地方领出来,他们却不得入以色列地。你们就知道我是耶和华。And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
在圣山上悦纳你们
39“以色列家啊,至于你们,主耶和华如此说:从此以后若不听从我,就任凭你们去事奉偶像,只是不可再因你们的供物和偶像亵渎我的圣名。And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.
40“主耶和华说:在我的,就是以色列高处的山,所有以色列的全家都要事奉我。我要在那里悦纳你们,向你们要供物和初熟的土产,并一切的圣物。For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
41我从万民中领你们出来,从分散的列国内聚集你们,那时我必悦纳你们好像,要在外邦人眼前在你们身上显为圣。When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.
42我领你们进入以色列地,就是我起誓应许赐给你们列祖之地,那时你们就知道我是耶和华。Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I swore to give your fathers.
43你们在那里要追念玷污自己的行动作为,又要因所做的一切恶事厌恶自己。There you will remember your ways and all the deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils you have done.
44主耶和华说:以色列家啊,我为我名的缘故,不照着你们的恶行和你们的坏事待你们;你们就知道我是耶和华。”Then you will know, O house of Israel, that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt acts, declares the Lord GOD.”
摘要
以西结书第二十章记载神透过先知回顾以色列从埃及到旷野、再到应许之地的悖逆历史:百姓一再拜偶像、违背律例、干犯安息日,神多次欲倾倒忿怒却为自己圣名的缘故而忍耐。最终神宣告要从列国中再次聚集以色列,在圣山上悦纳他们的敬拜,但必先经过审判筛选、除净叛逆者,使余民追念往日的罪行而自知羞愧。全章彰显神的信实与公义并行——祂不因百姓的不配而废弃约定,却也不容罪恶不受对付。
反思问题
- 神多次‘为祂名的缘故’忍耐不降罚,这揭示神的性情中哪些面向?你在自己反复犯错的经历中,是否也体会过神类似的忍耐?
- 以色列人一面求问神,一面却紧抓偶像不放。你的生活中是否存在一边寻求神、一边不愿放手的事物?如何面对这种张力?
- 第43节说百姓最终会‘追念并厌恶自己的恶行’。真实的悔改如何不同于仅仅感到愧疚?你如何在日常中操练真实的悔改?
新约雅各书 4:1–5:6
前情提要
上回说到
昨天():舌头虽小却像火,能点着大树林;同一个口不该又颂赞神、又咒诅人。属地的智慧带来嫉妒纷争,“从上头来的智慧”先是清洁,后是和平,满有怜悯。
今天你会读到
争战斗殴是从私欲来的;与世俗为友就是与神为敌。雅各呼吁“你们亲近神,神就必亲近你们”,要在主面前自卑,不可彼此批评。他提醒那些自信满满计划明天的人:生命不过是一片云雾。最后严厉警告欺压工人、只知积攒钱财的富足人。
阅读小提示
很适合用在每天的计划上:安排行程没有错,但要记得说“主若愿意,我们就可以活着”,把明天交在神手中。
点时代可看说明
传统认为作者是耶路撒冷教会的领袖雅各。 责备富人的语气,很像旧约先知(例如阿摩司)的口吻。
雅各书 第 4 章
争战从私欲来
1你们中间的争战是从哪里来的呢?不是从你们百体中战斗之私欲来的吗?What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
2你们贪恋,还是得不着;你们杀害嫉妒,又斗殴争战,也不能得。你们得不着,是因为你们不求。You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
3你们求也得不着,是因为你们,要浪费在你们的宴乐中。And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.
与世俗为友就是与神为敌
4你们这些(原文是淫妇)哪,岂不知与世俗为友就是与 神为敌吗?所以凡想要与世俗为友的,就是与 神为敌了。You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
5你们想经上所说是徒然的吗? 神所赐、住在我们里面的灵,是吗?Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
6但他赐更多的恩典,所以经上说: 神,赐恩给谦卑的人。But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
顺服神,抵挡魔鬼
7故此,你们要顺服 神。务要抵挡,魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了。Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8你们亲近 神, 神就必亲近你们。有罪的人哪,要洁净你们的手!心怀二意的人哪,要清洁你们的心!Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9你们要愁苦、悲哀、哭泣,将喜笑变作悲哀,欢乐变作。Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.
10务要在主面前自卑,主就必叫你们升高。Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
不可彼此批评
11弟兄们,你们不可彼此批评。人若批评弟兄,论断弟兄,就是批评律法,论断律法。你若论断律法,就不是遵行律法,乃是判断人的。Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it.
12设立律法和判断人的,只有一位,就是那能救人也能灭人的。你是谁,竟敢论断别人呢?There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
主若愿意
13!你们有话说:“今天明天我们要往某城里去,在那里住一年,做买卖得利。”Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.”
14其实明天如何,你们还不知道。你们的生命是什么呢?你们原来是一片,出现少时就不见了。You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
15你们只当说:“主若愿意,我们就可以活着,也可以做这事,或做那事。”Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
16现今你们竟以夸口;凡这样夸口都是恶的。As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.
17人若知道行善,却不去行,这就是他的罪了。Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
雅各书 第 5 章
警告富足人
1嗐!你们这些富足人哪,应当哭泣、,因为将有苦难临到你们身上。Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
2你们的财物坏了,衣服也被虫子咬了。Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.
3你们的金银都长了;那锈要证明你们的不是,又要吃你们的肉,如同火烧。你们在这只知积攒钱财。Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.
4工人给你们收割庄稼,你们亏欠他们的,这工钱有声音呼叫,并且那收割之人的冤声已经入了的耳了。Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.
5你们在世上享美福,好宴乐,当宰杀的日子竟你们的心。You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
6你们定了义人的罪,把他杀害,他也不抵挡你们。You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.
摘要
雅各书四至五章直面信徒群体中的争斗、私欲、骄傲与不义。雅各指出纷争源于内心贪欲,与世俗为友即与神为敌;他呼吁信徒谦卑顺服神、亲近神、不论断人、不自夸未来,并警告富人剥削工人、积攒不义之财必遭审判。后半段则勉励信徒忍耐等候主来,以先知和约伯为榜样,彼此认罪代求,藉祷告经历医治与赦免,并挽回迷失的弟兄姊妹。
反思问题
- 雅各说‘与世俗为友就是与神为敌’。在你目前的生活中,哪些价值观或追求可能正悄悄取代你对神的忠诚?
- 第四章17节说‘知道行善却不去行,就是罪。’你是否有明知该做却一直拖延的善事?是什么拦阻你付诸行动?
- 雅各以农夫等候秋雨春雨来比喻忍耐。你目前正在等候神的哪些应许或带领?如何在等候中保持信心而不灰心?