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阿摩司书 第二章 — 身为神所拣选的子民,我们过着怎样的生活呢?

Salvation is not only a protective shield, but a commission and a responsibility.

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接续第一章的内容,神继续藉阿摩司的口宣告对列国的审判。不光是外邦,连神的子民—以色列人也是三番四次地犯罪。这对今天的我们有什么警示意义呢?

三番四次地犯罪

圣经中“三番四次”一共出现了八次,全部在阿摩司书中。神的心意是要给人回转的机会。“主所应许的尚未成就 ,有人以为他是耽延,其实不是耽延,乃是宽容你们,不愿有一人沉沦,乃愿人人都悔改。” (彼得后书 3:9)

列国与以色列一直犯罪,没有悔改之心。当他们三番四次地犯罪,直到恶贯满盈超越神的容忍界限后,神就开始了他公义的审判。

列国的审判: 首领的败落,国家的灭亡

虽然摩押看起来只是犯了一个小罪,把以东王的骸骨焚烧成灰,但这正是他们各种残暴、凶杀、忌恨的缩影。它的结局就是宫殿被烧毁。

宫殿是君王所住的地方,象征国家的存亡兴衰。宫殿被烧灭也就是王国的败亡。也正是因着在位君王首领的败坏,才导致了国家亡国的惨痛结局。

神子民的审判:追讨一切的罪孽

作为被神拣选的民,以色列本应该是与神最亲密、遵行他律法的。但阿摩司把以色列国放在了最后警告的对象。他们所犯下的罪与列国相比早已超过了“三番四次”。

他们在灵性道德上已完全地败坏。不但自己堕落,甚至还想把神的先知拉下水。

他们三番四次犯罪的后果就是:不光国家要被毁灭,神也要追讨他们每一个人的罪。这是何等大的悲哀!

反思与感想

作为基督徒,我们就是属灵的以色列人,每天沐浴在神的话语和恩典下。那我们今天又是怎么样过我们的生活呢?

如果我们继续顺从情欲行事,如同阿摩司时代的以色列人一样,正如加拉太书5章19-21节所说,行这样事的人必不能承受神的国。

救恩不单是一把保护伞,它更是一种使命和责任。我们有义务过圣洁、蒙神喜悦的生活。因为我们知道 “审判要从神的家起首” (彼得前书 4:17)。让我们从以色列人身上吸取教训,勤于反躬自省,立志活出神的旨意。

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我们是真耶稣教会,一间建立在耶稣与使徒们的教导上的全球性非宗派教会。藉由圣灵创立,我们的使命是把全备的救恩真理传向地极/世界尽头。

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