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那鸿书 第三章- 愤怒中没有安慰

让我们保守自己在神的恩典中,否则我们将不再从神可畏的忿怒中得到庇护。

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那鸿书第三章结束了那鸿书,描述了尼尼微因其一切残暴、暴力和欺骗而遭受的惩罚与毁灭(那鸿3:1-4)。

那鸿这个名字的意思是“耶和华的安慰”,我们已经看到神是如何从神的忿怒中为祂的百姓提供安慰的。

然而,对于神的敌人来说,他们将面对神的忿怒并感到羞愧,没有人能够安慰他们(那鸿3:5-7)。

他们自然会试图藏匿并寻求避难所以逃避毁灭(那鸿3:11)。然而,他们的坚固堡垒无法提供保护(那鸿3:12),他们的城门敞开且被烧毁(那鸿3:13),火与刀剑将摧毁他们,无论他们如何努力自卫(那鸿3:14-15)。

这与神是祂百姓的堡垒、避难所和坚固台的形象形成了鲜明对比(那鸿1:7,诗篇46:1,以赛亚书25:4)。

没有人能拯救尼尼微的百姓。虽然他们有许多指挥官和将军,但他们将逃跑并永远无法被找到(那鸿3:17)。

这再次与主的百姓形成鲜明对比,主为他们的元帅,带领他们征战(约书亚记5:13-15,诗篇68)。不仅祂的军队围绕并保护我们(列王纪下6:16-17),而且有全能的神做我们的元帅,胜利也是注定的(罗马书8:31,哥林多后书2:14)。

亚述的百姓也被形容为在山上四散,没人能够将他们聚集起来。他们的贵族酣睡,他们的牧人昏睡无力(那鸿3:18)。

然而,对于神的百姓来说,尽管他们也因邪恶的统治者和牧人而被四散(以西结书34:1-8),我们看到神自己将寻找祂的羊群,成为他们的牧人(以西结书34:11-16)。

事实上,耶稣就是神在肉身显现,为我们舍命的好牧人(约翰福音10:11)。

对于今天的我们,让我们珍惜从神那里得到的安慰与保护。这个世界上没有任何其他东西能够真正成为我们的避难所。

然而,让我们也用虔诚、敬畏的心侍奉神,不能忘记我们的神是烈火(希伯来书12:28-29)。如果我们未能保守自己在神的恩典中,就无法从忿怒中得到安慰。

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Ezekiel Chapter 21 - The Sword of God

Ezekiel Chapter 21 - The Sword of God

This chapter talks about the sword of God against His people and the Ammonites, with the word “sword” being mentioned 15 times! This sword (i.e. Babylon, v19-20) is a sword of judgement that God would use to punish these two groups of people for their sins. Here are 3 things that will happen when this sword is drawn: 1. This sword cuts off both the righteous and wicked (v3-4). Why both the righteous and wicked – is God being unfair? We know from the consistent message of the Bible that this is not so. God is just, and He does not indiscriminately slay the righteous with the wicked. Even for a city as depraved as Sodom and Gomorrah, God delivered Lot and his family, the only few righteous people remaining (fewer than 5!), before destroying the city (Genesis 18:23-26). Moreover, by cutting off the righteous from the land, God not only delivers them from further physical suffering including forced labour by the Babylonians, He also delivers them from further spiritual corruption by their wicked kinsmen who were steeped in idolatry. God’s promise of delivering the righteous from their troubles is a promise we must cling to (Psalm 34:19). We must also recognise that ultimately, God wants to deliver us in a spiritual sense – from the temptations of the evil one (Matthew 6:13), the corruption of the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:4), and the corruption in hell (Psalm 16:10). Therefore, let us trust in the righteousness of God, knowing His will for us is not to perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). 2. This sword causes the scepter of God’s people to be despised (v13, 26-27). The original meaning of Israel is “prince with God”. However, now that their scepter is despised, Israel is no longer prince with God, no longer son of the King of kings. Israel is dethroned, because of the people’s wickedness. Yet, God foretells the coming of One whom God will crown because He is the rightful Ruler (v27b) – this One is none other than our Lord Jesus, whose reign and kingdom is everlasting (Luke 1:33). Just like how Esau lost his God-given birthright because of his choice to gratify a moment’s hunger, Israel lost their precious status as prince with God, children of God, because of their choice to persist in their unfaithfulness towards Him (Ezekiel 14:13). How about us: do we make personal choices that jeopardise our precious relationship with God? 3. This sword will cause God’s people to be remembered and forgotten at the same time (v24, 32). What does God remember? Their sins. As a result, what will God forget? His relationship with them – in other words, an utter disowning of His people. But… did God permanently forget His people? Again, we know from the consistent message of the Bible, as well as history, that this was not so. Rather, God disowns them with the purpose of cleansing them from their sins so that He can re-own them as His people – a people with a new spirit and heart of flesh that submits to God’s laws (Ezekiel 11:19-20), who will no longer stray from God (Ezekiel 14:11). As the psalmist says: “His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life.” (Psalm 30:5) God promises that if we repent and return to Him wholeheartedly – fearing Him, meditating on His name, and serving Him (Malachi 3:16-18) – God will remember us and bless us with His favour for the rest of our life, in this age and the age to come. Conclusion: How can we prevent God’s sword of judgement from slaying us? By always using the sword of His word to prune away sin from our hearts (Hebrews 4:12-13). Let us daily examine our thoughts and intents to see if they align with the Bible’s standards. Remember that we are naked and open to Him, secret sins and all, and one day we must give an account to God who will judge all our thoughts, words and deeds. Amen.

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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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