Wednesday, 14 April 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-5 David in the Cave of Adullam
When David had no where to go, he chose to go to hide in the Cave of Adullam. When he decided not to rely on himself, then those who responded to him first was his family. Furthermore, those who were in debt and in distress also gathered. What is our attitude when we come to the Cave of Adullam? God doesn’t want us to be a ‘doing’ person, but He wants our ‘being’.
Here David became their captain, which is also their governor. In order for David to govern over them, the people will have to open their lives and see the lacking in their lives.
David led his parents to the king of Moab, they seemed to be protected but it was also the last place they were mentioned in the Bible. David thought it was a safe place for his parents, but was it really safe? Often we want to put our parents somewhere safe, but we did not see that God gives us authority to influence and care for not only those people we think we can handle but also those who we think we can’t handle.
May God help us not to give up. When God bring people to us, then He will help us to care for all of them. Do not run away but follow God’s direction and guidance. David was willing to stay in the cave of Adullam, with the group of people that seemed to be in trouble. The people who come to cave of Adullam are the people trying to run away from the world and from the people. The were like David and that’s why they went to Cave of Adullam.
Are we also hiding and running away from something? When we become a leader, will we be willing to help those following us? To be changed by God through circumstances.
“Gad” means the ‘army of God’. David was in the Cave of Adullam for a long time, he didn’t seek for prophet but the prophet of God came to see him and led him out of the cave into a higher ground.
Section Two V6-19 Saul in Ramah
God we preparing for David. The cave of Adullam became a safe haven for David, but when God told him to come out, he was willing to leave. On the other hand, Saul went back to Ramah, his hometown, where he remembered when God and Samuel were still with him, a place without the presence of God. Saul lived in his flesh, he looked at his old life and things of this world.
We tend to make decisions based on what we see in life, we are unwilling to follow God because we can’t let go of our fields and vineyards. The people of Benjamin knew God already chose another king but they were unwilling to open their eyes to see the truth. If we stay in the place without God then we will not have influence because we are still doing the work of men.
With an attitude of unbelief, we stay in the place of comfort. Doeg the Edomite had the wrong attitude and he caused Saul to kill all the priests. Every morning we come to morning devotion, are we there? Every Sunday we come to church, but are we there? Don’t become Saul in Ramah.
Section Three V20-23 David in Hereth
When David ran away from the temple he saw Doeg the Edomite, he knew Doeg would go back to Saul but he was worried about himself and did not have concern for others. When we lack love, we don’t see the needs of others.
But when David came to Hereth, he knew he was wrong, he repented and took responsibility of his wrongdoings. He took Abiathar to his protection. David was willing to face his problems and let God change him. When we come to God, He will lead us into light. David was no longer just thinking about himself, but he started to care about others.
*Prayer and Pursuit
Holy Spirit come and do Your wonderful work. We are selfish, we worry about our own feelings and concern about our own desires. We did not learn to repent before You, to let go, to follow, to see Your Will on earth as in heaven. Holy Spirit help us to come out from the cave, after You have moulded us and changed our lives. Amen!
2021年4月14日 星期三
-潘锡安牧师-
撒母耳记上 22
神的带领 人的选择
神借着环境不断披露我们真实的生命，这个过程可能不舒服，但是神在预备我们，在合适的时候，神就会带领我们进入下一个阶段。
一、亚杜兰洞的大卫（v.1-5)
V1-2 大卫离开迦特王亚吉，逃到亚杜兰洞。他所离开的地方是他曾经觉得可以靠自己小聪明存活的非利士人之地，但当他愿意放手、离开这些人的智慧和计划，回到以色列地，不再倚靠自己的时候，那些当初看不起他的哥哥们以及他的爸爸就最先来回应他，下到他那里。不仅如此，那些生命中有问题的人都来到大卫这里跟从他。我们今天是以什么心态来到我们的“亚杜兰洞”？当我们愿意以真实的面目来到亚杜兰洞，这里就能成为我们的祝福。我们来到教会，如果是一个doing（做事）的心态，就不会有神的祝福，神要的是我们的being。
大卫在亚杜兰洞治理这400多人。他们要完全地服从大卫，也要完全拿去表面上可以给他们好处的伪装。大卫的父亲和哥哥们在跟随大卫的时候没有抱怨。
V3-4 大卫让自己的父母住在摩押地，圣经对他的父母的记载到此为止，可能是他们的结局不好。当神让大卫来到亚杜兰洞，他却把父母带到他觉得安全的摩押地，这是真的帮助他的父母吗？有时我们想将自己的父母放到很远的地方使我们没有阻碍，但要思想，神给我们的能力是否只能影响外面的人或者那些容易被我们改变、使用的人？我们是否愿意去牧养那些我们觉得很难改变的人？我们不要轻易放弃神带到我们身边的人，要与神同工，就能看见神的祝福。
跑到亚杜兰洞里这一群人就像大卫一样，想要找一个可以躲藏的地方，他们一开始不是刻意要跟从大卫。现在的我们来到教会，可能起初的动机都不一样，但神的心意是“大卫就作他们的头目”。 当我们有机会成为小组长或领袖的时候，我们是否愿意不怕麻烦的去带领神交托给我们的人？大卫在亚杜兰洞再没有争斗，而是被神借着环境来学习改变自己。
V5 “迦得” -意思是 “神的军队”。神的先知亲自来找大卫，要他去到树林 – 就是高处。在神的同在中，神会带我们离开低处的山寨往高处走。
二、拉玛的扫罗（v.6-19）
神让大卫看见，他过去靠着自己的能力从扫罗面前逃到亚杜兰洞，但是神用环境预备人，如今大卫愿意回应神的呼召，离开自己觉得舒适的亚杜兰洞。然而扫罗的回应却正好相反。
V6 “拉玛”是撒母耳的故乡，扫罗来到这里，缅怀有撒母耳在的日子，他过去经历神大能的同在，但是神已经离开他了。没有神的同在，我们都是活在血气中。扫罗在拉玛不是寻求神，而是用人的方法建立自己的军队。
V7 扫罗知道人看重这些属世的好处，我们现在所看重的是什么呢？我们是否每一天为着生活、财务辛苦奔波？是否好像那些便雅悯人一样，不愿意放下我们的葡萄园、或千夫长百夫长的地位，没有办法跟从神？他们虽然知道扫罗气数已尽，却仍然留恋在那里，不愿意打开眼睛，不愿意离开所拥有的财富和头衔，而这一切，扫罗和仇敌都知道。当我们陷在其中，我们是没有任何影响力的，因为神的同在已经离开。
V9 – 以东人多益在第21章被提到。以东人一直是以色列人的死对头，然而扫罗竟然让这样一个仇敌来牧养他的羊。我们在神的圣殿是否真的敬拜神？还是只是把这里当作一个三教九流的人聚集的宗教场所？我们是否只是为了一官半职、为了生计而混迹其中。
V18-19 因着扫罗和多益的恶，祭司城中的人都被杀死，祭祀、献祭都没有了。多益为了得到自己想要的，将祭司杀害，因为他不认识神。扫罗虽然经历过神，但以此也看出他并不认识神，不相信神，根本没有在乎神的心意。他被神放弃，没有懊悔死行，反而在拉玛享受自己作王的乐趣。
感谢神让我们离开LK幼儿园，进入AUT大学校园, 神每一天都在问我们，Are you there你在那里吗? 我们的心思意念都在神这里吗？
三、在哈列的大卫（v.20-23)
大卫在非利士人之地是看见多益的，他也知道这人会给祭司带来危险，可是当时的大卫在逃难，只看见自己的需要，没有去理会别人。我们是否也会如此，只想着自己能得满足，不在乎别人被伤害？求神拿走我们这些逃亡的心态，学习在哈列的大卫。大卫如今在当事人的面前愿意承认错误，承担责任。我们做错事的时候，是否只是口头上道歉，还是愿意身体力行去承担责任？我们要求神帮助我们，当我们愿意，神就会出手，我们就能像在哈列的大卫一样改变。不再是只想着自己，而是愿意放下自己，关心别人。
在我们教会搬到AUT的这段期间，我们看见神将人带来我们身边，我们又是否愿意放手，全心跟随神？当我们被神找到的时候，不要躲藏，而是愿意回应他的带领，哪怕是进入亚杜兰洞，这样我们的生命才会不一样。
*追求：
我们是否就像那些来到亚杜兰洞的人一样？我们不再需要伪装，愿意在人和神面前承认自己生命需要被神、被我们的权柄去牧养、塑造、带领。求圣灵带领我们，让我们有勇气放下这一切虚假的面具、骄傲、自私。让我们愿意来到亚杜兰洞，而不是躲在基比亚的拉玛。求圣灵帮助我们出黑暗如光明。
圣灵请你来，做奇妙的工作。我们虚伪、自私，整天只想着自己的好处、面子、受到的伤害。我们在主面前认罪，没有学习耶稣的榜样，没有放下跟从，没有看神的旨意高过自己的意思。求主帮助我们走出蒙蔽的拉玛，来到亚杜兰洞，被主你预备，能够出山洞，进入哈列的树林！