Friday, 16th April 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One: V1-7 Facing the Trial of Temptation
Just like Jesus, David also faced temptation. He had 600 people following but Saul brought 3,000 to chase after him. No matter how capable David was, 600 is nothing compare with 3,000! Then David found a safe hiding in the cave, but Saul found it by accident!
Saul was attending his needs in the cave, it was the best opportunity for David to kill him, because Saul was alone and unprotected. It was such a great temptation for David, but he did not kill Saul, instead David cut off a piece of Saul’s garment to prove to Saul and to his followers that he could’ve done it but he didn’t.
A lot of times we might say, ‘No, I didn’t do it’, but inside our hearts, have we already done it? When temptation comes, especially when facing our authority, what is our attitude? God sees us in our hearts, not just our actions. Give our hearts completely to God, do not look at the circumstances, seek always and walk in God’s heart. Hear God and the leadership of our authority. Do not let us fall into temptation. Seek God always. When God asks us to go then we go, and when God asks us to stop then we stop.
Section Two: V8-15 Leaving it with God Courageously
David knew he was wrong; he heard the suggestion of his followers and came to Saul. Even though at the end he did not kill Saul, but he cut the piece of Saul’s garment. Then David knew his heart was not right, so he decided to leave the situation in God’s hands. How did David leave it with God? He was willing to come out from the cave and come to Saul. Many times, when we wronged our authority, our brothers, and sisters, we are unwilling to walk outside our cave and ask for forgiveness.
David not only came out of the cave to come to Saul, but he also witnessed God in front of Saul (v12, v15). We should not just come to God and pray only when there are troubles in our lives. Do we only pray for ourselves? Or can we love God and love people without having anything in return?
Section Three: V16-22 God is Reliable
There were 600 people following David and telling him to kill Saul. David faced such a temptation, but he chose to leave the cave, bowed down before Saul, without any protection (v8). What would his followers think? As a leader, how much burden was David carrying? His actions might have costed his and his followers’ lives!
How do we face our authority? With evil intention or good intention? Saul was wronged, but it was up to God to judge, not anyone else! And when David let God be his judge, then God showed David the miracle. We can trust God completely, do not try to judge or fight for ourselves. God can protect us, so we don’t need to show others that we are right, God will vindicate. God is a true God, we can rely on Him, so let us come before Him, to make us humble, do not fight for what we have, but to let go and let God.
Pursuit & Respond
Lord, we come before You and we believe You are here. We want to give You everything, not to walk in our own path. Help us to stay away from all temptation, but to stay in Your presence and to let go of the things we hold tightly onto. Help us not to be influenced by the words of people, not to look at the circumstance and to always examine ourselves. Let us love people and obey our authority from our heart. Take away all the bitterness and sins that stop us to love. Help us to come boldly before our authority, without judgement, without bitterness, and without lies.
Lord, we come before You and admit we look at the environment more than we look upon You. We listen to others more than listen to You. Help us to walk out from our inner vows and forgive us for always using our own ways to deal with things. Help us to walk out of the cave, hear and act out. Thank You God, help us to be strong and courageous, like David, believe we can fully rely on You. Amen.
2021年4月16日 星期五
-潘锡安牧师-
撒母耳记上 24
大卫胜过试探
大卫生命改变，凡事寻求神。很多时候当我们愿意谦卑跟随神的时候，试探就来了。对大卫的试探不是在战场，而是他熟悉的地方。
一、面对试探的考验（v.1-7)
V1-2 隐基底的山洞是大卫的藏身之处，是他以为可以保护他的地方。然而扫罗听到人报告大卫的所在地，就带着三千精兵来追捕大卫。大卫只有六百人跟随，面对五倍于他们人数的三千精兵，场面何等危急。
V3-4 大卫和跟随他的六百人凭着对当地环境的熟悉，藏到一个山洞，但是扫罗竟然还是找到这里，进去大解。他的精兵当时肯定在外面把守，扫罗在那一刻是最没有防备的。于是大卫身边的人也怂恿大卫伺机杀死扫罗，因此对大卫的试探就来了。我们也会面对这样真实的试探，不是我们自己去找的，是别人自己送上门的，包括金钱、情欲等等不合圣经教导的机会，这个时候，我们是否会觉得这就是神让环境为我们开路而陷入试探？
V5-7 大卫“悄悄地割下扫罗外袍的衣襟”(v.4)，并未杀扫罗，为何需要自责？他想要证明给人看他是有机会杀扫罗的，但这背后还是有一个“我”的心态在作祟。他听从下属的话，没有先寻问神，所以心中自责。于是大卫拦住他的跟随者，“不容他们起来害扫罗”，原文的意思是大卫用尽所有的力气去阻止跟随他的人去伤害扫罗。
神不是只看外表的神，他更看重我们的内心。有时我们说自己没有做恶事，但我们的心是否已经行了恶？我们面对我们的权柄，可能会觉得他们不配，然而正如神在这里教导大卫对待权柄该有的心态。面对试探，我们不要随从情欲、不要被环境或别人的话带领，而是凡事寻求神，听神的话，跟随权柄的带领。
二、勇敢地交托于神（v.8-15)
大卫虽然没有杀死扫罗，但他因为听从了下属的话起来割了扫罗的衣襟，心里自责。大卫的“交托于神”不仅停留在嘴上，也体现在行动上。无论神将来要如何处置扫罗，大卫当时都是服在扫罗权柄之下的人。于是他愿意走出山洞，勇敢地出来面对扫罗，认罪悔改。我们是否能像大卫那样，在我们的权柄和弟兄姐妹面前勇敢认错？
V12、V15 大卫不仅走出山洞认罪，也在扫罗面前高举神，而不是为自己辩解。我们是否愿意在人前见证神？我们跟从神的时候，是否只是在有事的时候才祷告，或是只为自己祷告？求神帮助我们凡事交托、爱人如己。
三、神是可信靠的（v.16-22)
V16-18 大卫作为领袖，面对扬言要杀死扫罗的那六百个跟随者，反而选择走出他的山洞，来到自己的权柄也是自己的仇敌扫罗面前，“屈身、脸伏于地下拜”（v.8)。大卫的做法其实让他和跟随他的人都非常危险。但当大卫这样愿意凭信心跨出去，神是信实的，他没有让扫罗去趁机攻击大卫和他的六百人。神的灵感动扫罗对大卫说：“你比我公义；因为你以善待我，我却以恶待你”。无论我们的权柄怎样待我们，我们又是如何对待我们的权柄呢？当我们尝试为自己争辩的时候，我们其实是在表明我们不需要神，不相信神掌权，我们想靠自己的力量去解决问题。
V20-21 扫罗竟然对大卫说出这样一番话，说明神真是可以信靠的。我们不再需要为自己去争或证明自己是对的，而是让神来掌权。
V22 大卫没有因为扫罗的话而得意洋洋、趁机夺权。他这一次愿意等候神，回到隐基底的山寨。我们面对试探、或者不公不义，愿意等候神，走在神的带领和权柄的教导下吗？神是真实可倚靠的，求神帮助我们谦卑下来，不再为自己所要的东西去争、去辩护。
*追求：
我们来到神的面前，愿意相信神在，凡事交托，不要走在自己的里面，不要让我们面对试探，让我们真的能在神的同在中愿意放下自己手里紧紧抓住的东西，不被别人的话影响，也不看环境。求神帮助我们时常鉴察自己的心思意念。我们是否爱人如己、顺服权柄？是否心里有很多苦毒？圣灵今天要将我们心里的垃圾清除，能够毫无害怕、毫无苦毒的面对地上的权柄。求圣灵光照我们内心的黑暗，让我们能走出所躲藏的山洞，面对神、面对人。
主啊，我们来到你面前，承认自己在看环境、听别人的话，却不愿意等。我们用自己的方法去处理问题。求主饶恕我们，让我们走出内在誓言，走出自己处理事情的方法。我们悔改，走出山洞，听道而行道，跟从你和我们权柄的带领，不再害怕。谢谢主加添我们的力量，有大卫那般勇敢的心，相信神你是可以信靠的！