Thursday, 22 April 2021
Rev Daniel Poon
When we are in a fearful situation we will have two choices, to seek God or seek our own strength. David was without God for 1 years and 4 months (v.7). He was fearful and confused. David was the king, who Samuel anointed but in this chapter he chose to compromise with the enemy.
Section One V1-4 Thinking in the Heart
David’s heart spoke to him and this time it was not from the Holy Spirit. When we have plan B, we forgot our plan A, which is to move forward in God, then problems will come. David had been running away from Saul, but he was hiding under God’s wings and God protected him. Yet this time David tried to use his own strength. He went to the king of Philistines.
It’s human nature to think for ourselves, when we feel tired and we no longer want to try, we want to give up and run away. We use our own way to fight back and protect ourselves. David left his destiny, and all he could think of was himself. He forgot about those following him. God gave David all these people to help him not to run away but David didn’t see it! May God help us to be strong, let go of our own desires and seek Him more!
Section Two V5-7 Confessing with Mouth
V5 When we are filled by the Holy Spirit what we say or what we do will be different. However, what David said to Achish at Gath was not to witness how God was but how weak he was. David allowed the negativity inside him to rule over him.
V7 Even though David did not seek God and did not rely on God, God knew everything he was going through in every day. No matter what situation we are in, no matter how far away we run from God, He is always there, He knows our situation, He is waiting for us to repent and return to Him.
Section Three V8-12 Taking the Action
God gave David a priest and provide him with the way to seek Him, but David did not seek God. He killed lots of people from Israel’s enemy but gave his plunder to Achish. When God is not in us we would live a lustful life, we would want to do something that seems spiritual but we don’t have God. We try to take control, to satisfy ourselves and everything becomes only about ‘me’ and ‘myself’, not about God. We would do lots of things, but nothing can testify for God, at the end we please people not God. God is protecting us but we refuse the see it!
We want to look spiritual and try to do many things to fulfil the emptiness inside us. But without God, everything we do that seems spiritual does not please God. We are still seeking our own gains, not the benefits of God or of others.
Let us return like little children, come to Jesus to seek Him and rely on Him alone!
Prayer and Pursuit
Lord, forgive us, through today’s scripture You talked to us and showed us our heart. It’s easy for us to fight for ourselves, we feel many things in our lives are unfair and make us uncomfortable. We want to hide and protect ourselves. Save us and lead us out of our comfort zone.
Lord, help us to leave Ziglag – the place without God, the place of comfort, and help us to walk in the way of the Lord. Amen!
2021年4月22日 星期四
-潘锡安牧师-
撒母耳记上 27
在一个混乱、害怕、无神的光景里
在前一章讲到大卫倚靠神，手里拿着扫罗的水壶和枪，站在高处，勇敢面对扫罗和他的三千精兵。大卫看上去好像是颠沛流离的，但在神同在中他被高举，扫罗也向他道歉并离开。然而，在第二十七章，我们看到大卫的疲惫和思虑。当我们心中有很多焦虑时，通常我们会有两个选择：寻求神，或者倚靠自己的力量。在本章的记载中，大卫“一年零七个月”处在一个混乱、无神的光景中，因为他焦虑、为自己谋算、厌恶这样整天颠沛流离的生活，所以选择妥协，回到敌人非利士人之地也是曾经装疯的地方。
一、心里想（v.1-4）
V1 大卫“心里”所说的话不是从圣灵而来，而是从自己的肉体出来。他担心自己不会每一次都这么幸运逃脱扫罗的追杀。当我们害怕、混乱、为自己谋算的事，我们会开始找Plan B，忘了我们本来只该有Plan A – 就是朝着标杆向前跑。大卫原本躲藏在耶和华的翅膀底下，然而这一次大卫决定靠自己的力量寻求保护，逃跑到他确定扫罗不会过去的非利士迦特王亚吉那里，忘记当初他曾经因惧怕而在亚吉面前装疯卖傻。我们常常以为自己做了一事情之后就万事大吉，但若没有将之交托给神时，我们没有真正的平安。
V2 大卫不再去想自己的身份命定，也忘了神给他六百勇士的目的，“起身”投奔敌人。我们是否也会向大卫那样，觉得累了的时候就放弃，离开，用自己的方式来保护自己？
二、口里说 (v.5-7)
V5 当我们让自己的情绪带领自己的时候，我们嘴里说出的话也不一样。大卫在亚吉王面前没有见证神，反而见证自己的软弱，为了自己的安全而放弃神给他的呼召。他容许自己里面的负面成为他自己的主。
V7 大卫没有投靠神，但是神都知道，神也一直都在。每一天神都知道我们的光景，他在等着我们悔改。我们是否还在纵容自己的情绪，像此时的大卫那样，不愿意来到神面前寻求帮助？我们奔跑天路，所倚靠的不是自己的手脚的健壮，而是万军之耶和华。
三、行动（v.8-12)
V8-9 大卫上去将这些地方的人都杀光，却留下了战利品给亚吉王。很多时候当我们远离神，却想要做一些我们自己觉得属灵的事（包括读经祷告），这样的混乱其实充满自私，没有十字架上的爱。若没有神的同在，我们所做一切看上去属灵的事都没有果效，因为我们都是在求自己的好处，也并没有让人得益处。
V12 在无神的处境，我们取悦的是人而不是神。我们在混乱中只看到自己是受害者，忘了我们能躲在神从不曾缩短的翅膀底下，只想要抓住一些我们觉得熟悉、安全的东西，不愿意放手跟从神。
本章大卫的故事也是我们生命光景的真实写照。我们是否愿意回转像小孩子一样，来到主耶稣的脚前，单单相信、倚靠他？
*追求：
主求你饶恕我们，你借着撒母耳记上二十七章对我们说话，让我们看见自己的光景，我们的心不能定在你那里，反而在很多的自我谋算里面。我们觉得很难，也很容易为自己去争，有很多疑问、不自由，也不愿意寻求神。当我们觉得累了，就用自己的方法想要躲起来、保护自己。圣灵求你来到我们里面，帮助我们，我们无力走出黑暗，安逸在这个非利士人的地方，以为这里最好。我们太留恋洗革拉，以为这里可以给我们最好的保护。求主帮助我们走出这个蒙蔽、无神的地方！圣灵求你帮助我们每一个弟兄姐妹走出我们的洗革拉，我们不要安逸在这个地方，走在与神同行的路上。
当我们再一次愿意从我们的心、我们的口和我们的行动回应神的时候，求主带我们走出洗革拉, 我们是可以踏出那信心的一步，走出洗革拉这个我们以为安全的地方的！求神帮助我们，不让恶者使我们走回头路。求圣灵给我们力量、喜乐和平安！