Friday, 11th June 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One: V1-14 The Confusion of David
V1-14 The Craftiness of Ziba
David did not stand in his authority as a king and as a father, instead he chose to run away. This created confusion not only for himself but also for all the people around him. In life, we will also fall into confusion, and become willful to do whatever we want to do.
David was in confusion, therefore when Ziba wrongly accused Mephibosheth, David believed in him. He gave Ziba all that belonged to Mephibosheth. In the past, David would go to Mephibosheth without going through Ziba, but when he’s confused, he chose to believe in what Ziba said without finding out the truth himself.
When our lives are not aligned with God, we will create a gap for the devil to come in and lie to us. We will listen to voices that belong to the world, and not belong to God.
V5-14 The Curses of Shimei
When Shimei cursed David, David thought it was from God. But David was in confusion during that time because God will never treat us wrongly. Not everything Shimei cursed was true, but David chose to accept everything he said, and this again created confusion for himself and for people around him. David did not have to argue with Shimei, but as an authority he needed to stop the rumors from spreading.
It’s important for us to identify our fault and the gap in our life, then face it by letting God come to heal it. Then we can receive the breakthrough. At the very beginning, prophet Nathan already warned David about what would happen, but he didn’t listen. He still lived his life as the king and let his children become willful.
Section Two: V15-23 The Confusion of Absalom
V15-19 The Wisdom of Hushai
When Abaslom questioned Hushai why he did not follow David, Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.” God never chose Absalom, but Hushai used his wisdom to respond to Absalom, so he would not sin in his words, and at the same time gained trust from Absalom, who was in confusion himself.
Hushai was loyal to David at the end, but in the time of troubles, he used his own wisdom to support David and save himself from being killed by Absalom. God will always give us a way out, all we need to do is seek wisdom from Him.
V20-23 The Craftiness of Ahithophel
Absalom asked Ahithophel what to do next. Even though Absalom called himself king but he also didn’t know what to do. He didn’t ask God or the High Priest, instead he asked the person, who betrayed his father. Ahithophel gave Absalom an idea, which was already being prophesied by Nathan. And if Absalom did what Ahithophel suggested, then he would not be able to reconcile with David.
When we are in confusion, what we hear and what we do will be without wisdom. Everything will be coming from our flesh desires. When we are prideful, our lives will have problems, therefore we need the to seek help from God. David did not have to walk through all these sufferings. If he really repented and took the authority as the father, to educate and reconcile with his sons. David chose to run away and to accept his fate.
God is always waiting for us to turn back. He is waiting for us to recognize our mistakes, to repent, and to follow Him with a humble heart. Let God help us not to walk in the confusion of David or of Absalom. We need to ask God to help us to live a holy life, to know that we are chosen by God. God loves us, He is not here to accuse us and He does not want to see us living in confusion.
Prayer & Pursuit
Lord, You are full of mercy and grace. Lord You will help us, to come out from confusion and from darkness. Lord, You will lead us and will not harm us, so help us to walk out from all the lies of the world. Lord, we want Your grace and blessings, we see the gaps in our lives and we know that we cannot rely on ourselves to solve our own problems. Only Your blood can cover us and only Your love can fill our empty heart. Thank You Lord, for never stop loving us.
Lord, Your grace is sufficient for us, today we cry out to You, and wholeheartedly follow You. We no longer want to walk in our own path, but to chose to follow Your way. Thank You that You call us Your beloved children. Amen.
2021年6月11日 星期五
-潘锡安牧师-
撒母耳记下16
在混乱中的日子
之前大卫没有站在一个父亲和君王该站的位份来管教自己的儿子，他从曾经完全倚靠神变得开始为自己考虑。当儿子押沙龙叛变的时候，大卫作为权柄，竟然选择逃跑，这带来了很大的混乱。当我们体贴肉体的时候，我们会走进混乱。在混乱的日子，人是如何面对的？
一、大卫在混乱中（v.1-14)
1. v.1-4 洗巴的假话
曾经卖主求荣的小人洗巴出现在大卫面前，跟大卫说自己的主人米非波设说“以色列人今日必将我父的国归还我”。洗巴曾经也在大卫面前说过类似的话，当时大卫没有理会，而是直接去找米非波设。如今的大卫因为罪的缘故，生命有了破口，失去属神的智慧，于是凭着洗巴的一面之词就下了判断。当我们没有成为一个忠心又良善的仆人时，我们的恩赐能力就不能得到好的发挥。面对洗巴的大卫是一个平庸的大卫，做出的决定极大的伤害米非波设。作为权柄，当我们生命有破口的时候，我们更需要寻求耶和华。
2. v.5-14 示每的诅咒
示每“一面走一面咒骂， 又拿石头砍大卫王和王的臣仆”。示每对大卫讲的话颠倒是非，因为大卫真正的罪是与拔士巴行淫又谋杀乌利亚，而完全没有流扫罗家的血。但是，大卫面对示每的咒骂选择认命，他这样不是谦卑，因为从神而来的话语是不会混乱的，正如拿单当初指明大卫犯罪的时候一语中的，没有颠倒是非。大卫此刻的言行给下面的人带来更大的混乱，允许这些毒素撒播开来。他不需要跟示每争辩，但他可以跟身边的人讲明真理，说明神会处理毁谤的人，而不是说神派示每来咒骂他。大卫没有听进拿单对他的预言，仍然让儿女任意妄为，这就是大卫的混乱。
二、押沙龙在混乱中（v.15-23)
1. v.15-19 户筛的智慧
面对押沙龙的质疑，户筛巧妙的回答。他是大卫智囊团中的一个谋士，当他说“耶和华和这民并以色列众人所拣选的，我必归顺他”时，他并未说明是押沙龙，因为押沙龙没有被神拣选，但押沙龙被胜利冲昏了头，自动对号入座，以为户筛在讲他。原本他对户筛有合理的警觉性，但因为骄傲，生命有破口，失去智慧，便容许户筛留在自己的身边。
2. v.20-23 亚希多弗的狡猾
父亲昏庸，儿子也昏庸。押沙龙以为神拣选他，自立为王，却不知道该做什么。他没有求问神，却去问一个背叛他的父亲的人建议。亚希多弗知道这些归顺押沙龙的人并非出于真心，于是要施行诡计，让押沙龙在大卫曾经犯奸淫罪的“宫殿的平顶上”与大卫的妃嫔当众亲近。亚希多弗的恶谋虽然帮助押沙龙巩固地位，因押沙龙这件大逆不道的恶事会使他跟大卫的关系走上不归路，但这件事情神一早就借先知拿单跟大卫说了。当我们生命有破口的时候，我们所听所行都是从血气而来。
大卫若真正的悔改，做一个父亲、君王该做的事，他就不用走这么多冤枉路。可惜他选择认命、逃跑。求神帮助我们除去骄傲，更加谦卑来抓住神的手。我们要相信，神一直在等候我们愿意知罪认罪，谦卑来回应神的呼召。
*追求：
主啊，求你炼净我们的手、我们的心，因为我们要圣洁。我们因为生命的破口而没有办法听到你的声音，我们听到都是自己和世界的声音。求主帮助我们每一个弟兄姐妹，不要再走进大卫或押沙龙的混乱中，帮助我们能够过一个圣洁的生活，知道我们是被拣选的。
求神帮助我们看见自己生命的破口，也能勇敢来到耶稣的十字架前，求神堵住我们的破口，让我们能回转，活出圣洁的生命。神不是来控诉我们的，神是爱我们的，不想让我们在混乱中一错再错，因为神是帮助我们的，是恩惠慈爱的神。让我们紧紧抓住主的手，勇敢呼求神的带领和医治！
是的，主你满有恩惠怜悯，你是爱我们的！帮助我们从谎言和混乱的黑暗中出来，进入你奇妙的光明中！主我们将自己生命的破口带到你面前，唯有你能洁净、医治我们！主你的恩典够我们用，你爱我们就爱到底！我们呼求你，我们愿意全然跟随你！祝福我们众弟兄姐妹，让我们都愿意放下自己，求主给我们力量，给我们从你而来的医治，让主的医治进入我们的生命中，使我们从混乱中出来，让神的荣美和智慧彰显在我们的生命。我们每一个人都是蒙天父爸爸所爱的儿女！奉耶稣基督的名祷告，阿们！