Tuesday, 15th June 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One: V1-4 The Devil’s Scheme
Ahithophel’s plans were to destroy David’s backdoor so that he has no way to come back. What he suggested would make the relationship of David and Absalom completely destroyed and have no chance of reconciliation. Satan often wants us to have no way to turn back to God, but God’s love is above all these evil schemes.
In Psalm 3, we see how David relied on God when he was being chased after by Absalom. David knew Satan wanted him to go to a dead end, and his situation seemed hopeless, but he still put his hope in the Lord. We saw the same with Jesus, when He carried His own cross He seemed to be at a dead end. But Jesus’s choice was to deny Himself and benefit us. Jesus relied fully in the Father and He knew only His submission could bring the way out for all people.
Absalom and the elders thought Ahithophel’s plan was good and agreed with what he suggested. Often the earthly way seems better and easier to follow, but when we follow the world, we miss out on God’s blessings.
Section Two: V5-16 The Lord Provides
Both Ahithophel and Hushai were David’s consultants. Somehow with all the powers Absalom had, he chose to consult with the two people that seemed to have betrayed David. He was not fully assured by Ahithophel’s plan and therefore he also asked Hushai. Yet he didn’t know this led to his own destruction.
Hushai pointed out Absalom’s fears, about how David and his followers were all mighty warriors. He gained Absalom’s trust because on the surface it seemed to be a good plan for Absalom but it was actually buying more time for David. Because according to Hushai’s plan, Absalom would have to spend more time to prepare and gather all the Israelites.
Ahithophel’s plan was more wicked and gave David no time to prepare and to fight back. But Hushai’s plan was helping David to buy more time. Absalom seemed to be on the victory side but he chose Hushai’s plan because he was afraid of David and his warriors. Fear can often led us to the wrong path, and only by fully rely on the Lord then we can have the way out, which would often not seem possible from the earthly perspective.
Section Three: V17-23 The Lord Overturns
Hushai sent the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to bring the message to David. When they were being chased after, they hid in the well with a lid on. It seemed like a bad idea because they were stuck in the well. Sometime God’s way might seemed like a dead end. We often feel praying is useless and it’s easier to choose the earthly ways to follow. But without the prayers of the disciples in the Book of Acts, they would not receive the Holy Spirit and there would be no great revival.
When we pray, we are actually hiding under God’s wings and the devil cannot attack us. Often as Christians, we are not willing to hide under God’s protection, we are unwilling to spend time to pray. Instead we try to solve our own problems with our own hands.
Do we really want Jesus’ presence to be with us? Do we really believe God will save us? We must pray! When we hide in the well, when we hide under God’s wings, He will provide for us, protect us and cover us!
Section Four: V24-29 The Lord is Real
David was running away from Absalom, he seemed to be the one, who had nothing left, but God provided him and his followers with everything they needed! The other side of Jordon did not belong to David, but he was provided over there. The Bible even recorded in details of the things David was given! It showed how faithful and true our God is that even in situations that seem to have no way out, God’s help will come in time!
Whereas Absalom seemed to receive the victory, but him and his people were afraid of David and his mighty warriors. When we have the world, we might seem to have everything we want but in fact we have nothing, whereas when we hide in God’s wings, then He will provide us with everything we need!
Are we willing to let go of our lustful desires and follow God? Are we willing to hide in the well and believe God will save us? Let us live under the tree of life and only rely on God!
Prayer & Pursuit
Dear Lord, only You are our shield, when we have no way out, You provide for us. When we thought our prayers are not heard, You are already at work. Open our eyes, help us to be willing to let go of our own plans, to follow You wholeheartedly. Help us to hide under Your wings and experience Your abundance. Amen.
2021年6月15日 星期二
-潘锡安牧师-
撒母耳记下17
耶和华的预备
一、v.1-4 恶者的计谋
亚希多弗在一开始就跟押沙龙献了一个恶毒的计谋，要迅速解决大卫，使大卫完全没有翻身的机会。当初他提议押沙龙公然与大卫的嫔妃淫乱，也是让押沙龙没有回头路。这就是恶者对我们的计谋，恶者对我们的目标是赶尽杀绝，让我们没有回转的余地。然而，神是慈爱的，人未曾想过的，神都为我们预备。恶者看得见我们的疲乏惧怕，他们就会乘胜追杀，然而大卫如何回应？他在诗篇3:1-3说到：“耶和华啊，我的敌人何其加增！有许多人起来攻击我。有许多人议论我说：‘他得不着神的帮助。’但你耶和华是我四围的盾牌，是我的荣耀，又是叫我抬起头来的。”大卫将盼望放在神的手上，我们是否能如此在神同在中安息？在末世的时候，个人只想享受自己的生活，但主耶稣教导我们的是要背起自己的十字架 – 也就是生命树，彰显“谦卑顺服，舍己利他”的生命。我们是否愿意背负自己的十字架，还是任由自己的欲望扩张？我们是否能像所罗门王起初作王的时候那样愿意为神建殿？当我们先愿意相信、完全摆上的时候，神会供应我们，使撒旦的诡计、恶谋不能得逞。
V4 大家都以为亚希多弗的话是对的，因为他们觉得“众民都归顺你”就会“平安无事了”。然而，这表面的顺利只是一个陷阱，他们失去的是神的祝福。
二、v.5-16 神的供应
押沙龙聪明一世，糊涂一时，明明觉得亚希多弗的计谋好，却又去找户筛，这说明神都是有预备的。户筛否定了亚希多弗的计谋，在献出的新计策里，他讲中了押沙龙内心对大卫的想法。押沙龙一直在自己欺骗自己，一直都知道却不愿承认父亲大卫是能“杀死万万”的“勇士”。其实大家都怕大卫，所以当户筛说要用人海战术来攻打大卫的时候，押沙龙和众人都说这个计谋更好。人的心是自私的，不希望看到自己有损失，但是当他们笃定自己的计划万无一失时，耶和华神却定意跟他们划清界限。没有神同在的军队，就没有胜利。户筛的计策是在拖延押沙龙，从而帮助大卫争取时间。耶和华的预备就是给我们时间，然而我们是否好好珍惜？大卫若是沉醉于神给他的时间，就没有办法利用这段时间过河到自己不熟悉的外邦人之地。我们是否愿意安息在神的同在中，毫无惧怕呢？
三、v.17-23 神的翻转
户筛将事情通知两个祭司的儿子约拿单和亚希玛斯，使他们能“报信给大卫王”。这两人逃到一个妇人家里，躲在井里，妇人遮掩井口，“事就没有泄漏”(v.17)。跳进这口井去躲藏，看上去似乎是这两人走投无路时的无奈之举。有时候我们跟随神的带领，我们也会这样质疑神的方法。比如我们祷告的时候，看起来好像没有什么用，会让人怀疑是否有事情发生，但当我们祷告的时候，说明我们愿意躲藏在神的翅膀底下。主耶稣说过，只要两三个人同心合意奉他的名祷告，他就与我们同在。躲在马可楼上的门徒们正是因为这样的祷告而经历了圣灵降临的极大复兴。
V20 当我们从躲藏的地方出来后，事情就不一样了。我们是否愿意相信在神所预备的“井”里的时候我们上面有遮盖，其实是被保护的吗？
四、v.24-29 神的真实
押沙龙也跟着大卫过了约旦河，但是大卫受到了不同外邦人的供应。在人看来，大卫逃亡时一无所有，然而神让大卫和跟随他的人一无所缺。当他们说”民在旷野”的时候， “民”指的是“亲属”，说明这些外邦人看大卫的人为亲属。
耶和华的预备是丰盛有余的，我们愿意相信吗？我们是否愿意放下自己的情欲，走在神给我们的道路上吗？我们愿意专心跟从神，愿意谦卑躲在神为我们预备那口井里面吗？
*追求：
我们是否愿意相信耶和华是我们的山寨、盾牌，愿意放下我们在地上紧紧抓住的东西呢？这些东西阻止我们经历神，求神帮助我们挪去。
是的主啊，你是我们的盾牌，当我们觉得眼前无路可走的时候，你已为我们预备道路。当我们觉得祷告没有用的时候，你已经在动工了！求主开我们的眼，让我们愿意放下一切属世的缠累，专心跟从你！帮助我们愿意躲藏在主你的翅膀荫下，经历你丰盛的供应！奉耶稣基督的名祷告，阿们！