Tuesday, 27th December 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-10 Humble and Ask
We are entering a new page, as we change our church name, we also need to see God’s guidance in our church. A new name, a new beginning, a new destiny, and a new purpose.
At the beginning of Judges, Joshua died, and the first thing the Israelites did was to humble themselves and ask God what to do next. When we really quiet down ourselves and listen, then God will lead us. Through morning devotions, through Sunday sermons, God has been talking to us and guiding us.
Why do we keep the morning devotions? So we can hear the Word of God, see God face to face, and receive fresh revelations from God everyday. What is our attitude towards the morning devotion? When we keep the morning devotion, when we don’t give up no matter how tired we are, the. We will hear God talking to us, and we will see signs and wonders happening in our lives? God he led us this far, when we don’t give up, we can gradually see the countless blessings through the years.
Everyday is a new day, and everyday we must humble and ask God to give us the Word for today. In Judges 1, God told Judah to go up first, Judah honoured God, they didn’t rely on their own strength. Even though Joshua died, his life still influences the Israelites. Caleb even let his daughter be the prize for the person who takes down the city.
Othniel became the first judge and took down the city. But he knew it was not by his own strength so he didn’t ask for anything. Caleb’s daughter Achsah was give to him as promised, and she suggested her husband to ask for a land, and God blessed them abundantly.
Section Two V16-36 Set Apart as Holy
When the people took down the cities they didn’t destroy all the people lives there in order to make them slaves. The people of Israel didn’t set their lives apart as holy, they didn’t see God’s commandments and orders as important as their own convenience.
We want God to help us, but we must first set our lives apart, do not look at the things of this world more important than God. Then He will be able to come to our aid, and to reveal His purposes for our lives.
士师记 1 – 进入命定
2022年12月27日 星期二
潘锡安牧师
士师记让我们看见蒙召人的生命。以色列子民过了约旦河，约书亚死了，接下来他们该如何做？我们如今得救、受装备，之后要如何呢？其实我们还有未完成的使命，之前的开始并不意味着句号，而是更要倚靠神。在除旧迎新、挥别南奥克兰灵粮堂、进入锡安灵粮堂的时刻，士师记一章的经文帮助我们学习如何进入命定。
一、v.1-15 谦卑求问
V1 以色列人在约书亚死后谦卑求问，神就对他们说话。我们以前有很多做事的习惯，很容易用doing的模式按部就班。我们过去经历许多高山低谷，然而当我们不放弃，愿意先神后人再大地，特别是不放弃在晨祷中与神面对面，神就亲自带领我们进入“锡安灵粮堂”的祝福。我们是否凡事谦卑求问，还是觉得按照一个以往的模式做事就好了？我们对待晨祷的态度如何？在晨祷中，当我们一起谦卑寻求的时候，神就给我们全教会带领的方向。
V2-3 犹大支派是奋勇的“狮子”。虽然已被拣选，但他们并没有凭着人的血气去打仗，而是先找西缅支派。神要将这只战无不胜的狮子变为尊主为大的狮子。强壮的迦勒出自犹大支派，“犹大”原文意思是“赞美”，即使是这么厉害的支派都在神面前谦卑自己。每天的晨祷开始之际，我们是否在琴与炉的敬拜赞美中谦卑来到神面前？“西缅”的意思是“听见”，我们赞美神的时候，是否听见神的声音？
V4-7 亚多尼比色当初如何嘲笑以色列人，如今神百倍奉还。当我们愿意谦卑求问神的时候，神就让我们反败为胜，进入命定。
V12 迦勒不仅愿意用神给他的能力来服事神，他也愿意将自己看为千金宝贝的孩子献给神，正如约书亚之前说的，“我和我家…必定事奉耶和华。”
V14 此处的“求”跟本章一开始的“求问”有同样的意思。俄陀聂并没有因为自己打胜仗而骄傲邀功，反而在迦勒面前谦卑求一块田。
V15 俄陀聂夫妻不仅得到了所求的田地，也不用担心泉水的问题。神大大高举这对愿意谦卑求问的夫妻，给他们大过所求所想的祝福。
二、v.16-36 分别为圣
当以色列人谦卑跟从神，神就让他们战无不胜，然而人并非能一直专心。犹大、西缅是有能力的支派，可惜，他们允许摩西的内兄和他的子孙 – 就是外邦人与他们一起，信与不信原不能同负一轭，结果自己受到负面的影响。
这一段经文不断重复说以色列人没有将迦南居民赶出。他们取易不取难，因为觉得赶出当地的居民太麻烦，又因为这些人是很好用的苦力，所以没有完全遵行神的吩咐，反而留下这些迦南人。神给以色列祝福的应许之地，因着这个破口，最后他们在这里国破家亡。我们在进入命定的时候，是否也有这个态度，是否与这些生命中的问题共存？还是愿意以神为首，分别为圣，治死我们里面的不信、悖逆、感情用事，用神的话语带领我们向前走？当我们愿意即使软弱也仍然跟随神的时候，神就带领我们进入命定。求神帮助我们能经历世世代代的祝福。