Thursady, 1st July 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-7: Be Humble
Hezekiah, the king of Judah, copied out Proverbs 25 from Solomon’s words. What was Hezekiah facing during that time? 2 Chronicles 29:1-11 tells us that he was a young king and when he inherited the throne from his father, he learnt from David instead of from his own father. Hezekiah‘s father worshipped idols and shut the Temple of the Lord, but Hezekiah chose to go back to history and seek his ancestor, David’s good deeds, which pleased God.
We must see where the blessings are! The 25-year-old young king chose to follow David’s ways and Solomon’s wisdom. It was not an easy thing to do because it was against the practice during that time, but we should never compromise with the worldly values, but seek God’s values, which may be disagreed by the world. We should leave our comfort zone and live in the teaching of God.
Human knowledge is limited, and only our glorious God knows everything. We don’t need to know everything or every reason behind a decision made by God or our authority, what God wants us to know He will reveal it to us. As kings, when problems come to them, they must seek the wisdom from God. We also need to accept life, which may be things that we don’t like to hear, things of corrections and teaching. Don’t try to guess what our authority’s intentions are, just follow their hearts and honor them by being humble and obedient. When we serve faithfully, God will not put us to shame.
Section Two V8-18: Be At Peace
Fear the Lord, and He will give us wisdom. As leaders we must teach, but base this teaching on love. We should teach others with the ways of how we want to be taught. Do not have double standards and do not make our leaders worried. When they pass on a job to us, can we fulfil it wholeheartedly and diligently?
We also need to endure. Use words of gentleness and wisdom to talk to our authority. Our attitude determines how we receive from our authority. Even if we carry out the duty, we still influence the people around us. Then we can give our suggestions or comments. This is how we live under the Tree of Life.
When we care for others, do not have expectations for them, we should love like how Jesus loves, not asking for anything in return. We should not be greedy, because all quality relationships we have are enabled by God. Seek peace with ourselves, our family, our brothers and sisters, our work colleagues… so others see us will see our joyful and glorious being under the Tree of Life!
Stand in the righteousness of God, don’t give faults testimony and put our neighbors in hardship. God gives us blessings, so we can bless those around us. Do not always just think about our own benefits but also of others, because God wants us to love one another and He will give us abundant love so we will never be lacking.
Section Three V19-28: Deny Ourselves & Benefit Others
Bless others with good news. Everything we say or we do comes from our heart. If we have a prideful heart, then we open the door to the darkness, then we’ll be partnership with Satan. To live out the fragrance of the Tree of Life is not easy. When we are unwilling to wait and when we are afraid of waiting on God, then it will be even harder for us to carry it our. God hears our prayers and knows our difficulty, if we are willing to wait upon Him and believe His timing is the best timing.
Is our heart willing to wait upon God? Do we believe God takes over our lives and do we believe that every promise in the Bible belongs to us? Do we believe that when we let go of everything and follow God, fear nothing, worry nothing, and God will provide? We must pray with a sincere heart, receive God’s teaching, walk further and deeper with Him.
Prayer & Pursuit
Lord, Abba Father, help us to turn back like little children, come before You with a simple and pure heart, receive Your teaching, and live out a glorious testimony for You. Let our lives be full of the fragrance of the Tree of Life, not a bitter life. Bless us, Lord, so that our hearts are filled with Your Words, and be transformed to reflect Your image. Let our lives blossom with flowers and bear good fruits. Thank You for Your Love. Amen!
2021年7月1日 星期四
-潘锡安牧师-
箴言 25
生命树的气息
本章一开始说明箴言25章是“犹大王希西家的人”从所罗门王的记录中挑选出来编撰的。为什么这篇箴言对希西家重要？在历代志下29:1-11记录希西家年仅25岁时就继位登基。他的父亲亚哈斯王不仅拜偶像，还将耶和华的殿关起来（代下28:22-27）。然而希西家并未学效他父亲做的事，而是效法他好几代前的先祖大卫所行的。我们不要只看到周围的人或者自己的上一代的做法而为自己作恶找借口。希西家考察先祖大卫和所罗门的教导，行了神眼中看为正的事。我们不管现在年纪如何，是否能像希西家这样不跟随潮流，而是分别为圣、专心跟随神给我们的真理、听从权柄对我们的教导？箴言第25章帮助希西家面对当时的犹大国，对我们处在末世的人也大有益处。
一、要谦卑（v.1-7）
V2 人的知识有限，正反映出神的奇妙，所以我们不需要为自己没有完全知道所有的事而烦恼。当问题来到君王面前时，他若能考察清楚，便是他的荣耀。所罗门是有智慧处理问题的王，他的智慧不是从他的学历来，而是从敬畏耶和华而来。希西家学到所罗门王的教导，在当时犹大国逆转潮流，重开圣殿，让祭司利未人回来献祭，敬畏耶和华。
V3 我们不需要去猜测权柄的心思，而是跟随、去明白权柄让我们做的事情背后的心意。
V4-5 当时希西家登基作王时，周围都是曾经跟随父王的拜偶像的臣仆，所以希西家说要除去“恶人”-就是周围那些不能跟随神心意的人，因为神的国是靠公义建立的。我们是否能跟下面的人讲关于生命的真理，哪怕这让他们听上去不舒服？
V6 很多时候我们看自己大过我们的权柄和神，是因为我们骄傲，以为自己什么都懂。我们或许知道如何做事，可是却不明白事情背后神和我们权柄的心意。我们要学习谦卑，当神借着权柄交代我们事情的时候，我们要去贴他们的心，甚至尽力将事情做到更好，而不是按自己的心思来办事。
二、要和睦（v.8-18)
V8 争竞会引发冲突，而我们要做的是让神为我们伸冤。当人攻击我们的时候，我们只要谦卑交托给神，专心做好神交代我们的那一份就好了。我们不需要跟人比较，不要害怕别人比我们好，因为我们知道自己做得不够好，所以没有安全感。我们若能够相信神、敬畏他，就不会担心自己能力不足，因为神会赐给我们智慧和能力去度过一个又一个难关。我们是否愿意敬畏耶和华、选择与人和睦呢？
V9-10 我们不要跟周围的人讲别人的是非，不要泄露人告诉我们的秘密，但是对于我们的权柄我们不要划清界限，因为我们能够牧养下面的人是受上面权柄的托付，我们给出去的教导也是从上面的水流而来。
V11-12 我们教导真理的时候，要有智慧，就是要敬畏耶和华、爱人如己。不要对人严格、对自己却宽松。
V13 我们在工作或教会的时候，是否能让交代我们事情的人放心？
V15 我们可以给权柄建议，但要有忍耐、柔和的心。如果我们希望事情能改变，我们对权柄讲话的方式就要温柔，不要因为不喜欢被交代做的事而给周围的人散发苦毒的气息。
V16-17 我们事情做好就可以了，不要尝试拿到回报，在圣经里面教导的爱是无条件的。我们是否能做一个荣神益人、吸引别人跟随的人？
V18 我们要追求公义，不能“作假见证陷害邻舍”，而是鼓励、造就他们。若我们不感恩神给我们所赐的一切，反而活出苦毒让人看到后不想亲近神，我们就是在作假见证，这样反而“陷害”了我们的邻舍。要看到神给我们一切丰盛的祝福，并以此祝福周围的人。
三、要舍己利他（v.19-28)
V21-22 不要因为别人做的事而觉得愤愤不平，反而要祝福他们，因为圣经教导我们要爱人如己，我们要活出耶稣基督的爱。
V20, 25,28 要体谅伤心的人，要给人带来好消息，做到这些都是不容易的，但一切都是我们的心开始。若我们对仇敌敞开心，我们就像“毁坏的城邑没有墙垣”，就是与撒旦同行了。要活出生命树的气息是不容易的，我们要做的是相信神，愿意等候他的时刻和他的作为。
*追求祷告：
我们的心真的愿意等候神，相信他掌管我们的生命，相信跟随神会有祝福吗？我们的心是否能一无挂虑、只要凡事祷告祈求？求神帮助我们的心回到神的教导里面，不成为我们的阻挡，而是帮助我们在神的国度里走得更远、更深。求神帮助我们的心回转像小孩子一样谦卑。
谢谢主帮助我们能像小孩子一样以一颗单纯谦卑的心来到你的面前，领受你的教导。求主帮助我们专心跟随，活出荣神益人的见证，满有生命树的气息！祝福我们的心充满主的教导、话语，因我们的心改变，我们的生命也不再一样。祝福我们所栽种能开花结果，叶子也不枯干，谢谢主的爱和同在！奉耶稣基督的名祷告，阿们！