Tuesday, 16th August 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-15 To Understand the Truth
V1 ‘He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.’ This links to Isaiah 39, when Isaiah was teaching the king but the king wouldn’t listen. Again and again, Isaiah reminded the people to rely on God, but at the end the people still chose to rely on the help of Babylon.
V2 ‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.’ When we are unwilling to be led by the righteousness of Gods, at the end we wont be living in the blessings, but in negativity.
V3 ‘Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, but a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.’ The harlot represents the ungodly and the unlawful. When we are indulge in the enjoyment of the world, we will fall in the darkness.
V4-5 ‘The king establishes the land by justice, but he who receives bribes overthrows it. A man who flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet.’ We are not standing in the righteousness of God, we seek lustful desires of the world, then we will fall into the trap of the devil. What is it that we want from this world? Let us stand in the peace and righteousness, and let the power of God to bring influence to our neighbours.
V6 ‘By transgression an evil man is snared, but the righteous sings and rejoices.’ What is it in our lives that made us who we are today? There will be a reason. Do not chase around things of the world that will fade away, but really come before God, let the Holy Spirit come to us to convict ourselves. Examine into our lives and see where we have stumble.
V7 ‘The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge.’ Let God help us, through the Holy Spirit to really look o to our lives, reveal our weaknesses, admit our mistakes, let God deal with our lives so we can turn defeat into victory. God wants us to be the light of the world to shine into darkness.
V12 ‘If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.’ What do we must listen? The things that make us feel good about ourselves? Or the words of wisdom which lead is out of darkness and I to the light? King Hezekiah had to go back to the proverbs of his ancestors Solomon to bring the words of wisdom into his present life.
V14 ‘The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever.’ We are easy to pity others, we tend to speak words that please people and make them feel better, but we cannot speak the words of truth. Stop covering up the Truth, but let God’s light and righteousness shine into the lives of people.
Section Two V16-24 To Be Shepherded
V16 ‘When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall.’ We must discipline our children, not just cover up their mistakes but help them to see their mistakes.
V18 ‘Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.’ For the people following us, we must show them that we are helping them but discipline and teaching. May God help us to have wisdom.
Section Three V25-27 Only Rely on Jehovah
V25 ‘The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.’ Do we believe e that by relying on the Lord, we can receive true peace?
V27 ‘An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.’ We must know that we cannot please everyone. But what do we choose? To seek the praises of people or only seek to please God?
箴言 29 – 鉴古知今
2022年8月16日 星期二
潘锡安牧师
箴言从第25章开始就是希西家王从所罗门的箴言中找出的智慧的话语，帮助他们知道如何带领国家翻转、进入蒙福的生活。
一、v.1-15 要明白真理
我们若不明白真理，看到的都是负面。我们要在一个光明的角度看回自己的生命，才知道问题出在哪里。
V1 这一节经文对应以赛亚书39章的记录。神借着先知对希西家王和犹大人说话，不断提醒他们回转，但他们仍不选择倚靠耶和华而是依赖巴比伦。
V2 当我们处在蒙蔽中，没有被神的公义带领，下场就是“叹息”。我们看见的都是问题，因为没有走在公义中。
V3 “妓女”是让我们跌倒、离开神、不合法的环境。当我们与外邦人结盟时，我们的钱财都会被浪费。
V4 我们没有站在神的公平公义时，我们就只想要得到世界上令我们满足的东西，结果只能是“倾败”。我们希望从这个世界得到什么呢？
V5 我们若没有将神的公义公平带给邻舍，反而认同他们的罪，这样就是绊倒他们的。
V6 我们今天落到如此的光景，要反省自身原因。我们不要追着事情跑，祷告时只会要神帮我们处理事情，而是要求圣灵光照我们，让我们能为罪为义为审判自己责备自己。
V7 我们不要只是享受圣灵，而是更多借着圣灵鉴察我们的生命，披露我们的软弱。当我们看到自己的问题后，不是自暴自弃，而是求神帮助，让我们领受那反败为胜的祝福，如明灯照亮这世界，让人看见神怎样让我们得胜又得胜、荣耀又荣耀。
V12 我们要听的是那些让我们舒服的话呢，还是那能带我们出黑暗入奇妙光明的话？希西家王愿意花时间去查找所罗门王写的箴言来教导当时的人，我们是否愿意将真理分享给别人，还是只讲一些使人听后飘飘欲仙的话去讨好他们？
V14 唯有凭“诚实”-就是真理-才能使国位坚立。我们面对有需要的“穷人”，是否只是觉得他们可怜，于是不愿意跟他们说真理？唯有看到真理，“穷人”才能真正出黑暗、入光明。我们每一个跟从神的人都有从神而来的位份、权柄，我们是否只是包庇下面的人，还是愿意用爱心说诚实话？唯有凭诚实才能真正帮助那些有需要的人。
V15 神是有怜悯、恩慈的，但他也是有公义的。生与死摆在我们面前，神已经给我们智慧去选择，我们是否愿意走向光？当我们看到过去人怎样在衰败或兴旺里，我们就要明白真理，鉴古知今。
二、v.16-24 要被牧养
V16-17 神没有要我们一味的包容放纵下面的人，而是要我们懂得去管教。我们需要先与人建立关系，当人愿意信任、跟从我们时，我们要及时将真理分享给他们。不要只看他们以前的样子就觉得他们无法改变，我们要忠心于神给我们能教导、治理的权柄、能力。
V18-19 我们要让人看到我们为什么管教人，而不只是说道理。
V21-23 一个仆人被娇养，最后把主人的家产都拿走了。我们要反思如何带领、教导，要承认自己的那套方法是不行的，要使用神的真理。
V24 人活在蒙蔽中，就会与别人“分赃”、同谋合污、看到别人犯罪却不说话。人本来就活在罪中，所以都需要被牧养，我们自己也要先被牧养，也去牧养别人，才能让牧养的水流传下去。
三、v.25-27 唯有倚靠耶和华
V25 我们是否愿意单单倚靠耶和华？
V27 不要尝试赢得全世界的认同，因为世上的恶人一定会厌恶我们。我们要得到的单单是神的称赞，而不是世界的认可。