Wednesday, 3rd February 2021
This proverb is written by Agur the son Jakeh, which means ‘blameless’. And the name of Agur means ‘gather’. Proverb 30 records the words of wisdom gathered by Agur for the king, so let us read this chapter as “an heir to the throne”.
Section One: V1-9 Limitation of Human
V1, Ithiel means ‘God with me’ and Ucal means ‘devour’. In Proverb 30, Aguar talks to two kinds of people, those humble and know God, and those who can never be satisfied. Are we willing to come close to Jesus every morning with a joyful heart? At the end of the day would we take time to sit down, pray and seek God? Without a hunger and thirsty heart, we won’t be able to come to morning devotion, it’s really by the grace of God we can wake up early everyday to receive His love.
In V2-3, Ithel shows his humility, knowing without God he cannot do anything. But when we humble ourselves and fully rely on God, V5 tells us that the Word of God is like a shield, which stops the fiery arrows from the evil ones to come to us. We just finished reading the Book of Judges, and the Israelites were doing whatever pleased them, they did not rely on God but relying on their own strength, at the end they lived in confusion and a big mess. Without the Word of God, we would only listen to ourselves and justify ourselves.
Humans are limited, we really need to read the Word of God with the alertness, so we can use this shield to protect us from the fiery arrows. Without alertness, the evil one will accuse us, lie to us, and stop us hearing from God. Jesus came to let us return, humble ourselves and repent our sins. From Malachi to Jesus there were 400 years God did not speak to men, because men were being wilful and proud. They thought God was with them, but it was the fantasy, which men created for themselves.
Be humble and don’t always think we are right. When God gives us teaching through our authority, be humble to accept it, don’t rely on ourselves but hold onto God tightly. Everything we have is from God, so we need to treasure this. We can live until today is the blessing from God, we can come to morning prayer is also the blessing from God.
Section Two: V10-17 Ignorance of Human
Don’t judge others. Why do we judge other people’s servants? Because we do not focus on what God has given us to do. When we see others not doing good enough, instead of helping them, we judge them. This is living in confusion and in ignorance. These kinds of people think everything they do is right, their point of view is right, even when their authority tries to correct them, they won’t listen. Furthermore, not only they don’t listen to their authority, but they also judge others. Do not think we know a lot; we are all ignorant people; we speak or do things that hurt others and hurt ourselves without even noticing it.
V17 talks about those people, who don’t listen to their parents, thinking they are old-fashioned. These people are ignorant and opinionated. They think they know a lot, but they know nothing. V18-20 gives some examples that a lot of things on this world we cannot see but they really exist. The way the eagle in the air and the way a serpent on a rock; they are all the ways we do not see but really exist. Do not believe in everything we see, only by the Word of God we can stand firm.
Turn back from all the evil things, we tend to think that God will help us to resolve everything, we have lost our alertness, we become ignorant and willful in everything we do. V24-28 tells us that there are problems we need to face; we are limited and narrow-minded to see the Great God. He created the world and all the living things within it. Before the Lord and before the land, we need to humble ourselves and turn back!
Section Three: V32-33 Do Not Be Proud
Admit that we are proud, stop sinning in our words! If we do not turn back from our evil ways, then the punishment will come. If we continue to justify our ways, try to outsmart God, then God’s judgement will surely come. Let our authority speak into our hearts, let everyday we live on earth as in Heaven!
Response Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for giving us a heart of repentance. We are sinners, who are limited, wilful and proud. We did not treasure what we already have, instead we took the things not belonged to us and tried to justify our evil ways. Thank You Lord for Your Word; You put Your light in us so we can humble ourselves and look upon You. Your Word is the shield for our lives to stop the fiery arrows from the evil ones. May Your Word be the foundation of our lives, we will turn back from our sins and walk alongside You in the Path of Truth. Amen.
2021年2月3日 星期三
箴言 30
谦卑回转
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本章的作者是雅基的儿子亚古珥。雅基指的是“无可指责的人”，亚古珥是聚集、收集的意思。箴言是收集智慧的语言来给王用的。所以让我们以一个王位继承人的身份来看箴言第30章。
一，V1-9：人的有限
1，“真言”是指从神而来的教导的话语。作者一个师傅的身份与他的两个徒弟说话。以铁是“神与我同在”，乌甲意思是“占为己有”，这两个人的生命是两个极端：一个是谦卑的人（有神就够），一个是不知足的人（什么都想要）。
2，一个没有智慧，不与神亲近的人，一定不知道如何收集智慧的言语；但在这里作者说自己“蠢笨”，没有聪明。他是在谦卑自己，承认自己的有限。耶稣说我们要回转像小孩子一样，因为小孩子渴慕亲近耶稣。我们要问自己，我们平时愿意花时间亲近耶稣吗？早起时，我们是否有喜乐的心，下班回来，是否渴望祷告？我们是用一种什么样的心态来做每一件事？若没有饥渴慕义的心我们没办法每一天来到神的面前。
3，作者在形容人的有限，神的伟大。
5，有了神的盾牌，我们还惧怕什么？就算恶者的火箭时常攻击我们，我们不用惧怕，要拿起神的盾牌来阻挡从四面八方来的火箭。然而，人的骄傲让他觉得自己不需要神的话语，或者觉得很难就不去学习，或者只是选择自己喜欢的部分来听。就好像在士师记里，虽然有神，但人没有神的同在，处在混乱中，就自己做自以为对的事，都因为没有神的话语。我们要谦卑承认，人是有限的，要尊神为大，不然我们身上中了无数的火箭都还不自知。
6，神的话，我们不可加添。不要以为我们随便做事神就会来包底。耶稣基督来，是让我们谦卑，承认有罪，因为人任意妄为，自以为有神同在。
8，虚假、谎言：我们在混乱中自己做出来的事我们还以为是对的，不要自圆其说，当神、我们的权柄跟我们说话的时候，我们要谦卑受教；贫穷、富足：要相信我们拥有的都是神给的，都是恩典。
二，V10-31：人的无知
10，不要批评论断别人。在我们的位分上，不要去批评别人的仆人。我们如此行，是因为没有看重神给我们自己的那一份，心里没有爱，只看到别人的不好。
11-14，这“一宗人”没有感恩的心，没有记念、回报父母辛苦养育之恩。他们是无知的，还以为自己做得对，自己的想法对，其实是一塌糊涂，听不进劝诫。眼目看不见人，嘴巴也批评论断的人，是无知的。
16，这些东西都不能让人饱足却真实存在的，对人无益的。若我们没有留意这几样东西，我们就会因着自己的无知而受伤。
17，藐视父母的，就是觉得父母的话老土、啰嗦，就是有眼无珠，神祝福不会与他同在。
18-20，很多东西我们看不到，但却是存在的。不要凭自己的眼目来判断，而是靠着神的话语立定根基。
21-23，这里所讲的几件事是不对、不应该发生的。我们要有一个警醒的心，看到不对的事发生要及时回转，不要继续任意妄为。
25-31, 神的创造何等奥秘，人与之相比，是何等无知，所以我们需要谦卑自己，回转向神。
三，V32-33：不要心存骄横
32，“用手捂口”，就是不要自我催眠，不要做错事却不承认，不要去辩解，不要在言语上犯罪。
33，若犯罪，必受恶果。若我们一直冥顽不灵，耍小聪明，最后神的怒气必会降下。
我们要谦卑回转向神，听从属灵权柄的教导，让神带我们走在蒙福的道路上。
*追求：
谢谢主将一个谦卑回转的信息给我们，让我们以一个王位继承人的身份来看你的话语。我们是不知足的人，我们安静时无法用渴慕的心态来寻求你，我们选择骄傲、断章取义来看你的话，我们还以为犯错了总有神来包底，也没有珍惜你给我们的恩典。我们总是批评论断，看不起人和神的作为。这样的骄傲在我们心里横行。让我们来到神的面前，让神来光照我们，看到自己的不足。
主耶稣求你将你的亮光照进我们里面，让你成为我们唯一的主，让我们尊你伟大，谦卑自己。主你的话语是我们的盾牌，可以抵挡恶者一切的火箭。我们要承认我们的不足，在你的话语里立定根基，我们也要回转。求主坚固我们，愿你的国降临，在地如在天！