Unit 1: God Calls a People上帝呼喚百姓
Title: 再託付於神的呼召Recommitting to the Call 11/25/2018
經文Scriptures：約書亞記Joshua 24:13-28
Worldwide Outreach Teaching
School 賴美滿 校長
https://www.WorldwideOTS.org
前言PREFACE: 在今天的經文裏幫助我們更深的了解, 以色列百姓已經開始居住在上帝給他們的祖先所得應許之地，這以色列之12支派終於平安的居住在平安之地。過去為土地之爭論都已過去了。但是上帝要成為以色列的神，並非只在困難時，且說現在是要確定我們的信心，和把握我們基督徒腳步的時候了。
The scriptures today are helping
us more to understand that the Israelites have begun to settle in the land
promised to their ancestors, the 12 tribes of Israel could finally settle into
their new land in peace. The challenging time of battle and struggle for land
was now over. But God wanted to be the God of Israel not just during times of
struggle. Also, based on their challenging times, we need to reaffirm our faith
and mark our commitment to holding steady in our Christian walk.
上週Last
Week: 我們看到了如何使信心經過順從上帝的百姓經歷到勝利。 We looked at how faith expressed through
obedience enables God's people to experience victory.
這週This
Week: 這週再次確定我們的信心和託付於神的呼召，祂有方法能穩定好我們基督徒的生活方式。This
week we reaffirm our faith and commitment to God as a
way of holding steady in our Christian walk.
讀經文: 約書亞記 24:13-15 "我賜給你們地土、非你們所修治的．我賜給你們城邑、非你們所建造的．你們就住在其中．又得喫非你們所栽種的葡萄園、橄欖園的果子。現在你們要敬畏耶和華、誠心實意地事奉他．將你們列祖在大河那邊和在埃及所事奉的神除掉、去事奉耶和華．若是你們以事奉耶和華為不好、今日就可以選擇所要事奉的、是你們列祖在大河那邊所事奉的神呢、是你們所住這地的亞摩利人的神呢。至於我、和我家、我們必定事奉耶和華。
Read Joshua 24:13-15
"So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build;
and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not
plant.'' "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away
the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve
the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers
served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are
living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
1. 約書亞鼓勵百姓選擇他們的神Joshua challenges the people to choose their God : 約書亞記Joshua 24:13-15
解經文Commentary
from " The Faith Connection" :約書亞記Joshua
24:13-15,
在神的愛和大能之亮光照耀下，以色列子民有其選擇權。上帝已清除顯現祂的信實，愛，和供應以色列百姓以及他們的祖先，不只在曠野並征服了神應許之地。有令人起敬跟隨主宰的證據為主要原因。祂是被證明值得稱讚和全神敬愛 (詩篇8:3-4)。所以約書亞鼓勵他們, "今日就可以選擇所要事奉的 (第15句)." 上帝不能容忍一半專心。他們或選擇當地那已被上帝聖手除去的小神呢 ? 或它們選擇放棄其他而僅有敬拜侍奉全能的神呢 ? In
light of God's power and love, Israel had a choice to make. God had clearly demonstrated
His acts of faithfulness, love, and provision for the Israelites and their
ancestors, not only in the wilderness, but also in the conquest of the Promised
Land. There were compelling, evidenced-based reasons for following God. He had
proven himself worthy of praise and full devotion (Psalms 8:3-4). So Joshua
challenged them, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (v. 15).
God would not tolerate half devotion. Would they choose the gods of the lands
that had been overthrown and defeated by God's mighty hand? Or would they
choose to abandon every other allegiance and serve God Almighty alone?
約書亞已經決定他自己之選擇，他招呼百姓跟隨他的話，他說， "至於我、和我家、我們必定事奉耶和華 (第15句)。" 上帝仍然在呼召祂的百姓站起來跟隨上帝如約書亞跟隨祂，每個人必須選擇要侍奉哪個神。Joshua
had already made his own choice, and he beckoned
the people to follow his example. "As for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord" (v. 15). God is still calling to His people to take a stand to serve and
follow Him. Like Joshua, every person must choose whom they will serve.
2. 百姓誓言要服侍耶和華The people's pledge to serve God Joshua 24:16-18, 21
讀經文: 約書亞記24:16-18, 21, Please read the
Joshua 24:16-18, 21,
百姓回答說、我們斷不敢離棄耶和華去事奉別神．因耶和華我們的 神、曾將我們和我們列祖從埃及地的為奴之家領出來、在我們眼前行了那些大神蹟、在我們所行的道上、所經過的諸國、都保護了我們。 耶和華又把住此地的亞摩利人、都從我們面前趕出去．所以我們必事奉耶和華、因為他是我們的 神。…百姓回答約書亞說、不然、我們定要事奉耶和華
(verse 21)。
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to
serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our
fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great
signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the
nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the
nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the
LORD, because he is our God. … the people said to Joshua, "… We will serve
the LORD (verse 21)."
解經文: 聖經靈修版Commentary from NIV：
全體百姓都放膽宣告，他們絕不離去約和華，但他們沒有守住承諾。過不久被耶和華責備違約 (士2:2-3)。口說容易，但腳踏實地去做去跟隨耶和華乃是重要的事情，在約書亞時代，在他有生之年大家跟隨他，表現尊敬約書亞對神信心的行為，和他的領導能力。 All the people boldly claimed that they would
never forsake the Lord. But they did not keep that promise. Very soon God would
charge them with breaking their contract with him (Judges 2:2, 3). Talk is
cheap. It is easy to say we will follow God, but it is much more important to
live like it. Yet the nation followed God through Joshua's lifetime, a great
tribute to Joshua's faith in God's powerful leadership.
3. 約書亞的警告和全民的回應Joshua's warning and the people's response:
請讀約書亞記24:19-24, Please read the
Joshua 24:19-24, 約書亞對百姓說、你們不能事奉耶和華．因為他是聖潔的 神、是忌邪的 神、必不赦免你們的過犯罪惡．你們若離棄耶和華去事奉外邦神、耶和華在降福之後、必轉而降禍與你們、把你們滅絕。百姓回答約書亞說、不然、我們定要事奉耶和華。約書亞對百姓說、你們選定耶和華要事奉他、你們自己作見證罷。他們說、我們願意作見證。約書亞說、你們現在要除掉你們中間的外邦神、專心歸向耶和華以色列的 神。百姓回答約書亞說、我們必事奉耶和華我們的 神、聽從他的話。
Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He
is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your
sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring
disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you." But
the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD." Then Joshua
said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve
the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied. "Now
then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you
and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." And the people said
to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."
解經文Commentary
from"
The Faith Connection": 約書亞記Joshua 24:19-24,
約書亞鼓勵百姓誓言服事上帝，一個熱心的呼召並不足夠的。約書亞告訴他們 : 第一，上帝是聖潔的神，祂將不容忍您不服從和不尊敬耶和華。
第二，上帝是一個您的神是您不可不信的神，意旨祂不容忍您隔開不忠。
耶穌後來教我們說， "一個人不能事奉兩個主 (馬太6:24)"．並不只是一個人不可分隔忠誠的獻身，上帝也不能容許的。當我們託付於神要敬拜祂時，我們必須在宣告離開每一個錯誤的神，以專嚴的宣示。這是第三次的宣告， "我們必事奉耶和華我們的 神、聽從他的話 (約書亞記24:24) "。
Joshua
challenged the pledge which the people made to serve God. A commitment born out
of enthusiasm alone is not sufficient. First, God is a holy God, who will not
tolerate disobedience and ungodliness. Second, God is a jealous God, which
means that He will not allow divided allegiance. Jesus would later teach that
"no one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). Not only is it impossible to
divide one's devotion, but God will not tolerate it. When we commit to worship
God alone, we must renounce and turn away from every false deity. With a solemn
pledge, the people proclaimed a third time, "We will
serve the Lord our God and obey him" (v. 24).
4. 上帝與民之立約God's covenant with the people : Joshua
24:24-26
請讀約書亞記24: 24-26,
Please read the Joshua 24: 24-26,
百姓回答約書亞說、我們必事奉耶和華我們的 神、聽從他的話。當日約書亞就與百姓立約、在示劍為他們立定律例典章。 約書亞將這些話都寫在 神的律法書上．又將一塊大石頭、立在橡樹下耶和華的聖所旁邊。On
that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he
drew up for them decrees and laws. And Joshua recorded these
things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up
there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD.
解經和建議: 聖經靈修版Commentary
from NIV：約書亞記Joshua
24: 24-26
百姓與神立約 只是單單敬拜和順服耶和華，他們的目標是要成為聖潔的民族，並帶動世界上其他各族規向上帝。攻佔迦南就是達成這目標的一個不驟，可惜以色列人太過於得到的地的心，反而看不到耶和華上帝。在我們的日常生活中，也可能有同樣的�"峞C我們可能花費極多的時�'b做事，卻忘記其目的本應該榮耀上帝，例如教會可能極力保護自己的設施設備，只是為了�"泵菃琚A或怕他人使用。如果有這是發生的話，就表示人只注重物質或建築物，卻看不見它們的用處乃是領人歸向上帝。The
covenant between Israel and God was that the people would worship and obey the
Lord alone. Their purpose was to become a holy nation that would influence the
rest of the world for God. The conquest of Canaan was a means to achieve this
purpose, but Israel became preoccupied with the land and lost sight of the Lord
God. The same can happen in our lives. We can spend so much time on the means
that we forget the end-to glorify God. Churches may make this mistake as well.
For example, the congregation may pour all of its energies into a new facility,
only to become self-satisfied or fearful of letting certain groups use it. If
this happens, they have focused on the building and lost sight of its purpose –
to bring others to God.
結論Conclution:
1.
每天思想我所選擇侍奉的神是誰呢 ? 對象是萬物的主宰嗎 ? 上帝已過度慷慨的對待我們了, 已表明祂對我們的愛和良善。當我們有平安和幸福時，重要的是必須紀念祂的恩典。如沒有好好的訓練去作心靈的紀念和時常再託付於神的方式, 我們很容易變成得意自滿在我們的信心並尋找自己入羅網的說謊以為我們所有的成就都是因為自己的聰明和力量。
God has been extravagantly
generous with us. He has expressed His loving kindness toward us. When we enter
seasons of peace and prosperity, it is important that we practice remembrance.
Without the discipline of spiritual memory and frequent recommitments to the
Lord and His way, we can easily become complacent in our faith and find
ourselves snared in the lie that what we have is because of our wisdom and
strength.
約書亞鼓勵百姓 "今日就可以選擇你自己所要事奉的是誰 (24:15)"、 這並非只是選擇要為下一代著想, 更要在每個新的日子選擇你自己所要事奉的是誰? Joshua
challenged the people to "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve"
(24:15). This is not only a choice that must be made by every new generation,
but it is a choice that needs to be made again every new day.
2.
再次確定我們的信心和託付於神的呼召: 考慮方式製造機會再次確定我們的信心和託付於神的呼召，祂有方法能穩定好我們基督徒的生活方式和腳步。Consider
ways to create opportunities to reaffirm your faith and mark the times of
commitment as a way of holding steady in your Christian walk.
再託付於神的呼召Recommitting to the Call
