Month: November 2021

19/11/2021

引言:

诗篇79篇的背景可能是主前586年巴比伦军队攻占耶路撒冷，圣殿被毁、犹大亡国、百姓被掳（王下25：9）。面对国家的败亡，诗人就写了这首诗篇来向神呼求！因此，我就把这章经文的主题定为‘危难中的呼求’。从这篇诗歌中，我们可以看见有几个层面的呼求。

一、呼求怜悯（V1-4）

「神啊，外邦人进入祢的产业，污秽祢的圣殿，使耶路撒冷变成荒堆，把祢仆人的尸首交与天空的飞鸟为食，把祢圣民的肉交与地上的野兽，在耶路撒冷周围流他们的血如水，无人葬埋。我们成为邻国的羞辱，成为我们四围人的嗤笑讥刺。」（V1-4）

当时的景况，就如第1-4节所描述的这些可怕的事情发生。

我们知道，耶路撒冷是神所拣选的居所，也是神的百姓属灵光景的标志。当神的百姓顺服神的时候，耶路撒冷就得兴旺；当神的百姓悖逆神的时候，耶路撒冷就会蒙羞。摩西在申32:20-25早已预言，如果以色列人离弃神、拜偶像，必然会遭遇第2-4节所描述的悲惨结果。神也早已向所罗门王宣告，倘若以色列人离弃神、敬拜偶像，「我就必将以色列人从我赐给他们的地上剪除，并且我为己名所分别为圣的殿也必舍弃不顾，使以色列人在万民中作笑谈，被讥诮」（王上9:7）。

因此，我们也不会惊讶，当以色列人面对巴比伦的威胁时，神竟然说：是祂召祂的「仆人巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒」（耶25:9）做的！

因此，诗人知道，唯有来到神的面前呼求祂的怜悯，盼望神转念，不降祂所说的灾。

二、止息怒气（V5-7）

「耶和华啊，这到几时呢？祢要动怒到永远吗？祢的愤恨要如火焚烧吗？愿祢将祢的忿怒倒在那不认识祢的外邦和那不求告祢名的国度。因为他们吞了雅各，把他的住处变为荒场。」（V5-7）

以色列人知道，他们亡国是因为自己犯罪，惹动神发怒。 他们求神怜恤、止息怒气，求神把忿怒倒在入侵祂产业的外邦人身上，而不是在自己的子民身上。

诗人准确地认识到，仇敌摧残神的百姓（V2-3）、「吞了雅各，把他的住处变为荒场」（V7），使以色列亡国是因为自己的罪，而不是因为神没有能力，而是因为神在「动怒」（V5；耶25:9）。今天，许多信徒在遇到天灾人祸的时候，不是责怪神，质问慈爱的神为什么允许这些灾难发生；就是可怜神，认为神束手无措，需要我们来帮助祂、安慰祂。

然而，我们所信的是万军之耶和华，祂大有能力，完全可以阻止一切灾难发生。因此，当公义、慈爱、大能的神允许天灾人祸发生的时候，我们首先应当做的事，是认罪悔改，反省自己的生命并思想神的「忿怒」（V6）。因为神向自己的百姓「所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念」（耶29:11），祂管教的目的不是为了要败坏百姓，使他们灭亡，而是为了恢复百姓，叫他们在「末后有指望」（耶29:11）。因此，当属灵的黑暗最深的时候，黎明也就不远了；当神开始管教的时候，祂的救恩也就临近了。

因此，当我们在面对神的管教时，我们不要总想着要逃离及摆脱，好像西底家一样。因为最终我们还是无法逃离而需要接受管教。虽然，被管教的过程并不是很舒服，但当我们选择顺服并从罪中回转时，神的救恩（即神丰盛的恩典）就会临到我们。

三、拯救赦罪（V8-10）

「拯救我们的神啊，求祢因祢名的荣耀帮助我们！为祢名的缘故搭救我们，赦免我们的罪。」（V9）

诗人知道自己不配蒙恩。因为他知道神的百姓被掳，是因先祖的罪孽，历代积累的后果，也是他们自己犯罪的结局。百姓不顾神将近千年的警告，甚至还明知故犯，离弃神、去敬拜神所憎恶的偶像。所以只能向神认罪，然后才求神为了祂自己的名和荣耀而「搭救、赦免」百姓。因为当神定意要「压伤」（赛42：3）祂的百姓的时候，首先被「压伤」的乃是主自己：因为就如第一至第二节经文所描述的，以色列是神的产业，圣殿是神的圣殿，而百姓是神的仆人、神的圣民。因此，当属神的产业及子民受亏损时，其实受最大亏损的是神荣耀的名。

因此，除了我们自己要常常来到神面前反省、认罪并悔改，我们也要时时记念我们的国家。我们常常代替我们的国家回转到上帝面前，我们求主赦免那些不符合真理的政策，我们也求主把我们的国家带回到真理的里面，带回到上帝的所为我们预备的救恩的里面。

四、公义慈爱（V11-13）

1.公义

「愿被囚之人的叹息达到你面前；愿你按你的大能力存留那些将要死的人。主啊，愿你将我们邻邦所羞辱你的羞辱，加七倍归到他们身上。」（V11-12）

「七倍」的意思是「完全的报应」。今天，世界上有许多人越来越放肆地藐视神、抵挡神，把罪恶当作荣耀。然而，神也必将他们所羞辱神的羞辱「加七倍归到他们身上」（V12）。

诗中带出诗人请求神，使被囚的以色列人存活，并止息外邦人对神百姓的嘲笑（他们的神在那里呢；V10, 42:3、10，115:2），把从他们而来的羞辱以七倍归到他们身上，以此终止外邦人对神的羞辱。因为他们认为神没有能力帮助祂自己的百姓。

2慈爱

「这样，你的民，你草场的羊，要称谢你，直到永远；要述说赞美你的话，直到万代。」（V13）

从以色列的历史中，我们看见她们从荣耀到衰败，又从被掳到归回、从荒凉到复兴。虽然在人或事情上，总是有起起伏伏、高高低低，但是我们知道唯有神是永不改变的。因此，我们要求神记念我们是祂的民，是祂草场的羊。就如亚萨在最低谷的时候向山举目，寻求神。

上帝作为一个牧者，祂会来供应祂的百姓，也会来引导并保护祂的百姓 。所以，诗篇里非常多讲到以色列是上帝草场的羊，意思就是他们是归属于上帝的。所以在这个地方我们会看见诗人再一次来跟上帝说：上帝阿，我们是祢的羊，祢是我们的牧人，求祢搭救我们。我们会永永远远来称颂祢，来事奉祢，来敬拜祢！

当我们与神的关系一回到牧人和羊关系里面的时候，我们就会发现那是一个非常亲密的关系，也是一个非常独特的关系。那是一个非常强烈从属的关系。我们知道我们是有所归属的，我们不是飘来飘去的一群人，我们是属于我们的主的。

总结：

弟兄姐妹，当我们在危难中，我们可以来到神面前呼求祂的怜悯、公义和慈爱彰显。纵然我们面对困难，甚至病毒的攻击，但当我们来寻求神的面，祂必要伸出祂大能的手保护我们。

Psalms 79: A Cry in Distress
GK611 Morning Devotion
19/11/2021
Speaker: IP Stella Ling

Introduction:

The background of Psalm 79 may be the destruction of the temple, the fall of Judah, and the captivity of the people when the Babylonian army captured Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (2 Kings 25:9). Faced with the defeat of the nation, the poet wrote this psalm to cry out to God! Therefore, I make the title of this chapter ‘A Cry in Distress’. In this psalm, we can see several levels of cry.

1. A Cry for Mercy

“O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps. The dead bodies of Your servants
They have given as food for the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem,
And there was no one to bury them. We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
A scorn and derision to those who are around us.” (v1-4)

The scene was such that these terrible things happened as described in verses 1-4.

We know that Jerusalem is the chosen dwelling place of God, and a sign of the spiritual circumstances of God’s people. When God’s people obey God, Jerusalem will prosper; when God’s people rebel against God, Jerusalem will be put to shame. Moses predicted long ago in Deuteronomy 32:20-25 that if the Israelites turned away from God and worshiped idols, they would surely suffer the miserable outcome described in verses 2-4. God also declared to King Solomon that if the Israelites turned away from God and worshiped idols, “then I will [b]cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.” (1 Kings 9:7).

Therefore, we are not surprised that when Israel faced the threat of Babylon, God said: It was He who called His “servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 25:9) to do it!

Therefore, the poet knew that the only way to do this was to come to God and cry out for His mercy, hoping that God would turn His mind and not send the plague He had spoken of.

2. Stopping the Anger (V5-7)

“How long, Lord? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name. For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling place.” (V5-7)

The Israelites knew that they had fallen because they had sinned and provoked God to anger. They asked God to have mercy and to stop His anger, and asked Him to pour out His wrath on the Gentiles who had invaded His inheritance, and not on His own people.

The poet accurately recognizes that the enemy destroyed God’s people (v2-3), “devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling place.” (v7), and brought about the downfall of Israel because of their own sins, not because God was powerless, but because God was “furious” (v5; Jer 25:9). Today, when many believers encounter natural and man-made disasters, they either blame God and question why the loving God allows these disasters to happen, or they felt pity for God, thinking that He is helpless and needs us to help Him and comfort Him.

However, we believe in the LORD of hosts, who is almighty to prevent all disasters from occurring. Therefore, when the righteous, loving, and almighty God allows natural and man-made disasters to occur, the first thing we should do is to confess our sins and repent, reflect on our lives and think about the “wrath” of God (V6). For God’s “thoughts that He thinks toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11), and the purpose of His discipline is not to corrupt them and bring about their destruction, but to restore them and give them “hope in the end times” (Jer 29:11). Therefore, when spiritual darkness is at its deepest, the dawn is not far away; and when God begins to discipline, His salvation is near.

Therefore, when we face God’s discipline, we should not always think of escaping and getting rid of it, as Zedekiah did. Because in the end, we cannot escape and need to be disciplined. Although the process of discipline is not very comfortable, God’s salvation (like God’s abundant grace) will come to us when we choose to obey and turn from our sins.

3. Salvation and forgiveness of sins (V8-10)

“Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name’s sake!” (V9)

The poet knew that he was not worthy of grace. For he knew that the captivity of God’s people was the consequence of the sins of their ancestors, accumulated through the ages.The people disregarded God’s warnings for almost a thousand years, and even knowingly turned away from God and worshiped idols, which God hates. Therefore, they could only confess their sins to God and then ask Him to “save and forgive” them for His own name and glory. For when God purposed to “break” (Isa 42:3) His people, the first to be “broken” was the Lord Himself: for as described in verses 1 and 2, Israel is God’s inheritance, the temple is God’s temple, and the people are God’s servants, God’s holy people. Therefore, when the property and people of God suffer a loss, it is actually the glorious name of God that suffers the greatest loss.

Therefore, besides coming to God for reflection, confession, and repentance, we must also remember our nation at all times. We often turn to God in place of our nation, and we ask the Lord to forgive those policies that are not in accordance with the truth, and we ask the Lord to bring our nation back to the truth and to the salvation that God has prepared for us.

4. Righteousness and Loving Kindness (V11-13)

(1) Righteousness

“Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; According to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are appointed to die; And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom, Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. (V11-12)

The word “sevenfold” means “full retribution”. Today, many people in the world are becoming more and more reckless in despising God, resisting Him and taking sin for glory. However, God will also “add seven times to the shame they have brought upon God” (V12).

The poem brings out the poet’s plea to God to keep the captive Israelites alive and to stop the mockery of the Gentiles against God’s people (where is their God; V10, 42:3, 10, 115:2), and to put an end to the Gentiles’ humiliation of God by bringing back to them seven times the humiliation that came from them. For they thought that God was not able to help His own people.

(2) Loving Kindness

“So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.” (V13)

In the history of Israel, we see them going from glory to declining, and from captivity to return, from desolation to restoration. Although there are always ups and downs, highs and lows in people or things, we know that God alone never changes. Therefore, we ask God to remember that we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Just as Asaph lifted his eyes to the mountain at the deepest valley and sought God.

God, as a Shepherd, will come to provide for His people, and He will come to guide and protect His people. So, the Psalms speak very much of Israel as the sheep of God’s pasture, meaning that they belong to God. So, in this place we see the poet coming again to God and saying: O God, we are Your sheep, You are our shepherd, save us. We will always come to praise you, to serve you, to worship you!

As soon as our relationship with God returns to that of shepherd and sheep, we find that it is a very intimate relationship and a very unique relationship. It is a very strong depending relationship. We know that we have a sense of belonging, that we are not just a bunch of people floating around, but that we belong to our Lord.

Summary:

Brothers and sisters, when we are in distress, we can come to God and cry out for His mercy, justice and love to be manifested. Even though we face difficulties and even virus attacks, when we come to seek God’s face, He will extend His mighty hand to protect us.

18/11/2021

引言 :成功的人很少是天生的，所谓名师出高徒···

强将手下无弱兵，如果我们有一位地表最强的教练大将作我们的人生导师，我们就有机会成为训练有素、强而有力的精兵强人不是吗？

《诗篇78》是亚萨的【训诲诗】，当今天圣灵带领我们读这诗篇的时候，让这诗篇也成为我们强而有力的人生‘训诲师’，这位‘训诲师’不止是地表最强的，甚至是全宇宙最强的，因为祂是创造主，祂的训诲要指教我们，让我们都从历史中学到宝贵的人生功课。

一、诫命就是训诲师（V1-16）

亚萨是大卫诗班的班长。他是革顺族的利末人，在四千人的大诗班中，是位崇高的乐师。当年约柜迁入耶路撒冷时，亚萨和他的乐师前行奏乐，敲钹吹号，鼓瑟弹琴，用诗歌颂扬赞美耶和华。（代上16:4-7）他的后裔历代掌管诗歌事奉。

1.把诫命传递后代子孙 （V1-7）

你有没有想过为什么犹太人成为全世界中最杰出、最有钱、最聪明的人呢？因为他们有神的训诲！
神要祂的子民留心听从祂的【训诲】，这字的原文就是תּוֹרָה （Torah） ,是指律法、指引、教诲。妥拉也就是生命树。过去曾在主日信息中和大家分享过，希伯来语妥拉这四个字母的总数是400+6+200+5=611。换言之，今天神要给我们的亮光就是要把611的生命树真理，传递给我们的后代子子孙孙。

说到律法当然是指摩西五经，但是对我们而言，“611的真理”也就是耶稣的使命，已经被主爱所成全的律法。以赛亚书61:1说到主被圣灵恩膏，叫一切被掳的得释放····。这也是我们教会的异象，我们的使命。当你来到GK611到时候时候，你就要准备接受牧养，接受611的训诲和使命。让你成为生命树的生命。然后不是停留在你自己改变而已，而是要起来牧养，让生命树的生命继续传给下一代。

2.勿悖逆顽梗忘记神恩（V8-16）

神在以色列民出埃及的事情上，让他们经历了前所未有的大神迹、大奇事：云柱火柱、红海分开成干地、磐石出水等等。选民怎么可能忘记神呢？

611对弟兄姐妹，神对我们真的有特别的拣选与呼召。我们过去经过许多大而可畏的神迹奇事。神怎么救赎我们、医治我们、释放我们、让我们经历许多恩宠，我们怎能不忠心对神、一生服事神呢？

世人都知道忘恩负义是不好的，对人忘恩负义都已经是不好，更何况对神呢？你领受过神的引导和开路吗？你经历过神奇妙的供应吗？如果是的话你会忘记报恩吗？

二、不听训诲妄论神（V17-29）

惹神发怒了还有救吗？
神一而再再而三的向选民显出祂的恩典与大能，然而百姓却用不信的口吻，否定神的大能。
但是神依然显出恩典，以超自然神迹供应他们每一天的需要。这么大的神迹，人怎么还会否认神？悖逆神呢？

人为什么会不听神的训诲？为什么会妄论神的作为？妄论就是以一些邪门歪道的论点去评定神的作为。原因是因为他们不信，不信神真的是他们独一的神？唯一的神？全能和爱人的神。

三、不听训诲必后悔（V30-55）

对于不肯听从神的训诲而一再悖逆的人，连神都忍无可忍。不得不除灭其中的破坏份子。

1.死不悔改心不正（V30-38）

这些人真的不见棺材不落泪，但是他们虽然回转，但是内心还是不够真诚。但是，至少让神有“理由”再怜悯他们，赦免他们，暂时放过他们。除非他们又再重犯，神又会与他们算帐。

你是个容易悔改的人吗？是就很好，但是更重要的是要持守改变，免得老是重犯！

2.为民担忧为民愁（V39-41）

面对不受教的子民，神的心非常矛盾。祂如果只是公义的审判官，把他们杀了就完了。但是神也是他们的父，看到孩子的悖逆，叫父神的心产生和等的担忧呢？

我们当中作父母的一定明白我在说什么？孩子无论多坏，父母即使怎么打骂管教，最终还是为孩子担忧，期待孩子改变。有父亲气孩子气到要脱离父子关系，但是这代表什么？父亲有多在意这个孩子，否则就不会这么大费周章，气爆自己的身体。

3.伟大历史岂能忘（V42-55）

埃及十灾是历史上最伟大的神迹，当时神的选民怎么被分别为圣？这么大的神迹人怎能忘记呢？
神最终的用意就是要牧养、喂养祂所爱的子民。神为子民预备了佳美之地，充满丰盛神迹的土地。应许之地可以十分贫瘠，也可以十分丰硕，全在乎有没有神的同在与祝福。

4.管教正因不受教（V56-64）

翻背的弓：指偏离目标的箭。弓箭乃对抗敌人而射，向外攻击，可是他们却是翻背的弓，射的就是自己人。意思说当人悖逆神的时候，原以为追随外邦偶像是为了得利益，不料最终竟然是更大的亏损。

为什么有些人一直会被骂被管教，还是一次又一次的老毛病重犯？就是因为不肯受教。神的恩典与慈爱是无限的，但是我们的时间和生命是有限的。不要等到忽然倒下去的时候才发现太迟了，没机会悔改就成了永恒的定局。

四、神兴起牧养选民（V65-72）

神拣选忠心的牧人（既是训诲师），按心中的纯正牧养自己的百姓，以个样的巧手牧养他们。既是以生命树的 真理训诲去训养。
神的子民悖逆犯罪，软弱多时，神好像睡着了，不闻也不问，任凭他们沉陷在黑暗的辖制中。但是，时间到了，忽然间神好像睡醒了，酒醒了，就出手攻击敌人，实行拯救。

神一再表明祂愿意牧养祂的子民，不断在祂的教会中兴起“训诲师”，以真理诫命牧养祂的儿女，你是顺命而蒙福的孩子么？

总结：历史教训是人类的功课

我们可以在别人的历史中学乖，成为蒙福的人。
也可以成为历史中的被管教者，你选哪一种呢？
神的话、律法与诫命都是我们的训诲师，为叫我们成为荣耀的生命树！

Psalm 78: Psalm of Laws—Teacher of Laws
GK611 Morning Devotion
18/11/2021
Speaker: Reverend David Tan

Introduction:
Successful people are seldom born, and it is said that a famous teacher makes a good student —-.

There are no weak soldiers under a strong general. If we have a great coach who is the strongest on earth as our life coach, we have the opportunity to become well-trained, strong and powerful elite soldiers and strong men, don’t we?

Psalm 78 is the Asaph’s psalm of laws. As the Holy Spirit leads us to read this Psalm today, let this Psalm also be our strong and powerful life ‘teacher’, who is not only the strongest on the earth, but even the strongest in the universe, because He is the Creator, and His teachings will teach us, so that we all learn valuable life lessons from history.

1.The Commandment is the instructor (V1-16)
Asaph was the leader of David’s choir. He was a Levites of the tribe of Gershon, and was an exalted musician in a large choir of four thousand people. When the ark of the covenant was moved into Jerusalem, Asaph and his musicians went forth to play music, banging cymbals and blowing trumpets, playing the lyre, and praising the LORD with psalms. (1 Chronicles 16:4-7) His descendants have been in charge of the worship ministry for generations.

(1) Passing on the commandments to future generations (V1-7)

Have you ever wondered why the Jews became the most prominent, the richest, and the smartest people in the world? It is because they have God’s laws!
God wants His people to be attentive to His [teachings], which is the original word תּוֹרָה (Torah), which means Torah, guidance, teaching. Torah is also the tree of life. As I have shared with you in the past, the total number of the four letters of the Hebrew word Torah is 400 + 6 + 200 + 5 = 611. In other words, the light God wants to give us today is to pass on the 611 truths of the Tree of Life to our children and grandchildren.

When we speak of the Law, we are of course referring to the Pentateuch, but for us, the “611 truths” are also the mission of Jesus, the Law that has been fulfilled by the love of the Lord. Isaiah 61:1 speaks of the Lord being anointed by the Holy Spirit to set all captives free —-. This is also the vision of our church, our mission. When you come to GK611 by then, you will be ready to be shepherded and receive the teachings and mission of 611. Let you become the life of the tree of life. And then not stop at just changing yourself, but get up and shepherd so that the life of the tree of life continues to be passed on to the next generation.

(2) Do not rebel and forget God’s grace (V8-16)

God allowed the people of Israel to experience unprecedented miracles and wonders in their exodus from Egypt: the pillar of cloud and fire, the parting of the Red Sea into dry land, water coming out from the rock, and so on. How could the chosen people forget God?

To 611 brothers and sisters, God really has a specially chosen and called us. We have passed through many great and fearful signs and wonders in the past. How can we not be faithful to God and serve Him all the days of our lives when God has redeemed us, healed us, freed us, and let us experience many graces?

The world knows that ingratitude is bad. It is bad enough to be ungrateful to people, let alone to God. Have you received God’s guidance and openness? Have you experienced the wonderful provision of God? If so, will you forget to repay your kindness?

2.Blatantly talking about God without listening to the teaching (V17-29)
Is there any salvation in provoking God to anger?
God has shown His grace and power to His chosen people, yet the people denied His power with unbelief.
But God still showed His grace and provided their needs every day with supernatural miracles. With such great miracles, how could people still deny God? How can man disobey God?

Why do people disobey God’s teachings? Why do they blatantly talk about the works of God? Talking blatantly is to judge God’s works with some evil arguments. The reason is because they do not believe, and do not believe that God is the only true God? The almighty and loving God.

3. Disobey teaching will be regretted (V30-55)

Even God cannot tolerate those who refuse to obey His teaching and repeatedly disobey. He has to destroy the saboteurs among them.

(1)Unrepentant and unrighteous (V30-38)

These people refuse to give up until they are completely defeated, but although they turn back, they are still not sincere in their hearts. However, at least God has a “reason” to have mercy on them again, to forgive them, and to let them go for a while. Unless they sin again, God will deal with them again.

Are you a person who easily repent? Yes, that’s good, but it’s more important to keep changing so you don’t keep repeating yourself!

(2) Worry for the people and sorrow for the people (V39-41)

God’s heart is in deep dilemma when facing the unteachable people. If He were only a righteous judge, He would have killed them and that would have been the end of it. But God is also their Father, and seeing the rebellion of His children, how worry is the heart of the Heavenly Father?

(3) The great history should not be forgotten (V42-55)

The ten plagues of Egypt were the greatest miracle in history, and how were God’s chosen people set apart for holiness at that time? How could people forget such a great miracle?

(4) Discipline comes because unteachable (V56-64)

The bow with the back turned over: the arrow that is off target. The bow and arrows are shot against the enemy, outwardly, but they are bows with their backs turned, shooting at their own people. This means that when people rebel against God, they think they are following the pagan idols for benefits, but they end up with a greater loss.

4.God raises up the shepherding of the elect (V65-72)

God chooses faithful shepherds (also instructors) to shepherd His people according to the purity of their hearts, and to shepherd them with skillful hands. They are both shepherded by the true teachings of the tree of life.
When God’s people were rebellious and weak, God seemed to be asleep, and did not care, leaving them to indulge in the bondage of darkness. But when the time came, suddenly God seemed to wake up from sleep, and the wine awakened, and he took action against the enemies, and save His people.

Conclusion: History lessons are lessons for mankind

We can learn from the history of others and become obedient and blessed.
Or we can people who were disciplined in history. Which one do you choose?

17/11/2021

引言 :

大卫行神眼中看为正的事，所以神拣选他建立了神子民的王国。可惜他的子孙专行神眼中看为恶的事，到西底家作王，仍然不知悔改，继续作恶，结果王国就毁在他的手中！但是我们看见犹大虽然亡国了，神却是永在，凡是回转敬畏神的子民，都得救恩得祝福！

一、犹大亡国 (V1-26)

这段经文讲述巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒第二次进攻耶路撒冷，使到犹大国灭亡，因为他所立的犹大王西底家背叛了他。

1.国破家亡 (V1-12)

当时耶路撒冷被围困三年，以致国中饥荒。当巴比伦人破城而入时，西底家试图逃跑，但被抓住了，被挖去双眼，受尽凌辱，他在失明前看到的最后一件事就是他的儿子们被杀。

巴比伦人又将圣殿、王宫和富户的房屋放火烧了，城墙也拆毁(V8-10)，除了极贫穷的人以外，全部被带到巴比伦去。犹大族人的家都亡了。一座本来被众山围绕，似乎牢不可破的城市，如今却被巴比伦人攻破了。犹大人以为依靠有利的地形、牢固的城墙可以保护耶路撒冷。但犹大人犯了一个可怕的错误，就是错误的依靠。城墙的石头虽然很硬，原来这些东西不能保护他们！因着这个可怕的错误，让他们得到了可怕的结局-国破家亡！

弟兄姐妹，我们现在依靠的是什么东西让自己有安全感？金钱？文凭？地位？事业？
当我们尝试倚靠世界，导致生命有了破口，我们的一切就会被仇敌掳走！我们真正可靠的保护，不是来自世界，而是只来自神！惟有转向神、依靠神，才能让我们得到身心灵的保护和平安！

2.圣殿尽毁 (V13-17)

经过多次被抢夺之后的圣殿，原本已经所存无几，现在更是连圣殿本身也被焚烧，连锅，蜡剪，调匙等等小物品也不放过，被洗劫得一乾二净，代表为神所建立的两根铜柱也被拆毁，被运到巴比伦去了。所罗门所建的圣殿遭焚毁了，犹太人信仰的中心已经完全尽毁了，耶和华的荣耀所在之地，顿时变得荒凉了！

本章详细讲述圣殿如何被毁坏， 是要让人知道，圣殿不等于神。当人背叛神，不再敬拜神，神会心疼地离开圣殿！这绝对不是神的失败，而是神选民的失败！

今天我们信了主，神的灵住在我们里头，我们的身体也是神的殿，如果我们仍然行恶玷污‘神的殿’，最终蒙羞遭毁的是我们自己。神是一直在等我们回转，要赐给我们蒙福永恒的生命！

3.子民四散 (V18-26)

在亡国的情景下，最后我们看见犹太人的悲惨下场。就连尚存的大祭司西莱雅、副祭司西番亚，以及一些重要的官员也被杀害。这样，会众与神之间的连接也随着大祭司的遇害而断绝了。而犹大省长基大利的被杀，更让犹太余民失去了可以带领他们的领袖，大家再一次陷入无助的境地。而且更为可悲的是，基大利还是被犹大人杀害的。犹太人原本已经所剩无几，他们却还手足相残！

犹大王室的遗族把基大利杀了于是众民，无论大小。因为惧怕迦勒底人，都逃亡到埃及去。如此，犹大国正式子民四散的灭亡了！

人离开神，不行神的道，终必遭受毁灭，连神的选民，以色列国也不例外。所以，今天当我们似乎一切都失去时，处在无助绝望时，我们要知道一切事物都会过去，惟有神是永远长存！当我们懂得回转向神，一切就有转机，凡事有出路。

二、神是永在 (V27-30)

在经文的最后一段，也是列王纪全书的最后一段，突然地讲述了已经被废除并被掳三十七年后的约雅斤王抬头，被提出监狱受恩待的事情。

经文没有介绍任何背景让我们知道为什么会发生这样的事。也正是如此，才让我们知道这看似莫名其妙发生的事，乃是出于永在的神，是在显明永在神的作为：

1.永远纪念

约雅斤被关了37年，他自己也应该觉得就是这样被关到死为止！哪里还会想到有出狱的一天，而且是出狱蒙恩待，终身常在巴比伦王面前吃饭。

我们的神是永远纪念祂的子民的，尤其是祂在管教中的孩子，祂必不离弃！除非我们选择放弃！
就像神没有忘记被掳37年的约雅斤，神也没有忘记我们每一位信靠等候祂的子民！ 如果我们对神有信心，我们就知道地上的一切都会过去的，我们只要定睛在‘神的应许’和‘永恒的盼望’！那么我们的等候就是有平安的！有盼望的！

2.永远守约

这件事之所以重要，也是因为约雅斤是大卫的后代。当西底家死了之后，大家会以为大卫的后代终止了，其实不是，还有约雅斤。由于耶稣是大卫的后代，所以大卫的子孙必要世代传下去，才有耶稣的出生。所以，约雅斤被释放获恩待，表明神是永远守约信实的，大卫子孙不会因为犹大亡国而断绝！

约雅斤虽然是行神眼中看为恶的事（24:9），但是神可以奇妙的使用任何人，来成就祂的计划！
这不单单是发生在以色列民族历史中的事，其实也是不断地发生在我们每一位基督徒的身上的事，
因为无论是过去、现在，还是将来，神始终如一；祂的怒气不过是转眼之间，祂的恩典乃是一生之久；一宿虽然有哭泣，早晨便必欢呼。因为神是永远守约的神，所以祂应许的祂必成就！

就像主耶稣被钉十字架上的可怕结局，却成为整个世界的新起点！因为主战胜了死亡，从坟墓中复活，并赐给凡愿意信靠祂的人，得救恩得永生！对于基督徒来说，我们要知道：神可以把‘最糟的残局’，变成‘全新的开始’！

总结：人亡国灭，唯有神是永在！

因为人的不断作恶，爱人的神就会介入残局，施行管教，翻转局面，让受教的子民有一个全新的开始！

人会死亡，国家会灭亡，唯有永在的神，能给我们‘每天的更新’，和‘永恒的盼望’！只要我们愿意信靠跟随祂！在现今的混乱时局，我们也要求神帮助我们，能够带领更多的人，在基督里得更新和得盼望！

2 Kings 25: Though Judah Perishes.God is Everlasting
GK611 Morning Devotion
17/11/2021
Speaker: Intern Pastor Daniel Kew + Reverend David Tan

Introduction:

David did what was right in the eyes of God, so God chose him to establish the kingdom of God’s people. Unfortunately, his descendants did what was evil in God’s sight, and when Zedekiah became king, he did not repent and continue to do evil, and the kingdom was destroyed by his hand! But we see that though Judah fell, God lives forever, and all who turn to God and fear Him are blessed with salvation!

1. The Fall of Judah (V1-26)

This passage tells of the second attack on Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, which brought about the destruction of the kingdom of Judah because Zedekiah, the king of Judah whom he had made, had betrayed him.

(1) The nation was broken (V1-12)

At that time Jerusalem was besieged for three years, so that there was famine in the country. When the Babylonians broke into the city, Zedekiah tried to escape, but was caught, had his eyes gouged out, and was so abused that the last thing he saw before he lost his sight was his sons being killed.

The Babylonians also set fire to the holy temple, the king’s palace, and the houses of the rich families, and the walls of the city were torn down (V8-10), and all but the very poor were taken to Babylon. All the houses of the tribe of Judah perished. A city that had been surrounded by mountains and seemed unbreakable was now invaded by the Babylonians. The people of Judah thought they could protect Jerusalem by relying on the favorable terrain and the strong walls of the city. But the people of Judah made the terrible mistake of relying wrongly. Though the stones of the walls were hard, it turned out that these things could not protect them! Because of this terrible mistake, they received a terrible end – the destruction of their nation!

Brothers and sisters, what are we relying on now to make ourselves feel secure? Money? Credentials? Status? Career?
When we try to rely on the world, which leads to a stronghold in our lives, everything we have will be taken away by the enemies! Our true and reliable protection does not come from the world, but from God alone! Only by turning to God and relying on Him can we have protection and peace of mind and body!

(2) The temple was destroyed (V13-17)

The temple, which had been plundered so many times with nothing much left, was burned, even the temple itself was burned, and even the the pots, the trimmers, the spoons, and other small items were sacked and plundered, the two bronze pillars that represented the building for God were also torn down and carried to Babylon. The temple built by Solomon was burned down, the center of Jewish faith and belief was completely destroyed, and the place where the glory of Yahweh was located became desolate!

This chapter tells in detail how the temple was destroyed to show people that the temple is not the same as God. When people betray God and stop worshiping Him, God will leave the temple in pain! This is definitely not a failure of God, but a failure of God’s chosen people!

Today we have believed in the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord lives in us, and our body is also God’s temple. If we still do evil to defile the ‘temple of God’, we will be the ones who are ultimately shamed and destroyed. God has been waiting for us to turn around and give us blessed eternal life!

(3) The people are scattered (V18-26)

In the end, we see the tragic end of the Jews in the scenario of the fall of the kingdom. Even the surviving chief priest, Seraiah, and the second priest, Zephaniah, as well as some important officials, were killed. Thus, the connection between the congregation and God was severed with the killing of the high priest. The killing of Gedaliah, the governor of Judah, left the Jewish remnant without a leader who could lead them, and they were once again left in a helpless situation. What is even more tragic is that Gedaliah was killed by the Jews. The Jews had few left, and yet they fought among themselves!

The remnants of the royal family of Judah killed Gedaliah, and all the people, large and small, were killed. All fled to Egypt for fear of the Chaldeans. Thus the nation of Judah was formally scattered and perished!

Even the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, is not exempt from destruction when people leave God and do not walk in His ways. Therefore, today, when it seems that everything is lost and we are in a state of helplessness and despair, we need to know that all things pass away, but God endures forever! When we know how to turn to God, everything will turn around and there will be a way out for everything.

2. God is Everlasting (V27-30)

In the last paragraph of the scripture, which is also the last paragraph of the whole book of Kings, it suddenly tells about the raising up of King Jehoiachin after he had been abolished and taken into captivity for thirty-seven years, and being raised up to be treated graciously in prison.

The scriptures do not introduce any background to let us know why this happened. This is what makes us know that this seemingly inexplicable occurrence is from the living God and is a manifestation of the work of the living God.

(1) Forever in remembrance

After 37 years of imprisonment, Jehoiachin himself should have thought that he would be imprisoned until he died! How could he have ever imagined that he would be released from prison, and that he would be treated graciously for life and eat before the king of Babylon.

Our God is ever mindful of His people, especially His children in discipline, and He will not forsake them! Unless we choose to give up!
Just as God did not forget Jehoiachin who was in captivity for 37 years, so God has not forgotten each of us who trusts and waits on Him! If we have faith in God, we know that all things on earth will pass away, we just need to fix our eyes on ‘God’s promises’ and ‘eternal hope’! Then our waiting is with peace! There is hope!

(2) Keeping the covenant forever

This matter is also important because Jehoiachin is a descendant of David. When Zedekiah died, people would have thought that David’s descendants had ended, but not so, there was still Jehoiachin. Since Jesus was a descendant of David, it was necessary for David’s descendants to pass on from generation to generation in order for Jesus to be born. Therefore, the fact that Jehoiachin was released and treated graciously shows that God is always faithful to keep His covenant and that the descendants of David will not be cut off because of the fall of Judah!

Although Jehoiachin was doing what God saw as evil (24:9), God can use anyone wonderfully to accomplish His plan!
This is not only what happened in the history of the nation of Israel, but in fact it is what happens to each and every one of us as Christians constantly.
For God is the same in the past, in the present, and in the future; For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But [a]joy comes in the morning.Because God is a God who keeps His covenants forever, He will fulfill what He has promised!

Like the terrifying end of the Lord Jesus’ crucifixion, which became a new beginning for the whole world! For the Lord overcame death, rose from the grave, and gives salvation to all who will trust in Him for eternal life! For Christians, we need to know: God can take the ‘worst mess’ and turn it into ‘a new beginning’!

Summary: Man and Nation Perishes, Only God is Everlasting!

Because of man’s constant wickedness, a loving God will intervene in the wreckage, exercise discipline, turn the situation around, and give a new beginning to the people who are teachable!

Man will die, nations will perish, but the living God can give us ‘daily renewal’ and ‘eternal hope’! If we are willing to trust and follow Him! In these chaotic times, we also ask God to help us to be able to lead more people to renewal and hope in Christ!

16/11/2021

引言 :

以色列在列王时期在南国执政的最后三位王，每一位都难逃审判的厄运。难道我们所信的这位慈爱的神就不再给人恩典了吗？其实神仍然又给他们恩典，但是因着南国犹大从先祖累计下来的罪，我们看到神恩典的时限已经到了，所以神要执行审判。

神是公义的神，所以如果没有审判，许多在暴政下受苦的人就得不到伸冤和平反。所以当神恩典的时限已经到了，公义的神决不再赦免。

一、公义的神施行拆毁（V1-7）

1.对悖逆之人兴起审判

约雅敬也是一位行恶的王，他原名叫以利亚敬，当他被法老尼哥立为犹大王的时候，给他换名为约雅敬。就是从‘神所建立’这个名字换到‘耶和华兴起’。

在约雅敬执政年间，当他行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，耶和华就兴起巴比伦，亚兰，摩押，还有亚扪人的军队去攻击他，毁灭犹大，这些都是耶和华神早就借着先知早就警告过犹大列王的。耶和华神在人谨守祂诫命的时候会兴起，让人经历祂的得胜和保守；而当人违背祂心意，却一直不愿悔改的时候，神同样会兴起，不过在这个时候神要做的就是拆毁的工作。

2.不赦免不愿悔改的人

犹大国被拆毁，这是出于玛拿西的罪。在历代志下33章虽然提到玛拿西有悔改，但是他所犯下的错，已经深深地影响到了子子孙孙，还有整个犹大国的百姓。所以列王记的作者今天才会这样来描述，更是提到神决不肯赦免在玛拿西影响之下，而行恶却又一直不愿悔改的人。

总的来说，当犹大国的罪已经越过了神恩典的时限，来到约雅敬的年间，其实神仍透过先知耶利米去对约雅敬说话，但是他还是不听，还是不愿带领百姓回归正道，所以最终神就借着祂所兴起的巴比伦来对犹大施行拆毁的审判。这也是犹大人第一批百姓被掳到巴比伦的时刻。

二、公义的神施行掳掠（V8-17）

1. 不顾惜有名无实的领袖

这是南国犹大人第二次被掳的经历，发生在约雅斤执政年间。其实对于约雅斤来说，他的名字的意思是‘耶和华建立’，但是来到这个时候，再一次地我们看到，他的名字和他的生命并不相称。仿佛就是当人硬着心要来行恶的时候，他取什么名字也不再重要了，他和他的家眷就被掳到巴比伦去了。

2. 不顾惜国中昔日的荣耀

巴比伦王把耶和华殿和王宫里的宝物都拿去了，但是神都不顾惜，包括自己的殿也一样。因为比起这个外在的殿，神更看重的是人心怎样。所以神宁可殿被毁坏，让百姓被掳，为的就是要让他们能够在被掳到巴比伦之后可以悔改自己的生命，重新建立自己，还有自己的下一代来归向耶和华神！

三、公义的神施行赶逐（V17-20）

进入到南国最后一位王西底家的执政时期，他又是一位继续带领余下的百姓行恶的王。公义的神百姓施行赶逐，这也就是犹大人第三次被掳到巴比伦的经历。

1. 耶和华因公义施行审判

让我们先来看西底家这位末位君王，他的原名是玛探雅，意思是耶和华的礼物。

巴比伦王给玛探雅换名为西底家，意思是耶和华是公义的。巴比伦王为西底家取新名，述说神的公义，表明自己如今将掳走犹大人，将他们赶离应许之地，其根本原因就是因为神是公义的，所以祂的审判才会临到祂的子民犹大人。

2. 神并非没有一再给恩典

这章经文我们仿佛完全一点都没有看到神的怜悯，就是一直不断地看到神借着巴比伦来审判以色列南国当中余剩的犹大百姓。但事实上是，当这群子民被掳70年后，神又再次用恩典来带领他们回归。

终有一天，启示录当中描述的灾难都要成就，因为恩典是有时限的。也因为神是公义的，所以神对着人的罪恶不得不再恩典之门关闭之后就施行审判，为一切属祂的人来伸冤和平反。但是神实在是在慈爱的，包括来到末后大灾难的时候，神还让天使飞在天空中，对着全地的人来传福音（启示录14:6-7）。

总结：

神恩典的时限有一天会来到尽头，最终祂对着一直不愿悔改的人决不再赦免。如果神不施行审判，历史历代因行在正路而受苦的人将得不到公义和平反。然而神也有一份永不改变慈爱的属性。只要人愿意在神恩典的时限里悔改归向神，神仍乐意给这样的人施行恩典。

2 Kings 24: The God of Justice Never Forgives Again

16/11/2021

Speaker: Intern Pastor Moses Ou + Reverend Tan

Introduction:

Each of the last three kings of Israel who ruled in the southern kingdom during the reign of the kings was condemned to judgment. Has the loving God in whom we believe ceased to give grace to people? In fact, God still gave them grace again, but because of the sins accumulated by Judah from her ancestors, we see that the time limit of God’s grace has come, so God will execute judgment.

God is a righteous God, so without judgment, many people who suffered under tyranny would not have received justice and vindication. Therefore, when the time of God’s grace has come, the righteous God will never forgive again.

1.The Righteous God Performs Demolition (V1-7)
(1)Raising Judgment on The Rebellious
Jehoiakim was also a king who did evil. His original name was Eliakim, and when he was made king of Judah by Pharaoh Neco, he was given a new name, Jehoiakim. That is, the name was changed from ‘established by God’ to ‘Jehoiakim arose’.
During the reign of Jehoiakim, when he did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, the LORD raised up the armies of Babylon, Syria, Moab, and the Ammonites to attack him and destroy Judah, which the LORD God had warned the kings of Judah about through the prophets. The LORD God rises up when people keep His commandments, so that they can experience His victory and preservation; and when people disobey Him and remain unwilling to repent, God will also rise up, but at this time God will do the work of demolition.

(2)No Forgiveness For The Unrepentant
The nation of Judah was torn down because of the sin of Manasseh. Although it is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 33 that Manasseh repented, the wrongs he committed had deeply affected his children and grandchildren, as well as the entire nation of Judah. That is why the writer of Kings describes it in this way today, and even more so, mentions that God will never forgive those who have done evil under the influence of Manasseh, but have been unwilling to repent.

In summary, when the sin of the nation of Judah had passed the time limit of God’s grace and came to the year of Jehoiakim, God actually still spoke to Jehoiakim through the prophet Jeremiah, but he still did not listen and still would not lead the people back to the right way, so finally God came to execute the judgment of demolition on Judah through Babylon, which He had raised up. This was also the moment when the first batch of Judah were taken into captivity in Babylon.

2.The Righteous God Carries Out Captivity (V8-17)
(1)Disregarding The Undeserved Reputation Leaders
This was the second experience of captivity of the southern kingdom, Judah, which took place during the reign of Jehoiachin. In fact, for Jehoiachin, his name means ‘established by the LORD’, but once again, we see that his name did not match his life. It is as if when a man hardens his heart to do evil, it does not matter what name he takes, and he and his household are taken captive to Babylon.

(2)Not showing concern for the former glory of The Kingdom
The king of Babylon took all the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the king’s palace, but God did not concern about them, including his own temple. For God was more interested in the hearts than the outer temple. So God preferred the destruction of the temple and the captivity of the people, so that they might repent of their lives after the captivity in Babylon, and rebuild themselves and their next generation to the LORD God!

3.The Righteous God Casting Out (V17-20)
The reign of Zedekiah, the last king of the southern kingdom, was another king who continued to lead the rest of the people to do evil. This is the experience of the third captivity of Judah to Babylon, when the righteous God cast out the people.

(1) The LORD judges in righteousness
Let us first look at Zedekiah, the last king, whose original name was Matthias, which means the gift of the LORD.

The king of Babylon renamed Matthias Zedekiah, which means the LORD is righteous. The king of Babylon gave Zedekiah a new name, which spoke of God’s righteousness and showed that he would now take the people of Judah captive and drive them out of the Promised Land, and that the fundamental reason was that God was righteous, so that His judgment would come upon His people, the people of Judah.

(2) God does not fail to give grace again and again
It is as if we see absolutely nothing of God’s mercy in this chapter, that is, we keep seeing God judging the remaining people of Judah in the southern kingdom of Israel through Babylon over and over again. But the truth is that after 70 years of captivity, God again leads His people return by grace.

One day, the plagues described in the book of Revelation will be fulfilled, for grace has a time limit. Also, because God is righteous, He will have to execute judgment on the sins of men after the doors of grace have been closed, and will bring justice and vindication to all His people. But God is so loving that He allows His angels flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people (Revelation 14:6-7).

Conclusion:
The time limit of God’s grace will one day come to an end, and eventually He will no longer forgive those who have been unwilling to repent. If God does not execute judgment, there will be no justice or vindication for those who have suffered in the right way throughout history. Yet God also has an attribute of unfailing love. God is pleased to give grace to such people as long as they are willing to repent and turn to Him in the time of His grace.

12/11/2021

引言 :干净的城市与肮脏的城市，你喜欢哪一个？

肮脏滋生蛇鼠臭虫，病毒病菌，威胁人类的健康！在属灵上也是一样!

一、为神招聚众民（V1-11）

迈向复兴的道路有什么步骤呢？罪恶消除脱离黑暗，生命复苏重建光明！

1.集合全民（V1-2）

约西亚王爱神，坚守神的诫命。要带动全国的复兴，首先需要召集领袖。把犹大全地和首都京城的众长老，领袖们召集起来。除了有了百姓的领袖，跟着还要有其他属灵领袖，甚至是一家大小都聚集起来。来到神的殿，一同来听取神与人立约的圣书卷。

神的子民要听见关乎祝福与咒诅的真理诫命！
他们不像我们今天这样幸福，人人拥有神的话语在手中。甚至时刻不离手，因为神的话也在手机里。但是，我们却是因此而变得不珍惜，不去读、不去听、不去行，所以才回到咒诅的模式里。此时此刻，我们除了在主日集会是召集大家来敬拜神，而且还可以透过晨祷和607的平台召集大家来听神的话，向神祷告。

2.尽心守约（V3）

神是与人立约的神，这是极不对称的盟约。神是全能、全知、至圣、至高的创造主。人却是无能、无知、污秽、卑微的被造物，而神竟然愿意与人立约。而且这约的性质很特别：即是父与子之约、也是夫与妻之约、更是主与仆之约、亦是师徒之约、又是王与民之约。两者的身份和等悬殊？

立约者永不放弃，永不食言。神对守约者只有一个条件：‘尽心尽性’去回应神。（整本圣经有34次说到‘尽心’这词，其中31次都是形容人对神的回应。）耶稣也是这样教导我们面对神的诫命。

王带领众人一同向神立约，并且表明要尽全力的顺服神的带领，严守神的诫命。最终蒙福的是人自己，何乐不为呢？

3.洁净圣殿（V4-11）

（1）把一切属偶像的器具都从圣殿中清理出来
（2）废除一切拜偶现的祭司和相关人士
（3）把偶像搬到专门焚烧垃圾的地方打碎烧净
（4）作为淫乱祭祀之用的房子也要拆毁

我们做家居洁净的处理原则也是由此而来····，我们的环境空间洁净了，神也就乐于同在显出祝福。

二、为神洁净全国（V12-20）

洁净的范围应该是多大呢？就根据当事人的管辖权限而定。一家之主对全家有权柄、全国之首对国家有权柄。

1.破除列王的祭坛（V12-14）

以前的列王所建立的偶像祭坛该如何处理呢？他们既然已经不在了，如今谁做王就是谁说了算。因为，当权者有权柄把不好的、败坏的、得罪神的风俗通通给消灭掉。

想想我们的家族中有没有一些什么“不属神的祭坛”？例如暴怒的灵、淫乱的灵、疾病的咒诅、贫穷的咒诅等“祭坛”，不是属神的本质，而是罪恶咒诅的果子，统统要拆毁打碎除灭。

2.彻底根除罪恶源（V15-20）

伯特利בֵּית אֵל神的家怎么会有外邦偶像的祭坛？这就是过往神子民被蒙蔽而产生的误差，如今都要一一破除销毁。否则就继续惹神发怒，这样还有什么祝福呢？

今天【神的家】就是教会，教会有没有什么惹神发怒的“祭坛”呢？
骄傲、自义、包庇罪恶、贪图财利、自私排他、分门别类、勾心斗角····。这些神所看为罪的元素不也是很容易滋长于神的家中吗？那里有这些“祭坛”，那里就给仇敌留地步。我们要一一破除！

三、恢复神的节期（V21-23）

这是非常振奋人心的记载，我们如今都以守神的节期为教会的高潮点。在以色列民得地为业之后，过去几百年的历史中，他们竟然忘了要守神的节期。原来到了约西亚王的这个时候，他们才重新发现和想到要守神的节期。尤其逾越节是纪念神的救赎，这是何等宝贵的经历，怎能忘记神恩呢？

我们不也要时时纪念神的救赎恩典么？想到自己原本是被判死罪的死人，如今却被逾越节的代罪羔羊给救赎了，我们怎么忘记这恩典呢？我们岂能不为这位主而活？甚至完全摆上自己，一生被主使用呢？

四、彻底洁净全地（V24-25）

1.破除巫术权势（V24-25）

在前两章经文说到玛拿西王的败坏的时候，我说从希西家接触巴比伦到后来的世代，似乎都受到一种使人混乱的巫术之灵的影响，如今约西亚王的确就是要破除一切巫术邪术的权势。这样才得以全面洁净全地，破除国家的咒诅。

对教会的弟兄姐妹而言，我们都知道也向往破除家族和生活中可能隐藏的一切咒诅，所以大家都积极参与教会的医治释放课程和营会。但是也要像约西亚那样，尽心、尽性、尽力归向神，爱神服事神，为神作祂所吩咐的事。

2.神为何还动怒（V26-27）

（代下33不是记载玛拿西侧底悔改吗？）
两卷书的记载很不同，也许和作者的重点有关。《列王纪》应该是由先知耶利米所写，先知的信心总是责备罪恶，从神管教的角度，表明犯罪作恶的结局就是死。信息鲜明没有含糊，犯罪就得死。但是《历代志》是由文士以斯拉所写，作者就比较注重细节，把事情的来龙去脉记录得更详尽。因此把玛拿西悔改的事也记载了。既然如此，为何神还如此发怒呢？

在我的灵里似乎感受到神说：“我是有怜悯有恩典的，所以玛拿西悔改的时候我就饶恕了他。但是他所种下的恶种，在子民中间的恶行影响深远。玛拿西所种下的恶种，已经遍布全民。虽然约西亚做得很好，但是这只是他权柄上可以办到的事，在外表上虽然铲除了所有的巫术权势，但是百姓心里的毒根还在，还没有被栽种真理的稻种所取代，所以约西亚走了以后，百姓又重蹈覆辙。这都是玛拿西所造成的，所以我很生气。“

3.死于自己多事（V28-30）

一生为神执行公义的好王是怎么死的呢？这里记载是在战场上被杀死，那不是死于非命？不得好死吗？但是
上一章经文的最后一节却引述一位女先知的预言说：‘我必使你平平安安地归到坟墓，到你列祖那里；我要降与这地的一切灾祸，你也不至亲眼看见。’他们就回复王去了。（王下22:20）其实这里可以说是约西亚王太多事了，埃及法老王要去攻击亚述王，这又关他何事呢？神即没有要他插手，而且两个外邦国家的事何时轮到他了介入呢？结果他就白白的送死了。

主啊！为什么约西亚一生都勇敢的为真理而活，只是在错误抵挡埃及的事上有误差判断，祢就让他结束了生命呢？
在我的灵里又感受到神说：“正因为他一生都行得正，按我的心意做事，他更不应该犯这样的错，所以我就让他回家了，免得日后错得更大。”

五、恶王依然延续（V31-37）

约西亚之后的最后四个王都是恶王，四王的执政只经过大约22年就完全亡国了，被掳掠到巴比伦去了。大家可能觉得很惊讶，为什么约西亚作了那么伟大的全国性洁净之后，国家不但没有复兴，反而在他之后就一路走向灭亡？

主啊！为什么约西亚侧底的洁净了全国，祢却是在这个时期说出要赶出犹大人的愤怒之言？

我再次感受到神说：“因为我看到罪恶的历史不断重演，约西亚所显示的就是我所要的，但是在他之后人又是固态复发，因此我发出最后的预警，我是说到做到。”

总结：时代将要结束

你作何回应？

这里让我们看到一个时代将要结束，剩下不到23年的时间，但是人心如何回应呢？约西亚王做了全面的洁净，然后就安然见主了。后来的罪恶就是一路引向灭亡。

我们现今的世代不正是如此吗？我们竭力炼净生命预备见主，往后的罪恶会恶化到最终被神灭绝！

2 Kings 23 【Cleansing And Realise Over The Whole Nation】

Introduction: Which do you prefer, a clean city or a dirty city?

Filth breeds snakes, rats, bedbugs, viruses and germs that threaten human health! It is the same in spirituality!

1. Gathering the People for God (V1-11)

What are the steps on the road to revival? Sin is removed from darkness, and life is restored to the light!

(1) Gathering All People (v1-2)

King Josiah loved God and held fast to the commandments of God. To bring about a national revival, the first thing needed to be the gathering of leaders. Gather all the elders and leaders from all the land of Judah and the capital city. In addition to the leaders of the people, spiritual leaders, even families, needed to be gathered. Come to the house of God and hear together the holy scroll of the covenant between God and man.

God’s people need to hear the commandments of truth concerning blessings and curses!
They were not as blessed as we are today, when everyone has the word of God in their hands. The word of God does not even leave their hands at all times, for the word of God is also in their cell phones. However, we have become unappreciative because of this and we do not read, hear, or act on it, so we have returned to the pattern of curses. At this moment, except gathering people to worship God in the Sunday Services, but also gathering people to hear God’s words and pray to God through the Morning Devotion and 607 Worship & Prayer.

(2) Keep the covenant with all your heart (v3)

Our God is a God who makes a covenant with man, which is a highly asymmetrical covenant. God is the omnipotent, omniscient, holy, and supreme creator. Man, however, is an impotent, ignorant, defiled, and vile creation, but God is willing to make a covenant with man. The nature of this covenant is very special: it is a covenant between the Father and the Son, a covenant between the husband and the wife, a covenant between the master and the servant, a covenant between the master and the disciple, and a covenant between the King and the people. What a difference in status between the two?

He who makes a covenant never gives up and never breaks his word. God has only one condition for the keepers of covenant: to respond to God with all their heart and soul. (The entire Bible speaks of the word ‘with all your heart’ 34 times, and 31 of those times are describing man’s response to God). This is also how Jesus teaches us to face the commandments of God.

The king led the people in a covenant to God and made clear that he would do his best to obey the leading of God and keep His commandments. It is the man himself who is ultimately blessed, so why not?

(3) Cleansing the Holy Temple (v4-11)

Cleanse the temple of all idolatrous objects
Abolish all the priests and related persons who worshiped the idols
Removing the idols to a designated place for burning garbage to break them up and burn them
The house used for obscene sacrifices should also be demolished.

This is where we get the principle of dealing with household cleansing …., and when the environment is clean, God is pleased to show His blessing with His presence.

2. Purify the Nation for God (V12-20)

How large should the range of purification be? It depends on the jurisdictional authority of the person concerned. The head of a family has authority over the whole family, and the head of the nation has authority over the nation.

(1) Break down the altars of the former kings (v12-14)

What should be done with the idolatrous altars erected by the former kings? Since they are no longer there, whoever is king now is in charge. For those who are in authority have the power to destroy all the bad, corrupt, and offensive customs.

Consider if there are any “ungodly altars” in our families. Such “altars” as the spirit of wrath, the spirit of adultery, the curse of sickness, the curse of poverty, etc., are not of God’s nature, but are the fruit of the curse of sin, and must all be broken down and destroyed.

(2) Complete Eradication of the Source of Sin (v15-20)

How could there be an altar of gentile idols in the house of God in Bethel בֵּית אֵל? This is the error of the past when God’s people were deluded, and now they are all to be broken and destroyed one by one. Otherwise, they will continue to provoke God’s anger, and what blessing is there in that?

Today [the house of God] is the church. Does the church have any “altars” that provoke God’s anger?
Pride, self-righteousness, harboring of sin, greed for wealth and profit, selfishness and exclusivity, compartmentalization, and rivalry ….. Don’t these elements, which God regards as sin, also grow easily in the house of God? Where there are these “altars”, there is room for the enemy. We must break them down one by one!

3. Restoration of the Feasts of God (V21-23)

This is a very exciting account, and we all use the keeping of God’s feasts as the high point of the church today. After the people of Israel had been given the land for their property, they had forgotten to keep God’s feasts for the past several hundred years of their history. It was only at the time of King Josiah that they rediscovered and thought about keeping God’s feasts. Especially the Passover is a remembrance of God’s salvation, what a precious experience, how can one forget God’s grace?

Don’t we also need to remember God’s saving grace at all times? How can we forget this grace when we think of ourselves as dead men condemned to death, but now redeemed by the Lamb during Passover? How can we not live for the Lord? Even lay ourselves out completely and be used by the Lord all the days of our lives?

4. Complete Cleansing of the Whole Land (v24-25)

(1) Break the power of witchcraft (v24-25)

In the first two verses about the corruption of King Manasseh, I said that from Hezekiah’s contact with Babylon to later generations, it seems to be under the influence of a confusing spirit of sorcery, and now King Josiah is indeed to break all the power of sorcery and evil spirits. In this way the whole land was fully cleansed and the curse of the nation will be broken.

For our brothers and sisters in the church, we all know and desire to break all the curses that may be hidden in our families and lives, so we all actively participate in the church’s healing and deliverance lessons and camps. But also, like Josiah, we must turn to God with all our heart, soul, and strength, loving and serving Him and doing for Him what He has commanded.

(2) Why is God still angry (v26-27)

(Isn’t it written in 2 Chronicles 33 that Manasseh repented thoroughly?)
The accounts of the two books are very different, perhaps related to the focus of the author. The book of Kings is supposed to be written by the prophet Jeremiah, whose faith always rebukes sin and shows that the end of sin and evil is death from the perspective of God’s discipline. The message is clear and unambiguous, sin and you die. But the book of Chronicles was written by the scribe Ezra, and the author was more detail-oriented, recording the events in more detail. Thus the repentance of Manasseh was also recorded. If this is the case, why was God so angry?

In my spirit I seem to feel God saying, “I am merciful and gracious, so I forgave Manasseh when he repented. But the evil seed he sowed had a far-reaching effect on the wickedness among his people. The evil seed sown by Manasseh has spread throughout the whole nation. Although Josiah did a good job, it was only what he could do in his authority. Although all the witchcraft power was eradicated outwardly, the poisonous roots in the hearts of the people were still there, and had not been replaced by the planting of the truth, so the people repeated the same mistakes after Josiah left. This was all caused by Manasseh, so I was angry. ”

(3) Died of his own meddling (V28-30)

How did the good king, who had been executing justice for God all his life, die? It is written here that he was killed on the battlefield, so didn’t he die a wrongful death? Wouldn’t it be a good death? But
The last verse of the previous chapter quotes a prophetess who prophesied:“Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.So they brought back word to the king.(2 Kings 22:20) In fact, it can be said that King Josiah was meddlesome here. What did it matter to him that the Pharaoh of Egypt was going to attack the king of Assyria? God did not ask him to intervene, and when was it his turn to intervene in the affairs of two foreign nations? As a result, he died in vain.

Lord! Why did you let Josiah, who had lived courageously for the truth all his life, end his life only because of his error of judgment in resisting Egypt?
I felt in my spirit that God said, “Because he lived righteously all his life and did what I wanted, he should not have made such a mistake, so I let him go home, so that he would not make a greater mistake later.”

5. Wicked Kings Still Continue (V31-37)

The last four kings after Josiah were all wicked kings, and the reigns of the four kings only lasted about 22 years before the nation was completely destroyed and taken into captivity in Babylon. You may find it surprising why, after Josiah made such a great national cleansing, the nation was not revived, but went all the way to destruction after him.

Lord! Why did Josiah purify the nation, but at this time You spoke angry words to drive out the people of Judah?
Once again I felt God saying, “Because I see the history of sin repeating itself, and what Josiah showed is what I want, but after him man is solidly relapsed, therefore I send a final warning, and I am as good as my word.”

Summary: The Era Is Coming To An End
How do you respond?

Here we see an era coming to an end, with less than 23 years left, but how do the hearts of the people respond? King Josiah did a complete cleansing and then met the Lord in peace. The sin that followed led all the way to destruction.

Is this not true of our present generation? We are trying to purify our lives in preparation to meet the Lord, sins will worsen in the days to come until ultimately all will be exterminated by God!

11/11/2021

引言 :说有就有命立就立的神

我们都知道诸天藉耶和华的命而造； 万象藉他口中的气而成（诗33:6），因此神的话语是大有能力的。也因为祂必不背弃与我们所立的约，所以祂口对我们说过的话绝不徒然返回。既然神这么看重祂的话语，作为祂儿女的我们，我们更是要“认真的来回应神的话语”！

一、神的话语必成就（V1-7）

1约西亚登基的时候年八岁，在耶路撒冷作王三十一年。他母亲名叫耶底大，是波斯加人亚大雅的女儿。2约西亚行耶和华眼中看为正的事，行他祖大卫一切所行的，不偏左右。3约西亚王十八年，王差遣米书兰的孙子、亚萨利的儿子─书记沙番上耶和华殿去，吩咐他说：4你去见大祭司希勒家，使他将奉到耶和华殿的银子，就是守门的从民中收聚的银子，数算数算，5交给耶和华殿里办事的人，使他们转交耶和华殿里做工的人，好修理殿的破坏之处，6就是转交木匠和工人，并瓦匠，又买木料和凿成的石头修理殿宇，7将银子交在办事的人手里，不与他们算帐，因为他们办事诚实。

这段经文说到年仅8岁的约西亚，在耶路撒冷登基作王。约西亚是犹大国最后一位好王。他行耶和华眼中看为正的事，效法大卫一切所行的，不偏左右。

在昨天的21章我们知道说约西亚的祖父和父亲，玛拿西与亚们都行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，而且使整个犹大国被带到很邪恶且惹神愤怒的地步。但是，在这样的环境下成长的约西亚竟然是绝然不同的像足大卫，真的有点不可思议。到底是谁使他如此与众不同呢？

有学者认为应该是他母亲，因为经文提到他母亲的名字。我们不排除有这样的可能性。但从之前的王上13：1-2的记载，我们更知道这是神的作为。因为在约西亚出世的三百多年前，神已经藉着神人预言他的来临；“坛哪、坛哪、耶和华如此说、大卫家里必生一个儿子、名叫约西亚。他必将邱坛的祭司、就是在你上面烧香的、杀在你上面、人的骨头也必烧在你上面。

所以，我们看到约西亚能够在背道之风盛行全国的时刻，行耶和华眼中看为正的事小小的年纪就寻求神，20岁开始洁净犹大，登基第18修理圣殿，并且成为犹大诸王中，回转得最彻底的王（代下34:3-7），这一切都是神按造祂口中所出的话语亲自成就的。

曾经有位牧者和我分享，她说她数算过整本圣经，神要赐给人祝福应许，一共有3万多个。我们知道，圣经所讲的、律法书所说的、每一句从神而出的话都要成就，因为神看重祂自己的话语。弟兄姐妹，不要说3万多个，就是能抓住3千个，我们想不蒙福都不可以。

弟兄姐妹，神在你生命中说过了什么话吗？如果你觉得没有，那你今天就开始仔细的从圣经里找，所有的应许都是给你的。抓住这些应许，并且相信神必要亲自为你成就！

约西亚王爱神，顾念神的殿破旧不堪，因此让书记沙番把钱带到大祭司希勒家，交给殿里做工的人，修造殿的破坏之处。大祭司希勒家也在这样的时刻，在耶和华的殿中找到了律法书，让沙番带回去给王。

今天爱神的我们，要不断得着神所应许的福分，我们这圣灵居住的殿也要不断的被修造。每天我们来晨祷，主日我们听信息，读经时，神都用祂的话语光照我们。不同的人可以有不同的回应。有些可以充耳不闻、有些可以听听就算了、有些可以听了很有感动，立志要去遵行，但走出大门后，却被世界的许多价值观给诱惑了，导致神的话语被鸟吃了、被荆棘卡住了，所以生命依然没有什么改变。但今天，我们神国的儿女，要来向约西亚王学习，当神的话语光照我们时，我们要有回应：

二、话语光照要回应（V8-14）

1.便撕裂衣服（V8-11）

8大祭司希勒家对书记沙番说：我在耶和华殿里得了律法书。希勒家将书递给沙番，沙番就看了。9书记沙番到王那里，回覆王说：你的仆人已将殿里的银子倒出数算，交给耶和华殿里办事的人了。10书记沙番又对王说：祭司希勒家递给我一卷书。沙番就在王面前读那书。11王听见律法书上的话，便撕裂衣服，

撕裂衣服：是哀悼、忏悔和痛苦、自卑的表现

这里的律法书原文是妥拉卷轴，也就是摩西五经。这律法书很可能是所罗门建殿时埋在基石中，或是玛拿西时代销毁律法书时，有神忠心祭司把它藏在圣殿里的。沙番所读的很可能就是申命记28-30章里的祸福篇。

约西亚王听完了书中的话，顿时明白到犹大国国势日渐衰弱，国民道德极其败坏，乃是先王的作为，是百姓失去了神的话语，离弃神和专行耶和华眼中看为恶的事。因此，自卑忏悔和痛下决心回应遵行神律法书上的话。彻底清除国内的邱坛、偶像、邪术，恢复对耶和华真实的敬拜。

神是用话语创造天地的神。人心也是借着神话语的光照才能苏醒。神的百姓偏离神，是因为失去了神的话。历代以来，恶者用尽许多方法要来毁灭神的话语。毁灭不了就混乱真理。所以，我们真的要好好的珍惜这本神留给我们圣经。好好地研读、背经、遵行，使神的话语成为我们生命里的指引和力量。不要像玛拿西烧毁律法书那样的，只把圣经当成是摆设品放在一边。

此外，当约西亚看见律法书上的话，看见神的审判时，他很认真地回应。忧伤痛悔的灵神不轻看。弟兄姐妹，当神的话语光照我们生命的问题时，我们要认真的回应神，要谦卑的悔改来对齐神。

约西亚听见神在律法书上审判的话语后，他第二个可取的态度是“求问耶和华”

2.求问耶和华（V12-14）

12吩咐祭司希勒家与沙番的儿子亚希甘、米该亚的儿子亚革波、书记沙番和王的臣仆亚撒雅，说：13你们去为我、为民、为犹大众人，以这书上的话求问耶和华；因为我们列祖没有听从这书上的言语，没有遵着书上所吩咐我们的去行，耶和华就向我们大发烈怒。14於是，祭司希勒家和亚希甘、亚革波、沙番、亚撒雅都去见女先知户勒大。户勒大是掌管礼服沙龙的妻；沙龙是哈珥哈斯的孙子、特瓦的儿子。户勒大住在耶路撒冷第二区。他们请问於他。

约西亚在神话语的光照中看到了犹大百姓对神的亏欠。他没有把国家遭难的责任给推卸掉，也没有为祖先遮掩罪过，而是立刻承认了犹大的悖逆，并且差派人去找先知户勒大求问神。

我常跟孩子们说（包挂组员），不明白就要问，如果你还在学习听神的声音，问了圣灵还不是很确定，你也可以问牧者、权柄、组长等。但人很常的一个现象，就是不好意思发问。那天女儿说不明白老师教的教导。那我就问她为什么没有问老师。她说不敢问，因为怕自己问的是‘stupid question’。其实这是不好的，因为面子问题。所以，我就跟她说：‘so you rather become more and more stupid then asking stupid question and become wise?’你情愿越来越笨过于问了别人认为愚蠢的问题后，成为智慧人？

上星期六YAY的更新课程结束前，学员们都有机会发问问题。除了涵懿，大家都很静。但之后分小组时，组员们就问了不少问题，比如“按照课程的分享，那是不是就说传统教会的弟兄姐妹就没有重生？”“那是不是每一次犯罪跌倒之后悔改，就等于重生？”“那到底一个人要重生多少次？”我当下就问她们，为什么刚才不问？所以要她们在组群里发问，可是到今天还是没有行动哦。

弟兄姐妹，我们都有圣灵内住在我们里面。当神给我们话语，我们还无法明白时，我们一定要回到神面前求问祂。我们的神不像人手造的偶像那样，有口不能说话。祂是活神！神不会对我们说一些让我们不能明白的话。神有时也会透过权柄给我们的生命说了一些严厉的话，我们不要选择受伤。而是要带到神面前来求问。当你每次这样行时，你就会发现被光照后的生命不但能被扩张，常与真理对齐，你跟神的关系更是会越来越深，就越来越能清楚的听见神的声音。

三、祸福就看人回应（V15-20）

这里我们看到神透过先知户勒大说出了祂公义与恩慈的话语。对于以色列百姓和王如何回应律法书神的话，他们得到了2种结局：

1.死不悔改惹神怒（V15-17）

15他对他们说：耶和华─以色列的神如此说：你们可以回覆那差遣你们来见我的人说，16耶和华如此说：我必照着犹大王所读那书上的一切话，降祸与这地和其上的居民。17因为他们离弃我，向别神烧香，用他们手所做的惹我发怒，所以我的忿怒必向这地发作，总不止息。

女先知户勒大给百姓的话是神公义的审判必临到他们。即使敬虔的约西亚王为百姓代求，该执行的管教神会执行。因为从耶利米书2-6章的记载的正是百姓当时的属灵光景，全知的神知道百姓虽然表面跟随约西亚的复兴，但心里还是继续悖逆、离弃祂作恶。

其实按神丰盛慈爱的属性，还有人若真是悔改，神就必要赦免我们的过犯。耶利米7:3章让我们看到神在犹大被掳的前夕，神还苦口婆心的劝他们改正行动作为，神就使他们仍然居住在圣城 。但以色列百姓藐视神的恩典，继续犯罪不悔改。所以神说祂的管教和愤怒总不止息。求神让我们有儆醒的灵，常常在恩典中谦卑的真实悔改。千万不要让神在给予我们的恩典上设下时限。

2.悔改代求得平安（V18-20）

18然而，差遣你们来求问耶和华的犹大王，你们要这样回覆他说：耶和华─以色列的神如此说：至於你所听见的话，19就是听见我指着这地和其上的居民所说、要使这地变为荒场、民受咒诅的话，你便心里敬服，在我面前自卑，撕裂衣服，向我哭泣，因此我应允了你。这是我─耶和华说的。20我必使你平平安安地归到坟墓到你列祖那里；我要降与这地的一切灾祸，你也不至亲眼看见。他们就回覆王去了。

女先知对约西亚王说，耶和华神将是他平平安安地归到坟墓，不会让他亲眼看见亡国，百姓受咒诅被掳。约西亚死后4年，尼布甲尼撒就开始进攻犹大。相信我们每个人都有过这样的经历，谦卑悔改心中就得平安，纵然要面对管教，心中仍可坦然无惧。

除此以外，当我们更深入地去思考这段经文，就会看到神虽说百姓必被管教，但约西亚的悔改和寻求神，却让神延迟了对以色列的审判，让约西亚这一代看不见也不会经历到王国的悲惨状况。所以约西亚的痛悔和代祷，实在也为犹大国带来了平安和祝福，因在他执政的年间是国泰民安，没有战争的。

这里也鼓励所有作为权柄者的，无论是父母、上司、牧者同工、小组长们，要知道我们对神话语的回应和代祷是非常重要和有能力的。

总结：站在破口呼求

我们如今也活在一个全地都惹耶和华的愤怒的时刻，也深知这地必定受审判。作为神的子民，当我们敬畏神，行耶和华眼中为正的事。认真对待神的话，在神面前自卑，我们就可以不用遭灾，得享平安。不但如此，我们更是要在末世的审判未到之前，积极的为这世代呼求。让人都可以起来，认真回应神的话语，免去神愤怒的刑罚！

2 Kings 22: Seriously Responding To The Word of God

Introduction:

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. (Psalm 33:6), therefore the word of God is powerful. And because He will not renege on the covenant He made with us, the words of His mouth to us will never return in vain. Since God values His word so much, we, as His children, are to “respond to God’s word in earnestly”!

1.The Word of God will be fulfilled (v1-7)

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 3 Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 5 And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house— 6 to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7 However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.”

This passage speaks of Josiah, who at the age of 8, was enthroned as king in Jerusalem. He was the last good king of the kingdom of Judah.

At a time when his grandfather and father did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, and the whole nation of Judah was brought to a point of great wickedness and anger with God, it is a little strange that Josiah should be like David, pleasing God. Who was it that made him so special?

Some scholars believe that it was his mother, for the scriptures mention her name. We cannot rule out this possibility. But from the previous account in 1 Kings 13:1-2, we know better that this was an act of God. For God had already foretold Josiah’s coming through the man of God more than three hundred years before he came into the world.

Therefore, we see that Josiah was able to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord at a time when apostasy was prevalent in the nation, to seek God at a young age, to begin to cleanse Judah at the age of 20, to repair the temple at the 18th day of his reign, and to become king of the kings of Judah who repented most thoroughly (2 Chronicles 34:3-7), all of which God Himself accomplished according to the word that came from His mouth.

A pastor once shared with me that she had counted the entire Bible and there were over 30,000 promises of blessings that God would give to people. We know that what the Bible says, what the Book of the Law says, and every word that comes from God will be fulfilled, because God values His own words. Brothers and sisters, not to mention more than 30,000, even if we can catch 3,000, we can’t even think of not being blessed.

Brothers and sisters, has God ever said anything in your life? If you think not, then start looking carefully in the Bible today, and all the promises are for you. Take hold of these promises and trust that God himself will fulfill them for you!

King Josiah loved God and was concerned about the dilapidated state of the temple of God, so he asked Shaphan, the secretary, to bring the money to the house of Hillel, the high priest, and give it to the men who worked in the temple to repair the damage to the temple. At such a time, too, the high priest Hillel’s house found the book of the law in the house of the Lord, and asked Shaphan to bring it back to the king.

Today, we who love God will continue to receive the blessings promised by God, and our temple, where the Holy Spirit dwells, will continue to be rebuilt. Every day we come to Morning Devotion, on Sunday we listen to the message, and when we read the Bible, God enlightens us with His Word. Different people can respond in different ways. Some can turn a deaf ear to it, some can listen to it and forget about it, some can be moved by it and determined to follow it, but after they walk out the door, they are tempted by many values of the world, causing the Word of God to be eaten by birds and chocked by thorns, so their lives remain unchanged. But today, we, the children of God’s kingdom, are to come and learn from King Josiah that when God’s Word enlightens upon us, we are to have the response.

2.When the Word enlightens us, we are to respond (v8-14)

(1)Tore his clothes

8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have [a]gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 
Tearing clothes: a sign of mourning, repentance and pain, humility

The original book of the law here is the scroll of Torah that is the Pentateuch. This book of the law was probably buried in the cornerstone when Solomon built the temple, or a faithful priest of God hid it in the temple when the book of the law was destroyed in the days of Manasseh. What Shaphan read was probably the Book of Blessings and Curses in Deuteronomy 28-30.

Josiah realized that the weakening of the kingdom of Judah and the extreme moral corruption of the people were the result of the actions of the previous kings, who had caused the people to lose the Word of God and to do evil. Therefore, he humbled himself, repented, and made up his mind to respond to the words of God’s book of law. To completely remove the altars, idols, and evil spirits from the country, and to restore the true worship of the Lord.

God is the God who created the heavens and the earth with the Word. The human heart is also awakened by the light of God’s word. The people of God have turned away from God because they have lost the word of God. Throughout the ages the evil one has tried in many ways to destroy the word of God. If they cannot destroy it, they confuse the truth. Therefore, we really need to treasure this Bible that God left us. Study it well, memorize it, and obey it, so that God’s word can become the guidance and power in our lives. Don’t be like Manasseh who burned the book of the law and put it aside as a mere ornament.

Furthermore, when Josiah saw the Words of the book of the law and saw the judgment of God, he responded seriously. A sorrowful and contrite spirit that God does not despise. Brothers and sisters, when God’s Word enlightens on the problems of our lives, we need to respond to God seriously and align ourselves with God by repenting humbly.

(2)Asking the Lord (v12-14)

12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. 
Josiah saw in the light of God’s word the indebtedness of the people of Judah to God. Instead of evading the responsibility for the nation’s suffering and covering up the sins of his ancestors, he immediately confessed Judah’s disobedience and sent for the prophet Huldah to ask God.

I always tell my children (including the cell members) that they should ask if they don’t understand. If you are still learning to hear the voice of God and are not quite sure after asking the Holy Spirit, you can also ask the pastor, authority, group leader, etc. But it is a very common phenomenon for people to be embarrassed to ask questions. The other day my daughter said she didn’t understand the teaching taught by her teacher. Then I asked her why she didn’t ask the teacher. She said she was afraid to ask because she was afraid she was asking a ‘stupid question’. This is actually bad, because of the face issue. So I said to her, ‘so you rather become more and more stupid than asking stupid question and become wise?

Before the YAY update session ended last Saturday, the participants were given the opportunity to ask questions. Except for Han Yi, everyone was very quiet. But afterwards, when we divided into small groups, the cell members asked a lot of questions, such as, “According to the course, does that mean that brothers and sisters in traditional churches are not born again?” “Does repentance after every sin and fall mean that one is born again?” “How many times does a person have to be born again?” I asked them right away why they didn’t ask that earlier. So I asked them to send the question in the group, but still no action today.

Brothers and sisters, we all have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. When God gives us a Word and we cannot understand it, we must go back to God and ask Him. Our God is not like an idol made by human hands, which has a mouth and cannot speak. He is the living God! God does not say things to us that we cannot understand. God does sometimes speak harsh words into our lives through authority, and we should not choose to be hurt. Instead, bring it to God and ask for it. When you do this each time, you will find that your life after being enlightened will not only be expanded and often aligned with the truth, but your relationship with God will be deeper and deeper, and you will be able to hear God’s voice more and more clearly.

3.Blessings or Curses depends on the man’s response (v15-20)

(1)Unrepentant to provoke the wrath of God (v15-17)

15 Then she said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read— 17 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’

The word of the prophetess Huldah to the people was that the righteous judgment of God would come upon them. Even if the godly king Josiah intercedes for the people, God will carry out the discipline that should be carried out. For what is written in Jeremiah 2-6 is exactly the spiritual situation of the people at that time. The all-knowing God knew that although the people followed Josiah’s revival outwardly, they continued to rebel and forsake Him in their hearts for evil.

In fact, according to the attributes of God’s abundant love, God must forgive our sins if we truly repent. Jeremiah 7:3 shows us that before the captivity of Judah, God was still hard at work to persuade them to correct their actions and deeds, and God made them still live in the Holy City. But the people of Israel despised God’s grace and continued to sin without repentance. Therefore, God said that His discipline and wrath would never cease. Pray that God would give us a watchful spirit, and that we would always repent humbly and truly in grace. Never let God set a time limit on the grace given to us.

(2) Repentance and intercession for peace (v18-20)

 18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. 20 “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” So they brought back word to the king.

The prophetess said to King Josiah that the LORD God would be his peaceful return to the grave, and would not let him witness the fall of the kingdom and the cursed captivity of the people. Four years after Josiah’s death, Nebuchadnezzar began to attack Judah. I believe we have all experienced this, that with humility and repentance we have peace in our hearts, and even though we have to face discipline, we can still be open and fearless.

In addition to this, when we think more deeply about this passage, we see that although God said the people would be disciplined, Josiah’s repentance and seeking God delayed God’s judgment on Israel so that Josiah’s generation would not see or experience the tragic conditions of the kingdom. So Josiah’s repentance and intercession really brought peace and blessing to the nation of Judah, for the years of his reign were peaceful and free from war.

All those in authority, whether they are parents, superiors, fellow pastors, or group leaders, are encouraged to know that our response and intercession to God’s Word is very important and powerful.

Conclusion: Standing in the gap and crying out

We are now living in a time when the whole earth is in the wrath of the Lord, and we know that the earth will be judged. As God’s people, we should actively cry out for this generation before the end-time judgment comes. That all people may rise up and earnestly respond to the word of God and be spared the penalty of God’s wrath!