Year: 2021

24/11/2021

引言 :【论断】这字在整本圣经共出现24次！

马太福音 7:1 “你们不要论断人，免得你们被论断。
7:2 因为你们怎样论断人，也必怎样被论断；你们用什么量器量给人，也必用什么量器量给你们。
除了在福音书耶稣说过6次之外，保罗则在不同的书信中引用这字多达14次。雅各书提到4次。但基本上都是同一个概念，论断是不好的，神不要我们这样做。因为只有神才是那位真正可以执行判断者。

一、真理的判断（V1-6）

1.人的论断难免神的判断（v1-3）

什么是论断？原文κρίνω 的意思可以翻译成批评、挑剔、谴责、宣判、裁决、判罪等。
人为什么会论断他人？
很常我们是居于对方和自己的理解很对立，而自己又觉得自己是站在真理的角度，所以就开始论断对方。

第二节说到神以真理作【审判】κρίμα，这字的原文和【论断】κρίνω也是同一个字根，也可以翻译成【判断】。【论断与判断】，而这两个字在英文中更是同样被翻成Judgment；很显然，当不同的身份者使用这字的时候，意义截然不同。论断是居于个人有限的知识，去断定他人的状态。而且在掌握一些吻合的证明下，就下了百分百的定论，一心判定对方就是这么坏！这就是一种论断。论断中带有给对方定罪，指责对方的不是，给予否定式的评价。能够被论断的人固然是问题者，但是在神眼中论断人的人也是一样有问题，而且是相等。

但是神是全能全知的神，祂的【判断】或【审判】就绝对准确，因为祂完全知道人的真相。无论是看得见的、看不见的、还没有行出来的，只是心中的意念，神都知道。甚至可以说连将来要发生的事情，神都全然知道。因此，神作审判官来判断人的是非对错，自然有着绝对的标准。但是人呢？当然是相反的，人的论断很常就是分别善恶树的果子，是神所厌恶的。例如耶稣指责假冒为善的法利赛人，是一种判断而非论断。但是，当罪人批评主的时候，那就是论断而非判断！

当一位属灵长辈，本着爱心而指正犯错的后辈的时候，那是否就是【判断】而非【论断】呢？这一点值得我们留心。做长辈的不要倚老卖老，自以为这是像主一样在责备犯罪的人。但是作为晚辈的也可以学习听取长辈的指正，要看为是被【判断】，而非被【论断】，这才是生命树的生命。

2.神的恩慈为了领人诲改（v4-6）

神有无限的恩典与恩慈，人是悔改还是不悔改？人心若是刚硬不悔改，只好等待神的公义行审判，遭受各样对等的刑法。刑法不是因为神没有恩典，事实上正好相反，就是因为神有慈爱和恩典，所以才以管教、灾难、疾病、痛苦等事情来对待人。神是在给人机会、等人悔改，而不是直接要了罪人的命。

你有什么“陈年老罪”，还没有悔改的吗？神今天仍然在等候你悔改！你愿意吗？神是按我们所行的来断定和回应我们，你想得到什么呢？就在乎我们怎么对神和对人？能够快速谦卑悔改的人，越快速蒙神提升。

二、谁能得永生（V7-11）
这是神的判断！

1.恒心行善的人（v7）

人常有偶尔的善行，这事很好。但是这还不是神想要的，神要人恒心行善，就是成为人生命的一种自己自发的生命。是人的being，而不是doing，不是人做了什么，而是身体灵魂都自然活出属神爱的榜样。

好人才能行好事？行好事的才是好人？到底何者为先？
信主靠主的人才能成为好人，好人还要加上有【恒心】行善，寻求荣耀、尊贵和不能朽坏之福，才神得神赏赐永生的人。

2.顺从真理的人（v8-11）

患难与荣耀、困苦或平安？这是人的最怕和最盼！人怕受苦，人盼望平安和荣耀。但是两者的表现是相对的，背弃真理或听从真理，这就是两种显而易见的生命。你是哪一种生命呢？

有人蒙祝福，得着丰盛的生命；也有人受困苦，经历缺乏的人生，其实神都可以在其中行驶神迹。一切都在乎人以什么态度回应神？

三、神如何审判（V12-15）

有法才有罪！知法犯法罪加一等。神给人律法，神就让人按着祂的标准成为蒙福胜万民之人；但是人背弃了神的准则，人就只好面对审判。但是，对于那些还不认识主，或者不知道有神的诫命的人，原来神早已把是非之心，所谓良心的本能已经放置在人里面。当人做某件事情有内心的一点不安，就要反省查验，因为神神放在人里面的“基本律法”，是要个人留心自己的所作所为。因为有一天都要面对神的审判！

四、活出真信仰（V16-29）

福音的里面包含审判！审判是因为人犯罪。人犯了什么罪？违背神的律法、违背真理的罪。
这里说了许多关于【知道与行道】的问题；许多犹太人都熟悉律法，甚至可以教导律法，他们知道什么是神的要求，什么是好，什么是坏。但是只会讲而不会行。这是宗教，并非真信仰！

保罗特别强调，外表的信仰不是真信仰，只有真心的活出信心的生活才是真正的信仰。
这里又再一次的提醒我们过去一个月多，在主日崇拜中一连串的信息，不都是环绕在这一个主题吗？真基督徒、真爱主、真实的信心进入神国。我们从列王纪下、从诗篇78篇、一直到今天读罗马书第二章，圣灵都继续在提醒我们思想这个信息。由此可见，神真的真的很在乎我们对神的心。

总结：到时必判断真假！

弟兄姐妹，我们今天依然可以坐在教会中，坐在家里，一面做着手中的事，一面轻松的听晨祷信息。但是我们的内心和信仰是认真踏实的吗？还有不多时候，末后大灾难的考验会越来越频密的出现。如果现在我们都无法认真的活出真实的信仰，到时候恐怕就难以站立了。

真的假不了，假的立不住，终究会被淘汰。弟兄姐妹，要起来，认真爱主，立定心志，要比以前更爱主，更热心服事主。

Romans 2: Judgment & JUDGMENT

GK611 Morning Devotion

24/11/2021

Speaker: Reverend David Tan

Introduction: [Judgment] This word appears 24 times in the entire Bible!

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.
7:2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

In addition to Jesus saying it 6 times, Paul quotes this word as many as 14 times in different epistles. The book of James mentions it 4 times. But it is basically the same concept that judging is bad, and God does not want us to do it. For God alone is the One who can truly execute judgment.

1. The Judgment of Truth (V1-6)

(1) The judgment of man is hardly exempt from the judgment of God (V1-3)

What is judgment? The original meaning of κρίνω can be translated as criticism, picky, condemnation, pronouncement, verdict, conviction, etc.

Why do people judge others?

Very often we start to judge the other person because we live in opposition to our own understanding, and we feel that we are standing for the truth, therefore, we started judging them.

Verse 2 speaks of God as [Judgment] κρίμα with truth, which is also the same root word as [Judgment] κρίνω in the original language, which can also be translated as [Judgment]. [Judgement and Judgment], and these two words are even more equally translated as Judgment in English; obviously, when different identities use this word, the meaning is very different. Judgment is to determine the state of others based on one’s limited knowledge. And with some matching proofs, one makes a 100% conclusion and is bent on determining that the other person is that bad! This is a kind of judgment, in which the judgment is made to condemn the other person, to accuse the other person of something wrong, and to give a negative evaluation. Those who can be judged though are problematic, but those who judge people in God’s eyes are just as problematic, and equally so.

But God is the omniscient and omnipotent God, and His [judgment] or [judgment] is absolutely accurate, because He knows the truth about people completely. Whether it is something visible, something invisible, or something that has not yet been done, but only the thoughts of the heart, God knows it all. We can even say that God knows all the things that will happen in the future. Therefore, God is the judge to judge the right and wrong of man, and naturally has absolute standards. But what about man? Of course, it’s the opposite. Man’s judgment is often the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is an abomination to God. For example, when Jesus accused the Pharisees of being hypocrites, it was a fair judgment and not a judgement based on own understanding. But when sinners criticize the Lord, it is an judgment out of criticism and not a fair judgment!

When a spiritual elder corrects an wrongdoing junior in love, is that a [fair judgment] rather than a [criticism kind judgement]? This is something we should pay attention to. Elders should not think that they are chastising the sinner like the Lord. But those who are younger can also learn to listen to the correction of their elders, and see it as being [fair judgement], not [cristicism kind of judgement], which is the life of the tree of life.

(2) God’s kindness for the purpose of leading people to repentance (V4-6)

God is infinitely gracious and merciful, but does man repent or not? If a man’s heart is hardened and does not repent, he will have to wait for God’s righteous judgment and suffer all kinds of penalties that are equal to his own. The penalties are not because God is not gracious, but in fact the opposite. It is because God is loving and gracious that He deals with man with things like discipline, calamity, sickness, and suffering. God is giving man a chance and waiting for them to repent, not just killing the sinner.

Do you have any “old sins” that you have not yet repented of? God is still waiting for you to repent today! Are you willing? God is judging and responding to us according to what we do, what do you want to get out of it? It depends on how we treat God and people. Those who are quick to humble themselves and repent, the quicker they will be lifted up by God.

2. Who Can Have Eternal Life (V7-11)
This is God’s judgment!

(1) Those who are persistent in doing good (V7)

It is good that people often do good deeds occasionally. But this is not what God wants. God wants man to be persistent in doing good, that is, to become a kind of spontaneous life of his own in his life. It is the being of man, not the doing, not what man does, but the natural living out of the example of God’s love in body and spirit.

Only good people can do good things? Only those who do good things are good people? What comes first?
Only those who believe in the Lord can be good, and only those who have the perseverance to do good and seek glory, honor, and blessings that cannot perish will be rewarded by God with eternal life.

(2) The one who obeys the truth (V8-11)

Trouble and glory, hardship or peace? These are man’s greatest fears and hopes! Man fears suffering, and man hopes for peace and glory. But the two manifestations are relative, turning away from the truth or obeying the truth, and these are the two obvious lives. Which kind of life are you?

Some people are blessed with abundant life, while others suffer and experience a life of lack, in which God can actually perform miracles. It all depends on what attitude one has in response to God.

3. How God Judges (V12-15)

There is law before there is sin! To know the law and break it is an added sin. God gave man the law, and God made him a blessed above all nations for those who do according to His standard; but if man turns away from God’s standard, he will have to face judgment. However, for those who do not yet know the Lord, or who do not know that there is a commandment of God, it turns out that God has already placed in man the heart of right and wrong, the so-called instinct of conscience. When a person has a little bit of inner turmoil in doing something, he should reflect on it and examine it, because the “basic law” that God has placed in man is for individuals to be careful about what they do. For one day all will face the judgment of God!.

4. Living the True Faith (V16-29)

The gospel contains judgment in it! Judgment is because man sins. What sins have men committed? The sin against the law of God, against the truth.

Much is said here about [knowing and doing]; many Jews were familiar with the law, and could even teach it, and they knew what God required, what was good and what was bad. But they would only speak and not do. This is religion, not true faith!

Paul especially emphasized that outward faith is not true faith, but only a life of sincere living out of faith is true faith.

Here we are reminded once again that the series of messages in the Sunday services over the past month or so have not all been centered on this one theme. True Christian, true love for the Lord, and true faith into the kingdom of God. We have been reminded of this message by the Holy Spirit from 2 Kings, from Psalm 78, all the way to today’s reading in Romans chapter 2. This shows that God really, really cares about our heart for God.

Conclusion: The time will come when the truth will be revealed!

Brothers and sisters, we can still sit in church today, in our homes, doing the business at hand while listening to the morning prayer message with ease. But are our hearts and faith serious and down-to-earth? There is not much time left before the trials of the end-time tribulation will come more and more frequently. If we are not able to live our faith seriously and authentically now, I am afraid we will not be able to stand when the time comes.

The true cannot be faked, and the false cannot stand, and will eventually be eliminated. Brothers and sisters, rise up, love the Lord earnestly, set your hearts and minds to love Him more than before, and serve Him more fervently.

23/11/2021

引言 :

世界上每天新闻报道都充满许多不好的消息，让人容易绝望，但是感谢神，耶稣为我们的罪被钉十字架的福音永远都是全人类最大的好消息！进入罗马书第一章，神的话语要再次地带领我们来探讨福音，也提醒我们都要起来传扬福音这个最大的好消息！

一、应许的福音要传到万邦（V1-7）

今天我们同样要传承保罗所领受的这份托付，要继续把福音传到万国万邦去的。这里值得留意的是，传福音其实只是福音工作的一部分。我们要使人信服真道，我们就需要去牧养人的生命，把人牧养起来成为主的门徒。

二、基督徒所欠下的福音债（V8-15）

我们要有这个欠了福音债的观念，就是我们所能够接触的人，我们就有责任去对他们分享福音，去让人接受福音，并且让人要在福音里成长。

觉得自己不会传福音吗？我们其实可以用许多不同的方式来传福音（V福音册子，个人见证，福音视频等等），关键在于我们是否有愿意的心。只要我们愿意，神就会赐给我们好机会。

三、信福音被神称义的福气（V16-17）

纵然我们人过去犯下了多少的罪和错误，当我们来接受耶稣为我们的生命的主，相信耶稣被钉十字架就已经承担了我们所有的罪的时候，我们就被神称为义了。所以我们都不要以福音为耻，要放胆传福音。

四、不悔改接受福音的警戒（V18-32）

V18原来神的忿怒，从天上显明在一切不虔不义的人身上，就是那些行不义阻挡真理的人。

1. 推诿真神（V19-25）

推诿真神的人，明明能够看到宇宙万物的秩序和奇妙，但却推诿真神，而发展出自己的一套理念，就像无神论者，不可知论者他们的论调那样。这些自以为聪明的人当中，还有一些人是虽然相信有神，但却是把伟大的神树立为可见的偶像的。所以神就任凭这样的人去行一些淫乱的行为，以至于身体被玷污，当然保罗这里指的就是人的灵因此就被污秽了。拜偶像的人是一个灵里的淫乱，对神的不忠，所以也很容易带来一个肉体的淫乱。

2. 同性婚恋（V26-27）

经文这里提到，这样的人会违背他们被创造出来时那种异性相吸的自然律，而是会放纵情欲，进入到同性婚恋的问题里面。人却硬着心去违背这个律，所以保罗说，若是人不悔改，最终会在这样的妄为上得报应。

今天这个世代继续面对着同性婚恋，多元家庭的价值观的冲击，我们基督徒需要站对位，带着恨恶罪但是却爱罪人的心，帮助活着这种问题下的人走出来！

3.各种不义（V28-32）

让我们透过保罗在这里所列举出来的每一点去对照我们的生命，好让我们能够留心保守自己去远离这些的恶，就是各样不义，邪恶，贪婪，恶毒，嫉妒，凶杀，争竞，诡诈，毒恨，谗毁人，背后说人，怨恨神，侮慢人，狂傲，自夸，捏造恶事，违背父母，无知的，背约，无亲情的，不怜悯人的这些罪。

总结:使万民领受福音，活出福音

我们基督徒所领受到的福音是人类历史上最大的好消息。我们要看重这个这个福音，因为这个福音能救我们脱离罪恶和永远的沉沦，并且最终也会让我们回到天父永远的环抱里！所以我们要继续把这个好消息传到万国万邦去。尤其当我们成为基督徒后，我们领受了福音的好处，其实我们也是欠了福音的债的。

让我们也建造自己更深地去明白这个福音，除了对人讲明白信福音就能得着被神称义的福气以外，我们也要去牧养建造更多人的生命，让神的子民不单只领受福音，更是要活出福音，做神远离罪恶，分别为圣的子民！

Romans 1: Preach The Greatest Good News – The Gospel!
GK611 Morning Devotion
23/11/2021
Speaker: Intern Pastor Moses Ou + Reverend David Tan

Introduction:
The gospel is always the greatest good news for all mankind

The world is filled with many bad news stories every day that make it easy to despair, but thank God that the gospel of Jesus crucified for our sins will always be the greatest good news for all mankind! As we move into Romans 1, God’s Word will again lead us to explore the gospel and remind us all to rise up and proclaim the greatest good news !

1.The Promised Gospel to be preached to all nations (V1-7)
Today we are also to carry on this commission that Paul received, to continue to preach the gospel to all nations. It is worth noting here that evangelism is actually only part of the work of the gospel. If we want to convict people of the truth, we need to shepherd people’s lives and shepherd them to become disciples of the Lord.

2.The Gospel Debt Owed by Christians (V8-15)
We need to have this idea of being in debt to the gospel, that the people we can reach, we have a responsibility to them to share the gospel, to get people to accept the gospel, and to get people to grow in the gospel.

Do you think that you can’t evangelize? There are many different ways we can evangelize (gospel booklet personal testimonies, videos, etc.), but the key is to have a willing heart. If we are willing, God will give us good opportunities.

3.The Blessing of Believing the Gospel and Being Justified by God (V16-17)

Even though we humans have committed many sins and mistakes in the past, we are justified by God when we come to accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives and believe that Jesus has taken on all our sins by being crucified. So let us all not be ashamed of the gospel, but let us be bold in preaching it.

4.The warning of unrepentant acceptance of the gospel (V18-32)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

(1)Put The Blame on True God（V19-25）

Those who put the blame on the true God are able to see the order and wonder of everything in the universe, but they put the blame on the true God and develop their own set of ideas, just like atheists and agnostics do with their arguments. Among these people who think they are wise, there are those who believe in God, but establish the great God as a visible idol. Therefore, God allows such people to commit adulterous acts, so that the body is defiled, and Paul, of course, refers to the fact that the spirit of man is thus defiled. The idolater is a spiritual adulterer, unfaithful to God, and therefore easily brings about a physical adultery.

(2) Same-Sex Marriage (V26-27)

The scriptures mention here that such people will violate the natural law of opposites attracting each other, for which they were created, and will instead indulge in lust and enter into the problem of same-sex marriage. But man’s heart is hardened to disobey this law, so Paul says that if man does not repent, he will eventually receive his retribution.

Today’s generation continues to face the impact of same-sex marriage and the values of polygamous family. We Christians need to stand in the right place and help those who are living with such problems to come out with a heart that hates the sin but loves the sinner!

(3)All Kinds of unrighteousness (V28-32)

Let us compare our lives with each of the points Paul lists here, so that we may be careful to keep ourselves from these evils, which are all kinds of unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful.

Conclusion: All nations may receive and live out the gospel

The gospel we Christians have received is the greatest good news in the history of mankind. We are to value this gospel because it will save us from our sins and eternal destruction, and it will ultimately bring us back to the eternal embrace of our Father in heaven as well! So we need to continue to spread this good news to all nations. Especially when we become Christians and we receive the benefits of the gospel, we are actually indebted to it.

Let us also build ourselves up to understand this gospel more deeply. In addition to teaching people that believing in the gospel leads to the blessing of being justified by God, let us also shepherd and build up the lives of more people, so that God’s people will not only receive the gospel, but also live it, and be a people of God who are free from sin and set apart for holiness!

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.