Year: 2022

30/12/2022

引言：

神透过底波拉对巴拉说: 耶和华岂不在你前头行吗？(V14) 意思是耶和华不是在你前头为你争战吗？
我们要知道，不管我们遭遇任何的事故，神都在前头为我们争战，要带领我们得胜前行。

一、偏行恶事受敌欺压 (V1-3)

士师以笏死后，神的子民又偏离神转去行恶。神便将他们交在敌人手里，受欺压长达二十年，选民才在痛苦中呼求神。
人是善忘的，常常如俗语所说: 好了伤疤忘了疼。不单以色列人如此，现代人也是如此，很容易忘了跟随在前头的神，而偏行己路受管教。

二、神怜悯子民施拯救 (V4-24)

选民在痛苦中呼求神，怜悯的神就使用三个人来拯救他们：

1.底波拉
底波拉虽然是一位为人妻的女性，她却不自我限制，勇敢地回应神的呼召，成为第一位女士师兼先知。底波拉忠于神的托付，呼召巴拉来作军事领袖。虽然巴拉因胆小，要求她同赴战场，她也马上答应完全不推辞。因着她的忠心、勇敢、顺服、以神的荣耀为念，神就拣选她成为当代最重要的领袖。

2.巴拉
巴拉在这次的争战中虽然显出懦弱的一面，但是当巴拉照着神的话去作，就经历到出人意外的胜利，神使用巴拉带领以色列军队将敌军都歼灭了！
可是在巴拉大获全胜的时候，他却没能抓到西西拉。这也是神的意思，神要把西西拉交在一个妇人的手里。

3.雅亿
雅亿是基尼人希百的妻子。本来妇女在当时是没有什么地位的，再加上她并没有甚么特别的地方。但是她却在适当的时间、遇到适当的人、把握了适当的机会、采取了适当的行动。
可能有人会说这是巧合。但我们要相信这是神的计划！因为神预先说了要把将军西西拉交在一个妇人的手里！以色列人也因此胜了迦南王耶宾，直到将他灭绝了！

总结：

神不是只使用大有才干、大有恩赐的人。只要我们肯紧紧跟从在前头为我们争战的神，就可以在神的手中成为有用并合用的器皿！
神不一定使用有能力的人，但神一定会让肯被衪使用的人有能力！弟兄姊妹，你肯吗？

Judges 4: God is fighting before you
GK611 Morning Devotion
30/12/2022
Speaker: Ps Daniel + Rev David Tan

Introduction:

Then Deborah said to Barak, Has not the Lord gone out before you (V14) It means, “Is not the LORD fighting for you before you?
We need to know that no matter what happens to us, God fights for us and leads us on in victory.

1.Turning to evil and being oppressed by the enemy (V1-3)
After the death of Ehud, God’s people turned away from God to do evil. God gave them into the hands of the enemy, and they were oppressed for twenty years, then the chosen people cried out to God in their distress.
People are forgetful and often forget the pain of their wounds after they are healed, as the saying goes. This is not only true of the Israelites, but also of modern people, who easily forgot about God who are before them, strayed away and were disciplined.

2.God has mercy on His people and saves them (V4-24)
When the chosen people cried out to God in their distress, the merciful God used three men to save them.

(1) Deborah
Although Deborah was a woman who was a wife, she did not limit herself, but responded courageously to God’s call and became the first judge and prophet. Deborah was faithful to God’s commission, Deborah called Barak to be a military leader. Although Barak asked her to go to the battlefield with him because he was timid, she immediately agreed and did not hold back. Because of her faithfulness, courage, obedience, and concern for the glory of God, God chose her to be the most important leader of that time.

(2) Barak
Although Barak showed weakness in this battle, when Barak did what God said, he experienced a supernatural victory, and God used Barak to lead the Israelite army to wipe out the enemy!
But in the midst of his great victory, Barak failed to capture Sisera. This was also God’s intention, that God would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.

(3)Jael
Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. Women had no status in those days, and there was nothing special about her. But she met the right person at the right time, seized the right opportunity, and took the right action.
Some may say it was a coincidence. But we need to believe that it was God’s plan! For God spoke in advance to deliver the general Sisera into the hands of a woman! And so the Israelites prevailed over the Canaanite king, Jabin, until they exterminated him!

Conclusion:
God does not use only those who are greatly talented and gifted. If we are willing to follow God who is fighting for us before us, we can become useful and suitable vessels in God’s hands!
God does not necessarily use capable people, but He will definitely make capable people who are willing to be used by Him! Brothers and sisters, are you willing?

29/12/2022

引言：

神留下迦南余民，为要以色列百姓懂得敬畏神，试验百姓是否懂得遵守神的诫命; 当百姓愿意听命跟随时，他们将看到耶和华如何为他们争战，赶出他们面前的强敌。神也要兴起他们，使他们在仇敌手中被神救拔。

一、试验以色列人(v1-6)

神打算借着存留在迦南和其周围的民族，不断的强调祂大能的拯救以及外邦神的无能的教训。祂要让以色列的年轻一代明白，唯有在其父辈的神的帮助下，才能与这些人数众多而又好战的民族争战并征服他们。

二、兴起神的百姓(v5-31)

1. 兴起俄陀聂(v5-11)

当百姓回转呼求神，耶和华为他们兴起俄陀聂来拯救他们。俄陀聂能够有力量拯救以色列人脱离敌人的手，因为有神的灵降在他身上。神的灵，是我们一切力量的源头！

2. 兴起以笏(v12-30)

神可以兴起身体残缺的以笏来制伏敌人。所以，神子民身上的弱点或缺陷都不能成为服事神的拦阻。

3. 兴起珊迦(v31)

神让珊迦靠着一根赶牛的棍子，就成为以色列人的士师，拯救了以色列人。大卫说：耶和华使人得胜，不是用刀用枪，争战的胜败全在乎耶和华。当我们愿意被神使用，神必然会透过使用我们这个小人物或我们所拥有最不起眼的才能或恩赐来成就大事。

总结: 选择跟随，经历复兴

神断不会离弃与祂立约的百姓。祂要祂的百姓从恶性循环当中出来而进入蒙福的循环，就是“跟随➡️提升➡️复兴”，是一个向上的循环。

Judges 3: God Will Raise Up His People
GK611 Morning Devotion
29/12/2022
Speaker: Ps Stella

Introduction：

God left the remnant people of Canaan in order to let the people of Israel know how to fear God, and to test whether the people know how to obey God’s commandments; when the people are willing to obey and follow, they will see how Jehovah fights for them and drives out the powerful enemies before them. God will also raise them up so that they will be rescued by God from the hands of their enemies.

I. Testing the Israelites (v1-6)

God intends to continue to emphasise His powerful salvation and the teachings of the impotence of foreign gods through the nations remaining in and around Canaan. He wanted the younger generation of Israel to understand that it was only with the help of the God of their fathers that they could fight and conquer these numerous and warlike peoples.

II. Raise up the people of God (v5-31)

1. Raising up Othniel (v5-11)

When the people turned and cried out to God, the Lord raised up Othniel for them to save them. Othniel was able to deliver the Israelites from the hands of their enemies because the Spirit of God was upon him. The Spirit of God is the source of all our strength!

2. Raising up Ehud (v12-30)

God could have raised up a disabled Ehud to subdue the enemy. Therefore, the weaknesses or flaws of God’s people cannot be a hindrance to serving God.

3. Raising up Shamgar (v31)

God made Shamgar the judge of the Israelites by relying on a stick to drive oxen and save the Israelites. David said: Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s. When we are willing to be used by God, God will surely use unimportant people or the most insignificant talents or gifts we have to accomplish great things.

Conclusion: Choose to Follow, Experience Revival

God will never forsake His covenant people. He wants his people to come out of the vicious cycle and enter into the blessed cycle, which is to “follow ➡️ promote ➡️ revive”, which is an upward cycle.

28/12/2022

引言：野火烧不尽，春风吹又生

这句话是出自于唐朝诗人白居易。说到不管烈火怎样无情地焚烧青草地，只要春风一吹，遍地又会重新长满青青的野草。因为烈火烧不到野草的根。因此要杜绝野草丛生的方法，就是斩草要除根。整本士师记也让我们看到，以色列百姓因为没有听从耶和华神的吩咐，把野草的根全然拔除，因此将自己陷在恶性循环的旷野里绕圈圈。

一、回转归向信实神（v1-5）

1.离开波金、回到吉甲（v1-2）

虽然神早已吩咐以色列民进入迦南要把仇敌全然赶出，但他们却没有听从。因此神的使者从吉甲上到波金对他们宣判管教。吉甲是以色列人进迦南后行割礼、对付肉体、与神立约的地方。因此，让我们常常回到与神相遇的吉甲。信守圣约的神，必会帮助我们除掉仍有的肉体情欲、让生命与祂对齐。

2.谦卑依靠、真实悔改（v3-5）

神说百姓既然喜欢留下迦南人与他们同住，神从此就会任凭他们。留下这些迦南人成为他们肋下荆棘和网罗。百姓放声而哭，是惧怕将要面对的审判，并非后悔自己得罪了神，因此他们只是撕裂衣服，而没有撕裂心肠的真实悔改。真实的悔改是对神的话有行动，并会结出生命的果子来。

二、言教身教的传承（v6-10）

真实信仰的传承是非常重要。要有效的持续传承不妥协的信仰，除了我们本身要以言教教导真理和述说神的作为外，更是以身教不妥协的活出来。此外，真实的传承，是带领下一代或团队一起来经历神。当他们一起走过、一起经历神，就更容易体会和接棒。一代代的相传。

三、杜绝恶性的循环（v16-23）

信徒从犯罪、跌倒，而遭受审判，很常不是偶然不谨慎发生的。正所谓物腐而后虫生。一件东西生虫，首先是从内部腐烂开始。人会犯罪、跌倒，往往源于日积月累下来的妥协和体贴肉体所造成的。因此，我们要儆醒的杜绝一点点的妥协、治死任何想要体贴肉体的意念。

1. 不叩拜别神（v11-17）

以色列人本是游牧民族，为了要得到迦南人的农业技术，他们不但没有完全赶出迦南人，还弃信仰，妥协跟随敬拜诸巴力，就惹耶和华的愤怒。

在职场里，我们也很常要在妥协或坚持信仰上做出选择。为了赚多一点钱，不来主日崇拜，不参加祷告会、小组？为了多睡一点，不起来晨祷？ 人小小的妥协，或许能暂时得到肉体和私欲的满足，但终究还是会把我们陷入审判灭亡中。凡以别神代替耶和华，愁苦必加增。所以，要认定耶稣，不叩拜别神。

2. 不滥用神恩（v16-19）

因为神有恩典有怜悯，因此人很容易掉入滥用神恩典的危险里。不对付生命的问题也是在滥用神的恩典。滥用神的恩典在罪中继续打滚时，最痛苦的是自己。

3. 不留下各族（v20-23）

神留下约书亚死后的迦南各族，不将他们速速赶出，目的是为了要试验以色列人，看看他们肯不肯守遵行祂的道。

当环境不容易时不要埋怨。要知道如果没有这些环境和困难，就无法验出我们对神的心志和顺服有多少，也无法让我们的生命长大成熟。我们要快快的来回应神，使神为我们速速的赶出迦南族，不留下在生命里。

总结：试金石

试金石是一种黑色坚硬的石块，用黄金在上面画一条纹，就可以看出黄金的成色。就像神为以色列百姓留下了迦南的一些民族，藉此试验他们对神的顺服。神也在我们的生命中，为我们预备了许多的试金石，来试炼我们对祂的顺服。因此，当我们的生命出现像黑色试金石般的旷野时，求神让我们灵里敏锐地知道，这是祂给我们的试炼。我们要选择勇敢的杜绝体贴老我的恶性循环，不留下生命中的任何迦南民族、不再容许老问题有重复的机会。这样生命才能不断的被提升，往一个又一个的属灵高峰前进。让我们这块黄金，在试金石上画出的条纹成色是越来越纯！

Judges 2: Putting an end to the vicious cycle
GK611 Morning Devotion
28/12/2022
Speaker: Ps Deborah

Introduction: The wildfire can’t be burnt out, the spring breeze blows again

This quote is from the poet Bai Ju Yi of the Tang Dynasty. It says that no matter how mercilessly the fire burns the grass, as long as the spring breeze blows, the grass will grow again everywhere. Because the fire cannot burn the roots of the weeds. Therefore, the way to stop the growth of weeds is to eliminate the roots of the weeds. The whole book of Judges also shows us that the people of Israel were trapped in a vicious circle in the wilderness because they did not obey the command of the LORD God to uproot all the weeds.

1. Turning back to the faithful God (v1-5)

(1) Leaving Bochim and returning to Gilgal (v1-2)

Although God had commanded the people of Israel to enter Canaan long ago to drive out all their enemies, they did not obey. Therefore God’s messengers went up from Gilgal to Bochim to pronounce discipline on them. GilgaL was the place where Israel was circumcised, dealt with the flesh, and made a covenant with God after entering Canaan. Therefore, let us often return to Gilgal, where we met with God. God, who keeps the covenant, will help us to get rid of the lusts of the flesh that we still have and to align our lives with Him.

(2) Depend humbly and true repentance (v3-5)

God said that since the people liked to leave the Canaanites to dwell with them, God would henceforth leave them alone. Leaving these Canaanites behind became a thorn and a snare under their rib. The people cried out in fear of the judgment they would face, not in regret that they had sinned against God, so they only tore their clothes, but not their hearts in true repentance. True repentance is action in response to the word of God, and will bear the fruit of life.

2. The transmission of the Word and the teaching of the Body (v6-10)

The transmission of true faith is very important. To effectively and consistently pass on an uncompromising faith, we must not only teach the Truth and tell the Work of God by our Word, but also live it out uncompromisingly by our example. In addition, an authentic legacy is to lead the next generation or team to experience God together. When they walk together and experience God together, it is easier to experience and take over the baton. Passing on from generation to generation.

3.Putting an end to the vicious circle (v16-23)

It is not often that a believer goes from sinning, falls, and is judged by accidental carelessness. As the saying goes, when something rots, worms are born. When something is wormy, it first begins to rot from within. People often sin and fall because of the compromise and carnality that accumulates over time. Therefore, we need to be careful not to compromise the slightest bit and to put an end to any desire to be carnal.

(1) Do not bow down to other gods (v11-17)

The Israelites were a nomadic people, and in order to get the agricultural technology of the Canaanites, they not only did not drive out the Canaanites completely, but also abandoned their faith and compromised to follow the worship of the Baals, which provoked the anger of the LORD.

In the workplace, we too often have to choose between compromising or sticking to our faith. Not coming to Sunday services, not attending prayer meetings or cell groups in order to make more money? Not getting up for Morning Devotion in order to get more sleep? Small human compromises may provide temporary physical and selfish satisfaction, but they will eventually lead us into judgment and destruction. Where other gods are substituted for the LORD, sorrow will increase. Therefore, identify with Jesus and do not bow down to other gods.

(2) Do not abuse God’s grace (v16-19)

Because God is gracious and merciful, it is easy for man to fall into the danger of abusing God’s grace. Not dealing with the problems of life is also abusing God’s grace. The one who suffers most when abusing God’s grace continues to roll around in sin is oneself.

(3) Not leaving the tribes behind (v20-23)

God left the tribes of Canaan after Joshua’s death and did not drive them out quickly in order to test the Israelites to see if they would keep His Word.

Do not complain when the circumstances are not easy. Know that without these circumstances and difficulties, we would not be able to test how much we have grown in heart and obedience to God, nor would we be able to grow and mature in our lives. We need to respond to God quickly so that He will drive out the Canaanite tribe for us quickly and not leave it in our lives.

Conclusion: Touchstone

A touchstone is a black, hard stone on which a stripe of gold is drawn to reveal the color of the gold. Just like God left some of the nations of Canaan for the people of Israel to test their obedience to God. God has also prepared many touchstones in our lives to test our obedience to Him. Therefore, when there is a wilderness like a black touchstone in our lives, ask God to make us spiritually sensitive to the fact that this is a trial He has given us. We need to choose to boldly put an end to the vicious cycle of being mindful of the old self, leaving no Canaanite nation in our lives and never allowing old problems to be repeated. In this way life can be constantly lifted up to one spiritual peak after another. Let the streak of gold that we draw on the touchstone become more and more pure!

27/12/2022

引言：

读士师记的时候，我们会看到一个重复出现的循环，就是百姓怎样离弃神，然后他们就呼求神的拯救，接着神就兴起士师来拯救他们，最后百姓就经历拯救进入到太平的日子。然而好景不长，百姓的醒悟是短暂的，所以这样的循环在士师记中一共出现了7次。从今天起我们一起从这段以色列的经历里去学习历史的教训！尤其是进入第一章，我们就要来看到的一个持续争战得胜的秘诀 – 不再妥协，相信到底！

一、抓住应许争战得胜

1.倚靠神必战胜强敌（V1-7）

当以色列人切切信靠求问神时，他们就争战得胜，就是强敌亚多尼比色也败在他们的手下。

2.倚靠神必制服列邦（V8-10,16-18）

当以色列中的犹大人切切信靠神的应许时，他们就有能力制服列邦，去攻取迦南地。

3.做真儿子得大奖赏（V11-15）

在争战中，要抓住我们是神儿女的身份，只要是在神心意的事，我们可以大胆地向祂来求。天父是爱我们的，当我们做真儿女来贴近祂的心，祂必要来给我们大的奖赏！

二、妥协酝酿未来祸患
1.领头羊首先选择妥协（V19-20）

有神同在的犹大人就争战得胜，但是遇到更强的敌人却没有坚持争战，这样的妥协导致将来的的祸患开始在酝酿。

2.众支派跟随妥协的风（V21,27-36）

随着领头的犹大支派选择妥协，便雅悯、玛拿西、以法莲、西布伦、亚设、拿弗他利和但支派也选择跟随妥协的风气。虽然之后他们使一些迦南人成为他们的苦工，但是没有彻底执行神旨意的妥协，结果就开始酝酿将来的的祸患。

三、勇敢相信才是出路（V22-26）

当约瑟家上去攻打伯特利的时候，一位指路人因为愿意帮助他们去到伯特利，勇敢地降服于耶和华神的旨意，那人和他的全家就不单保住了性命，还能去到赫人之地重新生活。

总结：

天父的应许从不落空，只要抓住我们是祂真儿女的身份，始终相信去执行神的心意，最终我们就必终久享福；反过来，如果因为一点点对肉体的体贴，而选择妥协，最终这样的妥协将会一点点酝酿祸患，导致我们最终就进入到网罗当中！

Judges 1: No more compromise, believe to the end!
GK611 Morning Devotion
2712/2022
Speaker: IP Moses

When we read Judges, we see a recurring cycle of how the people forsake God, then they cry out to God for deliverance, then God raises up judges to deliver them, and finally the people experience deliverance and enter into peaceful days. However, the good times don’t last long, and the awakening of the people is short, so this cycle appears 7 times in the Book of Judges. From today onwards, let’s learn the lessons of history from this Israelite’s experience together! Especially in the first chapter, we are going to see a secret of continuous victory in the battle – no more compromise, believe to the end!

I. Grasp the promise and win the battle

1. Relying on God will surely defeat powerful enemies (V1-7)

When the Israelites trusted and sought God, they won the battle, and even the mighty enemy Adoni-Bezek was defeated by them.

2. Relying on God will conquer the nations (V8-10, 16-18)

When the Judah in Israel put their faith in God’s promises, they had the power to conquer the nations and seize the land of Canaan.

3. Be a real son and get big rewards (V11-15)

In the battle, we must grasp our identity as God’s children, as long as it is in God’s will, we can boldly ask Him. Heavenly Father loves us, and when we become true children and get close to His heart, He will come and give us great rewards!

II. Compromise Prepares Future Disasters

1. Leaders choose to compromise first (V19-20)

With the presence of God, the Judah won the battle, but they did not persist in fighting when they encountered a stronger enemy. Such a compromise starts to prepare for future disasters.

2. All the tribes follow the wind of compromise (V21,27-36)

As the leading tribe of Judah chose to compromise, so did the tribes of Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. Although they later made some Canaanites their labourers, they did not fully implement God’s will and compromised. As a result, this starts to prepare for future disasters.

III. Bravely believe is the way out (V22-26)

When Joseph’s family went up to attack Bethel, a guide was willing to help them go to Bethel and bravely surrendered to the will of Jehovah God, the man and his whole family not only saved their lives but were able to go to Bethel to live a new life in the land of the Hittites.

Conclusion：

Heavenly Father’s promises never fail. As long as we grasp our identity as His true children and always believe in carrying out God’s will, we will eventually enjoy happiness forever; on the contrary, if we choose to compromise because of a little caring for the flesh, in the end, such a compromise will slowly start to turn into disaster and lead us to the snare!