Year: 2023

29/12/2023

引言：聪明可以是优点，也可以是缺点。

一、人的聪明不及神的智慧 （V1-6）

琐法的直接和无礼刺激了约伯，使他难以忍受，于是他用了三章的篇幅来回应琐法和其他两位朋友。甚至约伯不客气地说琐法所讲的不单他知，并且是人人皆知的常识，何奇之有？因为他们所说的，都是出自于人的学识与经验。

朋友们的智慧并未解释在约伯的处境，而且公义完全人却成了被讥笑的牺牲品。无论是朋友的定论，或是约伯讽刺般的回应，这里神似乎再一次提醒我们一件事。即便对方的遭遇或是困难和我们曾经很相似，甚至好像我们已经看过很多遍，也要求神帮助我们，暂时放下自己的聪明，好好陪着对方，一起寻求神，找出根源。

二、一切都有创造者的旨意（V7-12）

约伯接下来说连“走兽、飞禽、大地和鱼”都可以作他的教师，言下之意，是琐法连禽兽都不如。约伯认为除非人有亲身经验，否则很难了解个中真相，他认为老年人虽人生经验丰富，知识广博，但绝不能与神的智慧能力相提并论。

约伯坚持认为神专制独断。他竭力表白自己的不幸不能证明他是坏人。他说，甚至自然界也不赞同这样的说法。

三、人框不住神的智慧与权柄 （V13-25）

智慧与权能都属神，约伯再一次强调神掌管万有，善与恶都在祂权下。人只能承认无论是患难或是顺境都在神绝对的主权之下，也却无法测透完全人和恶人，祂都灭绝的原因。因为只有神有能力和智慧，只有祂能将深奥的事从黑暗中彰显。

所以，人不能用有限的智慧去猜测或推断无限的神，更没有能力要求神按照人自己的公义标准赏善罚恶。

总结：当从神的作为中寻找智慧

神极其高超伟大，祂的作为人无法测透。虽然我们很常想不通神的作为，但是这是正常的。因为人的智慧很难一刹那就完全理解神的智慧。但当我们持续信靠、紧紧跟随，那么在未来的某个时间点，神会带领我们看懂祂的美意的！

Job Chapter 12: Finding Wisdom in the Works of God
GK611 Morning Devotion
29/12/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Co-worker Asher Chang

Introduction: Intelligence can be an advantage or a disadvantage.

1. Man’s Wisdom is Not as Good as God’s (V1-6)

Zophar’s directness and rudeness irritated Job so much that he could hardly stand it, so he spent three chapters responding to Zophar and the other two friends. Even Job nonchalantly says that what Zophar is saying is not only known to him, but is common knowledge to everyone, so what is so strange about that? For what they say comes from human learning and experience.

The wisdom of the friends did not explain Job’s situation, and the just and perfect man became the victim of ridicule. Whether it is the friends’ judgment or Job’s sarcastic response, here God seems to remind us once again of something. Even if the other person’s situation or difficulty is similar to ours, and even if we have seen it many times, we ask God to help us to put aside our own cleverness for a while, to stay with the other person, to seek God together, and to find out the root cause.

2. Everything is in the will of the Creator (V7-12)

Job then says that even “beasts, birds, earth and fish” can be his teachers, implying that Zophar is not even as good as beasts. Job believed that it was difficult to understand the truth of the matter unless one had personal experience, and he believed that older people, despite their experience and knowledge, could never match the wisdom and power of God.

Job insisted that God is authoritarian and arbitrary. He strenuously confesses that his misfortunes do not prove that he is a bad person. Even nature, he says, does not agree with such a statement.

3. Man Cannot Frame God’s Wisdom and Power (V13-25)

Wisdom and power belong to God. Job ecognize once again that God is in control of all things, and that both good and evil are under His authority. Man can only ecognize the absolute sovereignty of God in times of trouble and in times of good, but he cannot penetrate the reason for the extinction of both the perfect and the wicked. For only God has power and wisdom, and only He can reveal deep things out of darkness.

Therefore, man cannot use his finite wisdom to guess or infer the infinite God, much less to demand that God reward good and punish evil according to man’s own standard of righteousness.

Conclusion: Finding Wisdom in God’s Works

God is exceedingly high and great, and His works are beyond human understanding. Although we often do not understand God’s works, this is normal. This is because it is difficult for human wisdom to fully understand God’s wisdom in a single moment. But when we continue to trust and follow closely, then at some point in the future, God will lead us to see and understand His good will!

28/12/2023

引言：藐视法庭罪

一、维护真理行审判？（V1-6）

1. 维护真理不定罪（V1-3）

约伯的朋友拿玛人琐法，是3个朋友当中最口无遮拦，言语最毒的一个。面对痛苦中的约伯，不但没有怜悯和安慰，开口就是定罪。劈头就砍，而且刀刀见血。琐法似乎是在为神说话，在维护真理。但他自大的态度和犀利的言辞，却一点都不像神，反而像魔鬼。

求神保守我们懂得怎样去爱和怜悯跌倒的肢体，与他一同面对，帮助他重新归正，而不是拼命的定他的罪，让他没有翻身之地。

2. 不借神名行审判（V4-6）

琐法判断约伯的苦难背后隐藏着鲜为人知的罪恶，仿佛认为揭露那秘密就是自己的义务。他当起了审判官。

琐法自己想攻击约伯，却以为是替神说话，这也许是我们常有的错误：借神之名，行审判血气之事。就如使徒保罗还没被主光照时，他也借神的名逼迫教会，杀害基督徒。保罗之后自认 “罪人中我是个罪魁！”因为他深切认识到从前为宗教狂热，恰恰是做了神的敌人。

求神帮助我们，不凭自己私意随便替神出头。不然我们也会和琐法一样毫无怜悯，把真理变成残忍的钝刀。而且还会抢了神的位子当起了审判官。

二、真的测透神智慧？（V7-12）

琐法提醒约伯神的伟大、智慧高过天、比地长，比海宽。没人能够找到神的极限。他还断定约伯不认识神和毫无知识，V12甚至讽刺约伯，像他那样虚妄的人要变得有智慧，真认识神，实际上比驴子生出一个人的可能性还低，是个愚不可及的人。其实真正愚不可及的人是琐法。他忘了自己也是人，以为自己完全了解神，清楚约伯现在所面对的苦难的来龙去脉。

三、是劝勉还是恐吓？（V13-20）

琐法继续自圆其说的呼吁约伯要认罪悔改，把心思摆正，向主张开手，祷告祈求。并保证他必得到丰富的赏赐。

琐法这般话表面上是正面的劝勉约伯，但似乎却不是真心劝约伯悔改。因为他不止没有顾念约伯的痛苦处境，从他处处针锋相对，只顾一一反驳约伯之前说过的话，他其实只是想发表自以为对的论点。最后他还恐吓约伯，再不悔改，下场就是灭亡。

总结：审判的主权在于神

面对在生活落魄受苦的人，我们可以说出一番非常正确的大道理，让自己越说越安心，但对受苦的人却起不了作用。而当我们以为是为神在维护真理时，也可能不小心掉入自义、站在审判的角度而言词刻薄。最终不但不能给人带来安慰，反而像琐法那样，被撒旦利用成了攻击者。更伤人、使人心中更没有力量来倚靠主。

求主帮助我们认定审判的主权在于神。让我们更多寻求祂的智慧，像耶稣一样，以爱带出公义、怜憫，更贴切的去陪伴、鼓励、受苦的人，从生命树的角度去重新建立人。

Job Chapter 11: Not Being a Judge
GK611 Morning Devotion
28/12/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Deborah Tan

Introduction: Contempt of Court

1. Upholding the Truth to Judge? (v1-6)

(1) Uphold the truth and do not condemn (V1-3)

Job’s friend, Zophar the Naamathite, was the most blasphemous and poisonous of the 3 friends. When faced with the suffering Job, not only did he show no mercy or comfort, but he also opened his mouth to condemn him. It was a cleaver and a knife to the heart. Zophar seemed to be speaking for God and defending the truth. But his arrogant attitude and sharp words were not at all like God, but like the devil.

Pray that God will keep us to know how to love and have mercy on a fallen member, to face it with him, and to help him to turn back to righteousness, instead of desperately condemning him and leaving him with no place to turn back.

(2) Do not judge in God’s name (V4-6)

Zophar judged that there was a little-known sin behind Job’s suffering, as if he thought it was his duty to reveal that secret. He became a judge.

Zophar himself wanted to attack Job, but thought he was speaking for God, which is perhaps a common mistake we make: to so fleshly judgement in the name of God. Just as the apostle Paul, before he was enlightened by the Lord, he also persecuted churches and killed Christians in the name of God. Afterward Paul confessed to himself, “I am a sinful man among sinners!” For he deeply realised that in his former religious fanaticism, he had precisely been an enemy of God.

Pray that God will help us not to just stand up for God based on our own personal opinions. Otherwise we too will be as merciless as Zophar, turning the truth into a cruel, blunt sword. And we will steal God’s place as judges.

2. Does it really measure God’s wisdom? (V7-12)

Zophar reminded Job of the greatness of God, wisdom that is higher than the earth, longer than the earth, and wider than the sea. No one can find the limits of God. He also concludes that Job does not know God and is devoid of knowledge, v12 even sarcastically reminds Job that for a vain man like him to become wise and truly know God is actually less likely than a donkey giving birth to a man, a fool. In fact, the real fool is Zophar. He forgot that he was also a human being, thinking that he knew God completely and knew the ins and outs of the suffering Job was now facing.

3. Exhortation or Intimidation? (V13-20)

Zophar continues his self-explanatory appeal to Job to confess his sins and repent, to set his mind right, to open his hands to the Lord, to pray and supplicate. And he is assured that he will be richly rewarded.

Zophar’s words were ostensibly a positive exhortation to Job, but they did not seem to be a sincere call to repentance. For not only did he not consider Job’s distressing situation, but from the way he went on and on, just refuting what Job had said before, he was really just trying to make an argument that he thought was right. And finally he threatened Job that if he didn’t repent, he would end up perishing.

Conclusion: The Sovereignty of Judgment Rests with God

When faced with someone who is down and out and suffering in life, we can say something very true and reassuring, but it won’t work for the person who is suffering. And when we think we are defending the truth for God, we may accidentally fall into self-righteousness and speak harshly from a judgmental perspective. Instead of bringing comfort, we end up like Zophar, being used by Satan as an attacker. It hurts people even more and leaves them with even less strength in their hearts to rely on the Lord.

Pray that we would recognise that the sovereignty of judgment rests with God. Let us seek more of His wisdom, and like Jesus, bring out justice and mercy through love, and be more relevant to accompany, encourage, and build people up again from the tree of life.

27/12/2023

引言：

闭嘴无言的痛苦很快就会让人暴毙！但是若能够说出来，情况就会大不相同！

一、要把忧伤说出来（V10:1）

约伯在苦难中，朋友的到访好像加重了他的伤痛。但是试想想如果没有这些朋友与他对话，结果又是如何呢？痛苦、挣扎、无言可说、无人可诉、心灵负担如何负荷呢？恐怕很快就爆炸了！虽然朋友所说的话“不好听”，但是这也引起约伯更大的思考、更大的反驳。不断把注意力放在这些交流上，而不是一味的感受痛苦。

二、痛定思痛的自省（V10:2-7）

对神的一连串询问：
1.神你为什么透过这些人与我争辩呢？
2.神你看你所造的人被欺压和藐视为美吗？
3.神你的眼睛看事情岂会像人看事情呢？
4.神你让我过痛苦的日子是因为追究我的罪吗？
5.神你真的鉴察到我有什么罪是我自己不知道的吗？
6.神你知道我没有罪也脱离不了你的苦待吗？

【痛苦】不是存在于一种停止的状态，而是更深推动人产生寻索神的动力！

三、神为何如此待我（V10:8-17）

是神极其美妙的创造了我，难道如今神要把我销毁了吗？正如陶匠用泥塑造了一个器皿，而且把器皿点缀到非常美好。但是后来却不想要了，预备要把它摧毁。但是器皿无权质疑匠人为什么要这样做？只能在顺服中承受一切。约伯的经历就像被造物面对造物主的事实！我还能说什么呢？

四、世上无我不倒好（V10:18-22）

对于绝望痛苦中的人，约伯觉得自己如果未曾出生在地上就最好。因为在痛苦中，一切都变成黑暗；就连死后的天地也看不到色彩，全然幽暗了。这是约伯的经历所带给他的心里状态，何等何等绝望不是吗？甚至觉得世上如果没有自己的存在不是更好吗？有这种思想的人，如果没有把话说出来，也许早就自寻短见了。但是，说出来之后，反而就舒缓了痛苦的极限。

总结：出路就在真理认知中

感恩我们如今有主的赦罪、有永生国度的应许。我们有永恒得胜的盼望，因此我们有出路，否则苦难就只是苦难、只有绝望啊！

Job Chapter 10: Self-examination in suffering
GK611 Morning Devotion
27/12/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction:

Shutting up about wordless suffering can quickly lead to a violent death! But if one is able to speak out, things will be very different!

1. To Speak Out Your Sorrows (Psalm 10:1)

Job was in the midst of his affliction, and the visit of his friends seemed to aggravate his hurt. But imagine what the outcome would have been without these friends to talk to him. How would the pain, the struggle, the lack of words, the lack of someone to talk to, the burden of the soul be loaded? I’m afraid it would soon explode! Although the words spoken by his friends were “not nice,” they caused Job to think harder, to push back harder. Keep focusing on these interactions instead of just feeling the pain.

2. Painful Introspection (Psalm 10:2-7)

A series of inquiries to God:
1. God why do you argue with me through these people?
2. God do you see beauty in the oppression and contempt of your creation?
3. God, do you see things with your eyes as men see things?
4. God, do you make me suffer because you hold me accountable for my sins?
5. God, do you really recognise that I have sinned in ways that I don’t know?
6. God, do you know that I can’t be free from your suffering even if I don’t have any sins?

Suffering does not exist in a state of cessation, but rather it is a deeper motivation to seek God!

3. Why Has God Treated Me This Way (Psalm 10:8-17)

It was God who created me exceedingly beautifully; is God now going to destroy me? Just as a potter molds a vessel out of clay and embellishes it until it is very beautiful. But then he doesn’t want it anymore and is ready to destroy it. But the vessel has no right to question why the potter did what he did. It can only bear it all in obedience. Job’s experience is like the fact that the creature confronts the Creator! What can I say?

4. The world is not better off without me (Psalm 10:18-22)

For those who are in despair and pain, Job felt that it would be best if he had never been born on earth. For in suffering, everything becomes darkness; even the heavens and the earth after death see no colour, but are all darkness. This is the state of Job’s heart as a result of his experience. How desperate, isn’t it? He even thought that it would be better if he did not exist in the world, wouldn’t it? A person with this kind of thinking might have killed himself long ago if he had not spoken out. However, by saying it out loud, the limit of suffering is eased.

Conclusion: The way out is in the truth perception

Gratefully we now have the Lord’s forgiveness of sins and the promise of the eternal kingdom. We have the hope of eternal victory, and therefore we have a way out, otherwise suffering would be nothing but suffering and hopelessness!

26/12/2023

引言：

约伯记第九至十章是约伯对比勒达的答辩。从表面来看，约伯似乎在攻击神，但是他真正的意图是要找到神！这也是神的旨意，要约伯更认识祂，活出生命树的‘真我’！

一、知道神是大有智慧能力（V1-4）

约伯在回答比勒达的话时，首先承认神是公义的。人在神面前怎能成为义呢？人根本是不能跟神争辩的，因为神在智慧和能力上比任何人都高！

我们在痛苦或困惑的时候，最重要的是谦卑地服从神完美的计划，并相信神的主权，而不是自己试图去找答案和出路。

二、承认神是奇妙不可测度（V5-12）

约伯在这里描述了神创造的伟大，列举了神的种种奇妙作为，指出‘祂行大事，不可测度，行奇事，不可胜数。’

我们要承认有限的人，在无限的真理面前是无知的。这种认识使我们看见神的伟大，自己的渺小，并能凭信心接受神对苦难以及万事的主权。

三、因苦难扭曲对神的认知（V13-35）

1. 约伯觉得神善恶不分（V13-24）

约伯觉得神不分善恶，以致没有人可以帮他。所以约伯开始埋怨神，毁灭人不分善恶，嘲笑无辜人，且容许恶人横行，一切都是神不对。

我们在软弱的时候也往往如此，扭曲对神的认识，比如神不爱我了，神不公平了等等。今天我们要明白，神是要我们在困境中更认识祂，靠祂活出不扭曲的真我，成为好见证。

2. 约伯觉得无辜被定罪（V25-31）

约伯觉得无辜被定罪。无论他多么小心地洁净自己，神仍然会宣告他有罪。
很多时候，我们在逆境之中也会扭曲地将神视为无情的定罪者。其实我们要认识到，神暂时不审判罪恶，是为了让我们有机会回转，我们就会更加地敬畏祂。

3.约伯觉得神在杖打他（V32-35）

有口难辩的约伯，希望有一个法庭和一个第三者，能使他与神和解。但这个希望他觉得没可能实现，所以他感觉神的刑杖在他身上责打他，让他活在惊惶惧怕中。

当我们面对无法解释和解决的困境时，我们要数算过去神的恩典，就可以看见神的慈爱，看见神的杖和竿是在保护、引导、安慰我们。

约伯虽然把神扭曲得十分可怕，但是神并没有生他的气，只是静静地听。因为神知道约伯在口头上讲出埋怨的话，其实内心是在寻找神！这也是神的心意，要约伯更认识祂！

总结：

我们要全面地认识神的慈爱、良善与公义，我们才不会在苦难中扭曲对神的认知。

感谢神！祂不仅有智慧、能力，还有慈爱及良善，而且祂绝对值得我们交讬生命。但愿我们能一天比一天更认识祂！在神的爱中，没有惧怕地活出生命树的‘真我’！

Job Chapter 9: To know the true God and to live the true self
GK611 Morning Devotion
26/12/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Daniel Kew

Introduction:

Job chapters 9-10 are Job’s reply to Bildad. On the surface, Job seems to be attacking God, but his real intention is to find God! It was also God’s will for Job to know Him better and to live out the ‘true self’ of the tree of life!

1. Knowing that God is great in wisdom and power (V1-4)

Job begins his answer to Bildad’s words by recognising that God is righteous. How can man be righteous before God? Man simply cannot argue with God, for God is higher than any man in wisdom and power!

The most important thing we can do in times of pain or confusion is to humbly submit to God’s perfect plan and trust in God’s sovereignty, rather than trying to find answers and a way out on our own.

2. Recognising that God is wonderful and unmeasurable (V5-12)

Job here describes the greatness of God’s creation and lists all of God’s marvelous works, noting that ‘He does great things, which are unsearchable, and wonders, which are not to be numbered.’

We need to recognize that finite man is ignorant before infinite truth. This realisation enables us to see God’s greatness and our own insignificance, and to accept by faith God’s sovereignty over suffering as well as over all things.

3. Distorted perception of God due to suffering (V13-35)

(1) Job felt that God did not distinguish between good and evil (V13-24)

Job felt that God did not distinguish between good and evil, so that no one could help him. Therefore, Job began to blame God for destroying people who did not distinguish between good and evil, mocking the innocent and allowing the wicked to run rampant, and everything was wrong with God.

We also tend to do the same thing when we are weak, distorting our understanding of God, such as God doesn’t love me anymore, God is unfair, and so on. Today we need to understand that God wants us to know Him better in the midst of our difficulties, to live out our true selves by Him without distortion, and to be good witnesses.

(2) Job felt innocent and condemned (V25-31)

Job felt innocent and condemned. No matter how carefully he cleansed himself, God would still declare him guilty.

Often times, we are also twisted in the midst of adversity to see God as a merciless condemner. In fact, we need to realise that God does not judge sin for a while in order to give us a chance to turn around, and we will fear Him all the more.

(3) Job felt that God was beating him with a rod (V32-35)

Job, who had a hard time arguing, hoped that there would be a court of law and a third party who could reconcile him to God. But he felt that this hope could not be realised, so he felt that God’s rod was beating him, making him live in fear and trembling.

When we face unexplainable and unsolvable dilemmas, we have to count God’s grace in the past, and we can see God’s loving kindness, and see that God’s rod and staff are protecting, guiding, and comforting us.

Although Job twisted God terribly, God was not angry with him, but only listened quietly. For God knew that Job was verbalising words of complaint, but was actually seeking God in his heart! This was also God’s intention for Job to know Him better!

Conclusion:

We need to know God’s love, goodness and righteousness in a comprehensive way so that we don’t distort our perception of God in the midst of suffering.

Thank God! Not only is He wise and powerful, but He is also loving and good, and He is definitely worth entrusting our lives to. May we know Him more and more every day! Live out the ‘true self’ of the Tree of Life without fear in God’s love!