Year: 2023

引言：哈利路亚！

赞美的原文既是“哈利”Halal：1.发出神的光（包含神的恩宠）2.可夸耀和赞美的。
这是至高得胜的宣告。

一、你们要哈利路亚（V1&6）

这是神给人的一个美丽的命令！
神命令人要听话、要守诫命、要传福音、要爱人如己等等，都是严肃告诫式的命令；但是说到“你们要赞美神”，这是一个美丽且叫人经历蒙福与得胜的命令。

二、在何处哈利路亚（V1）

1.在圣所的赞美
圣所既是神子民敬拜祂的地方，当年是会幕、后来是圣殿、如今是教会；更确实的说就是神子民聚集的地方。弟兄姐妹在教会多多敬拜就是好事，否则人的言语就带来许多问题。

2.大自然的赞美
显能力的穹苍是宇宙，但是宇宙也包含了全地，也既是说任何彰显神荣耀能力的地方，都是可以被赞美的。你期待神在哪里显能力，我们就在那里赞美吧！

三、为何要哈利路亚（V2）

1.因神大能赞美
赞美的关键因素是因为看到神的能力、作为，是神的手，神大能的彰显。

2.因神大德赞美
赞美的另一个原因是因着神的属性。神是怎样的神？对不同人而言，也许大家所认识和经历都不尽相同。

四、以什么哈利路亚（V3-6）

1.各种不同乐器
原来什么乐器都可以成为赞美神的工具。关键是产生节奏，透过音符，把超越言语的心情，和对神的颂赞表达出来。

2.凡有血气的人
最重要的赞美是透过有血有肉的生命，因为这才是最真实对创造主的赞美。

总结：人生的终极活动是哈利路亚！

人生尽管有许多事情作不完，但是最终极的永生中有一个长久的服事，就是永远的敬拜赞美。由此可见，那是最大的喜乐不是吗？

Psalm 150: Hallelujah
GK611 Morning Devotion
03/22/2023
Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction: Hallelujah!

The original word for praise is both “Hallelujah” and “Halal”: 1. the light of God (containing the favour of God) and 2. something to boast about and praise.
This is the declaration of the supreme victory.

1. You shall praise hallelujah (V1&6)

This is a beautiful command from God to man!
God’s commands to obey, to keep the commandments, to preach the gospel, to love your neighbour as yourself, etc., are all serious and admonitory commands; but when it comes to “praise God,” this is a beautiful command that calls people to experience blessing and victory.

2. Where to Hallelujah (V1)

(1) Praise in the sanctuary
The sanctuary is the place where God’s people worship Him, then the tabernacle, later the temple, and now the church; more specifically the place where God’s people gather. It is good for brothers and sisters to worship more in the church, otherwise the words of men will bring many problems.

(2) Praise of Nature
The firmament of power is the universe, but the universe also includes the whole earth, which means that any place where God’s glorious power is manifested is open to praise. Wherever you expect God to show His power, let us praise there!

3. Why Hallelujah (V2)

(1) Praise because of the power of God
The key factor of praise is because of seeing God’s power, action, the hand of God, the manifestation of God’s power.

(2) Praise because of God’s great virtue
Another reason for praise is because of the attributes of God. What kind of God is God? For different people, we may know and experience it differently.

4. Hallelujah with what (V3-6)

(1) Different kinds of musical instruments
It turns out that any musical instrument can be a tool for praising God. The key is to produce rhythm, and through the notes, to express the mood that transcends words, and the praise to God.

(3) Everyone who has flesh and blood
The most important praise is through the life of flesh and blood, for this is the truest praise to the Creator.

Conclusion: The ultimate activity of life is hallelujah!

Although there are many things to do in life, there is one lasting service in the ultimate eternal life, which is eternal worship and praise. It follows that that is the greatest joy, isn’t it?

02/02/2023

引言:

士师记今天来到最后一章，是这本书和士师年代的结束。而最后一节经文正是给这整本书和整个士师年代定下的总结。V25那时，以色列中没有王，各人任意而行。其实当时的以色列并不是没有王。耶和华是他们的王，但他们却不认祂为王，而是各人都喜欢任意而行，自己作王。

一、任意而行一错再错（v1-15）

1.任意而行后反追问神（v1-3，15）

当以色列人发现便雅憫没有办法传宗接代，这支派可能就此消失，因此坐在神面前直到晚上，放声痛哭。可是，他们不是因为对自己的所作所为痛悔而哭。反而追问神为什么以色列中有这样缺了一支派的事呢？明明是自己屠杀了弟兄，起誓要让他们绝后，现在却不肯反省和承认自己的错，反追问神，只想埋怨，把责任推卸给神。说是神使以色列中有了破口。

2.假意献祭后任意杀戮（v4-14）

照理说，以色列因血气几乎屠杀了整个便雅悯支派，应该献上的是认罪悔改的赎罪祭。可是他们却自以为义的献上燔祭和平安祭。更讽刺的是，按他们所献的燔祭和平安祭，应该是要将自己完全献上，与神和睦，与人之间有和平的。但他们不但心中没平安，没有使人和睦。跟所献的祭相反，他们假意献祭后，找基列雅比人做替死鬼，任意杀戮自己的弟兄，冷血的造成更大的伤害和死亡。

二、不悔改继续错到底（v16-24）

把杀剩的400个基列雅比未嫁的处女给便雅憫人作妻后还不罢休，会中的长老继续想为剩下的200人找妻子。所以接下来更变本加厉继续错到底。

1.道貌岸然不悔改（v19-21）

在欢庆日子里；神的长老领袖，竟然教唆200个剩余的便雅悯男人，在示罗的女子出来跳舞敬拜神的时候抢妻。他们好像有很好的目的，要保存神的12个支派，但实际上内心险恶。为什么不是让自己的女儿被抢？示罗人与这场战争毫无关系，却成了这场战争最后的牺牲品。

2.掩耳盗铃错到底（v22-24）

以色列长老们担保，如果这些女子的父亲或是弟兄找上门来，就会求他们看情面、施恩。而且当人继续不悔改时，就会掉入自欺欺人的地步。V22因为女儿是被抢，不是自己自愿给便雅悯人，所以就不算有罪。掩耳盗铃错到底，忘了公义神的法则。

三、自作王失去神同在（v25）

以色列并不是没有王，而是不认耶和华是他们的王。既然他们不以神为王，从各人到集体、到全国上下都任意而行的自己起来作王，因此神也就完全隐藏了，既不说话，也不拦阻，任凭百姓活在任意而行的黑暗里，做一个失去了神同在的民族。

总结：以神为王，随从圣灵

士师时代是一个令人心痛的时代。神借着士师记让基督徒看见，若不以神为王，就会滥用神的名和恩典，做很多表面看来好像很好，对信仰很热心，很有道德标准的事，可是在神眼中却是一错再错、错到底的败坏。像士师时代的以色列人一样，变得极度的虚假、邪恶和冷血。人要从不再任意而行的循环里得着释放，唯一的道路就是以神为王，随从圣灵的带领来生活和做决定。

Judges 21: Do not act do things arbitrarily and be a self-made king
GK611 Morning Devotion
02/02/2023
Speaker: Ps Deborah + Rev Tan

Introduction:

The book of Judges has come to its last chapter today, which marks the end of this book and the age of the Judges. And it is the last verse that concludes the whole book and the whole era of the Judges. V25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. In fact, Israel was not without a king at that time. Yahweh is their king, but they do not recognise Him as king, but each one likes to do as he pleases and be their own king.

I. Do things arbitrarily, make mistakes again and again (v1-15)

1. Ask God after doing whatever they want (v1-3, 15)

When the Israelites found that Benjamin had no way to carry on the family line, the tribe might be extinct, so they sat before God until night and wept bitterly. However, they were not crying because they regretted what they had done. Instead, they asked God why there was such a lack of a tribe in Israel. It is obvious that they slaughtered their brothers and vowed to let them have no future generations, but now they refuse to reflect on and admit their mistakes and instead ask God, just wanting to complain and shift the responsibility to God, saying that God had created a gap in Israel.

2. Arbitrary executions after false sacrifice (v4-14)

Logically speaking, Israel executed almost the entire tribe of Benjamin according to their own flesh, and what should be offered is a sin offering of confession and repentance. Yet they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in self-righteousness. What’s even more ironic is that according to the burnt offerings and peace offerings they offered, they were supposed to offer themselves completely, be at peace with God, and have peace with man. But not only did they have no peace in their hearts, but they also did not make peace with people. Contrary to the sacrifices they offered, after making false sacrifices, they found Jabesh Gilead as a scapegoat, killed their own brothers at will, and caused greater damage and death in cold blood.

II. Continue making mistakes without repentance (v16-24)

After killing, they gave away the remaining 400 unmarried virgins of Jabesh Gilead to the Benjamites as wives, the elders in the meeting continued to try to find wives for the remaining 200 people. So subsequently, they became more intensify and continue to make mistakes to the end.

1. Pious and unrepentant (v19-21)

During the festival, the elders and leaders of God even instigated 200 remaining Benjamin men to catch a wife for themselves when the women of Shiloh came out to dance and worship God. They seem to have good intentions, to preserve the 12 tribes of God, but they are actually sinister. Why not let their daughter be robbed? The people of Shiloh had nothing to do with this war, but they became the ultimate victims of this war.

2. Deceive oneself and sin till the end (v22-24)

The elders of Israel vouched that if the fathers or brothers of these women came to the door, they would ask them for favour and grace. And when a person continues to be unrepentant, he falls into self-deception. V22 Since the daughter was robbed and not given to the Benjamites voluntarily, she is not considered guilty. Deceive oneself and sin till the end, forgetting the law of a righteous God.

3. Self-made king loses the presence of God (v25)

It is not that Israel has no king, but that they do not recognise Yahweh as their king. Since they don’t regard God as their king, they rise up and become kings themselves, from individual to corporate, to the whole country, so God is completely unseen, neither speaks nor hinders, and allows the people to live as they pleased. In the world of darkness, be a nation that has lost the presence of God.

Conclusion: Relying on God as King and Following the Holy Spirit

The age of the Judges was a heart-wrenching time. Through the book of Judges, God lets Christians see that if they do not regard God as King, they will abuse God’s name and grace, and do many things that seem to be good on the surface, are enthusiastic about faith, and have high moral standards. However, in God’s eyes, these were the corruption of making mistakes again and again till the end. Become utterly false, wicked and cold-blooded like the Israelites in the days of the Judges. The only way for people to be released from the cycle of doing things arbitrarily is to regard God as King and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to live and make decisions.

01/02/2023

引言: 贼喊抓贼的故事

一、自义的民铸成内战（V1-16）

1.全民的内战，无神介入（V1–2）

一位利未人的影响力可以召集以色列全境的人集合，从但到别是巴是从最北端的城市直到最南端的城市。当时候一定是有祭司利未人，像是祭司非尼哈都在其中。面对不公义的事情，只有人不断召集议论，却没有提出要先寻求神的公义。

2.自义利未人，怂恿他人（V3–11）

这一位利未人本来应该是最明白神旨意的人，但他却起来用自己的方式来报复。当他向以色列民诉说的时候，并没有把自己交自己的妾出去顶替自己的事情说出来，一直在那里带领大家筹划商议如何去讨伐自己的弟兄。

3.不以神为先，爆发内战（V12–16）

全民合一，如同一人就是为了要报复自己的同胞。这一定就不是神的旨意。当人满了仇恨与怒气的时候，已经没了神，最后酿成死伤惨重的内战。

二、不认识神，一错再错（V17-45）

1．神任凭人的决定（V17–28）

以色列民一开始召集的时候都没有寻求神，到做了要自己替天行道的决定。后来才把神摆出来。人一旦走在自己的路上，若不对自己彻底绝望，总是不肯甘心回转。所以神允许百姓继续打仗，让他们接受彻底的拆毁，这场战役死伤惨重。

人以为美、神又允许的，不一定是我们所盼望的好事，也可能是对我们的拆毁和管教；唯有神以为美的，才是上好的。所以我们千万不要满足于神的允许。

2．无知酿死伤惨重（V29–45）

原先只有一群基比亚匪徒和一位想要报复的利未人，最后靠人的血气造成众人血流成河。即便便雅悯人都累了，以色列人一点怜悯都没有，对弟兄赶尽杀绝，他们继续追杀他们、践踏他们，但这是弟兄。

面对应该杀尽的迦南恶民，应该杀的他们却没杀，反而杀弟兄却按照圣战的方法，这是完全违背真理，完全不认识神。

总结：先求神的国和义，免得铸成大错！

当我们把自己的决定和自义放大的时候，反映出来的就是血气和怒气，以至于就会酿成大错。无论谁对谁错，我们应该先求神的国和祂的义，相信属神的方式会比自己爆发的内战来的更好，更能彰显神的属性。

Judges 20: Self-righteousness leads to big mistake
GK611 Morning Devotion
01/02/2023
Speaker: Asher Chang + Rev Tan

Introduction: The story of the thief who cried out for help

1. Self-righteousness of the people cast into civil war （V1-16）

(1) The Civil War of All People without Divine Intervention （V1-2）

The influence of a Levite could gather all the people of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, from the northernmost city to the southernmost city. There must have been priestly Levite, such as Phinehas the priest, among them. In the face of injustice, only men kept convening and discussing, but did not propose to seek God’s justice first.

(2) Self-righteous Levite, encouraging others （V3-11）

This Levite should have been the one who understood God’s will best, but he rose up to take revenge in his own way. When he spoke to the people of Israel, he did not tell them that he had sent his concubine to take his place, but kept leading the people in planning and discussing how to crusade against his brother.

(3) Not putting God first, civil war breaks out （V12-16）

The unity of the whole nation, as one man, is to take revenge on his fellow man. This must not be the will of God. When people are full of hatred and anger, there is no longer a God, and it ends up in a deadly civil war.

2. Not knowing God and making mistakes again and again （V17-45）

(1) God leaves the decision to man （V17-28）

The people of Israel did not seek God at the beginning of the gathering, but made the decision to do their own work for God. It was only later that God was set forth. Once a man is in his own way, he always refuses to turn back willingly unless he despairs of himself completely. So God allowed the people to continue to fight and let them receive a complete demolition, a battle with many deaths and injuries.

What man thinks is beautiful and God allows is not necessarily the good we hope for, but may also be a demolition and discipline for us; only what God thinks is beautiful is the best. Therefore, we must not be satisfied with God’s permission.

(2) Ignorance leads to death and injury （V29-45）

It started with a group of Gibeah and a Levite who wanted to take revenge, but in the end it was human blood that caused the blood of the people to flow. Even when the Benjamites were tired, the Israelites had no compassion at all and drove out their brothers, they continued to hunt them down and trample them, but they were brothers.

Faced with the wicked people of Canaan, who should have been killed, they did not kill them, but instead killed the brethren but according to the method of the holy war, which is completely against the Truth and does not know God at all.

Conclusion:

Seek first the kingdom of God and righteousness before you make a big mistake!
When we magnify our own decisions and self-righteousness, it is reflected in blood and anger, so much so that it will lead to a big mistake. No matter who is right and who is wrong, we should seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, believing that godly ways will be better and will reveal God’s attributes more than civil wars that break out on their own.

31/01/2023

引言:

神造人时本来是照祂的形象和样式造的，是完美的。但是当人离开了神，不但失去美好的灵性，而且肆意妄为，得罪神和人。

一、丑恶残忍的利未人

1.不合神意的娶妾（V1）

利未人是神分别出来侍奉神的。这个利未人娶妾的行为，是完全不合神心意的，因为神设立的婚姻是一夫一妻。作为利未人竟然在婚姻上违反神的旨意，可见当时道德是如何的墮落。

2.只顾自身的安危（V25）

在基必亚遇到匪徒，为了自身安全，利未人就把他的妾拉出去交给他们，利未人暴露了自己的丑恶。只顾自身的安危，就不理妾的死活把她交给匪徒，这是极端自私的作法！这利未人的恶与匪徒的恶，一点分别也没有！

3.残忍的报复方式（V27-30）

这个利未人的丑恶，更见于他竟然可以动手把妾的尸体肢解，切成十二块分送到十二个支派作为投诉的证物，要激起全民采取报复的行动。他的整个安排，完全是因为不甘受辱的仇恨思想。
一个没有神的利未人，竟然可变成如此丑恶残忍的人；我们更要时刻警醒，切不可偏离神！

二、行淫的利未人之妾（V2）

首先，这个犹大族的女子，嫁给利未人为妾，她的道德操守就有问题了。后来又和人行淫，说明她是放纵情慾的女子。可是经文中对这事没有什么反应，似乎是若无其事。莫非这种事当时很普遍，人已见怪不怪？

今天，女权高涨性观念开放，毫不以为耻。所以我们在男女关系上要保守自己，切勿婚前同居，婚后出轨。

三、冷漠的基比亚人（V11-15）

利未人不愿在外邦人的城住宿，赶到以色列人便雅悯境内的基比亚。但是基比亚人并未按律法的要求接待利未人。今天我们如果对弟兄姐妹的需要、世人的灵魂，也是冷漠无视的，其实就和基比亚人没有什么两样。

四、丧尽天良的匪徒（V22-25）

这些放纵情慾的匪徒，公然上门先是要求与利未人进行同性交合，后又将利未人的妾强暴致死，这群匪徒可说是罪大恶极、丧尽天良！

由此可见，人若不控制性，它就如洪水猛兽害人害己！性是可以控制的！人如果敬畏神，就会有节制；若背离神，就必肆意妄为出乱子。

总结：

利未人、利未人的妾、基比亚人和匪徒，都是神的选民。但是因为他们没有神，因此就肆意妄为满身罪恶。

让我们以没有神的色列人为借鉴，不要沦落为肆意妄为的无神基督徒！

Judges 19: A person without God acts recklessly
GK611 Morning Devotion
31/01/2023
Speaker: Ps Daniel Kew

Introduction:

God created man in His image and likeness, the man is perfect. But when people leave God, they not only lose their good spirituality but also act recklessly, offending God and man.

I. The ugly and cruel Levite

1. Taking a concubine against God’s will (V1)

The Levites were set apart by God to serve God. This Levite’s act of taking a concubine was completely against God’s will because the marriage established by God is monogamy. As a Levite, he violated God’s will in marriage, which shows how morally degraded it was at that time.

2. Only care about own safety (V25)

When Gibeah met certain bandits and for his own safety, the Levite took his concubine out and handed it over to them. The Levite exposed his ugliness,only caring about his own safety, disregarding his concubine’s life and death and handing her over to the bandits, this is an extremely selfish approach! There is no difference between the wickedness of the Levites and the wickedness of the bandits!

3. Cruel way of revenge (V27-30)

The ugliness of this Levite is even more evident in the fact that he can dismember the body of his concubine, cut it into twelve pieces and distribute them to the twelve tribes as evidence of grievances, in order to arouse the whole nation to take revenge.His entire arrangement was due to the thought of hatred that was unwilling to be humiliated.


A Levite without God can turn into such an ugly and cruel person; we must always be vigilant and never deviate from God!

II. The adulterous Levite concubine (V2)

First of all, this Judah woman married a Levite as a concubine, so her moral integrity was questionable. Later, she committed adultery with others, which shows that she is a woman who indulges in lust. However, there is no reaction to this matter in the scriptures, as if nothing happened. Could it be that this kind of thing was so common at that time that people were already familiar with it?

Today, women have more rights, and they have a more open attitude toward sex, without feeling embarrassed. Therefore, we must keep ourselves in the relationship between men and women, and never cohabit before marriage and commit adultery after marriage.

III. The indifferent Gibeah (V11-15)

The Levite did not want to stay in a foreign city, so they went to Gibeah, where the Israelites were and in the province of Benjamin. But the Gibeah did not receive the Levite as required by the law. Today, if we are indifferent to the needs of our brothers and sisters and the souls of the world, we are no different from the people of Gibeah.

IV. The Conscientious Bandit (V22-25)

These bandits who indulged in lust openly came to the door and first demanded same-sex intercourse with the Levite, and then raped the Levite’ concubine to death. They can be said to be atrocious and devoid of conscience!

It can be seen from this that if people do not control their sexual act, it will harm others and themselves like a scourge! Sex can be controlled! If a person fears God, he will have self-control; if he turns his back on God, he will act recklessly and cause trouble.

Conclusion：

The Levite, the Levite’s concubine, the Gibeah, and the bandits are God’s chosen people. But because they have no God, they act recklessly and are full of sin.

Let us take the example of these Israelites who have no God and don’t become a person without God and act recklessly.

27/01/2023

引言:

有人曾经总结过，一个人的认知过程一般要经历这么四个阶段。第一阶段：不知道自己不知道，这也是一种以为自己什么都知道的状态；第二阶段：知道自己不知道；第三阶段：知道自己知道；第四阶段：不知道自己知道。

这一认知过程，简单来说就是：越是无知的人就越自信。当一个人知道得越多，自信心就会下降，但是突破临界点以后，自信心也会回升，但之后不论怎么回升，都不如一开始一无所知时那么自信，因为这样的人开始能够来明白自己的渺小。

在信仰历程的里面，我们对神的认知，不也跟这个描述很类似吗？而可悲的是，绝大部分的人其实都是活在了第一个阶段的里面。

一、以为合神心意的寻求（V1-13）

但人的五个勇士出外窥探是否适合夺取拉亿来生活，恰巧去到米迦家居住，并遇到米迦为自己家设立的祭司。透过祭司的确认后，他们自认为这是合神心意的带领。经过对拉亿的窥探后，他们也就回到琐拉和以实陶，告诉他们同支派的弟兄们。

二、以为合神心意的抢夺

1. 抢夺偶像和祭司（V11-26）

但人派出600人出发要去抢夺拉亿，他们再次途径米迦的家，并凭着比米迦拥有更大的势力就把偶像和祭司都抢夺了去，自以为有了这些偶像和祭司，就有神的同在，能帮助他们顺利地攻取拉亿。

2. 抢夺非应许地业（V27-29）

但人带着偶像和祭司，杀了拉亿安居无虑的民，抢夺了他们的地，但这其实并非神原来应许给他们的地业。

3. 抢夺对神的敬拜（V30-31）

但人最糟糕的是，抢夺人对神的敬拜。他们自己在拉亿为自己设立偶像和祭司，让但支派的人去到那里敬拜偶像，而不是去到当时神约柜所在的示罗去敬拜神。

总结：

让我们都要来除掉我们里面的‘以为’，回到有神话语作为根基的正轨中。唯有如此，我们才能够避免进入到任何非神心意的任意妄为，活出真正讨神喜悦、蒙神赐福的生活！

Judges 18: Stop ‘thinking’ and get back on track
GK611 Morning Devotion
27/1/2023
Speaker: IP Moses Ou

Introduction:

Someone once summarised that a person’s cognitive process generally goes through such four stages. Stage 1: Not knowing that you don’t know, which is also a state of thinking you know everything; Stage 2: Knowing that you don’t know; Stage 3: Knowing that you know; Stage 4: Not knowing that you know.

This cognitive process is simply this: the more ignorant people are, the more confident they are. As one knows more, one’s self-confidence decreases, but after the critical point is breached, self-confidence also rises, but then, no matter how it rises, it is not as confident as it was at the beginning when one knew nothing, because such a person begins to be able to come to understand his own insignificance.

Isn’t our perception of God in the faith journey similar to this description? The sad thing is that the vast majority of people are actually living in the first stage.

1. Thought that it is pleasing to God (V1-13)

The five warriors of the Danites went out to see if it was suitable for them to take Laish to live, and happened to go to live in Micah’s house, and met the priest whom Micah had set up for his house. After confirming through the priest, they considered themselves to be led in a way that was agreeable to God. After spying on Laish, they also returned to Zorah and Eshtaol and told their brothers of the same tribe.

2. Thought that the robbery is God’s will

(1) Robbing idols and priest (V11-26)

There were 600 men was sent to rob Laish. They again passed through Micah’s house, and with greater power than Micah they seized all the idols and priest, self-righteously thinking that with these idols and priest they had the presence of God to help them to take Laish successfully.

(2) The seizure of the unpromised land (V27-29)

But the men, with their idols and priest, killed the people of Laish who lived in peace, and seized their land, but it was not the land that God had promised them.

(3) Robbing the worship of God (V30-31)

The worst thing the Danites did was to rob people of the worship of God. They themselves set up idols and priests for themselves in Lazarus, and let the Danites go there to worship idols, instead of going to Shiloh, where the ark of the covenant of God was located at that time, to worship God.

Conclusion:

Let us all get rid of the ‘thinking’ in us and get back on track with the Word of God as our foundation. Only then can we avoid entering into any arbitrary actions that are not God’s will, and live a life that is truly pleasing to God and blessed by Him!

26/01/2023

引言:

按自己心意而行神眼中看为恶的事，终将使自己活在败坏的景况中。

一、任意带来咒诅（v1-6)

1. 雕刻偶像（v1-4)

神透过摩西所颁布的十诫当中，严禁雕刻、敬拜偶像，既不可以敬拜代表假神的偶像，也不可以用偶像来代表真神。然而米迦的母亲却把这偷来的银子雕刻一个像献给耶和华。她想用这偶像去抵消人的咒诅，却使自己落在神的咒诅里。

2.不顺服神（v5-6)

当每个人都不顺服神的权柄、都活在自己里面的时候，结果必然是离神越来越远，不断地掉到失败的循环里。

「家中的神像」原文是复数，即不只一个神像。米迦制造了这些神像，没有视耶和华神为独一的神。这也促使他凭自己的心意而行，而不再遵行神的律法。

二、任意带来无知（v7-13)

1.不知道神（v7-8)

以色列人显然不再以十一奉献来供给祭司和利未人，因为许多人不再敬拜神。所以，这利未少年离开伯利恒，到别地去寻求机会。

这都因为下一代的百姓已经不知道耶和华，也不知道耶和华为以色列人所行的事。所以，他们很快就离弃神、拜偶像，在恩典中失落了。

2.错误印证（v9-13)

米迦以为这少年利未人是神「赐福」的印证。实际上，这只是个自欺欺人的巧合。因此，我们不要错把自己的私欲当做蒙神赐福的印证。

总结：

愿我们不再任意而行，而是回到神的心意。

Judges 17: Willful Behaviour Leads to Destruction
GK611 Morning Devotion
26/01/2023
Speaker: Ps Stella

Introduction：

Doing what is evil in the eyes of God according to one’s own will eventually make oneself live in a corrupted situation.

1. Willfulness brings curse (v1-6)

1. Carved Idols (v1-4)

In the Ten Commandments promulgated by God through Moses, it is strictly forbidden to carve and worship idols, neither can worship idols representing false gods, nor can idols be used to represent the true God. But Micah’s mother dedicated the stolen silver to the Lord by carving an idol. She wanted to use this idol to revoke the curse of man, but she made herself under the curse of God.

2. Disobedience to God (v5-6)

When everyone disobeys God’s authority and lives within themselves, the result is bound to be farther and farther away from God, and they will continually fall into a cycle of failure.

The original text of “household idols” is plural, that is, there is more than one god. Micah made these idols and did not regard Jehovah God as the only God. This also prompted him to walk according to his own will instead of obeying God’s law.

2. Willfulness brings ignorance (v7-13)

1. Not Knowing God (v7-8)

The Israelites apparently stopped tithing the priests and Levites because many no longer worshiped God. So the young Levite left Bethlehem to seek a living elsewhere.

This is all because the people of the next generation no longer know about Jehovah, nor do they know what Jehovah has done for the Israelites. So, very soon they forsaken God, worship idols, and lose in grace.

2. Wrong confirmation (v9-13)

Micah thought the young Levite was a proof of God’s “goodness”. In fact, this is just a self-deceiving coincidence. Therefore, we should not mistake our selfish desires for the proof of God’s goodness.

Conclusion:

May we no longer act willfully, but return to God’s will.

20/01/2023

引言:

引言：读这章圣经，让我想到年轻时看过的电影Die Hard【虎胆龙威】！

领受使命的士师之生命际遇与使命！

一、恩赐并不等同生命（士16:1-3）

参孙是以色列的士师，既是神子民的审判官，领袖，拯救者。这一个身份就已经表明他是神的代表。而且事实上他也真的是充满“神力”，他绝非只是一般的大力士，而是有神超自然的能力在他身上。但是，与此同时，他也是个充满血气、冲动且放纵情欲的人，他的性情与作风显然并非符合我们所理解的“属灵领袖”特质。由此可见恩赐并不等同生命。你想这样的人，神也可以使用？

二、英雄遇美人的试探（士16:4-20）
1.美色诱惑的试探（V4-15）

美色当前，大力士拜倒在大利拉的石榴裙下，哪怕大利拉是敌人同族的人，而且一而再再、而三的套取他灵力的秘诀，也表明是要如何捉拿他！参孙虽然编造谎言而面对敌人来捉拿，但是他并没有因为美人骗他而醒悟过来。而且参孙还被责备为什么再三骗她，这是何等蒙昧无知不是吗？对于人性的软弱，有些试探是很不容易的，例如美色、财利、尊位、美名等。

2.死缠烂打的试探（V16-20）

一时的得胜不表示是永远的得胜，尤其当试探以死缠烂打，车轮战的方式来进攻时，危险就来了！人总有软弱的周期，仇敌就会乘虚而入。人要逃避试探，否则圣人都有软弱的时候，当天天而来的试探临到时，人要躲避，否则沦陷只是时间问题。（参照约瑟得胜试探的例子）

三、决一死战灭尽敌人（士16:21-31）
1.失足造成大折磨（V21-27）

俗语说：“一失足成千古恨”！神的士师尽管有神的能力，但是一旦犯罪而失去警觉，把破口向仇敌敞开，最终就自取其辱，甚至牺牲生命。

2.向神求同归于尽（V28-31）

按照参孙所面对的局面，自知难逃一死，此时他向神作了一个最终的祷告：“再次恢复他原本拥有的神力”！神果然出手，成全参孙的祈求，让参孙拉倒整座房子，一举同归于尽，以此击杀了以色列的仇敌。

总结：英雄之死！

血气犯罪难逃审判和管教，而作恶的敌人更是难免一死。神可以允许任何方式去除灭仇敌，参孙再怎么软弱，还勉强能成为神使用的器皿，更何况我们若是专心认定神、求告神呢？

Judges 16: Mission accomplished by dying
GK611 Morning Devotion
20/1/2023
Speaker: Rev Tan

Introduction:
Reading this chapter of the Bible reminds me of the movie Die Hard that I watched when I was young!
Receive the life encounter and mission of the missionary!

1.Spiritual Gifting does not equal to life

Samson was the judge of Israel, that is the judge, the leader, and the deliverer of God’s people. This one identity already indicated that he was a representative of God. He was not just an ordinary strong man, but had the supernatural power of God in him. However, at the same time, he was also a bloodthirsty, impulsive, and lustful man, whose nature and style clearly did not fit what we understand by “spiritual leadership”. This shows that spiritual gifting is not the same as life. Do you think God can use such a person?

2.The temptation of the hero meeting the beauty (Judg. 16:4-20)

(1)The temptation of beauty (V4-15)

When beauty was in sight, strong man fell at the feet of a Delilah, even though Delilah was a member of the same tribe of the enemy, and repeatedly lured him with the secret of his spiritual power, which showed how to catch him! Although Samson confronted the enemy to apprehend him by making up lies, he did not wake up to the fact that the beauty had deceived him. And Samson was also blamed for why he lied to her again and again, how ignorant is this, isn’t it? For humanity’s weakness, there are some temptations that are not easy, such as beauty, wealth, honourable position, good reputation, etc.

(2)The temptation to pester (V16-20)

A momentary victory does not mean eternal victory, especially when temptation comes in the form of a pestering, wheel battle, then danger comes! There is always a cycle of weakness, and the enemy will take advantage of it. Man must avoid temptation, even saints are weak at times, and when temptation comes daily, man must avoid it, otherwise it is only a matter of time before he falls. (Refer to the example of Joseph’s victory over temptation)

3.Life or death battle to destroy the enemy (Judg. 16:21-31)

(1) A mistake causes great suffering (V21-27)

As the saying goes, “One slip of the tongue can cause great suffering”! Despite the divine power of God’s teachers, once they sin and lose their vigilance, and open the breach to the enemy, they will eventually make a fool of themselves, and even sacrifice their lives.

(3)Asking God to perish together with the enemies (V28-31)

According to the situation Samson was facing, he knew that he would not be able to escape death, so he made a final prayer to God: “to restore his original divine power again”! God really stepped in and fulfilled Samson’s prayer, allowing Samson to pull down the whole house and kill the enemies of Israel in one fell swoop.

Conclusion: The death of a hero!
Blood crimes do not escape judgment and discipline, and enemies who do evil are not exempted from death. God can allow any way to remove the enemy. Samson, however weak, could barely be a vessel for God to use, let alone if we concentrate on God and ask Him.

19/01/2023

引言:

现实生活中我们看到许多人性的不完全。如果我们眼光一直看着不完全的人，就常会感到失望。然而如果我们的眼光一直看着信实良善的神，我们就能够从完全的神那里得着盼望，并经历生命的更新和改变！

一、任意妄为的参孙（1-8）
参孙带着羊羔想要跟妻子修复，却得知岳父已经把他的妻子给了他过去的伴郎。参孙认为这是岳父出于非利士人给他的压力才这么做的，所以参孙就透过狐狸去把非利士人的庄稼烧了。非利士人为了报仇，也用火烧了参孙的妻子和她的父亲，而充满血气的参孙又再去复仇，凶狠地杀了这些非利士人。整个过程我们看到，蒙召的参孙并非在神的带领和心意下去击杀神百姓的仇敌非利士人，而是因着私人的恩怨去报复非利士人。

二、自私的犹大百姓（9-13）
非利士人也再次复仇，想要找参孙算账。自私而不顾自己同胞参孙生命的犹大人，就去捆绑参孙，要把他交给非利士人，却完全没有想过跟参孙一起出战非利士人。这里除了让人反思犹大人的生命，其实也让人反思参孙的生命，因为参孙的生命也直接导致了犹大人不信任他，不认为他是一位能够带领他们一起出战并战胜非利士人的领袖。

三、仍然完全的父神（14-20）
参孙面对威胁着以色列民族的非利士人，神的灵大大感动他，他就杀败了一千个非利士人。当参孙回到祂要服侍以色列人的命定中，神就怜恤他，供应水给他喝。虽然参孙的生命和犹大人都是那么的不完全，但神仍在这混乱的局面中施行拯救，盼望参孙跟所有百姓的生命都能够回转归向祂。

总结
生命不完全的参孙能够被神使用，因为天父是以一个父亲的眼光去看他，盼望他能够在爱中悔改回转。自私的犹大人生命也是有问题，然而天父也是因着父亲的信实而拯救他们，盼望他们同样能够回应祂。

所以求天父赐给我们祂的眼光，能够以爱去看待身边的人，同时让我们也回应天父的心，好让我们的生命能够不断地更新变化，并持续地活在天父对我们生命的呼召和赐福中！

Judges 15: Man is weak but God is perfect
19.01.2023
Speaker: IP Moses + Rev David Tan

Introduction: In real life, we see many imperfections in human nature. If we keep our eyes on the imperfect, we are often disappointed. However, if we keep looking at the faithful and good God, we will be able to gain hope from the perfect God and experience the renewal and change of our lives!

1. The willful Samson (1-8)

Samson took the lamb and wanted to make amends with his wife, but learned that his father-in-law had given his wife to his former best man. Samson thought that his father-in-law was pressured by the Philistines to do this, so Samson used foxes to burn the Philistine crops. In revenge, the Philistines also burned Samson’s wife and her father, and Samson, who was full of anger, went for revenge again and killed the Philistines viciously. Throughout the whole process, we can see that the called Samson did not kill the Philistines, the enemies of God’s people, under God’s leadership and intention, but took revenge on the Philistines because of personal grievances.

2. The selfish people of Judah (9-13)

The Philistines also took revenge again, trying to settle accounts with Samson. The Jewish people, who were selfish and disregarded the life of their own compatriot Samson, went to bind Samson and handed him over to the Philistines, but they never thought of fighting the Philistines with Samson. In addition to reflecting on the life of the Jews, it also makes people reflect on the life of Samson, because Samson’s life also directly caused the Jews to distrust him, and they did not think that he was the leader, who could lead them to fight together and defeat the Philistines.

3. God the Father who is still perfect (14-20)

When Samson faced the Philistines who were threatening the Israelites, the Spirit of God moved him so much that he killed a thousand Philistines. When Samson returned to his destiny to serve the Israelites, God took pity on him and provided him with water to drink. Although Samson’s life and the lives of the Jews were so incomplete, God still performed salvation in this chaotic situation and hoped that the lives of Samson and all the people could return to Him.

Conclusion
Samson, whose life was incomplete, could be used by God, because Heavenly Father saw him from the perspective of a father, and hoped that he would repent and return in love. The selfish Jews also had problems with their lives, but the Heavenly Father saved them because of His faithfulness and hoped that they would respond to Him as well.

Therefore, we ask Heavenly Father to give us His vision, to be able to look at those around us with love, and at the same time let us respond to Heavenly Father’s heart so that our lives can be constantly renewed and changed, and we can continue to live in the presence of Heavenly Father’s love for us, in the calling and blessing of life!