Year: 2023

13/01/2023

引言：

士师也有不足和软弱。神使用他们，不是因为他们超人一等，乃是因着神的恩典！

一、怒杀同胞的士师（V1-7）

1.以法莲出言挑衅（V1-3）

以法莲人因着好大喜功，曾用同样的理由：为什么‘没招’而‘与基甸大大地争吵’（士8:1），但被基甸用智慧的话语平息了争吵。这次以法莲人比上一次更过分。他们不只是争吵，还出言威胁耶弗他要烧他的房子，并挑衅攻打基列人。

恶人先告状，出言挑衅威胁，是败坏的人性在争权夺利时常见的表现。

2.耶弗他恼怒追杀（V4-6）

耶弗他被以法莲对基列人的讥讽，大大地激起他的怒气，要击杀以法莲人。就算以法莲人想否认自己的身分，他也要追杀到底。耶弗他在此役共杀了四万二千人，令他成为屠杀同胞的凶手！

肢体相争只会是‘双输’结局！面对别人无理的攻击、恶意的质问，能够柔和的回应，不但需要有智慧，更需要有忍耐包容的力量！

3.耶弗他盖棺定论（V7）

虽然耶弗他有许多的缺点，但仍然被列为信心的榜样（来11:32）。因为神要借着耶弗他向我们显明，像耶弗他这样有软弱缺点的人，也能因着神所赐的信心而蒙拯救被使用。

二、一带而过的士师（V8-15）

1.以比赞（V8-10）

以比赞应该是一个很富有，并和其他地方的人有好关系的士师。他作了七年的士师。

2.以伦（V11-12）

士师中以伦的资料最少。只记录他作了十年的士师。

3. 押顿（V13-15）

三代同堂的押顿，应该也是一个有钱有势的士师。作了八年的士师。

这三位士师在位的时间都很短，也没有提到他们有任何的伟大事迹。但神还是把他们的名字记录下来。所以，不要以为我们在教会的事奉微不足道，其实神早已把我们的名字记录下来了！

总结：

不管我们怎样评估耶弗他、比赞、以伦、押顿的的成败，我们都不能否认是神拣选了他们；神的拣选不在乎人的贵贱，乃在乎神的恩典！同样的，神使用我们这些‘小人物’，不是因为我们无瑕疵，而是因着祂怜悯和恩典，给我们服事的机会。所以，我们当尽心尽力的服事神服事人！

Judges 12: It is by the grace of God that man is chosen
GK611 Morning Devotion
13/1/2023
Speaker: Ps. Daniel Kew

Introduction:

The judges also had shortcomings and weaknesses. God uses them, not because they are superior, but because of His grace!

1. The judge who angrily killing of a fellow friend (V1-7)

(1) Ephraim spoke out to provoke (V1-3)

The Ephraimites had ‘quarreled greatly with Gideon’ (Judg. 8:1) for the same reason: why ‘there was no move’, but the quarrel was quelled by Gideon with words of wisdom.This time the Ephraimites went even further than the last time. They did not just quarrel, but they threatened Jephthah with burning his house and provoked an attack on the Gileadites.

It is a common manifestation of corrupt human nature to make threats and provocations in the struggle for power and profit.

(2) Jephthah’s anger and pursuit (V4-6)

Jephthah’s anger was greatly aroused by Ephraim’s mockery of the Gileadites, and he wanted to kill the Ephraimites. Even if the Ephraimites tried to deny their identity, he pursued them to the end. Jephthah killed a total of 42,000 people in this battle, making him a murderer of his countrymen!

attacks and malicious questioning, to be able to respond gently requires not only wisdom, but also the strength to be patient and tolerant!

(3) Jephthah’s conclusion on the coffin lid (V7)

Although Jephthah had many weaknesses, he was still listed as an example of faith (Heb. 11:32). For God wanted to show us through Jephthah that a weak and flawed man like Jephthah could be saved and used through the faith God gave him.

2. The judges that were skimmed through (V8-15)

(1) Ibzan (V8-10)

Ibzan was supposed to be a very rich and had good relations with people in other places as a taxi driver. He was as a judge for seven years.

(2) Elon (V11-12)

There is the least information about Elon among the judge. It is only recorded that he was a judge for ten years.

(3) Abdon (V13-15)

The three generations of the same family, Abdon, must have been a wealthy and influential judge as well. He was a judge for 8 years.

All three of these judges reigned for a short time, and they are not mentioned as having any great deeds. But God still recorded their names. So, don’t think that our ministry in the church is insignificant, but God has already recorded our names!

Conclusion:

No matter how we evaluate the success or failure of Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, we cannot deny that God chose them; God’s choice does not care about the worthiness of a man, but about God’s grace! In the same way, God uses us ‘insignificant people’ not because we are flawless, but because of His mercy and grace to give us the opportunity to serve. So, let us serve God and serve people with all our heart and soul!

12/01/2023

引言：

神可以使用一位毫不起眼的人，使百姓知道是耶和华他们的神兴起勇士来拯救他们的。

一、神兴起卑微人（v1-11）

1. 被人抛弃（v1-3)

因着妓女儿子的身份，耶弗他被基列妻所生的儿子赶逐。他就逃避兄弟对他的弃绝，逃到陀伯地。在世人眼中，这样的人应该是没有用处，也不会有什么成就的人。

2. 被神兴起（v4-11）

因为耶弗他敬畏神，以致身份卑微的他被神兴起成为大能的勇士。他虽然陷于不公平的境地,但仍然蒙神使用。

二、靠主勇敢应敌（v11-28）

1. 勇敢应对

耶弗他责备亚扪人的王，因他们声称以色列人占据了他们的地，但却没有事实根据。耶弗他试图从历史上反驳亚扪的宣称。然而，耶弗他的回应似乎难于打动亚扪王的心。

2. 抓住应许

耶弗他清楚明白神已经要将亚扪人交在他的手中。所以，即使最终亚扪人还是不听他所说的话，他仍然相信并抓住神的应许。

三、靠主能力获胜（v29-40)

1.耶和华的灵同在(v29-33)

因为耶和华的灵与耶弗他同在，耶弗他成功攻占了亚扪人20座的城，结束了以色列人18年来的痛苦和羞辱。今天，圣灵不但常与我们同在，也要在我们里面，赐给我们事奉的能力，也帮助我们改变我们的生命。

2.认识真理免遭祸（v34-40)

耶弗他虽经历得胜，却牺牲了女儿。他献女的悲剧完全是因为没有真正明白神的心意。因此，我们要明白真理，使我们知道神所应许给我们的胜利是因着神自己，而不是因为我们可以拿什么跟祂换取。

总结：

神可以兴起任何愿意被神使用的人，无论是身份卑微或软弱的人。因此，让我们都愿意成为被神使用的大能勇士！

Judges 11: God raises up a warrior
GK611 Morning Devotion
12/01/2023
Speaker: Ps Stella

Introduction：

God could use an ordinary man to let the people know that it was the Lord their God who raised up mighty men to deliver them.

I. God Raises Up Lowly People (v1-11)

1. Abandoned by people (v1-3)

Because of his identity as the son of a prostitute, Jephthah was expelled by the son of Gilead’s wife. So he escaped the rejection of his brothers and fled to the land of Tob. In the eyes of the world, such a person should be useless, and there will be no achievements.

2. Raised up by God (v4-11)

Because Jephthah feared God, he was raised up by God from a humble status to become a mighty warrior. Although he was in an unfair situation, he was still used by God.

II. Relying on the Lord to face the enemy bravely (v11-28)

1. Face the enemy bravely

Jephthah rebuked the king of the Ammonites for their unsubstantiated claim that the Israelites had taken their land. Jephthah attempted to disprove Ammon’s claims historically. Jephthah’s response, however, seems to have had trouble winning the heart of the king of Ammon.

2. Hold on to the promise

Jephthah clearly understood that God had delivered the Ammonites into his hands. So, even though in the end the Ammonites didn’t listen to what he had to say, he still believed and held on to God’s promise.

III. Victory by Divine Power (v29-40)

1. The Spirit of Jehovah is with you (v29-33)

Because the Spirit of the Lord was with Jephthah, Jephthah successfully captured 20 cities of the Ammonites, ending 18 years of suffering and humiliation for the Israelites. Today, the Holy Spirit is not only always with us, but also within us, empowering us to serve, and helping us to change our lives.

2. Know the truth and avoid disaster (v34-40)

Although Jephthah experienced victory, he sacrificed his daughter. The tragedy of his sacrificing his daughter was entire because he did not truly understand God’s will. Therefore, we need to understand the truth so that we know that the victory that God promises to us is because of God Himself, not because we can exchange anything with Him.

Conclusion：

God can raise up anyone who is willing to be used by God, including the humble or weak. So let us all be willing to be mighty warriors used by God!

11/01/2023

引言：不是停在发芽，而是继续成长结果子。

一、从卑微中被兴起（V1-2）

陀拉的意思是‘虫’。他应该是一出生就不被父母看重，采取了这样的名字。他虽然卑微，但是并没有放弃。当神拣选他成为士师时，他愿意起来拯救了以色列。

自卑的领袖在带领团队的时候是非常多挑战，但是我们要把眼光从自卑转移到神的身上，领受从神而来的信心，建立属神儿女身份的自尊，起来成为属神的领袖。

二、兴起中要有发旺（V3-5）

睚珥是一位有钱有势力的士师。圣经并没有记载很多他的作为，反而记载了他有三十位儿子，而且他们都有驴驹。有三十座属于自己的城邑，可以是物质上是非常兴旺与丰盛的。睚珥有许多资源，大可以培养出三十位属神的儿子。但是最后却没有一个儿子可以起来成为领袖。睚珥去世后，以色列变得比以前更加败坏。

今天，当神拣选我们成为领袖的时候，我们不要停留在享受丰盛的资源和稳定的牧养中，而是要起来走进神的心意，建立门徒，使神的儿女都可以起来成为下一代的领袖。

三、失去领袖民就乱（V6-9）

自从士师睚珥过世以后，以色列人当时是没有一位民族领袖的。睚珥没有做出什么的功绩，但是却一直地为自己和儿子累积财富，所以就导致以色列民的生命没有被很好地建立起来。

1.百姓违逆神的话（V6）

当百姓们没有领袖再加上没有太大难处的时候，就开始觉得没有神也一样可以过日子。与神的关系忽冷忽热，开始寻找一些特别的事物来满足自己。这一次的悖逆，一下引进了七个外邦的偶像，可以想像百姓已经把神忘了一干二净。

2.神的管教来临（V7-9）

以色列人到处引进偶像，神就到处兴起难处来管教他们。神让他们自食其果, 拜谁的假神，那里的人就起来攻击他们。结果以色列民就被欺压了十八年。

我们要留心，不要等到神的管教来临，经历十八年的欺压，才后悔莫及。

四、复兴从回转开始（V10-16）

百姓体会到偶像是无益的神，所以百姓这次不但向神哀求、认罪，也愿意接受神的管教，并且用实际行动除掉他们中间的外邦神，事奉耶和华。

当百姓把心中那个中心的位置让给神的时候，神向着百姓的心肠立刻就从管教转移到怜悯和同情。因为我们的神不是高高在上地看着我们受苦，而是在死荫的幽谷中陪我们一起经过，心中担忧我们的软弱。

五、复兴后兴起领袖（V17-18）

当下亚扪人正安营在基烈，以色列人随时面对争战，所以以色列人知道他们急需一位属神的领袖。一位属神的领袖，对于神的百姓来说，就是这么地重要。

当以色列人没有领袖的时候，他们就没有方向，也没有遮盖和保护；甚至在当时的士师年代，当以色列没有领袖的时候，以色列人不仅是属灵上没有得到带领和保护，甚至是他们在肉体上也是随时会受到仇敌的攻击。

总结：不是停在兴起领袖，而是继续发旺，建立更多属神的领袖起来带领！

以色列民过去不断面对复兴又回到败坏的循环，因为领袖没有传承，百姓也没有起来继承导致民都忘记了神。我们不但都要起来兴起成为领袖，而且还要不断建立门徒，传承神的教导，要发旺！

Judges 10: Rise and Shine!
GK611 Morning Devotion
11/01/2023
Speaker: Asher Chang

Introduction: Not stopping at germination, but continuing to grow and bear fruit.

1. To be raised up from humility（V1-2）

The meaning of Tola is ‘worm’. He should have been unappreciated by his parents at birth and adopted such a name. Although he was humble, he did not give up. When God chose him to be a judge, he willingly rose up and saved Israel.

It is very challenging for leaders with low self-esteem to lead a team, but we need to shift our vision from low self-esteem to God, receive the faith that comes from God, build up the self-esteem of being a child of God, and rise up to be a leader of God.

2. There will be prosperity in the rise（V3-5）

Jair was a wealthy and powerful judge. The Bible does not record many of his deeds, but rather it records that he had thirty sons, and they all had donkeys. Having thirty towns of his own, he could be materially very prosperous and plentiful. Jair had many resources and could have produced thirty sons of God. But in the end, none of the sons could rise up and become leaders. After Jair’s death, Israel became even more corrupt than before.

Today, when God chooses us to be leaders, we should not stay in the enjoyment of abundant resources and stable Shepherding, but rise up into the heart of God and build up disciples so that all of God’s sons and daughters can rise up and become the next generation of leaders.

3. Without a leader, the people were in chaos（V6-9）

Since the death of Jair, the judge, the Israelites were without a national leader. Jair did not do much, but kept accumulating wealth for himself and his sons, so that the life of the Israelites was not well established.

(1) The people disobeyed God’s Word（V6）

When the people had no leaders and no great difficulties, they began to think that they could live without God. Their relationship with God was hot and cold, and they began to look for something special to satisfy themselves. In this rebellion, seven Gentile idols were introduced at once, so you can imagine that the people had forgotten all about God.

(2) The Coming of God’s Discipline（V7-9）

The Israelites introduced idols everywhere, and God raised up difficulties everywhere to discipline them. God told them to reap what they sow, and to worship false gods, and the people there rose up against them. As a result, the people of Israel were oppressed for eighteen years.

Let us take heed, and not wait until God’s discipline comes and we experience eighteen years of oppression before we regret it.

4.Revival Begins with Turning Back （V10-16）

The people realized that idols are unprofitable gods, so the people not only pleaded and confessed their sins to God this time, but they were also willing to accept God’s discipline and serve the Lord by getting rid of the foreign gods in their midst with practical actions.

When the people gave up the central place in their hearts to God, God’s heart toward them immediately shifted from discipline to mercy and compassion. For our God does not watch our sufferings from on high, but walks with us in the valley of the shadow of death, worrying in his heart about our weaknesses.

5. Raising up leaders after revival（V17-18）

Now that the people of Ammon were camped in Gilead and the Israelites were facing war at any time, the Israelites knew they desperately needed a godly leader. A godly leader was so important to God’s people.

When Israel did not have a leader, they had no direction, no cover and no protection. Even in the days of the judge, when Israel did not have a leader, the Israelites were not only spiritually unprotected, but they were also physically vulnerable to the enemy at any time.

Conclusion: We are not stopping at raising up leaders, but continuing to flourish and building up more godly leaders to lead.

The people of Israel used to face revival and then return to the cycle of corruption because the leaders were not passed on and the people did not rise up to inherit, causing the people to forget God. Not only must we all rise up as leaders, but we must continue to build up disciples and pass on God’s teachings, and prosper!

10/01/2023

引言：

少装了一颗螺丝，导致车辆在行驶过程中突然抛锚；一点私欲最终也同样能够引发出灾难！

一、亚比米勒的私欲 – 自立为王（V1-6）

基甸之妾所生的儿子亚比米勒因着过去在家庭所受的伤害，找到娘家的示剑人来资助他雇用匪徒，杀害自己的弟兄，来满足自己去得着高位，自立为王的私欲！

二、约坦公义的宣告 – 罪酿咒诅（V7-21）

基甸的小儿子约坦站在基利心山，勇敢地对着示剑人做出公义的宣告，就是不守本分，放纵私欲的人，他们所行的恶必会带来咒诅。

三、私欲带来的祸患 – 恶有恶报

1. 示剑人的背叛（V22-29）

神的手临到行恶的示剑人，导致他们开始背叛亚比米勒。

2. 示剑人得报应（V30-49）

臣宰希布勒告知亚比米勒，迦勒带着示剑人背叛他，亚比米勒就回击，并杀害了许多的示剑人。

3. 亚比米勒阵亡（V50-55）

当亚比米勒来到与示剑人有关系的提备斯，正攻取这城的的时候，一个妇人只是透过一块磨石就间接地把亚比米勒打死了。

总结：留心私欲带来的后果（V56-57）

亚比米勒和示剑人最终都恶有恶报！可见我们一切的私欲和伤害，都要在主里被处理，以至于我们能够得着医治，否则如果我们任由这些破口继续在我们生命中运行，最终就必会带来恶果！

Judges 9: Pay attention to the consequences of selfish desires
GK611 Morning Devotion
10/01/2023
Speaker: IP Moses

Introduction:

Missing one screw can lead to vehicle break down suddenly while driving; a little selfish desire can also lead to disaster in the end!

I. Abimelech’s selfish desires – making himself king (V1-6)

Abimelech, the son of Gideon’s concubine, due to the harm he suffered in the family in the past, he found men of Shechem from his Mother’s side family to help him hire bandits and kill his brothers so that he could satisfy his selfish desires to gain a high position and make himself king!

II. Jotham’s declaration of righteousness – sin breeds curse (V7-21)

Gideon’s youngest son, Jotham, stood on Mount Gerizim and bravely made a righteous declaration to the people of Shechem, that is, those who do not keep their duty and indulge their lusts, their evil deeds will surely bring curses.

III. Disasters brought about by selfish desires – evil comes with evil

1. The betrayal of the Shechemites (V22-29)

God’s hand came upon the evildoers of Shechem, causing them to start rebelling against Abimelech.

2. Retribution for the people of Shechem (V30-49)

The ruler of the city Zebul told Abimelech that Gaal had betrayed him with the people of Shechem, and Abimelech fought back and killed many of the people of Shechem.

3. The death of Abimelech (V50-55)

When Abimelech came to Thebez, which was related to the Shechemites, and was attacking the city, a woman crushed Abimelech to death indirectly just through a millstone.

Conclusion: Be mindful of the consequences of selfish desires (V56-57)

Both Abimelech and the people of Shechem were punished in the end! It can be seen that all our selfish desires and wrongs must be dealt with in the Lord so that we can be healed. Otherwise, if we allow these gaps to continue to operate in our lives, it will eventually bring evil results!