He is mighty to save

Zephaniah 3:1-20
Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God.
The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.
Of Jerusalem, I thought,  ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed,  nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves (he is mighty to save). He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes." says the Lord.
The 'tyrant city, filthy and foul' is none other than Jerusalem! Beginning with rebellion against God, and the corruption of religion, the rot spreads into every sector of society. In the end, God has no alternative but to wipe the city out.
But that is not the end of the story, Zwphanish has already spoken of 'survivors' and ' remnant'. Now he enlarges on God's purpose for the humble, faithful dew who will remain when all human pride and self-sufficiency are done away and the nation is purged and purified.
There is a cause for great rejoicing. God is in the midst of his people, protecting and keeping them sage, pouring out his love on them. Israel will no longer do wrong. With exultant songs, they will be brought home and restored to favor. All the nations of the world will share in this as they come to worship God.
Why?
God is mighty to save, no one of his people will fall, but all of the oppressors, rebellious and defiled people will be ruined.
God keeps some of his people humble and honors his name to be the inheritance of His kingdom.
Praise to the Lord for God is good to his people, no matter what the Lord did are for his people good.
背逆的人有禍了。首領、審判官在他們該做的職務上嚴重失職。先知、祭司也聖俗不分，強解律法，不說上帝的話。這四種人是重要的，何況百姓。
神用審判外邦人的方法懲罰以色列人。神提出警告，但是百姓卻看不懂神的作為。神讓我們看見的每一件事都可以對我們說話。當我們願意謙卑、降服於神，我們就會懂。我們是否活出來與神的福音相稱?
等候神的發怒是給相信敬畏神的人說的，要等候神審判的日子。
列國被審判後是完全破碎後重新建造一個新的。我們必須完全脫去舊人，才能成為新人。正當必須脫下樹衣，才能穿上神給的皮衣。
審判的目的除了摧毀以外，還要人歸回神、更新生命。這是神的工作： 讓人死透，成為新人。
How?
Obey God's word and honor God's name, for his love endure forever.

Only Hope: Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.

Zephaniah 2:1-15
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
The land by the sea will become pastures having wells for shepherds and pens for flocks. That land will belong to the remnant of the people of Judah; there they will find pasture. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. The Lord their God will care for them; he will restore their fortunes.
Against Moab and Ammon, Cush and Assyria.
This is the city of revelry that lived in safety. She said to herself,  “I am the one! And there is none besides me.” What a ruin she has become,  a lair for wild beasts! All who pass by her scoff and shake their fists.
The only hope for GOd's people is to seek him and begin living by his standards. If they do not, they will share the fate of the nations around: Philistia to the west: Moab and Ammon to the east: Ethiopia to the south; Assyria to the north.
Why?
God is righteousness, when we do not turn to the Lord, God's wrap pour upon the earth no one can escape.
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國民在聖經中指外邦人，稱以色列人為國民，表示他們已經和外邦人一樣。
不要以為主的日子還久，在神的烈怒臨到前趕快悔改。
把握悔改的路。接著講到摩押、亞捫、非立士人都要受到審判，運外邦人都要受審判，何況以色列人。
悔改的人要來審判這些人，即我們未來也要與耶穌來審判世人。審判外邦人，同時也得到外邦人的地士。神所做的所有事都是為神選民的益處。詩篇中：他的慈愛永遠長存
神卻不容許他的百姓過度受審判、受難，太過份在加害神的子女是神所不允許的。
四圍列邦都要受到審判。成為野生動物棲息之地，極荒涼之地。沒有人可以說： 教會沒有我不行的，這是傲慢。

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How?
Praise the Lord and seek the Lord, humble myself and obey what the Lord commands.

喜樂神學。腓4：4-7

喜樂神學
2019／12／29。     高敏智牧師。    臺南聖教會
腓4：4-7。  彼前4：12-14
喜樂神學與四重福音
重生—新人
成聖—澆灌
神醫—權柄
再臨—國度
Shalom 平安
Hevenu Shalom Alehem
喜樂是滿足神的喜悅，喜樂是因為走對道路。
喜樂的心是良藥。
賜華冠與錫安悲哀的人，代替灰塵，；喜樂油代替悲哀：
讚美衣代替憂傷的靈。
1.新生命的喜樂...謙讓的新心。  體貼，溫柔，聽別人的聲音
應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉這禱告，祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。一無掛慮是百分之百，往前走。全然交託看見神，不交託只看見字句。
人的內涵 10%基本氣息。 11～99%未知，憂慮，懼怕
放大 基督
虛己 合一
丟棄 萬事，糞土
上頭的 力量
2.成聖的喜樂
...火煉的試驗臨到你們，與基督一同受苦...迎接再臨。
神與你同在，權柄就在你身上。權柄就是神醫
1）喜樂的教會 （強盛 的秘訣）—同心
2）喜樂的家，喜樂的人:（劍袋充滿 的故事）
3）真實的委身，真實的恩賜...（真愛 的喜樂）
Point:約三1：4我聽見我的兒女們按真理而行，我的喜樂沒有比這個大的。

Judgment on the Whole Earth in the Day of the Lord

Zephaniah 1:01-18
When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth, declared the Lord.
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.
On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.'
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them  on the day of the Lord’s wrath.”
Zephaniah prophesied in the reigns of King Josiah of Judah, about the time Jeremiah's ministry began. From his stern words to the nation, it seems he spoke before Josiah launched his great programme of reform in 621, following the discovery of the law-book in the Temple. The tow previous kings, Manasseh and Amon had brought the religion and morality of Judah to an all-time low. Zephaniah himself may have been of royal blood, tracing his ancestry back to Hezekiah, who was king in Isaiah's day.
In popular thinking, the 'day of the Lord' would bring untold blessing to all God's people, and destruction to their enemies. Amon, years before this, has warned that on that day all evil would be punished, making it a black day for many in Israel. Zephaniah spells out the same message, in detail, to Judah. The day is close at hand when all who are guilty of idolatry violence, fraud, all who set apart for destruction. And their cry will be heard in every quarter of the city of Jerusalem.
Why?
God is the living Lord, he knew everyone doing on the world, he is not doing nothing, but gives time to people to repent and return. When the man did with violent and deceit, God's punishment will come upon them soon.
This is a warning message, be aware of the Lord.
How?
Fear the Lord and be aware God is the sovereign Lord on the Lord.

But from the day they begin to put first things first, God will bless every aspect of life.

Haggai 2:10-23
Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.  I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord. 
‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
 “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Work on the Temple has been resumed, but this in itself will not make the workmen 'holy' (dedicated to God and fit for his service). It is rottenness, not soundness that is contagious(Haggai makes his point from the ritual law), Their previous neglect of God brought all kinds of unpleasant consequences. But from the day they begin to put first things first, God will bless every aspect of life.
A word for Zerubbabel. It is to Zerubbabel the heir to David's throne, rather than to Zerubbabel the individual, that these messianic promises are made. He stands in the line from David to Christ.
Why?
Belong to the Lord, honor the name of the Lord, God's blessing will be with us.
Do not defile anything to the Lord for God is holy.
Put the Lord on the first priority, God will put us on the first either.
God is the fountain of blessing in my life.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
聖潔是不能傳遞的，污穢卻是會傳遞的
任何宗教活動不能使人成聖。
聖地不能使人成聖，人不會因為讀經，進入教會而成聖。
16年前立聖殿根基就停工了，即使當時也獻祭也沒有用了。
祭師衣服不能使人成聖，只有神可以使人成聖。
我們參加教會活動也不能使我們成聖，在於我們遵行神的話
所羅巴伯因為是大衛的後裔，意味人回到神面前的一條路。他的工作與耶穌基督再來有關聯。
神給我們使命，去建立信仰，讓人認識耶穌。
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How?
Do what is good in the sight of the Lord. I am the son of the Lord! It is an honorary position.

Be strong, all you people of the land

Haggai 2:1-9
But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 
The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
Solomon's fabulous Temple had been demolished 70 years before. Few of those now building would have seen it - but all had heard of it. And its glory had lost nothing in the telling. The new Temple seems a feeble thing in comparison. But let the builders take heart. The present building is just a foretaste of the splendor and glory of the end-time, the era of peace and prosperity to which the prophets all looked forward.
Why?
Be strong and work for God is with me. When I follow the word of the Lord God will be with me. His glory and his grace will be with me. God is the fountain of blessing.
The silver is God's and the gold is God's and the glory of this church will be greater than the glory before. For the Lord make new things and his way beyond our mind and imagination.
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所建的殿實在不能和以前相比，自己覺得灰心失望，神怎會住在這聖殿。
因此神鼓勵他們。
當沒有資源時萬國拿珍寶來，這個聖殿的榮耀大過先前的榮耀。人總要看見自己的工作成果。最後人會灰心。聖殿有榮耀是因為有神，因為人完全的靠主。為主大發熱心，卻依靠自己，則必灰心。
How?
Be strong and preach the word of the Lord and honor the Holy Name of the Lord!

Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?

Haggai   1:1-15
Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.
They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God.
Four times Haggai comes to the people with a message from God. The message are precisely dated and were all given within a 15-week period.
1:2-15: life is hard, with food and clothing in short supply, and prices soaring. Why? Because people have their priorities wrong. They are all wrapped up in their own selfish concerns. God is neglected. And so the very things they work for evade them. For all the good things of life are  God's to give or withhold. Haggie's words strike home to the nations' conscience. Within three weeks, work on the Temple is resumed.
Why?
God sent the message through the prophet Haggai reminded people of Israel they have planted much, but harvested little, for the put their heart on their selfish harvest but neglected the ruin of the Temple.
So I have to turn back from the world but focus on the need of the Lord, the service in the church. My church needs me to serve.
How?
Do my best to God's Temple, the church in Taipei, I am living place.

Because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place

2 Chronicles 36:11-23
 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.
He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.  The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.
This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:"The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.
God gave Zedekiah and the nation many warnings through Jeremiah and the other prophets, but they were all ignored. The destruction of the city and Temple are seen as God's punishment - a judgment that spelt death or exile for the whole nation. The exile lasted about 70 years, until the Persians took over the Babylonian Empire. 
When the book of Ezra was detached from Chronicles, these verses were retained at the end of Chronicles and repeated at the beginning of Ezra. Chronicles could not end at verse 21. God had out utterly abandoned his people. Jeremiah had spoken scalding words of God's judgment and condemnation. But he had also spoken of God's continuing love for his exiled people and of their eventual return.
Why?
God had pity on his people and dwelling place, but they mocked God's messengers, despised his words, so the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. How sad those people and it is the same as many people in Taiwan.
God's love endures forever, and the word of the Lord is faithful to his followers. 70 years later under the king of Persians, God's temple was built again in Jerusalem.
How?
Be aware to obey the word of the Lord and remember the love and grace of the Lord in me.

Three kings of Judah became prisoners of Egypt and Babylon

2 Chronicles 36:1-10
Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord, and he made Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Why?
Very shortly, three kings succeeded to be a king and soon be replaced by foreign forces. Both did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God.
The force of Babylon has influenced Isreal and the surrounding area. The Lord punished Isreal and rebuilt them through Babylon's hands.
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因為約哈斯想依靠強國，選擇埃及，所以就被埃及所控制。約雅敬也一樣都是埃及的傀儡。當人依靠他人，人就是失去原來的權柄，人的權柄來自神！當人不依靠神，就成為人的棋子，受人擺佈。
約雅敬服巴比崙，卻不甘心順服。以致被擄。
聖殿的器皿，被巴比倫王帶走，神不讓以色列人當管家，讓猶太人看不起的外邦人來保管聖殿的器皿。
當人不順服神，想要自己自由，自己管理，結果不但得不到自由，反而失去自由。
How?
God's plan beyond our plan and our mind and way. May God's way be done on me and this nation.

The death of Josiah

2 Chronicles 35:20-27
After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle.  But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.”
Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.
Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments.
Necho was marching north in 609 to help Assyria fight off Babylon. On his way home, he deposed and deported Josiah's successor, Jehoahaz. But in 605 he was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Carchemish.
Jeremiah's lament: This is not the Bible book of Lamentations; the lament has not been preserved.
Why?
Josiah insisted to fight with Necho king of Egypt so he lost his life and let all people of Judah commemorate Josiah in the laments.
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約西亞王進行徹底的宗教改革。
約西亞要干涉埃及經過猶大土地。神藉尼哥之口說的，如何確定法老所說的真的是耶和華所說的話。
神要向人顯明所說的話，或是藉別人說的話，其實最清楚的是當事人，這次不知道約西亞是否有求問耶和華。在這裏再次看到許多很好的君王，最後都沒有善終。只有約坦途聖經沒有記載他不好的事。人都有缺失，罪過，神神是愛，一直在等待人的悔改，神的公義也不允許有任何挑戰。
人不可故意去試探神，讓自己身處在一個危險當中，容易受到引誘、試探的地方，這不是神所喜悅的做法。如約西亞王讓他陷在戰爭的危險中。
只有約西亞王讓以色列人去哀悼他，即逝世記念日。
約西亞在輝煌的歷史中，卻留下遺憾！
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How?
Peace is the character of a Christian, for God gives us rest in peace!

Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 35:1-19
Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the Lord’s temple.
 Josiah provided for all the lay people who were there a total of thirty thousand lambs and goats for the Passover offerings, and also three thousand cattle—all from the king’s own possessions.
His officials also contributed voluntarily to the people and the priests and Levites. gave the priests twenty-six hundred Passover offerings and three hundred cattle. the leaders of the Levites, provided five thousand Passover offerings and five hundred head of cattle for the Levites.
The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign.
Passover had been neglected under the Kings, though Hezekiah revived it. Now the celebration forms the climax to Josiah's reforms. The nation remembers their deliverance from slavery in Egypt- within a few short years of second slavery, to Babylon.
Why?
For Israelites forgot the Passover- remember they were saved from slavery in Egypt, so soon they have second slavery to Babylon.
History uses to remind us what is good and wrong. When we proud and forsake the Lord, our savior, the same history will come upon us again.
Josiah did what he can do to honor the Lord and called all of the people and Levites to do their duty before the Lord.
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服事他的民以色列，透過服事人來愛主，服事神不是為自己做的。
服事前的預備，我們的心要先預備好，其次是預備祭物。
眾首領、祭司、利未人、利未人的族長也為眾人預備祭物。為其他人慷慨付出，預備祭物。服事神前，先愛人。若是人以自我為中心，無論如何的敬拜與奉獻都不蒙神悅納。
彼此服事，幫助、相愛的服事神。否則所做的只是做給人看的。
沒有守過逾越節，意思是沒有像約西亞王，祭司、利未人，以色列人如此品質與規模是如此之高與大。
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How?
Remember the word of the Lord and keep walking on the way of the Lord, Only Christ, grace, faith, and the bible are the kernel to be a Christian.

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God

2 Chronicles 34:18-33
Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made,[my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”
Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors
But, despite the king's lead, the people's response is too little and too late to avert judgment. There are some differences between the accounts in Kings and Chronicles, mainly in the order of events, but neither writer is primarily concerned with chronology. The real significance of the events lies in what they teach.
在聖殿找到律法書似乎很稀奇，有些奇怪，卻顯示當時許多人包括祭司都沒有看過律法書了。
約西亞王再次悔改認罪，當眾撕裂衣服，不顧王的面子，顯示他的謙卑。
他心裏敬服，就是心中柔軟，哀痛的人有福了。
神一定會處理人的罪，若以後的王同樣謙卑，敬畏神，審判會繼續延後，人不會承擔過去人的罪，而是因為自己所行的受審判，或是得赦免。
強調約與順服。歷史上神的教會什麼時候回歸神的話語，什麼時候就開始復興。
馬丁路得宗教改革就是回歸聖經。
唯獨基督、唯獨信心、唯獨恩典、唯獨聖經。
Why?
Josiah did what he can do to remove all detestable idles and follow the way of the Lord. From the book of Moses, he knew what the word of the Lord has spoken and why the disaster came up with them and their ancestors.
Josiah knew to ask the word of the Lord for he fears the Lord and chose to obey God's command.
How?
Do our best to follow the way of the Lord, no matter what circumstance are. God will give us peace and jou.