Saturday, December 5, 2020

Let the Lord, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites

 Judges 11:12-28

Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?

Now since the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over?  Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess. Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?  For three hundred years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn’t you retake them during that time?  I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the Lord, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.

Moab in fact had the better claim to the land, as part of it had been theirs until Shihon dispossessed them.

Why?

Ammonites have not reason to attack Israel. Their reason is based on their own idea and ambition.

It is the Lord who helped Isrealte get the land on the east side of Jordan.

Jephthah said are you any better than Balak son of Zippor? Most of us thought we are better than someone else. Respect each life in the world.

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耶弗他與亞捫人談判在爭戰前。摩押人比亞捫人更有理由來爭取土地所有權。以色列人取自西實本人,亞摩利人。亞捫人根本沒有擁有他們的所有權。講這些根本沒有用,國際間沒有在講道理,和侵略者講道理是緣木求魚。做惡的人,不願承認自己是惡人,做惡時總是有一套理由。不願意悔改,人不願反省自己,繼續堅持己見。以前有富劫富濟貧,自己認為該做的是好的,照自己的想法做,想要某一地,就說,那本來就是我的。這些都是神的。

亞捫人也不可能放棄自己的占領地。

我們以為在認識主以前,別神也保護我們,其實神在我們認識神以前已經在保護我們了。

我們都是驕傲,自以為行神的旨意,不是憑自己聰明,一套理論來行事。求神讓我們能夠謙卑。

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How?

Respect everyone in the world and love them as we can. For God is love.


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