病毒的危機, 牧人與戰士之間

 阿摩司9:11-15

牧人(神僕) 忠心

詩人(先知) 憂心

軍人(戰士) 信心

1.建立(堵住破口) 摩9

  我必建立大衛倒塌的帳目

  為何有敵人，因為裡面有破口

2. 歸回(從新恢復)  賽40

  我必使我民以色列被擄的歸回

3. 栽植(不再抜出) 賽37

   他們不再從我所賜給他們的地上抜出來

成為公義樹

苦毒比病毒更可怕

自義比苦毒更危險

鬆懈比自義 更是隱形的殺手

但，伯特利，別士巴

路19 無奈這事現在是隱藏的

As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me

 1 Kings 22:10-28

All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.” 

When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”

Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”

“So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”

Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?” he asked.

 Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room.”

The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’”

Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”

The Warning is ignored. 

Why?

Most people don't like the truth word, but like the beautiful words, grace word, and joyful words.

Poison-wrapped candy looks delicious, but it kills people's life.

Micaiah said what the Lord tells him, so he was suffering in that situation.

To be a Christian, we have to say the truth, no matter what the situation is.

---------------

假先知說預言的方式很像真先知，使用道具。

米該雅仍然堅持要說出神的話，民主不一定代表真理，民主殺死了耶穌。真先知勇於不掃大家的性。亞哈知道米該雅第一次說的預言是假的。亞哈在乎的是自己兵力夠不夠。400先知是要欺騙亞哈王，他仍然不信，他完全不在意神說什麼，只相信他的兵力足以打敗亞蘭王。基督徒知道道的話，聽了似乎像亞哈王一樣，在乎自己的能力、喜好、想法在生活。最後我們的生活、家庭、事業與神無關。

米該雅的預言： 以色列民沒有主人，亞哈不就是他們的王，這個王和沒有是一樣的。不能保護百姓，陷百姓於危險當中。我們的智慧、判斷何等不足，求神幫助我們安靜下來聽主的聲音，柔軟我們心，放下我們自己的想法。以免我們還自以為聰明。

---------------

How?

Be honest, be strong to honor the Holy Name of the Lord!

Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?

1 Kings 22:1-9

So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” 

“Go,” they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?”

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

Jehoshaphat's son Joran has married Ahab's daughter Athaliah. Israel and Judah are, temporarily, allies against Syria. It is Jehoahaphat's request which brings Micaiah to the king with his fateful prophecy one long true voice against 400.

Why?

The truth word people don't like, but the beautiful and good word people like to hear. God's word is the truth and with the power. It is not meet people's hearts but leads people the right way.

Micaiah against 400 false prophets, the result will prove it.

----------------

以色列與亞蘭結合約，3年無征戰，本來要還以色列的失土，但是基列的拉末亞蘭卻一直沒有還給以色列。所以以色列王想去攻打基列的拉末。

約沙法王知道這400個先知不是真先知。這400先知是亞哈養的。

人常常變來變去。基列的拉末可能影響國本，亞蘭王卻不履行契約。神要我們把最寶貴的獻給神，我們願意嗎？把我對主常常有些保留，以致有些福氣沒有臨到。

亞哈的考量是人力資源是否足夠?約沙法考量是否有神的同在?

亞哈是問給別人看的，我們禱告是為什麼?還是為了給別人看?禱告求問不是改變神，而是改變自己。

---------------

How?

Don't be afraid, say the truth, God's blessing is with us.

So you have found me, my enemy!

1 Kings 21:17-29

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord.

“And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

The criminal's lands are forfeit. Elijah, the old prophet of doom, is the only fly in the ointment. But Elijah speaks true and for once the king takes notice, winning a story of judgment for his lifetime.

Why?

This is a land of criminals. Elijah points out the evil thing before king Ahab, so Ahab looked at Elijah as an enemy, the enemy of crime.

But this time Ahab realized his sins and humble himself so the mercy of the Lord comes upon him once more.

How great is the Love of the Lord, under any situation, if we may humble ourselves and give honor to the Lord. The salvation of the Lord is existing upon us.

-------------

以利亞對亞哈王的警告和預言！和耶羅波安，巴沙的下場一樣！

神差遣不知名的先知去告訴亞哈王，卻沒有透過以利亞，有關軍國大事神已經不再交給以利亞傳講了。不要以為只有我，教會不是缺了我不行！

現在是下場臨到他自己而嚇到了，才悔改、醒悟！

無論亞哈如何壞?他真心悔改神就接納他，這就是福音。其實我們和亞哈一樣，也會因一些事離開神，悔改又犯罪！

------------

How?

The destination is defined by our behavior, but be aware, that the love and mercy of the Lord are beyond what we can imagine.

Bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king

1 Kings 21:7-16

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. In those letters she wrote: 

“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.

While her husband sulks like a spoilt child, she quietly arranges for Naboth's liquidation. She has only to contrive a blasphemy charge - backed of course by the statutory number of witnesses - and the statutory number of witnesses - and the 'criminal's lands are forfeit.

Why?

Selfish and greedy minds control man's behavior, Ahab and his wife did evil things even using the way of the judgment of the Law.

Law protects the righteous men, but now it killed the good man. It is not the problem of the Law but the men.

How?

May the Lord keep me with a pure heart and righteous spirit in me!

Is this how you act as king over Israel?

1 Kings 21:1-7

Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”

But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”

So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.

Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

Seizure of compulsory purchase of land was illegal in Israel. A man's generation. But other people's rights do not bother Jezebel.

Why?

Ahab acts like not the king of Israel, there are so many lands in his hands, why does he ask his people for land?

Land in Isreal is the inheritance of the ancestors, so it is forbidden to sell it.

---------

亞哈王想要拿伯的葡萄園做為御花園。

拿伯為什麼不想把土地轉讓出去?和各支派要保留自己的支派的產業，買賣嫁娶也要在自己支派當中，不是禁止買賣土地。土地也不能賣出，到了禧年要歸還地主。神的心意不希望人買賣土地。拿伯不願賣地，為了守律法的底線，更高在遵守神的話語，進一步討神的喜悅。土地可以買賣，只是不能永遠買賣。

不受王權的威脅利益的引誘。

亞哈王為自己的喜好，要向百姓買土地，買賣土地不是罪！亞哈王不在乎神是否喜悅。一般人常問基督徒可不可做這個、那個。我們不是只遵守，而是更積極的討神歡欣。神沒有規定我們不可做這個、那個。其實進一步我們要討神喜悅。當人來問是否可以做，其實問的人，自己知道不好！

---------

How?

What I have is the grace of the Lord! Why do we have to search others for our hearts always are greedy.  Be humble!

That is your sentence

1 Kings 20:22-43

Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.”

Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.

The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.” Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’”

Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.

So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.

Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes. As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent[b] of silver.’ While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”

“That is your sentence,” the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”

Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’” Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.

Ahab spares his life, but in doing so stores up trouble for Israel. He has made the same mistake as Saul: in a 'holy war' everything is made over to God in sacrifice. This was meant to demonstrate that hills and plains alike are under God's dominion.

Why?

God is the Lord of all universal, Our God is beyond all.

God has made good chances for Ahab, but Ahab didn't listen to the word of God, he has no sense to honor the Holy God.

That is your sentence, everyone has to face his own sentence before the Lord.

Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people. This is the destination of Israel. Because they turned away from the Lord to idols.

神來的話是就是是，不是就是不是，我們常因為不合理，而打折扣，因為真情，因為愛心，因為愛國情操，因為人情而扭曲神的話，神的話不見得合我們的理！謹記！我們是否就像亞哈王一樣考慮事情?

How?

My God is the only God in this world. Obey the word of the Lord and honor God's Holy name is my honor and joy.