【错误的真诚】

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真诚，却是错误的真诚

平安弟兄姊妹们！现今常会听到这样的话：“如果你怀着真诚并相信某事是为上帝而做，那么就会被上帝悦纳。”但这样的说法是把焦点集中在“人心里的意图上”，而没有聚焦于“上帝对我们的实际要求是什么”。在撒母耳记下6章里，乌撒的悲惨下场就是一个很明显的例子。事情是这样的： 神的约柜被非利士人掠去一段时间后，大卫将其运回以色列。大卫是用牛车运输约柜，那时他用了与非利士人一样的运输方式。然而，在运输过程中牛失前蹄，乌撒当即伸手去扶约柜，上帝立时发怒，因乌撒的不敬行为而击杀了他。问题就在这里，为什么上帝说不该有人触及约柜？

这个故事可用两个不同的标准解释：人的标准和上帝的标准。上帝吩咐约柜必须要由哥辖的子孙来抬运，但是他们不可摸圣物，其他人也决不能触及。当大卫和他的随从用一辆新牛车拉约柜时，其实他们已经违背了上帝的命令，而他们自认为这样做是最好的---这话对当今的我们来说，听起来是那么熟悉！正如我们在圣经里所看到的：违背上帝的旨意，将导致灾祸。难道悲剧的发生是因为用了牛车吗？牛车在运输过程中是很不稳定的，一个坑、一粒石子、一个坏的轮子……这些意外都会导致约柜掉到地上，而且意外随时都可能发生。乌撒，一个利未人，更应该明白怎样接触约柜、怎样抬运、怎样固定。但是他却做了自认为对的事情，就是伸手扶约柜。很明显，乌撒是因为担心约柜才出手相助，但是上帝还是因为他的亵渎而击杀了他。这可能听起来很严厉，但是【上帝诫命的严厉使我们看到祂的决对圣洁，所以祂神圣的任务必须要以神圣的方式来完成】。光有真诚是不够的，我们的真诚是错误的真诚，因为上帝规定了有些事情该怎样去做。上帝是神圣又可敬畏的，我们决不能以任何理由来轻视上帝和祂的诫命。

乌撒的死对以色列人是至关重要的警示，而对当今21世纪的教会来说也同样是教训的警钟：我们必须按照上帝规定的方式来敬拜祂。以色列人没有按照正确的方式抬运约柜，这恰恰是最糟糕的【注意：大卫带领他的随从直接抬约柜，而没有让亚拿尼亚和他的儿子们来抬运，这是一个最大的错误。因为约柜不该放在牛车（不管新旧）上运，应该由专人用肩抬运，而且只有利未人和哥辖的族派才允许按照上帝所规定的方式，“用皂荚木作两根杠，用金包裹”，放在他们的肩上抬运（出埃及记25:12-14你也要铸四个金环，安在柜的四脚上，这边两环、那边两环。要用皂荚木作两根杠，用金包裹。要把杠穿在柜旁的环内，以便抬柜；民数记7:9但车与牛都没有交给哥辖子孙，因为他们办的是圣所的事，在肩头上抬圣物）】。

没有遵照上帝的严格指令去做将被视为：1）不敬畏上帝的话语，也不尊敬如摩西一样的人---上帝指定的代言人。2）有一个自主的心态，这等同于悖逆上帝，即：所看所行是出于世俗的出发点，而不是以圣灵的教导为根基。3）违背上帝的旨意。当约柜颠簸时，我们只能猜测将会发生什么事情，可能约柜会掉进泥沟损坏了。但是我们看到，上帝并不看重这个物体会怎样，祂所期望的是服从胜过牺牲，这就是为何祂击杀乌撒。上帝宁愿让约柜掉在地上，也不要让违背祂命令的罪人触及。在上帝眼中，尘土比人的手还干净。没有敬畏上帝，不是因为我们做善事的意图，而是在于我们没有明白：人是有罪的，而上帝是决对圣洁、不容被玷污的。

我们要仔细聆听上帝吩咐我们的是什么，并且尽心竭力服从祂所有的命令。是的，上帝是慈爱和慈悲的，但是祂也是圣洁的。上帝要用大能来捍卫自己的圣洁，凡轻视祂圣洁的行为，有时就会引起祂神圣的怒【落在永生 神的手里真是可怕的（希伯来10:31）】。

上帝赋予约柜的神圣、可敬畏和服从，似乎在今天的教会里丢失了。在摩西的时代，人们懂得要决对敬畏上帝的神圣。当约柜与他们同在时，他们也见证了极大的神迹，他们敬畏上帝的意念和道路，远超过我们（以赛亚55:8-9耶和华说：“我的意念，非同你们的意念；我的道路，非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地，照样我的道路，高过你们的道路；我的意念，高过你们的意念）。事实上，在上帝看来，我们越是设法把上帝降至我们的世俗思维或推理方式中，我们就离祂越远。只有那些崇敬和神圣地敬畏上帝的人，才能亲近上帝，也被上帝亲近（乌撒忘了这个重要的教训，所以他的结局是悲惨的）。

Sincere, but Sincerely Wrong

Shalom Brothers and Sisters,

It is very common today to hear that if you believe something and are sincere in that belief then that is good enough for God. Today’s focus is on the intentions of the heart and not what God actually said. The story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6 is a tragic example of this. It happened that the Ark of the Covenant had been in Philistine hands for awhile and now David was bringing it back to Israel. They were transporting it in an ox drawn cart, the same way that the Philistines and moved it around. When the oxen threatened to send the Ark tumbling, Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark and God struck him dead for what was called an act of irreverence. The question is, why? Why did God say that no one should touch the ark?

In this story there are two different standards being employed—Man’s standard and God’s standard. God said that the ark was to be carried on poles by the Sons of Koheth and that no one should touch the ark for any reason. David and his men disobeyed God’s command when they put the ark in a new cart. They did what they thought was best, which sounds strangely familiar to our modern contexts. As we see in the text, disobeying God will lead to disaster. The result of using the cart? The ark is now unstable in its journey. A pothole, a rock, a broken wheel –anything could cause the sacred to go tumbling off into the dirt, which is what almost happens. Uzzah, a Levite who should have known better then to touch the ark and how to carry it, tried to steady it.  He reached out and did what he thought was right. It is clear that Uzzah was concerned about the sacred and that he was only trying to help but God still struck him down for touching the ark. This may sound harsh to us but “the harshness of the Lord‘s discipline must be seen in the light of His absolute holiness which requires that sacred tasks be done in a sacred manner.” It is not enough to be sincere, for we can be sincerely wrong. God has prescribed how something should be done. He is holy and awesome and should not be taken lightly for any reason.

Uzzah’s death was a vital reminder of that for Israel and should be a lesson for the 21st century church today that God has prescribed the manner in which we are to worship Him. It was bad enough that they were not carrying the Ark the right way （Notice how David took men with him to collect the ark, rather than allowing Abinadab and his sons to bring it to him. That was a great mistake, since it ought never to have been put upon a cart, old or new. It was to be borne upon men's shoulders, and carried by Levites only, and those of the family of Kohath (Exodus 25:12-14 You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them.; Numbers 7:9 - But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.), using the poles prescribed.

Failing to follow God’s precise instructions would be seen as (a) not revering God’s words when He spoke them through those such as Moses, whom He had appointed; (b) having an independent attitude that might border on rebellion, i.e., seeing and acting on things from a worldly, rather than a spiritual, perspective; or (c) disobedience. and we can only guess what would have happened if the Ark had fallen into the dirt and was damaged but we can see here that God is not concerned ultimately with objects. He desires obedience over sacrifice, which is why God struck Uzzah dead. God would rather have his Ark fall into the dirt then be touched by sinful men. In Gods eyes, the dirt was cleaner then the hands of a man. The irreverence then was not the intention to do good but the failure to understand that man is sinful and God is holy.

We need to listen carefully to what God has to say to us, and in obedience strive to do all He commands. Yes, God is loving and merciful, but He is also holy and He defends His holiness with His power, and affronts to His holiness sometimes bring about His holy wrath. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Something of God’s presence in the Ark of the Covenant seems to be lost in the church today. In the time of Moses, the people knew the awesomeness of God’s absolute holiness. They had witnessed great miracles when the ark was with them. They respected that God’s ways and thoughts are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts). In truth, the more we try to bring God down to our worldly way of thinking or reasoning, the further away He will seem to us. Those who would draw near to God and have Him draw near to them are those who approach Him in reverence and holy fear. Uzzah forgot that lesson, and the consequences were tragic.

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上帝会坚立祂忠心的仆人

                                                                                （就是那些真正热爱并服从上帝旨意的人）





亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，圣经里写了很多关于先贤们耐性等候上帝实现承诺的事迹，他们有的等了好多年，有的甚至等了数十年，就如亚伯拉罕、约瑟、大卫和保罗，他们的耐性等候最后得到了上帝永恒的赏赐。从这些圣人们的身上，我们学到了耐性。



今天让我们着重看以色列最伟大的君王，大卫。他是被上帝拣选接替扫罗作以色列的王，然而他却没能立时登基，而是多年被扫罗王追杀。尽管大卫有两次杀扫罗王的机会，但他还是抵住诱惑，赦免了扫罗的性命（撒母耳上24:9-15）。对于作王，大卫选择跟从上帝的时间表，他不想因为杀死上帝所膏立的王，而令上帝的荣耀受亏损。从大卫的诗篇里显明，他深知耶和华在他生命中的运作。这位牧羊的王透过对上帝的耐性等候，不仅获得他人生的目标，还深刻认识到上帝的路才是最好的路。



大卫为上帝的信实留下了一个惊人的见证，让我们每个人都能研读并默想。大卫专心等候耶和华，结果就是他得到上帝的悦纳和祝福。我们不要轻看神圣悦纳之下的赏赐，而悦纳和赏赐也不是专门预备给像大卫那样的“信心的巨人”，而是预备给所有安住在上帝的恩惠之下，顺从地忍耐、坚持等候上帝为他们的益处运作的人。



大卫不是因为他特别，所以他得到上帝的祝福；他在众人中得到荣耀，是因为他将荣耀上帝作为万事之首。因为大卫信靠上帝的信实，所以他在苦难中选择耐性等候上帝成就旨意，那么我们也可以做得像大卫一样，当我们等候上帝时，我们也能够期盼得到上帝的祝福。



大卫甘愿耐性等候上帝的时间表，而不是自己设法去成就。你愿意等候上帝对你生命的时间表，从而得到上帝丰盛的祝福吗？



研经：诗篇40

40:1 我曾耐性等候耶和华，祂垂听我的呼求。  

40:2 祂从祸坑里、从淤泥中把我拉上来，使我的脚立在磐石上、使我脚步稳当。  

40:3 祂使我口唱新歌，就是赞美我们 神的话。许多人必看见而惧怕，并要倚靠耶和华。  

40:4 那倚靠耶和华、不理会狂傲和偏向虚假之辈的，这人便为有福。  

40:5 耶和华我的　神阿，你所行的奇事并你向我们所怀的意念甚多，不能向你陈明，若要陈明，其事不可胜数。  

40:6 祭物和礼物你不喜悦，你已经开通我的耳朵，燔祭和赎罪祭非你所要。  

40:7 那时我说，看哪，我来了，我的事在经卷上已经记载了。  

40:8 我的　神阿，我乐意照你的旨意行，你的律法在我心里。  

40:9 我在大会中宣传公义的佳音，我必不止住我的嘴唇。耶和华阿，这是你所知道的。  

40:10 我未曾把你的公义藏在心里，我已陈明你的信实和你的救恩，我在大会中未曾隐瞒你的慈爱和诚实。  

40:11 耶和华阿，求你不要向我止住你的慈悲，愿你的慈爱和诚实常常保佑我。  

40:12 因有无数的祸患围困我，我的罪孽追上了我使我不能昂首，这罪孽比我的头发还多，我就心寒胆战。  

40:13 耶和华阿，求你开恩搭救我；耶和华阿，求你速速帮助我。  

40:14 愿那些寻找我、要灭我命的一同抱愧蒙羞，愿那些喜悦我受害的退后受辱。  

40:15 愿那些对我说“阿哈、阿哈”的，因羞愧而败亡。  

40:16 愿一切寻求你的，因你高兴欢喜；愿那些喜爱你救恩的常说“当尊耶和华为大”。  

40:17 但我是困苦穷乏的，主仍顾念我。你是帮助我的、搭救我的， 神阿，求你不要耽延。阿们





在此，我们夫妻感谢上帝，我们主耶稣基督的父，赐给我们美好的一天，也赐给我们你们这些忠心于主的弟兄姊妹们。



（以上所写的，你们可以用来建造耶稣基督的国度）



GOD sustains HIS faithful servants



Dear Brothers and Sisters,



The Scriptures contain many stories of people who waited years or even decades before the LORD's promises came to pass. What modern believers can learn from the patience of biblical saints like Abraham, Joseph, David, and Paul is that waiting upon the LORD has eternal rewards.



Today let's look at Israel's most memorable monarch. David was the chosen heir to Israel's throne, but he spent years dodging King Saul's wrathful pursuit. Despite having two different opportunities for vengeance, David resisted the temptation and spared Saul's life (1 Samuel 24:9-15). He chose to adhere to GOD's timetable for his coronation instead of dishonouring the LORD by killing the divinely anointed king. David's psalms reveal his intimate awareness of YAHWEH's work in his life. The shepherd king not only achieved his objective through patience; he also observed that GOD's way was always best.



David left behind an incredible testimony of GOD's faithfulness for each of us to read and meditate upon. He was committed to waiting upon the LORD, and as a result, he had the FATHER's approval and blessing. We cannot underestimate the reward of living in divine favour. That isn't a special state reserved for "giants of the faith" like David. All who obediently endure until the LORD acts on their behalf abide in HIS favour.



David didn't receive his blessings because he was special; he was honoured among men because he honoured the LORD above all. And since he trusted in GOD's faithfulness, he endured hardship with patience. We, too, can expect to be blessed when we wait upon the LORD.



David was content to wait for GOD's timing instead of trying to force things. Are you willing to wait for GOD's timing in your life and be blessed abundantly?



Scripture Study: Psalm 40



GOD sustains HIS servants (Only to those who truly obey and love to do HIS will).



1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And HE inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 HE brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And HE set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 HE put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our GOD; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. 4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. 5 Many, O LORD my GOD, are the wonders which YOU have done, And YOUR thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with YOU. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. 6 Sacrifice and meal offering YOU have not desired; My ears YOU have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. 7 Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do YOUR will, O my GOD; YOUR Law is within my heart." 9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know. 10 I have not hidden YOUR righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of YOUR faithfulness and YOUR salvation; I have not concealed YOUR lovingkindness and YOUR truth from the great congregation. 11 YOU, O LORD, will not withhold YOUR compassion from me; YOUR lovingkindness and YOUR truth will continually preserve me. 12 For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; Make haste, O LORD, to help me. 14 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt. 15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, "Aha, aha!" 16 Let all who seek YOU rejoice and be glad in YOU; Let those who love YOUR salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!" 17 Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the LORD be mindful of me. YOU are my help and my DELIVERER; Do not delay, O my GOD. Amen.





We give thanks to GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, for this day and for you, faithful brothers and sisters.

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From Victor n Esther - "My life journey with Jesus"

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听从耶和华你 神的话

你若听从耶和华你　神的话，这以下的福必追随你，临到你身上（申命记28:2）

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，有些人对上帝在物质上的赐福期望很低，他们相信上帝能让他们衣食无忧，但他们却不相信上帝想要使他们的生活得更好。

不知为何，他们得到一个错误的概念，就是上帝是一位又老又吝啬的 神，只把破旧衣服披在他们的身上，把干瘪的豆子放在他们的餐桌上。然而，主耶稣并不是这么告诉我们的。主耶稣在马太福音6章里告诉我们，上帝想要给我们的，胜于所罗门所穿戴的（马太福音6:29-30 然而我告诉你们：“就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的还不如这花一朵呢！你们这小信的人哪，野地里的草今天还在，明天就丢在炉里， 神还给他这样的妆饰，何况你们呢？ ）。这个表述就足以证明：上帝想要赐给我们的祝福，并不限于满足我们生活的基本所需。这一点，我是从我的亲身经历中认识到的。

几年前，有一天我回到家，忽然发现有两辆名贵的跑车停在我的车位上。送车的人是因为听了我的讲道，受主感动，送了这两辆跑车给我。

为此，我充满困惑地祷告：“主啊，我不需要这些车，我也没有向您求过，我用不到它们，它们在我这里能用来做什么呢？”

然后，上帝在我里面说：“你是否曾在申命记里读到‘你若听从我的话，这以下的福必追随你，临到你身上’？”

我回答：“是的，我读到了。”

上帝说：“好，儿子，我的祝福临到了你的身上。”

我说：“难道上帝给我这些名贵的跑车，就是要我享受它们？”是的，我说对了。

提摩太前书6:17 里说：“你要嘱咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高，也不要倚靠无定的钱财，只要倚靠那厚赐百物给我们享受的　神。”  上帝是一位慈爱的父，祂非常喜悦将祝福赐给那些真正爱祂并服从祂的儿女。也许我们会担心上帝的恩赐是否“太奢侈”，不用为此担心，因为上帝能够负担得起。

听从上帝的话，那么过不了多久，上帝的祝福就会临到你。

研经：列王记上10:1-24

10:1 示巴女王听见所罗门因耶和华之名所得的名声，就来要用难解的话试问所罗门。

10:2 跟随她到耶路撒冷的人甚多，又有骆驼驮着香料、宝石和许多金子。她来见了所罗门王，就把心里所有的对所罗门都说出来。

10:3 所罗门王将她所问的都答上了，没有一句不明白、不能答的。

10:4 示巴女王见所罗门大有智慧和他所建造的宫室、

10:5 席上的珍馐美味、群臣分列而坐、仆人两旁侍立、以及他们的衣服装饰和酒政的衣服装饰，又见他上耶和华殿的台阶，就诧异得神不守舍。

10:6 对王说：“我在本国里所听见论到你的事和你的智慧，实在是真的。

10:7 我先不信那些话，及至我来亲眼见了，才知道人所告诉我的还不到一半，你的智慧和你的福分越过我所听见的风声。

10:8 你的臣子、你的仆人，常侍立在你面前，听你智慧的话，是有福的。

10:9 耶和华你的　神是应当称颂的，祂喜悦你，使你坐以色列的国位。因为祂永远爱以色列，所以立你作王，使你秉公行义。 ”

10:10 于是示巴女王将一百二十他连得金子和宝石与极多的香料送给所罗门王，她送给王的香料以后奉来的不再有这样多。

10:11 希兰的船只从俄斐运了金子来，又从俄斐运了许多檀香木和宝石来。

10:12 王用檀香木为耶和华殿和王宫作栏杆，又为歌唱的人作琴瑟。以后再没有这样的檀香木进国来，也没有人看见过，直到如今。

10:13 示巴女王一切所要所求的，所罗门王都送给她，另外照自己的厚意馈送她。于是女王和她臣仆转回本国去了。

10:14 所罗门每年所得的金子，共有六百六十六他连得。

10:15 另外还有商人和杂族的诸王与国中的省长，所进的金子。

10:16 所罗门王用锤出来的金子，打成挡牌二百面，每面用金子六百舍客勒。

10:17 又用锤出来的金子，打成盾牌三百面，每面用金子三弥那，都放在利巴嫩林宫里。

10:18 王用象牙制造一个宝座，用精金包裹。

10:19 宝座有六层台阶，座的后背是圆的，两旁有扶手，靠近扶手有两个狮子站立。

10:20 六层台阶上有十二个狮子站立，每层有两个，左边一个、右边一个，在列国中没有这样作的。

10:21 所罗门王一切的饮器都是金子的，利巴嫩林宫里的一切器皿都是精金的。所罗门年间，银子算不了甚么。

10:22 因为王有他施船只与希兰的船只一同航海，三年一次，装载金银、象牙、猿猴、孔雀回来。

10:23 所罗门王的财宝与智慧，胜过天下的列王。

10:24 普天下的王都求见所罗门，要听　神赐给他智慧的话。

Hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy GOD

And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy GOD. Deuteronomy 28:2.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Some people have very low expectations of what GOD will provide for them materially. They trust HIM to feed and clothe them, but they don't trust HIM to feed and clothe them very well!

Somehow they've gotten the idea that GOD's an old miser who will do little more than put rags on their backs and beans on their tables. But that's not what JESUS told us. HE said in Matthew 6 that GOD would clothe us better than HE clothed Solomon. (Matt 6 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?) This one statement alone proves that GOD wants to do more than just meet our basic needs. HE wants to bless us abundantly. I know that from my personal experience.

A few years ago I came home and found two expensive automobiles parked in my driveway. They'd been given to me to use by men who'd been blessed by the LORD through my ministry.

I was baffled. "LORD," I said, "I didn't need these cars. I hadn't asked YOU for them, and I don’t need them. What are they doing here?"

Then the LORD spoke up on the inside of me. "Have you ever read the scripture in Deuteronomy that says blessings shall come on and overtake those who hearken to MY voice?

"Yes," I answered.

"Well, son," HE said, "you've just been overtaken."

Am I saying GOD gave me those expensive cars just so I could enjoy them? Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.

1 Timothy 6:17 says, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living GOD, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." GOD is a loving FATHER. HE gets great pleasure from blessing HIS children who love to obey HIM. HE's extravagant where we're concerned. But don't let that worry you. He can afford it.

Hearken to HIS voice and it won't be long before HIS blessings will be overtaking you.

Scripture Study: 1 Kings 10:1-24

10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.

10:2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan--with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones--she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind.

10:3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.

10:4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built,

10:5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.

10:6 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.

10:7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.

10:8 How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

10:9 Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD'S eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."

10:10 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10:11 (Hiram's ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones.

10:12 The king used the almugwood to make supports for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.)

10:13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

10:14 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,

10:15 not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the land.

10:16 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred bekas of gold went into each shield.

10:17 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three minas of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.

10:18 Then the king made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with fine gold.

10:19 The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them.

10:20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.

10:21 All King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's days.

10:22 The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

10:23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.

10:24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

sky5107

上帝对我们的爱

神爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们（约翰福音3:16）

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，上帝爱世人，所以祂赐给我们……、赐给我们……、赐给我们……，一直在不断地赐给我们。

这是圣经从开头至结尾所要带给我们的信息，然而听闻容易，我们中却很少有人能够真正地懂得其中深意。

我们可以理解 神有大能的概念，也可以明白 神希望人能够侍奉祂，然而一位如此爱我们的全能上帝，祂超乎万有的渴望，竟是要将一切的美好赐给我们，这让人难以置信。

数千年以来，上帝一直都将祂大爱的启示放在人类心里，并作出充满爱的应许，要祝福和保守人们。可是，祂却总是面对着相同的阻隔，就是人类不能使自己相信这些应许是真实可靠的。

亚伯拉罕的事迹就是一个最好的例子，他在开始之初不习惯上帝是赐予之 神的理念。因为他从小生长在拜月亮的家庭，当然，月亮肯定从未为他做过任何事情。后来，他遇到全能的上帝，这位至为伟大的万有主宰者。而这位全能上帝想要做的第一件事，竟是要恩赐他。

上帝的应许使亚伯拉罕非常震惊，他无法相信这是真的。亚伯拉罕说：“主耶和华啊，我怎能知道必得这地为业呢？”（创世纪15:8）

你知道上帝怎么回应他吗？上帝指着自己（因为没有比祂再大的），以劈开的牛羊之血与亚伯拉罕立约。所以这个约就是恒久立定的，亚伯拉罕能够永远拥有上帝的慈爱和忠诚。亚伯拉罕知道，血约意味着上帝永远都会信守承诺。

上帝也为你做了同样的事情，祂也以劈开之血与你立约，而祂是牺牲自己的儿子作为与你立约之血。主耶稣被残害的身躯和所流宝血，就成为上帝对你的大爱的永恒明证。透过圣餐，主耶稣再三地叮嘱你要铭记这个约，好叫你在对祂的承诺信心摇摆时，能得到“一个强大的安慰”（希伯来6:18借这两件不更改的事， 神决不能说谎，好叫我们这逃往避难所、持定摆在我们前头指望的人，可以大得勉励）。

通过默想上帝与你所立之约，得到上帝对你的大爱的启示。拿起圣餐的面包和酒杯，来到主耶稣跟前，吃下圣餐时，思想主耶稣所献的身体和宝血，使你能够作为全能上帝家庭里宝血之约的成员。让宝血之约，永远地解决上帝是否爱你这个问题。一旦你真正相信上帝的大爱，你就决不会再对祂的承诺产生任何怀疑。

研经：创世纪15章

GOD's love for us

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son."(John 3:16)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

For GOD so loved the world that HE gave...and HE gave...and HE gave.

That is the message the Bible brings us from beginning to end. It sounds simple enough. Yet few of us really comprehend it.

We can understand the idea of a GOD of power. We can understand a GOD who desires to be served. But an ALMIGHTY GOD who loves us so much that HE desires, above all, to give to us? That can be hard to believe.

For thousands of years, GOD has been working to drop the revelation of HIS love into the hearts of men. HE's made loving promises of blessing and protection. But HE's always faced that same obstacle--human beings who just couldn't bring themselves to believe those promises were true.

The story of Abram is a perfect example. He wasn't accustomed to the idea of a GOD who gives. After all, he'd grown up as a worshiper of the moon, and the moon had certainly never seemed interested in doing anything for him. Then he encountered EL SHADDAI, the greatest BEING of all. The one ALMIGHTY GOD. And the first thing this EL SHADDAI wanted to do was give to him.

GOD's promises so astounded Abram that he couldn't believe them. "LORD," he asked, "how can I know I'm really going to receive these things?" (Gen. 15:8).

Do you know how GOD answered him? By cutting a blood covenant with him. That covenant settled forever any question Abram could ever have about GOD's love and loyalty. Once blood had been shed, he knew GOD meant what HE said.

GOD did the same thing for you. HE cut a blood covenant with you. And HE sacrificed HIS own SON to do it. JESUS' broken body and shed blood have become the eternal proof of GOD's love for you. Through Communion, HE's urged you to remember them again and again so that when your faith in HIS promises begins to waver, you "might have a strong consolation" (Heb. 6:18 GOD did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for GOD to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.).

Get a revelation of GOD's love for you by meditating on the covenant HE's made with you. Get out the bread and the cup. Go before the LORD with them and take Communion thinking about the BODY and blood of JESUS that enables you to be a blood-covenant member of the family of ALMIGHTY GOD. Let them settle forever the question of GOD's love for you. You'll never again have to doubt HIS promises once you believe in HIS love.

Scripture Study: Genesis 15