讲道与圣经神学_40_圣经神学与讲道的内容(续)

Preaching and Biblical Theology Session 40

主讲:林慈信牧师_校对:刘加立弟兄&ZJY(CGY)姐妹

《讲道与圣经神学》第四十课,我们继续来看上帝向以色列所发出的呼召,就特别是包括了以色列要在外邦人中间做耶和华的见证的。

我们继续来看,英文是93页,中文113页。The theocratic distinctiveness of Israel is related to this theocratic mission.以色列因为是神治的国家,有它的独特,上帝专爱它、专门拣选它。以色列这个独特性,与它的作为神治国家的宣教使命两者是有关系的。Israel must be religiously distinct, 以色列必须要在信仰,在敬拜上是特别的,是与众不同的,maintaining the first tablet of the law. 必须要守十诫的第一块石版,第一、第二、第三、第四诫,必须要按照神的话语来敬拜祂。The true God must be worshiped exclusively, 他们必须要敬拜真神,惟独敬拜祂,and God must be worshiped spiritually. 要从心灵有圣灵的带领来敬拜上帝。In a second tablet of the law, 关于第二块的十诫的石版,the ethical distinctiveness of Israel is apparently. 这里以色列如何过一个道德的生活,这个独特性就很明显了。Israel must obey God as over against the abominations of the heathen. 以色列必须要顺服上帝,与异教徒、外邦人这种可憎的行为做鲜明的对照(参考利18: 24-30)。这里的英文讲religious and ethical,宗教信仰和道德伦理,十诫的一到四诫命是朝向神的,怎么敬拜祂、尊崇祂;五到十诫是怎么在世界上行事为人,这个是道德的层面。

The ceremonial distinctiveness of Israel, 现在讲第三了。第一是信仰敬拜,第二是道德生活,第三呢是在礼仪上的独特性。The ceremonial distinctiveness of Israel, 以色列在敬拜礼仪方面的独特性, also reflects the covenantal principal, 也反应出立约守约这个原则的。Israel is separated to the holy God who dwells among them, 这位圣洁的上帝是住在以色列中间的,以色列是分别为圣,在圣洁的神面前分别出来的。God’s dwelling with the people with the people is the ground for the ceremony a separation. 因为上帝住在祂的子民中间,这个就是成为一个基础、一个原因,为什么呢?在礼仪上,以色列也必须分别为圣,indicated by the consecrated cleaness. 所以这里就有一个洁净和不洁的这个概念,因为在礼仪上,以色列要分别为圣的。第四,The geographical distinctiveness of Israel, 以色列在地理上的与众不同,这个独特性,is also related to its witness, 也是跟他的见证,向外邦人的见证有关的。Israel is called to dwell in that land in the midst of the nations, 以色列是要在列国中间,住在上帝给他们的地上,where God’s dwelling is established, 在列国中间这块地,上帝的居所是设立在这里的。and to which all the people should turn in receiving the true God. 所以,万国的百姓要转向上帝的居所之所在,来迎接,来接受真神的。参考申命记11:32 ;12:5,就是说上帝的名,祂设立祂自己,设立祂的名在以色列中间,上帝的名的居所,上帝的居所,这个是为了以色列向外邦人做见证的。

The Kingdom, 好了,来到君王的国度时期了。The Kingdom represents a development within the theocratic concept, 在整个神统治,神治以色列这个概念里面呢,到了君王时期,又有一个发展。The name of God is established in Jerusalem, 现在上帝的名设立在耶路撒冷,the political capital for the throne of David is. 这个是政治上的首都,大卫的宝座是在耶路撒冷的。The development of the prosperity of the kingdom, 现在看到这个君王的国度,他的兴旺,他的富裕,昌盛,这方面的发展呢,manifest glory of God’s name. 是彰显上帝的名的荣耀的。

请不要把这个直接应用在中国、在美国,中国梦或者美国做大国,这个是讲上帝的子民的昌盛。This development includes the fulfillment of the divine commandment, 这方面昌盛发展呢就包含了上帝的吩咐呢,以色列现在遵行了、实现了,in conquering the surrounding enemies, 他们征服周围的敌人,and possessing territory promised to the patriarchs. 他们现在占有上帝向先祖亚伯拉罕,以撒,雅各所应许的地,参考王上4:21;创15:8。

Note that indefinite expansion is not promised. 请注意,上帝没有应许以色列他们的疆界无限度的膨胀,没有的。Israel is not to embark on wars of conquest 以色列不可以进行这种征服别人的战争,to achieve world dominion, 以致能够统治全世界,不是的。The ideal, 上帝的理想乃是说呢,is rather of a flourishing kingdom in God’s land in the midst of the nations. 这个图画是在上帝所指定的地,在列国中间一个昌盛的国度。

The priestly function of Israel is still prominent,以色列作为祭司这个功能仍然是很重要,很显著的,with God’s name set in Jerusalem, 因为上帝的名设立在耶路撒冷,the land becomes a permanent and temperament of Israel among the nations of the world. 因为上帝的名在那里,所以,以色列地就成为以色列在列国,在世界的万国中的一个永久性的扎营之地。The fullest realization of this ideal, 这个理想最完全的实现是什么时候呢?comes in the time of Solomon. 就是在所罗门的时期了。David’s victories brought the land to its promise extent. 大卫战争胜利,就让以色列的疆土达到上帝所应许的范围了。The building of the temple 现在,圣殿被建立起来,the established God’s name in the midst of his people. 圣殿的建立就设立了上帝名在祂的子民中间,参考申命记12:5那个应许,现在在王上8:就实现了,16-21节。

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With the realization of these promises, 既然上帝在申命记12章的应许现在实现了,Solomon eloquently expresses the universalism of the kingdom ideal in his dedicatory prayer for the temple现在所罗门,他在他奉献圣殿的祷告里就非常的优美的表达了以色列国这个的普世的意义,universalism,王上8:41-43,60,that all the peoples of the earth may know Thy name. to fear Thy as Thy people Israel. 使天下万民都认识你的名,敬畏你,像你的民以色列民一样, that all the peoples of the earth may know that Jehovah is God, there is none else (V60)。 王上8:60节,使地上的万民都知道唯独耶和华是神,并无别神。The summit of the realization of the theocratic kingdom ideal under Solomon, 这个巅峰就是上帝神治的国度,这个理想在所罗门的时期,达到实现了。这个实现的巅峰呢,was no sooner attained, 虽然达到了,很快呢however that was lost, 就失去了。The sin of king and people brought about the vision of the kingdom, 王犯罪,百姓犯罪,使国度分裂了,and the covenant was broken. “约”被毁了。The breaking of the covenant, 因为以色列背约,brought the judgment of God. 带来上帝的审判。

We have already noted international ministry of Elisha to Naaman the structure of this judgment. 我们前面已经注意到,以利沙对乃缦的侍奉,我们就已经看到审判的这个结构。If Israel will not witness the ordination of the earth by obedience to the covenant,以色列若不遵行约,向地上万国作见证的话,then that witness will be born through the divine wrath poured out upon Israel. 那么这个见证还是会做的,透过上帝倾倒他的愤怒在以色列身上,这样子来向万国做见证。With this judgment, 因为上帝带来了这种的审判,comes blessing to the nations. 上帝就赐福给万民的。

好了,现在终于回到约拿。The universalism of Jonah, 约拿这个普世性的意义,is connected with this theme。 与这个主题有关的。Jonah prophesied perhaps as early as 800 BC, 约拿可能早在主前800年就说预言的,it is noted in II Kings of 14:25, 在王上14:25那里圣经说明,that certain prophecies of Jonah respected the restoration of territory to Israel were fulfilled in the reign of Jeroboam II. 约拿讲某一些预言,就是关于以色列会恢复回到他的地上,在耶罗波安第二世统治时期就已经实现了。These prophecies spoke of relief from previous oppression, 这些的预言,是说到以色列不再受到这些的压迫,which may have referred to Hazael. 可能就指哈薛王的(王下13:22-23)。The reign of Jeroboam II, 耶罗波安二世的统治,was on a great outward prosperity, 在外表是一个很昌盛、很富裕的一段的时期,the words of Jonah was fulfilled. 约拿的话实现了。The attacks of the Assyria’s, 因为亚述国的进攻,weakened the power of Damascus. 使大马士革的权力削弱了, then Assyria itself entered a period of decline. 而亚述国也进到一段的权力削弱的时期。But the deliverance God granted to Israel, 但是,虽然上帝给以色列这种的搭救,亚述、叙利亚都弱了,were not received by the people as occasions for thanksgiving and for repentance. 以色列人并没有看到原来这个是给他们一个机会,感恩和悔改。Rather, 反之,Jonah’s promises of deliverance had to be followed by Amos’denunciation and predictions of exile. 约拿应许了搭救,之后呢,随之来的是阿摩司来责备、谴责以色列,预言以色列会被掳的。The reference in II Kings 14:25, 在王下14:25那里的记载,helps us to understand the Book of Jonah. 可以帮助我们了解约拿书的。Since the prophet ministered in the period after the extreme a nation of Baal worship, 因为约拿这位先知的服侍的时期,是在敬拜巴力,这个偶像敬拜的宗教已经被除灭了之后,and was giving a message of deliverance for Israel. 上帝给他的信息就是,上帝必搭救以色列。

It is easy to understand the hopes he cherished for his nation,  我们很容易理解,约拿对他的国家是持有盼望的,but the enemy to be feared was Assyria, 但是,真正要惧怕的敌人是亚述国,the Assyrians had compelled Jehu to pay heavy tribute, 亚述国已经强迫耶户王要进贡,as we learn from the black obelisk of Shalmaneser III, 我们可以看亚述王的沙缦以色第三世这个王帝的黑石碑上面。就是说,这块石碑就形容耶户王跪下进贡。Jonah would therefore regard Assyria and its capital city of Nineveh as a dangerous threat to the future security of Israel. 所以,约拿当然会认为亚述国和亚述国首都尼尼微,对以色列国未来的安全来说是很危险的威胁来的。The Book of Jonah, 约拿书, resembles the books of the former prophets, 与其他那些比较早的先知书很相似,it records history. 约拿书记载历史的,but not of the covenant nation但是,不是在神面前领受的约的国家的历史,or the life of the prophet,也不是先知他自己一生的历史,rather records the commission given by God to Jonah and how it was discharged. 是什么的历史呢?就是上帝给约拿的委任、差遣的历史,和该如何执行这个使命的历史。The startling aspect of the commission, 上帝对约拿的委任的令人惊讶之处是什么呢?is its directive to a Gentile city. 乃是说上帝指示约拿去一个外邦的城市。

From the time of Abraham, 自从亚伯拉罕的时期以来,God’s revelation of the director to the covenant people, 上帝启示都是向祂的立约守约的、上帝的启示都是向他的约民启示的,the office of a prophet, 先知这个职分,was the theocratic institution. 是在神治的这个约,这个国度里面的一个职分。The prophet was like unto Moses先知就像摩西一样,bringing the word of God to the people of God. 将上帝的话带到上帝的子民中间的。 The great significance of the Book of Jonah is grasped, 我们若要真正掌握到约拿书的伟大的重要性的时候,only against the background of God’s relationship for a covenant-breaking-people. 必须要看到这个背景,就是上帝如何处理一个背约的子民的。Through sin, 因为以色列国犯罪,the nation has been divided. 以色列国分裂了。From its very inception northern kingdom was guilty of idolatry, 北国一开始就是犯了敬拜偶像的罪的,the ministry of Elijah and Elisha, 以利亚、以利沙他们先知的事工呢,God’s great appeal to the northern kingdom. 还有上帝向北国的呼吁,was heeded by only remnant. 只有一个,一小撮的余民愿意听从。

Although Baalism was checked by Elijah and extremely outwardly by Jehu, 虽然,以利亚先知阻挡了巴力的敬拜,耶户王又在外表上除灭了巴力的敬拜,Idolatry, immorality and apostasy abounded, 以色列民还是充满着偶像敬拜,不道德和离经背道。Soon the judgments are the law of Moses must dissent. 很快,摩西的律法里面所讲到的审判,特别是申命记第33章的审判必定会倾倒、降临。Jonah’s own prophecies of political expansion pointed to a last opportunity for people to manifest a repentance in prosperity, which they had not shown in affliction. 约拿他自己讲到政治上要扩张的预言,指向最后一次机会,以色列民可以在富裕中表现他们的悔改,因为他们在患难中也没有悔改。The exile was only a generation away, 只短短的一代之后,以色列必将被掳的。

The Book of Jonah stands in the midst of the prophetic presentation of blessing to the Gentiles in connection with judgment upon Israel. 约拿书就是在这整个的先知的事工作为背景的,就是上帝要赐福给外邦人,因为上帝正在审判以色列。In the ministry of Elijah and Elisha, 在以利亚和以利沙的事工,the widow of Zarephath and Naaman, 向寡妇的侍奉、向乃缦的医治,were brought as Gentiles’ taste of the prophetic blessings他们带来这些的福分,好叫外邦人尝到先知带来的福分。On the other hand, Elisha was also commissioned to anointing Hazael king of Damascus, 反过来说,上帝也差遣以利沙去膏哈薛王去做大马士革的王,and Elisha journeyed to Damascus to bring the word of God to him. 以利沙去大马士革将上帝的话带给哈薛王。The prophet of Israel was the used of God, 所以上帝这样用以色列的先知,to raise up a scourge, 来兴起一个惩罚的工具,not only against the house of Ahab, 不单单要惩罚亚哈王之家,but also against the nation of Israel. 不但是王室,乃是要惩罚整个以色列国。The commission to Jonah, 上帝对约拿的差遣、委任,stands in significant relationship anointing of Hazael. 与上帝要膏立哈薛王做大马士革王是有直接关系的。The scourge of Damascus had been removed. 大马士革那个上帝所用来惩罚以色列的工具除去了。Jonah had prophesied and perhaps had already seen the resulting political expansion. 约拿已经说过预言了,甚至看到这种的政治的扩张,But a new adversary was to be raised up. 叙利亚是削弱了,但是有个新的敌人要兴起。As Elisha was sent to Damascus, 正如上帝差遣以利沙去大马士革,Jonah was sent to Nineveh. 约拿被差遣去尼尼微。It was with bitter grief that Elijah brought the word of God to Hazael, 以利沙将上帝的话带给哈薛王,他是苦毒的、忧伤的(王下8:11-13)。So also Jonah viewed the dismay. 同样,约拿是带着这种失望的心情,the sparring of Geneva. 看到尼尼微并没有被毁灭。Particularly when it was to have been destroyed in forty days. 特别因为他宣告四十天尼尼微必定毁灭, Jonah’s commission, 上帝差遣,委任约拿,thus forms a connecting link with God’s word to Elijah on the Horeb we’re going to raising up Hazael and a prediction of the invading Assyrian in Amos, in Hosea. 所以约拿的被委任是一个连接点,前面有以利亚,上帝在何烈山、西奈山上他的话临到以利亚,然后上帝兴起哈薛王。约拿之后有阿摩司和何西阿,他们预言亚述王要来进攻了。从以利亚,阿摩司,何西阿,约拿是站在中间的。God judges His people by raising up the heathen against them. 上帝通过兴起外邦人、异教徒攻击以色列,这样子来审判他的子民。、

But the other aspect of the message to prophet is not only present but prominent in Jonah. 但是整个先知的信息的另外一个层面不但是在约拿里面是存在的,而且是很显著,the mercies of God are extended to the Gentiles. 上帝向外邦人施展他的怜悯。Here also there’s implied strong rebuke to Israel, 这里也意味上帝向以色列有严厉的责备,the Israel of that day and other later day, 就是当时的以色列和后来也就是耶稣基督时期的以色列,【太12:41】 当审判的时候,(耶稣说,)尼尼微人,要起来定这世代的罪,因为尼尼微人听了约拿所传的,就悔改了。看哪,在这里有一人比约拿更大。

Jonah’s mission to Nineveh,约拿去尼尼微这个使命,was not simply to preserve and adventure enemy for Israel, 不单单是要保存一个敌国来向以色列施行上帝的报应。Neither was it merely to dramatize and rebuke the unbelief of the people by means of the contrast being ready response of Nineveh to a single prophetic proclamation on the one hand , and Israel’s stubborn rejection of the repeated and continued administrations to prophet on the other. 首先,不只是保存敌国,第二,也不仅仅是戏剧化的表明上帝责备以色列的不信,因为上帝来做一个鲜明的对照,尼尼微这边的回应,一个先知的一次宣告就回应了,这边呢,以色列是固执的拒绝众先知多次的不断的传讲,不仅是这样的。所以约拿书不仅仅是以色列不悔改,列国要兴起、这个外邦人也悔改,the manifestation of God’s mercy toward Nineveh is of primary importance in Jonah’s mission. 在约拿的使命里面最主要的,重要的意义就是:上帝彰显怜悯,怜悯尼尼微。

我们下一次呢,继续来讲这方面。我们看到很长一段在讲从亚伯拉罕到摩西、到以利亚、到以色列国、北国到以利亚,整个的约的历史,特别是上帝怎么样责备、审判那些不遵行祂的约的王跟子民,这个是大部分的先知的事工的意义和背景。

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