W3 2012-01-04 (書3)
經文: 約書亞記 3:5-6 約書亞吩咐百姓說：「你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事。」約書亞又吩咐祭司說：「你們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭過去。」於是他們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭走。
默想: 這是約書亞接續摩西帶領以色列人，要過約但河進入迦南應許地時，耶和華所施行的第一件神蹟。就像四十年前，當摩西要帶領以色列人出埃及時，耶和華伸出大能的手，讓紅海分開，帶領以色列人腳踏乾地，走過紅海，離開埃及為奴之地，也在以色列人心裡，定下摩西的領袖地位。如今，耶和華又要彰顯他的大能，讓約書亞帶領以色列人，踏過約但河床的乾地，離開流浪了四十年的曠野，走進迦南應許地。但是，這兩個神蹟卻有一個不同的處境與兩個不同的要件。當摩西帶領以色列人過紅海時，埃及法老王的馬車追兵已經快要追上逃走的以色列人，以色列人是在極端害怕的情況之下，請摩西向耶和華求救。當約書亞帶領以色列人要渡過約但河時，以色列人在河東已經戰勝了幾個王國，而且沒有人敢來惹以色列人，害怕的是約書亞，他剛上任，也沒有埃及十大神蹟來建立他的領袖地位，他不知道要如何處理目前的處境。耶和華在西乃山已經賞賜給以色列人約櫃，作為耶和華帶領以色列人的象徵與記號，同時也為以色列人設立了祭司，來帶領以色列人敬拜耶和華，並且也藉著摩西的口頒布了律例典章誡命，要以色列人遵行，好成為聖潔的國民。這一次，耶和華先要約書亞吩咐以色列人，在過約但河之前夜要自潔，然後耶和華並沒有命令約書亞將手中的杖舉高，來讓約但河的水止住在上游，而是讓抬約櫃的祭司的腳，先踏入滿溢兩岸的約但河水，當抬約櫃的祭司將腳踏入約但河水時，約但河的水就從上游止住了。在這裡我們看見，屬靈的領導從集中在摩西一個人，逐漸擴展到讓祭司也參與信心的冒險，還也以色列人也要過聖潔的生活來參與過約但河的神蹟事件。
題目: 13、17節，有時我們的環境好似河水漲過兩岸。然，你是否願意像以色列民一樣，將腳踏入水中，讓上主成就奇事？
3:1 約書亞清早起來，和以色列眾人都離開什亭，來到約旦河，就住在那裡，等候過河。
Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim, with all the people of Israel; and they came to the Jordan, and lodged there before they passed over.
3:2 過了三天，官長走遍營中，
At the end of three days the officers went through the camp
3:3 吩咐百姓說：「你們看見耶和華─你們 神的約櫃，又見祭司利未人抬著，就要離開所住的地方，跟著約櫃去。
and commanded the people, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it,
3:4 只是你們和約櫃相離要量二千肘，不可與約櫃相近，使你們知道所當走的路，因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。」
that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, a distance of about two thousand cubits; do not come near it."
3:5 約書亞吩咐百姓說：「你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事。」
And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."
3:6 約書亞又吩咐祭司說：「你們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭過去。」於是他們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭走。
And Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass on before the people." And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
3:7 耶和華對約書亞說：「從今日起，我必使你在以色列眾人眼前尊大，使他們知道我怎樣與摩西同在，也必照樣與你同在。
And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
3:8 你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司說：『你們到了約旦河的水邊上，就要在約旦河水裡站住。』」
And you shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, `When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"
3:9 約書亞對以色列人說：「你們近前來，聽耶和華─你們 神的話。」
And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God."
3:10 約書亞說：「看哪，普天下主的約櫃必在你們前頭過去，到約旦河裡，因此你們就知道在你們中間有永生 神；並且他必在你們面前趕出迦南人、赫人、希未人、比利洗人、革迦撒人、亞摩利人、耶布斯人。
And Joshua said, "Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Per'izzites, the Gir'gashites, the Amorites, and the Jeb'usites.
3:11 併於上節
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is to pass over before you into the Jordan.
3:12 你們現在要從以色列支派中揀選十二個人，每支派一人，
Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.
3:13 等到抬普天下主耶和華約櫃的祭司把腳站在約旦河水裡，約旦河的水，就是從上往下流的水，必然斷絕，立起成壘。」
And when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be stopped from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap."
3:14 百姓離開帳棚要過約旦河的時候，抬約櫃的祭司乃在百姓的前頭。
So, when the people set out from their tents, to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
3:15 他們到了約旦河，腳一入水（原來約旦河水在收割的日子漲過兩岸），
and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),
3:16 那從上往下流的水便在極遠之地、撒拉但旁的亞當城那裡停住，立起成壘；那往亞拉巴的海，就是鹽海，下流的水全然斷絕。於是百姓在耶利哥的對面過去了。
the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zar'ethan, and those flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off; and the people passed over opposite Jericho.
3:17 抬耶和華約櫃的祭司在約旦河中的乾地上站定，以色列眾人都從乾地上過去，直到國民盡都過了約旦河。
And while all Israel were passing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim, with all the people of Israel; and they came to the Jordan, and lodged there before they passed over.
3:2 過了三天，官長走遍營中，
At the end of three days the officers went through the camp
3:3 吩咐百姓說：「你們看見耶和華─你們 神的約櫃，又見祭司利未人抬著，就要離開所住的地方，跟著約櫃去。
and commanded the people, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it,
3:4 只是你們和約櫃相離要量二千肘，不可與約櫃相近，使你們知道所當走的路，因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。」
that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, a distance of about two thousand cubits; do not come near it."
3:5 約書亞吩咐百姓說：「你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事。」
And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."
3:6 約書亞又吩咐祭司說：「你們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭過去。」於是他們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭走。
And Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass on before the people." And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
3:7 耶和華對約書亞說：「從今日起，我必使你在以色列眾人眼前尊大，使他們知道我怎樣與摩西同在，也必照樣與你同在。
And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
3:8 你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司說：『你們到了約旦河的水邊上，就要在約旦河水裡站住。』」
And you shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, `When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"
3:9 約書亞對以色列人說：「你們近前來，聽耶和華─你們 神的話。」
And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God."
3:10 約書亞說：「看哪，普天下主的約櫃必在你們前頭過去，到約旦河裡，因此你們就知道在你們中間有永生 神；並且他必在你們面前趕出迦南人、赫人、希未人、比利洗人、革迦撒人、亞摩利人、耶布斯人。
And Joshua said, "Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Per'izzites, the Gir'gashites, the Amorites, and the Jeb'usites.
3:11 併於上節
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is to pass over before you into the Jordan.
3:12 你們現在要從以色列支派中揀選十二個人，每支派一人，
Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.
3:13 等到抬普天下主耶和華約櫃的祭司把腳站在約旦河水裡，約旦河的水，就是從上往下流的水，必然斷絕，立起成壘。」
And when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be stopped from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap."
3:14 百姓離開帳棚要過約旦河的時候，抬約櫃的祭司乃在百姓的前頭。
So, when the people set out from their tents, to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
3:15 他們到了約旦河，腳一入水（原來約旦河水在收割的日子漲過兩岸），
and when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),
3:16 那從上往下流的水便在極遠之地、撒拉但旁的亞當城那裡停住，立起成壘；那往亞拉巴的海，就是鹽海，下流的水全然斷絕。於是百姓在耶利哥的對面過去了。
the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zar'ethan, and those flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off; and the people passed over opposite Jericho.
3:17 抬耶和華約櫃的祭司在約旦河中的乾地上站定，以色列眾人都從乾地上過去，直到國民盡都過了約旦河。
And while all Israel were passing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
約書亞帶領以色列人進入迦南，一如主耶穌帶領屬祂的人，進入豐盛的生命與生活裏面。最後，又帶領他們進入那天上永遠的安息裏面，享受無限的榮耀與豐富。
回覆刪除信心與順服──其實以色列人必須有信心，才肯按照約書亞的命令過約旦河；尤其是抬約櫃的祭司，必須有信心才肯將腳踏進河水裏面。對以色列民來說，過約旦河的行動表示要他們破釜沉舟，一心一意和敵人作戰。從屬靈的角度來看，這猶如受洗歸入基督，沒有回頭的餘地，以後開始過一個完全信靠順服上帝的生活。
求主幫助我們，今天，我們也必須有信心和順服，才能進入上帝那豐盛的生命裏面。