全新四年樂活讀經
W1 2012-04-30 (撒上8)
經文: 撒母耳記上 8:1-3 撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
默想: 撒母耳一生忠心侍奉耶和華，帶領以色列人歸向耶和華。很遺憾的是撒母耳卻無法將自己的兩個兒子帶好。想起當撒母耳年幼時，親眼看見大祭司以利沒有辦法教好自己的兩個兒子何弗尼、非尼哈，讓這兩個兒子在神的殿中為非作歹，以致遭到耶和華嚴厲的懲治。想當年大祭司亞倫也是一樣，沒有辦法教導自己的兩個兒子拿答、亞比戶，好好遵照耶和華的命令，來侍奉耶和華，他們也遭到耶和華的火燒死在會幕前。撒母耳既無法將自己的兩個兒子教好，為何又敢將這兩個不學好的兒子立為士師，讓他們有機會濫用士師職權，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。結果是以色列百姓前來要求撒母耳為他們立一個王，撒母耳還內心滿懷憤怒。求主幫助我，能夠盡自己的力量，把你所賞賜給我的子女教好，讓他們一生遵行主的命令，順服主的帶領。
題目: 雖已表明立君王統治，如在自身加上重軛，以色列民仍盲目選擇要如鄰邦立君王管轄。擁有自由意志可以隨心選擇，是上主的恩典，但試問你對這上主的恩典會如何使用？(v11-20)
8:1 撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。
When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
8:2 長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
The name of his first-born son was Jo'el, and the name of his second, Abi'jah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.
8:3 他兒子不行他的道，貪財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.
8:4 以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,
8:5 對他說：「你年紀老邁了，你兒子不行你的道。現在求你為我們立一個王治理我們，像列國一樣。」
and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations."
8:6 撒母耳不喜悅他們說「立一個王治理我們」，他就禱告耶和華。
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
8:7 耶和華對撒母耳說：「百姓向你說的一切話，你只管依從；因為他們不是厭棄你，乃是厭棄我，不要我作他們的王。
And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
8:8 自從我領他們出埃及到如今，他們常常離棄我，事奉別神。現在他們向你所行的，是照他們素來所行的。
According to all the deeds which they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.
8:9 故此你要依從他們的話，只是當警戒他們，告訴他們將來那王怎樣管轄他們。」
Now then, hearken to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."
8:10 撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking a king from him.
8:11 「管轄你們的王必這樣行：他必派你們的兒子為他趕車、跟馬，奔走在車前；
He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots;
8:12 又派他們作千夫長、五十夫長，為他耕種田地，收割莊稼，打造軍器和車上的器械；
and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
8:13 必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
8:14 也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants.
8:15 你們的糧食和葡萄園所出的，他必取十分之一給他的太監和臣僕；
He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.
8:16 又必取你們的僕人婢女，健壯的少年人和你們的驢，供他的差役。
He will take your menservants and maidservants, and the best of your cattle and your asses, and put them to his work.
8:17 你們的羊群，他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.
8:18 那時你們必因所選的王哀求耶和華，耶和華卻不應允你們。」
And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day."
8:19 百姓竟不肯聽撒母耳的話，說：「不然！我們定要一個王治理我們，
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No! but we will have a king over us,
8:20 使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」
that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."
8:21 撒母耳聽見百姓這一切話，就將這話陳明在耶和華面前。
And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD.
8:22 耶和華對撒母耳說：「你只管依從他們的話，為他們立王。」撒母耳對以色列人說：「你們各歸各城去吧！」
And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to their voice, and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."
When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
8:2 長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
The name of his first-born son was Jo'el, and the name of his second, Abi'jah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.
8:3 他兒子不行他的道，貪財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.
8:4 以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,
8:5 對他說：「你年紀老邁了，你兒子不行你的道。現在求你為我們立一個王治理我們，像列國一樣。」
and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations."
8:6 撒母耳不喜悅他們說「立一個王治理我們」，他就禱告耶和華。
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
8:7 耶和華對撒母耳說：「百姓向你說的一切話，你只管依從；因為他們不是厭棄你，乃是厭棄我，不要我作他們的王。
And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
8:8 自從我領他們出埃及到如今，他們常常離棄我，事奉別神。現在他們向你所行的，是照他們素來所行的。
According to all the deeds which they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.
8:9 故此你要依從他們的話，只是當警戒他們，告訴他們將來那王怎樣管轄他們。」
Now then, hearken to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."
8:10 撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking a king from him.
8:11 「管轄你們的王必這樣行：他必派你們的兒子為他趕車、跟馬，奔走在車前；
He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots;
8:12 又派他們作千夫長、五十夫長，為他耕種田地，收割莊稼，打造軍器和車上的器械；
and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
8:13 必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
8:14 也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants.
8:15 你們的糧食和葡萄園所出的，他必取十分之一給他的太監和臣僕；
He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.
8:16 又必取你們的僕人婢女，健壯的少年人和你們的驢，供他的差役。
He will take your menservants and maidservants, and the best of your cattle and your asses, and put them to his work.
8:17 你們的羊群，他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.
8:18 那時你們必因所選的王哀求耶和華，耶和華卻不應允你們。」
And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day."
8:19 百姓竟不肯聽撒母耳的話，說：「不然！我們定要一個王治理我們，
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No! but we will have a king over us,
8:20 使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」
that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."
8:21 撒母耳聽見百姓這一切話，就將這話陳明在耶和華面前。
And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD.
8:22 耶和華對撒母耳說：「你只管依從他們的話，為他們立王。」撒母耳對以色列人說：「你們各歸各城去吧！」
And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to their voice, and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."
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以色列的長老們要求設立一個王治理以色列民，像列國一樣（4-5節）。撒母耳雖極力警告他們，但這些人卻不聽從（11-18節）。我們發現撒母耳在上帝的指引下，答應他們的願望（22節）。然而，以色列人不但棄絕撒母耳，更棄絕上帝。上帝並不是把祂的子民當作木偶劇裡的木偶來看待，而是待他們如同成年人，把事實擺在他們面前，讓他們自己去決定和承擔後果。
回覆刪除今天，同樣地，因著上帝的恩典，祂雖主宰著每一件事，但是祂卻給了我們有思想、有辨別是非的能力、有自由意志，面對著不同的選擇（Choices）， 我們可以自由地選擇其中的一條路來走，選擇聽從祂或者拒絕祂。
上帝希望我們這些祂的子女們，選擇聽從祂，作個討祂喜悅的人。神用各樣的環境引導我們，賜福我們，讓我們學習何為善，讓我們在享受祂的恩典以後，更樂意順服祂，這是神所作的一切。而站在人的角度來看，人有完全的自由的選擇權。要不要順服神或違抗祂的旨意。神是聖潔的，是厭惡罪惡的，當然不喜悅人犯罪了。不過如果人執意不肯聽勸，那麼人所選擇的道路，就得自己承擔一切的後果。
美國三一神學院副教授鮑維均博士認為人必須有自由意志才懂得回應神的呼召。因為神照著自己的模樣造人，因此人必有選擇的尊嚴，才能產生愛和關係，否則便和機械人無別。這也是傳福音的使命，人以自由意志回應。（參考「思典與自由」聖經講座 -- 鮑維均論神的主權與人的自由。 11/30/2009 ）
求主幫助我們，讓我們珍惜上帝給我們的恩典，做為神寶貝的兒女，當以愛和認識祂，尊主為大地的心意來回應，每逢做一件事，說一句話，一定要想清楚，考慮清楚後果，自己要承擔自己決定後的結果。告訴自己，這是上帝喜歡我這樣做嗎？若主耶穌今天是我，祂會怎樣做？ （If I were Jesus, what would Jesus do ?）