全新四年樂活讀經
W5 2012-04-27 (撒上7)
經文: 撒母耳記上 7:3 撒母耳對以色列全家說：你們若一心歸順耶和華，就要把外邦的神和亞斯他錄從你們中間除掉，專心歸向耶和華，單單地事奉他。他必救你們脫離非利士人的手。
默想: 從撒母耳這一句話，我們知道以色列人雖然從埃及經歷耶和華的拯救，但是他們在進入迦南地之後，卻很快就忘記了在西乃山與耶和華所訂下的盟誓，除了敬拜耶和華之外，還跟從迦南人敬拜他們所敬拜的偶像亞斯他錄。可見混合崇拜 (Syncretism) 是很常見的現象。這也是為什麽耶和華要在西乃山透過摩西頒佈十誡時，第一誡就說，我以外你不可以有別神。要專心歸向耶和華，單單事奉他。在這一次戰役中，以色列人誤以為他們只要將耶和華的約櫃抬出來，就必定會得到耶和華的庇佑而戰勝敵人。耶和華卻寧可讓約櫃被非利士人擄去，也要讓以色列人戰敗，好讓以色列人從失敗中學習這個寶貴的屬靈功課，就是耶和華是嫉妒的神 (或翻譯為忌邪的神)，他要求人如果要事奉耶和華，就必須拒決妥協，也同時去侍奉別的神明。這種極端排他性的信仰 (exclusive faith) 也常常是基督教被其他宗教批判的主要原因之一。求主保守我，讓我學習專心侍奉耶和華。
題目: 「以便以謝」意「幫助之石」：「上主一直幫助我們」這是撒母耳的體會，試問：你也能體會上主「一直」在幫助你嗎？(v12)
7:1 基列‧耶琳人就下來，將耶和華的約櫃接上去，放在山上亞比拿達的家中，分派他兒子以利亞撒看守耶和華的約櫃。
And the men of Kir'iath-je'arim came and took up the ark of the LORD, and brought it to the house of Abin'adab on the hill; and they consecrated his son, Elea'zar, to have charge of the ark of the LORD.
7:2 約櫃在基列‧耶琳許久。過了二十年，以色列全家都傾向耶和華。
From the day that the ark was lodged at Kir'iath-je'arim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
7:3 撒母耳對以色列全家說：「你們若一心歸順耶和華，就要把外邦的神和亞斯她錄從你們中間除掉，專心歸向耶和華，單單地事奉他。他必救你們脫離非利士人的手。」
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ash'taroth from among you, and direct your heart to the LORD, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
7:4 以色列人就除掉諸巴力和亞斯她錄，單單地事奉耶和華。
So Israel put away the Ba'als and the Ash'taroth, and they served the LORD only.
7:5 撒母耳說：「要使以色列眾人聚集在米斯巴，我好為你們禱告耶和華。」
Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you."
7:6 他們就聚集在米斯巴，打水澆在耶和華面前，當日禁食，說：「我們得罪了耶和華。」於是撒母耳在米斯巴審判以色列人。
So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
7:7 非利士人聽見以色列人聚集在米斯巴，非利士的首領就上來要攻擊以色列人。以色列人聽見，就懼怕非利士人。
Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines.
7:8 以色列人對撒母耳說：「願你不住地為我們呼求耶和華─我們的 神，救我們脫離非利士人的手。」
And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines."
7:9 撒母耳就把一隻吃奶的羊羔獻與耶和華作全牲的燔祭，為以色列人呼求耶和華；耶和華就應允他。
So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.
7:10 撒母耳正獻燔祭的時候，非利士人前來要與以色列人爭戰。當日，耶和華大發雷聲，驚亂非利士人，他們就敗在以色列人面前。
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the LORD thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel.
7:11 以色列人從米斯巴出來，追趕非利士人，擊殺他們，直到伯甲的下邊。
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, as far as below Beth-car.
7:12 撒母耳將一塊石頭立在米斯巴和善的中間，給石頭起名叫以便以謝，說：「到如今耶和華都幫助我們。」
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jesha'nah, and called its name Ebene'zer; for he said, "Hitherto the LORD has helped us."
7:13 從此，非利士人就被制伏，不敢再入以色列人的境內。撒母耳作士師的時候，耶和華的手攻擊非利士人。
So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
7:14 非利士人所取以色列人的城邑，從以革倫直到迦特，都歸以色列人了。屬這些城的四境，以色列人也從非利士人手下收回。那時以色列人與亞摩利人和好。
The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel rescued their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.
7:15 撒母耳平生作以色列的士師。
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
7:16 他每年巡行到伯特利、吉甲、米斯巴，在這幾處審判以色列人。
And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places.
7:17 隨後回到拉瑪，因為他的家在那裡；也在那裡審判以色列人，且為耶和華築了一座壇。
Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he administered justice to Israel. And he built there an altar to the LORD.
And the men of Kir'iath-je'arim came and took up the ark of the LORD, and brought it to the house of Abin'adab on the hill; and they consecrated his son, Elea'zar, to have charge of the ark of the LORD.
7:2 約櫃在基列‧耶琳許久。過了二十年，以色列全家都傾向耶和華。
From the day that the ark was lodged at Kir'iath-je'arim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
7:3 撒母耳對以色列全家說：「你們若一心歸順耶和華，就要把外邦的神和亞斯她錄從你們中間除掉，專心歸向耶和華，單單地事奉他。他必救你們脫離非利士人的手。」
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ash'taroth from among you, and direct your heart to the LORD, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
7:4 以色列人就除掉諸巴力和亞斯她錄，單單地事奉耶和華。
So Israel put away the Ba'als and the Ash'taroth, and they served the LORD only.
7:5 撒母耳說：「要使以色列眾人聚集在米斯巴，我好為你們禱告耶和華。」
Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you."
7:6 他們就聚集在米斯巴，打水澆在耶和華面前，當日禁食，說：「我們得罪了耶和華。」於是撒母耳在米斯巴審判以色列人。
So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
7:7 非利士人聽見以色列人聚集在米斯巴，非利士的首領就上來要攻擊以色列人。以色列人聽見，就懼怕非利士人。
Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines.
7:8 以色列人對撒母耳說：「願你不住地為我們呼求耶和華─我們的 神，救我們脫離非利士人的手。」
And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines."
7:9 撒母耳就把一隻吃奶的羊羔獻與耶和華作全牲的燔祭，為以色列人呼求耶和華；耶和華就應允他。
So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.
7:10 撒母耳正獻燔祭的時候，非利士人前來要與以色列人爭戰。當日，耶和華大發雷聲，驚亂非利士人，他們就敗在以色列人面前。
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the LORD thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel.
7:11 以色列人從米斯巴出來，追趕非利士人，擊殺他們，直到伯甲的下邊。
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, as far as below Beth-car.
7:12 撒母耳將一塊石頭立在米斯巴和善的中間，給石頭起名叫以便以謝，說：「到如今耶和華都幫助我們。」
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jesha'nah, and called its name Ebene'zer; for he said, "Hitherto the LORD has helped us."
7:13 從此，非利士人就被制伏，不敢再入以色列人的境內。撒母耳作士師的時候，耶和華的手攻擊非利士人。
So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
7:14 非利士人所取以色列人的城邑，從以革倫直到迦特，都歸以色列人了。屬這些城的四境，以色列人也從非利士人手下收回。那時以色列人與亞摩利人和好。
The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel rescued their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.
7:15 撒母耳平生作以色列的士師。
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
7:16 他每年巡行到伯特利、吉甲、米斯巴，在這幾處審判以色列人。
And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places.
7:17 隨後回到拉瑪，因為他的家在那裡；也在那裡審判以色列人，且為耶和華築了一座壇。
Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he administered justice to Israel. And he built there an altar to the LORD.
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『撒母耳將一塊石頭立在米斯巴和善的中間，給石頭起名叫「以便以謝」 (אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר , Ebenezer)，說：「到如今耶和華都幫助我們。」』(撒上 7:12)
回覆刪除這個字「以便以謝」(אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר , Ebenezer)，第一次是用在撒上 4:1節，是指一個城市，它距離耶路撒冷西北25英里和離東海岸10英里的地方。在那個非利士人戰爭肆虐的時代，這個城市，可說是一個戰鬥的遺址。
但在悲劇發生的當時，有關「約櫃」和 “非利士人將神的約櫃，從「以便以謝」擄到亞實突（撒上5:1-2節）。懲治非利士人以後（參見撒上5-6章），慈悲的上帝容許約櫃被送回以色列民中（撒上7:1-2節）。撒母耳然後把“石頭”設置在耶路撒冷以北6公里附近的「米斯巴」的地方。這個大石頭，成了一個「戰爭紀念碑」，它的特殊的意義，是要提醒以色列百姓：「到如今耶和華都幫助我們」。這要告訴他們：耶和華是全能的上帝，祂主宰了整個世界，唯一的真神。
我們的家，是否也需要一個座佑銘，常常提醒我們自己：「到如今耶和華都幫助我們」 ？ 求主幫助我們，要常常教導我們的孩子，提醒他們：不論環境如何，貧富或貴賤，或這樣或那樣，我們因著神的信實永不改變，祂的話永定在天，我們憑著信心，仰望神---天上的阿 爸父神，祂天天供應我們的所需所求。像撒母耳一樣，我們要在家裡設立一個「以便以謝」(אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר , Ebenezer)，隨時來提醒我們：上帝是我們隨時的幫助，祂的大能，祂的供應，祂的恩典夠我們用的，我們必不致缺乏。