《撒母耳的多重角色》Day 02

士師撒母耳 — 紀念神的工作

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。」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。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。15 撒母耳平生作以色列的士師。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。17 隨後回到拉瑪,因為他的家在那裏;也在那裏審判以色列人,且為耶和華築了一座壇。(撒母耳記上七12-17)

6 撒母耳對百姓說:「從前立摩西、亞倫,又領你們列祖出埃及地的是耶和華。7 現在你們要站住,等我在耶和華面前對你們講論耶和華向你們和你們列祖所行一切公義的事。
從前雅各到了埃及,後來你們列祖呼求耶和華,耶和華就差遣摩西、亞倫領你們列祖出埃及,使他們在這地方居住。他們卻忘記耶和華-他們的神,祂就把他們付與夏瑣將軍西西拉的手裏,和非利士人並摩押王的手裏。於是這些人常來攻擊他們。10 他們就呼求耶和華說:『我們離棄耶和華,事奉巴力和亞斯她錄,是有罪了。現在求你救我們脫離仇敵的手,我們必事奉你。』11 耶和華就差遣耶路‧巴力、比但、耶弗他、撒母耳救你們脫離四圍仇敵的手,你們才安然居住。(撒母耳記上十二6-11)

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[b] saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord. (1 Samuel 7:12-17)

6 Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of Egypt. 7 Now then, stand here, because I am going to confront you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts performed by the Lord for you and your ancestors. 8 “After Jacob entered Egypt, they cried to the Lord for help, and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9 “But they forgot the Lord their God; so He sold them into the hand of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. 10 They cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 11 Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you, so that you lived in safety. (1 Samuel 12:6-11)

分享:大家還記得撒母耳處身於士師時代的晚期嗎?事實上,他正是最後一位耶和華興起的士師。

透過上一個《士師vs自私》ChatGOD系列,我們看到之前的士師愈發偏行己路,只自私的顧著自己的事,忘卻了耶和華才是興起拯救者、士師的那位。就算到了《撒母耳記上》的開首,以利作為士師尊重兒子過於尊重神,結果不單令神降罰於以利家,後來連約櫃也丟卻。

然而,撒母耳卻能在這個最敗壞的士師時代撥亂反正。他按公義巡行審判百姓;呼求神救以色列人,將非利士人擊退;又引領以色列人專心歸向耶和華,單單事奉祂,除卻巴力等諸神⋯⋯ 撒母耳更於米斯巴立一塊石頭,起名「以便以謝」紀念神。

千萬不要輕看撒母耳這項紀念神的舉措,這不單將榮耀歸予神,更是蘊含著對以色列人的提醒,紀念「到如今耶和華都幫助我們」(撒上七12下)。「到如今⋯⋯都」反映著撒母耳見到和宣告神一直以來對以色列人的拯救 — 不管是之前連約櫃也被擄走的時候,還是現在能制伏非利士人的時候。後來,撒母耳在士師生涯結束時,對以色列眾人留下告別詞,重申耶和華向他們和列祖所行一切公義的事,包括雅各到埃及、差遣摩西和亞倫領列祖出埃及到應許之地居住,又興起士師救他們脫離仇敵的手⋯⋯ 對於撒母耳來說,神的拯救到如今仍沒有離開他們。即使以色列人要立王,但神仍強調只要他們沒有偏離神去侍奉別的神,以色列民仍是神的子民。(參撒上十二6-22)

你見到神在我們生命中所做的一切嗎?還記得祂對我們最大的拯救,是讓主耶穌替我們捨命贖罪嗎?就讓我們看清主給我們的恩典,數算主恩。

反思:我今天看到了主什麼樣的恩典?我知道神給了我最大的恩典嗎?

禱告:親愛的天父,感謝祢讓我看到撒母耳作為士師,他總是將祢的恩典和拯救掛在口邊,又立石紀念祢到如今都幫助我們。感謝祢讓我今天有生命氣息,感謝祢讓我今天有靈修親近祢的時間,感謝祢賜下話語和提醒給我,感謝祢差派主耶穌為我們贖罪,感謝祢與我們同在⋯⋯奉主名求,阿們!

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