Wednesday, 20th September 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
V1-5 The Kindness of the World Brings Nightmare 屬世的恩慈帶來惡夢
V1-2 ‘It happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.’ David was able to live out the Father’s love and bless others with the Father’s kindness, but when he did not live in God’s Will, he would not be able to continue living in the glorious life. David wanted to show his kindness to the son of the Ammonite king, because the king had helped David in the past. But was what David did really according to the Will of God? David should not be going to the Ammonites in the first place! God was able to save David, but David chose to rely on people. David had an orphan heart, when Saul was chasing after him, David panicked, he forgot God had already anointed him to be the king of Israel, he only wanted to run away.
V1-2 『此後，亞捫人的王死了，他兒子哈嫩接續他做王。 大衛說：「我要照哈嫩的父親拿轄厚待我的恩典，厚待哈嫩。」於是大衛差遣臣僕為他喪父安慰他。大衛的臣僕到了亞捫人的境內。』大衛能夠活出天父的愛，用天父的恩慈祝福別人，但當他不活在神的旨意中時，他就無法繼續活出榮耀的生命。大衛想向亞捫王的兒子表達他的恩慈，因為亞捫王過去曾幫助大衛。但大衛所做的真的是按照神的旨意嗎？大衛一開始就不該去亞捫人那裡！神能夠拯救大衛，但大衛選擇依靠人。大衛有一顆孤兒的心，當掃羅追趕他時，大衛驚慌失措，他忘記了神已經膏立他為以色列的王，他只想逃跑。
V3-5 ‘And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?” Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”’
V3-5 『但亞捫人的首領對他們的主哈嫩說：「大衛差人來安慰你，你想他是尊敬你父親嗎？他差臣僕來不是詳察窺探，要傾覆這城嗎？」 哈嫩便將大衛臣僕的鬍鬚剃去一半，又割斷他們下半截的衣服，使他們露出下體，打發他們回去。 有人告訴大衛，他就差人去迎接他們，因為他們甚覺羞恥。告訴他們說：「可以住在耶利哥，等到鬍鬚長起再回來。」』
It seemed like common sense for David to repay the kindness of the Ammonites, but when we looked in the Bible, Moses told the Israelites long ago not to associate with the Ammonites. How well do we know the Word of God? We are so easy to follow the world’s rules to live and to act, but we know so little about the Word of God! When David went to the Ammonites, did he ask God? There was no record about this. When we make decisions and take actions according to the worldly values, do we ask God? Do we receive confirmation from God? David’s kindness towards the Ammonites led to a disaster. David thought the people of Ammon would appreciate his kindness, but they didn’t. When we don’t seek God, when we don’t walk in the way of God, when we don’t examine the Will of God, then we won’t be able to bring blessings and transformation. On the other hand, we may bring the negative result. We have the heart to help, but when we don’t walk in the Will of God, then our kindness become the nightmare of others.
大衛報答亞捫人的恩情，這似乎是常識，但我們看回聖經，摩西很早就告訴以色列人不要與亞捫人來往。我們對神的話了解多少？我們很容易遵循世界的法則來生活和行動，但我們對神的話知之甚少！當大衛到亞捫人那裡時，他有求問神嗎？對此沒有任何記錄。當我們按照世俗的價值觀做出決定並採取行動時，我們是否求問神？我們得到神的確據嗎？大衛對亞捫人的仁慈導致了一場災難。大衛以為亞捫人會感激他的恩慈，但他們卻沒有。當我們不尋求神，當我們不走神的道路，當我們不審視神的旨意，那麼我們就無法帶來祝福和轉變。另一方面，我們可能會帶來負面的結果。我們有心去幫助，但當我們不遵行神的旨意時，我們的善意就可能會成為別人的惡夢。
V6-19 Make Mistakes Again and Again 一錯再錯
V6-8 ‘When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of Maacah one thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men. Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.’ David was going to show kindness to the people of Ammon, but when they raised up to attack him, David fought back. His kindness was the kindness of the world, whereas when we see Jesus Christ, when He was ashamed and beaten, He asked the Father for forgiveness of the people. This is the difference between the kindness of people and kindness of God.
V6-8『亞捫人知道大衛憎惡他們，就打發人去，招募伯利合的亞蘭人和瑣巴的亞蘭人步兵二萬，與瑪迦王的人一千，陀伯人一萬二千。 大衛聽見了，就差派約押統帶勇猛的全軍出去。 亞捫人出來，在城門前擺陣，瑣巴與利合的亞蘭人、陀伯人並瑪迦人另在郊野擺陣。』大衛想向亞捫人施恩，但當他們起來攻擊他時，大衛反擊了。大衛的仁慈是世人的仁慈，而當我們看到耶穌基督時，當祂感到羞愧和毆打時，祂請求天父寬恕人們。這就是人的仁慈和神的仁慈之間的差別。
V9-12 ‘When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon. Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”’ We show kindness with expectation of the same kindness in return, we thought whatever we do to others, they will also do the same to us. On the other hand, when people attack us, we will also want to fight back, we are hurt so we want to hurt people. We don’t know that we are blind, this is not God’s Will, He didn’t create us to let out of our emotions like this!
V9-12『約押看見敵人在他前後擺陣，就從以色列軍中挑選精兵，使他們對著亞蘭人擺陣， 其餘的兵交於他兄弟亞比篩，對著亞捫人擺陣。 約押對亞比篩說：「亞蘭人若強過我，你就來幫助我；亞捫人若強過你，我就去幫助你。 我們都當剛強，為本國的民和神的城邑做大丈夫！願耶和華憑他的意旨而行。」』我們表現出善意，期望得到同樣的善意回報，我們認為無論我們對別人做什麼，他們也會對我們做同樣的事情。另一方面，當人們攻擊我們時，我們也會想要反擊，我們受到傷害，所以我們想要傷害別人。我們不知道我們是盲目的，這不是神的旨意，祂創造我們不是為了這樣發洩我們的情感！
V13-14 ‘So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to Jerusalem.’ The Bible taught us to come to God with all our burdens and anger. We thought we are our own god, when we are angry and upset, we hurt ourselves, we hurt others, we throw things around, because we want others to see how upset we are. We must come to God with all our burdens and all our emotions. When Hannah was in destress, she didn’t throw things around, she didn’t hurt herself or others, instead, she came to the Temple of God, to cry and to pray to God. Even the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk. Hannah didn’t care how others think, she only wanted to come closer to God. Only when we are willing to open ourselves to God, to cast our burdens to Him, then He can help us and deliver us. David was upset about the people of Ammon, his kindness was from the world and from the flesh. He didn’t receive the same kindness he expected, and therefore he drew out his sword.
V13-14『於是約押和跟隨他的人前進攻打亞蘭人，亞蘭人在約押面前逃跑。 亞捫人見亞蘭人逃跑，他們也在亞比篩面前逃跑進城。約押就離開亞捫人那裡，回耶路撒冷去了。』聖經教導我們帶著所有的重擔和憤怒來到神面前。我們常常認為我們是自己的神，當我們生氣和不安時，我們會傷害自己，傷害別人，我們亂丟東西，因為我們想讓別人看到我們有多不安。我們必須帶著所有的重擔和所有的情緒來到神面前。當哈拿失落的時候，她沒有亂丟東西，沒有傷害自己或別人，而是來到神的殿裡哭泣，向神禱告。連以利也認為她喝醉了。哈拿不在乎別人怎麼想，她只想更接近神。只有當我們願意向神敞開自己，把重擔卸給祂時，祂才能幫助我們、拯救我們。大衛對亞捫人感到生氣，他的仁慈是來自世界和肉體的。他沒有得到他所期望的善意，因此他拔出了劍反擊。
V15-19 ‘When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together. Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them. When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him. Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.’
V15-19『亞蘭人見自己被以色列人打敗，就又聚集。 哈大底謝差遣人，將大河那邊的亞蘭人調來。他們到了希蘭，哈大底謝的將軍朔法率領他們。 有人告訴大衛，他就聚集以色列眾人，過約旦河，來到希蘭。亞蘭人迎著大衛擺陣，與他打仗。 亞蘭人在以色列人面前逃跑，大衛殺了亞蘭七百輛戰車的人、四萬馬兵，又殺了亞蘭的將軍朔法。 屬哈大底謝的諸王見自己被以色列人打敗，就與以色列人和好，歸服他們。於是亞蘭人不敢再幫助亞捫人了。』
David had walked further and further from God, he forgot the love of God. Do we really know God’s Will and walk in God’s Way? God never wanted to judge David, God never wanted to judge Saul, they brought their failures upon themselves. Through their lives, God is teaching us today, where is our love from? Do we love and show kindness only to have the same treatment from others in return? Or do we really know the kindness and love of God, and can show the same to others?
大衛離神越來越遠，他忘記了神的愛。我們真的明白神的旨意並遵行神的道嗎？神從來不想審判大衛，神從來不想審判掃羅，他們的失敗歸咎於自己。今天神透過他們的生命教導我們，我們的愛從何而來？我們的愛心和善意是否只是為了得到別人同樣的對待？或者我們真的知道神的恩慈和愛，並且能夠向別人表現出同樣的恩慈和愛嗎？
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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