From Hosea Chapter 14:1-9

^14:1 Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! ²Take words with you and return to the Lord.

Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. ³Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” 

⁴“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. ⁵I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; ⁶his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. ⁷People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine. Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon. ⁸Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me.”

⁹Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

This last message God sent to the Israelites through the prophet Hosea was a message calling for repentance. God wanted them to return to Him. Hosea 14:1 “Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall!” Israel has fallen because of her sin; will she continue and refuse to  turn back? Would she be like the prodigal son who would not awaken to his senses until he had no food to eat, not even food fit for pigs? How about us, have we awakened?  

The Lord wanted Israel to return to Him because He wanted to cleanse them of their sins. They need no longer sacrifice to calves, nor ask help from Assyria, nor mount Egypt’s warhorses because they can know the mercy of the Lord and He has also become their salvation. The Lord was willing to show them grace; He waited for them to  return to Him!  They were ill but they were not aware of it.  Their illness is called ‘waywardness’. Hosea 14:4 “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.” The Lord Jesus said that the sick are the ones who need a doctor. However, are we aware that we are sick? We are very ill! Unfortunately, we remain arrogant and unrepentant.  May the Lord have mercy on us. 

As long as we return to Him, the grace of God will be there for us. Starting from verse 5, the prophet used eight parables to tell them that as long as they return to God, the grace of God will be there for them. At that time they will: 

1. Be like the dew
2. Blossom like a lily
3. Be rooted like the cedars of Lebanon
4. Experience His splendor like an olive tree
5. Find His fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon 
6. Flourish like the vine 
7. Know His fame like Lebanon’s wine 
8. Be like a flourishing juniper tree. 

As an agricultural society, Israel immediately understood how great the offer of God’s grace was for them.

Church, what about us? Have we returned to God? The prophet ended with a question, which is also a call to action. Hosea 14:9 “Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” 

Are you discerning enough? Would you like to walk in the ways of the Lord? May God bless you.

Previous post: Enmity or Friendship with God 

當歸向耶和華  | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書14:1-9

^14:1 以色列阿, 你要歸向耶和華你的神, 你是因自己的罪孽跌倒了。²當歸向耶和華, 用言語禱告他說: 求你除淨罪孽, 悅納善行, 這樣,我們就把嘴唇的祭代替牛犢獻上。³我們不向亞述求救,不騎埃及的馬, 也不再對我們手所造的說: 你是我們的神, 因為孤兒在你耶和華那裡得蒙憐憫。

⁴我必醫治他們背道的病, 甘心愛他們, 因為我的怒氣向他們轉消。⁵我必向以色列如甘露, 他必如百合花開放, 如利巴嫩的樹木扎根。⁶他的枝條必延長, 他的榮華如橄欖樹,他的香氣如利巴嫩的香柏樹。⁷曾住在他蔭下的必歸回, 發旺如五穀, 開花如葡萄樹, 他的香氣如利巴嫩的酒。⁸以法蓮必說: 我與偶像還有甚麼關涉呢? 我耶和華回答他, 也必顧念他, 我如青翠的松樹, 你的果子從我而得。

⁹誰是智慧人, 可以明白這些事, 誰是通達人, 可以知道這一切, 因為耶和華的道是正直的, 義人必在其中行走,罪人卻在其上跌倒。

神藉先知何西亞向以色列人發出最後一篇信息是悔改的信息, 神要他們歸向祂。14:1 以色列阿, 你要歸向耶和華你的神, 你是因自己的罪孽跌倒了。以色列因為罪的原因已經跌倒了, 還不回頭嗎? 正如浪子已經連豬吃的都沒有了, 他醒悟了, 我們又醒悟沒有呢?

神要以色列歸向祂, 因為神要除淨他們的罪孽, 他們不再祭祭給牛犢, 也不向亞述求救, 不騎埃及的馬, 因為他們認識耶和華的憐憫, 神也成為他們的拯救。神是何等願意賜恩給他們, 只在等候他們回轉啊! 因為他們生了病, 但他們還不知道, 他們的病稱為背道的病。14:4 我必醫治他們背道的病, 甘心愛他們, 因為我的怒氣向他們轉消。主耶穌有病的人需要醫生, 但我們知道我們有病嗎? 我們真是病得不輕啊! 可惜我們還自高自大不知悔改, 求神憐憫我們。

只要我們回轉, 神的恩要臨到我們, 從第五節開始, 先知用了八個比喻來告訴他們, 只要他們回轉歸向神, 神的恩也會臨到他們身上, 那個時候他們必如: 

1. 如甘露
2. 如百合花開放
3. 如利巴嫩的樹木扎根
4. 榮華如橄欖樹 
5. 香氣如利巴嫩的香柏樹
6. 開花如葡萄樹
7. 他的香氣如利巴嫩的酒
8. 如青翠的松樹。

作為一個農業國家的以色列, 他們馬上明白神所賜的恩是何等的大。

教會, 我們又如何呢? 我們歸向了神沒有？先知最後用一個問題來結束, 這個問題也可以說是一個決定; 14:9 誰是智慧人? 可以明白這些事, 誰是通達人, 可以知道這一切, 因為耶和華的道是正直的, 義人必在其中行走,罪人卻在其上跌倒。你是智慧人嗎? 你願意行在耶和華的道上嗎? 願神祝福你。

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From Hosea Chapter 13:9-16

^10:9 “You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper. ¹⁰Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’? ¹¹So in my anger I gave you a king, and in my wrath, I took him away. ¹²The guilt of Ephraim is stored up, his sins are kept on record. ¹³Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him, but he is a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb. 

¹⁴“I will deliver these people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?

“I will have no compassion, ¹⁵even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures. ¹⁶The people of Samaria must bear their guilt because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.”

The Lord announced one thing to Ephraim right away: He is as good as dead in God’s eyes. This is a terrible announcement. Now Ephraim has to make one of the most important decisions – whether he wants to be a friend of God or an enemy of God. The Lord said, “ You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.” The consequences of being an enemy of God are terrible. 

Israel’s Request for a King

In this passage, the Lord mentioned Israel’s request for a king. The Lord told them two things:

• First, a king was established but he was not able to save them. Hosea 13:10 “Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’?” The Israelites saw that the Gentiles had kings. They saw their military strength and they asked for a king to lead them. They wanted to have military might like the other nations. But what happened? They had a king but the nation did not become powerful and the nation was not saved.  In the end, the Lord gave them a king in his anger, but He took the king away in his wrath.   

• Second, setting up a king didn’t cleanse away their sins. Hosea 13:12 “The guilt of Ephraim is stored up, his sins are kept on record.” The Lord saw through the real reason they wanted a king. They didn’t want God to be their king. For them, it was frightening, for the Lord is so righteous and they could not live in the presence of the holy God.  They thought that they could hide their sins if it were a man ruling over them. But they underestimated the power of the Lord, no sin can be hidden from the Lord.

Ephraim must choose

Now God is giving them a choice – to be His enemies or His friends.  The outcomes of the two are very different. Verses 13 to 16 speak of the consequences of being the enemies of God.  While they thought there was peace and prosperity, disaster will suddenly come. Hosea 13:15 “even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.”

We must choose

Church, do you want to be an enemy of God? Can we afford to be? Turn back quickly and make friends with God. Psalm 30:5 “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

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與神為敵或是與神為友 | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書 13:9-16

^13:9 以色列阿, 你與我反對, 就是反對幫助你的, 自取敗壞。¹⁰你曾求我說: 給我立王和首領, 現在你的王在哪裡呢? 治理你的在哪裡呢? 讓他在你所有的城中拯救你罷。¹¹我在怒氣中將王賜你, 又在烈怒中將王廢去。¹²以法蓮的罪孽包裹, 他的罪惡收藏。¹³產婦的疼痛必臨到他身上, 他是無智慧之子, 到了產期不當遲延。

¹⁴我必救贖他們脫離陰間, 救贖他們脫離死亡, 死亡阿, 你的災害在哪裡呢? 陰間哪, 你的毀滅在哪裡呢? 在我眼前絕無後悔之事。

¹⁵他在弟兄中雖然茂盛, 必有東風颳來, 就是耶和華的風從曠野上來, 他的泉源必乾, 他的源頭必竭, 仇敵必擄掠他所積蓄的一切寶器。¹⁶撒瑪利亞必擔當自己的罪, 因為悖逆他的神, 他必倒在刀下, 嬰孩必被摔死, 孕婦必被剖開。

神在前面向以法蓮宣告一件事: 在神眼中她已經死了。這是何得可怕的宣告, 現在以法蓮要作一個最重要的決定, 她要與神為友, 或是要與神為敵。神告訴她: 你與我反對, 就是反對幫助你的, 自取敗壞。與神為敵的後果是非常可怕的。

以色列要求立王

在這段經文中, 神將以色列要求立王的事提出來, 神在告訴他們二件事： 

• 第一.立了王卻沒有得拯救。13:10 你曾求我說: 給我立王和首領, 現在你的王在哪裡呢? 治理你的在哪裡呢? 讓他在你所有的城中拯救你罷。以色列人看見外邦有王, 他看見他們軍事的強大, 他們也要求有一位王來帶領他們, 他們的目的是要強大, 但結果呢? 王是有了, 但國家沒有強大, 國家沒有得拯救。最後神在怒氣中將王賜他們, 也在烈怒中將王廢去。

• 第二.立了王卻不能將惡變藏。13:12 以法蓮的罪孽包裹, 他的罪惡收藏。神看出以色列人立王真正的原因, 他們不要神作他們的王, 為什麼? 因為神太可怕了, 太公義了, 他們不敢活在聖潔的神面前, 他們以為活在人的面前, 他們的罪惡便可以被包裹, 被收藏起來。但他們低估了神的能力, 沒有任何的罪在神面前是隱藏的。

他們必須選擇

現在神給他們一個選擇, 要與神為敵或人與神為友呢？結果是非常的不同的。從13節開始到16節都在告訴以色列人與神為敵的結果, 當他們自以為平安, 豐盛的時候, 災難要忽然間臨到; 13:15 他在弟兄中雖然茂盛, 必有東風颳來, 就是耶和華的風從曠野上來, 他的泉源必乾, 他的源頭必竭, 仇敵必擄掠他所積蓄的一切寶器。

我們必須選擇

教會, 你要與神為敵嗎? 你承受得起嗎? 或是快快回轉, 與神為友吧, 詩篇 30:5「因為他的怒氣不過是轉眼之間, 他的恩典乃是一生之久, 一宿雖然有哭泣、早晨便必歡呼。」

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From Hosea Chapter 13:1-8

^13:1 When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died. ²Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!” ³Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window. ⁴“But I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. ⁵I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat. ⁶When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me. ⁷So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lurk by the path. 8Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion, I will devour them—a wild animal will tear them apart.

God declared at one point regarding Ephraim: They are dead. The moment they went off to serve Baal, they had become dead in the eyes of God. In the same way, Adam and Eve ‘died’ after they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.”

These verses tell us just how terrible sin is. When we sin, we die spiritually. In the first eight verses of Hosea Chapter 13, the prophet tells us about the terrible nature of sin:

1. Sin deprives people of status. Hosea 13:1 says, “… he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died.” Originally exalted highly in Israel among the chosen people of God, Ephraim fell from the heights and lost their lofty status.
2. Sin causes people to lose their noble identity. Hosea 13:2 “Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!” Man had been created in the image of God. He was given authority to manage the whole earth as lord over it, but sin made him lose that status and identity. Now men are reduced to kissing the calf made by the hand; they subordinated themselves to livestock. Yet men continued on, unaware because sin had made them spiritually blind.
3. Sin makes a man lose his true worth. Hosea 13:3 “Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window.” Man was initially God’s masterpiece but because of sin, he has lost his true value. The prophet said they are like the morning mist, the early dew, like chaff, like smoke. All of these disappear quickly, all exist for only a short while. Sin made man lost his own worth.
4. Sin makes people ungrateful. Hosea 13:6 says “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” Sin makes people ungrateful because sin is all about self-centeredness – “I am the greatest and I am the best.” How can such sinners find a reason to be grateful when they think “everything comes from me and everything is about me.”
5. Sin brings man punishment. Hosea 13:7-8 says “So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard, I will lurk by the path. Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion, I will devour them— a wild animal will tear them apart.” God will deal severely with sinners as a lion, a leopard, and a bear robbed of her cubs.

Sin is terribly destructive and God is a consuming fire, therefore, we must be quick to repent and confess our sins. Let us not wait for the wrath of God to come, for we wouldn’t be able to bear it.

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就死了 | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書 13:1-8

^13:1 從前以法蓮說話, 人都戰兢, 他在以色列中居處高位, 但他在事奉巴力的事上犯罪就死了。²現今他們罪上加罪, 用銀子為自己鑄造偶像, 就是照自己的聰明製造, 都是匠人的工作, 有人論說: 獻祭的人可以向牛犢親嘴。³因此, 他們必如早晨的雲霧, 又如速散的甘露, 像場上的糠秕被狂風吹去, 又像煙氣騰於窗外。⁴自從你出埃及地以來, 我就是耶和華你的神, 在我以外, 你不可認識別神, 除我以外並沒有救主。⁵我曾在曠野乾旱之地認識你。⁶這些民照我所賜的食物得了飽足, 既得飽足心就高傲, 忘記了我。⁷因此, 我向他們如獅子, 又如豹伏在道旁。⁸我遇見他們必像丟崽子的母熊,撕裂他們的胸膛, 在那裡我必像母獅吞喫他們,野獸必撕裂他們。

神向以法蓮宣告一件事: 他們已經死了。當他們事奉巴力的時候, 在神眼中他們已經死了。當亞當夏娃吃了分別善惡樹上果子的時候, 他們已經死了。保羅在以弗所書 2:1 你們死在過犯罪惡之中。這些經文都在告訴我們罪的可怕, 當我們犯罪的時候, 我們已經是一個屬靈的死人。在這八節的經文裡, 先知告訴我們罪的可怕性： 

1. 罪使人失去地位。13:1 他在以色列中居處高位, 但他在事奉巴力的事上犯罪就死了。本來在高位的以色列, 神的百姓, 被揀選的民族, 他們從高處中墜落了, 失去了崇高地位。
2. 罪使人失去了尊貴的身份。13:2 現今他們罪上加罪, 用銀子為自己鑄造偶像, 就是照自己的聰明製造, 都是匠人的工作, 有人論說: 獻祭的人可以向牛犢親嘴。人本來有神的形像, 人要管理全地, 是地上的主人, 但罪使人失去了地位, 也失去了身份, 他們與手所造的牛犢親嘴, 人讓要服在牲畜之下, 人還不自知, 因為罪使人成為了屬靈瞎眼的人。
3. 罪使人失去了真正的價值。13:3 因此, 他們必如早晨的雲霧, 又如速散的甘露, 像場上的糠秕被狂風吹去, 又像煙氣騰於窗外。人本是神的手中的傑作, 但因為罪, 人已經失去了當有的價值, 先知說: 他們如雲霧, 甘露, 糠秕, 煙氣, 這些一切都是忽然間消失的, 都只是很短暫的存在, 罪做人失去了價值。
4. 罪使人忘恩負。13:6 這些民照我所賜的食物得了飽足, 既得飽足心就高傲, 忘記了我。罪使人不會感恩, 因為罪本身就是自我中心, 我最大, 我最好, 這樣的罪人那會有感恩的理由, 因為一切都是出於我自己。
5. 罪使人受刑罰。13:7 因此, 我向他們如獅子, 又如豹伏在道旁。13:8 我遇見他們必像丟崽子的母熊, 撕裂他們的胸膛, 在那裡我必像母獅吞喫他們,野獸必撕裂他們。神很嚴厲責備他們, 如獅子, 如豹, 如丟崽子的母熊來對付犯罪的人。

罪是非常的可怕, 神是烈火, 所以要早早認罪悔改, 不要等神的烈怒發作, 我們是承受不了的。

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From Hosea Chapter 12:7-14

^12:7 The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. 8Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.” ⁹“I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals. ¹⁰I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.” ¹¹Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field. ¹²Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep. ¹³The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him. ¹⁴But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.

12:7 “The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.” This is what the Lord knows of Ephraim. No one in the world knows each of us better than the Lord, because He is our creator, He sees through all our hearts. In fact, we can say that God knows us better than we know ourselves.

Our Conscience or Our God?

In this passage, we see two different standards – the human conscience and God’s Truth. We have to choose one of them as the standard for our actions.

12:8 “Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.” Ephraim reached this conclusion based on human conscience. This is also the standard of the world today, “All that I have are the product of my hard work, therefore no one can say there is any unrighteousness in me.” We often hear people say, “I am a man with a conscience.” Those who say this think of themselves as sinless; after all, they are guided by their conscience. But is a man’s conscience really reliable? Ephraim was also guided by his conscience but God declared judgment against him. Hosea 12:14 “But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.” The human conscience has no merit before our holy God because man has long been corrupted by sin.

We must use God’s truth as our standard

What then should we use as a standard? God’s Truth. In this passage, the prophet reminds us of two things: First, he reminds us to return to the outset of our salvation. Second, we must live out the life of redemption.

Hosea 12:9 “I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals.” The Lord calls for a return to the time when salvation began; a reference to the beginning of a new life. By leaving Egypt (leaving the world), the people of Israel began life anew. Without this grace of salvation, all other labor is simply in vain because they’re merely acts of human effort. We must live out our salvation by living in truth. Hosea 12:10 says, “I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions, and told parables through them.” God appointed prophets and they are His spokespersons. Through His prophet, the Lord teaches and instructs his people to live in truth.

The Lord rebuked his people for not living in the truth, they lived in falsehood, they lived in sin. Hosea 12:11 “Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field.” The prophets recalled the story of their ancestor, Jacob. The Lord did not only blessed Jacob with wives and children in Aram; more importantly, He brought Israel (God changed Jacob’s name to Israel) back. Through the prophet, the Lord cared for him. Hosea 12:13 “The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him.” He was no longer Jacob (whose name meant “to grasp, to steal”), he had become Israel (which means the prince of God).

Church, do you want to live according to your conscience or the Truth? Do you decide right or wrong by yourself or do you base your decisions on the Truth?

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活在真理裡或是活在良心中 | 何西亞書

張國強牧師

何西亞書 12:7-14

^12:7 以法蓮是商人, 手裡有詭詐的天平, 愛行欺騙。⁸以法蓮說: 我果然成了富足, 得了財寶; 我所勞碌得來的, 人必不見有甚麼不義, 可算為罪的。⁹自從你出埃及地以來, 我就是耶和華你的神, 我必使你再住帳棚, 如在大會的日子一樣。¹⁰我已曉諭眾先知, 並且加增默示, 藉先知設立比喻。¹¹基列人沒有罪孽麼? 他們全然是虛假的, 人在吉甲獻牛犢為祭, 他們的祭壇, 好像田間犁溝中的亂堆。¹²從前雅各逃到亞蘭地, 以色列為得妻服事人, 為得妻與人放羊。¹³耶和華藉先知領以色列從埃及上來, 以色列也藉先知而得保存。¹⁴以法蓮大大惹動主怒, 所以他流血的罪, 必歸在他身上, 主必將那因以法蓮所受的羞辱歸還他。

12:7 以法蓮是商人, 手裡有詭詐的天平, 愛行欺騙。這是神對以法蓮的認識, 世界沒有人比神更認識我們每一個人, 因為祂是我們的創造者, 祂更看透我們的內心, 我們甚至可以這樣說, 神比我們自己更了解我們。

在這段經文中, 我們看見了二個不同標準, 人的良心與神的真理,我們要選擇其中一個作我們行事為人的標準。

12:8 以法蓮說: 我果然成了富足, 得了財寶; 我所勞碌得來的, 人必不見有甚麼不義, 可算為罪的。這是以人的良心為標準, 這也是現今世界的標準, 我所勞碌得來的, 人必不見有甚麼不義。我們常常聽見人說: 我是憑良心作人的, 說這些話的人還以爲自己是沒有罪的, 因為他們是憑良心作人, 但人的良心真的可靠嗎？以法蓮也是憑良心作事, 神卻對她發出審判的聲音, 12:14 以法蓮大大惹動主怒, 所以他流血的罪, 必歸在他身上, 主必將那因以法蓮所受的羞辱歸還他。人的良心在神面前是沒有價值的, 因為早已被罪所污染了。

那我們又當用什麼作標準呢? 神的真理。這段經文裡, 先知提醒我們二方面：第一.回到救贖的起初。第二.活出救贖的生命。

12:9 自從你出埃及地以來, 我就是耶和華你的神, 我必使你再住帳棚, 如在大會的日子一樣。這是論到回到救贖的起初。這是新生命的開始, 出埃及(離開世界)永遠是我們新的開始, 沒有這個救贖的恩典, 其他一切勞力都是徒然的, 因為都是靠人的勞力。但這夠了嗎? 不夠的, 我們要活在救贖裡, 活在真理裡; 12:10 我已曉諭眾先知, 並且加增默示, 藉先知設立比喻。神設立先知, 先知就是神的代言人, 神要藉著先知向屬祂的百姓發生教導的聲音, 使祂的百姓活在真理裡。

神斥責他們沒有活在真理裡, 他們是活在虛假中, 他們是活在罪孽裡, 12:11 基列人沒有罪孽麼? 他們全然是虛假的, 人在吉甲獻牛犢為祭, 他們的祭壇, 好像田間犁溝中的亂堆。先知再領他們回想他們始祖雅各的故事, 神不單使雅各在亞蘭地得妻子, 得兒女, 更重要的是領以色列(神改雅各名字為以色列)回來, 藉著先知(神的真理)使他得以保存。12:13 耶和華藉先知領以色列從埃及上來, 以色列也藉先知而得保存。他不再是雅各, (意思是抓, 是賊)他成為了以色列, （意思是神的王子）。

教會, 你要活在你的良心裡或是真理裡呢? 你要以你自己決定對錯或是以真理定對錯呢？

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From Hosea Chapter 12:1-6

^12:1 Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. ²The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. ³In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God. ⁴He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there— ⁵the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name! ⁶But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.

Can we feed on the wind? Can we eat enough of it to fill us? Can we ever catch the wind if we try to pursue it? The answer is obviously no. Doing so would be a waste of energy and resources, and yet we know that “Ephraim feeds on the wind, he pursues the east wind all day.” Just how did Ephraim do that? We see that lies and violence multiplied and the people resorted to making a treaty with Assyria and sending olive oil to Egypt. In the face of adversities, Ephraim did not seek the help of the one and only true God. Instead, he turned to Assyria and Egypt. The result? Ephraim was destroyed by Assyria. Their actions were like feeding on wind, like chasing after the wind — everything was in vain.

From verse 3 to verse 5, the prophet Hosea presents Israel’s ancestor, Jacob, as a role model. These three verses recalled Jacob’s experiences of God as a babe, a middle-aged man, and an old man.

• At birth, his hands grasped his brother’s heel tightly. Hosea 12:3 “In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel”. Jacob wanted to grab the blessing that was due to the eldest son. He wanted the blessing of God.
• As a middle-aged man, he wrestled with God. Hosea 12:3-4 “as a man he struggled with God. He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor.” This incident at Peniel is recorded in Genesis 32. He was about to face Esau and his 400 men; Jacob held onto the angel of the Lord tightly and begged that he be blessed.
• In his old age, when he knew that Joseph was in Egypt, he wanted to go but was afraid to. He was afraid that he would not be able to return to the promised land of God once he left it. Jacob was afraid that God’s promises to him might not be fulfilled and so God appeared to him again in Bethel, Hosea 12:4-5 “He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there— the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name!” The Lord told him,  “Go down to Egypt and I will surely bring you back again”. The Lord assured him Joseph’s own hand will close his eyes.  Thus Jacob boldly embarked on the road to Egypt.

From his youth to his old age, Jacob sought to grab — from grasping Esau’s heel to taking hold of God. Finally, with the blessing of God, Jacob became Israel, and now Israel has become a nation. Everyone in the nation of Israel sees Jacob as their role model.

Hosea 12:6 says “But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.” It is a shame that the Israelites did not hold on tightly to the Lord as their forefather did. Instead, they turned to Assyria, to Egypt for help. Thus, in Hosea 12:2 it says, “The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.”

Church, when we are faced with difficulties, may we recall our past experiences of the Lord. Let us also hand down our spiritual experiences to those who come behind us, that they may recall the power of God and his abundant mercy when they themselves face adversities. May our stories of God spur them on to trust the Lord!

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喫風、追風 | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書 12:1-6

^12:1 以法蓮喫風, 且追趕東風, 時常增添虛謊和強暴, 與亞述立約, 把油送到埃及。²耶和華與猶大爭辯, 必照雅各所行的懲罰他, 按他所作的報應他。³他在腹中抓住哥哥的腳跟, 壯年的時候與神較力, ^4-5與天使較力並且得勝, 哭泣懇求, 在伯特利遇見耶和華, 耶和華萬軍之神在那裡曉諭我們以色列人, 耶和華是他可記念的名。⁶所以你當歸向你的神, 謹守仁愛, 公平, 常常等候你的神。

喫風, 風可以吃嗎? 可以吃飽嗎? 追風, 風可以追嗎? 追得上嗎? 答案很明顯是不可能的, 這根本是在浪費人力物力, 但神卻說: 以法蓮喫風, 且追趕東風。結果呢? 增添虛謊和強暴, 與亞述立約, 把油送到埃及。以法蓮面對困難的時候, 不尋求獨一真神的幫助, 卻與亞述立約, 又與埃及結盟, 但結果呢? 最後竟被亞述所滅, 這真是吃風, 追風, 徒勞無功啊!

從第三節到第五節, 先知何西亞將以色列人的先祖提出來作一個例子, 這三節的經文記載雅各年幼, 中年與老年與神的經歷。

• 年幼出生時他的手緊緊抓著哥哥的腳跟不放12:3 他在腹中抓住哥哥的腳跟。他要抓的是長子的祝福, 他要的是神的祝福; 
• 他中年的時候, 又與神摔跤, 12:3-4壯年的時候與神較力, 與天使較力並且得勝, 哭泣懇求。這是記載在創世記32章毗奴伊勒事件, 他面對以掃與400人的威脅, 他緊緊抓著神不放, 懇求神祝福他。
• 老年的時候, 當他知道約瑟在埃及時, 他想去但又不敢去, 因為他怕, 他離開了神應許之地就不能再回來了, 神對他的應許要成空了, 結果神再一次在伯特利與他顯現, 12:4-5在伯特利遇見耶和華, 耶和華萬軍之神在那裡曉諭我們以色列人, 耶和華是他可記念的名。神對他說: 你去, 我必帶你回來這地, 約瑟必為你送終, 雅各來勇敢踏上往埃及的路。

雅各的一生, 從年幼到年老, 他都想抓, 從抓以掃的腳跟到抓著神, 結果在神的祝福下, 雅各成為了以色列, 現在以色列成為了一個國家, 所有以色列人都當以雅各為榜樣, 12:6所以你當歸向你的神, 謹守仁愛, 公平, 常常等候你的神。但可惜的是: 以色列人不單沒有學習先祖緊緊倚靠神, 反向亞述, 埃及這個外邦國求助, 所以12:2 耶和華與猶大爭辯, 必照雅各所行的懲罰他, 按他所作的報應他。

教會, 當我們面對困境的時候, 回想以往與神的經歷吧! 讓我們也留下一些屬靈的經驗給我們的下一代, 當他們面對困難時, 他們能回想神的大能與祂豐盛的憐憫, 成為他們倚靠神的動力!

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From Hosea Chapter 11:8-12

^11:8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. ⁹I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man— the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities. ¹⁰They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. ¹¹They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord. ¹²Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One.

If you read this passage carefully, you will find that God speaks seemingly in two contradictory tones.

God asks, “How can I? How can I? How can I?”

In Hebrew texts, the superlative form is expressed by repeating an adjective three times; for example, the phrase “holy, holy, holy” means “most holy.” In this passage, God asks himself three times, “How can I?”

The Israelites have sinned time and time again. When they forsook God, they should have been punished by God. But God asked himself, “How can I do this to them?” God seems to be telling us that He can’t bear to use such a heavy hand to punish the rebellious Israelites. God was moved to compassion and wanted to show them mercy.

God says, “I will not. I will not. I will not.”

Hosea 11:9 says, “I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man— the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities.”

What did the Lord mean when He said ‘I am God and not a man’? Man repays evil with evil. If you are not good to me, I will not be good to you; this is human nature. But God said, “I am God, and not a man.” He overcomes evil with good. Thus, three times He says, “I will not.” In Hosea 11:9, we see: “I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man— the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities.”

Once more, God is calling out to Israel with love.

He wants to call His people back from all parts of the world so that they may settle in their own houses. This reminds us of how God restored Israel. The Lord never gave up on His people. His mercy and love are higher than the heavens and deeper than the sea. Again and again, we have disappointed Him. We are a people who have turned away from Him and for this, we deserve condemnation.

Let us ask the Lord for his mercy. Let us pursue holiness. Let us free ourselves from the pursuit of lowly things and consecrate ourselves to serve the Lord. May we not take God’s grace as an opportunity to indulge in worldly passions. Let us recall God’s great love. Our great God who said to himself: “How can I, how can I, how can I” also said: “I will not, I will not, I will not.” How long will we continue hardening our hearts?

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我怎能 、我必不 | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書 11:8-12

^11:8 以法蓮哪, 我怎能捨棄你? 以色列阿, 我怎能棄絕你? 我怎能使你如押瑪? 怎能使你如洗扁? 我回心轉意, 我的憐愛大大發動。⁹我必不發猛烈的怒氣, 也不再毀滅以法蓮, 因我是神, 並非世人, 是你們中間的聖者, 我必不在怒中臨到你們。¹⁰耶和華必如獅子吼叫, 子民必跟隨他, 他一吼叫, 他們就從西方急速而來。¹¹他們必如雀鳥從埃及急速而來, 又如鴿子從亞述地來到, 我必使他們住自己的房屋, 這是耶和華說的。¹²以法蓮用謊話, 以色列家用詭計圍繞我, 猶大卻靠神掌權, 向聖者有忠心。

如果你很仔細來讀這段經文, 你會發現神發出二種非常矛盾的聲音。

神說: 我怎能? 我怎能? 我怎能? 

講三次, 在希伯來的文法裡, 如果連講三次是代表最高的表達, 好像聖哉, 聖哉, 聖哉一樣, 代表最聖潔。 神在這裡問自己, 我怎能? 以色列人一次又一次的犯罪, 離棄了神, 他們本來就應該受神的刑罰, 但神卻又問自己我怎能這樣對他們呢？神好像在告訴我們, 祂不忍這麼下重手來刑罰這上叛逆的以色列人。神的慈愛發動了, 祂要憐愛他們。

神說:我必不,我必不,我必不

11:9 我必不發猛烈的怒氣, 也不再毀滅以法蓮, 因我是神, 並非世人, 是你們中間的聖者, 我必不在怒中臨到你們。因我是神, 並非世人這是什麼意思呢? 人都會以惡報惡的, 你對我不好, 我不是對你好的, 這是人性, 但神卻說: 我是神, 並非世人, 祂要以善勝過惡。所以祂又三次說: 我必不。11:9 我必不發猛烈的怒氣, 也不再毀滅以法蓮, 因我是神, 並非世人, 是你們中間的聖者, 我必不在怒中臨到你們。

神又發出愛的呼召

祂要將祂的百姓從各地各方召回來, 使他們有了他們自己的房屋; 這讓我們回想神怎樣使以色列復國的事, 神從他不會放棄屬祂的人, 祂的憐憫, 祂的慈愛真是比天還要高, 比海還要深。我們一次又一次做祂失望, 我們這些背叛的真是該死的人, 求主憐憫我們, 要追求聖潔, 要脫離卑賤的事, 成為聖潔, 合乎主用。不要以神的恩為放縱情欲的機會, 要回想神的愛, 這位偉大的神, 竟然自言自語說: 我怎能, 我怎能, 我怎能; 又說: 我必不, 我必不, 我必不。 我們還要硬著心到什麼時候呢？

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From Hosea Chapter 11:1-7

^11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. ²But the more they were called, the more they went away from me.  They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. ³It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. ⁴I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them, I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.

⁵“Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? ⁶A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. ⁷My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them.

Through the prophet Hosea, the Lord called out to the Israelites and it was a call of love. In this passage, God showed his love for the Israelites from three perspectives:

1. Love’s call. Hosea 11:1  “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”  This is salvation’s call. The Lord himself made the move to call them and rescue them. He even brought the ten plagues upon the whole land of Egypt to rescue the Israelites from slavery. This was God’s call of love for Israel.
2. Love’s teaching. Hosea 11:3 “It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.”  The Lord often used different circumstances to teach the Israelites, embracing them in his arms and providing for all their needs. For forty years in the wilderness, they never lacked for food, water, nor clothing. The Lord wanted them to learn to trust Him alone throughout their lives.
3. The guidance of love. Hosea 11:4 “I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them, I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.”  The Lord led them with ties of love, guided them to walk on the right path — on the path of God — so they would not go astray.

What a pity it is that the Israelites responded to God’s call of love with rebellion. How did this happen?

1. Their ignorance. Hosea 11:2 “But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.” They replaced the true God with idols.
2.  Their stubbornness. Hosea 11:5 “Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?”  Their refusal to return to the Lord shows how stubborn their hearts were.
3. Their self-righteousness.  Hosea 11:6 “A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans.” They follow their own plans because they were self-righteous. All this was because of their pride.
4. Their apostasy. Hosea 11:7 “My people are determined to turn from me.  Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them.”  They refused to obey God’s Word;  they turned their backs on Him and such behaviors can only result in a painful end for them.

Church, what is our response to God’s call?

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愛的呼召與回應 | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書 11:1-7

^11:1 以色列年幼的時候我愛他, 就從埃及召出我的兒子來。²先知越發招呼他們, 他們越發走開, 向諸巴力獻祭, 給雕刻的偶像燒香。³我原教導以法蓮行走, 用膀臂抱著他們, 他們卻不知道是我醫治他們。⁴我用慈繩愛索牽引他們, 我待他們如人放鬆牛的兩腮夾板, 把糧食放在他們面前。

^11:5 他們必不歸回埃及地，亞述人卻要作他們的王，因他們不肯歸向我。⁶刀劍必臨到他們的城邑, 毀壞門閂, 把人吞滅, 都因他們隨從自己的計謀。⁷我的民偏要背道離開我, 眾先知雖然招呼他們歸向至上的主, 卻無人尊崇主。

神藉先知何西亞向以色列人發出呼聲, 更是愛的呼聲, 在這段文裡, 神藉著三個角度來顯明祂對以色列人的愛

1. 愛的呼召。11:1 以色列年幼的時候我愛他, 就從埃及召出我的兒子來。從埃及召出我的兒子, 這是救恩的呼召, 神主動的來呼召他們, 拯救他們, 甚至將十災降臨埃及全地, 為的就是要救以色列人出埃及, 這是神對以色列愛的呼召。
2. 愛的教導。11:3 我原教導以法蓮行走, 用膀臂抱著他們, 他們卻不知道是我醫治他們。神常常藉著不同的環境來教導以色列人, 用神的膀臂抱著他們, 供應他們一切的需要, 單單在曠野那四十年, 他們所食的, 所喝的, 所穿的就從來都沒有缺乏, 神要教導他們一生都要單純的信靠祂。
3. 愛的引導。11:4 我用慈繩愛索牽引他們, 我待他們如人放鬆牛的兩腮夾板, 把糧食放在他們面前。神用慈繩愛索牽引他們, 引導他們行正道, 行神的路, 目的是使他們不偏行己路。

但可惜的是以色列人卻以反叛來回應神愛的呼召, 為什麼呢？

1. 他們的無知。11:2 先知越發招呼他們, 他們越發走開, 向諸巴力獻祭, 給雕刻的偶像燒香。他們以偶像代替了真神。
2. 他們的頑固。11:5 他們必不歸回埃及地, 亞述人卻要作他們的王, 因他們不肯歸向我。他們不肯歸向我, 這是他們剛硬的心。
3. 他們的自是。11:6 刀劍必臨到他們的城邑, 毀壞門閂, 把人吞滅, 都因他們隨從自己的計謀。他們隨從自己的計謀, 因為他們以自為是, 這是驕傲的原因
4. 他們的背道。11:7 我的民偏要背道離開我, 眾先知雖然招呼他們歸向至上的主, 卻無人尊崇主。他們不願行神的道, 他們用背向著神, 結果只能帶來痛苦的結束。

教會, 我們對神的呼召的反應又是怎樣的呢？

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From Hosea Chapter 10:9-15

^10:9 Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel, and there you have remained. Will not war again overtake the evildoers in Gibeah? ¹⁰When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin. ¹¹Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground. ¹²Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you. ¹³But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, ¹⁴ the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated—as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children. ¹⁵So will it happen to you, Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

The principle of cause and effect (sowing and reaping) is relevant not only in the agricultural world but also in the moral world. Everything we do has consequences because, while God is loving, He is also just. Does there seem to be a contradiction between these two attributes of God?

The prophet explains these two aspects of God by recounting history.

The story begins with a crime in Hosea 10:9: “Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel”. Here, Hosea refers to an incident that took place in the era of the judges. Men of Gibeah raped a woman until she died and this act led to a civil war. The tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out in that war, yet the men of Gibeah still did not learn from history and continued in their sin.  Is it any surprise that their actions brought on God’s judgment?

But God is a God of mercy, and He calls them to repentance in Hosea 10:12: “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” God wanted them to reclaim the unplowed ground and await his return.  This was not any ordinary unplowed ground; it was a metaphor for their hearts, which were sinful and hardened. God wanted them to repent and sow righteousness in their hearts, so that they may reap love. This is the law of cause and effect. We reap what we sow.

Sadly, the men did not heed God’s call. Hosea 10:13 says, “But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors.”  They planted wickedness and reaped evil instead.

Ultimately, God announced what their end will be in Hosea 10:15: “So will it happen to you, Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.”

Church, God cannot be mocked. We must fear Him, we cannot live heedlessly thinking that our deeds and words have no consequences. Let us sow much righteousness, that we may also reap much goodness.

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因與果 | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書 10:9-15

^10:9 以色列阿, 你從基比亞的日子以來, 時常犯罪; 你們的先人曾站在那裡, 現今住基比亞的人以為攻擊罪孽之輩的戰事臨不到自己。¹⁰我必隨意懲罰他們, 他們為兩樣的罪所纏, 列邦的民必聚集攻擊他們。¹¹以法蓮是馴良的母牛犢, 喜愛踹榖, 我卻將軛加在牠肥美的頸項上, 我要使以法蓮拉套, 猶大必耕田, 雅各必耙地。¹²你們要為自己栽種公義, 就能收割慈愛, 現今正是尋求耶和華的時候,你們要開墾荒地, 等他臨到, 使公義如雨降在你們身上。¹³你們耕種的是奸惡, 收割的是罪孽, 喫的是謊話的果子, 因你倚靠自己的行為, 仰賴勇士眾多, ¹⁴所以在這民中必有鬨嚷之聲, 你一切的保障必被拆毀, 就如沙勒幔在爭戰的日子拆毀伯亞比勒, 將其中的母子,一同摔死。¹⁵因他們的大惡, 伯特利必使你們遭遇如此, 到了黎明, 以色列的王必全然滅絕。

因果論不單影響了植物界, 生命界, 也影響了道德界, 我們所作的一切都必會有結果的, 神是公義的, 慈愛的, 但二者在神裡是不是有矛盾的。

先知何西亞從歷史講起, 10:9 以色列阿, 你從基比亞的日子以來, 時常犯罪。基比亞早發在士師時代, 他們強暴婦女至死, 結果引發了內戰, 便雅憫支派差點就滅亡了, 但現在基比亞人仍沒有從歷史中學習了教訓, 他們繼續犯罪, 如果當然是帶來神的審判。但神是憐憫的神, 神呼籲他們要悔改; 10:12 你們要為自己栽種公義, 就能收割慈愛, 現今正是尋求耶和華的時候,你們要開墾荒地, 等他臨到, 使公義如雨降在你們身上。神要他們要開墾荒地, 等他臨到, 這當然不是指普通的荒地, 這是指他們的心田, 他們的心是剛硬的, 是犯罪的, 神要他們悔改, 在他們的心栽種公義, 這樣他們才能收割慈愛, 這是因果的定律, 我們種什麼? 我們也收什麼?

但他們卻不是如此, 10:13 你們耕種的是奸惡, 收割的是罪孽, 喫的是謊話的果子, 因你倚靠自己的行為, 仰賴勇士眾多。他們種的是奸惡, 結果他們收割的是罪孽。最後神宣告他們的結果: 10:15 因他們的大惡, 伯特利必使你們遭遇如此, 到了黎明, 以色列的王必全然滅絕。

教會, 神是輕慢不得的, 我們要敬畏祂, 我們不能隨便, 我們所行所言會帶來結果的, 讓我們多種善因, 也能多收善果。

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From Hosea Chapter 10:1-8

^10:1 Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones. ²Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.

³Then they will say, “We have no king because we did not revere the Lord. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?” ⁴They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field. ⁵The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven.  Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile. ⁶It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be ashamed of its foreign alliances. ⁷Samaria’s king will be destroyed, swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters. ⁸The high places of wickedness will be destroyed— it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

Hosea 10:1 tells us that Israel began as a lush vine that brought much fruit. By verse 8, however, we learn that “The high places of wickedness will be destroyed— it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars.” A fruitful vine turned into thorns and thistles. What happened in between?

This passage reminds us of three things:

 1. The result of irreverence  

Hosea 10:3 says, “Then they will say, “We have no king because we did not revere the Lord. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?”  Because they did not fear God, they built more altars as their fruit increased and as the land prospered, they adorned their sacred stones. To fear God means to acknowledge God as God. Israel did not regard the Lord as their king, they reigned as their own king.  Every one of them went their own ways. As a result, their abundant life turned into terrible thorns and thistles.

 2. The result of untruthfulness 

Hosea 10:4 says, “They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.” With lies they made agreements and took false oaths. These are acts that God hates because God is a God of faithfulness. In Proverbs, the Bible repeatedly reminds us that the Lord detests differing weights and measures. In fact, the Book of Revelation says that the deceitful and liars cannot enter New Jerusalem. We regard lying as trivial, we don’t make much of it, because everyone is false; only God is true. But when a nation loses its moral integrity, everyone enters into agreements with lies and takes false oaths, and disaster will surely come upon that nation. The result will be thorns and thistles instead of fruitful vines.

 3. The result of having deceitful hearts

Hosea 10:2 says, “Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt.” What were they thinking? Verse 5 tells us that they replaced the only true God with a golden calf. They served God on the one hand and served the golden calf on the other. Verse 6 tells us that they regarded the king of Assyria as their king. In their minds, the Israelites knew that the Lord is God, that He is their King, but in their hearts, they did not fear God. They did not regard Him as God nor did they regard Him as King. They depended instead on an earthly king — a king who turned on them and destroyed them, thus turning the vine turned into thorns and thistles.

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葡萄樹成為荊棘 | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書 10:1-8

^10:1 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹, 結果繁多, 果子越多, 就越增添祭壇; 地土越肥美, 就越造美麗的柱像。² 他們心懷二意, 現今要定為有罪;耶和華必拆毀他們的祭壇, 毀壞他們的柱像。³ 他們必說: 我們沒有王, 因為我們不敬畏耶和華。王能為我們作甚麼呢。⁴ 他們為立約說謊言, 起假誓, 因此, 災罰如苦菜滋生在田間的犁溝中。⁵ 撒瑪利亞的居民必因伯亞文的牛犢驚恐, 崇拜牛犢的民和喜愛牛犢的祭司, 都必因榮耀離開他, 為他悲哀。⁶ 人必將牛犢帶到亞述, 當作禮物, 獻給耶雷布王, 以法蓮必蒙羞, 以色列必因自己的計謀慚愧; ⁷ 至於撒瑪利亞, 他的王必滅沒, 如水面的沫子一樣。⁸ 伯亞文的丘壇, 就是以色列取罪的地方, 必被毀滅, 荊棘和蒺藜必長在他們的祭壇上, 他們必對大山說: 遮蓋我們。對小山說: 倒在我們身上。

10:1開始的時候告訴我們, 以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹, 結果繁多; 但在結束的時候; 10:8 以色列取罪的地方, 必被毀滅, 荊棘和蒺藜必長在他們的祭壇上。葡萄樹最後竟成為了荊棘和蒺藜, 中間發生了什麼事呢? 這段經文提醒我們三件事：

1. 不敬畏的結果。

10:3 他們必說: 我們沒有王, 因為我們不敬畏耶和華。王能為我們作甚麼呢。當他們越發興旺的時候, 他們就越發犯罪要, 地土越肥美, 就越造美麗的柱像。因為在他們心底裡沒有一顆敬畏神的心。敬畏神就是以神為神, 他們不以神作他們的王, 他們自己作自己的王, 人人偏行己路, 結果豐盛的生命成為了可怕的荊棘。

2. 不誠實的結果。

10:4 他們為立約說謊言, 起假誓, 因此, 災罰如苦菜滋生在田間的犁溝中。他們以謊言立約, 他們起假誓。這些都是神所憎惡的事, 因為神是信實的神, 在箴言書裡, 聖經一次又一次提醒我們二樣的法碼是神所憎惡的; 啟示錄甚至說, 說謊的不能進新耶路撒冷。我們對謊言看得很簡單, 很隨便, 因為人都是虛假, 只有神是信實的, 當一個國家失去了信實, 人人以謊言立約, 起假誓, 災難一定會降臨在全國裡, 結果葡萄樹成為了荊棘。

3. 心懷二意的結果。

10:2 他們心懷二意, 現今要定為有罪。他們心裡在想什麼呢？第五節告訴我們, 他們以金牛犢代替了獨一的真神, 他們一方面事奉神又事奉金牛犢; 第六節告訴我們, 他們以亞述王作他們的王。在以色列人的頭腦裡, 他們都知道耶和華是神, 是他們的王, 但在他們的心裡, 他們不敬畏神, 不以神為神, 也不以神為王, 他們在尋求世界的王來幫助他們, 結果他們所倚靠的亞述王, 最後卻毀滅了他們, 葡萄樹成為了荊棘。

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From Hosea Chapter 9:1-17

^9:1 Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute at every threshing floor. ²Threshing floors and winepresses will not feed the people; the new wine will fail them. ³They will not remain in the Lord’s land; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria. ⁴They will not pour out wine offerings to the Lord, nor will their sacrifices please him. Such sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat them will be unclean. This food will be for themselves; it will not come into the temple of the Lord.

⁵What will you do on the day of your appointed festivals, on the feast days of the Lord? ⁶Even if they escape from destruction, Egypt will gather them, and Memphis will bury them. Their treasures of silver will be taken over by briers, and thorns will overrun their tents. ⁷The days of punishment are coming; the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac. ⁸The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God. ⁹They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.

¹⁰“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved. ¹¹Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird— no birth, no pregnancy, no conception. ¹²Even if they rear children, I will bereave them of every one. Woe to them when I turn away from them! ¹³I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place. But Ephraim will bring out their children to the slayer.”

¹⁴Give them, Lord— what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.

¹⁵“Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious. ¹⁶Ephraim is blighted, their root is withered, they yield no fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay their cherished offspring.”

¹⁷My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations.

What is the message of this Scripture passage? Verses 1-7 reveal God’s coming judgment on Israel. Hosea 9:7 says the Israelites need to know that the day of their judgment approaches. The time for retribution is coming; all these will happen because of their sins and their hostility. When the day of judgment comes, Ephraim will have to face God’s terrible punishment.

The Chinese say, “The deeper the love, the deeper the hate.” When you love someone deeply and they betray you, the hate in your heart will be as fierce as the love you felt for them.  In Hosea 9:8-13, the Lord describes how he had loved Ephraim.

1. Ephraim was once established as a watchman by God. 

Hosea 9:8, “The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim.”  God entrusted a great responsibility to Ephraim, a watchman for the kingdom of God and protection for the nations.

2. Ephraim was like grapes in the wilderness. 

In Hosea 9:10, “The Lord said, “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert.” How can there be grapes in the wilderness when all you can usually find are thorns?  The Lord watched over Israel so that they were like grapes that grew in the desert — everyone marveled at them. Israel had God’s law and God’s presence. When they left Egypt, the nations were awed by them.

3. Ephraim was like an early fruit on the fig tree.  

Hosea 9:10: “The Lord said, “When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.” The first fruits are the best, Israel was the best.

4. Ephraim, like Tyre, was planted in a pleasant place. 

Hosea 9:13 says, “I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place.” Tyre was a very powerful seaport of that time. Because of its strategic location, it became a trading center. Ephraim was once similar. The Lord gave them a land flowing with milk and honey, he set them in the Promised Land.

But Ephraim did not cherish the blessings that came with God’s love. 

Ephraim abandoned the true and living God, and now the Lord’s judgment is upon them. Hosea 9:14: “Give them, Lord—what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry.” Not only did they lose their blessings, but they also experienced disasters because the Lord has abandoned them. Hosea 9:17 says, “My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations.” 

The Lord rejected them because they did not obey him. Let us not make the mistake of taking the Lord’s love for granted. May we not fall away from His grace lest we find ourselves in a most deplorable state. Let us turn back quickly!

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被神拋棄的以法蓮 | 何西亞書 

張國強牧師

何西亞書 9:1-17

^9:1以色列阿, 不要像外邦人歡喜快樂, 因為你行邪淫離棄你的神,在各榖場上如妓女喜愛賞賜。²榖場和酒醡, 都不夠以色列人使用,新酒也必缺乏。³他們必不得住耶和華的地, 以法蓮卻要歸回埃及,必在亞述喫不潔淨的食物。⁴他們必不得向耶和華奠酒, 即便奠酒,也不蒙悅納, 他們的祭物, 必如居喪者的食物, 凡喫的必被玷污, 因他們的食物, 只為自己的口腹, 必不奉入耶和華的殿。

⁵在大會的日子,到耶和華的節期, 你們怎樣行呢。⁶看哪, 他們逃避災難, 埃及人必收殮他們的屍首, 摩弗人必葬埋他們的骸骨; 他們用銀子作的美物上必長蒺藜, 他們的帳棚中必生荊棘。⁷以色列人必知道降罰的日子臨近, 報應的時候來到;（民說: 作先知的是愚昧, 受靈感的是狂妄）皆因他們多多作孽, 大懷怨恨。⁸以法蓮曾作我神守望的, 至於先知, 在他一切的道上作為捕鳥人的網羅, 在他神的家中懷怨恨。⁹以法蓮深深地敗壞, 如在基比亞的日子一樣; 耶和華必記念他們的罪孽, 追討他們的罪惡。

¹⁰主說: 我遇見以色列如葡萄在曠野, 我看見你們的列祖如無花果樹上春季初熟的果子, 他們卻來到巴力毗珥專拜那可羞恥的, 就成為可憎惡的, 與他們所愛的一樣。¹¹至於以法蓮人, 他們的榮耀必如鳥飛去, 必不生產、不懷胎、不成孕。¹²縱然養大兒女, 我卻必使他們喪子, 甚至不留一個; 我離棄他們, 他們就有禍了。¹³我看以法蓮如推羅栽於美地, 以法蓮卻要將自己的兒女帶出來, 交與行殺戮的人。

¹⁴耶和華阿, 求你加給他們加甚麼呢?要使他們胎墜乳乾。

¹⁵耶和華說: 他們一切的惡事都在吉甲, 我在那裡憎惡他們, 因他們所行的惡, 我必從我地上趕出他們去, 不再憐愛他們, 他們的首領都是悖逆的。¹⁶以法蓮受責罰, 根本枯乾, 必不能結果, 即或生產, 我必殺他們所生的愛子。

¹⁷我的神必棄絕他們,因為他們不聽從他, 他們也必飄流在列國中

這章經文在講什麼呢? 1-7是講論神對他們的審判, 9:7 以色列人必知道降罰的日子臨近, 報應的時候來到; 皆因他們多多作孽, 大懷怨恨。當審判的日子來到時, 以法蓮面對神可怕的刑罰, 為什麼呢? 中國人說: 愛之深, 恨之切。當你深愛一個人時候, 當他背叛你時候, 你心裡的恨也非常的深。8-13神在述說祂以前是怎樣愛以法蓮。

1.以法蓮曾被神立作守望者。

9:8 以法蓮曾作我神守望的。神將一個重大的責備交予以法蓮, 成為神國的守望者, 成為列國的保護。

2.以法蓮如同葡萄在曠野。

9:10 主說: 我遇見以色列如葡萄在曠野。曠野怎會有葡萄, 曠野是有荊棘, 但看顧以免列, 使他們如同在曠野中生長的葡萄, 使眾人都羨慕。以色列有神的律法, 有神的同在, 當他們出埃及的時候, 真是使列國都敬畏。

3.以法蓮如同無花果上初熟的果子。

9:10 主說: ⋯⋯我看見你們的列祖如無花果樹上春季初熟的果子。初熟的果子都是最好的, 以色列曾是最好的。

4.以法蓮如推羅栽於美地。

9:13 我看以法蓮如推羅栽於美地。推羅是當時非常強大的海港, 因為環境的原因, 成為一個通商的重城。以法蓮也曾這樣, 神將流奶與蜜之地賜給他們, 神將他們安置在應許之地。

但是以法蓮不珍惜, 一次又一次的犯罪, 離開永活的真神, 結果神要拋棄他們, 審判他們; 9:14 耶和華阿, 求你加給他們加甚麼呢?要使他們胎墜乳乾。這不是祝福, 這是災難; 9:17 我的神必棄絕他們,因為他們不聽從他, 他們也必飄流在列國中。神棄絕他們, 因為不聽從神的話, 神愛我們, 但不要在神的恩中墜落, 結果是很可憐可悲的, 早早回頭吧!

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