From Joel 3:9-21

^3:9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. ¹⁰ Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!” ¹¹ Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, Lord!

¹² “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. ¹³ Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!” 

¹⁴ Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. ¹⁵ The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. ¹⁶ The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. 

¹⁷ “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. ¹⁸ “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the valley of acacias. ¹⁹ But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood. ²⁰ Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. ²¹ Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not.” The Lord dwells in Zion!

The prophet Joel told God’s people that the Lord is their refuge, what a comforting message. But have we thought about why we need places of refuge? When there is no trouble, no difficulty, no one will go seek a place of refuge. Through the prophet, the Lord tells us about the approaching Day of the Lord and of the End. We can look at it from several aspects:

1. Wars will begin; get ready for the battle!

Joel 3:9 “Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.” Joel 3:10 “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’” There will be a final battle in the world and it is inevitable, because it is part of the Day of the Lord.

2. God’s judgment is about to begin, come to the Valley of Judgment! 

In verses 11-15, we see the surrounding nations gathering together in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The Valley of Jehoshaphat is the valley of judgment, where God will judge the nations. At that time, we will witness a terrifying scene, Joel 3:13 says, “Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!” Joel 3:15 says, “The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.”

3. God will be our refuge; come and take refuge in him!

Joel 3:16 “The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.” Joel 3:17 “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.” God is a gracious God. Even to the last minute, He wants people to repent and trust in Him. He will become a shield for all who belong to Him.

4. The promise of God’s presence, accept it by faith!

From verses 18-21, we see another picture: the mountains will drip new wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the ravines of Judah will run with water, a fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and water the valley of acacias. What a beautiful picture! The righteous God will judge on behalf of those who belong to him. God’s promise can be found in Joel 3:20 to 21:  “Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not. The Lord dwells in Zion!”

The Day of the Lord is the most terrifying but it is also the most joyous of days. How you experience depends entirely on whether or not you are ready to meet the Lord. 

Previous post: The Valley of Jehoshaphat

耶和華是我們的避難所 | 約珥書 

張國強牧師

約珥書 3:9-21

^3:9 當在萬民中宣告說, 要預備打仗, 激動勇士, 使一切戰士上前來。¹⁰ 要將犁頭打成刀劍, 將鐮刀打成戈矛, 軟弱的要說: 我有勇力。¹¹ 四圍的列國阿, 你們要速速地來, 一同聚集, 耶和華阿, 求你使你的大能者降臨。

¹² 萬民都當興起, 上到約沙法谷, 因為我必坐在那裡? 審判四圍的列國。¹³ 開鐮罷, 因為莊稼熟了, 踐踏罷, 因為酒醡滿了, 酒池盈溢, 他們的罪惡甚大。

¹⁴ 許多許多的人在斷定谷, 因為耶和華的日子臨近斷定谷。¹⁵ 日月昏暗, 星宿無光。¹⁶ 耶和華必從錫安吼叫, 從耶路撒冷發聲, 天地就震動, 耶和華卻要作他百姓的避難所, 作以色列人的保障。

¹⁷ 你們就知道我是耶和華你們的　神, 且又住在錫安我的聖山, 那時, 耶路撒冷必成為聖, 外邦人不再從其中經過。¹⁸ 到那日, 大山要滴甜酒, 小山要流奶子, 猶大溪河, 都有水流, 必有泉源從耶和華的殿中流出來, 滋潤什亭谷。¹⁹ 埃及必然荒涼, 以東變為悽涼的曠野, 都因向猶大人所行的強暴, 又因在本地流無辜人的血。²⁰ 但猶大必存到永遠, 耶路撒冷必存到萬代。²¹ 我未曾報復 流血的罪, 現在我要報復, 因為耶和華住在錫安。

3:16 耶和華必從錫安吼叫, 從耶路撒冷發聲, 天地就震動, 耶和華卻要作他百姓的避難所, 作以色列人的保障。先知約珥告訴神的百姓神是他們的避難所, 這是何等安慰的信息, 但我們有沒有想一想, 為什麼我們需要避難所呢? 沒有患難, 沒有困難, 沒有人會到避難所裡去的。神藉著先知告訴我們耶和華日子的來臨與結局的情況, 我們可以從幾方面來思想:

1. 戰爭要開始了, 預備打仗吧!

3:9 當在萬民中宣告說, 要預備打仗, 激動勇士, 使一切戰士上前來。3:10 要將犁頭打成刀劍, 將鐮刀打成戈矛, 軟弱的要說: 我有勇力。世界最後終有一戰, 這是無可避免的事, 因為這是耶和華日子的一部份。

2. 神審判要開始了, 來到判決谷吧!

從 11-15節, 我們看見神使四圍的列國, 一同聚集約沙法谷, 約沙法谷就是判決谷, 神要在那裡審判四圍的列國。在那時候我們看見一個非常可怕的景像, 3:13說, 開鐮罷, 因為莊稼熟了, 踐踏罷, 因為酒醡滿了, 酒池盈溢, 他們的罪惡甚大。3:15說, 日月昏暗, 星宿無光。

3. 神要成為避難所, 來投靠祂吧!

3:16 耶和華必從錫安吼叫, 從耶路撒冷發聲, 天地就震動, 耶和華卻要作他百姓的避難所, 作以色列人的保障。3:17 你們就知道我是耶和華你們的神, 且又住在錫安我的聖山, 那時, 耶路撒冷必成為聖, 外邦人不再從其中經過。神是滿有恩慈的神, 在最後一分鐘, 祂作希望人們悔改投靠祂, 祂要成為所有屬祂的人的條障。

4. 神同在的應許, 憑信心接受吧!

從18-21節, 我們可以看見另外一幅圖畫, 在那裡大山要滴甜酒, 小山要流奶子, 猶大溪河, 都有水流, 必有泉源從耶和華的殿中流出來, 滋潤什亭谷。這是何等美麗的圖畫, 而且公義的神要為屬祂的人施行審判, 神的應許是3:20 但猶大必存到永遠, 耶路撒冷必存到萬代。3:21 我未曾報復 流血的罪, 現在我要報復, 因為耶和華住在錫安。

耶和華的日子是可怕的, 但也是可喜的, 在乎你預備好迎見你的神嗎？

The post The Lord is Our Refuge | Joel appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.

From Joel 3:1-8

^3:1 “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, ² I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. ³ They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.

⁴ “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. ⁵ For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. ⁶ You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.

⁷ “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. ⁸ I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.

The prophet Joel was the first prophet to prophesy. ‘In those days’ in verse 1 refers to the day of the Lord, the coming of the Lord. However, at that time the prophet preached this message, none of this has occurred yet. Yet the prophet spoke this message early on to instill the fear of the Lord among the people. These eight verses mention a place named the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which means the judgment of the Lord, and the prophet preached a message of judgment.

This message has three main points:

1. The people will be taken into captivity

Joel 3:2 “…because they scattered my people (my inheritance), Israel, among the nations and divided up my land.” Joel 3:3 “They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes, they sold girls for wine to drink.” Joel 3:6 “You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.” Through the prophet, the Lord announced the message of how the people would be taken into exile by the Gentile nations. What a startling message this must have been for Israel.  The people of Israel always thought that the Lord would never abandon them as long as the temple was there. They believed the Lord would preserve the temple for the sake of His own name. But the Lord did not regard even His own temple and allowed His people to be taken into exile among the Gentiles. The horrors of sin reach far beyond what we can fathom.

2. The people will return

Joel 3:1 “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem.” Joel 3:7 “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done.” The Lord will bring back the Israelites; this is a wonderful thing! How can it be possible for a people that has been exiled to Gentile nations – a scattered nation – to be brought back? God’s words always come true. What God says will be accomplished. In Ezra 1:1, we saw that God moved the king’s heart, and he ordered the people of Israel to return to their nation.

3. Judgment on the earth.

Joel 3:2 “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.” Joel 3:4 “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.” Joel 3:5 “For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.” The Lord spoke judgment to the nations, because they took away the gold and silver which belonged to the Lord; they carried away His people. They encroached on God’s sovereignty. God will avenge Himself upon the nations. The Valley of Jehoshaphat is where God will judge the whole earth.

Church, God is sovereign over all. The affairs of the whole earth are in His hands. He has His own plan and His own timetable. In His justice and love, everything is moving towards a glorious ending.

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約沙法谷 | 約珥書 

張國強牧師

約珥書 3:1-8

^3:1 到那日, 我使猶大和耶路撒冷被擄之人歸回的時候, ² 我要聚集萬民, 帶他們下到約沙法谷, 在那裡施行審判, 因為他們將sup>我的百姓,就是我的產業以色列, 分散在列國中, 又分取我的地土; ³ 且為我的百姓拈鬮, 將童子換妓女, 賣童女買酒喝。

⁴ 推羅西頓和非利士四境的人哪, 你們與我何干, 你們要報復我麼? 若報復我, 我必使報應速速歸到你們的頭上。⁵ 你們既然奪取我的金銀, 又將我可愛的寶物帶入你們宮殿 ⁶ 並將猶大人和耶路撒冷人, 賣給希臘人使他們遠離自己的境界, ⁷ 我必激動他們離開你們所賣到之地, 又必使報應歸到你們的頭上, ⁸ 我必將你們的兒女賣在猶大人的手中, 他們必賣給遠方示巴國的人, 這是耶和華說的。

先知約珥是最早發出預言的先知, 到那日就是耶和華日子來臨的那日, 但當先知傳講信息時, 一切的事根本沒有開始, 但先知卻早發出, 使百姓日後更敬畏神。這八節的經文提到一個地方名叫約沙法谷。意思是耶和華的審判。先知為神發出審判的信息, 這篇信息有三個重點；

1. 百姓被擄。

3:2 因為他們將我的百姓,就是我的產業以色列, 分散在列國中又分取我的地土; 3:3 且為我的百姓拈鬮, 將童子換妓女, 賣童女買酒喝。3:6 並將猶大人和耶路撒冷人, 賣給希臘人使他們遠離自己的境界。神藉先知發出百姓要被擄到外邦的信息, 這是何等使人感到意外的信息, 因為猶大人總以為神不要放棄他們, 只要聖殿還在, 神是不會不理會的, 神要為祂的名保守祂的聖所, 但神竟然連自己的聖所也不理會, 使祂的子民被擄到外邦。罪的可怕遠遠超過我們能明白的。

2. 百姓歸回。

3:1 到那日, 我使猶大和耶路撒冷被擄之人歸回的時候。3:7 我必激動他們離開你們所賣到之地, 又必使報應歸到你們的頭上。神將他要讓猶大人歸回, 這是何等奇妙的事, 一個被擄外邦的國家, 一個被分散的民族, 怎可能可以歸回呢？神的話是不會徒然返回的, 神怎樣說, 必怎樣成就。在以斯拉記第一章第一節, 我們看見神激動王的心, 結果下令讓猶大人回國了。

3. 全地審判。

3:2 我要聚集萬民, 帶他們下到約沙法谷, 在那裡施行審判。3:4 推羅西頓和非利士四境的人哪, 你們與我何干, 你們要報復我麼? 若報復我, 我必使報應速速歸到你們的頭上。3:5 你們既然奪取我的金銀, 又將我可愛的寶物帶入你們宮殿。神向列邦發出審判的聲音, 因為他們奪取神的金銀, 奪取神的百姓, 他們侵犯了神的主權, 神要向列邦報復, 約沙法谷就是神審判全地的地方。

教會, 神是掌管一切的神, 全地的事都在祂的手中, 但祂有祂的時間與計劃,  在祂公義與慈愛的引導下, 一切都向美好的結局邁進。

The post The Valley of Jehoshaphat | Joel appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.

From Joel 2:21-32

^2:21 Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things! ²² Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. ²³ Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. ²⁴ The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 

²⁵ “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm —my great army that I sent among you. ²⁶ You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. ²⁷ Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed. 

²⁸ “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. ²⁹ Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. ³⁰ I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. ³¹ The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. ³² And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

The prophet told the people to rejoice because the Lord has done great things. The Lord is a God of abundant grace. When the nation repents sincerely, the Lord does great things for them. In this passage, we see that the great things God wanted to do for them came in three different forms:

1. Material blessings. Verses 22-24 declare that the Lord will once more grant abundant blessings to His people. The pastures in the wilderness will once more become green, the trees will bear their fruit, the fig tree and the vine will also yield their riches because the Lord will send the autumn rains and spring rains as before. As a result, the threshing floors will be filled with grain and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. The Lord also said, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm —my great army that I sent among you.” These are all material blessings.
2. Restoration of relationship. In verses 26-27, the Lord declares that He will re-establish the relationship between Himself and those who belong to Him. They will praise the name of the Lord God for His wonderful works.  From that time forth, the people who belong to God will no longer be ashamed, for they will know that the Lord is among them and that there is no other god besides the Lord. They now truly acknowledge the Lord as God, therefore they will not be ashamed.
3. The future in the spiritual realm. In verses 28-32, the Lord wanted them to see the future spiritual realm. In the future, the Lord will pour out His Spirit on all flesh and blood, children will prophesy, old men will dream dreams, and the young will see visions. God will pour out His Spirit on His servants, both men and women.  Wonders will appear in the heavens and on the earth, with blood, fire, and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn into blood, all before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. At that time, the whole earth will return to the only true God, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. What a glorious picture this is! This is the day of the Lord’s victory and what a great comfort and encouragement this is to all God’s children!

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耶和華行了大事 | 約珥書 

張國強牧師

約珥書 2:21-32

^2:21 地土阿, 不要懼怕, 要歡喜快樂; 因為耶和華行了大事。²² 田野的走獸阿, 不要懼怕, 因為曠野的草發生, 樹木結果, 無花果樹, 葡萄樹也都效力。²³ 錫安的民哪, 你們要快樂, 為耶和華你們的神歡喜,因他賜給你們合宜的秋雨, 為你們降下甘霖, 就是秋雨、春雨和先前一樣。²⁴ 禾場必滿了麥子, 酒醡與油醡必有新酒和油盈溢。

²⁵ 我打發到你們中間的大軍隊, 就是蝗蟲、蝻子、螞蚱、剪蟲、那些年所喫的, 我要補還你們。²⁶ 你們必多喫而得飽足, 就讚美為你們行奇妙事之耶和華你們神的名; 我的百姓, 必永遠不至羞愧。²⁷ 你們必知道我是在以色列中間, 又知道我是耶和華你們的神, 在我以外並無別神, 我的百姓必永遠不至羞愧。

²⁸ 以後, 我要將我的靈澆灌凡有血氣的, 你們的兒女要說預言, 你們的老年人要作異夢, 少年人要見異象．²⁹ 在那些日子, 我要將我的靈澆灌我的僕人和使女。³⁰ 在天上地下, 我要顯出奇事, 有血、有火、有煙柱。³¹ 日頭要變為黑暗, 月亮要變為血, 這都在耶和華大而可畏的日子未到以前。³² 到那時候, 凡求告耶和華名的就必得救, 因為照耶和華所說的: 在錫安山耶路撒冷必有逃脫的人, 在剩下的人中必有耶和華所召的。

先知向百姓說, 你們要歡喜, 因為耶和華要行大事。神是滿有恩典的心, 當百姓, 當全國家真是誠心誠意悔改的時候, 神要為他們行大事, 在這段經文裡, 我們可以看見神要行的大事可以分為三方面：

1. 屬物質上的祝福。從22-24節裡, 神要將豐盛的物質再賜給祂的百姓, 曠野的草發生, 樹木結果, 無花果樹, 葡萄樹也都效力。因為神再賜下合宜的秋雨, 降下甘霖, 就是秋雨、春雨和先前一樣。結果禾場必滿了麥子, 酒醡與油醡必有新酒和油盈溢。神還說: 我打發到你們中間的大軍隊, 就是蝗蟲、蝻子、螞蚱、剪蟲、那些年所喫的, 我要補還你們。這些都是屬物質上的祝福。
2. 屬關係上的重建。從26-27節裡, 神所要建立是祂與屬祂的人的關係, 他們會讚美神奇妙事的作為, 稱讚耶和華神的名; 從那個時候開始, 屬神的人必永遠不至羞愧。因為他們知道神在他們中間, 又知道除了耶和華以外, 並無別神, 他們真的以神為神, 所以他們必不蒙羞。
3. 屬靈性上的遠境。從28-32節裡, 神要他們看見在屬靈上的遠境, 將來神要將祂的靈澆灌凡有血氣的, 兒女要說預言, 老年人要作異夢, 少年人要見異象; 神要將祂的靈澆灌祂的僕人和使女。甚至在天上地下都要顯出奇事, 有血、有火、有煙柱。日頭要變為黑暗, 月亮要變為血, 這都在耶和華大而可畏的日子未到以前。到了那時候, 全地都要歸向獨一的真神, 而且凡求告耶和華名的就必得救。這是何等榮耀的圖畫, 這是神得勝的日子, 這對屬神的兒女們是何等大的安慰與鼓勵啊!

The post The Lord has done great things | Joel appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.

From Joel 2:12-20

^2:12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” ¹³ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. ¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God. 

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. ¹⁶ Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. ¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” 

¹⁸ Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. ¹⁹ The Lord replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. ²⁰ “I will drive the northern horde far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land; its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea. And its stench will go up; its smell will rise.”

When you look at this passage carefully, you will discover something wonderful. In verses 12-17, the Lord taught the people how to pray; and in verses 18-20, we see how these prayers were answered by God. The Bible says, “Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people.” The Lord blessed his people and defeated the enemies who had come to attack them. I hope you understand God’s intentions, how willing He is to listen to our prayers, and how willing He is to help us. But God is not only loving; he is also a just God. We must meet God’s righteous requirements before He will hear us and stretch out His mighty hand to help us. Having seen the Lord teach the Israelites how to pray in verses 12-17, we can be assured that as long as we pray in line with His teachings, then our prayers are in accordance with His will. 

These verses tell us three things:

 1. Everyone must confess and repent sincerely.

Joel 2:13 “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” The Lord did not want them to simply rend their garments, which is a Jewish practice demonstrating external repentance and symbolizing the people’s acknowledgment of their sins and their repentance.  More than a ritual, more than an external demonstration, the Lord sought inner repentance from them. That is why the Lord asked them to rend their hearts and return to the Lord their God. 

Church, isn’t this how we ought to repent? It’s easy for us to admit our wrongdoing but our hearts may not be remorseful. As a result, we sin again and again, and we cry again and again, yet we keep returning to our sins. How come? Because we only rend our garments and not our hearts.

2. Everyone throughout the nation must sincerely confess their sins and repent.

Joel 2:15 “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.” Joel 2:16  “Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those who are nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.” 

The Lord wants them to blow their trumpets and gather everyone from all over the nation, even the elders, the children, and the babies nursing at their mother’s breast. Does this sound strange?  What sins would the babies have? And even the bride and groom are also called to come out. Can there be anything more important for a just married couple than to enjoy their newly-wedded bliss? Why are they told to come out of their bridal chamber?   

The Lord is telling the people across the nation that they must not keep pointing their fingers at others or assume that only others have sinned, that they must stop thinking that something else is more important than repenting from their sins. The whole nation should sincerely confess their sins and repent because everyone is culpable!   

3. Pray for the glory of God’s name. 

Joel 2:17 “Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” 

The Lord taught the priests to pray and he reminded them that they must not allow his inheritance to be scorned, to be mocked by the nations, that it should not be said among the peoples, “Where is their God?”   When the Israelites are scorned then the name of the Lord is brought down in shame along with them.  

Church, the ultimate focus of prayer is not us, it is to bring glory to God’s name!

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蒙神垂聽的禱告 | 約珥書 

張國強牧師

約珥書 2:1-14

^2:12 耶和華說, 雖然如此, 你們應當禁食, 哭泣, 悲哀, 一心歸向我。¹³ 你們要撕裂心腸, 不撕裂衣服; 歸向耶和華你們的神, 因為他有恩典, 有憐憫, 不輕易發怒, 有豐盛的慈愛, 並且後悔不降所說的災。¹⁴ 或者他轉意後悔, 留下餘福, 就是留下獻給耶和華你們神的素祭,和奠祭, 也未可知。

¹⁵ 你們要在錫安吹角, 分定禁食的日子, 宣告嚴肅會, ¹⁶ 聚集眾民使會眾自潔, 招聚老者, 聚集孩童和喫奶的, 使新郎出離洞房, 新婦出離內室。¹⁷ 事奉耶和華的祭司, 要在廊子和祭壇中間哭泣, 說: 耶和華阿! 求你顧惜你的百姓, 不要使你的產業受羞辱, 列邦管轄他們, 為何容列國的人說: 他們的神在哪裡呢?

¹⁸ 耶和華就為自己的地發熱心, 憐恤他的百姓 ¹⁹ 耶和華應允他的百姓, 說: 我必賜給你們五穀, 新酒和油, 使你們飽足, 我也不再使你們受列國的羞辱; ²⁰ 卻要使北方來的軍隊遠離你們, 將他們趕到乾旱荒廢之地, 前隊趕入東海, 後隊趕入西海, 因為他們所行的大惡, 臭氣上升, 腥味騰空。

當我們好好思想這段經文的時候, 你會發現一件很奇妙的事, 12-17節是神教導百姓要怎樣的禱告; 18-20節是神聽了這樣禱告的結果。聖經說: 耶和華就為自己的地發熱心, 憐恤他的百姓。然後神就賜福給百姓, 打敗要來攻擊以免列的敵人。我希望你們能明白神的心意, 祂是何等願意垂聽我們的禱告, 祂是何等願意幫助我們, 但神是慈愛也是公義的, 我們必須要乎合神公義的要求, 祂才能垂聽我們的禱告, 伸出祂大能的手來幫助我們。既然12-17節是神教導以色列人的禱告, 只要我們遵照祂的心意去禱告, 這當然就是合乎祂的心意了, 這段經文告訴我們三件事:

1. 每個人都要真誠的認罪悔改。 

2:13 你們要撕裂心腸, 不撕裂衣服; 歸向耶和華你們的神, 因為他有恩典, 有憐憫, 不輕易發怒, 有豐盛的慈愛, 並且後悔不降所說的災。神不要他們只撕裂衣服, 這是猶太人在外面的表現, 代表他們知錯, 認罪了; 但神要不單是外表的儀式, 祂更要是內心的悔改, 所以神要他們撕裂心腸, 歸向耶和華他們的神。

教會, 這豈不是我們要悔改的地方嗎? 我們口很容易承認錯了, 但心裡卻沒有多大的反應, 結果我們一次又一次的犯罪, 眼淚流了一次又一次, 但卻是三番兩次的犯罪, 為什麼? 因為只撕裂了衣服, 沒有撕裂心腸。

2. 全國人民都要真誠的認罪悔改。

2:15 你們要在錫安吹角, 分定禁食的日子, 宣告嚴肅會, 2:16 聚集眾民使會眾自潔, 招聚老者, 聚集孩童和喫奶的, 使新郎出離洞房, 新婦出離內室。

神要他們吹角, 聚集全國的人民, 裡面提到有老者, 有孩童, 甚至喫奶都要出來, 這不是很奇怪嗎? 嬰孩有什麼罪呢? 而且新郎新婦也要出來, 有什麼比新婚更重要呢? 為什麼要出來呢? 

神在告訴全國人民, 不要以為都是別人的錯, 不要以為有別的事比認罪悔改更重要, 全國人民都要真誠的認罪悔改啊! 因為國家盛亡, 人人都責。

3. 要神的名神的榮耀而禱告。

2:17 事奉耶和華的祭司, 要在廊子和祭壇中間哭泣, 說: 耶和華阿! 求你顧惜你的百姓, 不要使你的產業受羞辱, 列邦管轄他們, 為何容列國的人說: 他們的神在哪裡呢? 神教導祭司禱告說: 不要使你的產業受羞辱, 列邦管轄他們, 為何容列國的人說: 他們的神在哪裡呢? 因為這不單使以色列人蒙羞, 連神的名也蒙羞了。

教會, 禱告最終的目不是為我們, 乃是為神的名得榮耀啊!

The post The Prayer God Answers | Joel appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.

From Joel 2:1-14

^2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— ² a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come.

³ Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste— nothing escapes them. ⁴ They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. ⁵ With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

⁶ At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. ⁷ They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. ⁸ They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. ⁹ They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.

¹⁰ Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. ¹¹ The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?

¹² “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” ¹³ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. ¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.

People often view tragedy from three perspectives: (1) Tragedies are brought about by wicked men. (2) They are the consequence of human sin. (3) These are natural calamities caused by nature. But the Bible has an additional view and that is, these things are allowed by God’s will. It is difficult for many people to understand and accept this thought.  How could a loving God allow such tragedies? Thus, men come up with many different theories to explain them – they say that God is not a loving God or that He is loving but He is not powerful enough because He may want to prevent them but lacks the power to do so, etc.

No matter how the world interprets things, the Scriptures we will be reflecting on today tell us three things:

1. The disasters in the Last Days are frightening. Joel 2:2 “a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come.” Joel 2:10 “Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” These two verses alone tell us that when the day of the Lord comes, the heavens and the earth will be changed, the sun and the moon will be darkened. This is not something people can withstand as Joel 2:6 says, “At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale.”
2. The disasters in the Last Days are ordained by God. Joel 2:11 “The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” It says the Lord thunders at the head of his army, this means that in the last days, the army will be led by the Lord. We who belong to the Lord must understand that nothing is ever out of God’s control, because even when the flood rises, the Lord remains seated on his throne.
3.  The disasters in the Last Days give us a chance to turn from our ways.  Joel 2:12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Although this is the situation, this verse shows us that we are given a chance to turn around, as long as we repent, fast, cry, and mourn for ourselves and our nations, and return to the Lord in all sincerity. Joel 2:14 “Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.” Indeed, who knows? The Lord is a gracious and compassionate God. He is slow to anger and abounding in love, he relents from sending calamity. This is who God is, these are His attributes, this is how the Lord describes himself!

With our God of lovingkindness, there is always hope for us.  Let us stand up, repent and seek His mercy!

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也未可知 | 約珥書 

張國強牧師

約珥書 2:1-14

^2:1 你們要在錫安吹角, 在我聖山吹出大聲, 國中的居民, 都要發顫; 因為耶和華的日子將到, 已經臨近。² 那日是黑暗、幽冥、密雲、烏黑的日子, 好像晨光鋪滿山嶺; 有一隊蝗蟲〔原文作民〕又大又強,從來沒有這樣的, 以後直到萬代也必沒有。

³ 牠們前面如火燒滅, 後面如火焰燒盡, 未到以前, 地如伊甸園, 過去以後, 成了荒涼的曠野,沒有一樣能躲避牠們的。⁴ 牠們的形狀如馬, 奔跑如馬兵。⁵ 在山頂蹦跳的響聲, 如車輛的響聲, 又如火焰燒碎的響聲, 好像強盛的民擺陣預備打仗。

⁶ 他們一來, 眾民傷慟, 臉都變色。⁷ 牠們如勇士奔跑, 像戰士爬城, 各都步行, 不亂隊伍; ⁸ 彼此並不擁擠, 向前各行其路, 直闖兵器, 不偏左右。⁹ 他們蹦上城, 躥上牆, 爬上房屋, 進入窗戶如同盜賊。

¹⁰ 他們一來, 地震天動, 日月昏暗, 星宿無光。¹¹ 耶和華在他軍旅前發聲, 他的隊伍甚大, 成就他命的, 是強盛者, 因為耶和華的日子大而可畏, 誰能當得起呢?

¹² 耶和華說: 雖然如此, 你們應當禁食、哭泣、悲哀、一心歸向我。¹³ 你們要撕裂心腸, 不撕裂衣服, 歸向耶和華你們的神, 因為他有恩典, 有憐憫, 不輕易發怒,有豐盛的慈愛, 並且後悔不降所說的災。¹⁴ 或者他轉意後悔, 留下餘福, 就是留下獻給耶和華你們神的素祭和奠祭, 也未可知。

人對災難常常有三種的看法: 1.這是惡人的行為 2.這是人犯罪的後果 3.這是天災, 大自然的災難。但聖經卻多了一個看法, 這是神旨意下允許發生的事。這對很多人來說都是很難明白接受的事, 慈愛的神怎可能允許呢? 於是會產生了很多不同的理論來解釋, 神不是慈愛神, 或是祂是慈愛卻不是全能的神, 所以祂有心無力去改變等等。

無論世人怎樣解釋, 今天我們所思想的經文卻告訴我們三件事：

1. 末後的災難是很可怕的。2:2 那日是黑暗、幽冥、密雲、烏黑的日子, 好像晨光鋪滿山嶺; 有一隊蝗蟲〔原文作民〕又大又強,從來沒有這樣的, 以後直到萬代也必沒有。2:10 他們一來, 地震天動, 日月昏暗, 星宿無光。單單這二節經文就告訴我們, 當耶和華日子臨到的時候, 真是天地都改變, 日月都無光, 這不是人可以面對的, 所以, 2:6 他們一來, 眾民傷慟, 臉都變色。
2. 末後的災難是神所主導的。2:11 耶和華在他軍旅前發聲, 他的隊伍甚大, 成就他命的, 是強盛者, 因為耶和華的日子大而可畏, 誰能當得起呢? 耶和華在他軍旅前發聲, 這告訴我們這末後的大軍是神在帶領的, 我們屬神的兒女要明白, 沒有一件不在神的掌控中, 因為地上洪水泛濫, 神仍坐在寶座中。
3. 末後的災難作有轉機的。2:12 耶和華說: 雖然如此, 你們應當禁食、哭泣、悲哀、一心歸向我。雖然如此, 這告訴我們仍有一個轉機的, 只要我們盡我們的本份, 為自己的罪, 為國家的罪, 向神認罪悔改, 禁食, 哭泣, 悲哀, 一心歸向神。2:14 或者他轉意後悔, 留下餘福, 就是留下獻給耶和華你們神的素祭和奠祭, 也未可知。也未可知, 因為神是有恩典, 有憐憫, 不輕易發怒,有豐盛的慈愛, 並且後悔不降所說的災, 這是神的屬性, 這是神對祂自己的宣告啊!

在慈愛神裡, 我們是永遠有指望的, 現在就起來認罪悔改, 尋求祂的憐憫吧!

The post Who Knows? | Joel appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.

From Joel 1:13-20

^1:13 Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. ¹⁴ Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. 

¹⁵ Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.  

¹⁶ Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes—joy and gladness from the house of our God? ¹⁷ The seeds are shriveled beneath the clods. The storehouses are in ruins, the granaries have been broken down, for the grain has dried up. ¹⁸ How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering. 

¹⁹ To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness, and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. ²⁰ Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness.

The prophet Joel declared to his generation that the day of the Lord is near.  Joel 1:15 “Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.” Why did the prophet make such a declaration? He realized from observing natural phenomena that the day of the Lord’s judgment was fast approaching.

Our God is a God who communicates and one of the ways He communicates to man is through the natural world. He speaks His word through the prophets. He also spoke to mankind through the incarnation of His only Son. Nature is yet another way God speaks to man. 

• Psalm 19:1-2 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” 
• Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

The whole universe speaks of God’s work. The prophet saw that the earth has been ruined by multiple swarms of locusts that came one after another. The earth was made desolate. The trees, the land, and the beasts were in mourning. The prophet saw that, at this scale, these natural disasters were a sign that the hand of God’s judgment was drawing near. Thus the prophet called out to the priests, the elders, and the people: “we must all repent, we must declare fasting and cry out to the Lord.” 

Church, we don’t live in an agricultural society, so we don’t personally see locust plagues. But we do see the damage done by the wind, earthquakes, and natural disasters. Now, with the whole world facing the COVID-19 pandemic, shall we remain unrepentant? 

The day of the Lord is fast approaching.  It is not just a certain nation or a certain region that must repent; the whole world must repent. The sins of the world are welling up; the Lord is watching from heaven, will the Lord relent? Sometimes we hear or see news of wicked deeds and we wonder how men could do such wicked things and ask if these are really the deeds of men? Yet our Heavenly Father sees these things daily, He hears these every day, and He must be saying in his heart, “Are these really the deeds of men I have created?  How could they do such things?”

The Lord Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” In Noah’s days, people were corrupt in all their ways, promiscuous in their marriage and sexual lives; eating and drinking, they lived in materialism and self-indulgence.  The whole earth was full of violence. And even as the people believed they were safe, the flood came. 

We are living in a similar situation today. In fact, as to marriage, sexual promiscuity, self-indulgence, pleasure-seeking, and violence, the situation today is worse than the days of Noah. The day of the Son of Man, the day of the Lord is fast approaching. Have you repented? Are you ready to meet God?

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耶和華的日子 | 約珥書 

張國強牧師

約珥書 1:13-20

^1:13 祭司阿, 你們當腰束麻布痛哭, 伺候祭壇的阿, 你們要哀號, 事奉我神的阿, 你們要來披上麻布過夜, 因為素祭和奠祭, 從你們神的殿中斷絕了。¹⁴ 你們要分定禁食的日子, 宣告嚴肅會, 招聚長老, 和國中的一切居民, 到耶和華你們神的殿, 向耶和華哀求。

¹⁵ 哀哉, 耶和華的日子臨近了, 這日來到, 好像毀滅從全能者來到。

¹⁶ 糧食不是在我們眼前斷絕了麼? 歡喜快樂不是從我們神的殿中止息了麼? ¹⁷ 穀種在土塊下朽爛, 倉也荒涼, 廩也破壞, 因為五穀枯乾了。¹⁸ 牲畜哀鳴, 牛群混亂, 因為無草, 羊群也受了困苦。

¹⁹ 耶和華阿, 我向你求告, 因為火燒滅曠野的草場, 火焰燒盡田野的樹木．²⁰ 田野的走獸向你發喘, 因為溪水乾涸, 火也燒滅曠野的草場。

先知約珥向他事奉的世代發出一個宣告, 耶和華的日子臨近了。1:15 哀哉, 耶和華的日子臨近了, 這日來到, 好像毀滅從全能者來到。為什麼先知有這樣的宣告呢? 他從大自然的現象體會到神審判竹日子快要來臨了。

神是說話的神, 祂藉著自然界向人說話, 祂藉著祂的道由先知的口發出, 祂也藉著祂獨生子道成肉身向人說話。自然界是神向人說話的方法之一。

• 詩篇 19:1-2「諸天述說神的榮耀,穹蒼傳揚他的手段。這日到那日發出言語, 這夜到那夜傳出知識。」
• 羅馬書1:20「自從造天地以來, 神的永能和神性是明明可知的, 雖是眼不能見, 但藉著所造之物, 就可以曉得, 叫人無可推諉。」

這個宇宙在述說神的作為, 先知看見全地受蝗蟲之災, 而且更是一個接一個而來, 全地荒涼, 所有的樹本, 土地, 野獸都發出悲哀之聲, 這不是自然界的災難那麼的簡單, 這是神的手, 神審判的手要臨到了。所以先知大聲呼喚, 祭長們, 長老們, 百姓們, 我們都要悔改, 我們要宣告禁食, 向耶和華哀求。

教會, 我們現在不是活在農業的社會裡, 我們看不見蝗蟲之災, 但我們看見風災, 地震, 自然生態的破壞, 現在全球面對新冠肺炎 COVID-19的疫情, 我們還不悔改嗎? 

耶和華的日子快臨近了, 不是某一個國家, 某一個地區要悔改, 全球都要悔改, 世人所犯的罪真是滿溢了, 神在天上觀看, 神能不行動嗎? 有時候我們聽見, 看見一些罪惡的消息, 我們心裡都會說, 這是人作出來的嗎？怎可能這樣作, 但天上的父, 日日都看見, 日日都聽見, 祂心裡也要說, 這是我所造的人所作的嗎？怎可能呢？ 

主耶穌說: 挪亞的日子如何？人子的日子也如何？挪亞的日子人在婚姻的事上敗壞, 在性的方面隨便; 人又吃又喝, 人活在物質享樂主義中; 地上又滿了強暴, 人以為平安的時候, 洪水來了。

現今我們所面對的環境真是一模一樣, 在婚姻在性在享樂在強暴的事情上, 我們比挪亞的日子更可怕, 人子的日子, 耶和華的日子臨近了, 你悔改了嗎? 你預備好迎見你的神嗎？

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From Joel 1:1-12

^1:1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel, son of Pethuel. ² Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? ³ Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. ⁴ What the locust swarm has left, the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten. 

⁵ Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips. ⁶ A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness. ⁷ It has laid waste my vines and ruined my fig trees. It has stripped off their bark and thrown it away, leaving their branches white. 

⁸ Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving for the betrothed of her youth. ⁹ Grain offerings and drink offerings are cut off from the house of the Lord. The priests are in mourning, those who minister before the Lord. ¹⁰ The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the olive oil fails. 

¹¹ Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed. ^1:12 The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree— all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely, the people’s joy is withered away.

There is an important theme in the Book of Joel: “The Day of the Lord.” What does this phrase mean? We will learn more in the coming weeks from the three chapters in the Book of Joel.

In Joel 1:1-12, the prophet reminded us to hear and to listen. Israel’s culture is a culture of listening. When the Lord gave Israel His laws, He had instructed them, “You must listen”. But while listening had become an important cultural trait for Israel, it’s a pity that they did not listen to what was said; it was as if they did not hear it at all. 

We must learn to listen well. There are two ways to listen: 

1.   Listen to history 

Joel 1:3-4: “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten.”  

These verses refer to a historic event. Locusts are a common problem in the Middle East, but in Joel 1:4, it says that what the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten and what the great locusts have left, the young locusts have eaten, what the young locusts have left, the other locusts have eaten.  These were four kinds of locusts attacking in a row, making it a unique occurrence.

Therefore, in Joel 1:3, they are told to pass this matter on their children and their children’s children and on to the next generation. The prophet is telling us that what happened in history is not coincidental; it is the Lord God speaking to us.

Now that we are facing the COVID-19 pandemic, what is God telling us? We must listen carefully!

2.   Listen with our eyes 

In verses 5-7, the prophet wants Israel to open their eyes and listen. Since their ears seem unable to hear, he urges them to open your eyes to listen! Joel 1:6 “A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness.” Do you see these horrible situations? Through these situations, do you hear what God is saying?

To listen is to hear, but what use is it if one hears but does not respond? Starting from verse 8, the prophet asked the people to respond appropriately. 

• Joel 1:8 “Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving for the betrothed of her youth.” 
• Joel 1:9 “Grain offerings and drink offerings are cut off from the house of the Lord. The priests are in mourning, those who minister before the Lord.”  
• Joel 1:11 “Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed.” 
• Joel 1:12 “Surely the people’s joy is withered away.” The prophet enjoined the people to repent, to grieve – to show their repentance.

May we humble ourselves before our Lord, seek His mercy together, and experience His mercy in our weariness.

Next post: The Day of the Lord

聽並回應 | 約珥書 

張國強牧師

約珥書 1:1-12

^1:1 耶和華的話臨到毗土珥的兒子約珥。² 老年人哪, 當聽我的話;國中的居民哪, 都要側耳而聽; 在你們的日子, 或你們列祖的日子, 曾有這樣的事麼。³ 你們要將這事傳與子, 子傳與孫, 孫傳與後代。⁴ 剪蟲剩下的, 蝗蟲來喫; 蝗蟲剩下的, 蝻子來喫, 蝻子剩下的, 螞蚱來喫。

⁵ 酒醉的人哪, 要清醒哭泣, 好酒的人哪, 都要為甜酒哀號, 因為從你們的口中斷絕了。⁶ 有一隊蝗蟲又強盛, 又無數, 侵犯我的地, 牠的牙齒如獅子的牙齒, 大牙如母獅的大牙。⁷ 牠毀壞我的葡萄樹, 剝了我無花果樹的皮, 剝盡而丟棄, 使枝條露白。

⁸ 我的民哪!你當哀號, 像處女腰束麻布, 為幼年的丈夫哀號。⁹ 素祭和奠祭從耶和華的殿中斷絕, 事奉耶和華的祭司都悲哀。¹⁰ 田荒涼, 地悲哀,因為五穀毀壞, 新酒乾竭, 油也缺乏。

¹¹ 農夫阿, 你們要慚愧, 修理葡萄園的阿, 你們要哀號, 因為大麥小麥與田間的莊稼都滅絕了。¹² 葡萄樹枯乾, 花果樹衰殘。石榴樹、棕樹、蘋果樹, 連田野一切的樹木也都枯乾, 眾人的喜樂盡都消滅。

約珥書裡面有一個很重要的主題: 耶和華的日子。耶和華的日子是一個怎樣的日子呢? 我們將會從這三章的經文中更了解。

在1:1-12先知提醒我們要聽, 要側耳而聽; 猶太人的文化是一個聽的文化, 當神將律法賜給猶太人, 神對他們說: 你們要聽。聽成為猶大人一個很重的文化; 但可惜他們聽卻沒有聽進心裡, 聽了好像沒有聽一樣, 我們要學習重新好好聽。這裡有二種聽的方法：

1. 從歷史來聽。

1:3 你們要將這事傳與子, 子傳與孫, 孫傳與後代。1:4 剪蟲剩下的, 蝗蟲來喫; 蝗蟲剩下的, 蝻子來喫, 蝻子剩下的, 螞蚱來喫。這是歷史性的事件, 蝗蟲是中東常見的問題, 但1:4 剪蟲剩下的, 蝗蟲來喫; 蝗蟲剩下的, 蝻子來喫, 蝻子剩下的, 螞蚱來喫, 一連有四種蝗蟲來攻擊卻是絕無僅有的事, 所以, 1:3 你們要將這事傳與子, 子傳與孫, 孫傳與後代。先知在告訴我們, 歷史中所發生的事, 不是偶然的, 神在向我們說話。我們現在面對新冠肺炎的疫症, 神在告訴我們什麼呢? 我們要用心來聆聽啊！

2. 從眼睛來聽。

第五到第七節, 先知要我們打開眼睛來聽, 既然耳朵聽見好像聽不見, 那麼打開眼睛來聽吧! 1:6 有一隊蝗蟲又強盛, 又無數, 侵犯我的地, 牠的牙齒如獅子的牙齒, 大牙如母獅的大牙; 這些可怕的情況看見嗎? 藉著這些情況又聽見神在說什麼呢?

聽是聽見, 但聽了如果沒有回應又什麼作用呢? 從第八節開始, 先知要求百姓有正當的回應:

• 1:8 當哀號, 當哀號。
• 1:9 事奉耶和華的祭司都悲哀。
• 1:11 農夫阿, 你們要慚愧, 修理葡萄園的阿, 你們要哀號。
• 1:12眾人的喜樂盡都消滅。先知要全國都有一個悔改的心, 要哀傷要哀號, 這是悔改的表現。

願我們謙卑在祂面前, 一同尋求祂的憐憫, 在這疲情中經歷祂的憐憫。

The post Listen and Respond | Joel appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.