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创世记生命读经 · 第43篇

蒙召者的得胜

The Victory of the Called
（5） 得胜
5) Victory
1在本篇信息中，我们要来看亚伯拉罕经历中的得胜。（创十四11～24。）我们若仔细读创世记，会看见这卷书除了十四章以外，很少说到外邦人中的国际事务。但十四章记载了外邦人中的国际战争。为甚么有这样的记载？圣经的用辞非常精简，一个字也不浪费。虽然如此，十四章几乎完全用来说到外邦国家之间的国际战争。不过，十四章的事件不仅与国际事务有关，并且在神的主宰下也与神的子民有关。为甚么本章用了这么长的篇幅说到外邦人中的国际战争？虽然这场战争表面看来是国际间的，实际上却是主主宰的安排。对于神子民的环境和一切事故，神是主宰一切的。当然在迦南地，只有两家希伯来人－亚伯拉罕家和罗得家。其余都是外邦人。在本章我们看见神是主宰一切的，祂使一些事情发生，叫祂的子民得益处。
1In this message we come to the victory in Abraham’s experience (14:11-24). If we read the book of Genesis carefully, we shall see that apart from chapter fourteen it does not relate much concerning the international affairs among the Gentiles. But chapter fourteen gives us a record concerning the international fighting among the Gentiles. Why is there such a record? The wording in the Bible is very economical. Not one word is wasted. Nevertheless, chapter fourteen is almost entirely concerned with the international fighting among the Gentile kingdoms. The events in chapter fourteen, however, are not just related to international affairs but are sovereignly related to God’sp eople. Why does this chapter dedicate such a lengthy word to the international fighting among the Gentiles? Although this fighting apparently was international, actually it was sovereignly arranged by the Lord. God is sovereign over the environment and over all the events concerning His people. In the land of Canaan at that time, there were only two families of the Hebrew race—the family of Abraham and the family of Lot. All of the rest were Gentiles. In this chapter we see that God was sovereign, causing something to happen for the good of His people
2创世记十四章说到四王与五王的战争，最终五王被四王击败。你若仔细读，会看见这场战争完全是为著罗得和亚伯拉罕。换句话说，罗得和亚伯拉罕这两个希伯来人都在神的主宰之下受到试验。这场战争到底好不好？按人来说，没有一场战争是好的。然而，本章的战争对罗得有益处，对亚伯拉罕更有益处。在本篇信息中，我们需要来看，这场战争对神子民有益的各面。
2Chapter fourteen of Genesis relates the fighting between a group of four kings and a group of five kings. Eventually, the five kings were defeated by the four kings. If you read carefully, you will see this fighting was absolutely for Lot and for Abraham. In other words, both Lot and Abraham, the two Hebrews, were put to the test under God’s sovereignty. Was this fighting good or not? Humanly speaking, no fighting is good. However, in this chapter the fighting was good for Lot and especially for Abraham. In this message we need to see the profitable aspects related to God’sp eople in this fighting
（a）弟兄被掳
a) The Captivity of the Brother
3战争主要发生在所多玛。这场战争主要发生在所多玛，因为神的一个子民罗得住在那里。在那场战争之前，罗得已经与亚伯拉罕分开了。（创十三11。）你认为罗得与亚伯拉罕分离好么？不，不好。今天所有的年轻人都喜欢和年长的一代分开。然而，在神的经纶里，年轻人与年长的一代分开并不好。你若这样作，你会失去标的和保护。在创世记十三章的时候，神的目标和永远的标的是随著亚伯拉罕。倘若你在那里，使自己与他分开，就等于使自己与神的标的分开了。神的目标是随著蒙召的人。你若与蒙召的人分离，就是与神的目标分离。罗得绝不该与亚伯拉罕分离，因为神的目标是随著亚伯拉罕。离开了亚伯拉罕，就是离开了神的标的。不仅如此，离开了亚伯拉罕，也就是离开了保护。
3The fighting occurred mainly at Sodom. It mainly happened at Sodom because one of God’sp eople, Lot, was living there. Before the time of that fighting, Lot had separated himself from Abraham (13:11). Do you think that it was good for Lot to have separated himself from Abraham? No, it was not good. All of the young people today like to be separated from the older generation. In God’secon o my, however, it is not good for the young ones to be separated from the older generation. If you do this, you will miss the mark and the protection. At the time of Genesis 13, God’s goal and eternal mark were with Abraham. If you had been there and had separated yourself from him, it would have been equal to separating yourself from God’s mark. God’s goal is with the called ones. If you separate yourself from the called ones, you separate yourself from God’s goal. Lot should never have separated himself from Abraham, because God’s goal was with Abraham. To leave Abraham was to leave God’s mark. Moreover, to leave Abraham was to leave the protection.
4罗得不是先被四王击败。他那次失败乃是先前至少两次失败的结果。罗得在被基大老玛掳去之前，已经有过两次失败。第一次失败发生在罗得的牧人和亚伯拉罕的牧人相争，亚伯拉罕叫罗得拣选地的时候。（创十三7～。）当亚伯拉罕叫罗得拣选的时候，罗得该说，『叔父，我的拣选就是你，我的拣选就是你的拣选。我不喜欢自己拣选。我的牧人若不听我，我就解雇他们。我绝不离开你。除了你和你的拣选之外，我别无拣选。』但相反的，当亚伯拉罕叫罗得拣选的时候，他没有多加考虑，就立刻作了拣选，并且离开了。那是他第一次的失败。罗得和亚伯拉罕分离后，『住在平原的城邑，渐渐挪移帐棚，直到所多玛。』（创十三12。）罗得渐渐走下坡。他往下坡走了第一步之后，就很容易走第二步、第三步。第一步是离开与所多玛相距很远的亚伯拉罕。罗得走上通往所多玛的路，他走向所多玛。在神眼中，所多玛是个罪大恶极的城市。（创十三。）罗得是神的一个子民，必然知道这事。他该远离所多玛，不该走向所多玛。然而，因为所多玛周围的土地肥美，罗得就走向所多玛。最终，他迁入那城，住在那里，并且定居在那里。那是他第二次的失败。你想神会允许祂的子民住在这样一个邪恶的城里么？当然不会。因此，在神的主宰之下，基大老玛领军攻打所多玛。神允许那场战争发生。四王与五王交战。按人来说，五王应该得胜，因为他们人多。但四王击败了五王，并且所多玛城被掳掠。圣经强调所多玛被掳掠，因为罗得住在那里。这场战争不仅是四王攻打五王，这场战争乃是为著神的一个子民而战。罗得住在所多玛可能很平安，但神不平安。神绝不会允许罗得平平安安的住在那里。神也许会说，『罗得，你里面也许有平安，但我要从外面兴起一些搅扰来。我要差遣四王击败五王，并且掳掠你的城市。他们要把你，你的家人，并你所有的一切都掳去。』这事真的发生在罗得身上。罗得遭遇了一次又一次的失败。至终，他失败的最后一步，就是落在敌人手中。他被掳了，而所多玛王并不能帮助他。
4Lot was not firstly defeated by the four kings. That defeat was the issue of at least two foregoing defeats. Before Lot was captured by Chedorlaomer, he already had had two defeats. The first defeat occurred when Lot’s herd men were striving against Abraham’s herd men and Abraham offered Lot the choice of the land (13:7-11). When Abraham offered the choice to 11 Lot, Lot should have said, “Uncle, my choice is you. My choice is your choice. I don’t like to make any choice of my own. If my herdmen will not listen to me, I will fire them, but I will never go away from you. I have no choice but you and your choice.” But, on the contrary, when Abraham gave him his choice, immediately, without much consideration, Lot made his choice and went his way. That was his first defeat. After separating from Abraham, “Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom” (13:12). Lot was going downhill. After taking the first step downward, it was easy for him to take the second and the third. The first step was leaving Abraham, who stood afar off from Sodom. Lot took the way that was toward Sodom. He walked in the direction of Sodom. In the eyes of God, Sodom was a wicked and sinful city (13:13). Lot, as one of the people of God, surely knew 13 this. He should have stayed away from Sodom and not have walked towards it. Nevertheless, because the land around Sodom was rich, Lot journeyed toward Sodom. Eventually, he moved into the city, lived there, and settled there. That was his second defeat. Do you think that God will allow His people to dwell in such a wicked city? Certainly not. Thus, under God’s sovereignty, Chedorlaomer led the attack against Sodom. God allowed that war to take place. Four kings fought against five kings. Humanly speaking, the five kings should have been victorious since their number was greater. But the four kings defeated the five kings, and the city of Sodom was taken. The Bible stresses the taking of Sodom because Lot dwelt there. This fighting was not merely a matter of four kings against five kings; it was a fighting for one of God’sp eople. Lot might have been peaceful as he dwelt in Sodom, but God was not peaceful. God would never allow Lot to stay there in peace. God might have said, “Lot, you may have peace within, but I will stir up some disturbance from without. I will send the four kings to defeat the five kings and capture your city. They will capture you, your family, and all that you have.” This is in fact what happened to Lot. Lot suffered defeat after defeat. Eventually, as the last step of his defeat, he fell into the hands of the enemy. He was captured, and the king of Sodom could not help him.
（b）为弟兄争战
b) Fighting for the Brother
5在罗得被掳的事上，神是主宰一切的。十三节说，『有一个逃出来的人，告诉希伯来人亚伯兰。』四王掳掠了所多玛，和一切粮食的供应，但有一个逃出来的人告诉亚伯拉罕，罗得被掳了。你相信这是偶然发生的么？这么多人被掳去，这个人却逃了出来。他乃是神的主宰所保留的。我们会看见，这必是因著背后的代祷发生的。那个逃出来的人没有跑掉，特意来告诉亚伯拉罕，罗得被掳了。亚伯拉罕不像我们，他不计算弟兄的弱点，也不对罗得幸灾乐祸。亚伯拉罕没有说，『罗得绝不该与我分开，我知道这事会发生，他罪有应得。我信神是主宰一切的，罗得的苦难是从神来的。你平安的回家罢。神会保守罗得的。』我信我们许多人会这样反应。但亚伯拉罕不同。他得了这消息，就坚决定意要为罗得争战。（创十四。）我们看见，亚伯拉罕祷告了。在十四章二十二节他告诉所多玛王，在他出去争战以前，他曾向神起誓。亚伯拉罕怎能祷告并作这样的决定？这必是由于背后有人为他代祷。我信那代祷者知道所进行的战争，和罗得的被掳。因这代祷的结果，亚伯拉罕作了简单而勇敢的决定。
5In the matter of the capture of Lot, God was sovereign. Genesis 14:13 says, “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew.” The four kings had captured Sodom and all of its food supply, but one person who escaped told Abraham that Lot had been captured. Do you believe that this happened by accident? While so many others were captured, this one escaped. That person was preserved by God’s sovereignty. As we shall see, it must have happened because of the intercession behind the scene. The one who escaped did not run away but came purposely to Abraham and told him that Lot had been captured. Unlike us, Abraham did not count the weak point of his brother and did not take pleasure in Lot’s suffering and calamity. Abraham did not say, “Lot should never have separated himself from me. I knew this was going to happen. He got what he deserved. I believe that God is sovereign and that Lot’s suffering comes from God. Be at peace and go home. God will preserve Lot.” I believe that many of us would have responded in this way. But Abraham was different. When he received this information, he made a strong decision to fight for Lot (14:14). As we shall see, Abraham prayed. In 14 verse 22 he told the king of Sodom that before he went out to war he lifted up his hand to God. How could Abraham have prayed and made such a decision? It must have been due to the fact that someone behind the scene was interceding for him. I believe that the intercessor knew of the fighting that was going on and of the capture of Lot. As a result of this intercession, Abraham made a brief and bold decision.
6亚伯拉罕决定带著他的三百一十八名壮丁，与四王并他们的军队争战。这四王必定有好几支军队，人数必定远比亚伯拉罕的多。亚伯拉罕怎能以这样少的人与他们争战？不但如此，他们还是多次打仗的君王和将军，而亚伯拉罕是个外行人。他怎能和那些打仗专家交战？他怎能以这样少的人打败他们？虽然如此，亚伯拉罕却很勇敢，他相信神。
6Abraham decided to take his three hundred eighteen men and fight against the four kings and their armies. The four kings must have had several armies, the number of men in which must have been much greater than the number of Abraham’s men. How could Abraham have fought against them with such a small number? Moreover, they were kings and generals who had fought many battles, and Abraham was a layman. How could he fight against those who were experts in war? How could he defeat them with such a small number? Nevertheless, Abraham was bold, having confidence in God.
7就亚伯拉罕说，看见弟兄被掳对他乃是羞耻。今天在召会中也是这样。看见任何弟兄姊妹被掳，对我们乃是羞耻。若是弟兄之家的一位弟兄被掳，而你看见了，那是一种羞耻。你不该容忍这事，你应当说，『我不能忍受这事，我必须起来作一些事！』这就是亚伯拉罕所作的。亚伯拉罕勇敢的决定，必是由于背后有人为他代祷。你也许以为，圣经里没有这样的记载。圣经里也没有记载麦基洗德的父母或族谱。你相信他没有父母或族谱么？当然有，但圣经没有题到这些。本章背后的许多事情都没有记载。我确信在背后有一些代祷。有人关心神在地上的权益，就为罗得、亚伯拉罕、并亚伯拉罕的争战代祷。我们已经看见，罗得的失败不是开始于所多玛。同样的原则，亚伯拉罕的得胜也不是起始于杀败诸王。亚伯拉罕的得胜开始于罗得离开他的时候。亚伯拉罕已经蒙神呼召，他答应了那呼召，来到神所要赐给他的地方。然而，那时亚伯拉罕几乎毫无经历。他所有的一点经历，乃是答应神的呼召，来到神所要他在的地方。我们在前篇信息看见，有一次饥荒兴起，试验亚伯拉罕，而他经不起那试验。亚伯拉罕在神面前失败了，他想靠自己牺牲妻子以求生存。在神主宰的教训下，亚伯拉罕藉著那次失败学了很多。亚伯拉罕晓得神是主宰一切的，并且神知道一切与祂子民有关的事。与蒙神呼召者有关的一切事都在祂手中。亚伯拉罕看见了这事，经历了这事，并且完全进入其中。以后，当他和罗得发生问题的时候，亚伯拉罕得胜了。那时他开始得胜，因为他在下埃及的事上学了基本的功课。我们都必须学这样基本的功课。在你蒙了呼召，答应了神的呼召，来到神所要你在的地方之后，神要教导你的第一个基本功课是，你既是神所呼召的人，关于你的一切事，都在神的手下，神主宰你的一切。这是亚伯拉罕下埃及所学的基本功课。他学了这功课之后，在罗得的事上就得胜了。当亚伯拉罕和罗得发生问题时，他没有自己拣选；他知道他的拣选是在神手中。那是亚伯拉罕得胜的开始。
7As far as Abraham was concerned, it was a shame for him to see that his brother had been captured. It is the same in the church today. It is a shame for us to see that any brother or sister has been captured. If a brother in the brothers’ house is captured and you see it, that is a shame. You should not tolerate it but should say, “I cannot bear with this. I must rise up and do something about it!” This is what Abraham did. Abraham’s bold decision must have been due to the fact that behind the scene someone was interceding for him. Perhaps you are thinking that there is no record of this in the Bible. Neither is there a record of Melchisedec’spare nts or genealogy. But do you believe that he had no parents or genealogy? Certainly he did, yet the Bible does not mention them. Many things behind the scene in this chapter are not recorded. I do believe that behind the scene there was some intercession. Someone concerned for God’sin te rest on earth was interceding for Lot, Abraham, and Abraham’s fighting. We have seen that Lot’s defeat did not begin at Sodom. In the same principle, Abraham’s victory did not start with the slaughter of the kings. Abraham’s victory began when Lot departed from him. Abraham had been called by God, and he answered that calling by coming forward to the very land that God intended to give him. At that time, however, Abraham had nearly no experience. All he had was a little experience in answering God’scall ing and coming forward to the place where God intended him to be. As we saw in the last message, a famine arose as a test to Abraham, and he was not able to withstand that test. Abraham failed God, trying by himself to make a living at the sacrifice of his wife. Under God’ss ove reign teaching, Abraham learned a great deal by that failure. Abraham learned that God is sovereign over everything and that He knows everything concerning His people. Everything related to God’scall ed ones is in His hand. Abraham saw that, experienced it, and came fully into it. Afterward, when the problem arose between Abraham and Lot, Abraham was victorious. His victory began at that time because he had learned the basic lesson in his going down to Egypt. We all must learn such a basic lesson. After you have been called and have answered God’scall ing by coming to the place where He intends you to be, the first basic lesson that God will teach you is that, as a called one of God, everything concerning you is under God’s hand. God is sovereign over you. This was the basic lesson that Abraham learned by going down to Egypt. After learning that lesson, he gained the victory with Lot. When the problem arose with Lot, Abraham didn’tt ake his own choice; he knew that his choice was in the hands of God. That was the beginning of Abraham’s victory.
8然后时机来到，亚伯拉罕能向全宇宙表明，他是在神这边。当麦基洗德出现的时候，启示了神的两个特别名称：至高的神和天地的主。（创十四19。）麦基洗德和亚伯拉罕都这样称呼神。亚伯拉罕说，『我已经向天地的主，至高的神耶和华起誓。』（创十四22。）亚伯拉罕能说，『我下埃及学了功课，我的神，就是呼召我的那一位，乃是天地的主。我不需要拣选，我的拣选就是祂。我不能眼看我的弟兄被掳，这对我是羞耻。我必须把他救回来。我不管我的壮丁有多少，也不管诸王和他们的军队。我不管我所有的比他们的少。我的负担就是要把我的弟兄救回来。我若不这样作，对我就是羞耻。』亚伯拉罕冒著生命的危险，为他的弟兄争战。为著拯救他被掳的弟兄而冒著生命的危险，这对他不是一件小事，但他这样作了。战争进行顺利，亚伯拉罕追赶敌人，从南方一路追到北方的但。他的得胜必是背后代祷的结果。
8Then the time came when Abraham could show the whole universe that he was on God’ss i de. When Melchisedec appeared, two special titles of God are revealed: the Most High God and the Possessor of heaven and earth (v. 19). Both Melchisedec and Abraham spoke of God in this way. Abraham said, “I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth” (14:22). Abraham could say, “By going down to Egypt I have learned the lesson that my God, the One who called me, is the Possessor of both heaven and earth. I don’t need to have any choice. My choice is just He. I cannot bear seeing that my brother has been captured. This is a shame to me. I must take him back. I don’t care for the number of soldiers and I don’t care for the kings and armies. I don’t care that I have less than they do. My burden is to get my brother back. If I don’t do this, it is a shame to me.” In fighting for his brother, Abraham risked his life. It was not a small thing for him to risk his life in order to rescue his captured brother. But he did it. The fight went smoothly, and Abraham pursued the enemy from the south all the way to Dan in the north. His victory must have been the result of the intercession behind the scene
9亚伯拉罕信靠神得了胜利。他对神有信心，因为他学会了认识神。同样的，我们都必须学习认识神。我们必须学知，甚至在今天，地还是神的，神是地上的主。祂不但是地上的主，也是天上的主。天地都属于我们的父，就是呼召我们的那一位。我们对祂需要有这样的信心。我们若缺了这种信心，就已经失败，要成为罗得了。罗得为甚么失败？因为他不像亚伯拉罕，没有学习一个功课，认识神是天地的主。甚至在他被救出之后，圣经也没有记载他感谢亚伯拉罕，或对主说一些话。罗得完全失去了功用。按照以后各章的记载，他又回到所多玛。虽然他的被掳警告他不要回到所多玛，但他甚至在被掳又被救出以后，仍然回去了。我们由此看见，一旦你失败了，你就很难远离那个失败。
9Abraham gained the victory by trusting in God. He had confidence in God because he had learned to know Him. Likewise, we all must learn to know God. We must learn that, even today, the earth is God’s. God is the landlord. He is not only the landlord but also the heavenlord. Both the heaven and the earth belong to our Father, the One who has called us. We need to have such confidence in Him. If we lack this confidence, we are already defeated and shall become a Lot. Why was Lot defeated? Because, unlike Abraham, he did not learn the lesson that God is the Possessor of heaven and earth. Even after he had been rescued, there is no record that he thanked Abraham or said a word to the Lord. Lot was absolutely out of function. According to the following chapters, he went back to Sodom. Although his capture was a warning to him not to return to Sodom, he still went back, even after his capture and rescue. We see from this that once you have been defeated it is very difficult to keep yourself away from that defeat
10虽然罗得失败了，亚伯拉罕却得胜了。这次得胜是他外面经历的高峰。后来，神进来给他一些里面的经历。
10Although Lot had been defeated, Abraham was victorious. This victory was the peak of his outward experience. Later on, God came in to give him some inward experiences
（c）麦基洗德的职事
c) The Ministry of Melchisedec
11那个逃出来的人怎么可能来到亚伯拉罕那里？亚伯拉罕怎能作这样简单而勇敢的决定？到底发生了甚么事，敌人不久之后就逃跑了？原来麦基洗德来了。麦基洗德是谁？他是基督的豫表，他很像基督。他来了，就表征基督来了。他豫表基督是神的大祭司。这在创世记十四章没有启示出来，但在诗篇一百一十篇可以看出。诗篇一百一十篇告诉我们，神的受膏者，就是基督，照著麦基洗德的等次为祭司，他的等次先于亚伦的等次。在亚伦作祭司以前，麦基洗德已经是神的祭司了。亚伦的祭司职任是对付罪，顾到消极一面的事。相反的，麦基洗德的职事是积极的。麦基洗德不是来除罪。他出现不是因为亚伯拉罕犯了罪，乃是因为亚伯拉罕得了胜。麦基洗德出现，不是带著祭物来除罪，乃是带著饼和酒来滋养得胜者。几乎所有的基督徒都认为，基督是解决罪的大祭司；几乎没有人注意到，基督是照著麦基洗德等次的大祭司。基督是这样的大祭司，祂不是解决罪，乃是把那象征经过过程之神的饼和酒供应我们，作我们的滋养。
11How was it possible for one who escaped to have come to Abraham, and how could Abraham have made such a brief and bold decision? What happened so that, after a short time, the enemy ran away? Melchisedec came in. Who is Melchisedec? He is a type of Christ. He is very much like Christ. When he came in, it signified that Christ came in. He was a type of Christ as God’s High Priest. This is not revealed in Genesis 14, but it is found in Psalm 110. In Psalm 110 we are told that God’san o in ted One, the very Christ, is the Priest according to the order of Melchisedec, an order which is prior to that of Aaron. Before Aaron came into the priesthood, Melchisedec was God’s Priest already. The Aaronic priesthood dealt with sin, taking care of things on the negative side. The ministry of Melchisedec, on the contrary, is positive. Melchisedec did not come in to take away sin. He did not appear because Abraham had sinned but because Abraham had gained the victory. Melchisedec did not appear with an offering to take away sin but with bread and wine to nourish the victor. Nearly all Christians consider Christ as the High Priest who takes care of sin, but hardly anyone pays attention to Christ as the High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec. As such a High Priest, Christ does not take care of sin but ministers to us the processed God, signified by the bread and wine, as our nourishment
12难道你不信在麦基洗德来供应饼和酒之前，他这位神的祭司已经为罗得和亚伯拉罕代祷过？我信他曾为他们代祷。我不信麦基洗德在整个争战期间都在睡觉，然后他听见亚伯拉罕得胜的消息，就急急忙忙的带饼和酒去供应他。我相信亚伯拉罕简单而勇敢的决定，要为拯救罗得而战，是麦基洗德的代祷所激起的。我也相信，那个来告诉亚伯拉罕罗得被掳的人能逃出来，是因为麦基洗德曾为罗得代祷。麦基洗德是祭司，他必定一直在照顾神的子民。神答应他的代祷，有一个人从所多玛逃出来向亚伯拉罕报信，亚伯拉罕就作了勇敢的决定，要为著拯救罗得而战。当我们在地上生活行动时，会遭遇到许多事。表面看来，这些事就这么发生了；实际上，在背后一直有代祷。我们的麦基洗德，我们的大祭司基督，仍然在天上为我们代祷。（来七25。）祂的代祷荫庇我们，顾念我们。
12Do you not believe that before Melchisedec came to minister bread and wine, as the priest of God he was interceding for Lot and Abraham? I believe that he was. I do not believe that Melchisedec was sleeping during all the fighting and that when he heard the news of Abraham’s victory he hurriedly appeared to Abraham to minister bread and wine. I believe that Abraham’s brief and bold decision to fight for the rescue of Lot was stirred up by the intercession of Melchisedec. I also believe that the one who came to tell Abraham of Lot’s capture escaped because Melchisedec was interceding for Lot. As a priest, Melchisedec must have been taking care of God’s people. In answer to his intercession, one escaped from Sodom, told Abraham the news, and Abraham made the bold decision to fight for the rescue of Lot. While we walk on this earth, many things happen to us. Apparently, these things just happen. Actually, behind the earthly scene, an intercession is going on. Our Melchisedec, our High Priest Christ, is still interceding for us in heaven (Heb. 7:2 5). His intercession overshadows us and cares for us.
13麦基洗德临到亚伯拉罕，多少指明基督的再来。我们是今日的亚伯拉罕，我们在这里作甚么？我们在这里击杀仇敌。有些神的子民像罗得，遭遇了一次又一次的失败。靠著神的怜悯，有些人需要作今日的亚伯拉罕，经历一次又一次的得胜。我们需要学习基本的功课，认识我们的神，就是呼召我们的那一位，乃是天地的主。我们在地上为祂而活，并且是祂的见证。我们不能容忍神的权益在地上受损害。当我们听到这样的损害，我们就立刻决定打败仇敌，击杀诸王。我们需要每天都击杀一些王。我们需要在思想、情感和意志里击杀诸王。我们需要在环境、家庭和学校中击杀诸王。在我们击杀这些王之后，我们的麦基洗德会临到我们，迎接我们，庆贺我们的得胜。主在我们杀尽诸王之后，才会回来。那时祂要回来，与我们同喝葡萄树的产品，正如祂在马太二十六章二十九节的话所指明的：『从今以后，我绝不喝这葡萄树的产品，直到我在我父的国里，同你们喝新的那日子。』麦基洗德为罗得和亚伯拉罕代祷。今天，我们的大祭司基督，为所有的得胜者代祷。祂现今在天上为我们代祷，而我们就在地上击杀诸王。在得胜者杀尽诸王之后，我们的代祷者，至高神的大祭司，就要带著对经过过程之神的全尝显现。麦基洗德的来临，表征基督已经来临。我们的得胜总是使基督显明。我们周围的人可能发觉，要看见基督在那里很不容易。然而我们若得了胜利，那胜利就要将基督向人表明出来。我们的得胜会在新的方面带进基督。何等有趣，我们在创世记十四章忽然看见麦基洗德出现，他这名的意思是公义王；他又是撒冷王，意即平安王。这表征甚么？这表征基督要藉著得胜者，向人表明并带给人。有一天，全地都要因基督的显现而希奇。世人甚至不信有基督，他们称这样的信仰为无稽之谈。但在我们杀尽诸王之后，基督会忽然显现。基督要因著我们击杀诸王而得以显明，全世界都要希奇祂的来临。基督的第二次显现，对我们得胜者并不希奇，但对世人却非常希奇。他们会说，『这位是谁？祂叫甚么名字？祂从那里来？』我们要回答他们，『祂名叫基督，是真麦基洗德。祂是从天上来的，祂在那里已经为我们代祷了好多世纪。』
13Melchisedec’s coming to Abraham was somewhat of an indication of Christ’s second coming. What are we, today’s Abraham, doing here? We are slaughtering the enemies. Some of God’sp eople, like Lot, have suffered defeat after defeat. By God’s mercy, some others need to be today’s Abraham who experience victory after victory. We need to learn the basic lesson that our God, the One who called us, is the Possessor of heaven and earth. We are living for Him on the earth and we are His testimony. We do not tolerate any damage to God’sin te rest on earth. When we hear of such damage, we make a quick decision to defeat the enemy and to slaughter the kings. We need to slaughter some kings daily. We need to slaughter the kings in our mind, emotion, and will. We need to slaughter the kings in our environment, families, and schools. After we have finished our slaughter of the kings, our Melchisedec will come to us, meet with us, and celebrate our victory. The Lord will not come back until we have slaughtered all the kings. Then He will return and drink the fruit of the vine with us, as indicated by His word in Matthew 26:29: “I will by no means drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of My Father.” Melchisedec interceded for Lot and Abraham. Today Christ, our High Priest, is interceding for all the overcoming ones. While He is interceding now for us in heaven, we are slaughtering the kings on earth. After the overcoming ones slaughter all the kings, our Intercessor, the High Priest of the Most High God, will appear with the full taste of the processed God. Melchisedec’s coming signified that Christ had come. Our victory always makes Christ manifested. The people in our environment may find it difficult to see where Christ is. However, if we gain a victory, that victory will declare Christ to them. Our victory will bring in Christ in a new aspect. How interesting it is to see that suddenly, in chapter fourteen of Genesis, Melchisedec, whose name means the king of righteousness and who was the king of Salem, which means the king of peace, appeared. What does this signify? It signifies that Christ will be declared to people and brought to them by the overcoming ones. One day the whole earth will be surprised by Christ’s appearing. The people in the world do not even believe that there is a Christ, calling such belief nonsense. But after we have slaughtered all of the kings, Christ will suddenly appear. Christ will be made manifest by our slaughter of the kings, and the whole world will be surprised at His coming. To us, the overcomers, Christ’s second appearing will not be a surprise, but to the worldly people it will be a great surprise. They may say, “Who is this one? What is his name and where does he come from?” We may answer, “His name is Christ, the real Melchisedec, and He comes from the heavens where He has been interceding for centuries.”
14我们都需要回应主的代祷。我们若转到我们的灵里接触祂，总会有一些回声。我们若照著这回声而行，忘掉我们的环境、仇敌、甚至自己，我们就要得著胜利，并且击杀诸王。在击杀诸王的末了，我们的麦基洗德就会向我们显现。那就是基督的再来。当基督来临的时候，全地都要认识至高的神。那时全地都要知道神是天地的主。这地不属于任何君王、总统、政治家或政客，乃属于至高的神，天地的主。这事实如何能向世人表明？只有藉著我们击杀诸王。亚伯拉罕在十四章的得胜不是一件小事。在圣经里，神是逐步启示出来的。创世记一章没有『至高的神』这名称。甚至到了十三章，也没有这名称，或『天地的主』这个特别的名称。你虽然作了多年的基督徒，也许从来不知道神有这样的名称。神是至高的神，也是天地的主。祂是天上的主，也是地上的主。藉著我们对基督的经历，神的名称逐步向我们启示了出来。在我们对基督的经历中，我们要认识我们的神是至高的神，也是天地的主。这必是我们继续击杀诸王的吸引和鼓励。不要作今日的罗得，因为那是胆怯懦弱的。我们都必须简单而勇敢，因为我们有至高神和天地的主。亚伯拉罕告诉所多玛王，在他去争战以前，他向至高的神，天地的主起誓。他是在这样的灵里去争战的。既然亚伯拉罕对至高的神，天地的主有充分的信心，他就必定得胜。
14We all need to echo the Lord’s intercession. If we turn to our spirit and contact Him, there will always be some echoing. If we go according to that echoing, forgetting our environment, enemies, and even ourselves, we shall gain the victory and slaughter the kings. At the end of our slaughter of all the kings, our Melchisedec will appear to us. That will be the second coming of Christ. When Christ comes in, the whole earth will know the Most High God. Then all the earth will realize that God is the Possessor of heaven and earth. The earth is not possessed by any king, president, statesman, or politician, it is possessed by the Most High God, the Possessor of heaven and earth. How can this fact be declared to the earth? Only by our slaughter of the kings. Abraham’s victory in chapter fourteen is not a small thing. In the Bible, God is revealed in a progressive way. In Genesis 1 we do not have the title, “the Most High God.” Even up to chapter thirteen we have neither this title nor the special title, “Possessor of heaven and earth.” Although you may have been a Christian for years, perhaps you have never realized that God has such titles. God is the Most High God and the Possessor of heaven and earth. He is the heavenlord and the landlord. By our experience of Christ, God’s titles are progressively revealed to us. In our experience of Christ, we shall realize that our God is the Most High God and the Possessor of heaven and earth. This must be our attraction and incentive to go on to slaughter the kings. Do not be today’s Lot, for that is to be timid and cowardly. We all must be brief and bold because we have the Most High God and the Possessor of heaven and earth. Abraham told the king of Sodom that, before he went to war, he lifted up his hand to the Most High God, to the Possessor of heaven and earth. He went to war in such a spirit. Since Abraham had full confidence in the Most High God, the Possessor of heaven and earth, he had to be victorious
15当麦基洗德来见亚伯拉罕的时候，他用至高的神，天地的主来为他祝福。（创十四。）这证明他比亚伯拉罕尊优。（来七6～7。）他也为亚伯拉罕的得胜称颂神。（创十四20。）我们的得胜总使麦基洗德把祝福赐给我们，也把称颂归给神。我们的得胜在基督里给我们带来更多的祝福，也给神带来更多的称颂。
15When Melchisedec came to Abraham, he blessed Abraham with the Most High God, the Possessor of heaven and earth (v. 19). This proves that he was 19 greater than Abraham (Heb. 7:6-7). He also blessed God for Abraham’s victory (v. 20). Our victory always causes our Melchisedec to grant us blessing and to give blessing to God. Our victory brings in more blessings in Christ, both to us and to God.
16在麦基洗德祝福时，亚伯拉罕献上所有的十分之一，就是他上等掳物中的十分之一。（创十四20，来七2，4。）这也证明麦基洗德的尊大。我们的得胜使我们获得掳物，而我们将掳物献给基督，总是表明基督的尊大。我们若没有得胜，就没有东西献给基督，祂的尊大也就无法表明出来。
16At Melchisedec’s blessing, Abraham gave him tithes of all, the tithes of his choice spoils (v. 20; Heb. 7:2, 4). This also proves Melchisedec’s greatness. Our victory gains the spoils, and the offering of our spoils to Christ always declares the greatness of Christ. Without victory, we have nothing to offer to Christ and His greatness will not be declared
（d）胜过地上财物的试诱
d) Overcoming the Temptation of Earthly Substance
17亚伯拉罕的得胜，规律并恢复了整个局面，也重整了整个环境。四王打败了五王，掳掠了一切。现在整个局面转过来了。亚伯拉罕的得胜完全改变了这局面，将牠调整过来。他将不公平的环境转变成公平的，并使全境太平。结果就有了公义王与平安王。亚伯拉罕的得胜止息了一切的争斗和分争，带进真正的平安。
17Abraham’s victory regulated and restituted the whole situation and rearranged the entire environment. The four kings had defeated the five kings and had captured everything. The whole situation had been turned upside down. Abraham’s victory changed this situation altogether, turning it right side up. He turned the unjust environment into a just one and made the whole situation peaceful. As a result, there was the king of righteousness and the king of peace. Abraham’s victory stopped all the fighting and strife and brought in genuine peace
18所多玛王能谦卑、诚实并真诚的对亚伯拉罕说，『你得了胜利，你所夺回的一切必定归你。请你拿去。我只要我的人民。』你我若是亚伯拉罕，也许会说，『那是正确且公平的。我拯救了你的人民，夺回了你所失去的一切。人民归你，其余的一切归我，这样很好。』但亚伯拉罕得胜所重整的环境完全不是这样。那是纯洁的。亚伯拉罕对所多玛王说，『凡是你的东西，就是一根线，一根鞋带，我都不拿，免得你说，我使亚伯兰富足。』（创十四23。）亚伯拉罕似乎说，『我若拿你一根线，你就能说你使我富足。但我要向全宇宙作完全的见证，我的富足不是从你来的，我的富足是从天地的主，至高的神来的。』这是何等的纯洁！在那种局面里，我们看见公义与平安。请看创世记十四章亚伯拉罕杀败了诸王之后的情景。亚伯拉罕将一切夺回来，五王出来迎接他。至高神的祭司麦基洗德，在那里给亚伯拉罕祝福，并从他领受十分之一的奉献。一切的人都观看，不知道那些东西要归谁。甚至那些被掳又被亚伯拉罕夺回的人也不知道他们今后要属谁。然后亚伯拉罕说，『我已经向天地的主，至高的神耶和华起誓。』亚伯拉罕说，任何东西他都不拿。所有的人都得到充分的安顿。在那种局面里，就有了公义与平安。就某种意义说，这就像千年国，满了公义与平安。（赛三二1，16～18，诗七二2～3，7。
18The king of Sodom could humbly, honestly, and truthfully say to Abraham, “You have gained the victory. Everything that you brought back must be yours. You take it. All I want is my people.” If you and I had been Abraham, we probably would have said, “That is right and fair. I rescued your people and recovered everything that you lost. It is good that you have the people and that everything else be mine.” But the environment that was rearranged by Abraham’s victory was not at all like this. It was pure. Abraham said to the king of Sodom, “I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet,” and “I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich” (14:23). Abraham seemed to be saying, “If I take a thread from you, you will be able to say that you have made me rich. But I want to give a full testimony to the whole universe that my riches do not come from you. My riches come from the Possessor of heaven and earth, from my Most High God.” How pure this was! There in that situation we see righteousness and peace. Consider the scene in Genesis 14 after Abraham had slaughtered the kings. Abraham had brought back everything, and the kings came out to meet him. Melchisedec, the priest of the Most High God, was there, granting Abraham the blessing and receiving tithes from him. All of the people were watching, wondering to whom the things would go. Even the people who had been captured and brought back by Abraham wondered whose people they would be from then on. Then Abraham said, “I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth.” Abraham said that he would not take anything. All the people received a full settlement. In that situation there was righteousness and peace. In a sense, it was like the millennial kingdom, full of righteousness and peace (Isa. 32:1, 16-18; Psa. 72:2-3, 7).
19亚伯拉罕很公平，他对所多玛王说，他甚么都不拿。『只有仆人所吃的，并与我同行的亚乃、以实各、幔利，所应得的分，可以任凭他们拿去。』（创十四24。）亚伯拉罕说，他的战士和盟友应得他们的分，但他把自己的分给了所多玛王。他是怎样的一个人！他杀败了四王，现在他和另一个王，就是所多玛王交涉。他在他们众人之上。今天我们基督徒需要作这样的人。我们必须高过地上的君王和总统。在我们之上只有一位－我们的麦基洗德。在创世记十四章，我们看见亚伯拉罕非常崇高。你能相信这样高的人，会低到一个地步，为著生存打算牺牲他的妻子么？你能相信在埃及要出卖妻子的人，会高到一个地步，在诸王之上么？当亚伯拉罕甘愿出卖妻子的时候，他是在最低的地方；但他对付诸王的时候，是在至高的天上。我们可能在两方面都像亚伯拉罕。我们可能很卑贱，打算出卖妻子；也可能靠著主的恩典，高过诸王。亚伯拉罕的得胜，并他高过诸王，完全是由于背后的代祷。在地上的景象背后，有一件事在天上进行著，这件事决定整个局面。我们都需要看见这点。
19Abraham was fair, saying to the king of Sodom that he would take nothing “save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eschol, and Mamre; let them take their portion” (14:24). Abraham said that his fighters and confederates should have their portion but that he would give his portion to the king of Sodom. What a man he was! He had slaughtered four kings and now he was dealing with another one, the king of Sodom. He was over all of them. We Christians need to be this kind of person today. We must be higher than the earthly kings and presidents. There is only one who is above us—our Melchisedec. In Genesis 14 we see that Abraham was very high. Can you believe that one who was so high could have been so low as to plan to sacrifice his wife for his living? Can you believe that the one who would sell his wife in Egypt could be so high as to be above all the kings? When Abraham was willing to sell his wife, he was in the lowest hell, but when he dealt with the kings, he was in the highest heaven. We all may be like Abraham in both respects. We may be mean, planning to sell our wives, or, by the Lord’s grace, we may be higher than the kings. Abraham’s victory and his being higher than the kings were absolutely due to the intercession behind the scene. Behind the earthly scene, something was going on in heaven that determined the entire situation. We all need to see this