约伯记生命读经 · 第2篇

约伯的试炼（一）

The Trials of Job (1)

1读经：约伯记一章。本篇信息要说到约伯的试炼，我们先来看约伯这个人。

1Scripture Reading: Job 1 In this message on the trials of Job, we will first consider the person of Job

壹约伯这人

I. JOB THE MAN

一完全、正直，敬畏神，远离恶事

A. Perfect and Upright, Fearing God and Turning Away from Evil

2约伯记一章一节说，『乌斯地有一个人名叫约伯；那人完全、正直，又敬畏神，远离恶事。』完全与我们里面的人有关，正直与我们外面的人有关。此外，正直也是不弯曲，不偏斜。约伯除了里面完全、外面正直外，他在积极一面敬畏神，在消极一面远离恶事。不过，甚至在敬畏神这件积极的事上，也没有任何东西真正是积极的。神造人不仅是要人敬畏祂、不犯错。圣经告诉我们，神是照著自己的形像，按著自己的样式造人，为叫人彰显祂。（创一２６。）这是一切积极事物中最积极的事。光是敬畏神、远离恶事还不彀；事实上这还不是积极的，最积极的事乃是彰显神。彰显神比敬畏神和远离恶事更高。

2Job 1:1 says, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and this man was perfect and upright, and he feared God and turned away from evil." Being perfect is related to our inner man, and being upright is related to our outer man. Furthermore, to be upright means that we are not crooked or biased. In addition to being perfect inwardly and upright outwardly, Job feared God positively and turned away from evil negatively. However, even with the positive matter of fearing God, there is not anything that is actually positive. God did not create man merely to fear Him without doing anything wrong. The Bible tells us that God created man in His own image and after His likeness that man may express Him (Gen. 1:26). This is the most positive thing among all positive things. To fear God and turn away from evil is not adequate, and actually this is not positive. The most positive thing is to express God. To express God is higher than fearing God and turning away from evil

3另一个说到约伯的字眼是『纯正』。在二章三节耶和华告诉撒但说，『他约伯仍然持守他的纯正。』在九节约伯的妻子问他：『你仍然持守你的纯正么？』在二十七章五节约伯对他的朋友说，『我至死必不摒弃我的纯正。』最后在三十一章六节约伯宣告说，『愿祂知道我的纯全。』纯正是完全和正直的总和，是完全加上正直的总和。关于约伯这个人，纯正完全表达了他的所是。在性格上，他是完全、正直的；在道德上，他有高标准的纯正。

3Another word used in relation to Job the man is integrity. In 2:3 Jehovah tells Satan that Job "still holds fast his integrity." In verse 9 Job's wife asks him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity?" In 27:5 Job says to his friends, "Until I die, I will not put away my integrity from me." Finally, in 31:6 Job declares, "Let God know my integrity." Whereas the words perfect and upright are adjectives, the word integrity is a noun. Integrity is the totality of being perfect and being upright; it is the totality of perfection plus uprightness. With respect to Job, integrity is the total expression of what he is. In character he is perfect and upright, and in his ethics he has a high standard of integrity

二有七个儿子，三个女儿

B. Having Seven Sons and Three Daughters

4照著一章二节，约伯生了七个儿子和三个女儿。三有许多产业，许多仆婢约伯有七千羊，三千骆驼，五百对牛，五百母驴，并有许多仆婢。（３上。）

4According to 1:2, seven sons and three daughters were born to Job. C. Having Great Possessions and Many Servants Job possessed seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a great many servants (v. 3a).

四在东方人中为至大

D. Greater Than All the Sons of the East

5约伯在东方人中为至大。（３下。）

5Job was greater than all the sons of the east (v. 3b

五在他儿女的筵宴之后，使他们圣别，并为他们献燔祭

E. Sanctifying His Children after Their Feasting Together and Offering Burnt Offerings for Them

6约伯的儿子按著日子，各在自己家里设摆筵宴，邀请他们的三个姐妹与他们一同吃喝。（４。）筵宴过后，约伯就打发人去，使他们圣别；他清早起来，按著他们众人的数目献燔祭，说，『恐怕我儿女犯了罪，心中咒骂神。』（５。）因为在筵宴上过度的吃喝，容易属世，所以约伯在他儿女的筵宴之后，使他们圣别。他一直为他们献燔祭，他必定是一位敬虔的父亲。贰在天上举行关于约伯的会议在道德上，约伯是个好人。在人眼中，约伯没有问题。神甚至向撒但夸约伯如何好。（一８，二３。）惟有神知道约伯有个需要，神知道约伯缺少神。因著神对约伯爱的关切，所以就在天上举行会议讨论约伯。

6Job'ss ons would hold feasts in each one'sho use, each on his own day, and they would invite their sisters to eat and drink with them (v. 4). Job would send word and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings for them, saying, "Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their heart" (v. 5). Because feasting, an excess in eating, can be worldly, Job sanctified his children after their days of feasting. He offered the burnt offerings for them continually. He surely was a godly father. II. A COUNCIL HELD IN HEAVEN CONCERNING JOB Ethically speaking, Job was very good. According to human eyes, there was no problem with Job. God even boasted to Satan regarding how good Job was (v. 8; 2:3). Only God knew that Job had a need, that he was short of God. Because of His loving concern for Job, God held a council in the heavens to talk about Job

一由神和天使所举行

A. Held by God with the Angels

7这个会议是由神和天使｜神的众子｜所举行的。（伯一６上，参王上

7This council was held by God with the angels, the sons of God (1:6a; cf. 1 Kings 22:19-23; Psa. 89:5-7

8二二１９～２３，诗八九５～７。）

二撒但也来在与会者之中

B. Satan Also Coming as One of the Attendants

9我不相信撒但是受邀请来参加这个会议。他是自己邀请自己，不请自来的。撒但常常不请自来。在以赛亚十四章十五节和以西结二十八章十六至十七节，撒但已经被神定罪，甚至受神判刑。但神在祂的智慧和主宰的权柄里，还未在撒但身上执行祂的审判。祂还是给撒但一点时间，有一点作为，好在完成神永远经纶的事上，应付一些消极方面的需要。神不能，也不愿要求祂众多优秀天使中的任何一位，来作需要伤害约伯的事。没有撒但，就没有一位会作这丑恶的事来伤害约伯，就是把他的

9I do not believe that Satan was invited to attend this council. He came without invitation; he came by inviting himself. Quite often Satan comes without being invited. In Isaiah 1 4:1 5 and Ezekiel 2 8:1 6-1 7 Satan was condemned by God and even sentenced by God. Yet in His wisdom and sovereignty God did not execute His judgment over Satan. He still has given Satan a certain limited time so that he can do something to meet some negative need in the fulfillment of God ' secon o my. God could not and would not ask any of His many excellent angels to do what was needed to damage Job. Without Satan, there would have been no one to do the ugly work of damaging Job in order to strip him of everything that he might be full of God.

10一切都剥夺，好使他能被神充满。

11我们可用新约中犹大的例子来说明。有一天主耶稣说，『我不是拣选了你们十二个么？但你们中间有一个是魔鬼。』（约六７０。）主既知道犹大会出卖祂，为甚么还拣选他作十二使徒之一？（十三２，２７。）因为神永远的经纶有特别的一面需要犹大。没有犹大，主耶稣怎能被出卖？若没有被出卖，祂怎能上十字架？因此犹大是需要的。约伯记中撒但的情形是相同的：需要有人伤害约伯，不是审判他，而是剥夺他的一切。约伯在神的祝福下多年劳苦，累积了许多财富。他有七千羊、三千骆驼、五百对牛、五百母驴、并有许多仆婢。他有一个亲爱的妻子、七个儿子和三个女儿。约伯在完全、正直，持守纯正的事上，是非常成功的。他的家产、成功和成就，使他成为一个自满自足的人。虽然约伯拥有许多家产，得著许多成就，但他里面没有神。神看约伯时，可能说，『约伯，我该在你身上作甚么？你被你的家产和成就充满，却没有被我充满。你在名义上有我，但你里面并没有我。』因此，神为了对付约伯，就需要撒但。撒但是宇宙中惟一的一位，能彀且愿意完成神剥夺约伯的家产和道德成就的目的。

11We may use the case of Judas in the New Testament as an illustration. One day the Lord Jesus said, "Was it not I who chose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil" (John 6:70). Why did the Lord choose Judas to be one of the twelve when He knew that Judas would betray Him (John 13:2, 27)? Regarding a particular aspect of God's eternal economy, there was the need of Judas. Without Judas, how could the Lord Jesus have been betrayed, and without being betrayed, how could He have gone to the cross? Thus, there was the need for Judas. The situation is similar with Satan in the book of Job. There was the need for someone to damage Job, not to judge him but to strip him of everything. Job had been laboring under God's blessing for many years and he had accumulated many things. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a great many servants. He had a dear wife and seven sons and three daughters. Moreover, Job was very successful in being perfect and upright and in holding to his integrity. His possessions, success, and attainment made him a contented and satisfied person. Although Job was full of possessions and full of his attainment, he did not have God within him. As God looked upon Job, He might have said, "Job, what shall I do with you? You are full of your possessions and your attainment, but you are not full of Me. You have Me in name, but you do not have Me within you." Thus, for God's dealing with Job, Satan was needed. Satan was the unique one in the universe who could and who would fulfill God'sin tent i on of stripping Job of his possessions and his ethical attainment

三神查问撒但关于约伯的事

C. God's Checking with Satan concerning Job

12约伯记一章七至十二节上半记载神查问撒但关于约伯的事。

12Job 1:7-12a is a record of God's checking with Satan concerning Job

１神问撒但

1. God Questioning Satan

13神问撒但从何处来。（７上。）

13God questioned Satan, asking him where he had come from (v. 7a

２撒但的回答

2. Satan's Answer

14针对神的问题，撒但回答说，『我从地上走来走去，往返而来。』（７下。）

14In answer to God's question, Satan replied, " From roving the earth and going about in it" (v. 7b).

３神问撒但关于约伯的事

3. God Asking Satan concerning Job

15『耶和华问撒但说，你曾用心察看我的仆人约伯没有？地上再没有人像他完全、正直，敬畏神，远离恶事。』（８。）神在这里向撒但夸奖约伯。我们若仔细读，就看见神在这里夸奖的目的，是要撒但为祂作点事。

15" Jehovah said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" (v. 8). Here God was boasting to Satan regarding Job. If we read this carefully, we will see that God's boasting here was with the intention that Satan would do something for Him.

４撒但问：约伯岂是无故的敬畏神

4. Satan Asking If Job Fears God without Cause

16撒但回答耶和华说，『约伯岂是无故的敬畏神么？你岂不是四面圈上篱笆围护他和他的家，并他一切所有的么？他手所作的，你都赐福，以致他的家产在地上增多。』（９～１０。）神的确在四面圈上篱笆围护约伯，并赐福他手所作的。在十一节撒但继续说，『但你只要伸手，毁他一切所有的，他必当面咒骂你。』

16Satan answered Jehovah, asking Him, "Does Job fear God without cause? Have You not set a hedge around him and his household and all that he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his possessions are spread throughout the land" (vv. 9-10). God had set a hedge around Job, and He had blessed the work of his hands. In verse 11 Satan went on to say, "But stretch forth Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face

５神说凡约伯所有的都在撒但手中

5. God Saying That All That Job Had Was in Satan's Hand

17『耶和华对撒但说，看哪，凡他所有的都在你手中；只是不可伸手害他。』（１２上。）我们不该认为神被撒但抓住，因为乃是撒但被神抓住，要为祂作点事－为神剥夺约伯。撒但这邪恶的天使愿意作善良天使所不愿意作的；因此，他马上接受神的任命。６关于神对付寻求祂之人的事，

17Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand; only do not stretch forth your hand against him" (v. 12a). We should not think that God was caught by Satan, for Satan was caught by God to do something for Him—to strip Job for God. Satan, an evil angel, was willing to do what none of the good angels was willing to do, and he immediately accepted God's commission. 6. Satan's Evil Concept concerning God's Dealing

撒但的邪恶观念乃是基于他得失的商业原则

with His Seeking People Being Based on His Commercial Principle of Gain or Loss

18关于神对付寻求祂之人的事，撒但的邪恶观念乃是基于他得失的商业原则。撒但是个生意人，是个商人，他的思想是照著他的商业原则。他不知道神对付爱祂的人，甚至使他们受损失，目的乃是要使他们丰满的得著祂，远超过他们在祂之外所失去的一切，使祂能藉著他们得以彰显，以成就祂造人的目的。（创一２６。）

18Satan's evil concept concerning God's dealing with His seeking people is based on his commercial principle of gain or loss. Satan is a business man, a merchant, and his thought is according to his commercial principle. He does not know that God's purpose in dealing with those who love Him, even in the way of loss, is that they may gain Him to the fullest extent, more than the loss of all that they have other than Him, that He might be expressed through them for the fulfillment of the purpose in His creation of man (Gen. 1:26

参撒但攻击约伯，

III. SATAN ATTACKING JOB

19约伯就在他的家产和儿女的事上受试炼

19AND JOB SUFFERING TRIALS IN THE MATTER

of his possessions and children

20在约伯记一章十二节下半至十九节，我们看见撒但攻击约伯，约伯就在他的家产和儿女的事上受试炼。

20In Job 1:12b-19 we see that Satan attacked Job and that Job suffered trials in the matter of his possessions and children.

一撒但从耶和华面前退去

A. Satan Going Forth from God's Presence

21十二节下半告诉我们，撒但从耶和华面前退去。

21Verse 12b tells us that Satan went forth from God's presence

二撒但的攻击

B. Satan's Attack

１牛和驴被掳去

1. The Oxen and the Donkeys Being Taken Away

22有一天，约伯的儿女正在他们长兄家里吃饭喝酒，有报信的来向约伯报告：示巴人忽然来，把牛和驴掳去，并用刀杀了仆人；惟有报信的一人逃脱，来报信给约伯。（１３～１５。）

22One day, when Job'ss on sand daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their firstborn brother, a messenger came and reported to Job that the Sabeans had fallen upon the oxen and the donkeys and had taken them away, striking the servants with the edge of the sword. Only the messenger had escaped to relate these things to Job (vv. 13-15

２神的火烧灭了群羊

2. The Fire of God Devouring the Sheep

23这报信的人还说话的时候，又有人来报告：神的火从天上降下来，将群羊和仆人都烧灭了。这里的火是一种天然灾害。惟有报信的一人逃脱，来报信给约伯。（１６。）

23While this messenger was still speaking, another came and reported that the fire of God had fallen from heaven and had burned up the sheep and the servants and had devoured them. That fire had been some kind of natural calamity. Only the messenger had escaped to relate these things to Job (v. 16

３迦勒底人忽然闯来，把骆驼掳去

3. The Chaldeans Raiding the Camels and Taking Them

24这报信的人还说话的时候，又有人来报告：迦勒底人分作三队，忽然闯来，把骆驼掳去，并用刀杀了仆人；惟有报信的一人逃脱，来报信给约伯。（１７。）

24While this messenger was still speaking, another came and reported that the Chaldeans had formed three companies and had raided the camels and had taken them. They had struck the servants with the edge of the sword, and only the messenger had escaped to relate these things to Job (v. 17

４狂风使约伯的儿子和女儿死亡

4. A Great Wind Causing the Death of Job'sS on sand Daughters

25这报信的人还说话的时候，又有人来报告关于约伯的儿子和女儿的事。他们正在他们长兄家里吃喝；不料，有狂风从旷野那边刮来，击打房屋的四角，房屋倒塌在少年人身上，他们就都死了；惟有报信的一人逃脱，来报信给约伯。（１８～１９。）这狂风可能是旋风。和火一样，这也是撒但所鼓动的天然灾害。

25While this messenger was still speaking, another came and reported concerning Job'ss on sand daughters. They were eating and drinking wine in the house of their firstborn brother; and suddenly a great wind came from beyond the desert and struck the four corners of the house, so that it fell upon the young people and they died. Only the messenger had escaped to relate these things to Job (vv. 18-19). The great wind was probably a whirlwind. Like the fire, it was a natural calamity instigated by Satan

三约伯对他所受之试炼的反应

C. Job's Reaction to His Trials

26二十至二十二节描述约伯对他所受之试炼的反应。１撕裂外袍，剃了头，伏在地上敬拜神约伯起来，撕裂外袍，剃了头，伏在地上敬拜神。（２０。）

26Verses 20 through 22 describe Job's reaction to his trials. 1. Tearing His Clothes, Shaving His Head, Falling to the Earth, and Worshipping God Job rose up, tore his clothes, shaved his head, fell to the earth, and worshipped God (v. 20).

２说，赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华

2. Saying That Jehovah Gives and Takes Away

27约伯说，『我赤身出于母胎，也必赤身归回。』（２１上。）然后他接著宣告说，『赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华；耶和华的名是

27Job said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb,/ And naked I will return there" (v. 21a). Then he went on to declare, "Jehovah gives and Jehovah takes away;/Blessed be the name of Jehovah" (v. 21b

28应当称颂的。』（２１下。）

３不犯罪，也不以神为愚妄

3. Not Sinning nor Charging God with Unseemliness

29在这一切的事上，约伯并不犯罪，也不以神为愚妄。（２２。）

29In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with unseemliness (v. 22

30后来约伯的三个朋友听说他的处境，就来看望约伯。（二１１～１３。）约伯和他的妻子，并他的三友，都很困惑，找不出理由来解释发生在约伯身上的事。他们找不到答案，因为在旧约里没有答案；

30Later, Job'st hree friends heard about his situation and came to visit him (2:11-13). Job, his wife, and his friends all were perplexed and unable to find out the reason for what had befallen Job. They could not find the answer because the Old Testament alone does not have the answer. The answer is in Paul's Epistles

31答案乃是在保罗的书信里。