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约伯记生命读经 · 第3篇

约伯的试炼（二）

The Trials of Job (2)
1读经：约伯记二章。在本篇信息中，我们要继续说到约伯的试炼。
1Scripture Reading: Job 2 In this message we will continue to consider the trials of Job
肆 在天上再举行
IV. A COUNCIL HELD AGAIN
关于约伯的会议
IN HEAVEN CONCERNING JOB
2在天上再举行关于约伯的会议。（二１。）神要得著一个人像约伯一样敬畏神，远离恶事，并不容易。然而约伯所达到的全是虚空，并没有完成神的定旨，也没有满足神的愿望。因此，神对约伯有一个爱的关切，就在天上举行两次会议，讨论如何对付约伯。（一６～８，二１～３。）
2A council was held again in heaven concerning Job (2:1). It was not easy for God to gain a person like Job who feared God and turned away from evil. Yet what Job had attained was altogether vanity. It did not fulfill God's purpose, and it did not satisfy God's desire. Thus, God was lovingly concerned for Job and held two councils in heaven concerning how to deal with Job (1:6-8; 2:1-3
一 由神和天使所举行
A. Held by God with the Angels
3第二次的会议也是由神和天使－神的众子－所举行。（１上。）二撒但又来在与会者之中撒但又来在与会者之中，侍立在耶和华面前。（１下。）
3The second council was also held by God with the angels, the sons of God (v. 1a). B. Satan Coming Again as One of the Attendants Satan came again as one of the attendants, presenting himself before God (v. 1b
三 神查问撒但关于约伯的事
C. God's Checking with Satan concerning Job
4在二至六节我们看见，神再次查问撒但关于约伯的事。
4In verses 2 through 6 we see that again God checked with Satan concerning Job
１ 神的问题和撒但的回答
1. God's Question and Satan's Answer
5耶和华问撒但说，『你从那里来？』撒但回答说，『我从地上走来走去，往返而来。』（２。）
5Jehovah said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered Jehovah, saying, "From roving the earth and going about in it" (v. 2
２ 神问撒但关于约伯的事
2. God Asking Satan concerning Job
6照著三节，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。你虽激动我攻击他，无故的毁灭他，他仍然持守他的纯正。』神在这里承认在约伯身上所作的事是无故的。
6According to verse 3, 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. And he still holds fast his integrity, though you have moved Me against him to destroy him without cause." Here God admitted that what was done to Job was without cause
３ 撒但回答说，人情愿为他性命的缘故舍去一切所有的
3. Satan Saying That All That a Man Has He Will Give for the Sake of His Life
7撒但回答耶和华说，『人以皮代皮，情愿为他性命的缘故舍去一切所有的。你且伸手，伤他的骨和他的肉；他必当面咒骂你。』（４～５。）表面看来，撒但是向神挑战；事实上，撒但所说的正是神所想的，神也喜欢听这话。
7Satan answered Jehovah, saying, "Skin for skin! Indeed all that a man has he will give for the sake of his life. But stretch forth Your hand, and touch his bone and his flesh; and he will surely curse You to Your face" (vv. 4-5). Apparently, Satan was challenging God. Actually, Satan said exactly what God wanted, and God was pleased with it
４ 耶和华告诉撒但，约伯在他手中
4. Jehovah Telling Satan That Job Was in His Hand
8耶和华告诉撒但，约伯在他手中；只要存留约伯的性命。（６。）
8Jehovah told Satan that Job was in his hand. Only Satan was to spare Job's life (v. 6
５ 神以祂所许可的界限，限制撒但
5. God Restricting Satan in the Limit of His Permission
9神若没有画一道线，保守爱祂的人存活，撒但按他残忍的性情，就会任意攻击爱神的人，以破坏他们；神保守爱祂的人存活，为使他们丰满的得著祂，让祂得著最完满的满足。圣经给我们看见，神在审判撒但之后，仍容许撒但自由的控告、攻击、破坏、逼迫、并杀害神的圣徒，使神在某一个程度上可以使用他，以完成神特别的定旨，但神总是以祂所许可的界限，限制撒但。
9Satan, in his cruel nature, would attack God's lovers to any extent to damage them, if God did not draw a line to preserve His lovers for their existence that they might gain Him to the fullest extent for His fullest satisfaction. The Bible shows us that although after God judged Satan, God still allowed him to be free to accuse, attack, damage, persecute, and martyr His saints that God may use him to a certain extent for the fulfillment of God's particular purpose, God always restricts him in the limit of His permission
伍 撒但攻击约伯，
V. SATAN ATTACKING JOB
约伯就在他的身体上受试炼
AND JOB SUFFERING THE TRIAL IN HIS BODY
10在七至八节我们看见，撒但攻击约伯，约伯就在他的身体上受试炼。
10In verses 7 and 8 we see that Satan attacked Job and that Job suffered the trial in his body
一 撒但从耶和华面前退去
A. Satan Going Forth from God's Presence
11于是撒但从耶和华面前退去。（７上。）
11Satan went forth from God's presence (v. 7a
二 撒但的攻击
B. Satan's Attack
12撒但击打约伯，使他从掌到头顶，长满毒疮。（７下。）
12Satan attacked Job by striking him with severe boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head (v. 7b
三 约伯的痛苦
C. Job'sPain
13约伯就坐在炉灰中，拿瓦片刮身体。（８。）身上长满毒疮是非常痛苦的。当时约伯在痛苦中坐著，无话可说。
13Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and he sat among the ashes (v. 8). The boils that covered his body were extremely painful. As he sat there in pain, he had nothing to say
四 约伯对他所受之试炼的反应
D. Job's Reaction to His Trial
14在九至十节，我们看见约伯对他所
14In verses 9 and 10 we have Job's reaction to his trial.
15受之试炼的反应。
15
１ 他妻子讥诮的反应
1. His Wife's Mocking Reaction
16约伯的妻子对他受试炼的反应，乃是讥诮他，对他说，『你仍然持守你的纯正么？你咒骂神，死了罢。』（９。）
16In her mocking reaction to Job's trial, his wife said, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die" (v. 9
２ 约伯的回答和反应
2. Job's Answer and Reaction
17约伯回答他的妻子说，『你说话像愚顽的妇人一样。难道我们从神手里得福，不也受祸么？』（１０上。）在这里约伯的思想似乎不是照著商业得失的原则。在某一面，他愿意遭受损失，但他受不了他身上的痛苦。
17In answer and reaction to his wife, Job said, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Should we receive the good from God but not receive the ill?" (v. 10a). It seems that Job's though there was not according to the commercial principle of gain or loss. In a sense, he was willing to suffer loss. However, his physical pain was unbearable
３ 约伯不以口犯罪
3. Job Not Sinning with His Lips
18在这一切的事上，约伯并不以口犯罪。（１０下。）
18In all this Job did not sin with his lips (v. 10b
陆 一幅有意义、有教导性、揭示的景象
VI. A SIGNIFICANT, INSTRUCTIVE, AND UNVEILING SCENE
19这里我们看见一幅有意义、有教导性、揭示的景象，包括地和诸天的景象。诸天是这幅景象的源头，所以在地上发生在约伯身上的事，开始于诸天之上。今天藉著圣经的帮助，我们能彀看见地上的景象以及诸天之上的景象。
19Here we have a significant, instructive, and unveiling scene, a scene that involves both the earth and the heavens. Because the heavens were the origin of the scene, what happened to Job on earth began in the heavens. Today, through the help of the Bible, we can see both the scene on earth and the scene in the heavens
一 在撒但头一连串的攻击结束时，约伯没有祷告，却称颂神
A. At the End of Satan's First Series of Attacks, Job Not Praying but Blessing God
20在撒但头一连串的攻击结束时，约伯没有祷告，却称颂神；他不犯罪，不以神为愚妄。（一２０～２２。）
20At the end of Satan's first series of attacks, Job did not pray but blessed God without sinning or charging God with unseemliness (1:20-22
二 在撒但第二次攻击结束时，约伯忍受极大的痛苦，并不出声
B. At the End of Satan's Second Attack, Job Suffering Very Great Pain in Silence
21在撒但第二次攻击结束时，约伯忍受极大的痛苦，并不出声。（二１３下。）
21At the end of Satan's second attack, Job was suffering very great pain in silence (2:13b
三 约伯的三个朋友没有人向他说句话
C. None of Job's Friends Speaking a Word to Him
22约伯的三个朋友来看他，就放声大哭，撕裂外袍，把尘土向天扬起来，落在自己头上。他们同他七天七夜坐在地上，没有人向他说句话。（１２～１３上。）他们说不出话来，因为他们不认识，不明白发生在约伯身上之事的目的是甚么。
22In their visit Job'st hree friends lifted up their voice and wept, tore their clothes, cast dust over their heads toward heaven, and sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, but none spoke a word to him (vv. 12-13a). They could not speak anything because they had no knowledge, no understanding, concerning the purpose of what had happened to Job.
四 约伯咒诅自己的生日
D. Job Cursing the Day of His Birth
23最后，约伯咒诅自己的生日。（三１。）约伯没有向神或向人抱怨，乃是以咒诅自己的生日咒诅自己。
23Eventually, Job cursed the day of his birth (3:1). Instead of complaining to either God or man, Job cursed himself in cursing his birth
五 约伯和他的三个朋友，对所发生的那极痛苦、极可怕的事毫不明白
E. Job and His Three Friends Being Ignorant concerning That Most Painful and Most Terrifying Occurrence
24这样一幅景象指明，约伯和他的三个朋友，对所发生的那极痛苦、极可怕的事毫不明白，而在他们的敬虔中感到困惑，无法想出其原因是甚么，其目的是甚么，其结果将如何。
24Such a scene indicates that Job and his three friends were all ignorant concerning that most painful and most terrifying occurrence and were puzzled in their godliness, unable to figure out what the reason was, what the purpose was, and what the result would be
柒 神圣经纶的一个步骤
VII. A STEP OF THE DIVINE ECONOMY
25约伯的经历乃是神圣经纶的一个步骤。在这光景中，神采取了一个步骤，要在约伯身上成就一些事。
25Job's experience was a step of the divine economy. In this situation God took a step to accomplish something with Job
一 所发生的事是神计画的
A. The Occurrence Being Planned by God
26所发生的事无疑是神计画的。这不该成为我们的难处。神在祂的计画中，举行了两次会议，两次查问撒但关于约伯的事；撒但也落入神的计画里。
26The occurrence was undoubtedly planned by God. This should not be a problem to us. In His plan, God held a council twice and checked with Satan twice concerning Job, and Satan fell into God's plan
二 为要对自满的约伯，实行销毁并剥夺
B. To Carry Out the Consuming and Stripping of the Contented Job
27神经纶的这个步骤，乃是要对在追求神的事上自满的约伯，实行销毁并剥夺。在撒但第一次的攻击之前，约伯是一个自满的人。他完全满足、满意于他在一切事上的成就。最后，约伯的家产、健康和纯正，都被剥夺并销毁。三将约伯引进对神更深的追求神的心意是要将约伯引进对神更深的追求，使他能得著神，而不是神的祝福，也不是他凭自己的完全和纯正而有的成就。约伯满意于停留在得著物质事物和道德成就的领域里，但他一点也没有神。因此，神把他引到另外一个领域里，使他能得著神。
27This step in God ' secon o my was to carry out the consuming and stripping of the contented Job in his seeking after Him. Before Satan's first attack, Job was a person of contentment. He was fully content and satisfied with his attainments in everything. Eventually, Job's possessions, health, and integrity were stripped away and consumed. C. To Usher Job into a Deeper Seeking after God God'sin tent i on was to usher Job into a deeper seeking after Him that he might gain Him instead of His blessings and his attainments in his perfection and integrity. Job was contented in the realm of success in his gaining of material things and in his ethical attainments, but he had nothing of God. Therefore, God ushered him into another realm that he might gain God.
捌 一个丑恶的工具
VIII. AN UGLY TOOL WITH
和不尊贵的任务
A DISHONORABLE COMMISSION
28撒但是神所使用的一个丑恶的工具，以执行一项不尊贵的任务。
28Satan was an ugly tool used by God to accomplish a dishonorable commission
一 撒但仍是自由的，被神有目的的用作丑恶的工具
A. Satan Remaining Free to Be Purposely Used by God as an Ugly Tool
29约伯记一至二章的景象给我们看见，已受神审判的撒但，仍是自由的，被神有目的的用作丑恶的工具，以执行神对爱祂之人残酷的对付。
29The scene in Job 1 and 2 shows that Satan, who had been judged by God, still remained free to be purposely used by God as an ugly tool to execute God's cruel dealing with His loving ones
二 他的任务是不尊贵的
B. His Commission Being Dishonorable
30撒但执行神对付爱祂之人的任务，完全是不尊贵的。玖一个奥秘而荣耀的终极完成
30Satan's commission in executing God's dealings with His loving ones was altogether dishonorable. IX. A MYSTERIOUS AND GLORIOUS CONSUMMATION
一 撒但对约伯的两步攻击，立下了一个奥秘而荣耀的基础
A. Satan's Attack son Job Laying a Mysterious and Glorious Base
31撒但对约伯的两步攻击，立下了一个奥秘而荣耀的基础，使神在约伯身上完成祂荣耀的变化，并使约伯在他与奥秘之神的关系上，经历奥秘的交往。
31Satan's attack son Job in two steps laid a mysterious and glorious foundation, or base, for God to accomplish His glorious transformation on Job and for Job to experience the mysterious transactions in his relationship with the mysterious God
二 以达到神关于祂所拣选之人永远经纶的标准和水准
B. To Reach the Standard and Level of God's Eternal Economy regarding His Chosen Ones
32这奥秘而荣耀的终极完成，乃是我们达到神关于祂所拣选之人永远经纶的标准和水准，就如在新约里藉著使徒保罗的著作所启示的。（林后三１８，弗三９。）神是非常奥秘的，不仅祂的身位奥秘，就连祂的定旨和心愿也是奥秘的。但今天我们有新约，特别是完成神圣启示（西一２５）的使徒保罗的著作。我们若在神面前谦卑自己、倒空自己，我们若在灵里贫穷，承认我们对神的身位、定旨和心愿一无所有，也一无所知，并藉著生命读经的帮助来读保罗的著作，我们就会对神圣的启示，有清楚、清晰、完全、深刻的看见，特别会对神在祂永远经纶里的分赐有所看见。约伯记这一卷古老的书是奥秘的，我们需要在保罗著作的光中来读这卷书。若没有保罗的书信，我们就很难明白约伯记，因为约伯记的结语，并没有使我们清楚的看见神对付祂子民的目的。然而，在新约的光中就非常清楚，神对付祂圣民的目的，乃是渴望使他们倒空一切，单单接受神作他们的得著。神心头的愿望乃是我们完全得著祂作生命，作生命的供应，作全人的一切。
32The mysterious and glorious consummation is that we would reach the standard and level of God's eternal economy regarding His chosen ones, as revealed in the New Testament through the apostle Paul's writings (2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 3:9). God is very mysterious not only in His person but also in His purpose, in His desire. However, today we have the New Testament, especially the writings of the apostle Paul, who completed the divine revelation (Col. 1:25). If we humble ourselves before God and empty ourselves and if we are poor in spirit, admitting that we have nothing and know nothing concerning God's person, God's purpose, and God's desire, and come to Paul's writings with the help of the Life- study messages, we will see something regarding the divine revelation in a clear, explicit, complete, and impressive way. In particular, we will see something concerning God's dispensing of Himself in His eternal economy. The ancient book of Job is mysterious, and we need to study it in the light of Paul's writings. Without the Epistles of Paul it would be difficult for us to understand the book of Job because the conclusion of Job does not give us an explicit view concerning the purpose of God's dealing with His people. However, in the view of the New Testament, it is very clear that God's purpose in dealing with His holy people is that He desires that they would be emptied of everything and to receive only God as their gain. The desire of God'she art is that we would gain Him in full as life, as the life supply, and as everything to our being