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撒母耳记生命读经 · 第17篇

大卫的历史(五)

The History Concerning David (5)
神所豫备,合乎神心的人撒上十六章至撒下一章(五)受扫罗逼迫试验(四)
Prepared by God to be a Man According to the Heart of God 1 Samuel 16—2 Samuel 1 (5) Persecuted And Tried By Saul (4
1读经:撒母耳记上28:3—30:31
1Scripture Reading: 1 Sam. 28:3—30:31
2从扫罗悲惨的结局,我们可以学到许多关于神经纶的功课。扫罗的悲剧,完全是因著他没有正确的联于神的经纶。神要在地上完成祂的经纶,祂也将扫罗带进祂的经纶里。但扫罗不肯有分于神的经纶,并与神的经纶合作,反而自私自利。神要在祂的选民中间建立国度,但扫罗僭用神的国,想要建立自己的小王国。大卫却完全不同。他为撒母耳所膏时,清楚的知道自己被神指派作王,但他没有一点作王的观念。扫罗被设立作王之后,立刻充满了作王的思想,包括想到他儿子要如何继承他。(二十31。)扫罗在这点上是自私的,并且错误到极点。他所寻求的是要建立他为著自己的王国,而不是建立神的国。最后,神放弃扫罗,将他剪除,使国与他断绝。在十五章二十八节,撒母耳对扫罗说,『今日耶和华使以色列国与你断绝,将这国赐与一个与你相近,比你更好的人。』因著扫罗被神放弃,他就像孤儿一样被撇在一边,当难处来到时得不到帮助。虽然大卫是最能干、最有经验的战士,但由于扫罗的自私和妒忌,大卫没有为扫罗所用。事实上,因著扫罗要除去大卫,大卫就被迫到以色列最大的敌国去。(二七1~2。)大卫到了非利士人那里,特别是到了亚吉王那里。当非利士人聚集军旅,要与以色列争战时,大卫(那时已经作亚吉王的护卫长)对于是否该与非利士人站在一起,与以色列人争战,感到左右为难。这个为难乃是扫罗自私所带来的结果。以色列人被击败,被仇敌所杀,这也是因著扫罗的自私。但神在祂的主宰里,进来对付扫罗,并救大卫脱离他那左右为难的情形。
2From the tragic end of Saul we can learn many things concerning God’secon o my. The tragedy suffered by Saul was altogether due to his not being properly related to God’s economy. God is carrying out His economy on earth, and He brought Saul into His economy. Instead of participating in God’secon o my and cooperating with it, Saul was selfish. God wanted to build up His kingdom among His chosen people, but Saul usurped God’skin gdom to build up his own monarchy. With David the situation was entirely different. When David was anointed by Samuel, he had a clear understanding that he had been assigned by God to be the king, but he did not have any thought about kingship. After Saul was appointed to be the king, he was immediately filled with thoughts of the kingship, including how his son would succeed him (20:31). In this Saul was selfish and wrong to the uttermost. He sought to build his selfish monarchy rather than the kingdom of God. Eventually, God gave Saul up and cut him off, tearing the kingdom away from him. In 15:28 Samuel said to Saul, “Jehovah has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today and has given it to an associate of yours, who is better than you.” Because Saul was given up by God, he was left alone, like an orphan, having no provision of help when trouble came. Even though David was the most skillful and experienced fighter, he was of no use to Saul because of Saul’s selfishness and envy. Actually, because Saul wanted to do away with him, David was forced to go to a country that was Israel’s biggest enemy (27:1-2). David went to the Philistines, in particular to King Achish. When the Philistines gathered their camps to fight against Israel, David, who had become the bodyguard to King Achish, was in a dilemma of being one with the Philistines to fight against Israel. This dilemma was the result of Saul’s selfishness. The people of Israel suffered defeat and were slaughtered also because of Saul’s selfishness. But God in His sovereignty came in to deal with Saul and to rescue David from his dilemma.
3我们需要思索这个故事的每一细节,因为其中包含一些我们必须学习的功课。首先,从这个故事、例证里,我们应该学习钉死我们肉体的功课。其次,我们该学习定罪我们的自私-自我的利益和自我的追求。不仅如此,扫罗满了己;从他悲惨的结局里,我们必须学习否认我们的己。就如主耶稣所说,我们若要跟从祂,就当否认己,背起十字架。(太十六24。)现在我们进一步来看一些关于大卫受扫罗逼迫试验的事。贰拾、撒母耳豫告扫罗悲惨的结局在撒上二十八章三至二十五节,我们看见撒母耳豫告扫罗悲惨的结局。
3We need to muse upon every aspect of this story, for it contains some lessons that we need to learn. First, from this story, this illustration, we should learn the lesson of crucifying our flesh. Next, we should learn to condemn our selfishness—our self- interest and self-seeking. Furthermore, Saul was full of self, and from his tragic end we must learn to deny our self. As the Lord Jesus said, if we would follow Him, we must deny the self and take up the cross (Matt. 16:24). At this juncture let us consider some further matters concerning David’s being persecuted and tried by Saul. XX. SAUL’S TRAGIC END PRETOLD BY SAMUEL In 1 Samuel 28:3-25 we see that Saul’s tragic end was pretold by Samuel
一 、撒母耳死了
A. Samuel Having Died
4撒上二十八章三节上半告诉我们,撒母耳死了,以色列众人为他哀哭,将他葬在拉玛,就是在他本城里。撒母耳的死对扫罗是个大损失。
4First Samuel 28:3a tells us that Samuel was dead and that all Israel had mourned for him and had buried him in his own city, Ramah. The death of Samuel was a great loss to Saul
二 、扫罗曾将交鬼的和行巫术的人赶出境外
B. Saul Having the Mediums and the Soothsayers Put Out of the Land
5在二十八章之前,扫罗曾将交鬼的和行巫术的人赶出境外。(3下。)因为交鬼的和行巫术的乃是接触邪灵的人;扫罗将他们赶出以色列境外的作法是对的。三、非利士人聚集攻击以色列,
5By the time of chapter twenty-eight Saul had the mediums and the soothsayers put out of the land (v. 3b). Since mediums and soothsayers contact evil spirits, Saul did a good thing in having them removed from the country of Israel. C. The Philistines Gathering Together against Israel
扫罗极其惧怕他们
and Saul Being Greatly Afraid of Them
6非利士人聚集攻击以色列,扫罗极其惧怕。(4~5。)他之所以惧怕,是因为他的勇气、胆量已经被神取去。神是我们真正的鼓励和胆量;没有祂,我们甚么也没有。
6The Philistines gathered together against Israel, and Saul was greatly afraid of them (vv. 4-5). He was afraid because his courage and boldness had been taken away by God. God is our real encouragement and boldness. Without Him, we have nothing
四 、扫罗求问耶和华,耶和华却不回答
D. Saul Inquiring of Jehovah, but Jehovah Not Answering Him
7扫罗求问耶和华,耶和华却不藉梦,或乌陵,或申言者,回答他。(6。)
7Saul inquired of Jehovah, but Jehovah did not answer him, not by dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets (v. 6
五 、扫罗找到一个交鬼的,向她探问
E. Saul Seeking a Medium and Inquiring of Her
8扫罗找到一个交鬼的,向她探问。(7~11。)在十五章,撒母耳已经警告扫罗,他的悖逆与行邪术的罪相同。(23。)但在二十八章这里,扫罗行邪术,接触邪灵;这样作甚至比拜偶像更恶劣。
8Saul sought a medium and inquired of her (vv. 7-11). In chapter fifteen Samuel had warned Saul that his rebellion was like the sin of divination (v. 23). But here in chapter twenty-eight Saul practiced divination, which involves contact with evil spirits and is even worse than idol worship.
六 、撒母耳来告诉扫罗
F. Samuel Coming and Speaking to Saul
9交鬼的没有作甚么,撒母耳就来对扫罗说话。(12~19。)撒母耳告诉扫罗,耶和华已经离开他,且与他为敌。(16。)然后又告诉扫罗,耶和华已从他手里夺去国权,赐与一个与他相近的人,就是大卫。(17。)最后,撒母耳告诉扫罗,耶和华必将以色列人与扫罗交在非利士人手里,次日他和他的众子都必死亡。(19。)
9Without the medium doing anything, Samuel came and spoke to Saul (vv. 12-19). Samuel told Saul that Jehovah had turned away from him and had become his adversary (v. 16). Then Samuel told Saul that Jehovah had torn the kingdom out from his hand and had given it to David, an associate of his (v. 17). Finally, Samuel told Saul that Jehovah would also give Israel with Saul into the hand of the Philistines and that the next day he and his sons would be destroyed (v. 19
七 、扫罗受惊吓
G. Saul Being Threatened
10扫罗受惊吓,仆倒在地;之后他就起身离开交鬼的人。(20~25。)
10Saul was threatened and fell to the ground, and then he went away from the medium (vv. 20-25
贰 拾壹、大卫在神的主宰下,被阻止加入非利士人的军营去攻击以色列
XXI. David Being Sovereignly Kept Away By God From Joining The Philistines’ Camp To Fight Against Israel
11在二十九章,大卫在神的主宰下,被阻止加入非利士人的军营去攻击以色列。非利士人的首领拒绝大卫同他们出战攻击以色列人,所以亚吉王打发他回去。(6~11。)
11In chapter twenty-nine David was sovereignly kept away by God from joining the Philistines’ camp to fight against Israel. The lords of the Philistines refused to have David go with them into battle against Israel, and Achish therefore sent him away (vv. 6-11
一 、不必在毁灭扫罗、他的众子、和以色列人的事上受牵连
A. Not to Get Involved in the Destruction of Saul, His Sons, and the Men of Israel
12大卫若与以色列人争战,他就会一生背负恶名。然而,大卫没有在毁灭扫罗、他的众子(包括约拿单)、和以色列人(三一1~6)的事上受牵连。
12If David had fought against Israel, he would have had a bad name for the rest of his life. David, however, was not involved in the destruction of Saul, his sons (including Jonathan), and the men of Israel (31:1-6
二 、救回他的两个妻,和跟随他之人的家人
B. To Rescue His Two Wives and the Families of His Men
13大卫在神的主宰下,被阻止加入非利士人的阵营去攻击以色列,使他能救回他的两个妻,和跟随他之人的家人;他们已经被亚玛力人掳去了。(三十18~20。)
13Under God’s sovereignty David was kept from joining the camp of the Philistines so that David could rescue his two wives and the families of his men, who had been captured by the Amalekites (30:18-20
三 、救自己脱离跟随他的人失去家人所引起的骚乱
C. To Save Himself from the Turmoil of His Men in Losing Their Families
14跟随大卫的人,因著家人被亚玛力人掳去,起了骚乱;大卫在神的主宰下,救自己脱离这骚乱。(三十1~6上。)四、从他的掠物中取些作为礼物
14Under God’s sovereignty, David saved himself from the turmoil of his men in losing their families to the Amalekites (30:1-6a). D. To Send Some of the Spoil as Presents
15最后,因著神的主宰,大卫被阻止加入非利士人的阵营去攻击以色列。大卫击败亚玛力人之后,就从他的掠物中,取些送给许多城里他的朋友和跟随他之人的朋友,作为礼物。(26~31。)
15Finally, as a result of being sovereignly kept by God from joining the Philistines’ camp to fight against Israel, David, after defeating the Amalekites, sent some of his spoil as presents to his friends and friends of his men in many cities (vv. 26-31
贰 拾贰、大卫征服亚玛力人,掳掠了他们所掳掠的
XXII. David Conquering The Amalekites And Capturing Their Captives
16三十章告诉我们,大卫征服亚玛力人,掳掠了他们所掳掠的。、一、亚玛力人已经征服洗革拉亚玛力人已经征服洗革拉,用火焚烧,掳了城内的妇女,包括跟随大卫之人的家人和大卫的两个妻。(1~6上。)
16Chapter thirty tells us that David conquered the Amalekites and captured their captives. A. The Amalekites Conquering Ziklag and Burning It The Amalekites had conquered Ziklag and burned it and captured all the women, including the families of David’s men and his two wives (vv. 1-6a
二 、大卫倚靠耶和华,得以刚强,并寻求神的引导,追赶亚玛力人,掳掠他们所掳掠的
B. David Strengthening Himself in Jehovah and Seeking for Jehovah’s Leading to Pursue after the Amalekites and Capture Their Captives
17众人苦恼,说要用石头打死大卫,大卫却『倚靠耶和华他的神,得以刚强』。(6下。)他叫祭司亚比亚他把以弗得拿过来,求问耶和华说,『我追赶这一帮人,追得上追不上?』耶和华对他说,『你可以追,必追得上,都救得回来。』(8。)于是大卫和跟随他的四百人追赶亚玛力人,并得著一个埃及少年人的帮助;他原是亚玛力人的奴仆。大卫得著这个埃及人的帮助,指明大卫环境的每一个细节,都是在神的主宰之下。至终大卫征服了亚玛力人,掳掠他们所掳掠的,救回一切亚玛力人所掳去的。『凡亚玛力人所掳去的,无论大小、儿女、财物,大卫都夺回来,没有失落一个。人把大卫所夺来的牛群羊群赶在原有的群畜前边,说,这是大卫的掠物。』(19~20。)
17The soul of all the people was bitter, and they spoke of stoning David, but he “strengthened himself in Jehovah his God” (v. 6b). Following this, he told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod to him, and he inquired of Jehovah, saying, “Shall I pursue after this band? Will I overtake them?” Jehovah said to him, “Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them, and you will certainly deliver them” (v. 8). Then David and four hundred of his men pursued the Amalekites, with the assistance of a young man of Egypt who was a servant of an Amalekite. The provision of the help from this Egyptian indicates that the details of David’s environment were under God’s sovereignty. Eventually, David conquered the Amalekites and captured their captives, delivering all that the Amalekites had taken. “Nothing was missed by them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor anything that they had taken; David brought everything back. And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drove before the other cattle and of which they said, This is David’s spoil” (vv. 19-20
18三、大卫与不能跟随他的二百人
18C. David Sharing the Spoil with the Two Hundred
分享掠物
Men Who Had Not Been Able to Follow Him
19大卫与不能跟随他追赶亚玛力人的二百人分享掠物。(21~25。)关于这事,大卫说,『上阵的得多少,看守物件的也得多少;应当大家平分。』(24。)大卫定此为以色列的律例典章,从那日直到今日。(25。)四、大卫从他的掠物中,送礼物给许多城里他的朋友和跟随他之人的朋友最后,二十六至三十一节说,大卫从他的掠物中,送礼物给许多城里他的朋友和跟随他之人的朋友。
19David shared the spoil with the two hundred men who had not been able to follow him in pursuing the Amalekites (vv. 21-25). Concerning this David said, “As his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike” (v. 24). From that day forward David made this a statute and an ordinance for Israel (v. 25). D. David Sending Presents from His Spoil to His Friends and the Friends of His Men in Many Cities Finally, according to verses 26 through 31, David sent presents from his spoil to his friends and the friends of his men in many cities.
20我愿意再说,我们必须把这几章所记载的一切联于神的经纶。从这记载中的一切小事,我们看见神在每一个细节上作工,以完成祂的经纶。神运用祂主宰的权柄,救大卫脱离左右为难的情形。神作这事,不仅是为著大卫的缘故,更是为著祂的经纶。神保守大卫在祂手中,是为著成就祂的经纶。在马太一章一节,耶稣基督称为大卫的子孙。这指明大卫与神成为人名叫耶稣,来完成祂在已过永远里所定意的,有密切的关系。若没有大卫,就不会有基督的谱系,使那是神的基督来成为人,与人成为一。大卫若被毁灭,基督的家谱就被了结,神也没有路来完成祂的经纶。我们现在要将撒母耳记上末了大卫和扫罗的情形作个比较,这是很有帮助的。大卫与亚玛力人争战,得了丰富的掠物。当他成为富有时,扫罗却被击败。大卫兴旺,扫罗却衰减以至于死。扫罗若对神的国有正确的看见,他就会明白大卫这能干、勇敢的战士,能成为他击败非利士人,以建立神的国极大的帮助。但由于他的自私,扫罗失去了这个供备;他甚至逼迫大卫,使大卫被迫逃跑。然而,在神的主宰之下,这个受逼迫的人兴旺起来,并在美地上得建立,享受神所赐的分。大卫越来越光明,而扫罗越来越黑暗,直到他和他的众子悲惨的死去。扫罗悲惨的结局应当叫我们受警告:不可与神戏耍。我们不该企图建立任何的王国。我们都在这里建立神的国,就是基督的身体。在主的恢复里,我们没有许多的工作。不论我们在那里,我们只有一个工作。我们不该成为今日的扫罗,只关心我们区域内的工作,试著为自己建立王国。
20I wish to say once again that we need to relate everything in these chapters to God’secon o my. All the small things in this record show that God was working in a detailed way to carry out His economy. God exercised His sovereignty to rescue David from his dilemma. God did this not only for David’ss ake but also for the sake of His economy. God preserved David, keeping him in His hands, for the accomplishment of His economy. In Matthew 1:1 Jesus Christ is called the son of David. This indicates that David was very much related to God’s becoming a man named Jesus and to fulfill what had been determined in eternity past. Without David there would not have been the genealogy through which Christ as God became a man to be one with mankind. If David had been destroyed, the genealogy of Christ would have been terminated, and God would not have had a way to carry out His economy. At this point it would be helpful to compare the situations of David and Saul toward the end of 1 Samuel. By fighting the Amalekites David gained many rich spoils. While he was becoming rich, Saul was being defeated. David was flourishing, but Saul was diminishing, even to death. If Saul had had the proper view regarding the kingdom of God, he would have realized that David, a skilled and vigorous fighter, could have been of great help to him in defeating the Philistines for the building up of the kingdom of God. But due to his selfishness Saul lost this provision and even persecuted David and forced him to flee. However, under God’s sovereignty this persecuted one became flourishing and was established in the good land to enjoy God’sport i on. David’s situation became brighter and brighter, whereas Saul’s situation became darker and darker until, with his sons, he died a tragic death. Saul’s tragic ending should warn us not to play with God. We should not try to build up any kind of monarchy. We are all here to build up the kingdom, the Body of Christ. In the Lord’s recovery we do not have many pieces of work. No matter where we may be, we have only one work. We should not be today’sS a ul, considering only the work in our region and trying to build up a monarchy for ourselves
21我们众人,尤其是同工们,应当看见我们所作的是微小的工作。大卫可能从没有想到,他的历史,与神成为人,将祂自己联于人类,并生活在地上,以成就祂永远的旨意,有密切的关系。然而在马太一章,大卫联于基督的家谱;而我们今天所作的,乃是联于启示录二十一至二十二章的新耶路撒冷。因此,我们必须有信心,知道我们是属于神的,我们是在祂的主宰之下,并且我们所作的是独一的工作,就是祂的恢复,以完成祂的经纶,这经纶要终极完成于新耶路撒冷。
21We all, especially our co-workers, should realize that we are not involved in a small work. David probably never realized that his history was fully related to God’s becoming a man to join Himself to mankind and to live on earth to accomplish His eternal will. Nevertheless, David was related to the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1, and what we are doing today is related to the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 and 22. Therefore, we must have the confidence that we are of God, that we are under His sovereignty, and that we are doing one unique work—the work in His recovery to carry out His economy, which will consummate in the New Jerusalem