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撒母耳记生命读经 · 第4篇

撒母耳的历史（三）

The History Concerning Samuel (3)
他与陈腐衰微之亚伦祭司职分的关系（二）
His Relationship with the Stale and Waning Aaronic Priesthood (2
1读经：撒母耳记上四章一节至七章二节。
1Scripture Reading: 1 Sam. 4:1—7:2
2我们读圣经时，必须对神的经纶有清楚的看见，并且就著神的经纶来明白圣经中的每一件事。神为甚么创造宇宙？神为甚么造人，并且拣选以色列人？神作这一切，都是为著祂的经纶。我们现在来读四章一节至七章二节所描述撒母耳与陈腐衰微之亚伦祭司职分的关系，也必须在神经纶的光中来看这里所记载的事件。以色列堕落的原因，是因为他们不关心神的经纶、神在地上的行动、以及神的国度。我们看见这一点，是极其重要的。
2In reading the Bible we need to have a clear view of God'secon o my and understand everything in the Bible in relation to God'secon o my. Why did God create the universe? Why did God create man and choose the people of Israel? God did these things for His economy. As we come now to Samuel's relationship with the stale and waning Aaronic priesthood described in 4:1—7:2, we need to consider the events recorded here in the light of God'secon o my. It is important for us to see that Israel became degraded because they had no concern for God'secon o my, for His move on earth, and for His kingdom
伍 知道在堕落腐败的亚伦祭司职分的迷信下，
V. KNOWING THE MISFORTUNE OF THE ARK OF GOD UNDER THE SUPERSTITION OF
神约柜的不幸
THE DEGRADED AND ROTTEN AARONIC PRIESTHOOD
3撒母耳看到在堕落腐败之亚伦祭司职分的迷信下，神约柜的不幸。撒母耳看到这一切的事，必定得著深刻的印象；这些事成了对他的教育。
3Samuel observed the misfortune of the ark of God under the superstition of the degraded and rotten Aaronic priesthood. As Samuel observed all these things, he must have received a deep impression, and these things became an education to him
一 约柜被以色列人的长老所僭用;他们从神经纶的线上堕落，迷信约柜会使他们在与非利士人的争战上得胜
A. Usurped, in Their Superstition for Their Victory in Their Fighting against the Philistines, by the Elders of the People of Israel, Who Were Degraded from the Line of God'sEcon o my
4神的约柜被以色列人的长老所僭用；他们从神经纶的线上堕落。（四1～。）这些长老僭用约柜，迷信约柜会为他们与非利士人争战。因著以色列人被非利士人击败，于是他们的长老题议，要把神的约柜从示罗的帐幕里接出来，和他们一同争战。以色列的长老说，『我们不如将耶和华的约柜，从示罗抬到我们这里，好在我们中间救我们脱离敌人的手。』（3下。）约柜到了营中，百姓非常喜乐，就『大声欢呼』。（5。）他们信靠神所命定的制度，却不直接的信靠神。他们应当向神悔改，承认他们的失败，并求问神要他们作甚么。在他们把神的约柜从帐幕接出来以前，他们应当先求问神，像约书亚在耶利哥所作的一样。（书六2～4。）以色列的长老知道耶利哥的历史；但因著他们堕落了，对神的愿望和神永远的经纶毫不关心，所以他们的情形和在耶利哥时完全不同。
4The ark of God was usurped by the elders of the people of Israel, who were degraded from the line of God'secon o my (4:1-8). The elders usurped the ark in their 8 superstition for their fighting against the Philistines. Because the children of Israel had been defeated by the Philistines, the elders of Israel proposed that the people take the ark of God from the tabernacle in Shiloh into battle with them. The elders said, " Let us take unto us the ark of the covenant of Jehovah from Shiloh that it may be in our midst, and thus save us from the hand of our enemies" (v. 3b). When the ark came into the camp, the people were glad and " all Israel shouted with a great shout " (v. 5). They trusted in the system ordained by God, but they did not trust in God directly. They should have repented to God of their failure and inquired of Him as to what He wanted them to do. Before bringing the ark of God out of the tabernacle, they should have checked with God as Joshua did at Jericho (Josh. 6:2-4). The elders knew the history of Jericho, but because they had become degraded, not having any heart for God's desire or His eternal economy, their situation was absolutely different.
5约柜是作神具体化身之基督的豫表；约柜也表征基督是三一神与祂的子民同在，为著完成祂的经纶，在地上建立祂的国度。把约柜带出来，就是把神的同在带出来。当以色列人从西乃山开始与约柜往前行时，摩西向神祷告说，『耶和华阿，求你兴起，愿你的仇敌四散。』（民十35。）约柜领头往前行。约柜的行动乃是神在地上行动的图画。在撒上四章，以色列的长老事实上是在僭用神。那时神并不想要行动。以色列人没有任何关于神经纶的思想，也不关心神的经纶；他们把约柜接出来，只不过说明他们为著自己的安全、平安、安息和好处，在那里僭用神。以色列人僭用神，甚至强迫神与他们一同出去。今天许多基督徒僭用神，为自己的亨通、健康和家庭祷告，根本没有想到神的经纶。当我们求神医治时，必须是完全联于祂的经纶。你若生了病，你祷告求医治时不可有僭用神的态度。相反的，你必须从灵的深处说，『主阿，我在地上，不是为著我的健康、我的亨通、我的儿女、或我的工作，我在这里乃是为著你的经纶。你仍要我活在地上，为著你的经纶么？我看见了你的经纶，我领悟你需要拿细耳人；我有心为著你，成为一个拿细耳人。作为一个蒙神重生，有神生命和性情的人，我要问你：主阿，在你心里对我有甚么计画？』神若要你继续为著祂的经纶活在地上，你就会藉著医生的手或是其他方式得著医治。这里的点乃是：我们不可僭用神，却该照著神的心，且为著祂的经纶祷告、生活并为人。
5The ark was a type of Christ as the embodiment of God. It also signified Christ as the presence of the Triune God to be with His people for the carrying out of His economy to establish His kingdom on earth. To bring out the ark was just to bring out the presence of God. When the children of Israel began to move with the ark from Mount Sinai, Moses offered a prayer to God, saying, "Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered" (Num. 10:35). The ark took the lead to travel onward. The move of the ark was a picture of God's move on the earth. In 1 Samuel 4 the elders of Israel were actually usurping God. At that time, God did not intend to move. The children of Israel had no thought of or concern for God'secon o my, and their bringing out the ark indicated that they were usurping God for their safety, peace, rest, and profit. They were usurping God, even forcing Him, to go out with them. Today many Christians usurp God by praying for their prosperity, health, or family without any consideration of God'secon o my. When we ask God for His healing, we must be fully related to His economy. If you are ill, you should not pray for healing in the way of usurping God. On the contrary, from the depths of your spirit you should say, "Lord, I am not here on earth for my health, my prosperity, my children, or my work. I am here for Your economy. Do You still want me to live on earth for Your economy? I have seen Your economy, I realize that You need Nazarites, and I have a heart to be a Nazarite for You. As one who has been born of God and who has the life and nature of God, I ask You what is on Your heart concerning me." If God intends that you continue living on earth for His economy, you will be healed, either through a physician or through some other way. The point here is that, instead of usurping God, we must pray, live, and be persons according to God'she art and for His economy
二 约柜被战胜的非利士人掳去，
B. Captured by the Winning Philistines
6指明荣耀离开以色列了
6indicating that the glory had departed from Israel
7最终，那与以色列人在一起至少已有四百年的约柜，被战胜的非利士人掳去了；这指明荣耀离开了以色列。（四9～22。）从那时起，在以色列人的历史中，就开始有一段约柜的历史。以色列人把约柜接出来后不久，他们就被击败，约柜也被掳去。以色列人中有三万人被杀，以利的两个儿子何弗尼和非尼哈也被杀。以利对约柜可能有一种直觉，所以他没有留在家中，反而『在道旁坐在自己的位上观望，为神的约柜心里担忧』。（13上。）以利一听见神的约柜被掳的消息，就向后跌倒，折断颈项而死。那时以利的儿妇非尼哈的妻子生了一个儿子，她给孩子起名叫以迦博，意思是『无荣耀』。她又说，『荣耀离开以色列，因为神的约柜被掳去了。』（22。）因为耶和华的约柜被掳去，所以荣耀离开了以色列。
7Eventually, the ark of God, which had been with the children of Israel for at least 400 years, was captured by the winning Philistines, indicating that the glory had departed from Israel (4:9-22). From that time the ark began to have a history within the history of Israel. A short time after the children of Israel brought out the ark of God, they were defeated, and the ark was captured. Thirty thousand among Israel were killed, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. Eli probably had a kind of intuition concerning the ark of God. Instead of staying at home, he sat "on his seat by the roadside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God " (v. 13a). When the news came that the ark of God had been captured, Eli fell backward, broke his neck, and died. Also, at that time Eli ' s daughter - in - law, the wife of Phinehas, delivered her child and called him Ichabod, which means " No glory. " Then she said, " The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken" (v. 22). Because the ark of Jehovah had been captured, the glory had departed from Israel.
8这些事必定在年幼的撒母耳心里留下深刻的印象。在晚上他可能想到这些事，说，『我如今在会幕这里，而会幕的中心是约柜。今天长老们把约柜接出去，但监护我的以利没有平安。他在等候消息时，心里一直担忧。以利一听见发生在约柜与何弗尼、非尼哈身上的事，就往后跌倒而死。他的儿妇在生产时也死了。她临死时，给孩子起名叫以迦博。』我信撒母耳是一个非常有思想的男孩子，必定会思考这一切事的意义。
8These events must have made a deep impression upon the young Samuel. During the night he might have thought about them, saying, "Here I am in the tabernacle, and the center of the tabernacle is the ark. Today the elders brought out the ark, but Eli, under whose custody I am, was not at peace. His heart was trembling as he was waiting for news. When the news came about what happened to the ark and to Hophni and Phinehas, Eli fell backward and died. His daughter-in-law also died as she was giving birth to her child. Before she died, she named her boy Ichabod." I believe that Samuel, a very thoughtful boy, considered the significance of all these things
三 约柜在非利士人中间连续被迁移到三处地方
C. The Ark Suffering Removal to Three Places among the Philistines, Consecutively
9约柜被掳后，在非利士人中间连续被迁移到三处地方；耶和华重重的对付他们，以保护祂的约柜。（五1～12。）神保护约柜，就是保护祂的圣别。１毁坏非利士人的神大衮首先，耶和华对付非利士人，毁坏他们的神大衮（意思是鱼神）。（1～。）非利士人将约柜抬到亚实突后，就将约柜抬进大衮庙，放在大衮的旁边。（2。）次日清早，亚实突人看见大衮『仆倒在耶和华的约柜前，脸伏于地』。（3上。）他们把大衮仍立在原处。『又次日清早起来，见大衮仆倒在耶和华的约柜前，脸伏于地，并且大衮的头和两手都在门槛上折断，只剩下大衮的残体。』（4。）
9Having been captured, the ark suffered removal to three places among the Philistines, consecutively; and Jehovah dealt with them heavily for the protection of His ark (5:1-12). For God to protect His ark meant that He was protecting His holiness. 1. By Damaging the Philistine's God Dagon First, Jehovah dealt with the Philistines by damaging their god Dagon, which means "the fish-god" (vv. 1-5). After the Philistines brought the ark to Ashdod, they 5 brought it into the house of Dagon and set it next to Dagon (v. 2). Early the next day, the Ashdodites found Dagon "fallen on his face to the ground, before the ark of Jehovah" (v. 3a). They put Dagon back in his place, but "when they arose early in the morning of the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face to the ground, before the ark of Jehovah. And Dagon'she ad and the palms of his hands were cut off, lying on the threshold; only Dagon's trunk was left to him" (v. 4).
２ 用肿瘤击打他们
2. By Striking Them with Tumors
10其次，耶和华对付非利士人，用肿瘤击打他们。（6～12。）六节说，『耶和华的手重重加在亚实突人身上，败坏他们，使他们生肿瘤。亚实突和其四境，都是如此。』最后，亚实突人说，以色列神的约柜不可留在我们这里，因为祂的手重重加在我们和我们神大衮的身上。（7。）于是非利士的众首领将约柜转运到迦特去；但『运到之后，耶和华的手攻击那城，使那城的人大大惊慌，无论大小都生肿瘤。』（9。）他们就把约柜送到以革伦。但神的约柜来到时，以革伦人就喊嚷起来说，以色列神的约柜转运到他们那里，要害他们。因此，他们叫非利士人的众首领将以色列神的约柜送回原处，免得害了他们。『原来神的手重重攻击那城，城中的人有因惊慌而死的。』（11。）
10Second, Jehovah dealt with the Philistines by striking them with tumors (vv. 6-12). Verse 6 says, "The hand of Jehovah was heavy upon the Ashdodites, and He devastated them and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders." Eventually, the people of Ashdod said that the ark of the God of Israel could not stay with them, for His hand was hard on them and on Dagon their god (v. 7). The lords of the Philistines brought the ark to Gath, but "after they brought it there, the hand of Jehovah was against the city, causing great panic. And He struck the men of the city, from small to great; and they broke out with tumors" (v. 9). Then the ark was sent to Ekron. However, when the ark of God came there, the Ekronites cried out that the ark of the God of Israel had been brought to them in order to kill them. Thus, they told the princes of the Philistines to send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it return to its place so that it would not kill them. "For the panic of death was throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there" (v. 11
四 约柜又遭迁移，从非利士人那里回到以色列，抵达伯示麦
D. The Ark Suffering Another Removal, from the Philistines Back to Israel, Arriving at Beth-shemesh
11在六章我们看见，约柜又遭迁移，从非利士人那里回到以色列，抵达伯示麦。耶和华的约柜在非利士人之地七个月，非利士人请祭司和占卜的指示他们，用何法将约柜送回原处。（1～2。）１照非利士人迷信的方式
11In chapter six we see that the ark suffered another removal, from the Philistines back to Israel, arriving at Beth-shemesh. After the ark of Jehovah had been in the country of the Philistines seven months, the Philistines asked the priests and diviners to make known to them how they should send the ark forth to its place (vv. 1-2). 1. By the Superstitious Way of the Philistines
12约柜再度迁移，是照著非利士人迷信的方式，用五个金老鼠和五个金肿瘤，作献给神的赎愆祭，好得著神的赦免并使神得荣耀。（3～5。）以色列的长老将约柜接出来，以及非利士人将约柜送回，都是迷信的作法。每一种宗教里都有迷信。在主的恢复里，我们没有迷信，只有从神的话而来的启示。
12The ark was removed by the superstitious way of the Philistines, with five golden mice and five golden tumors, as a kind of trespass offering for God's forgiveness and for God's glory (vv. 3-5). The bringing out of the ark by the elders of Israel and the returning of the ark by the Philistines both were superstitious. There is superstition in every kind of religion. In the Lord's recovery we do not have superstition—we have the revelation from God'sWord.
13非利士的祭司告诉非利士人，把耶和华的约柜放在新车上，将两只未曾负轭有乳的母牛，套在车上，并将所献赔罪的金物装在匣子里，放在柜旁，将约柜送去。然后要看著，看车是否直往以色列的境界，到伯示麦去。若是如此，就表明这大灾就是耶和华降在非利士人身上的。（7～9。）非利士人就这样行。牛直行大道往伯示麦去。『伯示麦人正在平原收割麦子，举目看见约柜，就欢喜了。』（13。）利未人将耶和华的约柜，和装金物的匣子拿下来，『当日伯示麦人将燔祭和平安祭献给耶和华。』（15。）２得蒙神保守祂约柜的圣别
13The Philistine priests told the men to put the ark of Jehovah on a new cart to which two milch cows were tied, and in a box by the side of the ark to place the articles of gold which they were returning to Jehovah as a trespass offering. Then they told them to send the ark away that it might go and to watch to see if it went toward its own border at Beth-shemesh. If it did so, that would be a sign that it was Jehovah who had done great harm to the Philistines (vv. 7-9). The men did as they were told, and the cows went straight in the way toward Beth-shemesh. "Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it" (v. 13). The Levites took down the ark of Jehovah and the box that was with it, and "the men of Beth-shemesh offered up burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to Jehovah" (v. 15). 2. By God Keeping the Holiness of His Ark
14神保守祂约柜的圣别，使约柜运到基列耶琳，停在那里二十年，直到以色列全家哀恸倾向耶和华。（六19～七2。）十九节告诉我们，耶和华『因伯示麦人擅观祂的约柜，就击杀了民中的七十人。』（19上。）由于他们随便对待约柜，就有七十人被杀。这给我们看见，我们不该随便对待约柜。我们曾指出，约柜乃是神的同在，为著完成祂的经纶。神将以色列人从埃及带出来，在西乃山训练他们，嘱咐他们建造会幕同约柜，好使人知道神正在执行祂的经纶。约柜不是为著他们的亨通、保护、安全或医治；约柜乃是为著神的经纶。然而在撒母耳的时候，以色列的长老不关心这个，只关心他们的好处和保护。他们认为一切都是他们的，所以他们甚至僭用神。但神保护祂的圣别，不容许非利士人和伯示麦人任意对待约柜。
14God kept the holiness of His ark, so that it was taken to Kiriath-jearim and abode there for twenty years until all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah (v. 19—7:2). Verse 19 tells us that Jehovah "struck the men of Beth- shemesh because they looked into the ark of Jehovah; and He struck seventy men among the people" (v. 19a). Due to their looseness in dealing with the ark, these seventy men were killed. This shows us that we should not be loose in dealing with the ark. As we have pointed out, the ark is the presence of God for the purpose of accomplishing His economy. God had brought the people of Israel out of Egypt and had trained them at Mount Sinai, charging them to build the tabernacle with the ark, so that it would be made known that God was carrying out His economy. The ark was not for their prosperity, protection, safety, or healing—it was for God'secon o my. However, at Samuel'st i me the elders of Israel had no regard for this but only for their own profit and protection. They considered that everything was theirs, and they even usurped God. Nevertheless, God protected His holiness, not allowing the Philistines or the people of Beth-shemesh to do whatever they liked with the ark
15最后伯示麦人要基列耶琳人来，把约柜接去，（20～21，）约柜就留在基列耶琳二十年。（七1～2。）虽然约柜回到以色列，也在正确的祭司职分下受照顾，但还没有回到示罗的帐幕里；这是不正常的情形。当撒母耳在帐幕那里长大时，约柜留在基列耶琳二十年，直到以色列全家哀恸倾向耶和华。（2。）
15Eventually, the people of Beth-shemesh asked the people of Kiriath-jearim to come and take the ark (vv. 20-21), and the ark remained there for twenty years (7:1-2). Although the ark returned to Israel and was under the care of the proper priesthood, the ark still did not go back to the tabernacle at Shiloh. This was an abnormal situation. While Samuel grew up in the tabernacle, the ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for twenty years until all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah (v. 2