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约珥书生命读经 · 第5篇

约珥书中的四个因素

The Four Factors in the Book of Joel
1读经：约珥书1:4;2:28-32;3:16-21。在本篇信息中，我要进一步说到约珥书中的四个因素，四个原则。
1Scripture Reading: Joel 1:4; 2:28-32; 3:16-21 In this message I would like to give a further word on the four factors, the four main principles, in the book of Joel
第一个因素－
THE FIRST FACTOR
蝗虫的消毁
THE CONSUMING OF THE LOCUSTS
2第一个因素或原则是消毁的原则，就是蝗虫的消毁。『剪蝗剩下的，群蝗来吃；群蝗剩下的，舔蝗来吃；舔蝗剩下的，毁蝗来吃。』（一4。）这些蝗虫表征人类政权，牠们已经存在了两千七百年，现今仍然存在著。列国的政权已过为神所使用，现今仍为神使用，为要消毁以色列。今天在地上仍有与列国有关的消毁因素。
2The first factor, or principle, is the consuming of the locusts, the consuming factor. “What the cutting locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; / And what the swarming locust has left, the licking locust has eaten; / And what the licking locust has left, the consuming locust has eaten” (1:4). These locusts denote the human government which has been existing for twenty-seven hundred years and which continues to exist. The governments of the nations have been and are still being used by God to consume Israel. On earth today there is such a consuming factor involving the nations
第二个因素－
THE SECOND FACTOR
以色列的受苦
THE SUFFERING OF ISRAEL
3第二个因素，第二个原则，是受苦的因素，就是以色列在蝗虫下的受苦。以色列在蝗虫的消毁下受苦，几乎有二十七个世纪之久。我们看以色列的受苦，可能希奇为甚么神允许这事持续这么久。我们会问，为甚么神允许祂的选民在消毁的蝗虫下受苦。一面，神容让这种受苦继续；另一面，祂不容让以色列全然被消毁。以色列是惟一遭受蝗虫这么长时间消毁的国家。然而，以色列继续忍受并存留。
3The second factor, the second principle, is the suffering factor, the suffering of Israel under the locusts. Israel has been suffering the consuming of the locusts for almost twenty-seven centuries. As we consider Israel’s suffering, we may wonder why God has allowed it to last so long. We may question why God has permitted His elect to suffer under the consuming locusts. On the one hand, God allows this suffering to continue; on the other hand, He does not allow Israel to be utterly consumed. Israel is the only nation that has suffered the consuming of the locusts for such a long time. Nevertheless, Israel continues to endure and to last
4这两个因素－涉及四个阶段之列国的消毁因素，以及涉及以色列的受苦因素－出现在人类大部分历史中。论到世界历史的书籍有许多，但这些书不像我们那样摸到这些因素、原则。
4These two factors—the consuming factor involving the nations in four stages and the suffering factor involving Israel—have been present for a major part of human history. Many books have been written about world history, but these books do not touch these factors, these principles, as we are doing here
神对于受苦因素的目的
GOD’S PURPOSE CONCERNING THE SUFFERING FACTOR
5现在我们要来看一个重要的点，就是神对于受苦因素的目的。受苦的因素是要产生成为肉体。藉著成为肉体，这位大能、永远、无限的神被带到人性里，与人性调和。没有任何事比成为肉体更伟大，甚至宇宙的创造也无法与其相比！神允许以色列在蝗虫下受苦，目的是要产生一对夫妇，马利亚和约瑟，使神能生在人里面，从人而生，由人生出来，使神不再仅仅是神，乃成为神人。因此，受苦的因素就是使神圣的成为肉体得以终极完成的因素；犹太人的受苦是产生成为肉体的因素。因著神进入人性里，并与人性调和，现在有了一位独一的人物－耶稣，祂是完整的神，又是完全的人。神成了一个人，就是那人耶稣，生活在这地上，住在拿撒勒三十年之久。这的确是全宇宙最大的神迹！
5We come now to the crucial matter of God’s purpose concerning the suffering factor. The suffering factor is the factor which produced the incarnation. Through incarnation the almighty, eternal, infinite God was brought into humanity and mingled with humanity. Nothing, not even the creation of the universe, could be greater than this! God’s purpose in allowing Israel to suffer under the locusts was to bring forth a couple, Mary and Joseph, so that God could be born in man, of man, and out of man to become no longer only God but a God-man. Hence, the suffering factor was the factor to consummate the divine incarnation; the suffering of the Jews was the factor to produce the incarnation. As a result of God’s entering into humanity and His mingling with humanity, there is now a unique person — Jesus — who is both the complete God and a perfect man. God became a man, the man Jesus, and lived on this earth, making His home in Nazareth for thirty years. Surely this is the greatest miracle in the entire universe!
神使用消毁的因素
GOD’SU SE OF THE CONSUMING FACTOR
6我们看见，以色列藉著这么多的受苦而为神所用，目的是要使神能从人生出来，成为神人。现在我们需要来看，神过去如何使用这消毁的因素，以及现在如何仍在使用这因素。
6We have seen that Israel was used by God through so much suffering for the purpose that God could be born out of man to be a God-man. Now we need to see how God has used the consuming factor and is still using this factor
7第一个因素，就是消毁的因素，在环境中提供一切必需的设施，为要达到神的目的。罗马帝国是四个帝国的集大成，提供一切的所需，使这位成为肉体的神能在地上生活、行动、工作。此外，罗马帝国提供基督钉十字架的方法，因为罗马帝国是执政的政权，就豫备了十字架，甚至提供将主耶稣钉十字架所需的兵丁。消毁的因素和受苦的因素对神非常有用。犹太人亡国，分散在各地，流荡了好几个世纪。就人看来，那是个悲剧。但在五旬节那日，神完成了祂那漫长的成为肉体、人性生活、钉死、复活、升天的过程之后，就需要将祂自己浇灌在全人类身上，不只浇灌在一个民族身上，更是浇灌在各民族身上。为了这个浇灌，需要有一特别的时机，而罗马帝国使这事成为可能。首先，罗马帝国使犹太人分散到各民族中；然后就在适当的日子，时机成熟的时候，使所有四散的人得以回到耶路撒冷，享受节期。在那喜乐的时候，神突然降临到人中间。从这里我们看见，凭藉以色列这受苦者，且藉著罗马政权这消毁的蝗虫所提供的一切设施，神得以将自己浇灌在一切的肉体上。现今我们，就是召会，乃是基督的显现，是藉著经过过程并终极完成的三一神浇灌在一切肉体上所产生的。
7It is the first factor, the consuming factor, that has afforded all the necessary facilities in the environment for the carrying out of God’s purpose. The Roman Empire, the aggregate of the four empires, afforded everything necessary for the incarnated God to live and move and work on earth. Furthermore, the Roman Empire afforded the means for Christ to be crucified, for it had the governmental authority, prepared a cross, and even provided the soldiers to crucify the Lord Jesus. Both the consuming factor and the suffering factor have been useful to God. The Jews had lost their nation and had been scattered everywhere, wandering for centuries. Humanly speaking, that was a tragedy. But on the day of Pentecost, after God had consummated His long process of incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, He needed to pour Himself out upon the entire human race, not only upon one people but upon all peoples. For this outpouring a particular occasion was required, and the Roman Empire made it possible. First, the Roman Empire had scattered the Jews among all the peoples. Then, on exactly the right day, when the time was ripe, the Roman Empire provided the way for the scattered people to come back to Jerusalem to enjoy the feast. At that joyful time, God suddenly came down upon the people. From this we see that through the means of the suffering one, Israel, and by all the facilities provided by the consuming locust, the Roman government, God poured Himself out upon all flesh. Now we, as the church, are the manifestation of Christ, produced by the outpouring of the processed and consummated Triune God upon all flesh.
8今天，蝗虫对神并对我们这些召会（基督身体）的肢体，也是有用的。因著这些蝗虫，我们有电话、麦克风、录音机、飞机、电脑和传真机。因著这些蝗虫，我们在美国享受言论自由和作为召会聚集的自由。蝗虫所提供的设施也叫我们节省许多时间。因此，我们感谢『蝗虫』政权、『蝗虫』电话和电脑公司。就真实的意义说来，所有的蝗虫都为我们效力。今天地上千万的蝗虫都在服事我们，叫我们能在这里为著基督的显现。
8Today’s locusts are also useful to God and to us, the members of the church, the Body of Christ. Because of the locusts we have such things as the telephone, the microphone, the recorder, the airplane, the computer, and the fax machine. Because of the locusts we in the United States enjoy the freedom of speech and the freedom to meet together as the church. The facilities provided by the locusts also save us a great deal of time. Therefore, we are thankful for the “locust” government and for the “locust” telephone and computer companies. In a very real sense, all the locusts are working for us. The millions of locusts swarming on earth today are serving us so that we may be here for the manifestation of Christ
第三个因素－受惠者的因素
THE THIRD FACTOR—THE BENEFICIARIES
9蝗虫的消毁和以色列的受苦都是为著我们。这就是说，今天在召会生活中的我们，乃是犹太人和列国的受惠者。这是第三个因素，第三个原则。保罗说，万有都互相效力，叫我们得益处。（罗八28。）因此，我们是第三个因素－受惠者。作为受惠者，我们应该感谢主，为著祂藉著蝗虫的消毁和犹太人的受苦，为我们所作的一切。
9The consuming of the locusts and the suffering of Israel are both for us. This means that we in the church life today are the beneficiaries of both the Jews and the nations. This is the third factor, the third principle. Paul says that all things work together for good for us (Rom. 8:28). Hence, we are the third factor—the beneficiaries. As the beneficiaries, we should thank the Lord for all that He has done for us through the consuming of the locusts and the suffering of the Jews
第四个因素－
THE FOURTH FACTOR
复兴的原则
THE PRINCIPLE OF RESTORATION
10约珥书的第四个因素是复兴的原则。将来必有一个真正、实际、真实的复兴；但今天当我们这第三个因素有分于并享受基督的显现时，我们就经历复兴这第四个因素。基督的显现是藉著前两个因素－蝗虫的消毁和以色列的受苦－而产生的。
10The fourth factor in the book of Joel is the principle of restoration. In the future there will be an actual, practical, and real restoration, but today we, the third factor, are experiencing the restoration, the fourth factor, as we participate in and enjoy the manifestation of Christ, which has come through the first two factors, the consuming of the locusts and the suffering of Israel