Books
阿摩司书生命读经 · 第2篇

耶和华与雅各家的争辩（一）

Jehovah’s Contending with the House of Jacob (1)
1读经：阿摩司书三至五章。在本篇信息中，我们要开始来看耶和华与雅各家的争辩。
1Scripture Reading: Amos 3—5 In this message we will begin to consider Jehovah’s contending with the house of Jacob
2壹耶和华对以色列的三次责备三章一节至五章二十七节的内容是耶和华对以色列的三次责备。
2I. JEHOVAH’ST HREE REPROOFS TO ISRAEL The content of 3:1—5:27 is Jehovah’st hree reproofs to Israel
一 第一次责备
A. The First Reproof
3第一次责备记载在第三章。１耶和华攻击以色列全家的话三章一节指明本章的话是耶和华攻击以色列全家的话，以色列是祂从埃及领上来的。
3The first reproof is recorded in chapter three. 1. Jehovah’sWord against the Whole Family of Israel Amos 3:1 indicates that the word in this chapter is Jehovah’sword against the whole family of Israel, which He brought up from Egypt
２ 以色列是地上万族中，耶和华惟一认识的
2. Israel Being the Only Family of the Earth Whom Jehovah Has Known
4二节说，因为以色列是地上万族中，耶和华惟一认识的；祂必惩罚（原文，临到）他们的一切罪孽。
4Verse 2 says that since Israel was the only family of the earth whom Jehovah has known, He would visit upon them (judge them for) all their iniquities
３ 耶和华惩罚他们的原因
3. The Cause of Jehovah’s Visitation
5三至八节指明，耶和华惩罚（原文，临到）他们，是因以色列与神不一。他们有他们的存心、目标、目的，与神不同。但是神已将祂的秘密启示给祂的申言者，因此，以色列该听申言者的话。
5Verses 3 through 8 indicate that the cause of Jehovah’s visitation (punishment) was that Israel was not one with God. They had their own intention, goal, and purpose, and God had His. But God revealed all His secrets to His prophets. Israel, therefore, should have listened to the prophets
４ 在撒玛利亚的欺压、强暴和毁坏，以及耶和华的惩罚
4. The Oppressions, Violence, and Devastation in Samaria and Jehovah’s Visitation
6九至十二节继续说到在撒玛利亚的欺压、强暴和毁坏，以及耶和华的惩罚。５以色列在伯特利的祭坛的过犯，
6Verses 9 through 12 go on to speak of the oppressions, violence, and devastation in Samaria and Jehovah’s visitation. 5. The Transgressions of Israel at the Altars of Bethel
以及耶和华的惩罚
and Jehovah’s Visitation
7在十三至十五节，我们看见以色列在伯特利的祭坛的过犯，以及耶和华的惩罚。伯特利已经成为拜偶像15的地方。十五节所说过冬过夏的房屋是奢华的别墅。因此，这样的房屋和拜偶像被视为同一件事。到别墅享受的人，也是在伯特利的祭坛那里拜偶像的人。
7In verses 13 through 15 we have the transgressions of Israel at the altars of Bethel and Jehovah’s visitation. Bethel had become a place for the worship of idols. The winter house and the summer house in verse were luxurious retreat houses. Here, such houses and the worship of idols are regarded as one thing. Those who went to the retreat houses for enjoyment were also those who worshipped idols at the altars of Bethel.
二 第二次责备
B. The Second Reproof
8耶和华对以色列第二次的责备记载
8Jehovah’s second reproof to Israel is in chapter four
9在第四章。
9
１ 在撒玛利亚欺压贫寒的，压碎穷乏的，以及耶和华的惩罚
1. The Oppression on the Poor and the Crushing of the Needy in Samaria and Jehovah’s Visitation
10耶和华责备以色列，因他们欺压贫寒的，压碎穷乏的；并因他们对家主说，『拿酒来，我们喝罢。』（1。）一面，他们欺压贫寒的，压碎穷乏的，并沉醉于他们的享乐；另一面，他们是在神的审判之下。（四2～3。）
10Jehovah reproved Israel for oppressing the poor and crushing the needy and for saying to their lords, “Bring, and let us drink” (v. 1). On the one hand, they oppressed the poor, crushed the needy, and indulged themselves in pleasures. On the other hand, they were under God’s judgment (vv. 2-3
２ 以色列在伯特利和吉甲拜偶像
2. Israel’sI dol Worship in Bethel and Gilgal
11四至五节说到以色列在伯特利和吉甲拜偶像。
11Verses 4 and 5 are concerned with Israel’si dol worship in Bethel and Gilgal
３ 耶和华的惩罚，期望以色列归向祂
3. Jehovah’s Visitation with the Expectation of Israel’s Return to Him
12在六至十三节，申言者说到耶和华的惩罚，期望以色列归向祂，并豫备迎见祂这位万有的创造者和掌权者。
12In verses 6 through 13 the prophet speaks regarding Jehovah’s visitation with the expectation of Israel’s return to Him and their preparation to meet Him who is the Creator and Ruler of all things
三 第三次责备
C. The Third Reproof
13第五章我们看见耶和华第三次责备以色列，这是三次责备中最重的一次。
13In chapter five we have Jehovah’s third reproof to Israel, the strongest of the three reproofs
１ 耶和华为以色列家作哀歌
1. A Lamentation Taken Up by Jehovah over the House of Israel
14一节指明第三次责备是耶和华为以色列家所作的哀歌。
14Verse 1 indicates that the third reproof is a lamentation taken up by Jehovah over the house of Israel
２ 以色列的跌倒和失败
2. Israel’s Fall and Defeat
15『以色列民跌倒，不得再起；被弃于地，无人搀扶。因为主耶和华如此说，以色列家的城，发兵一千的，只剩一百；发兵一百的，只剩十个。』（2～3。）这是关于以色列在争战中的跌倒和失败。
15“Fallen and no more to rise / Is the virgin of Israel; / She has been cast down upon her land; / There is none to raise her up. / For thus says the Lord Jehovah, / The city that sent forth a thousand / Will have a hundred left, / And that which sent forth a hundred / Will have ten left, / To the house of Israel” (vv. 2-3). This is a word concerning Israel’s fall and defeat in war.
３ 耶和华劝以色列寻求祂，就必存活
3. Jehovah Advising Israel to Seek Him and Live
16在四至九节，耶和华劝以色列寻求祂，就必存活。他们不该寻求伯特利，不要去吉甲；这二者都要受耶和华的惩罚。
16In verses 4 through 9 Jehovah advises Israel to seek Him and live. They should not seek Bethel nor go to Gilgal, both of which would be under Jehovah’s visitation
17七节说，『他们使公平变为茵𫈟，将公义抛弃于地。』这意思是，他们的首领不关心公平和公义，也不照著神的律法照料百姓。相反的，他们使公平变为苦物，将公义抛弃于地。八至九节继续说，『那造昴星和参星，使死荫变为晨光，使白日变为黑夜，召海水浇在地面的，耶和华是祂的名；祂使强壮的忽遭灭亡，以致保障遭遇毁坏。』因为神能作这些事，以色列应当受劝告来寻求祂，就必存活。
17Verse 7 says, “They turn justice to wormwood / And thrust righteousness down to the ground.” This means that the leaders did not care for justice and righteousness and did not care for the people according to the law of God. Instead, they turned justice into something bitter and cast righteousness to the ground. Verses 8 and 9 continue, “He who makes the Pleiades and Orion / And turns the shadow of death into the morning / And darkens the day with the night; / He who calls for the water of the sea / And pours it upon the surface of the earth, / Jehovah is His name, / Who causes destruction to flash forth upon the strong, / So that destruction comes upon the fortress.” Since God can do these things, Israel should be advised to seek Him and live
４ 以色列犯不公平的罪，却假冒为善的以献祭给耶和华为事奉，
4. Israel’s Transgressions of Injustice in Spite of Their Hypocritical Services
18以及耶和华的惩罚十至二十七节形容以色列犯不公平的罪，却假冒为善的以献祭给耶和华为事奉，以及耶和华的惩罚。他们怨恨那在城门口责备人的，（城门口是首领施行审断的地方，）并憎恶那说健全话的。（10。）他们向穷人勒索麦子。（11。）他们的罪过甚多，他们的罪恶极大（极可怕）。至终，耶和华的日子，就是可怕的日子要临到他们，他们要哀号，因为那日必黑暗无光。（16～20。）
18with Offerings to Jehovah, and Jehovah’s Visitation Verses 10 through 27 describe Israel’s transgressions of injustice in spite of their hypocritical services with offerings to Jehovah, and Jehovah’s visitation. They hated him who reproved in the gate, the place where the leading ones exercised judgment, and they abhorred the one who spoke with integrity (v. 10). They took a forced gift (a bribe) from the poor (v. 11). Their transgressions were many, and their sins were mighty (awful). Eventually, the day of Jehovah will come upon them, a horrible day, and they will suffer woe, for it will be darkness to them and not light (vv. 16-20
19一面，以色列是邪恶的；另一面，他们仍然向神献祭敬拜。他们喜欢节期，喜欢聚集以敬拜神。但因著他们的假冒为善，耶和华就对他们说，『我厌恶嫌弃你们的节期，不喜悦你们的严肃会。』（21。）祂叫他们使歌唱的声音远离祂，并说，『惟愿公平如大水滚滚，公义如江23-河滔滔。』（23～24。）他们不该发声歌唱，而应当施行公平，实行公义。
19On the one hand, the people of Israel were evil; on the other hand, they still worshipped God with offerings. They liked to have the feasts and to assemble for the worship of God. Because of their hypocrisy, Jehovah said to them, “I hate, I despise your feasts, / And I will not delight in your solemn assemblies” (v. 21). He went on to tell them to take away from Him the noise of their songs and “let justice roll down like water, / And righteousness, like an ever-flowing river” (vv. 24). Instead of making noise and singing songs, they should exercise justice and practice righteousness.
20众申言者书都说到这个主题，但每一卷书从不同的角度，或从不同的观点，来描绘这幅图画。我们读了众申言者的书，就可以看见以色列人是何等邪恶，而神是多么的爱他们。
20All the Prophets are on the same subject, but each one gives a different picture from a different angle or with a different aspect. By reading all the Prophets we can realize how evil the children of Israel were and how loving God was toward them.
21在尼布甲尼撒来以前约两百年，神就打发申言者去警告以色列，劝戒他们，呼召他们回转归向神。然而，以色列不听申言者的话。神不得不打发四种蝗虫（珥一4）来惩治以色列，这惩治有二十七个世纪之久。从这里我们都要学一个重要的功课：神是认真的。已过二十七个世纪以来，神一直打发蝗虫来对付以色列。今天罗马帝国仍在消毁以色列，以色列仍在受苦。在这样的光景中，神作了一些奇妙的事。首先，祂来成为肉体，成了一个人生活在地上；祂设立了一个模型，表明如何在人性里彰显神圣的生命，如何在人性的美德里彰显神圣的属性。然后，祂为我们的罪，成就了一个特别的死；之后，祂进入复活，并且升天。然后在升天里，祂将自己作为那灵浇灌下来，与我们成为一，以产生团体的基督，就是基督的身体。这一切事都是奥秘的，没有人能看见。但这些事完成了神的经纶。神对以色列的惩治和对列国的审判只是『外壳』，不是『核仁』；核仁乃是奥秘时代里奥秘的事，开始于基督的成为肉体，结束于基督的第二次显现。这些乃是我们读旧约，特别是读众申言者书时，所该持守的管治原则。
21Beginning approximately two hundred years before the coming of Nebuchadnezzar, God sent the prophets to warn Israel, to advise them, and to call them to return to God. However, Israel did not listen to the prophets. This forced God to send the four kinds of locusts (Joel 1:4) to chastise Israel for twenty-seven centuries. From this we all need to learn an important lesson: God means business. For twenty-seven centuries God has been sending locusts to deal with Israel. Today the Roman Empire is still consuming Israel, and Israel continues to suffer. In the midst of such a situation, God has done something marvelous. First, He came to be incarnated as a man, and He lived on earth to set up a model of how to have the divine life expressed in humanity, of how to have the divine attributes expressed in the human virtues. Then He died a particular death for our sins, and He entered into resurrection and ascended. Then He was poured out as the Spirit in His descension to be one with us to produce a corporate Christ, that is, the Body of Christ. All these things are mysterious. No one can see them. But these are the things that accomplished God’secon o my. The chastising of Israel and the judgment on the nations are the “shell”; they are not the “kernel.” The kernel is the mysterious things in the age of mystery, which began with Christ’sin carnation and will end with Christ’s second appearing. These are the governing principles that we should hold when we read the Old Testament, especially the Prophets
22今天地上有三件事正在进行著：神对以色列的惩治、神对列国的惩罚、以及基督的显现。今天我们享受罗马帝国所带来的一切便利，乃是为著基督的显现。神对以色列的惩治、神对列国的惩罚、以及基督的显现都是大事，因为这些事是照著神经纶之宇宙历史的项目。
22Today three things are taking place on earth: the chastisement of God over Israel, God’s punishment of the nations, and the manifestation of Christ. Today we are enjoying all the conveniences invented by the Roman Empire for the manifestation of Christ. The chastisement of Israel, the punishment of the nations, and the manifestation of Christ are great matters, for they are the items of the universal history according to God’secon o my