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弥迦书生命读经 · 第4篇

耶和华与以色列的争辩

Jehovah’s Contending with Israel and
1以及申言者的观察和期待读经：弥迦书六至七章。在弥迦书五章，弥迦达到了他关于基督豫言的高峰。然后在六、七章，就是本篇信息所要说到的，他落到了较低的水平。他在五章的豫言是大的，但他在六、七章的豫言就不大，而且是非常照著人的观念。
1The Prophet’s Observation and Expectation Scripture Reading: Micah 6—7 In chapter five Micah reaches the high peak of his prophecy concerning Christ. Then in chapters six and seven, which we will cover in this message, he descends to a much lower plain. His prophecy in chapter five is great, but his prophecy in chapters six and seven is not great but is very much according to the human concept
2肆耶和华与以色列的争辩弥迦书六章记述耶和华与以色列的争辩。争辩是一件用言语来争战的事，所以任何在其中的人都不会感到愉快。
2IV. JEHOVAH’S CONTENDING WITH ISRAEL Micah 6 is a record of Jehovah’s contending with Israel. Because contending is a matter of fighting by speaking, it is not pleasant for anyone involved
一 用以色列的历史作为根据
A. Taking Israel’s History as a Base
3耶和华与以色列争辩时，是用以色列从出埃及起的已过历史作为根据。（六1～5。）二节下半宣告说，耶和华与祂的百姓争辩，与以色列争论。然后祂请他们追念，祂将他们从埃及领出来时，作了甚么事：『我曾将你从埃及地领上来，从为奴之家救赎你；我也差遣摩西、亚伦、和米利暗在你前面行。我的百姓阿，你们当追念摩押王巴勒所设的谋，和比珥的儿子巴兰回答他的话，从什亭直到吉甲，好使你们知道耶和华公义的作为。』（4～5。）
3In His contending with Israel, Jehovah took Israel’s history, from the time of the exodus, as a base (vv. 1-5). Verse 2b declares that Jehovah has a contention with His people and that He will dispute with Israel. Then He asks them to remember what He did for them in bringing them out of Egypt. “For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, / And from the slave house I redeemed you; / And I sent before you Moses, / Aaron, and Miriam. / O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab counseled, / And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, / From Shittim to Gilgal, / That you may know the righteous acts of Jehovah” (vv. 4-5
二 渴望得著以色列真实的敬拜和纯诚的事奉
B. Aspiring after Israel’s Genuine Worship and Sincere Service
4六至八节启示耶和华渴望得著以色列真实的敬拜和纯诚的事奉。以色列几个世纪以来，在敬拜神的事上很忙碌，但他们的敬拜不是真实的。他们所献上的很多不是为著神，而是为自己，或是为偶像。因此，在六节申言者就问，他朝见耶和华时该献上甚么：『我岂可献一岁的牛犊为燔祭么？』在七节他问，耶和华是否喜悦千千的公羊，或是万万的油河；接著他说，『我岂可为自己的过犯，献我的长子么？为我魂的罪恶，献我身所生的么？』神绝不会要求任何人献上自己的儿女作为祭物，但事实上，以色列人是这样作了，为要满足他们偶像的要求。只有敬拜偶像的人才会把自己的儿女当作祭物。这里耶和华与以色列的争辩，是关于他们的偶像敬拜和向偶像的献祭。因这缘故，弥迦在八节豫言说，『人哪，耶和华已指示你何为良善；祂向你所要的是甚么，岂不是只要你行公平，好慈怜，谦卑的与你的神同行么？』
4Verses 6 through 8 reveal that Jehovah aspired after Israel’s genuine worship and sincere service. Israel had been busy in the worship of God for centuries, but their worship was not genuine. Much of what they offered was not offered to God but either to themselves or to their idols. Thus, in verse 6 the prophet asks with what he should come before Jehovah, saying, “Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, / With one - year - old calves?” In verse 7 he asks if Jehovah would be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of rivers of oil, and then he says, “Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, / The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” God would never require anyone to offer their children as a sacrifice, but the people of Israel actually did this in order to fulfill the requirements of their idols. Only idol worshippers would make sacrifices of their children. Here Jehovah was contending with Israel concerning their idol worship and their offering sacrifices to idols. For this reason, in verse 8 Micah prophesies, saying, “He has declared to you, Oman, what is good; / And what does Jehovah require of you, / But that you would execute justice and love lovingkindness / And walk humbly with your God?”
三 说明原因与结果
C. Stating the Cause and the Effect
5九至十六节说明了原因与结果。原因是以色列的罪，结果是耶和华的惩罚。
5In verses 9 through 16 we have the stating of the cause and the effect. The cause is Israel’ss ins, and the effect is Jehovah’s punishment
V. THE PROPHET’S
伍 申言者的观察和期待
Observation and Expectation
6七章说到申言者弥迦的观察和期待。他的观察包括了对神子民情况和光景的仔细研究和检视。他的期待与他尝试寻找某件能安慰他的东西有关。他在这一章所说的，多是天然情感的发表。
6Chapter seven speaks of the prophet Micah’s observation and expectation. His observation involved a close study and examination of the condition and situation of God’sp eople. His expectation was related to his attempt to find something with which he could encourage himself. Much of what he says in this chapter is an expression of his natural sentiment
一 申言者沮丧的观察
A. The Prophet’s Observation of Discouragement
7首先，申言者观察神选民的情况和光景，就变得沮丧。（1～6。）在沮丧之中他说，『哀哉，我好像夏天的果子已被收尽，又像摘了葡萄所剩下的，没有一挂可吃的，也没有我心羡慕初熟的无花果。地上敬虔人灭尽，人间没有正直人；他们都埋伏要流人血；各人都用网罗猎取弟兄。』（1～2。）
7First, the prophet observed the condition and situation of God’s chosen people and became fully discouraged (vv. 1-6). In his discouragement he said, “Woe is me! For I am like a gathering of summer fruit / And like a gleaning of the vintage; / There is no cluster to eat, / Nor first-ripe fig, which my soul desires. / The godly man has perished from the land, / And there is none upright among men; / They all lie in wait for bloodshed; / They each hunt their brother with a net” (vv. 1-2
8在弥迦沮丧的观察中，有一个功课是我们今天该学的。从弥迦的经历我们该学会不看自己。我们若稍微看自己，就会失望。
8In Micah’s observation of discouragement there is a lesson for us today. From Micah’s experience we should learn not to look at ourselves. If we look at ourselves just a little, we will be discouraged
二 申言者鼓励的期待
B. The Prophet’s Expectation of Encouragement
9七至二十节我们看见申言者鼓励的期待。事实上，这是一种自我安慰。弥迦用这几节写了这些事，目的是为著安慰自己。因此，这些话都是弥迦的自我安慰。
9In verses 7 through 2 0 we have the prophet’s expectation of encouragement. Actually, this was a matter of self - comforting. Micah wrote the things found in these verses in order to comfort himself. Thus, they were Micah’s self-comforting.
１ 领先仰望耶和华，并等候神
1. Taking the Lead to Look for Jehovah and Wait for God
10申言者观察过以色列可怜的情形之后，就领先仰望耶和华，并等候神。（7～10。）虽然神子民的情形和光景叫弥迦沮丧，但他仍然能说，『至于我，我要仰望耶和华；我要等候那救我的神；我的神必听我。』（7。）
10After observing the poor situation of the people of Israel, the prophet took the lead to look for Jehovah and wait for God (vv. 7-10). Although the condition and situation of God’sp eople caused Micah to be discouraged, he could still say, “But as for me, I will look for Jehovah; / I will wait for the God of my salvation; / My God will hear me” (v. 7
２ 保证以色列要得复兴
2. Assuring Israel of Her Restoration
11在十一至十三节弥迦保证以色列要得复兴。首先，他说必有一日重修以色列的墙垣。（11上。）之后他接著保证以色列说，『当那日，人必从亚述，从埃及的城邑，从埃及到大河，从这海到那海，从这山到那山，都归到你这里。』（12。）
11In verses 11 through 13 Micah assured Israel of her restoration. First, he said that there will be a day for the building of Israel’s walls (v. 11a). Then he went on to assure Israel, saying, “In that day they will come even unto you / From Assyria and from the cities of Egypt, / And from Egypt even to the River, / And from sea to sea and mountain to mountain” (v. 12
３ 求耶和华𫗪养祂的民以色列
3. Asking Jehovah to Feed His People Israel
12在十四至十七节申言者求耶和华𫗪养祂的民以色列。
12In verses 14 through 17 the prophet asks Jehovah to feed His people Israel
４ 感谢神赦免祂余剩的民
4. Thanking God for His Forgiveness of the Remnant of the People
13申言者的结语，乃是感谢神赦免祂余剩的民。（18～20。）弥迦不能向神赞美，说祂子民的情形和光景是美好的，因为他们没有甚么东西可以让祂珍赏。但申言者说，『神阿，有何神像你，赦免罪孽，饶恕你产业之余民的过犯？祂不永远怀怒，喜悦施慈爱。』（18。）弥迦在这里似乎是说，『神阿，我们所有的，不过是罪和罪孽。我们没有甚么东西可以给你。但你是赦免我们罪孽的神；没有一位神像你一样。你又是非常特别的，因为你不永远怀怒，喜悦施慈爱。』弥迦在这里的赞美不是以神选民的美德为中心，而是以神的属性为中心。这样的赞美是非常安慰人的。在十九节申言者继续说，『祂必再…将我们的罪孽踏在脚下。你必将他们一切的罪投于深海。』（19。）弥迦再一次承认以色列人有许多的罪孽，但神是赦免人的神，要将他们的罪孽踏在脚下，并将他们的罪投于深海。
13The prophet concludes by thanking God for His forgiveness of the remnant of the people (vv. 18-20). Micah could not praise God that the condition and situation of His people were wonderful, for they had nothing that He could appreciate. Instead, the prophet said, “Who is a God like You, / Pardoning iniquity / And passing over the transgression / Of the remnant of His inheritance? / He does not retain His anger forever, / For He delights in lovingkindness” (v. 18). Here Micah seemed to be saying, “O God, all we have is sin and iniquity. We do not have anything to give to You. But You are a God who pardons our iniquity. There is no God like You. You are also very particular in that You do not retain Your anger forever but delight in lovingkindness.” Micah’sp raise here is centered not on the virtues of God’select people but on God’s attributes. Such a praise is very comforting. In verse 19 the prophet continues, “He will again have compassion on us; / He will tread our iniquities underfoot. / And You will cast into the depths of the sea / All their sins.” Once again, Micah confesses that the people have many iniquities but that God is a forgiving God and will tread their iniquities under foot and cast their sins into the depths of the sea.
14最后，弥迦说，『你必向雅各赐信实，向亚伯拉罕施慈爱，就是古时你向我们列祖起誓应许的。』（20。）在这里我们看见弥迦的盼望和期待。就某一面意义说来，弥迦在六、七章里的话是好的，但这些话与他在五章里所说关于基督的启示，是无法相比的。
14Finally, Micah says, “You will perform truth to Jacob, / And lovingkindness to Abraham, / Which You have sworn to our fathers / From the days of old” (v. 20). Here we see Micah’sho pe and expectation. In a sense, Micah’sword in chapters six and seven is good, but it cannot compare with his revelation concerning Christ in chapter five