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申命记生命读经 · 第21篇

律法的重申（十四）

The Rehearsal of the Law (14)
1读经：申命记二十章一至二十节，二十一章十至十七节。
1Scripture Reading: Deut. 20:1-20; 21:10-17
2在本篇信息中，我们要来看三件事：以色列人出去与仇敌争战，（申二十1～20，）在被掳的人中，娶美貌的女子为妻，（申二一10～14，）以及长子的名分。（申二一15～17。）
2In this message we will consider three matters: the children of Israel going forth to battle against their enemies (20:1-20), the marrying of a beautiful woman among the captives (21:10-14), and the right of the firstborn son (21:15-17
十一 关于以色列人出去与仇敌争战
K. Concerning the Children of Israel Going Forth into Battle against Their Enemies
3申命记二十章一至二十节是关于以色列人出去与仇敌争战。今天我们也在争战。在这场争战中，我们乃是为基督而战，也是为住留在基督里而战。美地是基督的豫表。我们若要住在作我们美地的基督里，就需要争战。
3Deuteronomy 20:1-20 is concerned with the children of Israel going forth into battle against their enemies. Today we are also in a war. In this war we are fighting for Christ and we are fighting to remain in Christ. The good land is a type of Christ. If we would live in Christ as our land, we need to fight
１ 不要怕马匹、车辆、比他们多的人民
1. Not Fearing Horses, Chariots, and a People More Numerous Than They
4当以色列人看见马匹、车辆、比他们多的人民时，他们不要怕，因为耶和华他们的神与他们同在。（申二十1。）他们可以确信，只要神与他们同在，他们就会得胜。
4When the children of Israel saw horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than they, they were not to fear them, for Jehovah their God was with them (v. 1). They could be assured that as along as God was with them, they would be victorious
２ 祭司对百姓说话
2. The Priest Speaking to the People
5神的百姓要作战的时候，祭司要前来对他们说话。他要说：『以色列人阿，你们当听，你们今日将要与仇敌争战。不要胆怯，不要惧怕慌张，也不要因他们惊恐。因为耶和华你们的神与你们同去，要为你们与仇敌争战，拯救你们。』（申二十3～4。）因著大能者与他们一同争战，他们就可以安心。
5When God’sp eople drew near to the battle, the priest was to approach and speak to them. He was to say these words: “Hear, O Israel! You are drawing near to the battle against your enemies today. Do not let your heart fail; do not be afraid nor alarmed nor terrified of them. For it is Jehovah your God who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” (vv. 3-4). Since the mighty One was fighting with them, they could be at peace
３ 官长要告诉百姓
3. The Officers Speaking to the People
6五至七节，说到官长首次对百姓说话。这样的说话，指明神没有强迫以色列人去争战。若有人建造房屋，尚未奉献，他可以回家去，『恐怕他阵亡，别人去奉献。』（申二十5。）若有人栽种葡萄园，尚未享用，他可以回家去，『恐怕他阵亡，别人去享用。』（申二十6。）若有人与女子订了婚，尚未迎娶，他可以回家去，『恐怕他阵亡，别人去迎娶。』（申二十7。）这些有新屋、葡萄园、或订了婚的，可以回家去享受生命。
6In verses 5 through 7 we have the first speaking of the officers to the people. This speaking indicates that God did not force the Israelites to go to war. If any man had built a new house and had not dedicated it, he could return to his house, “lest he dies in the battle and another man dedicates it” (v. 5). If any man had planted a vineyard and had not partaken of it, he could return to his house, “lest he dies in the battle and another man partakes of it” (v. 6). If any man had gotten engaged to a woman and had not taken her to himself, he could return to his house, “lest he dies in the battle and another man takes her to himself” (v. 7). All those who had a new house or vineyard or were engaged could return home to enjoy life.
４ 官长进一步对百姓说话
4. The Officers Speaking Further to the People
7按照八节，官长进一步告诉百姓说，『有谁惧怕胆怯么？他可以回家去，恐怕他弟兄的心消化，像他一样。』若有这样的人在，会影响别人，引起他们害怕。没有他，军队会更刚强，士气会更高昂。基甸军队的组成说明了这点。（士七3。）
7According to verse 8, the officers were to speak further to the people, saying, “Is there any man who is afraid and whose heart fails? Let him go and return to his house, so that his brothers’ heart does not melt like his heart.” If such a one had remained, he would have affected others, causing them to be afraid. The army would have been stronger and the morale would have been higher without him. The formation of Gideon’s army is an illustration of this (Judg. 7:3
５ 官长指派军长
5. The Officers Appointing Commanders of the Armies
8官长对百姓讲完了，就当指派军长。（申二十9。）这指明一切都是按良好的秩序和顺序完成的。
8After the officers had finished speaking to the people, the officers were to appoint commanders of the army (Deut. 20:9). This indicates that everything was done in a good order and in a good sequence
６ 百姓临近城要攻打的时候，要对那城宣告和平
6. The People Drawing Near to the City to Fight against It and Proclaiming Peace to It
9百姓临近一座城要攻打的时候，要对那城宣告和平。那城若以和平的话回答以色列人，给他们开了城，城里所有的人都要作劳工服事他们。（申二十11。）不然，以色列人就要围困那城。（申二十12。）７以色列人把交在他们手中之城的男子都杀尽，但妇女、孩子、牲口、和城内一切的财物，都可以取为掠物
9When the people drew near to the city to fight against it, they were to proclaim peace to it (v. 10). If it responded with peace and opened its gates to the children of Israel, all the people within the city were to become their forced labor and were to serve the children of Israel (v. 11). Otherwise, the children of Israel were to besiege the city (v. 12). 7. The Children of Israel Slaying Every Male in the City Which Had Been Delivered into Their Hand but Taking as Plunder the Women, the Little Ones, the Cattle, and All That Was in the City
10耶和华他们的神把城交在以色列人手中，他们就要用刀杀尽这城的男子。（申二十13。）但妇女、孩子、牲口、和城内一切的财物，他们可以取为自己的掠物，作他们的享受。（申二十14。）
10When Jehovah their God delivered the city into the hand of the children of Israel, they were to slay every male in it with the edge of the sword (v. 13). But the women, the little ones, the cattle, and all that was in the city they were to take as their plunder for their enjoyment (v. 14
11８耶和神所赐以色列人为业的这些城，其中凡有气息的，一个都不可存活
118. Not Allowing Anything That Breathed to Live of the Cities Which Jehovah Their God Was Giving to the Children of Israel as an Inheritance
12耶和华神所赐以色列人为业的这些城，其中凡有气息的，一个都不可存活，（申二十16，）都要尽行灭绝；免得他们教导以色列人去行一切可憎恶的事，就是他们向自己的神所行的。（申二十17～18。）以色列人要处死那些行鬼魔之事的人，了结那些鬼魔的实行。
12Of the cities which Jehovah their God was giving to the children of Israel as an inheritance, they were not to allow anything that breathed to live (v. 16). Rather, the children of Israel had to utterly destroy them, so that they would not teach the children of Israel to do according to all their abominations which they did for their gods (vv. 17-18). The devilish practices were to be terminated by putting to death those who engaged in those practices
９ 以色列人围攻一座城，那里好作食物的树不可毁坏
9. When Besieging a City, the Children of Israel Not Destroying Its Trees Which Were Good for Food
13以色列人围困许久所要攻取的一座城，那里好作食物的树不可毁坏，（申二十19，）但可以毁坏砍倒不是作食物的树，用以修筑营垒，攻击那城，直到攻陷。（申二十20。）
13When the children of Israel besieged a city for many days to capture it, they were not to destroy its trees which were good for food (v. 19). Instead, they were to destroy and cut down the trees which were not for food, that they might build up a siegework against the city until it fell (v. 20
十二 关于在被掳的人中，娶美貌的女子为妻
L. Concerning Marrying a Beautiful Woman among the Captives
14二十一章十至十四节，是说到在被掳的人中，娶美貌的女子为妻。以色列人若在被掳的人中见有美貌的女子，要娶她为妻，就要领她到自己家去。（申二一12上。）她要剃头发，修指甲，脱去被掳时所穿的衣服。（申二一12下～13上。）她要住在他家里哀哭父母一个整月。（申二一13中。）然后他可以娶她，作她丈夫，那女子作他妻子（申二一13下。）后来他若不喜悦那女子，就要由她随意出去，绝不可为钱卖她，也不可当婢女待她，因为他屈辱了那女子。（申二一14。）这里神的对待是公平且相当人道的。
14In 21:10-14 we have a word about marrying a beautiful woman among the captives. When an Israelite saw a beautiful woman among the captives and would take her to himself as a wife, he was to bring her within his house (v. 12a). She was to shave her head and trim her nails, and her clothes of captivity were to be taken away from her (vv. 12b-13a). She was to dwell in that Israelite’sho use and mourn her father and mother for a full month (v. 13b). Afterwards the Israelite was to marry her and be her husband, and she was to be a wife to him (v. 13c). If after a time he did not delight in her, he was to let her go wherever she wished, but he was not to sell her for money nor deal with her as a slave, because he had humbled her (v. 14). God’s dealing here is fair and very humane
十三 关于长子的名分
M. Concerning the Right of the Firstborn Son
15申命记二十一章十五节说到一个案例：若有人有二妻，一为所爱，一为所恶，所爱的所恶的，都给他生了儿子，但长子是所恶之妇人生的。到了要分给儿子产业的时候，不可将所爱之妇人生的儿子立为长子，却要认所恶之妇人生的儿子为长子，将一切所有的分双分给他，因这儿子是他力量强壮时生的。（申二一16～17。）
15Deuteronomy 21:15 speaks of a case of a man who had two wives, one beloved and the other despised, and both the beloved and the despised had born him sons, with the firstborn son being of the despised woman. When the man was giving his inheritance to his sons, he was not to make the son of the beloved woman the firstborn, but he was to acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the despised woman, giving to him a double portion of his inheritance, for this son was the beginning of his strength (vv. 16-17).
16表面看来，二十章一至二十节争战的事，与二十一章十五至十七节长子名分的事，二者之间并没有甚么相干的。然而就属灵一面来说，争战与长子名分有关，因为只有争战
16Apparently, the matters of fighting in 20:1-20 and the birthright in 21:15-17 have nothing to do with each other. However, spiritually speaking, fighting and the birthright are related, for only by fighting can we preserve our birthright
17才能保存我们长子的名分。
17
18我们既要藉著争战保守我们长子的名分，所以若不争战，就会失去我们长子的名分，就像以扫失去长子名分一样。（来十二16～17。）那些，因著关心自己的房屋、葡萄园、配偶、或因著害怕而不去争战的人，就无分于胜利。他们没有掳物可享。他们没有争战，他们会失去长子的名分。
18Since we preserve our birthright by fighting, if we do not fight, we will lose our birthright, even as Esau lost his birthright (Heb. 12:16-17). Those who do not fight because they are concerned about their house, vineyard, or spouse or because they are fearful will not share in the victory. There will be no spoil, no plunder, for them to enjoy. Because they do not fight, they will lose their birthright
19在战争以保守长子名分的事上，我们必须学习信靠神。我们凭自己没有争战的力量或能力。我们若信靠自己，就不会确保能在战争中获胜。我们争战的时候，需要看见我们是为著神所给我们的而战。神已经把美地赐给我们，但我们仍须与仇敌争战。我们不只该祷告，还要争战。实际上，争战的不是我们，因为神与我们同去，为我们争战。仇敌一旦失败，地就得到清理，作我们的产业。这争战的原则，与申命记整卷书所看到的原则一样。就是神要我们作一些事，但祂不要我们凭自己作。争战是我们的责任，但我们无法凭自己来履行这责任。我们只能凭著相信主，履行争战的责任。我们要相信，主已经命定我们去争战，并且祂要替我们争战。我们只要接受祂的话，服从祂，知道结果是在于祂。我们若是这样来履行责任，主就会喜悦。每当主要求我们为祂作甚么，祂不是要我们凭自己作。我们在自己里面无法作主要求我们作的。要凭自己的能力遵守神的命令，乃是侮辱神；这在神眼中乃是可憎恶的。我们若想这样作，主会说，『我没有要求你凭自己的力量或能力为我作甚么，因为你没有力量或能力。我要求你为我作的，我要你凭著我来作。学习相信我、信靠我。我会为你作一切。我只要你有分于我的工作。我要在人里面，与人一同来作。为此我需要人与我合作。你若与我合作，我就能作出我想要作的。』不凭自己，乃凭主来为主作事，这是祂所喜悦的。
19In fighting to preserve our birthright, we must learn to trust in God. In ourselves we do not have the strength or the capacity to fight. If we trust in ourselves, we will not have any assurance that we will be victorious in the warfare. As we are fighting, we need to realize that we are fighting for what God has given us. The good land has been given to us by God, but we still need to fight against the enemies. We should not only pray but also fight. Actually, we are not the ones fighting, for God goes with us and fights for us. Once the enemies have been defeated, the land will be cleared for our inheritance. The principle with this fighting is the same principle that is found throughout the book of Deuteronomy. This principle is that God wants us to do certain things, but He does not want us to do these things by ourselves. It is our duty to fight, but we cannot fulfill this duty by ourselves. We can fulfill our duty to fight only by faith in the Lord. We need to believe that the Lord has ordained us to fight and that He will fight for us. We should simply take His word and obey Him, knowing that the outcome depends on Him. If we fulfill our duty in this way, the Lord will be pleased. Whenever the Lord asks us to do something for Him, He does not intend that we do that thing by ourselves. We are not able in ourselves to do anything that the Lord asks us to do. Trying to keep His commandment by our energy is an insult to God; it is abominable in His sight. If we try to do this, the Lord might say, “I do not ask you to do something for Me by your strength or ability, for you do not have the strength or the ability. What I ask you to do for Me, I want you to do by Me. Learn to have faith in Me, to trust in Me. I will do everything for you. I simply want you to participate in My operation. I want to do something in man and with man. For this, I need to have man cooperate with Me. If you cooperate with Me, I will be able to do what I desire to do.” To do something for the Lord not by ourselves but by the Lord—this is pleasing to Him.
20在我们的深处有一件恶事。这恶事可能看来很好，就是想要凭自己来行神的旨意，完成神的旨意。在神眼中，这意愿不管看来多好，实际上是可憎恶的。我们绝不该认为凭自己能为神作甚么。我们凭自己是不可能为神作事的。我们需要另一个生命，神圣的生命，就是神的生命。我们要有这生命，就必须重生；也就是从神而生。我们凭自己这受造的生命无法遵守神所要求的；我们没有能力行神的旨意。就算我们的心思是清明的，爱是平衡的，意志是刚强的，我们仍然没有能力来遵守神的诫命，或遵行神的旨意。神要我们彰显祂。但我们凭自己或在自己里面能彰显神么？当然不能！就像狗不能彰显鸟一样，我们也不能用自己受造的生命彰显神。我们要彰显神，就必须有神的生命。这生命就是神圣的生命，永远的生命。实际上，这生命乃是具体化于基督，又实化为赐生命之灵的三一神。
20Deep within us there is an evil thing. This evil thing, which may appear to be very good, is our desire to do the will of God and to carry out the will of God by ourselves. In God’s view, this desire, despite its nice appearance, is actually abominable. We should never think that by ourselves we are able to do something for God. It is impossible for us to do anything for God by ourselves. We need another life—the divine life, the life of God. In order to have this life, we must be reborn, regenerated; that is, we need to be born of God. With our created life we cannot observe what God demands; we do not have the capacity to do God’s will. Even if our mind is clear, our love is balanced, and our will is strong, we still do not have the capacity to keep God’s commandment or to do His will. God wants us to express Him. But are we, in ourselves and by ourselves, able to express God? Certainly not! Just as a dog cannot express a bird, so we with our created life cannot express God. In order to express God, we must have the life of God. This life is the divine life, the eternal life. Actually, this life is the Triune God embodied in Christ, who is realized as the life-giving Spirit
21我们虽然得著了神圣的生命，却不习惯凭这生命而活。我们可能从来没有想过要凭神圣的生命而活。反之，我们是继续信靠我们老旧的生命。我们甚至为改进这老旧的生命祷告。我们会在祷告中说，『主，你知道我多么软弱。』主会回答说，『你不需要告诉我你软弱。我知道你软弱。你不仅软弱，你还是死的。这就是我给了你另一个生命的原因。你为甚么不凭我给你的这新生命而活？』我不信我们中间有人（包括我自己在内），知道如何凭神圣的生命而活。我们若不儆醒，就会求主改善我们的旧生命，求主帮助我们改善自己；这样的祷告是愚蠢、可憎的。我们可能清楚申命记是显明神、暴露我们、并揭示基督是我们的生命、我们生命的供应、并我们的一切。但我们没有将这认识付诸实行。我们不凭神圣的生命活著，反而转向旧生命，求主耶稣帮助我们改进自己。
21Although we have received the divine life, we are not accustomed to living by this life. We may never have had the thought of living by the divine life. Instead, we continue to trust in our old life. We may even pray for the improvement of the old life. In our prayer we may say, “Lord, You know how weak I am.” The Lord may answer, “There is no need for you to tell Me that you are weak. I know that you are weak. You are not merely weak—you are dead. This is the reason I have given you another life. Why would you not live by this new life which I have given you?” I do not have the confidence that anyone among us, including myself, knows how to live by the divine life. If we are not on the alert, we will pray in a nonsensical, abominable way concerning the improvement of our old life, asking for the Lord’s help to adjust ourselves. We may be clear that the book of Deuteronomy manifests God, exposes us, and unveils Christ as our life, our life supply, and our everything, but we may not put this knowledge into practice. Instead of living by the divine life, we may turn to the old life and ask the Lord Jesus to help us to improve ourselves
22我欣赏本篇信息中所说的这些点，特别是关于争战的话。那些关切自己的房屋、葡萄园、或妻子的人，和那些害怕的人，都不必参加军队，出去争战。今天我们的原则也是一样。整个召会都是军队，但并非人人都要参与争战。我们能否有分于争战，在于我们的光景。只有那些没有任何缠累的人才可以参与争战。他们争战的时候，该有把握说，『争战的不是我。争战的乃是我们所信靠的主。』在履行神要求的事上，我们不该信靠自己。我们需要学习以主的所愿为我们的所愿，说，『主，你的心愿就是我的心愿。在完成你心愿的事上，我不信靠自己，因为我无法遵行你的旨意。主，因为我不信靠自己，也因为我没有能力履行你的心愿，所以我以你为我的生命和生命的供应。』
22I appreciate the points covered in this message, especially the word regarding fighting. Those who were concerned about their house, their vineyard, or their wife and those who were afraid, were not required to join the army and go out to fight. The principle is the same with us today. The whole church is an army, but not everyone has to join in the fighting. Whether or not we can participate in the fighting depends on our situation. Only those who do not have any kind of entanglement can join in the fighting. As they are fighting, they should have the assurance to say, “I am not the one fighting. The One who is fighting is the Lord in whom I trust.” In fulfilling God’s requirements, we should not have any trust in ourselves. We need to learn to take the Lord’s desire as our desire and say, “Lord, I desire what You desire. In carrying out Your desire, I do not have any trust in myself, for I am not able to do Your will. Lord, because I have no trust in myself and because I have no capacity to fulfill Your desire, I take You as my life and life supply