經文: | 以西結書12-15章 |
中心思想: | 以西結書14章 |
提要
正像之前的耶利米一樣,以西結以極戲劇性的手法來說明信息內容,在今天的經文中,以西結「收拾行裝」,出城去,然後在牆上挖洞來象徵猶大即將被擄,隨後他攻擊各類引導猶大走向滅亡的罪:假先知只知粉飾錯誤,而不知傳講悔改的信息,長老們率先帶領全國百姓祭拜偶像,如此猶大像一棵枯乾萎縮的葡萄樹,沒有果實,只有枝子--沒有祝福,只合適受審判! |
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每日與主同行
你記得上次未蒙應允的禱告嗎?
為什麼會這樣呢?一、你祈求的不對;二、你祈求的次數不夠;三、上帝不關心你的問題;四、你距離上帝太遠聽不到祂的回答;五、你還得再等候一陣子。
從第十四章可以看出禱告未蒙應允的問題所在,以色列拜偶像的長老推派代表來到以西結面前,想透過先知求問上帝,雖然他們還沒有提出問題,但上帝的答覆已經臨到,祂不在乎他們的問題,因為他們也不曾在乎祂。
你生命中的偶像並不一定是一個石像或泥塑木雕的東西,它可能是一件奪去你心的事物或某一個人,使你對這件事或這個人的專注更甚於上帝,於是不蒙應允禱告必然接踵而至、層出不窮了!因為上帝用一種平靜微小的聲音說話,你若站得太遠就很難聽到了(王上19:11,12)!剪下空白處的那段小金言當作一個提醒,如果你的禱告、你的生活處於「中立」狀態,沒有屬靈的爭戰,那麼大概是因為你心中在「拜偶像」的緣故吧!
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默想
多用途的葡萄樹?
以西結在十五章中描繪了一幅景象。一般的樹,其木料除了可支撐本身枝條之外,還有許多其他用途:蓋房子、做桌子、當木釘、作柴燒等等……而葡萄樹只有在結果時才有價值。
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金言
惟有當你靠近傾聽上帝的聲音,祂才會回答你的禱告。 |
English |
8/19/2013 Parables of Judgment |
Scriptures: | Ezekiel 12-15 |
Heart of the Passage: | Ezekiel 14 |
Overview
Like Jeremiah before him, Ezekiel illustrates his messages with dramatized parables. In today's reading, Ezekiel "packs his bags" and exits the city through a hole dug in the wall to symbolize Judah's upcoming exile. He then attacks the sins that have led Judah to this sorry end: prophets who have whitewashed wrongs instead of preaching repentance, and elders who have led the nation into idolatry. Like a dried-up grapevine, Jud ah has become fruitless, fit only for judgment. |
Chapter 12
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Chapter 13
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Chapter 14
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Chapter 15
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Baggage for Exiles
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Prophets for Hire
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Wayward Elders
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Worthless Wood
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Future Pain . . .
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... for Sins in the Past and Present
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Your Daily Walk
Remember the last time a prayer of yours went unanswered? Why do you think that happened? (a) You didn't ask for the right thing; (b) You didn't ask often enough; (c) God didn't care about your problem; (d) You were too far away from God to hear His answer; (e) You needed to wait a little longer.
Chapter 14 sheds some light on the question of unanswered prayer. The idolatrous elders of Israel sent representatives to Ezekiel to make inquiry of the Lord through the prophet. Though the exact nature of their request is not stated, God's response is enlightening: He wouldn't honor their request because they weren't honoring Him.
An idol in your life need not be a statue of stone or wood. It can be anything (or anyone) that steals your heart, causing you to become more committed to something or someone than you are to God. And unanswered prayers are sure to follow, for God speaks in a "still small voice" that is difficult to hear at a distance (1 Kings 19:11-12). Cutout the margin quote as a reminder that if your prayer life is in neutral, perhaps it's because your heart is "idoling."
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Insight
A Multi-Purpose Vine?
Ezekiel’s illustration in chapter 15 is a truism. Wood can be used not only for supporting branches, but also for many other purposes: building houses, tables, pegs, fires, etc. Vines, on the other hand, are good only when they are bearing fruit.
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Adage
God wilt only answer when you come close enough to bear. |
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