提要
在以色列王比加年間，亞述入侵以色列，奪走了北方的城池，何細亞於是背叛比加，篡了他的王位，並控制以色列餘下的土地。何細亞為了保住王位，不得不向亞述王撒縵以色進貢。但由於亞述的壓迫過重，何細亞又背叛了亞述，最後導致撒縵以色再度入侵以色列。經過了一段漫長的圍城，撒瑪利亞終於落入亞述王手中。成千上萬的以色列人被擄到亞述作俘擄，更有甚者，亞述王還從異族異邦遷移人來定居在以色列地。上帝給這些外來客機會歸向祂、服事祂，因為祂的愛永遠是擴及全世界。不過，這些人雖然敬畏以色列的上帝，但他們仍然一面事奉自己的外邦神。
十七章七至廿三節就說明了以色列所以遭此歷史性災難的理由。「人種的是什麼，收的也是什麼」（加6：7），以色列國就是一個令人怵目驚心的例証。聖經很清楚的告訴我們：「公義使邦國高舉，罪惡是人民的羞辱」（箴14：34）。在大衛和所羅門時代，上帝真的高舉以色列國，但以色列後來每況愈下，犯滔天大罪，真的成了聖潔之上帝的羞辱。與上帝有約的以色列應該是要作一個聖潔國度的模範，要反映上帝的榮耀，並作外邦人的光。這是上帝將他們從埃及地領出來，使他們成立國家的理由。但以色列人徹底的失敗了。
罪違反了上帝的律法，祂完美的屬性、聖潔、和道德律。事實上，任何虧缺上帝榮耀的都是罪（羅3：23）。當以色列人與上帝立約時，宣誓要唯獨事奉、敬畏上帝。然而他們後來去隨從別神，行迦南人可憎的習俗，甚至獻人為祭。這正是上帝當初使用以色列趕走迦南人的理由。上帝已經用盡了一切辦法使以色列人容易順服祂。上帝為他們預備好土地、興起了祭司和無數拯救他們的士師和先知，然而，本應結好果的以色列卻只結出了壞果（以賽亞書五章一至七節的比喻）。
即使上帝因祂的憐憫，派許多先知來警告以色列人，好使他們能悔改歸向上帝，但以色列仍繼續犯罪。上帝並非沒有預警就降下審判。「他們卻不聽從，竟硬著頸項……」（17：14）。以色列人既有摩西的律法，又有先知的話，他們就更要為自己的罪行負責。他們不斷悖逆上帝，破壞與上帝所立的約，終於招致上帝的怒氣（因為上帝是忌邪的上帝）。
上帝降下更重的審判刑罰以色列人──也就是被擄至亞述──正如摩西的預言（申28：64；耶2：4~13）。如果以色列遵守他們和上帝所立的約，他們一定能享受上帝藉摩西所應許的許多祝福。守約是項嚴肅的責任；毀約則必受悖逆的咒詛（申廿八章）。
有一個很簡單的定律適用於任何時代的人類：你所選擇的道路決定了你的命運。國家和個人一樣，皆因罪而墮落。舊約所記載的歷史就印証了這個事實。這些事件被記在聖經裡為使我們從中學習教訓，並看到罪的結果就是死（林前10：10；羅6：23）。
|
Overview
With the upheaval of the Assyrian invasion during the reign of Pekah, king of Israel (15:29), Hoshea conspired and seized control of the land that remained to Israel (15:30). In order to keep his throne, he was forced to pay much tribute of Shalmaneser of Assyria. Because the Assyrian oppression was so great, Hoshea conspired against them. This caused Shalmaneser to invade Israel and, after a lengthy seige, Samaria fell to the Assyrians. Thousands of Israelites were carried away as captives to Assyria. To the reproach of Israel, Assyria brought in strangers to inhabit their land. God gave these people the opportunity to turn to Him and serve Him, for His love has always extended to the whole world; yet, even though they came to fear the God of Israel, they still served their foreign gods.
The verses following this historical narrative (17:7-23) give the prophetic/spiritual reasons for this catastrophe upon Israel. We see the horrifying illustration of "whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7). As the Bible so clearly portrays, "righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). Under David and Solomon, God truly exalted the nation of Israel, but after them the nation fell into much sin and truly became a reproach to the Holy God. Israel, as the covenant people of God, was meant to serve as an example of a godly nation; they were to reflect God's glory and be a witness and a light to all nations. This was the reason God had made them a nation and brought them out of Egypt into the promised land. But they miserably failed.
Sin is a crime against God's laws, His nature of perfection, holiness, and moral order. In fact, sin is whatever falls short of His glory (Romans 3:23). When the people of Israel entered into a covenant with the Lord, they pledged themselves to serve and fear Him only. They broke their covenant by following other gods and practicing the same abominations of the Canaanites, even to the point of human sacrifice (17:17). This was the very reason God had used Israel to execute His judgment upon those peoples and drive them out of the land. God did everything possible to make it easy for them to obey Him. He gave them a prepared land ready for occupation, raised up a priesthood and numerous deliverers and prophets, yet that which should have brought forth good brought forth only bad (parable of Isaiah 5:1-7).
Israel continued in sin, even after God, in His mercy, had sent many prophets to warn them, that they might repent and turn to Him. God does not bring judgment without first a warning. "Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks..." (17:14). Since Israel had been well warned, not only with the writings of Moses but also with the words of His prophets, they were all the more responsible and guilty for not heeding. Their continued resistance and rebellion against God in breaking the conditions of the covenant relationship (17:14-15) stirred God's anger (for He is a jealous God).
God brought even greater judgment upon Israel; this came with the Assyrian captivity, just as Moses predicted would happen if they sinned against God and turned to idolatry (Deuteronomy 28:64; Jeremiah 2:4-13). If Israel had kept the covenant, they would have enjoyed the many blessings God had promised them through Moses. Keeping the covenant was a solemn responsibility; if broken, the curses for disobedience would fall on them (Deuteronomy 28).
There is a simple rule that applies to mankind for all time: the way in which you walk will determine your destiny. Nations, as well as individuals, have fallen because of sin. The history recorded in the Old Testament certainly attests to this fact. These events have been recorded and preserved in the Holy Canon of Scripture that we might learn from them and see the consequences of sin, namely death (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:10; Romans 6:23).
|
