The Star of Bethlehem, Matt 2:1-12

The Star of Bethlehem
Matthew 2:1-12
By Pastor Brian
2019.12.24
Christmas Eve Service
Fort Bend Community Church

Introduction

Matthew 2:1-12 is the most fascinating passage in the nativity story: the magi and the star of Bethlehem. I have been fascinated by the star of Bethlehem since I was a kid. Was it real? If it was real, what was it? Where did it come from? How did the magi know the star was the birth of the king of Jews? On this Christmas Eve, I would like to look back at the Star of Bethlehem when Jesus was born. What is the significance of the star for us today?

In the last ten years, two major things happened that bring us closer to finding the Star of Bethlehem.

1. The advancement of cosmology and the computer technology has given us the sky maps of any day in history. We are able to pinpoint the exact location of every planets and stars in the sky. We know their obits, we know their speed, finding their locations using the help of a computer is possible. Therefore we know, for example, January 1, 1 BC, what the sky map looked like in Israel or December 24, 2019, what the sky map looks like in Houston in any particular time.

2. Dating Christ's birth: A new discovery of the year when King Herod died. We know Jesus was born when Herod was the king over Judea. He was born in 70 BC and died on 4 BC according to Josephus, the trusted Jewish historian, in his book, Antiquities of the Jews. This book is the only source we have in determining the year when Herod died. Josephus said so. 4 BC. But in recent years, scholars find that all the manuscripts of the book, Antiquities of the Jews, dated before 1544 have a different year. Instead of 4 BC, these older manuscripts say that it was 1 BC when Herod died. It seems that in 1544, there was a mistake in copying the book and the mistake has passed along to all those copies after 1544. Therefore it is highly possible that Herod died on 1 BC instead of 4 BC.

Based on the new discovery, we begin to search the sky from 4 BC to 1 BC, looking for the Star of Bethlehem.

To find the star, there are 9 qualifications this star must have from Matthew 2:1-12.

The magi saw the star and knew that the there has been born King of the Jews. 2:2
1. The star indicated birth
2. It signified kingship.
3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation. A Jewish king was born.

The magi saw the star rising in the east just like most other stars. As the earth turns. All stars seem to be rising in the east. 2:2b
4. It must rise in the east like most other stars

Herod asked the magi the exact time the star appeared. 2:7
5. It appeared at an exact precise time.
6. Herod didn’t know when it appeared. He had to ask.

When the magi went their way to Bethlehem, the star went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was. 2:9
7. It endured over a considerable time period. The Magi saw it, perhaps from Babylon, traveled to Judea and saw it still.
8. It went ahead of them as they traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Not so much as a guide but a further confirmation of the signs they had seen.
9. The star stopped over Jerusalem. Can a star do that?

If any of the 9 biblical features of the Star is absent, it isn’t the Star of Bethlehem.

Therefore the Star of Bethlehem was:

1. Not a meteor or what we call a shooting star.
Shooting stars don’t rise in the east and they won’t last. They burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere quickly.

2. Not a comet
Comets do rise in the east and endure over time. But the problem is that comets were regarded as omens of doom and destruction in that time in history, the very opposite of good tidings. And there do not appear to have been any comets in 3 or 2 BC. And comets are obvious things. Anyone could and would have seen a comet. But Herod would not have needed to ask the Magi when such a thing appeared. The Biblical Star was very likely not a comet.

3. Not a nova
A nova is an exploding star. It appears suddenly at a point in time, endures over time, rises in the east like other stars and can be bright and spectacular. However none appears in the ancient records including the Chinese records for this time period. Jerusalem is high on the mountain every night. Common people were far more familiar than we are with the appearance of the night sky. If a nova suddenly appeared, almost everyone would know about it. Herod and the Jewish citizens would not have to rely on the magi for the information. The Star of Bethlehem was very unlikely to be a nova.

4. An angel?
It could be just that. Angels are said to be the stars of heavens figuratively. God certainly can do that supernaturally to post a sign in the sky by an angel to lead the magi all the way. Possible. But before we settle the case as supernatural, let us also look at the possible answer from the ancient sky maps. There is a real good candidate to be the Star of Bethlehem.

Jupiter—The name of the greatest god of Roman mythology, the largest planet of our solar system. It has been known from ages-old as the KING Planet. It moves around the night sky as the obits of Jupiter and earth change. He is a good friend of mine. I look for him all the time in the starry night sky. This is what Jupiter looks like today in a clear sky.

On September of 3 BC Jupiter began an amazing dance.

The magi watching Jupiter that September 3 BCE (the Jewish New Year) saw two objects moving so close that they appeared to touch. This close approach of celestial bodies is sometimes called a ‘conjunction.’ 會合  Our Middle Eastern viewer saw Jupiter coming into a close conjunction with the star, Regulus 軒轅十四,

The brightest star in the constellation of Leo and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Regulus takes its name from the word root which yields our word ‘regal.’ The Babylonians called Regulus Sharu, which means ‘king.’ The Romans called Regulus Rex, which means ‘king.’ So to start things, at the beginning of the new Jewish year, the Planet of Kings met the Star of Kings.

The conjunction may have indicated to the magi kingship. Jupiter glides slowly past Regulus about every 12 years. It would not be unusual. But there is more.

The planets move against the field of fixed stars. From Earth, they appear to be “active.” Moving around. Periodically, Jupiter appears to reverse course and move backward through the other stars. This may seem odd, but the reason is simple enough: we watch the planets from a moving platform—Earth—hurtling around the Sun in its own orbit. When you pass a car on the freeway, it appears to go backward as it drops behind. For similar reasons, when the Earth in its orbit swings past Jupiter, Jupiter appears to move backward against the starry field. Astronomers call this optical effect retrograde motion 逆行運動.

In 3-2 BC, Jupiter’s retrograde wandering would have called for our magi’s full attention. After Jupiter and Regulus had their kingly encounter, Jupiter continued on its path through the star field. But then it entered retrograde. It “changed its mind” and headed back to Regulus for a second conjunction. After this second pass it reversed course again for yet a third rendezvous with Regulus, a triple conjunction. A triple pass like this is rare. Over a period of months, our watching magus would have seen Jupiter the Planet of Kings dance out a halo above the Star of Kings. A coronation.

How did Jupiter’s movement relate to the Jewish nation?

Because the starry coronation—the triple conjunction—occurred within the constellation of Leo, The Lion. The Lion of Judah. Ancient stargazers, particularly if they were interested in things Jewish, may well have concluded they were seeing signs of a Jewish king.

Nine months later in June of 2 BC, Jupiter continued the pageantry.

By the following June, Jupiter had finished crowning Regulus. The Planet of Kings traveled on through the star field toward another spectacular rendezvous, this time with Venus, the Mother Planet. This conjunction was so close and so bright that Jupiter appeared to join Venus. The planets could not be distinguished with the naked eye. If our magi had had a telescope, they could have seen that the planets sat one atop the other, like a figure eight. Each contributed its full brightness to what became the most brilliant star our man had ever seen. Jupiter completed this step of the starry dance as it was setting in the west. That evening, our Babylonian magi would have seen the spectacle while facing toward Judea.

No one alive had ever seen such a conjunction. If the Magi only began their travel plans in September, when they saw this sight nine months later, someone may have shouted “What are we waiting for? Mount up!” At the end of their travel, which may have taken weeks or months, these experts arrived in Jerusalem. They told their tale, and “all Jerusalem was disturbed.” Herod wanted to know two things: when the Star had appeared, and where this baby was. The Magi presumably described the timing of events starting in September of 3 BC and continuing through June of 2 BC. Herod sent them to Bethlehem in search of the child with orders that they return to tell where he was.

To qualify as the Star, Jupiter would have to have been ahead of the Magi as they traveled South from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Sure enough, in December of 2 BC if the Magi looked south in the wee hours, there hung the Planet of Kings over the city of Messiah’s birth.

All but one of the nine Biblical qualifications for the Star have now been plausibly satisfied:

1. The first conjunction signified birth.
2. The Planet of King’s coronation of the Star of Kings signified kingship.
3. The triple conjunction began with the Jewish New Year and took place within Leo, showing a connection with the Jewish tribe of Judah (and prophecies of the Jewish Messiah).
4. Jupiter rises in the east.
5. The conjunctions appeared at precise, identifiable times.
6. Herod was unaware of these things; they were astronomical events which had significance only when explained by experts.
7. The events took place over a span of time sufficient for the Magi to see them both from the East and upon their arrival in Jerusalem.
8. Jupiter was ahead of the Magi as they traveled south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.

But the ninth qualification would require that Jupiter stops over Bethlehem. How could a planet do that? And did Jupiter do it? Planets can’t stop. Right? Not true. Planets do stop to the naked eyes. When Jupiter enters retrograde, when the speed going backward is the same speed as the earth turns, Jupiter would appear to have stopped. We are talking about not stopping for a few minutes, but appearing to stop for days or weeks and months.

On December 25 of 2 BC as it entered retrograde, Jupiter reached full stop in its travel through the fixed stars. Magi viewing from Jerusalem would have seen it stopped in the sky above the little town of Bethlehem.

All nine qualifications are met. Here is our Star of Bethlehem, possibly! Most likely!

The Star is telling us two things today:

1. The Star was clearly visible. The starry dance was for all to see. God put them in the sky as part of the natural revelation and used the special interests and training of the magi to draw them to the Savior. Draw near. Come to me. See more. Hear more clearly. The magi went all the way across the desert to Jerusalem to worship the new born King. They saw. They heard. They worshipped.

Tonight God is also calling you to draw near. Walk closer. See more. Hear more what I have for you. Know me. Come to me. Your Star may be different. In the nature, the trees are clapping their hands, the birds are singing, the waterfall roaring, Milky Way beaconing… the glory of God. Drawing you to come near. God may use your training, your hope and fears to guide you to him. The star may even be an difficult situation or tragedy when you hear God the loudest.

Follow the star and draw near to the Savior. Find him and you will worship him.

2. Not everyone finds Jesus. In fact, in Matthew, the magi were the only ones who came to find Jesus. They came by faith in responding to God’s revelation. Herod knew but he wanted to kill Jesus. The scribes and the priests showed no interests to find Jesus. Only the magi. The gentiles. Came to worship. It was so sad “the hope and fears of all the years are met tonight in Bethlehem. But the Jewish people, God’s people was no show. Could it be possible also we become so busy with ourselves that we have missed the Savior and are no show at worshipping Him? The Christmas story can become old to us. Same story. Same route. Buying presents. And we miss the Savior. Quiet yourself tonight. Come before God and listen to him telling you to draw near.


Tonight is the night when the stars lined up and danced for Jesus. To night is the holy night. Let come and worship Him.

最好的禮物，太 2:1-12

最好的禮物
馬太福音二章一至十二節




林永健牧師
福遍中國教會
2019.12.22
國語堂

引言

聖誕最好的禮物是什麼？最差的禮物又是什麼？《時代雜誌》最近做了一個調查，邀請一個心理學家去分析什麼是最差的禮物，名單上包括：

1. 過期三年的巧克力；
2. 丈夫在情人節送給妻子一部新的洗衣機，你可能說這也不錯啊，舊的壞了，送部新的不是很羅曼蒂克嗎？你說呢？
3. 一個媳婦收到婆婆送的一份禮物，是旅遊用精正裝的洗臉水，而且是名牌，後來才發現這是婆婆買給他另一位媳婦一份名貴的香水時附送的禮品，若你收到這樣的禮物，你會高興嗎？
4. 最差的禮物第一名是：「我欠你一份禮物！」欠的禮物是最差的禮物，收不到的禮物是最糟糕的禮物。

文章分析禮物好不好有三個因素：
1. 送禮物者的心態是否真心，是否為對方設，想動機是什麼？
2. 禮物本身的意義與價值，不是說禮物值多少錢才是好的禮物或貼心的禮物，好的禮物本身是有價值的。
3. 收禮物者的需要與回應。當我想把我所有的書送給我的兒子，他說，不要！對我來說，這些書是我的寶貝，經過50年的收集與經營，我每天都讀的書，他卻不要，書太重，太多，太舊，我看的書與他看的書不同，所以不要，收不到的禮物是最差的禮物。

我想起一首天韻的歌：有一件禮物，你收到沒有，是為了你準備，最好的禮物是人子耶穌，馬槽的嬰孩，是為你而來，禮物雖然好，如果你不要，你怎麼能夠得到？怎麼能得到？

最好的禮物是耶穌，送禮物的是愛你的天父，禮物本身是如無價的珍珠，能改變你的生命，問題是在乎你你要不要，你對這份最好的禮物反應如何？

今天的經文是馬太福音2章1至12節，經文中有三種人，三種對這份最好的禮物不同的反應，你是屬於哪一種人？

1. 信心回應走近來，看清楚，獻上禮物，拜耶穌的人；
2. 知道一切，卻對耶穌漠不關心的人；
3. 敵對耶穌自我為王的人。

你是屬於哪一種人？




一、博士--以信心回應接受的人，2:1-2 

2:1 當希律王的時候，耶穌生在猶太的伯利恆。有幾個博士從東方來到耶路撒冷。

希律王，猶大地的統治者，生於主前70年，猶太史學家約瑟夫，在他的名著《猶太古史》一書中說，希臘王死於公元前四年，這是唯一的文獻告訴我們希律王是什麼時候死的，這是很重要的日子，因為耶穌降生是希律在位的時候，所以一直以來所有的解經家都認為耶穌降生於主前六至4年，最近才有學者發現約瑟夫的《猶太古史》，在1544年前所有的抄本都是記載希律王死於公元前一年，公元前四年是1544年之後的抄本才變為公元前四年的，很可能是1544年一個抄寫的錯誤，廣泛地流傳下來，變為公元前四年，這發現是我們尋找伯利恆之星的時候很重要的線索。

希律是混血兒，父親是以東人，母親是猶太人，天生有領導才華與政治天賦，得羅馬皇帝的支持，作猶大地分封的王，今天說是靠中央上位的人，精於建設，他喜愛權力，猜疑的心極重，工於心計，殘酷不仁，希律王在第一節的出現，令當年猶太人的讀者，有不安的感覺，他是邪惡的代表，不好的事情將會發生。

耶穌就是在這個時候生於猶太的伯利恆，這是猶太人一直等待的彌賽亞、基督，受膏者的意思，猶太人的王，猶太人所盼望以色列的拯救者，先知預言的救世主，是亞伯拉罕的後裔，大衛的子孫，耶和華的僕人，耶西的根，外邦人的光，世人的救主，以色列人盼望等待這位彌賽亞出現已經是很久很久的時候，在聖誕歌曲中中一首《小伯利恆》，有一句歌詞說：萬世希望，眾生憂驚，今宵集中於你--小小伯利恆（The hope and fears of all these years are met in thee tonight.）

但前來尋找聖嬰，要拜聖嬰的卻不是猶太人，而是從東方來幾個博士，外邦人，彌賽亞猶太人之王，生在猶大地，猶太人盼望來臨的救世主，是為全人類降生，馬太一開始耶穌的降生就有外邦人來拜耶穌，結束的時候28章說：是要使萬民作祂的門徒，從猶太救主成為萬民的主，但猶太人卻不接受這位生在馬槽神賜人最好的禮物。

博士，英文是 magi，眾數，是從希臘文的音譯而來，中文翻為博士，但不是今天的博士（Ph.D），他們是古代的星相學家或術士，對主前六世紀的米代人來說，他們是有解夢能力的祭司階層，他們來到耶路撒冷是一件大事，轟動一時的大事，耶路撒冷合城的人都不安，不知道有什麼事在希律王下會發生。

幾個博士，不一定是三個，教會傳統說東方三博士，是因為三份禮物，一個人一份的推算，近代作家 Henry van Dyke 1895 年，寫了一本著名的小說：《第四位博士的故事》，其實有四位博士，第四位帶了藍寶石、紅寶石並一粒極貴重的珍珠，要去尋找新生的猶太的王，要去拜他，但因為幫助一個垂死的人，而錯過了出發到耶路撒冷其他三位博士的駱駝隊，故事中寫，他賣了藍寶石，買了駱駝，組成新的駱駝隊，越過沙漠，尋找耶穌，一路上幫助有需要的人，故事非常感人，最終他錯過了在伯利恒的耶穌，他去埃及尋找耶穌，也沒有尋見，三十年之後，他在耶路撒冷耶穌釘十字架的時候找到了耶穌，他卻已經把他的禮物，紅寶石與極貴重的珍珠變賣了，為的是要幫助那些有需要的人，故事非常感人。

教會傳統中，三博士是君王，甚至有名字記載，梅爾肯、伯達撒，加斯帕，其實都是沒有什麼根據的，幾位博士從東方來，經文沒有說，是從什麼國家或什麼城市來，這段經文有很多東西沒說，都是我們查根究底，很想知道的事，但經文有說的卻是作者的重點，這裏強調的是從東方來的博士，是外邦人，馬太呔選擇記載東方來的博士的故事，其他三位福音書的作者都沒有說，馬太泰是要強調萬民成為主的門徒的主題，一頭一尾，與28章的大使命遙遙相對，福音要從猶太人中傳存至萬民。

第二節，他們在東方看見他的星，中文翻少了一個字，他們在東方看見他升起來的星，這個升起來的字，對尋找伯利恆之星非常重要，這是什麼的星？經文沒說，他們怎能看見星就知道這是猶太人的王誕生了？經文都沒有說明，經文說，他們看見，相對之下猶太人卻沒有看見，伯利恆之星掛在天上，遠近都能看見，猶太人沒有看見，發生在他們當中，耶穌降生的事，遠在東方的博士看見他的星，要來拜他，他們翻山越嶺，跨越阿拉伯沙漠，走近前來，敬拜，「看見」在這經文出現三次，「拜」也出現三次，是經文強調博士看見，有神的啟示，回應神的啟示，遠道而來目的是要拜他。

今天引導我們來到神的面前的星各有不同，神安放在你生命中，指引你尋找神的星是什麼？你看見了嗎？你的回應又是如何？對博士來說，星是他們一生研究的東西，觀星是他們的專業，神用他們的追求去引導他們尋求神，至高無上的神也用博士的推算。

我在中學的時候愛上了天上的星星，常跑到野外去觀星，天上的星星我都認識，星星對我說話，神的偉大。當幫我剛來到休士頓孤單獨行的時候，晚上的星就好像是老朋友一樣陪伴著我。我去巴西觀星，神對我說話。我去新疆觀星，神對我說，他是信實的。去英國劍橋退修，觀星，神安慰我。我去南非觀星，神對我說，他的愛跨越文化種族，我看見了星，我想到創造宇宙萬物的神，他說，近前來，聽我的聲音，尋找我，敬拜我。

今天我們或許有人生病或人生遇到困境，這些可能是神安排在你生命中伯利恆之星，你看見了嗎？你的回應如何？近前來認識基督，你看見神的啟示嗎？你的回應又如何？

博士看見，憑信心去回應，用行動來到耶路撒冷去尋找猶太人的王，今天神向我們啟示他的永能和神性，你的回應是什麼？最好的禮物需要你的接受才能夠得到，我們當中慕道的朋友，你是否願意像博士一樣，看見他的星，特來拜他呢？你今天來到教會神的家中，絕對不是偶然，留意注意去觀看神的作為，他引導你的路，告訴你救主的故事，你看見了嗎？願你放下一切的顧慮，進前去得著這份最好的禮物。



二、祭司長和民間的文士--對主漠不關心的人，2:3-6

3 希律王聽見了，就心裡不安；耶路撒冷合城的人也都不安。4 他就召齊了祭司長和民間的文士，問他們說：「基督當生在何處？」

祭司長和民間的文士，是代表在應該明白知道彌賽亞要來的事的人，祭司當年大多都是撒都該人，是貴族，富有的人，保守︳信公會大部分的議席，是上流人。民間的文士是法利賽人，比較受百姓的歡迎，民主一些，百姓化一點，在馬太福音這兩種人代表民間與官方猶太人的領袖，合在一起對付耶穌，猶太人的王就是基督，他們期待已久的彌賽亞救主，他們知道，基督生在伯利恆，耶路撒冷南邊五英哩多的小城。

5 他們回答說：「在猶太的伯利恆。因為有先知記著，說：6 猶大地的伯利恆啊，你在猶大諸城中並不是最小的；因為將來有一位君王要從你那裡出來，牧養我以色列民。」

經文出自彌迦書5章2節，馬太福音的引用，文字上稍為與彌迦書不一樣，抵觸只是形式上，但意義相同，意思是伯利恒為大的原因，是因為救主在這裏出生，祭司長和民間的文士說了這話就退場了，消失了，沒有任何反應與行動，他們在馬太福音下一次再出現的時候，是敵對基督的身份出現（3章七至9節）。

對基督降生的反應，他們知道一切的真理，博士只有自然啟示，他們看見他的星出現，祭司長和文士及有神特殊的啟示，律法與先知的話，舊約聖經都是神所默示的，清楚地告訴人基督的故事，他生在何處，他們是最熟悉聖經，最屬靈的人，但他們的反應卻是無動於衷，博士來到耶路撒冷是一件大事，歷史曾經記載另一次公元 60年，東方來的博士來到耶路撒冷，猶太人大是歡迎。

博士對他們說，看見了猶太人的王降生的星，遠道而來，要拜他，祭司與文士一定知道這並不是簡單的事，他們可能不太相信是真的，但為什麼不去看一看？伯利恆只是五英里之外，兩個小時不到就可以到達，這卻是猶太人盼望已久的彌賽亞救主，但他們對彌賽亞降生卻漠不關心，好像聽而不見一樣。

我們是否也像祭司長與文士事一樣，熟讀聖經，明白神的話，手上有神特殊的啟示，告訴我們基督生在何處，但卻知道之後，無動於衷，在最重要的時候退場，在朝拜聖嬰的高潮中，沒有他們，他們選擇離場，可惜！

今天我們每個主日來到教會，每年過聖誕，耶穌降生的故事我們耳熟能詳，瞭如指掌，但我們是否毫無感覺，聖誕主日完了之後，趕回家忙著自己的事情，家人相聚，吃大餐，買便宜貨，對聖誕最好的禮物，莫不關心，毫無反應，我們是否願意停下來，思想一下聖誕的意義，敬拜道成肉身的基督，進前去，像博士一樣，從很遠的地方靠近來，親眼看見神，回應神的啟示會帶來更多的指引，讓我們能夠尋見神，最終得見神的面。

三、希律--敵對神的人，2:7-8

希律也知道基督，7 當下，希律暗暗的召了博士來，細問那星是什麼時候出現的，8 就差
他們往伯利恆去，說：「你們去仔細尋訪那小孩子，尋到了，就來報信，我也好去拜他。」

希律暗暗的召了博士來，設下騙局，要殺耶穌，吩咐博士回來報信，經文沒有說，為什麼希律沒有打發士兵或殺手，跟蹤博士，找到猶太的王之後，就立刻殺人滅口，希律完全可以這樣做的，之後希律屠殺伯利恆的嬰孩，他是不會手軟的，但經文沒有解釋為什麼他相信博士，尋找聖嬰之後會回來報信，因為經文強調的是希律要殺耶穌的動機，救主降生不是一帆風順，而是危機四伏的，希律代表第三類人，不單只是對救主漠不關心，更是心存敵意，反對基督，基督的降生威脅他的利益，他是既得利益者，用盡各種方法，要消滅基督，維護自己的權益。

我們當中有沒有第三類的人？或許我們是社會上既得的利益者，想保護自己的權益的人，我們很容易對神的啟示存敵對的態度，你是否如此？禮物雖然好，若你不接受，如何才能得到呢。



結局，2:9-12

這是故事的高潮。

9 他們聽見王的話就去了。在東方所看見的那星忽然在他們前頭行，直行到小孩子的地方，就在上頭停住了。10 他們看見那星，就大大的歡喜；11 進了房子，看見小孩子和他母親馬利亞，就俯伏拜那小孩子，揭開寶盒，拿黃金、乳香、沒藥為禮物獻給他。

博士們看見他們在東方看見的那星，在他們前頭行，直到小孩子的地方，天空上伯利恆之星在跳舞，神對尋找他的人不斷的引導，給他們找到耶穌，耶穌已經是孩子，而且不在馬槽，是住在房子中，博士的反應有三：

1. 大大歡喜，四個中文字也是四個希臘文的字，「大」（mega），第二個「大」字是「超大」的意思（exceeding），，第三個字是歡喜的動詞，第四個字是歡喜的名詞，直譯是：大、超大歡喜歡喜，形容博士滿都無處可容的喜樂，他們看見了猶太人的王，應許的基督，彌賽亞的降生，他們心裏大超大的歡喜快樂。

2. 博士俯伏拜那小孩，這是博士遠道來的目的，故事的高潮，今天博士拜耶穌的動作在許多的聖誕劇中被忽略了，但這是故事的高潮，博士拜耶穌可能只是對尊貴猶太人的王之敬禮，但馬太卻用了「敬拜」神的同一個字，作者加上要更高敬拜的意義。

今天你是否願意朝拜基督，尊崇他，敬拜他呢？博士獻上禮物，黃金，傳統說代表耶穌王者的身份，乳香，一種閃閃發光有香味的樹膠，傳統說代表耶穌祭司的身份，沒藥，名貴的香料，用於屍體防腐，傳統說代表耶穌救主從死裏復活的身份，或者傳統的說法已經超越文本的意義，這些都是極珍貴的禮物，代表博士對耶穌的敬意。

今天你拿什麼獻給耶穌？將你最好的獻上，獻上你自己為主所用。

故事中三種人，尋找耶穌的博士，幾個用信心回應神的博士，他們是馬太福音在耶穌出生的故事中，唯一能見到耶穌，拜耶穌的人。

結論

故事中的主角，不是博士，最後博士離場，在沒有出現，根據神對他們個人的啟示，告訴他們回去自己的地方，傳統說，博士成為基督徒，並且為主殉道了，但聖經再沒有提到博士，故事真正的主角是人子耶穌，他是神賜給人最好的禮物，他要領你歸家，你看見了嗎？讓我們進前來，靠近他，尋找他，獻上你自己，這是我們聖誕最好的禮物，也是我們最大的福分。

討論問題

1. 請分享你收到最差的禮物與最好的禮物是什麼？它們最大的分別是什麼？
2. 請分述故事中三類的人是誰？他們今天是什麼人？你是屬於那一種人？
3. 最好的禮物是人子耶穌，你同意嗎？我們應用什麼的態度去接受這禮物？請舉一些實際的行動建議。

寫這篇講章的過程與一些的考量：
林永健

1.

Prepare for Christmas, Mark 1:1-8

Prepare for Christmas
Mark 1:1-8
By Pastor Brian
2019.12.15
Christmas Sunday
Fort Bend Community Church

Introduction

Today is Dec 15. There are only ten days to Christmas. Are you ready for Christmas? Lily and I are busy preparing for Christmas. Putting decorations, setting up the Christmas tree, buying gifts for each other… The church is busy preparing for Christmas. Decorations, Choirs practices, Christmas parties, outreach potlucks… Busy! Busy! Preparing for Christmas.

In the Christian Calendar, we call this time the Advent, （將臨期）, the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas to prepare for the coming of Christ. Advent means coming. Therefore today, it should be the third Sunday of Advent, next to the last Sunday before Christmas.

Traditionally there are four candles and you light one candle on each Advent Sunday and read scriptures accordingly to prepare yourself for the coming of Christ. For example, today the Scripture readings are from Isa 35:1-6, 10; Psalm 146 the first Halleluiah psalm; James 5:7-10; and Matthew 11:2-11 on John the Baptist. So today I picked John the Baptist for today’s sermon.

We all know Jesus was not born on Dec 25. December would be too cold for “the shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over the flock by night.” Luke 2:8. We really do not know Jesus’ birthday. But we start the Christian Year with the Advent. The first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the Christian Year. We start the year preparing for the coming of Christ, which is to come, the second coming, instead of a memorial for the first coming of Christ. Advent is not just looking forward to what happened 2,000 years ago, the birth of Christ. It also looks forward in preparation of the coming of Christ again.

In the new year, what should I do to prepare for the coming of Christ? What do I do today in eager anticipation of the coming of Christ? What do we do to prepare for the coming of Christ as a spiritual body of Christ?

The second coming of Christ will be no shepherds, no wise men, no manger. Jesus will come again as the king of kings and lord of lords. He comes to rule over the world. His kingdom will be everlasting.
The word, Christmas, is never in the Bible. In all four Gospels, Christmas is “the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mark 1:1). Matthew has the wise men from the east. The Gospel of Luke has the shepherds in the field. In all four gospels, there is only one thing in common in the Nativity Story, the coming of Christ. It is the call of John the Baptist to prepare for the coming of Christ. His voice from the wilderness calling us to be prepared is how all four gospels want us to begin the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 3:3 Make ready the way of the LORD.
Mark 1:3 Make ready the way of the LORD.
Luke 3:4 Make ready the way of the LORD.
John 1:23 Make ready the way of the LORD.

In fact, Mark and John only has John the Baptist in the beginning. There is no baby Jesus, no Mary and Joseph, only JB and his voice, “Prepare! Prepare! Make ready the way of the LORD.”
Mark did not skip the beginning. He said in Mark 1:1 that this is “the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The first thing in the Gospel of Christ is to be prepared. The emphasis in the beginning is that you need to prepare. This emphasis is in all four Gospels.

Of course, the call to “Make ready the way of the LORD” is from two OT passages:

1. Mal 3:1 “I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me.”
2. Isa 40:3 “Prepare the way of the LORD. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

The two OT texts are not just prophecy about coming of the JB. It is a call to the people of God to prepare for the coming of the LORD. When the Son of God comes, we are to prepare for His way.
At Jesus’ first coming, JB came to prepare the way. “I am no the one you are waiting for. I am not Christ. I am here to prepare for you the coming of Christ.” And all the people came out to the Jordan River to hear him.

The voice in the wilderness. “Prepare for the way of the LORD”. The use of the word, “the way” twice in Mark 1:2-3 calls attention to this important Markan motif of the “Way”.

This is Jesus Way, the way he would walk, the way he would call his disciples to follow. Jesus Way is the journey of discipleship. To follow Jesus is to follow the Way. Now in Advent, let us prepare for the Way of the LORD, to prepare to follow Christ.

Are you ready for Christmas? Are you prepared for His Way? Are you prepared to follow Jesus? That is the message of JB. He also tells us how. How do we prepare for His coming and follow him? Two things:

#1 Repentance

“4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” JB is calling people to repent in preparation of the coming of Christ.

Repentance, metania, points to the call for a “reorientation to the way of life in Christ.” This is a call to a new life, a life of discipleship involving drastic life change.

The call is not to the non-Christians but to the people of God. The Jews who know God. The call to prepare for his coming is for us, the people of God. To prepare for his coming by repentance.
What is repentance? We already know God. What else is there for us to do? Luke 3:10-14.

a. To the crowds. What shall we do in preparing for the coming of Christ?
The man who has 2 tunics is to share with him who has none. And he who has food is to share likewise.

Clothe and food are the most basic need of life. Repentance in order to prepare for the way of Christ is to share with those who do not have clothe or food. You don’t need to have a lot. If you have 2 tunics, you can share. If you have food, you can share. The sharing is voluntary and is never forced.

b. To some tax collectors: What shall we do in preparing for the coming of Christ?
Collect no more than what you have been ordered to. It is as simple as that. Don’t over charge taxes. Do your job right. He did not ask them to quit their job. The Jews hated the tax collectors partly because they worked for the Romans and mainly because they over charge. To repent is not to say a prayer and come to church only. To repent is to change the way you live. Collect no more than what you have been ordered to. That is how we prepare for Christmas. Change.

c. To some soldiers: What shall we do in preparing for the coming of Christ?
Do not ake money form anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Don’t abuse your position and power. Be content with your wages. Living according to the will of God.

JB did not ask the people to quit their jobs and go to seminary or go to the mission fields to serve. He calls them to change in our everyday life, at our work, and when we eat. We need to ask ourselves in the coming year, “What do I do to return to the will of God?” This is how we prepare for the coming of Christ. What do I need to do in repentance to wait for His coming? What do we need to do in repentance in waiting for His coming?

1) Look around you. Do you see anything we can share with those who have not? Is there any need you can meet here and now? Don’t just live for yourself.
The youth winter-get-away still needs a few young adults to take care of them. Do you have time to help?

The children are asked to share their toys with those who have not. Over 100 toys are collected in AWANA for Second Mile share a toy drive.

2) In your work, what do you do in returning to the will of God? Don’t cheat from your customers. Don’t over charge. Don’t bribe your way to get business done. Do your job right. Don’t cheat on your tests as a student.

3) As a family don’t overspend on gifts for yourselves. Learn to share with those who have not.

4) If you are a teacher, teach fairly. Don’t discriminate. If you are a doctor, don’t’ over prescribe medicine or procedures. If you are a mom, don’t be mean to your children. If you are a restaurant owner, don’t cheat on taxes. If you are a pastor, smile more.

During Advent, ask ourselves, in the coming year, what do I need to do to return to the will of God? Repent for the forgiveness of sin in preparation of the coming of Christ.
Advent is never about celebrating a birthday only. It is about a change of life in preparation of the coming of Christ.

The first time He came, he came in a manger with Herod wanting to kill him, the poor shepherds coming to see him, the magi coming from afar to worship him. The second time he comes, he will come to receive us to heavens. He will come to rule as king. His kingdom comes and His will be done. Are you ready for him? Are you prepared?

Verse 6, JB was clothed interestingly with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt. His diet was locusts and wild honey. The ruggedness of the Baptist’s clothing and diet suggest the prophet’s otherworldliness. It hints at the sacrifices that are involved when we answer the call to follow Him. The life change demanded of us to repent assumes sacrifices. There may be a price to pay if you want to prepare for the kingdom to come.

Are you willing to pay the price?

#2 The second thing JB does to prepare for the coming of Christ is to witness for Him. John was hugely successful and popular. “All the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem going out to him.” The Jordan Rive was packed with people. He had a huge following.

Verse 7, But John was humble. He testified for the coming Christ. It is not about us. It is about Christ. Christmas is not about us. It is about Christ. JB says, “after me one is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.” “I baptized you with water, but He will baptize your with the Holy Spirit.” Christ is greater. Christ is the power. Christ is the Lord. Christ is our goodnews. Testify for Christ.

Christmas is busy time. But most of the time we busy for us. We buy things for us. We celebrate the season focusing on us. Christmas is about Christ. Christ is the center. We tell people about Christ. We witness for him. We point our attention on Him.



Conclusion

“What shall we do in preparing for the coming of Christ?”

1. Repent. Stop for a moment during our busy schedule. Reflect upon your life. What do I need to change and return to the will of God?
2. Witness for Christ. Christ’s return is near. Tell people about Him.

Christmas can get old very quickly. Same old story. Same old songs every year. Holidays come and go. Advent is not just looking back to celebrate a birthday in the past. It is also looking forward in the coming of Christ. Let us prepare for His coming.

聽從神的聲音，撒上 15:1-35

聽從神的聲音
撒母耳記上十五章一至三十五章

林永健牧師
福遍中國教會
2019.12.08
國語堂
英語堂

引言

你聽從誰的聲音？我小的時候，聽從父母的聲音，老師的聲音，哥哥的聲音，很快就變為聽從朋友的聲音，慢慢有了自己的主見之後，自己的聲音出來了，自己說的算數，也聽從潮流的聲音，穿喇叭褲，留長頭髮，大學的時候聽從女朋友的聲音，這是結婚之前的情形，信主之後，我有神的聲音，聖經的教訓，今天我們有很多的聲音，我是聽從誰的聲音？

今天的經文是舊約聖經前期先知書中，最令人難過的故事之一，以色列第一任皇帝掃羅被神厭棄，神要另立新王。究竟發生了什麼的事？掃羅犯了什麼的錯？使神那麼傷心而決定改朝換代，另立新王？撒母耳記上15章是關鍵性的經文，扭轉了掃羅王的一生，也成為我們的警戒。

撒母耳記上十五章第一節：撒母耳對掃羅說，「耶和華差遣我膏你為王」，這是指掃羅王的身份是神所膏立的，「治理他的百姓以色列」，這是指神賜給掃羅的權柄，「所以你當聽從耶和華的話。」聽從神的聲音的原因是掃羅的身份，身份決定我們的行為與責任，神立的皇，神賜的權柄，所以你當聽從耶和華的話。

今天我們是神所造的，是神所拯救買贖的，我們是神的子民，這是我們的身份，所以我們當聽從耶和華的話。

信耶穌的時候，不知道有沒有人告訴你，你是屬於神的，你得兒子的名份，領受了聖靈，有新生的樣式，你當聽從神的話。




一、聽從耶和華話語的聲音，15:1-3

第一節，有兩個重要的字：

1）聽從，listen, obey，聽見之後順從，中文翻得非常好，聽見加上順從，是命令的語態，撒母耳記上15章，聽從出現七次之多，英文翻為 Listen 或者 obey. 其實兩個意思都包含在內。沒有聽而不從的，也沒有從而不聽的可能。

2）聲音，voice，經文中出現七次，是作者特別用的字去表達作者的意思，將全個故事串起來，是推動經文的力度（thrust）的文學技巧。

可惜無論中文或英文的翻譯本都沒有把第一節原文「聲音」這個字翻譯出來，第一節，撒母耳對掃羅說，「你當聽從耶和華話語的聲音！」（listen to the voice of the words of the LORD），作者的目的是要我們去思考，你聽從誰的聲音？A: 神話語的聲音（1節、22節），或者是B: 聽從外來人的聲音（14節、24節）。

故事中第一個聲音是神的聲音，是神的吩咐，是非常清楚與直接，先知撒母耳直接告訴掃羅王，第三節說，「你要去擊打亞瑪力人，滅盡他們所有的，不可憐惜他們，」這是神話語的聲音，撒母耳更強調這是「萬軍之耶和華」說的，神稱為萬軍之耶和華在聖經中出現66次，都是在先知書當中使用，用法是強調權威性的啟示，先知從萬軍之耶和華口中，傳達神的話語，這裏說神話語的聲音不是只主觀性神的聲音，不是之感動，例如神的聲音叫我換工作，聖靈感動我，吩咐我去追求這個女孩子，不是指這些主觀性的感動或聲音，這裏說的是神清楚的吩咐。

今天我們在聖經中，神對我們清楚的吩咐是什麼？神聖的吩咐（divine demand）目的是要我們更像基督，例如聖經很清楚的吩咐，「除我以外你不可有別的神！」（埃及記20章3節），這是神清楚的聲音吩咐；又如馬太福音6章19節，「不要為自己積儹財寶在地上，只要積儹財寶在天上！」這是神明確清楚直接的吩咐，神話語的聲音。馬太福音16章24節，「來跟隨我！」或「去使萬民作我的門徒！」（馬太福音28章），這是神清楚的吩咐，神話語的聲音，我們是否聽從神的聲音呢？

神吩咐神所立作以色列王的掃羅，很清楚地說，你要滅盡亞瑪力人，這神對掃羅的吩咐，我們聽起來有點困難，這是很不公義的種族滅絕（Genocide），不論男女、孩童、嬰孩、並牛羊、駱駝和驢，盡都殺死！這是「危害人類的罪行」（crime against humanity: genocide），我們聽在耳中，覺得非常恐怖，在舊約中滅盡（HEREM）是放逐、分別出來要毀滅的意思，原文的字根是禁止、趕出去（to ban, to shut out）的意思，意思是說，亞瑪力人是被分別出來，因為罪惡滔天，已經被神判為死罪，在神眼中是已經毀滅了，現在只是要神的子民去執行神的審判，這對掃羅王來說是他可以了解，可以接受的，他不是因為滅盡有困難而不去聽從的聲音，掃羅不聽從神的聲音是別有原因。

9 節：掃羅和百姓年憐惜亞瑪力王亞甲，也愛惜上好的牛、羊、牛犢，並一切美物，不肯滅盡。今天我們不聽從神的聲音並不是因為神的誡命難守或者我們認為不合理，不聽從神的聲音主要的原因是我們不肯，看見一切美物而不肯聽從，是故意執著的選擇，是不是這樣？



B: 聽從人與物的聲音

經文中第一個聲音是神話語的聲音，清楚直接明白的吩咐，第二個聲音是從外面人或物的聲音。

14節：撒母耳說：「我聽見羊叫的聲音（咩咩...），牛鳴的聲音（木木...）」，還有21節，百姓的聲音，不要！不要！不要的聲音！不要那麼愚蠢！不要那麼浪費！不要滅盡！聽從百姓的聲音，不肯聽從神的聲音，聽從物質世界的聲音，不肯聽從神的聲音，這是掃羅的選擇，失敗的原因。

這是罪！悖逆的罪，不聽從神吩咐的罪，掃羅王最後承認，「我得罪了神！」兩次，罪是射不中靶，達不到標的意思。

因為掃羅聽從聲音#B：從人來的聲音、從世界來的聲音。

三、掙扎

作者用 abcab 的結構來將兩種聲音作對比，強調經文的中心思想，聽從神的聲音或是聽從人的聲音，聲音A：神話語的聲音（第一節）；聲音B：羊叫牛鳴的聲音（14節）；重復，聲音A：神的聲音（22節）；聲音B：百姓的聲音（24節）。一前一後，中間是是掃羅的掙扎，19至20節，是聽從神的聲音呢？或是聽從人的聲音呢？A 或是B？A 或是 B？今天我們同樣有許多聲音B的聲音，聲音叫我們轉向，不聽從神的聲音，聲音B從人而來若與神違背的聲音，你聽從誰的聲音？

今天我們有很多聲音B：

1）從文化、從社會，透過大眾媒體發出的聲音，告訴我們年輕人某一種生活方式是標準的，要擁有某一些物質才是快樂的，穿著什麼樣子，各式各樣的聲音，告訴我們每日生活的選擇，打開電視，打開電腦，聲音不斷告訴我們，我們生活的方式，這些聲音與我們的身份不相配，與我們蒙召的恩並不相稱。

現今的時代，舉行婚禮從社會同輩來的壓力很大，婚禮要有什麼什麼什麼，花費從三萬到六萬美元，這是同輩而來的聲音，人有你也要有，面子問題。

另一種聲音是要我們與別人比較的聲音，將我們的處境與身份與別人比較，別人 的孩子參加什麼什麼補習班，才藝班，我們聽見這些聲音，很容易受影響，甚至影響我們敬拜神的身份，帶來極大的焦慮，有一位媽媽對我說，他有一個孩子，七歲，他說他的表姐，也有一個孩子，初中就懂中國通史，學習幾種語言，有超平常一般的表現，因為做媽媽的不斷地給孩子增值，這位傳道人的妻子說，他的壓力很大，正考慮是否要像他人一樣，把孩子送去讀中國通史，學習多種語言，從七歲開始教導他大學的學問，或許不是什麼的問題，但這些聲音若與神的聲音相反違背衝突，你聽從什麼的聲音？

我們的下一代年輕人看在眼裏，他們知道成績學業比一切都重要，甚至比神都重要，這些聲音在我們孩子的心裏影響他們深遠。

今天世界的聲音說，夫妻二人既然受過高等的教育，都要出外工作，有兩份收入，身邊成功的朋友家庭都是這樣的，有一棟房子不夠，還需要兩棟房子，三棟房子，能賺錢的就有地位，有話事權，這些聲音從外面來，越來越大聲，你聽從的是什麼聲音？

2）從裏面自己的聲音，後現代主義說，我相信的才是真理，我相信是真的才是真的，我認為對的就是對的，我的感覺與我的經歷比聖經說的還重要，還真，還對。

離婚，為什麼神強迫我要留在這個糟糕的婚姻？不準我離婚！為什麼離婚不可以？當我認為是對的事不論神說什麼，我都不管！我都敢去做！

同性戀，聖經告訴我們神的教導，同性戀的行為是神所厭惡的，我們對自己說，為什麼神不容許我活出我裏面的慾望？有什麼不對？也沒有傷害別人，我要活出我的真我，這才是真正的活著，是不是這樣？

這些聲音不斷地從我們裏面告訴我們，什麼是對，什麼是不對，今天我們有些人很願意冒道德的風險，把聖經的權威神的聲音壓下去，當外面的聲音越來越強，越來越大的時候，我們很容易習以為常，不正常的都變成正常，就如撒謊一樣，開始時認為是不對的，但撒謊就像一個越來越習慣一個聲音，甚至到一個地步撒謊自己都不知道什麼是真，什麼是假，謊言多說幾遍就變成真的了。

我們或許有聲音還告訴自己，我不成的，做不到的，我既然要做一個好父親，就不能參與事奉，不能做主的門徒，或者我們的聲音對自己說，罪是勝不過的，很難的，我做不到，奉獻太困難，事奉太困難，我做不到的，這些內在的聲音，不斷地引導我們，我們是聽從外面的聲音？還是神的聲音？聽從世界的聲音？還是神的聲音？

掃羅急忙擄掠財物，行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，為什麼？為什麼他沒有聽從耶和華的聲音？原因在那裏？掙扎在哪裏？

掃羅不明白神的聲音？不是的，他清楚明白，知道神的吩咐，我們或許今天不明白神的旨意的，我們需要好好認真地讀聖經，明白神的聲音說什麼，他的吩咐是什麼，教會有每天讀經的計畫，也有裝備課程，不能因為不明白神的吩咐，就不清楚神的聲音。

掃羅是否懷疑神的聲音？懷疑滅絕是否對的？從經文來看，掃羅沒有任何懷疑神的吩咐，百姓也沒有懷疑，沒有提問，這不是掃羅沒有聽從耶和華聲音的原因。今天我們或許對神的話有懷疑，我們可以提問，可以去明白神的心意，這不是我們不聽從耶和華的聲音的原因。

掃羅與百姓沒有任何疑問，這些亞瑪力人神分別出來要滅盡的，他們如同死人一樣。掃羅與百姓對滅盡一點問題也沒有。今天我們若對的吩咐有疑惑，不要怕，好好地去明白，研究。

同性戀是什麼一回事？神的吩咐是什麼？婦女在教會的角色是什麼？色情聖經的看法是什麼？神的吩咐是什麼？是否有天堂？也有地獄？這些在聖經裏都有答案，你要明白，對神的聲音沒有懷疑，不然後果是可怕的。

為什麼掃羅沒有聽從神的聲音？經文的提示很清楚，因為掃羅與百姓不肯、不願意，在他們眼中一切美物是美好的，他們不肯滅盡，聲音B：好！好！不要浪費！可以留下來！可以致富！是你應得的！掠物是你的！甚至可以用來獻祭給耶和華！這些聲音自我解說，今天你聽錯的是什麼聲音？聲音A：神的聲音或者是聲音B：人的聲音、外面的聲音、自我的聲音？

這是一種選擇，每天的選擇，聖經說：「除我以外不可有別的神！」這是面對每天選擇若你願意跟隨聽從神，必定給你能力，活出神的吩咐，活出神是唯一的神的吩咐，A 或是 B，神的聲音或者人的聲音？

掃羅是否認為自己沒有能力去做呢？不是這樣，掃羅有絕對的權力與機會去滅絕所有一切，但他選擇沒有這樣去做，因為他不肯聽從，並選擇聽從百姓的聲音，自己的聲音，今天我們也常常對自己說，神的命令又大又難，我是沒法做得到的，帶給我們很多不聽從耶和華的聲音的藉口，但神卻清楚地告訴我們，我們有聖靈的能力，靠著聖靈賜下的能力，我們可以回應神神聖的吩咐，這不是不聽從神的聲音的理由。
掃羅因為害怕百姓而選擇B：不聽從神的聲音，今天我們或許害怕失敗，而不聽從神的聲音，不肯去做，害怕人的聲音，怕父母不同意，怕會友，使我們聽從人的聲音，不聽從神的聲音。

A 或 B，A 或是B， A 或是 B，聽從神的聲音的重要從四對相對的偶句對聯表明：

第一、兩行的修辭問題，耶和華喜悅燔祭和平安祭豈如喜悅人聽從他的聲音呢？A 或是 B 的答案是什麼？神喜悅你的奉獻還是喜悅你聽從他的聲音？神喜悅你的宗教活動或是喜悅你聽從他的聲音？請問你如何回答？

第二、第三段是四原則性正反兩面的名言，表達正面的是三個希伯來文的字，是一句至理名言，聽命勝於獻祭，中文六個字，英文也是六個字，是A或是B，「聽命勝於獻祭」至理名言，前面加了一個字：「看啊！聽命勝於獻祭」，強調與加強語氣，又再重複一次，「順從勝於公羊的脂油」，這是真的嗎？是真的至理名言嗎？

第三段是反面去說明也是一對對聯，悖逆的罪與行邪術的罪相等；A 或是 B？兩個邏輯性的前提悖逆的罪與行邪術的罪不是同一樣的罪，卻是同等得罪神，同樣嚴重的罪，我們常以為外面世俗的世界的罪，墮胎、同性戀、拜偶像、行神憎惡的事，我們不以為然，但這裏說不聽從的罪與這些最罪相等一樣，是不是這樣？

第四段對聯是可怕的結局，A 與 B 在我們看來作一國之君，是大事，選總統是大事，聽神的聲音多一個少一個都沒有什麼關係，我們天天都犯罪沒有遵守神的命令，有什麼大不了？這是我們的看法，這裏卻說，掃羅厭棄耶和華的命令，耶和華也嫌棄掃羅作王，結果是可怕的，掃羅不聽從耶和華的聲音，結果他失去王位。

撒母耳記上15章是掃羅一生的轉捩點，從此他一厥不振，開始敗落，撒母耳記上16章是大衛的興起，你說有這麼嚴重嗎？就是這樣，聽從耶和華的聲音勝過經濟成果，就是那麼嚴重的後果。

不單如此，在審判的經文：十二節至34節是夾在一個憂傷的 abba 結構的中間，前面十至十一節，是耶和華因為掃羅作了錯誤的選擇，不聽神的聲音，神後悔立掃羅作以色列的王，後悔是悲傷的意思，感到遺憾，抱歉，感到失落的意思，神立掃羅為王是好的事、高興快樂的事，現在因為掃羅不聽從神的聲音，神到失落，遺憾，值得嗎？

11節下，撒母耳心中憂愁，終夜哀求耶和華。
35 節，撒母耳直到死的日子再沒有見掃羅，一生為掃羅悲傷，故事最後一句的總結，35節下，耶和華感到失落，遺憾，立掃羅為以色列的王，是因為掃羅沒有聽從神的聲音，神與人都為掃羅難過，悲傷，為他的選擇而感到遺憾，掃羅像將牛吃草一樣，只顧眼前的一口草，沒有想到更長遠永恆的事，只顧眼前，從外面來的聲音，聽從自我的聲音，因此而落馬，結局是神與人都悲傷，是非常可惜的一件事。

結論

今天你聽從誰的聲音？神的聲音或是人的聲音？

實際的行動建議：

1. 我們需要首先明白神的聲音是什麼，需要好好的讀聖經，明白神的旨意，知道神的吩咐。
2. 有疑問疑惑必須要弄清楚神的吩咐是什麼，提問，最好的問題是問的問題。
3. 在每天生活中選擇的時候，撫心自問，神的聲音是什麼，好好地聆聽順從，這是敬虔的生活態度，讓孩子們在家看到你敬虔的生活，聽從神的聲音的見證。
4. 生活在你身邊的人，你最靠近的人是最清楚知道你，你是聽從誰的聲音，讓他們告訴你，你需要改變的價值觀與優先次序是什麼？從屬靈群體中學習聽從神的聲音。
5. 你跟隨神，聽從神的聲音是操練敬虔，每天有一些安靜的時間，聆聽神的聲音，你就會越來越清楚，明白︳越來越願意，跟隨神的聲音做每日的選擇，你願意嗎？

討論問題

1. 今天從聖經神話語的聲音對你是什麼？請分享神對你的吩咐。
2. 今天影響你要你聽從人的聲音又是什麼？請分享。
3. 請分享你選擇A 或 B 的掙扎，如何勝過這些的掙扎？
4. 請分享一些你受感動，願意聽從神聲音的實際行動。

寫這篇講章的過程與一些的考量：
林永健

1.