Deuteronomy 申命记 31 — Time for Departure

Moses could have closed his life under a dark cloud of discouragement. Instead, he gave encouragement to his people as they faced the challenge of a new life in a new land under a new leader.

摩西大可以沉重沮丧的话作为离别之词。但他并没有那么做,反到是在勉励以色列子民。因为他们将在新领导的带领下踏入应许之地,面临新生活的挑战。

 

He encouraged the people (vv. 1–6) not to be afraid of the enemy because the Lord would go before them and give them victory. He gave a similar word of encouragement to Joshua (vv. 7–8). It would not be easy for Joshua to take the place of a great man like Moses, but he still had the God of Moses as his help.

摩西勉励子民(1-6节)不要畏惧敌人,因为神必引导他们,使他们得胜。摩西以同样的话语勉励约书亚(7-8节)。的确,要继承像摩西这样的伟人并不容易,但约书亚同样也有神作他的帮助。

 

Moses encouraged the Levites (vv. 9–13, 24–29) to protect and proclaim the Word of God and to teach it to the whole nation. If Israel did not enjoy the Word, they could not enjoy the blessings of God in their inheritance.

摩西勉励利未人(9-13,24-29节)要保守并宣讲神的话语,且要将它教遍全以色列国。如果以色列无法以神的话为乐,他们也就无法在所得的基业中享受神所赐的祝福。

 

God changes His workers, but His work goes on. No matter who our spiritual leaders are, we must love the Lord and live according to His Word. That is the secret of blessing and success. It is also the secret of being an encouragement to others.

神替换了祂的仆人,但祂的工作从未停止。无论我们的属灵领导是谁,我们都必须爱主,并按祂的话语生活。这是福气和成功的秘诀。这也是勉励他人的秘诀。

 

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. Two themes dominate the last 4 chapters of Deuteronomy: 1) the death of Moses (31:1, 2, 14, 16, 26–29; 32:48–52; 33:1; 34:1–8, 10–12) and 2) the succession of Joshua (31:1–8, 14, 23; 32:44; 34:9). We have limited time on earth and the day will come for us to leave. What legacy do you want to leave behind? At their dying beds, many regret the things they did or didn’t do. Let’s pray that we plan and prepare now before it is too late.

《申命记》最后4个篇章有两个主题:一、摩西的死(31:1, 2, 14, 16, 26–29; 32:48–52; 33:1; 34:1–8, 10–12);二、约书亚的继承(31:1-8,14,23;32:44;34:9)。我们在世上的时间有限,终会离世。你想要留下的基业是什么?一个即将离世的人常常会为自己所做或没做的事感到遗憾。让我们祈祷现在就开始作计划和筹备,免得为时已晚。

 

  1. In the work of the Lord, there’s no substitute for godly leadership. As Moses did with Joshua, Christ with His apostles, and Paul with Timothy and Titus, the older generation must equip the younger generation to take their place (2 Tim. 2:2). The Lord has given us the qualifications for leaders in the church (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1), and we must give ourselves to mentoring and training qualified people to become those leaders. “The final test of a leader,” wrote political columnist Walter Lippmann, “is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.” This is also what Paul’s instruction to Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2Ti 2:2). Let’s pray that we will have more faithful men trained for the ministry not just in Singapore but also in China.

在主的工作里,敬虔的领袖是非常重要的。正如摩西对约书亚、基督对使徒、保罗对提摩太和提多一样;上一代必须教导并预备下一代接任自己(提后2:2)。主已给我们教会领袖须备的资格(提前3;多1),而我们须尽所能指导和教训下一代成为敬虔的领袖。政治专栏笔者沃尔特·李普曼写到:“一个领袖最后的考验,就是看他的继承人是否把同样的信念和意志流传下去。”这也是保罗给提摩太的指示:“你在许多见证人面前听见我所教训的,也要交托那忠心能教导别人的人”(提后2:2)。让我们祈祷,叫我们不仅在新加坡,也要在中国培养预备更多忠于主事工的男人。