Deuteronomy 申命记 7 — The Chosen Ones of God 神所拣选的

Israel had experienced the wrath of God when they allowed themselves to be seduced by the Moabites (Num. 25). Now they were entering a land where they would be surrounded by pagan worship. There could be no compromise. If the nation were defiled by the awful sins of the Canaanites, it would jeopardize the fulfilling of God’s promise of the Savior. Israel had to be a separated people if they were to bless the whole world (Gen. 12:1–3).

以色列因允许自己被摩押人诱惑,所以遭受了神的愤怒(民25)。现在,他们将要进入一个被异教信仰包围的地方;他们决不能妥协。如果以色列被迦南人可怕的罪行玷污,神赐予救主的应许就会受到影响。以色列若要成为全地的祝福,她就必须分别为圣(创12:1-3)。

 

Moses gives us some motives for personal obedience. To begin with, God has commanded us (vv. 1–5), and we belong to Him (vv. 6–8). He is faithful (vv. 9–11); what He promises, He will fulfill (vv. 12–26).

摩西给予我们顺服神的动机。首先,这是神的吩咐(1-5节),更何况我们是属神的(6-8节)。神是信实的(9-11节);祂必履行自己的承诺(12-26节)。

 

Believers today must maintain a separated position (2 Cor. 6:14–18; 1 John 2:15–17) while at the same time loving the lost and seeking to win them to Christ. How do we demolish the strongholds of the enemy? Read 2 Corinthians 10:1–6 and Ephesians 6:10–20.

今日的信徒必须与世界分别为圣(林后6:14-18;约一2:15-17),同时也要爱失丧的人,寻求使他们归向基督。我们要如何击败敌人的堡垒呢?请阅读哥林多后书10:1-6和以弗所书6:10-20。

 

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. It is clear that the Lord has forbidden the intermarrying between His people and the gentiles. “You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. (Deu 7:3-4) The same teaching is also repeated in the New Testament. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2Co 6:14) Let’s pray that we trust God’s wisdom and obey without compromises.

我们清楚知道神不允许自己的子民和外邦人通婚。“不可与他们结亲,不可将你的女儿嫁给他们的儿子,也不可叫你的儿子娶他们的女儿;因为他必使你儿子转离不跟从主,去事奉别神,以致耶和华的怒气向你们发作,就速速地将你们灭绝。”(申7:3-4)新约也有同样的教导:“你们和不信的原不相配,不要同负一轭。义和不义有什么相交呢?光明和黑暗有什么相通呢?”(林后6:14)请祷告我们要相信神的智慧,要顺服于祂,不作任何妥协。

 

  1. It is clear that the Lord had chosen Israel not because they are greater in number but because the LORD set his love on them. In fact, the reason the Lord chose them because they were the fewest of all peoples. (Deu 7:7-8) Similar teaching is also found in the New Testament. “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1Co 1:26-29) If we are chosen, we are very likely the ones that are foolish, weak and despised by the world. Let’s us be grateful to God and thank Him for His love.

显然的,主拣选以色列的原因不是因为他们人数众多,乃是因为主耶和华专爱他们。事实上,恰恰因为他们的人数在万民中是最少的,所以主拣选了他们。(申7:7-8)新约也有同样的教导。“弟兄们哪,可见你们蒙召的,按着肉体有智慧的不多,有能力的不多,有尊贵的也不多。神却拣选了世上愚拙的,叫有智慧的羞愧又拣选了世上软弱的,叫那强壮的羞愧。神也拣选了世上卑贱的,被人厌恶的,以及那无有的,为要废掉那有的。使一切有服血气的,在神面前一个也不能自夸。”(林前1:26-29)如果我们被神拣选,那很可能是因为我们是愚蠢的、软弱的和为世界所不齿的。让我们感谢神,感谢祂对我们的爱。