旧约 - 阿摩司书(Amos)第2章

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he burned, as if to lime, the bones of Edom's king,
I will send fire upon Moab that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth. Moab will go down in great tumult amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet.
I will destroy her ruler and kill all her officials with him," says the LORD.
This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed,
I will send fire upon Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem."
This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.
They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.
They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.
"I destroyed the Amorite before them, though he was tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.
"I brought you up out of Egypt, and I led you forty years in the desert to give you the land of the Amorites.
I also raised up prophets from among your sons and Nazirites from among your young men. Is this not true, people of Israel?" declares the LORD.
"But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
"Now then, I will crush you as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.
The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life.
The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life.
Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day," declares the LORD.
阿摩司书第二章   第 2 章 

  摩 2:1-3> 摩押凶残成性,终受审判;从其身上,我得着了…… 

  2:1-3 摩押人是罗得与他大女儿乱伦所生的摩押的后裔(参创 19:30-38 )。摩押王巴勒曾雇用先知巴兰咒诅以色列,以为可以使他们败阵(参民 22-24 章),但巴兰口中所说全是神赐福的话,结果巴勒事与愿违。不过一些摩押女子引诱以色列人得手,使他们转而敬拜巴力(参民 25:1-3 )。摩押人素以残暴着称(参王下 3:26-27 ),考古发现,在一块名为“摩押石版”上记载着说,摩押人喜欢乘人之危,趁火打劫。 

  摩 2:4-6> 犹大作为神的选民,仍背弃神拜偶像,终受罚;我们这些认识神的人,若也是如此…… 

  2:4-6 所罗门死后,王国分裂。犹大和便雅悯两个支派组成南国犹大,由所罗门的儿子罗波安统治;其他十个支派则跟随背叛罗波安的耶罗波安,成为北国以色列。 

  神因列国的恶行和残暴而惩罚他们;同样,神也要因以色列和犹大轻视祂的律法而施行审判。列邦是因无知而没有遵守神的道,但神的选民犹大和以色列,虽清楚知道神的要求,仍然置之不理,且加入外邦的行列去敬拜偶像。所以,如果我们认识神的命令却拒绝遵行,就如以色列一样,所犯的罪恶比别人更大。 

  摩 2:4-6> 先知是神的代言人,能否因为国家民族及个人利益而闭口或改变信息?为何? 

  2:4-6 阿摩司宣告神向以色列周围列邦施行审判的信息,必定赢得其听众欢呼赞赏;不过他在宣告神对以色列的控告之前,也斥责了自己的国家犹大。 

  摩 2:6-7> 这些以色列人的信仰与生活分家,虚有其表;回看自己,我能“活”出我的信仰吗? 

  2:6-7 阿摩司是在针对上流社会讲话,因为在以色列,根本就没有中产阶级,只有极富和赤贫的人。有钱人遵行宗教礼仪,供献额外的金钱,又到各处邱坛献上祭牲。可是,他们心里贪婪不公,甚至向无依无靠者取利。当我们忠诚地参与教会活动,遵行各种宗教礼仪时,切忌忽视别人的需要。神期望我们活出信仰,就是向有需要的人施以援手。 

  摩 2:6-16> 以色列的罪,加起来竟有──我们社会、教会不会如此吧…… 

  2:6-16 神谴责以色列五种罪行:( 1 )卖穷人作奴隶(参申 15:7-11 ;摩 8:6 );( 2 )屈枉贫寒(参出 23:6 ;申 16:19 );( 3 )乱伦苟合(参利 20:11-12 );( 4 )借贷时取不当的抵押品(参出 22:26-27 ;申 24:6 , 12-13 );( 5 )敬拜假神(参出 20:3-5 )。 

  摩 2:9-11> 先知不断提醒,以色列人不断忘记,啊,应是“我们”,是吗? 

  2:9-11 先知不断掀起百姓的回忆,要他们回应神所做的一切。当我们细阅这清单时,有没有为以色列的善忘而感到愕然?但假如先知传讲的对象是我们,他又会对我们作何评价?神的信实提醒以色列人要顺服祂;同样,祂在我们身上所做的一切,也提醒我们要为祂而活。 

  摩 2:11> 连拿细耳人都犯罪!那时以色列的光景会是…… 

  2:11 拿细耳人曾许下誓言要事奉神,誓言包括禁戒清酒浓酒和不剪头发。以色列人非但不尊重他们这种严肃及节制的生活,还迫使他们违背自己所许的誓言。如果连拿细耳人都腐化了,以色列中哪里还会有什么善良? 

  摩 2:16> 那日,为何人都会胆丧?那是一个什么日子? 

  2:16 “那日”指亚述攻陷以色列、摧毁撒马利亚、掳走百姓的日子(公元前 722 年)。在先知宣告这信息的数十年后,事情真的发生了。 

  摩 2:16> 有些人总说神何足惧,没有神的人生也是如此的过;有时候,我心也在偷偷这样想…… 

  2:16 电影中的英雄常是无所惧怕的。今天,许多人都为自己塑造坚强不屈的形像。不过,对这种表面的勇敢,神并不为之动容。祂说当审判来临之时,即使最勇敢的人也要胆怯。你认识一些认为没有神也能度过此生的人吗?切勿被他们满有自信的言辞所影响。要知道神不怕任何人,而总有一天,全人类都要惧怕祂。──《灵修版圣经注释》