MHCC:創世記 13

<趙威叔叔你猜何葉怎麼弄成的這簽名，邁克叔叔你也猜猜看。何葉真聰明!O(∩_∩)O~>

Chapter 13第十三章

Abram returns out of Egypt with great riches. (1-4) Strife between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. Abram gives Lot his choice of the country. (5-9) Lot chooses to dwell at Sodom. (10-13) God renews his promise to Abram, who removes to Hebron. (14-18)

亞伯蘭帶着巨大的財富從埃及歸來。（1-4）亞伯蘭的牧人和羅得的牧人之間的爭吵。亞伯蘭讓羅得選擇想要的地。（5-9）羅得選擇居住在所多瑪。（10-13）上帝更新了他對亞伯蘭的應許，亞伯蘭遷居希伯倫。（14-18）

Verses 1-4 Abram was very rich: he was very heavy, so the Hebrew word is; for riches are a burden; and they that will be rich, do but load themselves with thick clay, habakkuk 2:6 . There is a burden of care in getting riches, fear in keeping them, temptation in using them, guilt in abusing them, sorrow in losing them, and a burden of account at last to be given up about them. Yet God in his providence sometimes makes good men rich men, and thus God's blessing made Abram rich without sorrow, proverbs 10:22 . Though it is hard for a rich man to get to heaven, yet in some cases it may be, mark 10:23,24 . Nay, outward prosperity, if well managed, is an ornament to piety, and an opportunity for doing more good. Abram removed to Beth-el. His altar was gone, so that he could not offer sacrifice; but he called on the name of the Lord. You may as soon find a living man without breath as one of God's people without prayer.

1-4亞伯蘭非常富有，在希伯來語原文是「他非常重」。財物是一種負擔，只要「多多取人的當頭」（「ladeth himself with thick clay」）就能富裕起來（哈巴谷書2:6）。獲取財物時有一種掛慮的負擔，持有財物時不免擔驚受怕，使用財物時免不了有誘惑，濫用財物則會犯罪，失去財物則難免悲傷，最後賬戶結算的負擔也落在他們身上。然而，上帝的恩典有時候會使義人會成為富人。上帝的祝福使亞伯蘭富足而沒有「憂慮」（箴言10:22）。雖然富人進天國很難，但是在有些情況下還是可（馬可福10:23,24）。不僅如此，如果處理得好，外在的財富還可以成為虔誠的裝飾（勳章），成為行更多的善事的好機會。亞伯蘭遷居到伯特利。他以前築的壇已經不見了，所以他不能獻祭；但是他依然呼求上帝的名。你找不到一個活人是不需要呼吸的，同樣，你也找不到一個上帝的子民是不需要禱告的。

Verses 5-9 Riches not only afford matter for strife, and are the things most commonly striven about; but they also stir up a spirit of contention, by making people proud and covetous. Mine and thine are the great make-bates of the world. Poverty and labour, wants and wanderings, could not separate Abram and Lot; but riches did so. Bad servants often make a great deal of mischief in families and among neighbours, by their pride and passion, lying, slandering, and talebearing. What made the quarrel worse was, that the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land. The quarrels of professors are the reproach of religion, and give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. It is best to keep the peace, that it be not broken; but the next best is, if differences do happen, with all speed to quench the fire that is broken out. The attempt to stay this strife was made by Abram, although he was the elder and the greater man. Abram shows himself to be a man of cool spirit, that had the command of his passion, and knew how to turn away wrath by a soft answer. Those that would keep the peace, must never render railing for railing. And of a condescending spirit; he was willing to beseech even his inferior to be at peace. Whatever others are for, the people of God must be for peace. Abram's plea for peace was very powerful. Let the people of the land contend about trifles; but let not us fall out, who know better things, and look for a better country. Professors of religion should be most careful to avoid contention. Many profess to be for peace who will do nothing towards it: not so Abram. When God condescends to beseech us to be reconciled, we may well beseech one another. Though God had promised Abram to give this land to his seed, yet he offered an equal or better share to Lot, who had not an equal right; and he will not, under the protection of God's promise, act hardly to his kinsman. It is noble to be willing to yield for peace' sake.

5-9財物不僅能產生紛爭，它往往成為爭鬥的重要對象；而且，它能攪動爭競的靈，使人陷入驕傲與貪婪。「我的」和「你的」，是這個世界上最容易導致發怒的原因。貧困與辛勞，缺乏與迷茫，都不能使亞伯蘭和羅得分離；但財富做到了。惡僕常常能在家庭內部或鄰里之間帶來巨大的危害，因他們的驕傲、壞脾氣，喜歡說謊、詆毀、散布謠言。迦南人與比利洗人也在那地居住，這使這場爭吵變得更加糟糕。公開信仰的信徒之間的爭執，使我們的信仰蒙羞，並給主的敵人以褻瀆的機會。最好保持和平，不要讓裂痕出現；如果紛爭已經出現了，那麼退而求其次，就該儘快地撲滅紛爭之火。儘管亞伯蘭比羅得年長，地位更高，但他還是主動地試圖控制這場紛爭。亞伯蘭表現出了他的冷靜，能夠克制自己的憤怒，知道如何以溫柔的話來消除怒氣。試圖保持和平的人，絕不該以牙還牙。因為亞伯蘭有一顆謙卑的心，所以他甚至願意以下級請求上級的姿態請求保持和平。不論別人是為了什麼，上帝的子民必須是為了和平。亞伯蘭對和平的請求是非常有力的。讓這個世上的人去為了瑣事紛爭吧，只希望我們這些知道更美好的事情的人不要墮落，讓我們仰望一個更美好的國度。公開信仰的信徒必須小心地避免紛爭。許多人假裝是為了和平，但是什麼也不做；亞伯蘭不是這樣的。我們的上帝曾經謙卑地請我們保持和平，我們也應該如此謙卑地請求別人保持和平。儘管上帝已經應許亞伯蘭，將這地賜給他的後裔；但是，亞伯蘭還是公平地，甚至是將更好的地，與羅得分享（按理說，羅得是沒有這樣的權利的）。另外，儘管亞伯蘭擁有上帝的應許之一保護，他還是沒有以強硬的態度對待羅得。為了和平而讓步是寶貴的。

Verses 10-13 Abram having offered Lot the choice, he at once accepted it. Passion and selfishness make men rude. Lot looked to the goodness of the land; therefore he doubted not that in such a fruitful soil he should certainly thrive. But what came of it? Those who, in choosing relations, callings, dwellings, or settlements, are guided and governed by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life, cannot expect God's presence or blessing. They are commonly disappointed even in that which they principally aim at. In all our choices this principle should rule, That is best for us, which is best for our souls. Lot little considered the badness of the inhabitants. The men of Sodom were impudent, daring sinners. This was the iniquity of Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness, ezekiel 16:49 . God often gives great plenty to great sinners. It has often been the vexatious lot of good men to live among wicked neighbours; and it must be the more grievous, if, as Lot here, they have brought it upon themselves by a wrong choice.

10-13亞伯蘭將選擇權給了羅得，羅得馬上就接受了。衝動與自私使人變得粗魯。羅得看到那片美好的土地，於是他毫不懷疑的認為，有那麼肥沃的土地，他必將昌盛。但是，這「美地」到底帶來了什麼？那些以肉體的欲望、眼目的情慾、今生的驕傲，來決定自己的人際關係、各種需要、居住等方面的問題的人，是不能夠指望上帝會在其中並給以祝福的。他們所瞄準的那個對象終究會使他們失望。我們在進行一切的選擇時應該奉行這樣的原則：對我們的靈魂有益的，才是真正對我們有益的。羅得絲毫沒有考慮他所鍾意的那片「美地」上的居民的邪惡。所多瑪的居民都是厚顏無恥、膽大妄為的罪人。所多瑪的的罪孽是這樣：「心驕氣傲，糧食飽足，大享安逸」。（以西結書16:49）上帝常常使那些大惡人獲得大豐富。義人住在邪惡的鄰居之間往往會很為難，也必然感到很痛苦，如果他們因為錯誤的選擇而這麼做了的話，而羅得正是如此。

Verses 14-18 Those are best prepared for the visits of Divine grace, whose spirits are calm, and not ruffled with passion. God will abundantly make up in spiritual peace, what we lose for preserving neighbourly peace. When our relations are separated from us, yet God is not. Observe also the promises with which God now comforted and enriched Abram. Of two things he assures him; a good land, and a numerous issue to enjoy it. The prospects seen by faith are more rich and beautiful than those we see around us. God bade him walk through the land, not to think of fixing in it, but expect to be always unsettled, and walking through it to a better Canaan. He built an altar, in token of his thankfulness to God. When God meets us with gracious promises, he expects that we should attend him with humble praises. In outward difficulties, it is very profitable for the true believer to mediate on the glorious inheritance which the Lord has for him at the last.

14-18那些時刻等待上帝的恩典降臨的人，他們的靈是平靜的，不會受到情緒的擾動。我們為了保持鄰里和平而損失的，上帝會以屬靈的平安滿滿地補足我們。當親人離開我們，上帝不離開。我們也看到，此時，上帝憑着他的應許，安慰了亞伯蘭並使他富足。上帝應許他兩樣東西：一塊美地；承受這片土地的無數後裔。我們憑着信心所看到的遠景，遠比我們在身邊所看到的一切要豐富、美好。上帝讓他走遍這地，而不是停留，一直都不停下來，直到那更美好的迦南。他築了一座壇，表明他對上帝的感恩。當上帝對我們兌現他的慈愛的應許的時候，他希望我們能向他獻上謙卑的讚美。處於外在的困難中時，矚目主為我們預備的那最終的榮耀的產業，這對於真正的信徒們來說，將是非常有益的。--【譯】趙威&（搬）何葉^-^~2012年3月22日(四)17:36 (CST)