MHCC:創世記 15

Chapter 15第十五章

God encourages Abram. (1) The Divine promise, Abraham is justified by faith. (2-6) God promises Canaan to Abraham for an inheritance. (7-11) The promise confirmed in a vision. (12-16) The promise confirmed by a sign. (17-21) 上帝激勵亞伯蘭。（1）神聖的應許，亞伯蘭因信稱義。（2-6）上帝應許亞伯蘭將迦南賜給他。（7-11）應許在異象中得到證實。（12-16）應許被一個標記證實。（17-21）

Verse 1 God assured Abram of safety and happiness; that he should for ever be safe. I am thy shield; or, I am a shield to thee, present with thee, actually caring for thee. The consideration that God himself is, and will be a shield to his people, to secure them from all evils, a shield ready to them, and a shield round about them, should silence all perplexing, tormenting fears.上帝確保亞伯蘭的平安與喜樂，他將一直是安全的。「我是你的盾牌」，或者說，我與你同在，我一直在看顧你。上帝是他的子民的盾牌，保護他們遠離一切的惡，這盾牌是專門為他的子民準備的，在周圍環繞他們，當我們想到這一切，我們一切困惑苦惱的焦慮就會得到平息。

Verses 2-6 Though we must never complain of God, yet we have leave to complain to him; and to state all our grievances. It is ease to a burdened spirit, to open its case to a faithful and compassionate friend. Abram's complaint is, that he had no child; that he was never likely to have any; that the want of a son was so great a trouble to him, that it took away all his comfort. If we suppose that Abram looked no further than outward comfort, this complaint was to be blamed. But if we suppose that Abram herein had reference to the promised Seed, his desire was very commendable. Till we have evidence of our interest in Christ, we should not rest satisfied; what will all avail me, if I go Christless? If we continue instant in prayer, yet pray with humble submission to the Divine will, we shall not seek in vain. God gave Abram an express promise of a son. Christians may believe in God with respect to the common concerns of this life; but the faith by which they are justified, always has respect to the person and work of Christ. Abram believed in God as promising Christ; they believe in him as having raised him from the dead, romans 4:24 . Through faith in his blood they obtain forgiveness of sins.

2－6我們不應該抱怨上帝，我們應該將我們所抱怨的留給上帝去擔當，向他陳述我們一切心中的愁煩。將自己負有重壓的心靈向一位可靠的、富有憐憫的朋友敞開，這是一件愜意的事情。沒有兒子就是亞伯蘭所抱怨的（complaint），而且他看起來似乎不會有兒子了，缺少一個兒子成了他的極大困擾，使他沒有安息。假如亞伯蘭的抱怨僅僅是因為想得到外在的滿足，那麼他的這個抱怨就是該受到責備的。但是，如果亞伯蘭將這與「應許的後裔「（the Promised Seed）聯繫起來，那麼，他的對兒子的渴望就是非常值得讚美的。只有當我們的益處在基督里獲得證據，我們才能滿足安息。如果我們與基督背離，還有什麼對我們是有益的呢？如果我們堅持迫切地禱告，並且對上帝的旨意懷着謙卑的順服，那麼我們所求的就不會落空。上帝賜給亞伯蘭一個記號(express)，應許他會有一個兒子。基督徒可能因為對今生的關切的而相信上帝，但是，他們靠着稱義的信心，則總是因為基督的位格及其工作。亞伯蘭既相信上帝，又相信那應許的基督；他們相信上帝使耶穌基督從死里復活（羅馬書4:24）。通過對基督的寶血的信心，獲得罪的赦免。

Verses 7-11 Assurance was given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. God never promises more than he is able to perform, as men often do. Abram did as God commanded him. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in confirming covenants, jeremiah 34:18,19 . Having prepared according to God's appointment, he set himself to wait for the sign God might give him. A watch must be kept upon our spiritual sacrifices. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come down upon our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and seek to attend on God without distraction.

7—11上帝向亞伯蘭保證，迦南地將會成為他的產業。上帝所應許的，他必然做到，他從來不像人那樣會誇大其詞。亞伯蘭按照上帝的吩咐行事。他根據立約的儀式，將牲畜從中間劈開（耶利米書34:18,19）。當他根據上帝所指示的預備好之後，就在那裡等候上帝將給他的兆頭。在屬靈的獻祭上，我們必需保持警醒。那些無聊的思想，像鳥群一樣飛臨我們的祭物，我們必需將它們趕走，毫無雜念地尋求上帝。

Verses 12-16 A deep sleep fell upon Abram; with this sleep a horror of great darkness fell upon him: a sudden change. The children of light do not always walk in the light. Several things were then foretold. 1. The suffering state of Abram's seed for a long time. They shall be strangers. The heirs of heaven are strangers on earth. They shall be servants; but Canaanites serve under a curse, the Hebrews under a blessing. They shall be suffers. Those that are blessed and beloved of God, are often sorely afflicted by wicked men. 2. The judgment of the enemies of Abram's seed. Though God may allow persecutors and oppressors to trample upon his people a great while, he will certainly reckon with them at last. 3. That great event, the deliverance of Abram's seed out of Egypt, is here foretold. 4. Their happy settlement in Canaan. They shall come hither again. The measure of sin fills gradually. Some people's measure of sin fills slowly. The knowledge of future events would seldom add to our comfort. In the most favoured families, and most happy lives, there are so many afflictions, that it is merciful in God to conceal what will befall us and ours.

12—16「亞伯蘭沉沉地睡了，忽然有驚人的大黑暗落在他身上」：這是一個突如其來的變化。光明之子並不是一直都行走在光明中的。接下來我們看到了一些預言：1亞伯蘭的子孫將長期處於苦難之中。他們將成為寄居的人。天國的承受者在世界上都是寄居的。他們會成為奴僕；但是迦南人是在咒詛下為奴，而希伯來人是在祝福下做奴僕。他們將要受苦。那些被上帝所愛、所祝福的人，常常會受到惡人的痛苦折磨。2對亞伯蘭的後裔的仇敵的審判。儘管上帝可能會允許迫害者與壓迫者相當長時間地蹂躪他的子民，但他最終會審判他們。3亞伯蘭的子孫從埃及被解救，這件大事在這裡預言了。4他們幸福地定居迦南。他們將重新回來。迦南人的罪將滿盈。有些人的罪滿盈得很慢。對未來的事情的了解，很少能夠使我們得安慰。在那些最美好的家庭中，在那些最幸福的人生中，會有許多的痛苦。我們應該躲在慈悲的上帝那裡，躲過這些可能將會臨到我們和屬於我們的人的頭上的災禍。

Verses 17-21 The smoking furnace and the burning lamp, probably represented the Israelites' severe trials and joyful deliverance, with their gracious supports in the mean time. It is probable that this furnace and lamp, which passed between the pieces, burned and consumed them, and so completed the sacrifice, and testified God's acceptance of it. So it intimates that God's covenants with man are made by sacrifice, psalms 50:5 . And we may know that he accepts our sacrifices, if he kindles in our souls pious and devout affections. The bounds of the land granted are stated. Several nations, or tribes, are spoken of, that must be cast out to make room for the seed of Abram. In this chapter we perceive in Abram faith struggling against, and triumphing over, unbelief. Wonder not, believers, if you meet with seasons of darkness and distress. But it is not the will of God that you should be cast down: fear not; for all that he was to Abram he will be to you.

17—21冒煙的爐和燒着的火把，可能預表着以色列人將受到的嚴峻試煉，以及與此同時慈悲的上帝將會為他們提供的美好的拯救。經過肉塊的爐和火把，將肉塊焚燒殆盡，可能表明獻祭的完成，上帝接受了這些祭物。所以，它暗示着，上帝與人之間的立約，是通過祭祀和犧牲完成的（詩篇50:5）。如果上帝點亮了我們靈魂中的虔誠，那麼我們就知道他接受了我們的祭物。所賜之地的疆域設定了。這裡提到的許多民族、部落都必需被趕出去，為亞伯蘭的子孫騰出空間。在這一章里我們可以感受到亞伯蘭的信心與不信作鬥爭並獲得全勝。信徒們，當你們遇到黑暗與苦惱時，不要疑惑。因為上帝並不希望你跌倒：不要懼怕，他是亞伯蘭的上帝，也是你的上帝。--【譯】趙威&【搬】何葉^-^~2012年3月26日(一)09:10 (CST)