MHCC:創世記 17

Chapter 17第十七章

God renews the covenant with Abram. (1-6) Circumcision instituted. (7-14) Sarai's name changed, Isaac promised. (15-22) Abraham and his family are circumcised. (23-27) 上帝更新與亞伯蘭的約。(1－6)制定割禮。（7－14）撒萊改名，應許生以撒。（15－22）亞伯拉罕和他的家族行割禮。（23－27）

Verses 1-6 The covenant was to be accomplished in due time. The promised Seed was Christ, and Christians in him. And all who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abram, being partakers of the same covenant blessings. In token of this covenant his name was changed from Abram, "a high father," to Abraham, "the father of a multitude." All that the Christian world enjoys, it is indebted for to Abraham and his Seed.

1－6約是要在規定的時間裡實現的。那應許的後裔就是基督，基督徒都在他裡面。一切有信的人，都會與充滿信心的亞伯蘭一起，在這個約的祝福里有份。因為這約，他的名字從原來的亞伯蘭（「崇高的父」）改為亞伯拉罕（「多國之父」）。基督教世界所享受的一切恩典，都因為亞伯拉罕和他的那位後裔。

Verses 7-14 The covenant of grace is from everlasting in the counsels of it, and to everlasting in the consequences of it. The token of the covenant was circumcision. It is here said to be the covenant which Abraham and his seed must keep. Those who will have the Lord to be to them a God, must resolve to be to him a people. Not only Abraham and Isaac, and his posterity by Isaac, were to be circumcised, but also Ishmael and the bond-servants. It sealed not only the covenant of the land of Canaan to Isaac's posterity, but of heaven, through Christ, to the whole church of God. The outward sign is for the visible church; the inward seal of the Spirit is peculiar to those whom God knows to be believers, and he alone can know them. The religious observance of this institution was required, under a very severe penalty. It is dangerous to make light of Divine institutions, and to live in the neglect of them. The covenant in question was one that involved great blessings for the world in all future ages. Even the blessedness of Abraham himself, and all the rewards conferred upon him, were for Christ's sake. Abraham was justified, as we have seen, not by his own righteousness, but by faith in the promised Messiah.

7－14約所包含的恩典，從約被計劃時就是永恆的，約所產生的結果也是永恆的。割禮是這約的標記。這裡說，亞伯拉罕和他的後裔必世世代代遵守這約。那些想要以主作為他們的神的人，必需決絕地讓自己成為主的民。不僅亞伯拉罕和以撒，以及從以撒所出的後裔，要受割禮，而且，以實瑪利以及他們的僕人也要受割禮。這個約不僅僅是指着要將迦南地賜給以撒的後裔，而且它還指着上帝的教會通過基督獲得天堂。外在的記號是指可見的教堂；內在的印記是那些被上帝認為是相信他的人所獨有的聖靈，只有上帝能將他們識別出來。在教會這一團體裡面，有嚴格的規矩，大家遵守各種守則，這都是需要的。但是，如果輕視了內在的神聖誡命，生活在忽視內在誡命的狀態之中，那是很危險的。這約有一個關鍵點，它是關於全世界以後所有世代的偉大祝福的。哪怕是亞伯拉罕自己所得到的祝福，以及所有賜給他的獎賞，也都是因為基督的緣故。正如我們所看到的，亞伯拉罕被稱義，不是因為他自己的義，而是因着對那應許的彌賽亞的信心。

Verses 15-22 Here is the promise made to Abraham of a son by Sarai, in whom the promise made to him should be fulfilled. The assurance of this promise was the change of Sarai's name into Sarah. Sarai signifies my princess, as if her honour were confined to one family only; Sarah signifies a princess. The more favours God confers upon us, the more low we should be in our own eyes. Abraham showed great joy; he laughed, it was a laughter of delight, not of distrust. Now it was that Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day; now he saw it and was glad, john 8:56 . Abraham, dreading lest Ishmael should be abandoned and forsaken of God, put up a petition on his behalf. God gives us leave in prayer to be particular in making known our requests. Whatever is our care and fear, should be spread before God in prayer. It is the duty of parents to pray for their children, and the great thing we should desire is, that they may be kept in covenant with Him, and may have grace to walk before him in uprightness. Common blessings are secured to Ishmael. Outward good things are often given to those children of godly parents who are born after the flesh, for their parents' sake. Covenant blessings are reserved for Isaac, and appropriated to him.

15－22這裡，上帝應許亞伯拉罕將從撒萊生一個兒子，上帝將通過撒萊成就對亞伯拉罕的應許。這一應許的證據就是「撒萊」改名為「撒拉」。「撒萊」意為「我的公主」，這名字意味着她的榮耀是被局限在一個家庭里的（因為是「我的」——譯者注）。「撒拉」則意為「公主」（本來的局限被打破了——譯者注）。上帝賜予我們越多的恩典，我們就越應該看到自己的卑微。亞伯拉罕表現出極大的喜樂；他笑了，這是喜樂的笑，不是因為不信。此時，「亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜地仰望」基督的日子，「既看見了，就快樂」（約翰福音8:56）。亞伯拉罕擔心以實瑪力會被上帝棄絕，所以他在這裡為以實瑪力的利益祈禱。上帝給我們禱告的職責，尤其是為了知道我們的需求。不論我們害怕什麼還是擔心什麼，都應該在禱告中將它們放在上帝的面前。為自己的子女祈禱是父母的職責，我們所最應該渴慕的是，他們能夠一直遵守和上帝的約，使上帝的恩典一直伴隨他們的腳蹤。上帝保證了對以實瑪力的普通祝福。那些虔誠的父母在肉身上的子女常常會獲得外在的好處，因為他們的父母的緣故。但是，約的祝福，是為以撒保留的，是專門留給他的。

Verses 23-27 Abraham and all his family were circumcised; so receiving the token of the covenant, and distinguishing themselves from other families that had no part nor lot in the matter. It was an implicit obedience; he did as God said unto him, and did not ask why or wherefore. He did it because God bade him. It was a speedy obedience; in the self-same day. Sincere obedience makes no delay. Not only the doctrines of revelation, but the seals of God's covenant, remind us that we are guilty, polluted sinners. They show us our need of the blood of atonement; they point to the promised Saviour, and teach us to exercise faith in him. They show us that without regeneration, and sanctification by his Spirit, and the mortification of our corrupt and carnal inclinations, we cannot be in covenant with God. But let us remember that the true circumcision is that of the heart, by the Spirit, romans 2:28,29 . Both under the old and new dispensation, many have had the outward profession, and the outward seal, who were never sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise.

23—27亞伯拉罕和他的全家都受了割禮，作為他們接受上帝的約的記號，並將他們從其他與約無份的民中區別出來。這裡也隱含着順服，他按照上帝吩咐的做了，但沒有問為什麼。上帝讓這麼做，他就做了。這是一次迅速的順服，「正當那日」——當天就做的。真實的順服從來不會有耽延。不僅是聖經的教義，而且還有上帝的約的印記，都使我們想起，我們是有罪的，是污穢的罪人。它們昭示着我們需要救贖的寶血，它們都指向那應許的救世主，教導我們怎樣學習來相信他。它們昭示着，如果我們沒有重生，沒有靠着聖靈成聖，沒能禁絕我們敗壞的肉體欲望，我們就不能在約里與上帝有份。但是，讓我們不該忘了，「真割禮也是心裡的，在乎靈」（羅馬書2:28、29）。無論在舊約還是新約，都有很多人只是有着外在的信仰和外在的印記，他們從來沒有得到那應許的聖靈的印記。--【譯】趙威&【搬】何葉^-^~2012年3月26日(一)09:10 (CST)