MHCC:創世記 21

Chapter 21第二十一章

Birth of Isaac, Sarah's joy. (1-8) Ishmael mocks Isaac. (9-13) Hagar and Ishmael are cast forth, They are relieved and comforted by an angel. (14-21) Abimelech's covenant with Abraham. (22-34) 以撒出生，撒拉的喜樂。（1-8）以實瑪利取笑以撒。（9-13）夏甲與以實瑪利被逐，他們得到了天使的安慰。（14-21）亞比米勒與亞伯拉罕立約。（22-34）

Verses 1-8 Few under the Old Testament were brought into the world with such expectations as Isaac. He was in this a type of Christ, that Seed which the holy God so long promised, and holy men so long expected. He was born according to the promise, at the set time of which God had spoken. God's promised mercies will certainly come at the time which He sets, and that is the best time. Isaac means "laughter," and there was good reason for the name, ch. 18:13 . When the Sun of comfort is risen upon the soul, it is good to remember how welcome the dawning of the day was. When Sarah received the promise, she laughed with distrust and doubt. When God gives us the mercies we began to despair of, we ought to remember with sorrow and shame our sinful distrust of his power and promise, when we were in pursuit of them. This mercy filled Sarah with joy and wonder. God's favours to his covenant people are such as surpass their own and others' thoughts and expectations: who could imagine that he should do so much for those that deserve so little, nay, for those that deserve so ill? Who would have said that God should send his Son to die for us, his Spirit to make us holy, his angels to attend us? Who would have said that such great sins should be pardoned, such mean services accepted, and such worthless worms taken into covenant? A short account of Isaac's infancy is given. God's blessing upon the nursing of children, and the preservation of them through the perils of the infant age, are to be acknowledged as signal instances of the care and tenderness of the Divine providence. See Ps 22:9,10; Ho 11:1,2.

1-8舊約中，很少有人是像以撒那樣，在那麼多的期盼中降生到這個世界中的。他是基督的預表：上帝的兒子是上帝早就應許的，是上帝的子民長期以來期盼的。以撒是根據上帝的應許，在上帝所預設的時間降生的。當上帝設定的時間到的時候，上帝應許的恩典必然來到，而且這必定是個最佳的時機。以撒的名義為「喜笑」，起這樣一個名字絕非無緣無故的（創世記18:13）。當充滿安慰的太陽從我們的靈魂中升起，此時，我們最好回憶一下，在黎明到來之前我們是怎麼等待的。當撒拉接到上帝的應許，她因為不信和懷疑而暗笑。在我們瀕於絕望的時候，上帝將他的憐憫賜予我們，我們應該記住，此前當我們祈求上帝的時候，我們是怎樣因着對上帝的能力與應許心懷不信而給自己帶來悲傷與羞愧的。上帝的憐憫使撒拉充滿喜樂與驚嘆。上帝對他的子民的寵愛，往往超過他們的所求所想：誰能想到上帝竟然會將如此豐盛的恩典賜予那些只有如此微小祈求的人呢，不僅如此，甚至是賜給那些祈求得不好的人。誰會想到說上帝應該差遣他的兒子為我們死，差遣聖靈使我們成聖，讓天使來護衛我們？誰會想到說我們那些重大的罪應該被赦免，我們這種卑微的服侍應該被上帝接納，我們這種微蟲一般的無用之人應該在主約里有份？在這裏有一段以撒幼年的簡短記載。上帝祝福看顧孩子，保守他們度過危險的嬰兒期，這是表明上帝的眷顧是溫柔而細緻的。參閱詩篇22:9,10;何西阿書11:1,2。

Verses 9-13 Let us not overlook the manner in which this family matter instructs us not to rest in outward privileges, or in our own doings. And let us seek the blessings of the new covenant by faith in its Divine Surety. Ishmael's conduct was persecution, being done in profane contempt of the covenant and promise, and with malice against Isaac. God takes notice of what children say and do in their play; and will reckon with them, if they say or do amiss, though their parents do not. Mocking is a great sin, and very provoking to God. And the children of promise must expect to be mocked. Abraham was grieved that Ishmael should misbehave, and Sarah demand so severe a punishment. But God showed him that Isaac must be the father of the promised Seed; therefore, send Ishmael away, lest he corrupt the manners, or try to take the rights of Isaac. The covenant seed of Abraham must be a people by themselves, not mingled with those who were out of covenant: Sarah little thought of this; but God turned aright what she said.

9-13這裏提到的這起家庭事件，是提醒我們，不要依仗外在的特權或我們自己的行為，我們應該憑着信心在，在中保（耶穌基督）里，尋求新約里的祝福。以實瑪利的行為是對以撒的侵害，是對以撒懷着惡意的行為，這種行為也是對上帝的約和應許的褻瀆與輕視。儘管父母們可能沒注意，但上帝鑑察孩童們玩耍時的言行，並對這些言行進行判斷，看他們有沒有說錯或做錯什麼。嘲弄是一宗大罪，是讓上帝震怒的。有上帝的應許的孩子，往往會被嘲弄。以實瑪利行為不當，撒拉要求對他進行嚴厲的懲罰，對此，亞伯拉罕深覺憂傷。但上帝指示他，以撒將成為那應許的後裔（耶穌基督）的先祖，因此，將以實瑪利打發走，以免他侵蝕以撒的行為，或者企圖篡奪以撒的權利。上帝的約裏面的亞伯拉罕的子孫必須是一支純粹的國民，不能與那些與上帝的約無關的人混雜在一起：撒拉當然沒有想到那麼多，但是上帝使她所說的變成對的（God turned aright what she said）。

Verses 14-21 If Hagar and Ishmael had behaved well in Abraham's family, they might have continued there; but they were justly punished. By abusing privileges, we forfeit them. Those who know not when they are well off, will be made to know the worth of mercies by the want of them. They were brought to distress in the wilderness. It is not said that the provisions were spent, or that Abraham sent them away without money. But the water was spent; and having lost their way, in that hot climate Ishmael was soon overcome with fatigue and thirst. God's readiness to help us when we are in trouble, must not slacken, but quicken our endeavours to help ourselves. The promise concerning her son is repeated, as a reason why Hagar should bestir herself to help him. It should engage our care and pains about children and young people, to consider that we know not what great use God has designed them for, and may make of them. The angel directs her to a present supply. Many who have reason to be comforted, go mourning from day to day, because they do not see the reason they have for comfort. There is a well of water near them in the covenant of grace, but they are not aware of it, till the same God that opened their eyes to see their wound, opens them to see their remedy. Paran was a wild place, fit for a wild man; such as Ishmael. Those who are born after the flesh, take up with the wilderness of this world, while the children of the promise aim at the heavenly Canaan, and cannot be at rest till they are there. Yet God was with the lad; his outward welfare was owing to this.

14-21如果夏甲與以實瑪利行得好，那麼他們可能會繼續在亞伯拉罕的家中生活下去；但是，他們行為不好，受到了公正的懲罰。我們常常因為濫用權利而喪失權利。有些人在他們安好的時候，不知道上帝的憐憫的價值，只有當他們失去了，才知道上帝的憐憫的可貴。他們（夏甲母子——譯者注）落入了在曠野中哀嘆的境地。這不是說他們的糧食吃完了，或者亞伯拉罕打發他們走的時候沒給他們錢，而是因為沒有水了，而且迷了路，在那炎熱的天氣中，以實瑪利馬上就被疲勞與乾渴擊倒。我們絕不能自己鬆懈，而應該激勵自己盡我們的所能，上帝總會在我們陷入困境的時候幫助我們。天使重申了關於夏甲的兒子的應許，作為夏甲必須振作起來去幫助她的兒子的理由。當我們辛苦地撫養照料孩子、少年人的時候，我們應該想到，我們不知道上帝預定了在他們身上行怎樣的大事，我們也不知道上帝將怎樣造作他們。天使指示夏甲一處現成的供給。很多人有理由獲得安息，但是他們卻在悲傷中度日，原因在於他們沒有看到他們可以安息的理由。在他們旁邊就有水井——主約里的恩典，但他們卻沒有察覺到，直到上帝開啟他們的眼睛，使他們看到自己所受的創傷以及自己是怎樣得着醫治。巴蘭是野地，適合像以實瑪利這樣粗野的人。那些從血氣所生的，會滿足於得着這個世界的曠野；而從應許所生的，則以天國般的迦南為目標，並且，不達目標，絕不罷休。然而上帝還是保佑童子（指以實瑪利——譯者注），因此，他獲得了外在的幸福和昌盛。

Verses 22-34 Abimelech felt sure that the promises of God would be fulfilled to Abraham. It is wise to connect ourselves with those who are blessed of God; and we ought to requite kindness to those who have been kind to us. Wells of water are scarce and valuable in eastern countries. Abraham took care to have his title to the well allowed, to prevent disputes in future. No more can be expected from an honest man than that he be ready to do right, as soon as he knows he has done wrong. Abraham, being now in a good neighbourhood, stayed a great while there. There he made, not only a constant practice, but an open profession of his religion. There he called on the name of the Lord, as the everlasting God; probably in the grove he planted, which was his place of prayer. Abraham kept up public worship, in which his neighbours might join. Good men should do all they can to make others so. Wherever we sojourn, we must neither neglect nor be ashamed of the worship of Jehovah.

22-34亞比米勒相信，上帝的應許將會成就在亞伯拉罕身上。與那些蒙上帝祝福的人多來往是明智的行為；我們應該以好意報答那些對我們友好的人。在中東，井水是非常稀有而珍貴的。亞伯拉罕非常謹慎，給井命名，以防將來發生糾紛。一個誠實人，一旦他知道自己做錯了事，必然會馬上就改正。現在，亞伯拉罕在一個良好的鄰里環境裏，居住了相當長的時間。在那裏，他所做的，不僅是不斷操練自己，而且向鄰里表明他的信仰。他在那裏求告耶和華永生上帝的名；也許他種植的那小樹林就是他祈禱的地方。亞伯拉罕保持了公開的信仰崇拜，也許，他的鄰人也曾參與到裏面來。義人應該盡力使其他的人也像他一樣做。無論我們寄居在哪裏，我們都不要忽略我們的信仰，也不要因為我們對耶和華上帝的崇拜而感到害羞。--【譯】趙威&【搬】何葉^-^~2012年3月26日(一)09:30 (CST)