MHCC:创世记 13

<赵威叔叔你猜何叶怎么弄成的这签名，迈克叔叔你也猜猜看。何叶真聪明!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)

亚伯兰带着巨大的财富从埃及归来。（1-4）亚伯兰的牧人和罗得的牧人之间的争吵。亚伯兰让罗得选择想要的地。（5-9）罗得选择居住在所多玛。（10-13）上帝更新了他对亚伯兰的应许，亚伯兰迁居希伯伦。（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亚伯兰非常富有，在希伯来语原文是“他非常重”。财物是一种负担，只要“多多取人的当头”（“ladeth himself with thick clay”）就能富裕起来（哈巴谷书2:6）。获取财物时有一种挂虑的负担，持有财物时不免担惊受怕，使用财物时免不了有诱惑，滥用财物则会犯罪，失去财物则难免悲伤，最后账户结算的负担也落在他们身上。然而，上帝的恩典有时候会使义人会成为富人。上帝的祝福使亚伯兰富足而没有“忧虑”（箴言10:22）。虽然富人进天国很难，但是在有些情况下还是可（马可福10:23,24）。不仅如此，如果处理得好，外在的财富还可以成为虔诚的装饰（勋章），成为行更多的善事的好机会。亚伯兰迁居到伯特利。他以前筑的坛已经不见了，所以他不能献祭；但是他依然呼求上帝的名。你找不到一个活人是不需要呼吸的，同样，你也找不到一个上帝的子民是不需要祷告的。

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财物不仅能产生纷争，它往往成为争斗的重要对象；而且，它能搅动争竞的灵，使人陷入骄傲与贪婪。“我的”和“你的”，是这个世界上最容易导致发怒的原因。贫困与辛劳，缺乏与迷茫，都不能使亚伯兰和罗得分离；但财富做到了。恶仆常常能在家庭内部或邻里之间带来巨大的危害，因他们的骄傲、坏脾气，喜欢说谎、诋毁、散布谣言。迦南人与比利洗人也在那地居住，这使这场争吵变得更加糟糕。公开信仰的信徒之间的争执，使我们的信仰蒙羞，并给主的敌人以亵渎的机会。最好保持和平，不要让裂痕出现；如果纷争已经出现了，那么退而求其次，就该尽快地扑灭纷争之火。尽管亚伯兰比罗得年长，地位更高，但他还是主动地试图控制这场纷争。亚伯兰表现出了他的冷静，能够克制自己的愤怒，知道如何以温柔的话来消除怒气。试图保持和平的人，绝不该以牙还牙。因为亚伯兰有一颗谦卑的心，所以他甚至愿意以下级请求上级的姿态请求保持和平。不论别人是为了什么，上帝的子民必须是为了和平。亚伯兰对和平的请求是非常有力的。让这个世上的人去为了琐事纷争吧，只希望我们这些知道更美好的事情的人不要堕落，让我们仰望一个更美好的国度。公开信仰的信徒必须小心地避免纷争。许多人假装是为了和平，但是什么也不做；亚伯兰不是这样的。我们的上帝曾经谦卑地请我们保持和平，我们也应该如此谦卑地请求别人保持和平。尽管上帝已经应许亚伯兰，将这地赐给他的后裔；但是，亚伯兰还是公平地，甚至是将更好的地，与罗得分享（按理说，罗得是没有这样的权利的）。另外，尽管亚伯兰拥有上帝的应许之一保护，他还是没有以强硬的态度对待罗得。为了和平而让步是宝贵的。

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亚伯兰将选择权给了罗得，罗得马上就接受了。冲动与自私使人变得粗鲁。罗得看到那片美好的土地，于是他毫不怀疑的认为，有那么肥沃的土地，他必将昌盛。但是，这“美地”到底带来了什么？那些以肉体的欲望、眼目的情欲、今生的骄傲，来决定自己的人际关系、各种需要、居住等方面的问题的人，是不能够指望上帝会在其中并给以祝福的。他们所瞄准的那个对象终究会使他们失望。我们在进行一切的选择时应该奉行这样的原则：对我们的灵魂有益的，才是真正对我们有益的。罗得丝毫没有考虑他所钟意的那片“美地”上的居民的邪恶。所多玛的居民都是厚颜无耻、胆大妄为的罪人。所多玛的的罪孽是这样：“心骄气傲，粮食饱足，大享安逸”。（以西结书16:49）上帝常常使那些大恶人获得大丰富。义人住在邪恶的邻居之间往往会很为难，也必然感到很痛苦，如果他们因为错误的选择而这么做了的话，而罗得正是如此。

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那些时刻等待上帝的恩典降临的人，他们的灵是平静的，不会受到情绪的扰动。我们为了保持邻里和平而损失的，上帝会以属灵的平安满满地补足我们。当亲人离开我们，上帝不离开。我们也看到，此时，上帝凭着他的应许，安慰了亚伯兰并使他富足。上帝应许他两样东西：一块美地；承受这片土地的无数后裔。我们凭着信心所看到的远景，远比我们在身边所看到的一切要丰富、美好。上帝让他走遍这地，而不是停留，一直都不停下来，直到那更美好的迦南。他筑了一座坛，表明他对上帝的感恩。当上帝对我们兑现他的慈爱的应许的时候，他希望我们能向他献上谦卑的赞美。处于外在的困难中时，瞩目主为我们预备的那最终的荣耀的产业，这对于真正的信徒们来说，将是非常有益的。--【译】赵威&（搬）何叶^-^~2012年3月22日(四)17:36 (CST)