MHCC:创世记 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) 上帝激励亚伯兰。（1）神圣的应许，亚伯兰因信称义。（2-6）上帝应许亚伯兰将迦南赐给他。（7-11）应许在异象中得到证实。（12-16）应许被一个标记证实。（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.上帝确保亚伯兰的平安与喜乐，他将一直是安全的。“我是你的盾牌”，或者说，我与你同在，我一直在看顾你。上帝是他的子民的盾牌，保护他们远离一切的恶，这盾牌是专门为他的子民准备的，在周围环绕他们，当我们想到这一切，我们一切困惑苦恼的焦虑就会得到平息。

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我们不应该抱怨上帝，我们应该将我们所抱怨的留给上帝去担当，向他陈述我们一切心中的愁烦。将自己负有重压的心灵向一位可靠的、富有怜悯的朋友敞开，这是一件惬意的事情。没有儿子就是亚伯兰所抱怨的（complaint），而且他看起来似乎不会有儿子了，缺少一个儿子成了他的极大困扰，使他没有安息。假如亚伯兰的抱怨仅仅是因为想得到外在的满足，那么他的这个抱怨就是该受到责备的。但是，如果亚伯兰将这与“应许的后裔“（the Promised Seed）联系起来，那么，他的对儿子的渴望就是非常值得赞美的。只有当我们的益处在基督里获得证据，我们才能满足安息。如果我们与基督背离，还有什么对我们是有益的呢？如果我们坚持迫切地祷告，并且对上帝的旨意怀着谦卑的顺服，那么我们所求的就不会落空。上帝赐给亚伯兰一个记号(express)，应许他会有一个儿子。基督徒可能因为对今生的关切的而相信上帝，但是，他们靠着称义的信心，则总是因为基督的位格及其工作。亚伯兰既相信上帝，又相信那应许的基督；他们相信上帝使耶稣基督从死里复活（罗马书4:24）。通过对基督的宝血的信心，获得罪的赦免。

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上帝向亚伯兰保证，迦南地将会成为他的产业。上帝所应许的，他必然做到，他从来不像人那样会夸大其词。亚伯兰按照上帝的吩咐行事。他根据立约的仪式，将牲畜从中间劈开（耶利米书34:18,19）。当他根据上帝所指示的预备好之后，就在那里等候上帝将给他的兆头。在属灵的献祭上，我们必需保持警醒。那些无聊的思想，像鸟群一样飞临我们的祭物，我们必需将它们赶走，毫无杂念地寻求上帝。

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“亚伯兰沉沉地睡了，忽然有惊人的大黑暗落在他身上”：这是一个突如其来的变化。光明之子并不是一直都行走在光明中的。接下来我们看到了一些预言：1亚伯兰的子孙将长期处于苦难之中。他们将成为寄居的人。天国的承受者在世界上都是寄居的。他们会成为奴仆；但是迦南人是在咒诅下为奴，而希伯来人是在祝福下做奴仆。他们将要受苦。那些被上帝所爱、所祝福的人，常常会受到恶人的痛苦折磨。2对亚伯兰的后裔的仇敌的审判。尽管上帝可能会允许迫害者与压迫者相当长时间地蹂躏他的子民，但他最终会审判他们。3亚伯兰的子孙从埃及被解救，这件大事在这里预言了。4他们幸福地定居迦南。他们将重新回来。迦南人的罪将满盈。有些人的罪满盈得很慢。对未来的事情的了解，很少能够使我们得安慰。在那些最美好的家庭中，在那些最幸福的人生中，会有许多的痛苦。我们应该躲在慈悲的上帝那里，躲过这些可能将会临到我们和属于我们的人的头上的灾祸。

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冒烟的炉和烧着的火把，可能预表着以色列人将受到的严峻试炼，以及与此同时慈悲的上帝将会为他们提供的美好的拯救。经过肉块的炉和火把，将肉块焚烧殆尽，可能表明献祭的完成，上帝接受了这些祭物。所以，它暗示着，上帝与人之间的立约，是通过祭祀和牺牲完成的（诗篇50:5）。如果上帝点亮了我们灵魂中的虔诚，那么我们就知道他接受了我们的祭物。所赐之地的疆域设定了。这里提到的许多民族、部落都必需被赶出去，为亚伯兰的子孙腾出空间。在这一章里我们可以感受到亚伯兰的信心与不信作斗争并获得全胜。信徒们，当你们遇到黑暗与苦恼时，不要疑惑。因为上帝并不希望你跌倒：不要惧怕，他是亚伯兰的上帝，也是你的上帝。--【译】赵威&【搬】何叶^-^~2012年3月26日(一)09:10 (CST)