MHCC:创世记 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，撒拉的喜乐。（1-8）以实玛利取笑以撒。（9-13）夏甲与以实玛利被逐，他们得到了天使的安慰。（14-21）亚比米勒与亚伯拉罕立约。（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旧约中，很少有人是像以撒那样，在那么多的期盼中降生到这个世界中的。他是基督的预表：上帝的儿子是上帝早就应许的，是上帝的子民长期以来期盼的。以撒是根据上帝的应许，在上帝所预设的时间降生的。当上帝设定的时间到的时候，上帝应许的恩典必然来到，而且这必定是个最佳的时机。以撒的名义为“喜笑”，起这样一个名字绝非无缘无故的（创世记18:13）。当充满安慰的太阳从我们的灵魂中升起，此时，我们最好回忆一下，在黎明到来之前我们是怎么等待的。当撒拉接到上帝的应许，她因为不信和怀疑而暗笑。在我们濒于绝望的时候，上帝将他的怜悯赐予我们，我们应该记住，此前当我们祈求上帝的时候，我们是怎样因着对上帝的能力与应许心怀不信而给自己带来悲伤与羞愧的。上帝的怜悯使撒拉充满喜乐与惊叹。上帝对他的子民的宠爱，往往超过他们的所求所想：谁能想到上帝竟然会将如此丰盛的恩典赐予那些只有如此微小祈求的人呢，不仅如此，甚至是赐给那些祈求得不好的人。谁会想到说上帝应该差遣他的儿子为我们死，差遣圣灵使我们成圣，让天使来护卫我们？谁会想到说我们那些重大的罪应该被赦免，我们这种卑微的服侍应该被上帝接纳，我们这种微虫一般的无用之人应该在主约里有份？在这里有一段以撒幼年的简短记载。上帝祝福看顾孩子，保守他们度过危险的婴儿期，这是表明上帝的眷顾是温柔而细致的。参阅诗篇22:9,10;何西阿书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这里提到的这起家庭事件，是提醒我们，不要依仗外在的特权或我们自己的行为，我们应该凭着信心在，在中保（耶稣基督）里，寻求新约里的祝福。以实玛利的行为是对以撒的侵害，是对以撒怀着恶意的行为，这种行为也是对上帝的约和应许的亵渎与轻视。尽管父母们可能没注意，但上帝鉴察孩童们玩耍时的言行，并对这些言行进行判断，看他们有没有说错或做错什么。嘲弄是一宗大罪，是让上帝震怒的。有上帝的应许的孩子，往往会被嘲弄。以实玛利行为不当，撒拉要求对他进行严厉的惩罚，对此，亚伯拉罕深觉忧伤。但上帝指示他，以撒将成为那应许的后裔（耶稣基督）的先祖，因此，将以实玛利打发走，以免他侵蚀以撒的行为，或者企图篡夺以撒的权利。上帝的约里面的亚伯拉罕的子孙必须是一支纯粹的国民，不能与那些与上帝的约无关的人混杂在一起：撒拉当然没有想到那么多，但是上帝使她所说的变成对的（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如果夏甲与以实玛利行得好，那么他们可能会继续在亚伯拉罕的家中生活下去；但是，他们行为不好，受到了公正的惩罚。我们常常因为滥用权利而丧失权利。有些人在他们安好的时候，不知道上帝的怜悯的价值，只有当他们失去了，才知道上帝的怜悯的可贵。他们（夏甲母子——译者注）落入了在旷野中哀叹的境地。这不是说他们的粮食吃完了，或者亚伯拉罕打发他们走的时候没给他们钱，而是因为没有水了，而且迷了路，在那炎热的天气中，以实玛利马上就被疲劳与干渴击倒。我们绝不能自己松懈，而应该激励自己尽我们的所能，上帝总会在我们陷入困境的时候帮助我们。天使重申了关于夏甲的儿子的应许，作为夏甲必须振作起来去帮助她的儿子的理由。当我们辛苦地抚养照料孩子、少年人的时候，我们应该想到，我们不知道上帝预定了在他们身上行怎样的大事，我们也不知道上帝将怎样造作他们。天使指示夏甲一处现成的供给。很多人有理由获得安息，但是他们却在悲伤中度日，原因在于他们没有看到他们可以安息的理由。在他们旁边就有水井——主约里的恩典，但他们却没有察觉到，直到上帝开启他们的眼睛，使他们看到自己所受的创伤以及自己是怎样得着医治。巴兰是野地，适合像以实玛利这样粗野的人。那些从血气所生的，会满足于得着这个世界的旷野；而从应许所生的，则以天国般的迦南为目标，并且，不达目标，绝不罢休。然而上帝还是保佑童子（指以实玛利——译者注），因此，他获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亚比米勒相信，上帝的应许将会成就在亚伯拉罕身上。与那些蒙上帝祝福的人多来往是明智的行为；我们应该以好意报答那些对我们友好的人。在中东，井水是非常稀有而珍贵的。亚伯拉罕非常谨慎，给井命名，以防将来发生纠纷。一个诚实人，一旦他知道自己做错了事，必然会马上就改正。现在，亚伯拉罕在一个良好的邻里环境里，居住了相当长的时间。在那里，他所做的，不仅是不断操练自己，而且向邻里表明他的信仰。他在那里求告耶和华永生上帝的名；也许他种植的那小树林就是他祈祷的地方。亚伯拉罕保持了公开的信仰崇拜，也许，他的邻人也曾参与到里面来。义人应该尽力使其他的人也像他一样做。无论我们寄居在哪里，我们都不要忽略我们的信仰，也不要因为我们对耶和华上帝的崇拜而感到害羞。--【译】赵威&【搬】何叶^-^~2012年3月26日(一)09:30 (CST)