各位弟兄姊妹，平安！今天開始，我們來閱讀《列王紀下》的記載。這之前，我們剛剛讀完了《耶利米書》，其中記載了以色列王國，也就是猶大王國，在被巴比倫吞併之前的這段光景。
《列王紀》其實原本是一整本書，但由於篇幅非常長，因此被分為上下兩篇來記載。這部書共用47章來記錄了約四百年的歷史，相對而言，篇幅非常簡短。因此，不同事件的記載並不平均，有些部分記錄得特別詳細，而有些部分則相對簡略。
關於猶大的故事，最後的記載不多，這可能是因為當時受到戰爭和動亂的影響，資料非常零散且難以整理。這些歷史學家在編撰時，面對資料的缺乏和不完整，他們盡可能地尋找更多資料來補齊這些漏洞。然而，即便如此，仍然存在一些不完整的地方。這也反映了歷史記錄在特定時期所面臨的挑戰和局限性。
雖然這段歷史在記載上可能有一些缺陷和不足，但《列王紀》與《歷代志》依然是我們了解以色列歷史的非常重要的文獻。再加上《撒母耳記》記載了大衛登上王位之前的故事，這些書籍為我們描繪了一個相對完整的以色列四百多年歷史的畫面，展示了他們從大衛到所羅門的興起與巔峰，接下來的王們卻犯下了許多錯誤，導致王國一開始就分裂為北國和南國。
這段歷史充滿了許多教訓，並揭示了人性的弱點。即便是上帝所選的以色列人，也無法避免罪惡的侵蝕，最終走向了滅亡。這些記載不僅是歷史的回顧，更是對我們今日的警示，提醒我們如何避免重蹈覆轍，並在困境中尋求上帝的指引。
在這段歷史故事中，我們可以看到許多重要的教訓。首先，上帝曾應許大衛，他的後裔將有一位永遠坐在王位上的王。然而，從歷史的角度來看，沒有一個王真正實現了這個應許。那麼，上帝的預言是否出了問題呢？
再看看所羅門，他在年輕時向上帝求智慧，並成為了全世界最有智慧的人。上帝也賜給他極多的資源、財富，甚至是一個繁榮的國度和許多美女。然而，隨著所羅門年老，他所做的許多事情卻違背了上帝的旨意和他自己年輕時的信仰堅持。比如，所羅門建立了龐大的軍隊，與外邦女子通婚，甚至利用奴隸勞役來建設他的國度。這些行為違背了上帝對以色列王的要求，也奠定了後來以色列衰亡的基礎。
在這段歷史中，我們還看到許多外族的入侵，以及一些王的悔改和歸向上帝，而另一些王則完全不顧上帝的教導。這些歷史教訓不僅適用於以色列，也適用於所有人類的歷史。上帝的應許和警戒在整個歷史中都在應驗，提醒我們上帝的話語是可信的，而偏離祂的道路最終會導致毀滅。
所以，我們不僅要從以色列的歷史中學習，也要反思我們自己的生活。這段歷史提醒我們，即使是上帝所揀選的人，也有可能在驕傲和偏離中走向衰亡。這是對我們每個人和每個時代的警戒，提醒我們要謙卑地行在上帝的道中，避免重蹈歷史的覆轍。
而就在這段看似絕望的歷史中，我們依然看到上帝隱藏了盼望。上帝的預言並沒有落空，因為從大衛的後裔中，終究有一位永遠的王——耶穌基督出現，祂才是我們真正的彌賽亞和救主。祂不是人類所期望的那種王，而是真正上帝所應許的王。
上帝也應許以色列終究會回到祂的身邊，回到祂的面前成為祂的子民。這不僅是對以色列國的應許，更是對所有因著像亞伯拉罕一樣有信心而來到上帝面前的基督徒的應許。這些信心的子民也能夠成為屬靈的以色列人。
當我們將舊約和新約一起閱讀和理解時，我們才能夠完完整整地明白，上帝的旨意從未落空。祂的計劃自始至終都是為了我們所有人所預備的。透過這樣的整體觀察，我們看見上帝的信實和祂永不改變的愛，這些都在耶穌基督裡得以完全成就。
所以，當我們開始閱讀《列王紀下》時，我們首先會看到一個非常有趣的故事，那就是以色列的烈火先知——以利亞的故事。從他的勝利、他的軟弱，到他如何將使命傳承給以利沙，以及接下來發生的每一個故事，我們不僅僅是在閱讀以色列的歷史記載，同時也要思想上帝所應許的、隱藏在舊約之中的這些預言。
這些預言無一不指向未來的那一位——耶穌基督。當我們以這樣的視角來閱讀這段歷史，我們會發現這本書不再只是充滿絕望，而是揭示了其中許多隱藏的盼望。這盼望讓我們明白，上帝的計劃早已預備好，並且在耶穌基督裡得以完全實現。
感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天開始閱讀列王記下第一章。
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you! Today, we begin our study of the book of 2 Kings. Before this, we just finished reading the book of Jeremiah, which records the final days of the Kingdom of Israel, also known as the Kingdom of Judah, before it was conquered by Babylon.
2 Kings was originally a single book, but due to its length, it was divided into two parts. This book contains 47 chapters, covering approximately 400 years of history, which is relatively brief. As a result, the records of different events are not evenly detailed—some parts are extensively documented, while others are relatively brief.
Regarding the story of Judah, the final records are sparse, likely because the war and chaos of that time made it difficult to gather and organize information. The historians who compiled these accounts faced challenges due to the lack of and incomplete nature of the available materials. Despite their best efforts to fill in the gaps, some parts remain incomplete, reflecting the challenges and limitations of recording history during specific periods.
Although there may be some deficiencies and shortcomings in these historical records, 2 Kings, along with Chronicles, remains a crucial document for understanding the history of Israel. Combined with the books of Samuel, which recount the story before David ascended the throne, these texts provide us with a relatively complete picture of Israel's 400-year history, showing their rise from David to Solomon's peak, followed by the mistakes of subsequent kings that led to the division of the kingdom into the Northern and Southern kingdoms.
This period of history is filled with many lessons and reveals human weaknesses. Even the chosen people of God, the Israelites, were not immune to the corruption of sin, ultimately leading to their downfall. These records serve not only as a review of history but also as a warning for us today, reminding us how to avoid repeating the same mistakes and to seek God's guidance in times of difficulty.
Within this historical narrative, we can see many important lessons. First, God promised David that one of his descendants would sit on the throne forever. However, from a historical perspective, no king fully realized this promise. Does this mean that God's prophecy was flawed?
Consider Solomon, who, in his youth, asked God for wisdom and became the wisest person in the world. God also granted him immense resources, wealth, a prosperous kingdom, and many wives. Yet, as Solomon grew older, he engaged in many actions that went against God's will and the faith he upheld in his youth. For example, Solomon built a large army, married foreign women, and used forced labor to construct his kingdom. These actions violated God's requirements for the kings of Israel and laid the foundation for Israel's eventual decline.
Throughout this history, we also see numerous invasions by foreign nations and the repentance and return to God by some kings, while others completely ignored God's teachings. These historical lessons are not only applicable to Israel but to all of human history. God's promises and warnings are fulfilled throughout history, reminding us that His words are trustworthy and that straying from His path will ultimately lead to destruction.
Therefore, we must not only learn from Israel's history but also reflect on our own lives. This history reminds us that even those chosen by God can fall into decline due to pride and deviation. This serves as a warning to each of us and to every generation, urging us to walk humbly in God's ways and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Amid this seemingly hopeless history, we still see that God has hidden a glimmer of hope. God's prophecy did not fail because, from David's lineage, there ultimately arose an eternal King—Jesus Christ, who is our true Messiah and Savior. He is not the kind of king humanity expected, but the true King promised by God.
God also promised that Israel would eventually return to Him, coming before Him as His people. This promise applies not only to the nation of Israel but also to all Christians who come to God with the same faith as Abraham. These faithful believers can also become spiritual Israelites.
When we read and understand both the Old and New Testaments together, we can fully grasp that God's will has never failed. His plan has always been prepared for all of us from the beginning. Through this comprehensive view, we see God's faithfulness and His unchanging love, all of which are fully realized in Jesus Christ.
So, when we begin reading 2 Kings, we first encounter a fascinating story—the story of Israel's fiery prophet, Elijah. From his victories and weaknesses to how he passed on his mission to Elisha, and the subsequent events, we are not merely reading Israel's historical record but also reflecting on God's promises and the prophecies hidden in the Old Testament.
These prophecies all point to the future—to Jesus Christ. When we read this history with that perspective, we find that this book is no longer filled with despair but reveals many hidden hopes. These hopes help us understand that God's plan has always been in place and is fully realized in Jesus Christ.
Thank you all for listening, lets delve into the reading of chapter 1 of 2 Kings tomorrow.
Comments