2024 上半年讀經進度表
各位弟兄姊妹，平安。今天的讀經進度是申命記的4章15-31節。
上帝一開始所提到的就是禁止拜偶像這件事情。為什麼這件事情這麼嚴重呢？這也是在十誡中的第一誡：唯有我是你的神，不可有別的神。接下來說的是不可雕刻偶像，但還是不可妄稱耶和華你神的名。這一個拜偶像的事情為什麼這麼嚴重，上帝要特別提出來一直講呢？
首先是關於上帝的形象，上帝是不能被東西物質給限制的存在，無法被形容無法被以語言去描述。當我們嘗試的用任何的方式去把上帝固化成為一個雕像、一個偶像、一個形象的時候，其實都是在冒犯上帝的本性以及他的原則，因為就算我們所看見再偉大的東西，天地日月，山川大海，但是就連這一切都只是上帝手所作的 "小東西" 而已，所以我們不能夠把上帝跟任何的東西來相提並論，因為當我們這麼作的時候，我們就是把上帝的地位降格。
這裡所提到的當時的迦南地呢，是充滿了偶像充滿了異教的崇拜。而這些，一這裡面有像很多邪惡的儀式，比如說用兒女獻祭給他們的假神，或者是用性行為跟他們的祭司來敬拜等等，這都是一些非常邪惡，非常可怕的行為。所以為什麼上帝在當時這麼嚴格地訂定以色列人不能夠跟這些人一樣。當以色列人被污染的話，那麼他們就會一起去做邪惡得罪上帝的事情。當然，雖然上帝這麼諄諄教誨以色列人，終究他們還是走偏了。在後來的歷史中，他們跟當地的有一些人通婚，有的時候把當地的宗教帶進來，以至於犯下許多罪行。這就是上帝不斷地警告他們，但是他們依然去犯的錯誤。在25節說：你們在那裡住久了生子生孫，就雕刻偶像，彷彿什麼形象，敗壞自己。
24節這邊提到一個名為"The Lord your God is a consuming fire, a Jealous God"的詞，而中文翻譯叫忌邪的神。當我們去思考什麼叫做忌邪的神，打個比方很簡單就是丈夫和妻子的關係。若在婚姻中有人背叛，那這是對另一方最痛苦、最難被原諒的一種罪。因為上帝是全然聖潔，無法忍受邪惡的錯誤行為。雖然以色列人後來還是不斷犯錯，摩西在此也安慰以色列人，他們終將歸回上帝，而上帝是憐憫的神，總不撇下他的子民，也不忘記他和亞伯拉罕所立的約。
其實這也是一個預表，預表了基督徒和屬世的文化。屬世的文化是非常有影響力的一個染缸，當我們進入到這個染缸之中的時候，想要完全不被沾染是非常困難的。以色列人雖然是懷著上帝滿滿的話語，和對神滿滿的信心進入迦南地的，但是一旦與這些人來往的時，多多少少還是被他們所沾染，終究被帶遠離了自己的信仰。這都是一個值得我們警戒的事情。基督徒不能夠輕鬆面對世界上的誘惑，而是要嚴肅面對，因為這些誘惑就是無孔不入，潛移默化地去改變我們的思想和信仰。
在今天的時代裡面，什麼叫做偶像這個字有的時候我們可能不是那麼容易理解。 很多時候我們以為我們要拜個什麼東西這才叫做拜偶像，但是當我們去理解到"不可有偶像"的時候，其實就是把任何東西代替上帝，把任何東西代替上帝的時候，這個就成為了我們的偶像。
最容易產生偶像的就是金錢，我們很容易把金錢當作偶像，我們不斷地去服侍金錢。有的時候也可能把權力當成偶像，我們認為我們要擁有什麼樣的地位、什麼樣的能力才是成功的。有可能我們把事業當成偶像，我們為事業付出一切，把它看得比上帝還重。甚至有一種很難察覺到的，我們把所愛的人當成偶像，可能是我們的孩子，可能是我們的配偶，可能是我們的父母。當我們把人看得比上帝還重要的時候，其實這就是一個偶像崇拜，而當我們沒有把上帝放在上帝的位子上的時候，其實這就是危險的開始。
對偶像崇拜這件事情，甚至還有一個可能性 - 是把自己放在上帝的位置，覺得自己的觀點是重要的，覺得自己的意志是更重要的，覺得自己的私慾是比上帝的話語更重要的。這件事情是非常困難發現，但是很容易發生的。
我自己就有過這樣一段經歷。當我把我的意思高舉過神的話語的時候，我所得到的都是壓力跟痛苦。當我要求上帝照我的意思去行的時候，上帝其實還有祝福我，只不過我得到的痛苦難過的事情，這叫做自討苦吃。我沒有謙卑地去聽上帝的聲音，我沒有謙卑的去學習上帝的話語。所以我說找到的苦頭是自找的。當我們回到上帝面前，我們才能明白耶穌在馬太福音11:30說的：因為我的軛是容易的，我的擔子是輕省的。」因為世界給你的擔子是艱難困苦，而且並不在意你的。
不可拜偶像，這是上帝一而再而三強調的原則，也是基督徒該隨時警惕的一點。感謝各位的聆聽，我是馬克。
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Today's reading passage is from Deuteronomy chapter 4, verses 15-31.
God begins by emphasizing the prohibition of idol worship. Why is this matter so serious? It is also the first commandment in the Ten Commandments: "You shall have no other gods before me." Following that, it is stated that you shall not make any graven image, nor misuse the name of the Lord your God. Why is idol worship such a grave sin that God repeatedly mentions it?
Firstly, it's about the nature of God. God is an existence that cannot be limited by material things; He cannot be depicted or described in human language. When we attempt in any way to solidify God into an image, an idol, or a form, we are actually offending God's nature and His principles. Even though we might consider great things like the heavens, the earth, the sun, the moon, mountains, and rivers as majestic, all of these are still considered by God as "small things" created by His hand. Therefore, we cannot equate God with anything, as doing so would diminish His status.
Here, it is mentioned that the land of Canaan at that time was filled with idol worship and pagan practices. These practices included evil rituals such as sacrificing their own children to false gods or engaging in sexual acts as a form of worship with their priests, among other abominable behaviors. Therefore, God was very strict in commanding the Israelites not to follow in the ways of these people. If the Israelites were contaminated by these practices, they would also commit wicked sins against God.
Despite God's earnest teachings and warnings, the Israelites eventually went astray. In their history, they intermarried with the locals, introduced some of the local religions, and committed many sins. This is why God repeatedly warned them, but they continued to make mistakes.
In verse 24, there is a reference to "The Lord your God is a consuming fire, a Jealous God." This phrase is translated as "忌邪的神" in Chinese. When we think about what it means to have a jealous God, we can draw a simple analogy to the relationship between a husband and wife. If someone betrays their spouse in a marriage, it is one of the most painful and unforgivable sins against the other party. This is because God is entirely holy and cannot tolerate evil or sinful behavior. Even though the Israelites continued to make mistakes, Moses comforts them by saying that they will eventually return to God, and God is a merciful God who will not abandon His people and will remember the covenant He made with Abraham.
This is actually a foreshadowing of the relationship between Christians and the secular culture. The secular culture can be a very influential environment, and when we enter this environment, it can be challenging not to be influenced by it. Just as the Israelites, who entered the land of Canaan with God's words and faith, were somewhat contaminated by the people they interacted with, we can also be led away from our faith in the presence of secular temptations. This is something we should be cautious about. Christians cannot take the temptations of the world lightly but must face them seriously because these temptations can infiltrate and gradually change our thoughts and beliefs.
In today's age, the concept of "idol" may not always be easy for us to understand. We often think that we need to worship something specific to be practicing idolatry. However, when we understand "You shall have no idols" in the broader sense, it means replacing God with anything else. When we replace God with anything else, that becomes our idol.
The most common idols can be wealth or money. We easily make money our idol by constantly serving it. Sometimes, power can become an idol as we seek certain positions or abilities that we believe define success. Career can also become an idol when we prioritize it above everything else. Even in a less obvious way, we can turn loved ones into idols, whether it's our children, spouses, or parents. When we value people more than God, it's a form of idol worship, and it can be dangerous when we do not keep God in His rightful place.
Absolutely, there's also the possibility of placing ourselves in the position of God in idol worship, thinking that our own perspectives, will, and desires are more important than God's word. This can be very difficult to recognize but can easily happen.
I've had my own experiences with this. When I elevated my own will above God's word, all I experienced was pressure and distress. When I insisted on doing things my way, God didn't withhold His blessings, but I ended up with pain and suffering – a form of self-inflicted hardship. I failed to humble myself to listen to God's voice and learn from His word. So, the bitterness I found was of my own making. It's only when we return to God and humble ourselves that we can understand what Jesus meant in Matthew 11:30: "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The burdens the world places on us are difficult and don't care about us.
"You shall have no idols" is a principle that God emphasizes repeatedly and is something Christians should always be vigilant about. Thank you all for listening. This is Mark.
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