對很多人，包括我自己來講，有時候我們總不能相信神真的只看我們內心是否誠誠實實地堅持敬拜神。

神當然給了信徒許多的使命和工作。我們也當然地要做好它們，這是我們的份，是真的。

但是是否做好了工作，就等於神無論如何都一定會看重我們，給我們更多自由、更多能力，好做更大的工作，神又會更大的喜悅我們呢？我看這是個誤解。

但神所看重的，是我們是否真正全人地尊祂的名為聖，而不是我們有多少工作，和工作是否做得夠好。

有時候我們會覺得就算自己堅持敬拜神而沒有把工作做好，就好像會使人有損，自己也很無面子似的。

但在我看來，真正的使人有損正正是相反的狀態：把很多的工作做得好像很好，而自己沒有堅持敬拜神，才會使他人有損，更傷害我們和神當中的那份生命關係。

反省： 

其實我可以放輕一點。

我也可以接受一個不理想的工作模式，因為工作不是我在神面前的價值衡量。

在工作之上，有我更加渴望的東西，所以我能夠變得更輕。

---

敬拜的事奉者與沒有敬拜的事奉者

敬拜：

- 讓心軟化

- 行動改變

- 有關鍵的事奉

- 能守主言

- 服侍神

- 感性的事奉

不敬拜：

- 隨心而行

- 沒有規範/ 虛假規範

- 只是在自己需要時才敬拜神

- 不能討神的喜悅

感謝主給教會廣傳福音的使命，又使我們經歷去見證神的信實。自一零年始，我們當中幾位信徒與其他教會的姊妹一起接觸南亞裔兒童，直到現在已有約兩年半了。當我們走出教會向不同文化的兒童表達福音時，一方面明白在限制裡等候神的重要，另一方面也看到神給了教會極豐富的屬靈資源–能夠在教會中認定神真是蒙福！

今年我們和兒童們經過了不少歡笑的時間。同時，我們也學習多走一步，開始租用社區中心活動室，嘗試和兒童一起玩，彼此學習。當中許多細節上都有神的帶領，值得我們細味和感恩。在歡樂的服侍以外，我想和大家分享兩個關於堅持的禱告經驗：

在事工裡，我們常常會面對兒童們的不接受和人的軟弱。不同文化的人相處時有很多果效和溝通上的落差，有時候我不禁想：兒童們若不願接受神，為何我們還要這樣費力呢？同時間，我又時會感到工作和其目的地距離很遠。之後有一天在禱告裡，我感受到我們所要做的，是要先建立一個群體空間，讓當中傾向接受主耶穌的和拒絕耶穌的兒童們先能夠和諧共處。即或那還未算是個教會，然而，那可以是一個神喜悅的轉化，也可以是旅途中的一個「中轉站」。這領受不單能夠使我釋懷，也同時挑戰我的既有想法：為何一定要保證「能收割」，才願意為主擺上呢？這個經驗讓我明白在旅途中的每一步尋求神帶領的重要。

另一個是關於自我形象的分享。曾在遇上挫折時，我感到我們的工作實在卑微，沒有剩下多少信心走下去。後來一個晚上我們一起為事工禱告時，腦海中浮現一幅像是耶穌進入馬大家的圖畫。在禱告中我感到主耶穌很願意和那些形象卑微的人一同參與福音的工作。這禱告更新了我對事工的看法，讓我得著堅持下去的意念。

讚美主，因祂在神家之中賜下豐碩的屬靈資產，又在神家以外顧念卑微人的禱告。盼望這成為你我的鼓勵。

一、 承受期望

經文：

“他們回答約書亞說，你所吩咐我們行的，我們都必行，你所差遺我們去的，我們都必去。我們從前在一切事上怎樣聽從摩西，現在也必照樣聽從你，惟願耶和華你的神與你同在，像與摩西同在一樣。無論甚麼人違背你的命令，不聽從你所吩咐他的一切話，就必治死他。你只要剛強壯膽。” (一章十六至十八節)

約書亞自摩西死後就要承受摩西帶領整個以色列民族進入迦南地的大任。從一章十六至十八節的話語中，我們看到他不單背負神的命令，也承受著一個民族性的期許。經文沒有描述出約書亞當時的心景，但是他應該明白以色列人期望他能夠和摩西帶領他們得到約旦河東的地土一樣去得著整個迦南地。

二、從看事情到看見神的帥領

經文：

“約書亞靠近耶利哥的時候舉目觀看，不料，有一個人手裡有拔出來的刀，對面站立，約書亞到他那裡，問他說，你是幫助我們呢，是幫助我們敵人呢。他回答說，不是的，我來是要作耶和華軍隊的元帥。約書亞就俯伏在地下拜，說，我主有甚麼話吩咐僕人。” (五章十四至十五節)

在得著耶利哥城之前，約書亞記記載了約書亞和神的使者相遇一事。由約書亞不認識所遇上的使者到明白他是上帝(所差來的使者)，可以相信這相遇是上帝為叫正在盡心思量「如何」可以得著耶利哥城的約書亞可以在這爭戰上倚靠上帝的帶領。約書亞在這事上的成長是源自神的啟示。

三、在求問神中明白隱藏的罪

經文：

“約書亞說，哀哉，主耶和華阿，你為甚麼竟領這百姓過約但河，將我們交在亞摩利人的手中，使我們滅亡呢，我們不如住在約但河那邊倒好。主阿，以色列人既在仇敵面前轉背逃跑，我還有甚麼可說的呢，迦南人和這地的一切居民聽見了，就必圍困我們，將我們的名從地上除滅，那時你為你的大名要怎樣行呢。” (七章七至九節)

在初戰艾城的失敗中，我們看見約書亞從不明白他們由勝(戰耶利哥)轉敗(戰艾城)的關鍵，以致要在耶和華面前大大地嘆息。約書亞作為一個民族的領袖，他難以承擔起保證所有以色列民都在處理當滅之物一事上都不干犯主耶和華。若神一直不把事情表露出來，相信約書亞在艾城的爭戰上總不能看見重新得勝的處理方式。

四、討罪之中不忘所託

經文：

“約書亞對亞干說，我兒，我勸你將榮耀歸給耶和華以色列的神，在他面前認罪將你所作的事告訴我，不要向我隱瞞。” (七章十九節)

當神把亞干在眾民中領到約書亞前的時候，若然約書亞仍然忿忿不平於初敗艾城的重責，相信他會傾向立時把亞干殺了以完成問責的要求。但從經文中我們可以看見約書亞沒有沉迷於討罪的一面，在執行刑責當中他仍然堅持自己是亞干的領袖，勸他堅持要將榮耀歸給耶和華，坦白承認所犯的罪。在這裡我們可以看見約書亞是個不忘託付的屬靈領袖。

五、憑信心勇於爭戰

經文：

“耶和華對約書亞說，不要怕他們，因為我已將他們交在你手裡，他們無一人能在你面前站立得住。約書亞就終夜從吉甲上去，猛然臨到他們那裡。” (十章八至九節)

耶和華對約書亞說，你不要因他們懼怕，明日這時，我必將他們交付以色列人全然殺了，你要砍斷他們馬的蹄筋，用火焚燒他們的車輛。於是約書亞率領一切兵丁，在米倫水邊突然向前，攻打他們。” (十一章六至七節)

若然約書亞記開首耶和華對約書亞的說話往往教讀者認為約書亞是個膽怯的領袖，這兩後相關經文相信至少能使他們相信這個「膽怯」的約書亞已經有了大大的改變。這兩埸意義重大的爭戰中，約書亞和以色列人能夠得勝的其中一個關鍵就是他們主動突擊敵人。這是膽怯的領袖難以完成的挑戰。

六、以民族同胞的利益先於個人利益

經文：

“以色列人按著境界分完了地業，就在他們中間將地給嫩的兒子約書亞為業，是照耶和華的吩咐，將約書亞所求的城，就是以法連山地的亭拿西拉城，給了他，他就修那城，住在其中。” (十九章四十九至五十節)

經文裡面說到約書亞是先完成了以色列支派的分地，然後才為自己求所屬的地土。而且他所求的也不像是著名的城都，而是一個仍待修葺的城。經文也顯示修那城的，就是約書亞自己。他沒有以自己領袖的位份用作優先得利的借口。

七、堅定作耶和華的僕人

 經文：

“...至於我，和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。” (二十四章十五節下)

“這些事以後，耶和華的僕人嫩的兒子約書亞，正一百一十歲就死了。” (二十四章二十九節)

約書亞記開首說明約書亞是要繼續摩西的工作，而書的末段同以「耶和華的僕人」去稱呼約書亞相信是對這個繼承職任的一個肯定。在得迦南地一事仍未完全實現，而以色列人能否長久認定神也似乎仍是懸念的狀況下，約書亞作出了一個極具模範性的宣告：「至於我，和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華」。或者一個領袖總有行事上的不完全，但是我們從中可看到這志向是很充分的展現在約書亞一生的不同事件之中，這實在是成熟的屬靈領袖該學習的對象。

八、個人提醒

每個信徒起初時都難以曉得神所託負給自己的是一個怎樣的責任。在整個約書亞記中，我們可以看到一個屬靈領袖需要看到的不是那個責任有多大，而是要知道神在當中的應許是否和所託付於領袖的相稱。若然神的應許在我們的份上顯為充份，我們就當要傚法約書亞，一生堅定作耶和華的僕人。相信主必親自叫這些人成長起來。

Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance;

the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.

But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

---

And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families;

even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.

And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:  And it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadesh-barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a campass to Karkaa:

From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt;

and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast.

And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan.

And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan:  And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah;

and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:  And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at En-rogel:  And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite;

the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:

And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron;

and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim:

And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah: And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel;

and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof.

This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

And the uttermost cities of the tribes of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-palet, And Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjothjah, Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah, And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages: And in the valley, Eahtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah, And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam, Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah, And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim;

fourteen cities and their villages:

Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad, And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages: Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, And Jiphtah, and Achzib, and Nezib, And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah;

nine cities with their villages:

Ekron, with her towns and her villages: From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages: Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir, And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh;

eleven cities with their villages:

Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, And Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah, And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, and Zior;

nine cities with their villages:

Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah, And jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah;

ten cities with their villages:

Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor, And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon;

six cities with their villages:

Kirjath-ball, which is Kirjath-jearim, and Rabbah;

two cities with their villages:

In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah, And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi;

six cities with their villages.

As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out:

but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

--

And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel.

And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth, And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gezer:

and the goings out thereof are at the sea.

So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

--

There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh;

for he was the firstborn of Joseph;

to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead:

because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families;

for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida:

there were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.

But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters:

and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, the LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren.

Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities;

but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute;

but did not utterly drive them out.

-

And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us:

and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power:

thou shalt not have one lot only:

But the mountain shall be thine;

for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down:

and the outgoings of it shall be thine:

for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.
--

And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families:

and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.

And their border on the north side was from Jordan;

and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up to the side of Jericho;

and the border went up through the mountains westward;

and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward;

and the border descended to Ataroth-adar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Beth-horon.

And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Beth-horon southward;

and the goings out thereof were at Kirjath-baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, a city of the children of Judah:

this was the west quarter.

And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:

And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on teh south, and descended to En-rogel, And was drawn from the north, and went forth to En-shemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, and passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:

And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward:

and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan:

this was the south coast.

And Jordan was the border of it on the east side.

This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.

Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, And Avim, and Parah, Ophrah, And Chephar-hammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:

Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, And Mizeph, and Chephirah, and Mozah, And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath;

fourteen cities with their villages.

This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families:

and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.

And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah, And Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem, And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah, And Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah, And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen;

thirteen cities and their villages:

Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan;

four cities and their villages:

And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramath of the south.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.

Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of Simeon:

for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them:

therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families:

and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:

And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;

And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar to Neah;

And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon:

and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el:

And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem:

twelve cities with their villages.

This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.

And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, and Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath, and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, and Remeth, and En-grannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez;

And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh;

and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan:

sixteen cities with their villages.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.

And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, and Alammelech, and Amad, and Mis-heal;

and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;

And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, and Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;

And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre;

and the coast turneth to Hosah;

and the outgoings thereof are the sea from the coast to Achzib:

Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob:

twenty and two cities with their villages.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.

And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon-tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.

And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth, and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, and Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor, and Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh;

nineteen cities with their villages.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh, and Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, and Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, and Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon, and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.

And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these these cities with their villages.

When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them;

according to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim:

and he built the city, and dwelt therein.

These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

So they made an end of dividing the country.
(19:51)

(to be completed)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_131695&feature=iv&src_vid=5AwhhaCrSrI&v=nvwX8Lb_yGs

I believe I will conclude "Hitman - Absolution" as GOTY at the end of this Dec.

Shall it be equivalent to the "best game ever", give the technology is much advanced now?

Surely most of you don't play video game.  Still, listen to the interview(s) is a good way to know why something is considered outstanding in a category while the others are not.

Source:

http://lyricstranslate.com

But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Archan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

And Joshua sent men from the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country.

And the men went up and viewed Ai.

And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai;

and make not all the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and because as water.

And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up;

wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commended them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before the enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof;

and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households;

and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.

And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes;

and the tribe of Judah was taken: And he brought the family of Judah;

and he took the family the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man;

and Zabdi was taken: And he brought his household man by man;

and Achan, the soon of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him;

and tell me now what thou hast done;

hide it not from me.

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them;

and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent;

and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.

And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us?

the Lord shall trouble thee this day.

And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day.

So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger.

Wherefore the name of the place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

這章主要是關乎以色列人當年在艾城的失敗和亞干 (Achan) 犯罪。

我想和大家分享當中一些正面的地方。

"And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him;

and tell me now what thou hast done;

hide it not from me."

這章的背境嚴肅，關乎到以色列人整個遷居約旦河西行動的成敗。

O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

這可以是整個民族的不歸路。

約書亞作為帶領者，他如何作出最佳的回應？

他相信主耶和華才是他們勝敗的關鍵。

在這時刻，他沒有裝作道德判官，立時就把亞干殺了；

他仍看自己是亞干的帶領者，仍然向他盡責；

按自己所相信的教導亞干作正確的事。

(今日我們仍願對罪人/ 我們看為不好的人盡忠嗎？我想不！)

一個罪人的出路，原來並不是立時的毀滅，也不是想辦法去逃避刑責。

從約書亞的話我們能明白，一個罪人的出路，是轉回，榮耀神，向那全能者坦白，不再隱藏。

原來承認自己的罪，能夠顯出神的榮耀。

當刑罰來時，本性使我們傾向憎厭刑罰和那判罰者。

可是在判刑中，我們曾否想像這以色列的領袖也有其恩慈一面？

我們多因結果而判斷全部，但我看這正是個「結果不等於全部」的例子。

如果我們單因亞干受刑而說他是敗壞到底，又或因約書亞判刑而想他是個狠心的領袖，我們可能已看不見那細微的叙述了。

亞干作為一個犯了死罪的人也能夠肩負起榮耀神的責任。

或者，你的屬靈領袖也總能給你相同的問題：你願意榮耀上帝嗎？

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them;

 and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

就是這個觸動了我想講的 - 亞干的可取之處。

這個犯人有什麼特別？

面對死亡，他可以狡辯，投機地去爭取存活。

可這個人作出了另一選擇 – 坦白。

這真是個非常選擇。

我本性上覺得「死」就是所有事情的終結，所以人理所當然地可以用「避免死亡」作他最忠於生命的決策準則。

可是亞干的選擇啟發了我：原來死不一定是終結，就是死亡臨到，原來也不能阻止一個人坦然自對自己，甚至是面對那審判主。

另一方面，在這民族困境中，他也願意選擇順服領袖，為自己的民族著想，承認自己的罪。

看擺這章，我想亞干或者比我更誠實，向領袖比我更順服。

我有什麼資格可以認為他不配去使神得榮耀呢？

(Side Note: Choices of Achan

1. Confess - So Joshua and the Israelite would know our LORD is faithful and indeed given them this very time to seek HIS forgiveness;

2. Denial - Israelite had not sinned against our LORD in the war with Ali.  Our LORD abandoned Israelite against HIS promises to their ancestors - by denial our LORD could not be given the glory.)

---

Another remarks: 

And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

作為一個沒完整領土的民，亞干有什麼缺乏呢？

貪本身見證了我們的不義。

一方面是我們意圖使人虧損。然而，這也是由於一個人從神裡得了許多供應仍然不能感恩，或仍然不能被滿足，以致不滿足到一個地步，好像神從來沒有滿足這個人似的 – 這就是這罪的另一面。

And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho.

And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out of the country.

And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house;

for they be come to search out all the country.

And the women took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out;

whither the men went I wot not:

pursue them quickly;

for ye shall overtake them.

But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt;

and what ye did unto the two kings of Amorites, that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destoryed.

And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lets the pursuers meet you;

and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

And the men said unto here, We will be blameless of this thine oath which  thou hast made us swear.

Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quite of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

And she said, According unto your words, so be it.

And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.

So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land;

for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

從喇合和其他耶利哥城的居民對以色列人來奪地的反應的比較，我們可以看到不少重點：

(to be completed)

「他們這麼不聽話怎能夠信耶穌？」

我對這類的潛台詞感到極其忿怒。對，我很激動。

容得下這樣的意識，無怪乎香港人/ 香港意識強烈的教會多數是那樣的暮氣沉沉 教會能夠有生氣嗎？

這是在說什麼？

不如說：「我這個罪人怎能夠知道世上有赦罪的上帝？」

對，或者我今日之所以信了耶穌，只是因為我很聽話而已。

你想的對。

我是太重視理念，太信神的言語都比世人的好多了。

我是偏激，偏激得為了堅持信念而衝向失敗；我偏激得為了信聖經而放棄前途。

我昨天那被人稱許的偏激今天反而倒成了叫人搖首的笑談了？

我想，或者世上真的有很多人沒有罪而學到了聖經真理，又有很多人沒有經歷恩典也能夠信主。

Come on.  If we believe so deeply that there is a way of salvation to the more worthy, while those who are less worthy should walk the "lesser path" instead, then why, as one just think oneself is different, get to plan for the salvation of the lesser people?  Why must we believe what we are told as a better person is the only way to a holy life of those who are lesser?

心懷這種心態，那我也呈強的說，這樣的人是不配經歷神蹟的！

我知道我很暴躁，我知道我(在這裡)是過激。

但我知道我的情緒在那個時候告訴了我，那話的潛台詞是什麼。

這些東西總不會蠢得自己浮上水面上。

但我深沉的情感卻總要，在這小小的角落，把這些污濁都要給蒸發掉。

對，我要讓你們看見那潛藏的瘋狂。

我可以容下失敗。

對，我是失敗的。

但我容不下意志(或意氣，你喜歡怎說也可)被蒙蔽在花言巧語裡，容不下意志被蒙蔽於這人云亦云的瘋狂裡。

Spare my rage, Lord.

---

後記：

第二天是星期日，感到講道的內容和自己的生命很有關係。

我相信神同在，我相信祂明白。

感謝主。

另一方面，我也無任何自義的空間。

我知道，再好的辯辭也不能勝過神。

唯求主幫助我走祂的路。

----

舉目低頭，謙卑自義。

嗯...。

現在更加感受到生之為人所擁有的自由實在是極大的。

(可能因為我生於香港吧)

由於這年紀已經不再有以往許多的約束，我發現原來我在這個階段是多麼的自由。

每每我想到自己從神來的恩典到今天是這樣的大時，迥異於年少時，反而我更打從心底裡想珍惜現在所有。

若我相信一切美事由神而生，我知道我傾向要自己去活好一個聖潔的生命，因為我明白罪才會帶來綑綁，屬神的人有聖潔的自由。

我知道誰是自身自由的最大敵人：那就是人本所不情願的生產作業。這才是現實上的不自由。

(Strangely, this was also told by my father.)

(但這敵人並不是非法的。從創世紀所記我們就能知道，這是神所容許的。)

這當然是我們每個人都明白的事情。但我想記的是原來我過去沒有足夠地去重視節約和我生之為人的自由的莫大關係。

今天我們工作不再是多付出等於多收獲；

今天我們知道多投資不一定會多回報(或者你未知吧，哈哈。)；

今天我們知道多花費不等於多快樂。

但是我若尊重神教導我們要節制，我若曉得我可以因為神同在而滿足，我會有很大的機會可以藉著尊重神和節約而去得到多一點的自由，多一點的生命。

我若在生活中有多一份的節約，極有可能為自己有限(七十歲？八十歲？)的人生爭取到幾年時間的自由。你不能說幾年是小數目啊！

我知道我有點遲。但我也知道過去我也有很多「不節約」的限制。無論我成功與否，我知道：我心裡渴望自由！

主啊，容我看見在你裡面有真自由。阿們。

(As a side note: many locals want to achieve financial freedom.  But, what is it when one get it without believing God? I would reckon, a financial freedom without Jesus Christ will bring another obsession, which will just cancel out all the "freedom" one can attain financially.  Believe it or not!)