旧约 - 历代记下(2 Chronicles)第25章

Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.
But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.
Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.
Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.
Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?
And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.
Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.
So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.
And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.
And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.
历代志下第廿五章   第 25 章 

  代下 25:2> 心不专诚是许多信徒的弱点──只有小小不顺服也不可以? 

  25:2 亚玛谢表面行看为正的事,但心中常常不悦。他顺服神是出于勉强。先知告诉他神必施行拯救,他却埋怨用作招募以色列士兵的银子白白失去了( 25:9 )。他看军事胜利过于遵行神的旨意。我们要察验自己的心,除去一切不能顺服的原因,因为勉强遵从算不上真正顺服。 

  代下 25:9-10> 按照神的心意行事,可能带来某些利益损失,我该如何抉择? 

  25:9-10 亚玛谢与以色列的士兵立下协议,答应付他们银子,来为他争战( 25:6 )。但是因先知的警告,在军兵上阵以前,他虽付了他们银钱,也不得不打发他们回去。虽然他平白地损失大笔金钱,却明智地看出,金钱不足弥补他与以色列人联盟的恶果。你如果身处这种情势,你会怎样反应?金钱切不可成为绊脚石,防碍你择选正路。主的恩惠乃是无价之宝,远胜过无数的金银。 

  代下 25:14> 在攀越成功的巅峰时,也就是最易失脚的危险之际,因为── 

  25:14 亚玛谢得胜凯旋之后,竟向所掳获的神像献祭。我们在成功得意之日,极容易犯罪;踌躇满志、洋洋自得时,我们易失去警觉,撒但就使用各样的试探来攻击。在你得胜之时,务要警醒,登上峰巅之后,慎防跌入深谷。 

  代下 25:15> 在嘲笑以色列人的愚昧时,我是否也是在追求脆弱不堪的偶像? 

  25:15 亚玛谢敬拜他从以东掳来的偶像,实在愚不可及。由于赞赏以东的成就,他竟然敬拜他们的偶像,事奉被打败之仇敌的假神,真是何等愚蠢。我们追求金钱、权力、名声,就犯了和亚玛谢同样的错误。认识到追逐这些世俗的事尽属虚空,我们就不至贪慕世俗的东西。 

  代下 25:18> 谦虚是勇气与强盛的表现,而骄傲只是失败的前奏…… 

  25:18 以色列王约阿施用比喻,将犹大比作蒺藜,将以色列比作香柏树。亚玛谢因打败以东而骄傲,想再攻打以色列;约阿施警告他不要前去攻击,亚玛谢的野心大过能力,结果自食其果,被打得大败。不要让野心与骄傲闯进生命之中,使你忘记神。──《灵修版圣经注释》