旧约 - 约书亚记(Joshua)第23章

And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.
Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.
And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
约书亚记第廿三章   第 23 章 

  书 23:6-13> 维持友情与坚持真道,有时真不知如何处理才好…… 

  23:6-13 约书亚知道国民的弱点。所以在他死前召聚百姓的领袖前来,给他们命令,帮助他们慎防最易疏忽的事:( 1 )谨守遵行写在摩西律法书上的一切话,不可偏离左右。( 2 )不可与异教之民搀杂,不可敬拜他们的神。( 3 )不可与异教之民通婚。当时这些引诱正蓄势待发,要来扰害以色列人。我们的人际交往,也能成为我们的试探。所以我们要在试探到来之前,先认识自己的弱点,加以防范,这才是明智之举。下一步就是寻找策略,胜过这些试探而不被他们所胜。 

  书 23:8> 身教重于言教,要求别人的自己做到了吗? 

  23:8 约书亚在临死以前招了以色列的首领来,给他们临别的鼓舞与嘱咐。他的全部信息,可以归结为“专靠耶和华你们的神”。他自己就是这句话活生生的见证和榜样,而他想把这个榜样留给他们。你希望别人因何事来纪念你呢?你希望能传留些什么给儿女及亲友?劝别人专心信靠神,让别人纪念你就是这样行的人,如此你就为后人留下了最好的遗产。 

  书 23:12-16> 神赐福气也降祸患,祂有忍耐,但不长久容忍犯罪,我们对待罪要…… 

  23:12-16 以色列人后来真的与迦南人通婚,约书亚所预言令人毛骨悚然的后果,不幸成为事实。在士师记之中,有许多故事讲到以色列人未能专心一意地顺服神,所以受了许多苦难。神过去以无比的大爱与忍耐,来对待以色列人,祂现在也是一样地对待世人。不过,我们不可把祂对我们的忍耐,当作祂悦纳罪恶,不理会人的犯罪作恶。我们要小心,不要一意孤行、放任到底,以免最后自食苦果。──《灵修版圣经注释》