旧约 - 约书亚记(Joshua)第1章

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:
"Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites.
I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west.
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:
"Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'"
But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
"Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.'
Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers
until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise."
Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses.
Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"
约书亚记第一章   第 1 章 

  书 1:1> 以色列的第一位领袖摩西去世了,新一代成长了,他们要…… 

  1:1 约书亚记始于以色列人在应许之地的边缘,就是在约旦河东安营之时。那时,摩西刚辞世不久,他们为他哀哭的日子也满了(参申 34:7-8 )。在三十九年以前(就是从前在西奈山用一年时间,领受了神的律法以后),他们本来有机会进入应许之地,却因为不信神能使他们得胜,所以神不让他们进入,要以色列人在旷野飘流,直到这悖逆的一代全都死去。 

  他们在旷野飘流时,接受并遵行神的律法,并且教导下一代的人谨守,好叫他们能进入应许之地(也称为迦南地)。年轻的一代长大以后,领袖叫他们牢牢记住,对神信而顺服就必得胜,不然就会自取其祸。在老一代的人死尽,新一代的人长大成人时,他们就整装待发,要去占领渴望已久的应许之地。 

  书 1:1-5> 约书亚作领袖不是无缘无故的,也不是照人的意思── 

  1:1-5 约书亚接替摩西,作以色列人的领袖。他有什么才华可以领导以色列全族呢?( 1 )是神所指派的(参民 27:18-23 )。( 2 )他曾目睹神给埃及降十灾,释放百姓脱离为奴之地,而他更是仅存的两个见证人之一。( 3 )他作摩西的助手达四十年。( 4 )在窥探迦南地的十二探子之中,只有他与迦勒深信神必能叫他们占领那地。 

  书 1:2> “现在你要起来”,──如果神向你这样说,你会…… 

  1:2 约书亚曾协助摩西多年,所以他已准备就绪,来担当民族领袖的大任。领袖的更易,在许多机构中乃是常事。新旧交替之际,要想建立新领导层,就必须平稳过渡。新领袖必须受到训练,才会有卓越的政绩。如果你现在居于领导地位,请你开始准备物色接班人。这样,当你离开或升职的时候,他就会有迹可循,不至于政因人废。如果你立志将来作领导人,现在就要向别人学习借镜,一旦准备妥当,机会来临,便可以接班挑大梁了。 

  1:5 约书亚的新任务,包括率领二三百万人,全面攻占一块陌生的土地。即使对约书亚这样能干的人来说,这也是个极大的挑战。如果离了神,前面的任务会使人胆战心惊;而有神帮助的话,却能成为伟大的冒险和尝试。神怎样与约书亚同在,当我们面对新挑战的时候,祂也要怎样与我们同在。我们虽不是去征服列国,但是每天都要克服困难的情势,应付问题的人物,面对不同的试探。神应许过永不撇下我们,必要帮助我们。求祂帮助,就能胜过人生的许多挑战。 

  书 1:6-8> 顺利亨通的秘诀何在? 

  1:6-8 许多人以为顺利亨通是由于有权有势,又与权贵相交,力求出人头地所致。但是神教导约书亚的亨通之路,却正好相反。祂吩咐约书亚,要成功就必须,( 1 )刚强壮胆,因为摆在他前面的任务并不容易。( 2 )遵行神的律法。( 3 )恒久阅读查考这律法──神的话语。要想顺利,就要听从神对约书亚讲的一切话。按世人的标准来说,你可能不是成功的人,但在神眼中,你却是成功的人──祂的看法才是永久的。 

  约书亚 

  攻取应许地 

  书 1:12-15> 答应别人的事情,不管过了多久也要兑现,我有没有开过空头支票? 

  1:12-15 吕便、迦得和玛拿西半支派的人,曾在一年前要求摩西准许他们住在约旦河以东之地。那是极其美好的草原,可以牧放牲畜。摩西提出一个条件,要他们帮助其他支派攻占河西的应许之地,等以色列人攻下全地以后,他们才可以回去。现在是他们实践诺言的时候了。 

  书 1:13> 神的子民有了安息之所,我们的安息之所在── 

  1:13 神使百姓得享平安。对于一生颠沛流离的人来说,实在是大喜讯。从前没有自己土地的人,现在有了自己的地界,并且能在那里定居享“安息”! 

  书 1:16> 完成神的计划需要众人合作,在这方面你通常做得怎样? 

  1:16 如果人人都想用自己的方法来攻占应许之地,必然一片混乱。要想完成攻地的大计,各人都要依从领袖的计划,通力合作,听他号令。要完成神所赐的任务,就必须全心顺服祂的部署,遵守祂的命令,按神所定的法则而行。想顺服神的计划,既要领悟祂的心意(全记在圣经中),又要在日常生活中实践出来。 

  书 1:18> 我一向胆小,畏首畏尾,怎么克服? 

  1:18 神指派约书亚继摩西之后领导百姓,祂三次吩咐约书亚要刚强壮胆( 1:6-7 , 9 )。而这一节是百姓给约书亚的同样勉励。他显然已将神的话藏在心里,并在与神亲密相交中获得了力量与勇气。当你畏怯不前,不敢做当做的事情时,请记住,从神那里随时能领受力量与勇气。──《灵修版圣经注释》