A story about Saul

When I read about first Samuel ，like our soul,his name is Saul!

俄巴底亞書簡介與初步翻譯

OBADIAH

Poetic Justice

Obadiah gave the final word on a blood feud

The FEUD BEGAN WITH TWIN brother, Jacob and Esau. Esau, the older by minutes, would have inherited family leadership , but in a moment of hunger he traded it for a meal (Genesis 25:19-34). Jacob went on to become the founding father of the nation of Israel. Esau, a born hunter, moved southeast to desolate mountain country. He founded the nation of Edom.

Their descendants continued the quarrel. Over hundreds of years the two nations battled repeatedly but inconclusively. The Edomites’ capital. Sela. Sat on a high plateau above a sheer cliff; the only access was by a deep ravine. From that well-protected enclave, the Edomites raided Israel.

Though the Israelites had been commanded ,”Do not abhor an Edomite. For he is your brother”(Deuteronomy 23:7), they grew to regard the Edomites as cruel and heartless. Repeatedly the prophets predicted Edom’s punishment by God. The final straw came when Babylon dismembered Jerusalem and took its citizens into exile. The Edomites egged on the conquering army. Preyed on fleeing Israelites. And helped plunder Jerusalem. Psalm 137. One of the saddest passages in the Bible. Records the Israelite bitterness over this . As Esau had cared more for a meal than for the family name, so his descendants cared more for the profit they could get from plunder than for the compassion they owed a brother.

Fair Return for Cruelty

Obadiah predicts poetic justice for proud Edom: their treachery toward Judah (verses 11-12)repaid with treachery from their own allies (7), their robbery (13) repaid with robbery(5-6), their violence (10)with violence (9), their love of destruction (12-14) repaid with utter destruction (10,18). Obadiah predicts that downtrodden Israel will rise again, while Edom will disappear from the face of the earth.

This prediction came precisely true. Edom was destroyed, not by Israel but by a series of foreign invaders. The last remnant of Edomites were destroyed in the Roman siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.Ironically, the nation that had tormented Jews in Jerusalem later died defending that city.

Why does this blood feud earn a place in Scripture? It demonstrates God’s ongoing protection of his people from their enemies. It also shows that God’s standards extend beyond his chosen people. Every nation will be judged, like Edom, by their own standard:”As you have done, it will be done to you”(15).

How to read Obadiah

The shortest book in the Old Testament, Obadiah can easily be read and understood in one sitting. Many readers, however, have a hard time seeing the importance of this ongoing border feud between blood relatives.

A Bible dictionary can summarize the centuries of violence. Look under “Edom.” Perhaps, though, you can only fully appreciate Israel’s feelings by reflecting on your own when a close relative treats you cruelly. A family betrayal is uniquely offensive to God and humanity. Obadiah reminds us that justice will be done.

俄巴底亞書

給世代的血仇一個最終的答案

這樣的爭吵源自於一對孿生兄弟以掃和雅各,以掃由於比雅各早出生幾分鐘,他繼承了家族的領導權,但是因為一時的飢餓他用長子的名分交換了一餐飯(創世紀25:19-34),於是雅各成了以色列的建國之父,以掃這位天生的獵人,就只能在偏遠南端的山區,建立了以東國.

他們的後代繼續爭吵,幾百年來這兩個國家戰爭不斷,周而復始,以東國的首都西拉建立在陡峭山崖的平原上,只能由一條深邃的山谷進入,絕佳的防禦功能使以東時常侵襲以色列.

雖然以色列被教導”不可厭惡以東,因為他是你的兄弟.”(申命記23:7)但是以色列對以東的殘忍和無情有增無減,先知不斷的預言將有以東的刑罰從神而來,巴比倫將耶路撒冷撕碎就像是最後一根稻草一樣,造成了以色列民四處流亡,以東慫恿壓境的大軍洗劫以色列民並掠奪耶路撒冷城,詩篇137,聖經中最悲慘的記載,記錄了以色列民在這裡受盡的苦楚.正像以掃關注那一頓飯勝過長子的名分一般,他的子孫也一樣關注劫掠的利益勝過對身在苦難中弟兄的憐憫.

殘忍的報應

俄巴底亞書預言了驕傲的以東將受到因果報應,他背叛猶大(11節-12節),他的同盟國(7節)也背叛了他;搶劫者(13節)也被搶(5-6節);施行暴力者(10節)也被暴力(9節)對待,他們毀壞愛的盟約(12-14節),神也毀壞他們(10,18節). 俄巴底亞預測，受壓迫的以色列將再次上升，而以東將面臨消失在地球上.

這個預言應驗了.以東被毀滅了,不是由於以色列,乃是由於一系列的外國入侵者,最後殘留的以東人在主後70年被圍攻耶路撒冷城的羅馬軍隊毀滅了,諷刺的是:受盡痛苦折磨的耶路撒冷猶太人也因保護耶路撒冷城而犧牲了.

為什麼這樣血仇的事件能佔據聖經的一個版面呢?他證明了神在敵人環繞下不間斷的保護他的子民,它也顯明了神的標準適用在未來祂所揀選的子民,每一個國家都會被審判,像以東,屬於他的法則就是:你在別人身上做了甚麼事,別人也會對你做同樣的事!(15節)

如何閱讀俄巴底亞書?

舊約裡最短的一卷書,俄巴底亞是很容易閱讀和理解的,多數的讀者較不容易看到血親之間不間斷仇恨的重要性.

一本聖經字典參考書可以幫助我們看出這種世代暴力,也許你可以完全體會以色列人的感受, 當一個親人殘忍對待你時你可以按照屬於你天然的反應方式,家庭的背叛對神與人性而言,是一種獨特的冒犯.神透過俄巴底亞書提醒我們,審判終有一日會來臨.

用自己的話說聖經故事

My name is Miriam, My parents are Amram and Jochebed. Maybe we are nobody, but my younger brother is a famous person, His name is Moses! He is a great hero in Israelites. Maybe I am important, too. Because I saved Moses life when he was a baby. Let me tell you the story.

When Pharaoh gave the order to all his people:”All boy that is born from Israelites must throw into the Nile. “

It is so mean! When Moses was born, we hide him 3 months, when we could hide him no longer, we took an ark of bulrushes with asphalt and put the baby in it. We laid it in the river .I suddenly had a brainstorm. I should go and follow it!

Do you know what happen?

Pharaoh’s daughter seized this ark!

She had compassion on the baby. I saw it is a good opportunity, so I had the courage to say” Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?”

And the Pharaoh’s daughter said: go!

Then I called my mother to see Pharaoh’s daughter.

Pharaoh’s daughter said to my mom:

“Take this child away and nurse him for me. And I will give you your wages.”

So my mother had baby and money both!

If you think I am a smart girl, I am not at all! I prefer t o glorifying God and admire his name! God always have a great plan to his people!

4/28到台前講故事,我有點緊張,從頭念到尾!有點糗.但是仁慈的老師依舊給了好評,並建議如下:

1.難念的字可以用簡單的字表達,維持通暢.

2.常作此練習英文就會進步.

這幾天看大家說英語覺得很有趣而且編排得很好,鼓勵我帶著孩子讀英文看電影,如果他們學會以下10個單字的話,5/27要去看工夫熊貓第二集.並且練習這十個字:

1.movie theater 電影院

2.screen 銀幕

3.seat 座位

4.row 排

5.aisle 走道

6.3-D glasses 3D眼鏡

7.soft drinks 無酒精的飲料

8.popcorm 爆米花

9.movie ticket 電影票

10.movie poster 電影海報

句型:

問:What kinds of movies do you like?

答:I like action movies.