主题查经 – 圣约（九）持守圣约(I)

注：原贴发在海外基督徒论坛圣经研读板块

主题查经 – 圣约（九）持守圣约(I)

主题查经–圣约（九）持守圣约 (这是持守之约的第一部分，第二部分稍候将继续）

现在让我们以祷告的心继续我们的圣约主题查经。今天让我们把学习的重点放在神的持守圣约上。感谢神用大能给人类建筑了稳固的立足之地，准备了人类可以各尽其能大展身手的广阔舞台。感谢神对我们这个物质世界的保守，让万物各尽其职，井然有序。感谢神继续保留这个物质世界，没有在您的震怒中将其毁灭，从而使人类能够在上面繁衍生息，等待最后的救赎，走向美好的未来。敬爱的天父，请您继续保守这个物质世界，为您的子女提供每日之需。同时请您开启我们的良知和智慧，理解您的计划和安排，与您同工同行，沿着您指引的路途一往无前。感谢祷告奉主基督的圣名。阿门！

我们在前一次查经中，理解了神的创世之功以及由此而来的人的圣约责任。神创世不久，人类始祖就犯了罪，把整个人类带入了罪的深渊。人类从此开始了背离神的光景。由于人类的罪行愈演愈烈，最后引起了神的震怒，决定把地球之上所有的生命毁灭。神的持守之约就是在这个背景下建立起来的。

由于神的持守之约的目的是保留和维护神创造的这个物质世界，所以我们安排紧跟着神的创造之约之后学习这个约。我们学习神的持守之约的目的是了解在人犯罪后以罪行污染了神创的世界，神把它保守下来，为以后的恢复计划留存了物质基础。

神的持守之约可以分成两个主要部分：一是自从创世开始的从未间断地对现有世界的维护；这种持守的主要方式是神在创世过程中把神的规律安置在物质世界中，如无例外，物质世界会在这些自然规律的作用下，保持正常，不违背神的旨意。若有必要，神有权也有能力进行干预，按神的旨意为所欲为。不管何时何地，没有任何东西可以限制神的作为。

神的持守之约的第二个部分就是本单元要讨论的内容：彩虹之约。彩虹之约是神用明确的立约语言和人类以及繁衍生息在这个地球上的一切生物的约定。彩虹之约同时包括整个大洪水过程的所有约定和行为。神正是通过这部分持守之约，才保证了人类和其它生命的延续。

我们今天的查经集中在对彩虹之约的理解上，主要经文是创世纪从第六章的第七节到第九章的第十七节。我们从第六章的第七节查起。

QUOTE:

合和本圣经

创世纪6：7 耶和华说：我要将所造的人和走兽，并昆虫，以及空中的飞鸟，都从地上除灭，因为我造他们後悔了。

8 惟有挪亚在耶和华眼前蒙恩。

9挪亚的後代记在下面。挪亚是个义人，在当时的世代是个完全人。挪亚与神同行。

10 挪亚生了三个儿子，就是闪、含、雅弗。

11 世界在神面前败坏，地上满了强暴。

12 神观看世界，见是败坏了；凡有血气的人在地上都败坏了行为。

13 神就对挪亚说：凡有血气的人，他的尽头已经来到我面前；因为地上满了他们的强暴，要把他们和地一并毁灭。

14 你要用歌斐木造一只方舟，分一间一间地造，里外抹上松香。

15方舟的造法乃是这样：要长三百肘，宽五十肘，高三十肘。

16方舟上边要留透光处，高一肘。方舟的门要开在旁边。方舟要分上、中、下三层。

17 看哪，我要使洪水泛滥在地上，毁灭天下；凡地上有血肉、有气息的活物，无一不死。

18 我却要与你立约；你同你的妻，与儿子儿妇，都要进入方舟。

19 凡有血肉的活物，每样两个，一公一母，你要带进方舟，好在你那里保全生命。

20 飞鸟各从其类，牲畜各从其类，地上的昆虫各从其类，每样两个，要到你那里，好保全生命。

21 你要拿各样食物积蓄起来，好作你和他们的食物。

22挪亚就这样行。凡神所吩咐的，他都照样行了。

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NASB Genesis

6：7 The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

10 Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12 God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.

13 Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

14 "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.

15 "This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.

16 "You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

17 "Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish.

18 "But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark--you and your sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

19 "And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.

20 "Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.

21 "As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them."

22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

现在让我们一起理解经文。

QUOTE:

创世纪6：7耶和华说：我要将所造的人和走兽，并昆虫，以及空中的飞鸟，都从地上除灭，因为我造他们後悔了。Genesis 6：7 The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."

神是不是真的后悔了？我觉得经文很清楚，而且确切地告诉了我们神后悔的原因：人背离了神的期望。但这不是我们要讨论的重点。什么是重点呢？神不满意，就要生气。神若震怒，后果当然很严重。什么后果？把所造之物除灭。没有什么比这更严重的了。

因此，这是持守之约的第一点：把违反神的旨意的被造之物从地球上除灭。

QUOTE:

8 惟有挪亚在耶和华眼前蒙恩。9挪亚的後代记在下面。挪亚是个义人，在当时的世代是个完全人。挪亚与神同行。8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

这是至关紧要的经文，若没有诺亚，人类的延续将成为问题。需要思考的事，诺亚，这位那个时代的唯一义人是怎样保持的？神知道他是义人，经文有明确说明；在那个世风日下的时代，靠诺亚自己能保证自己是义人吗？

持守之约的第二点：神认定诺亚是义人，为人类留下了希望。

QUOTE:

13 神就对挪亚说：凡有血气的人，他的尽头已经来到我面前；因为地上满了他们的强暴，要把他们和地一并毁灭。13 Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

神对诺亚，人类的代表，宣布了他对悖逆者的审判：从地球上除灭。这是违反神意的后果。

持守之约的第三点：神通过人类的代表宣布了他的判决。

QUOTE:

14 你要用歌斐木造一只方舟，分一间一间地造，里外抹上松香。15方舟的造法乃是这样：要长三百肘，宽五十肘，高三十肘。16方舟上边要留透光处，高一肘。方舟的门要开在旁边。方舟要分上、中、下三层。14 "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 "This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 "You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

神要求诺亚制造方舟。有两点需要注意：第一，神的指示很具体详细，在一定程度上反映了人类当时的指示和智慧水平还比较低。

第二，方舟在旧约中的重要地位和作用。在希伯来圣经中，有三次用到相当于方舟的希伯来文单词。另外两次分别为婴孩时摩西逃生用的摇篮和以色列人盛放三件圣物的木箱。这三个表示和方舟有关的场合都是以色列历史中的关键事件。

持守之约的第四点：神指令诺亚按规定制造方舟。

QUOTE:

18 我却要与你立约；你同你的妻，与儿子儿妇，都要进入方舟。18 "But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark--you and your sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

神明确他的立约意向。其内容是：诺亚和他的妻子，诺亚的三个儿子和三个儿媳，都要进入方舟。注意英文的用语：“shall”是命令式语气，不容违背。虽然，进入生命之舟，对诺亚一家绝对有利，但是涉及到神的计划，人类的未来，神不容有任何变数。

持守之约的第五点：神正式与诺亚立约：诺亚一家必须进入方舟。

QUOTE:

19 凡有血肉的活物，每样两个，一公一母，你要带进方舟，好在你那里保全生命。20 飞鸟各从其类，牲畜各从其类，地上的昆虫各从其类，每样两个，要到你那里，好保全生命。19 "And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 "Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.

这里和创世之初神对人的要求一致，人是被造万物之首，要对它们的生死存亡负责。这里的要求包括了所有有生命的被造物都要拯救，让它们进入生命之舟。具体要求是每样两个，一公一母，各从其类。这可不能含糊，否则问题很大。

持守之约的第六点：神要求诺亚对其它生命的拯救。

QUOTE:

21 你要拿各样食物积蓄起来，好作你和他们的食物。21 "As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them."

光有避水之地还不行，还要有吃的东西才能生存。神的指示很周到。细节可能还包括荤素搭配，各种食品各是多少等。方舟上的客人可不是一种口味，而且不经指点，量诺亚也没有洪水到底要经历多长时间的知识。总之，这个准备也非比寻常。

持守之约的第七点：神要求诺亚做好食物准备。

QUOTE:

22挪亚就这样行。凡神所吩咐的，他都照样行了。22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

诺亚的义行再次体现，或者说这段经文给诺亚为什么是义人提供了完美的注脚。“挪亚就这样行。凡神所吩咐的，他都照样行了。”如果换一个聪明人，恐怕要偷工减料了吧。那改变的后果是什么？大家自己去想。所以，神选诺亚必有其必然性。

持守之约的第八点：诺亚执行了神的命令。

现在我们做一下本章总结，看那些圣约条款已经完成，那些尚未完成。

持守之约的第一点：把违反神的旨意的被造之物从地球上除灭。状态：进行中

持守之约的第二点：神认定诺亚是义人，为人类留下了希望。状态：已完成

持守之约的第三点：神通过人类的代表宣布了他的判决。状态：已完成

持守之约的第四点：神指令诺亚按规定制造方舟。状态：已完成

持守之约的第五点：神正式与诺亚立约：诺亚一家必须进入方舟。状态：进行中

持守之约的第六点：神要求诺亚对其它生命的拯救。状态：进行中

持守之约的第七点：神要求诺亚做好食物准备。状态：已完成

QUOTE:

合和本圣经 创世纪

7：1 耶和华对挪亚说：你和你的全家都要进入方舟；因为在这世代中，我见你在我面前是义人。

2 凡洁净的畜类，你要带七公七母；不洁净的畜类，你要带一公一母；

3 空中的飞鸟也要带七公七母，可以留种，活在全地上；

4因为再过七天，我要降雨在地上四十昼夜，把我所造的各种活物都从地上除灭。

5挪亚就遵着耶和华所吩咐的行了。

6当洪水泛滥在地上的时候，挪亚整六百岁。

7挪亚就同他的妻和儿子儿妇都进入方舟，躲避洪水。

8洁净的畜类和不洁净的畜类，飞鸟并地上一切的昆虫，

9都是一对一对的，有公有母，到挪亚那里进入方舟，正如神所吩咐挪亚的。

10过了那七天，洪水泛滥在地上。

11当挪亚六百岁，二月十七日那一天，大渊的泉源都裂开了，天上的窗户也敞开了。

12四十昼夜降大雨在地上。

13正当那日，挪亚和他三个儿子闪、含、雅弗，并挪亚的妻子和三个儿妇，都进入方舟。

14他们和百兽，各从其类，一切牲畜，各从其类，爬在地上的昆虫，各从其类，一切禽鸟，各从其类，都进入方舟。

15凡有血肉、有气息的活物，都一对一对地到挪亚那里，进入方舟。

16凡有血肉进入方舟的，都是有公有母，正如神所吩咐挪亚的。耶和华就把他关在方舟里头。

17洪水泛滥在地上四十天，水往上长，把方舟从地上漂起。

18水势浩大，在地上大大地往上长，方舟在水面上漂来漂去。

19水势在地上极其浩大，天下的高山都淹没了。

20水势比山高过十五肘，山岭都淹没了。

21凡在地上有血肉的动物，就是飞鸟、牲畜、走兽，和爬在地上的昆虫，以及所有的人，都死了。

22凡在旱地上、鼻孔有气息的生灵都死了。

23凡地上各类的活物，连人带牲畜、昆虫，以及空中的飞鸟，都从地上除灭了，只留下挪亚和那些与他同在方舟里的。24水势浩大，在地上共一百五十天。
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Genesis

7: 1 Then the LORD said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.

2 "You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female;

3 also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth.

4 "For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made."

5 Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.

6 Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth.

7 Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood.

8 Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground,

9 there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

10 It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth.

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.

12 The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

13 On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark,

14 they and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, all sorts of birds.

15 So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life.

16 Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him.

17 Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth.

18 The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.

19 The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered.

20 The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.

21 All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind;

22 of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died.

23 Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark.

24 The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.

现在我们继续学习和讨论创世纪第七章。

QUOTE:

7：1 耶和华对挪亚说：你和你的全家都要进入方舟；因为在这世代中，我见你在我面前是义人。 Genesis 7: 1 Then the LORD said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.

这是神对诺亚的具体命令，是持守之约的组成部分。神在这里再一次强调诺亚的义人状态。为什么这里又强调一次？可以有两种解释：第一，凡是圣经里多次提及的都是特别重要的概念。诺亚是义人是其得救的核心价值。第二，到现在为止，诺亚又经过了制造方舟，洪水准备的过程，仍然是过硬的义人，久经考验，不改本色。所以神再次肯定。所以直到进入生命之舟以前，诺亚都是属神的人。

持守之约的第八点：神要求诺亚进入方舟。

QUOTE:

2 凡洁净的畜类，你要带七公七母；不洁净的畜类，你要带一公一母；3 空中的飞鸟也要带七公七母，可以留种，活在全地上；2 "You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; 3 also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth.

为什么这里是七公七母，而不是前面的一公一母？其实细读经文，前后对照，问题已经可以喝了解决。首先这里提到时只有洁净的才七公七母，不洁净的仍然是一公一母。洁净的是做什么用的？知道以色列历史和祭祀风俗的可知，那是对神献祭用的。第二，联系到创世纪8：20的诺亚用洁净的动物和飞鸟献祭就知道神的安排是多么严谨了。如果不是多带洁净的动物，好不容易逃过洪水之灾，又被用作燔祭，不是还会断绝吗？

持守之约的第九点：神要求诺亚把动物按确定的数量带入方舟。

QUOTE:

4因为再过七天，我要降雨在地上四十昼夜，把我所造的各种活物都从地上除灭。4 "For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made."

神向诺亚进一步宣布了他的惩罚计划，包括何时开始，持续多长时间，以及目的。如前所述，神的目的又一次重申。

持守之约的第十点：神向诺亚宣布了具体惩罚计划。

QUOTE:

5挪亚就遵着耶和华所吩咐的行了。5 Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.

诺亚的义行继续保持，体现在持续地严格遵守神的命令。这种前后一致性保证了神的计划的完成。

持守之约的第十一点：诺亚继续遵行神的指令。

QUOTE:

6当洪水泛滥在地上的时候，挪亚整六百岁。7挪亚就同他的妻和儿子儿妇都进入方舟，躲避洪水。8洁净的畜类和不洁净的畜类，飞鸟并地上一切的昆虫， 9都是一对一对的，有公有母，到挪亚那里进入方舟，正如神所吩咐挪亚的。6 Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. 7 Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood. 8 Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground, 9 there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

神的拯救计划得以完成，诺亚全家和各种动物飞鸟按规定进入方舟。

持守之约的第十二点：神的有关进入方舟的拯救计划圆满完成。

QUOTE:

10过了那七天，洪水泛滥在地上。11当挪亚六百岁，二月十七日那一天，大渊的泉源都裂开了，天上的窗户也敞开了。12四十昼夜降大雨在地上。10 It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened. 12 The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

神的惩罚按计划降临，时间和程度都和计划一样。神的公义得以体现。

持守之约的第十三点：神的惩罚如期降临。

QUOTE:

13正当那日，挪亚和他三个儿子闪、含、雅弗，并挪亚的妻子和三个儿妇，都进入方舟。14他们和百兽，各从其类，一切牲畜，各从其类，爬在地上的昆虫，各从其类，一切禽鸟，各从其类，都进入方舟。15凡有血肉、有气息的活物，都一对一对地到挪亚那里，进入方舟。16凡有血肉进入方舟的，都是有公有母，正如神所吩咐挪亚的。耶和华就把他关在方舟里头。14 they and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, all sorts of birds. 15 So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life. 16 Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him.

神亲手完成了拯救的最后一道程序，把按他的计划得到生命的诺亚一家和各种动物安置在生命之舟，保证他们不受洪水的伤害。

持守之约的第十四点：神保证得生命者在方舟里不受洪水伤害。

QUOTE:

17洪水泛滥在地上四十天，水往上长，把方舟从地上漂起。18水势浩大，在地上大大地往上长，方舟在水面上漂来漂去。19水势在地上极其浩大，天下的高山都淹没了。 20水势比山高过十五肘，山岭都淹没了。 17 Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth. 18 The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. 20 The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered.

神的惩罚不可避免，其力量和严重令人颤抖敬畏，其效果无人能够逃脱。

持守之约的第十五点：神的惩罚无可抗拒。

QUOTE:

21凡在地上有血肉的动物，就是飞鸟、牲畜、走兽，和爬在地上的昆虫，以及所有的人，都死了。 22凡在旱地上、鼻孔有气息的生灵都死了。23凡地上各类的活物，连人带牲畜、昆虫，以及空中的飞鸟，都从地上除灭了，只留下挪亚和那些与他同在方舟里的。21 All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; 22 of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. 23 Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark.

神的惩罚到到了如期的效果。凡是与神背道而驰的都被除灭，只有义人得以保全。

持守之约的第十六点：神实现了惩罚计划。

现在让我们总结一下到此为止的持守之约状态。第六章总结时已经处于完成状态的不再重复。没有完成的，这里继续。

持守之约的第一点：把违反神的旨意的被造之物从地球上除灭。状态：已完成

持守之约的第五点：神正式与诺亚立约：诺亚一家必须进入方舟。状态：已完成

持守之约的第六点：神要求诺亚对其它生命的拯救。状态：进行中

持守之约的第八点：神要求诺亚进入方舟。状态：已完成

持守之约的第九点：神要求诺亚把动物案确定的数量带入方舟。状态：已完成

持守之约的第十点：神向诺亚宣布了具体惩罚计划。状态：已完成

持守之约的第十一点：诺亚继续遵行神的指令。状态：已完成

持守之约的第十二点：神的有关进入方舟的拯救计划圆满完成。状态：已完成

持守之约的第十三点：神的惩罚如期降临。状态：已完成

持守之约的第十四点：神保证得生命者在方舟里不受洪水伤害。状态：已完成

持守之约的第十五点：神的惩罚无可抗拒。状态：已完成

持守之约的第十六点：神实现了惩罚计划。状态：已完成

到现在为止，神对诺亚一家和其它的生命的拯救仍在继续。

(这是持守之约的第一部分，第二部分稍候将继续）