2016年3月29日
要倚靠祂 God of My Strength
读经: 士師記7章1-8節
Reading: Judges 7:1-8
我必堅固你，我必幫助你。-以賽亞書41章10節
I will strengthen you and help you.- Isaiah 41:10
全年读经: 士師記7-8章;路加福音5章1-16節
Bible in a Year: Judges 7–8; Luke 5:1-16
沒人會誤以為古巴比倫士兵是和藹可親的紳士，因為他們冷酷無情、好勇鬥狠、殘忍兇暴地吞噬其他國家。他們兵精馬壯，狂傲自負。他們崇拜自己強大的戰鬥力量，聖經說他們「以自己的勢力為神」（哈巴谷書1章11節） 。
當以色列人準備對抗米甸人時，上帝不要他們依靠自己的戰鬥力量。所以上帝對以色列的指揮官基甸說：「跟隨你的人過多，我不能將米甸人交在他們手中，免得以色列人向我誇大，說：『是我們自己的手救了我們』」（士師記7章2節）。因此，基甸讓所有心存恐懼的人離開，結果有二萬二千人迅速離開，只留下一萬名戰士。之後，上帝仍繼續刪減士兵的數量，直到最後僅剩餘三百人（3-7節）。
參戰的人數越少就越顯出以色列是以寡擊眾、以少勝多。儘管他們的敵人散佈在附近山谷「如同蝗蟲那樣多」（12節），上帝仍使基甸的軍隊大獲全勝。
有時候，上帝會讓我們擁有的資源縮減，是為要讓我們堅心倚靠祂的力量繼續前行。我們的需要恰恰顯出祂的能力，正如祂說：「我必堅固你，我必幫助你，我必用我公義的右手扶持你。」（以賽亞書41章10節）
親愛的上帝，我感謝祢，因祢滿有能力。
當我軟弱時，祢扶持我。
幫助我將生活當中的每個勝利都歸功於祢。
要倚靠上帝的大能，不要單憑己力。
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No one could have mistaken the ancient Babylonian soldiers for gentlemen. They were ruthless, resilient, and vicious, and they attacked other nations the way an eagle overtakes its prey. Not only were they powerful, they were prideful as well. They practically worshiped their own combat abilities. In fact, the Bible says that their "strength [was] their god" (Hab. 1:11).
God did not want this kind of self-reliance to infect Israel's forces as they prepared to battle the Midianites. So He told Gideon, Israel's army commander, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, 'My own strength has saved me' " (Judg. 7:2). As a result, Gideon discharged anyone who was fearful. Twenty-two thousand men hightailed it home, while 10,000 fighters stayed. God continued to downsize the army until only 300 men remained (vv. 3-7).
I will strengthen you and help you. (Isaiah 41:10)
Having fewer troops meant that Israel was dramatically outnumbered—their enemies, who populated a nearby valley, were as "thick as locusts" (v. 12). Despite this, God gave Gideon's forces victory.
At times, God may allow our resources to dwindle so that we rely on His strength to keep going. Our needs showcase His power, but He is the One who says, "I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isa. 41:10).
Dear God, I am thankful for Your strength. You carry me when I am weak. Help me to give You the credit for every victory in life.
God wants us to depend on His strength, not our own.