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撒母耳记下［第24章］
Book of 2 Samuel 24

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撒母耳记下［第24章］|Book of 2 Samuel 24

【蒙福中的陷阱】

主讲: 陈炎明牧师

13/10/2023


引言：很多人喜欢自己的名字被列入【伟人功绩榜】，以便流芳百世···！

一、抢夺功劳惹神怒（24:1）

昨天我们读《撒下23章》的时候，我们看到大卫的英勇史和勇士伟人榜。从属灵意义上来说，我们发现这是可喜可贺的人民英雄；但是事实上原来这是人心的骄傲。人总以为自己领导有方，以致以色列产生了过人的英勇战士，值得一一提名。但事实上这是抹杀了神的作为，明明是神让他们有恩宠而得胜，但人都以为这是自己的本事和作为。因此，大大惹神发怒。神一怒之下仿佛把一个想法放在大卫心头：‘既然数算了英勇大将的数目，不如也算算手中的子民人数吧！’果然大卫真的就这么做···！

人心的骄傲和自大有多强呢？当神生气而讽刺我们的时候，你能觉察到不对劲吗？我们需要明白真理和真认识神，免得陷入后悔莫及的惹神发怒，抢夺神的荣耀。

二、数点兵力表功绩（24:2-9）

大卫王有权柄，一声令下让全民国花了九个多月完成数点人口。从客观而言，这似乎是一种需要，因为重整国家，统一犹大和以色列，又加上有些外族人也投奔了以色列，要了解最终的人口有多少，这不是很正常吗？但是，神所看到的是大卫的内心，和众人也自以为是的思想。神抵挡骄傲的人，赐恩给谦卑的人。神知道大卫的心是怎么想？为什么要特别强调拿刀的勇士之数目就有130万？这是在展示大卫王朝的军力不是吗？再加上部下也往同一方向来赞美祝贺大卫王，再增加百倍军力。

三、君王罪祸及万民（24:10-17）

1.受过管教还不学乖吗？（V10）

大卫在犯罪的事情上已经学过很艰难的教训，因此当他自己发现做错了，第一反应就是向神认罪，并且承认自己的愚昧。寻求赦罪是必要的。可见神对领袖的要求比一般人更高。人都是很健忘，所以会重复面对管教。学过教训之后，就要乖乖听话，不必再三跌倒。

2.领袖之过被放大来看！（V11-13）

大卫虽然悔改了，但是贵为一国之君，错误行为的影响力是很大的，因此神给他重重的教训。神让大卫选择ABC三种刑罚中的一种？大卫能怎么选择呢？因为全都是很惨。想想你若是大卫，你会作何选择呢？

3.知法犯法罪加一等啊！（V14-17）

大卫不作任何选择，但表示愿意落在神手里，既是任由神处置，因为他深知神是怜悯的神。不料神是以瘟疫攻击刑罚他们，结果竟然是死了7万人。相信当时以色列百姓的心态也是同样不正，导致神重重的管教他们。到一个地步连神自己都于心不忍才止住了瘟疫。正如鞭打孩子的父母，何尝不是打在儿身，痛在父母心。

四、付代价认真悔改（24:18-25）

经过了管教刑罚之后，还要加上筑坛献祭，并且要附上金钱的代价，而不是凭着王的身份，随意取他所要的东西。这表示要一步一步的按照神所要的加以赔偿，最终才得以脱离灾害，恢复常态。

总结：得胜还要再得胜

得胜、成功、得奖常常是人生的目标。但是当人达到目标之后，随之而来的又是什么呢？若说得胜是高峰，往往高峰之后就是下坡。更可怕的是高山的背后是悬崖，那是真实而可怕陷阱。所以在高山上要更加倍小心，如此一来才会更上层楼而不是走下坡；得胜还要再得胜。

2 Samuel 24 The Trap in the Blessing
13/10/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction: Many people like their names to be included in the [List of Great Men’s Merits] so that they can be remembered forever...!

1. Stealing credit and provoking God (24:1)

Yesterday when we read "2 Samuel 23", we saw David's heroic history and the list of great warriors. From a spiritual sense, we find that this is a gratifying hero of the people; but in fact, it turns out that this is the pride of the human heart. People always think that their leadership is good, so Israel has produced extraordinary brave warriors, and they deserve to be named. But in fact, this was obliterating God’s deeds. It was obviously God who gave them grace and victory, but people thought it was their own ability and deeds. Therefore, he greatly provoked God to anger. In anger, God seemed to put an idea in David's mind: 'Now that you have counted the number of heroic generals, why not also count the number of people in your hands!’ Sure enough, David really did that...!

How strong is the pride and arrogance in the human heart? Can you tell something is wrong when God is angry and taunting us? We need to understand the truth and truly know God, so as not to fall into regretful situations that provoke God’s anger and steal from God of His glory.

2. Counting troops to indicate merit (24:2-9)

King David had the authority to issue an order and it took the entire nation more than nine months to complete the population count. Objectively speaking, this seems to be a need to reorganise the country and unify Judah and Israel, furthermore, some foreigners have also sought shelter in Israel, isn't it normal to know the final population size? However, what God saw was David’s heart and the self-righteous thoughts of everyone. But David wanted nothing more than to do so, so his men obeyed. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Did God know what David was thinking? Why did he emphasize that the number of sword-wielding warriors is 1.3 million? Isn’t this a demonstration of the military power of the Davidic dynasty?

3. The sin of the king affects all people (24:10-17)

(1) Didn’t learn to obey after being disciplined? (V10) David had learned a hard lesson about sin, so when he discovered that he had done something wrong, his first reaction was to confess to God and admit his foolishness. Seeking forgiveness of sins is necessary. God has higher requirements for leaders than ordinary people. People are very forgetful, so they face discipline repeatedly. After learning our lesson, we must be obedient and don't fall again and again.

(2) The mistakes of leaders are magnified! (V11-13)

Although David repented, as a king of a country his wrong behaviour had a great impact, so God gave him a heavy lesson. Did God let David choose one of the three ABC punishments? What choice could David make? Because they are all miserable. Think about it if you were David, what choice would you make?

(3) Those who know the law but break the law will receive an additional penalty! (V14-17)

David did not make any choice but expressed his willingness to fall into God's hands and let God handle it because he knew that God was a merciful God. Unexpectedly, God attacked and punished them with a plague, and 70,000 people died. The mentality of the people of Israel at that time was believed to be wrong, which caused God to severely discipline them. It got to the point where even God himself couldn't bear it and stopped the plague. Just like a parent who whips a child, it hurts the child and pains the parents’ hearts.

4. Pay the price and repent seriously (24:18-25)

After the discipline and punishment, an altar must be built and a sacrifice must be paid, instead of just taking whatever he wants based on his status as a king. This means that compensation must be made step by step according to what God wants, and only then can he finally break from the disaster and return to normalcy.

Conclusion: To gain victory and more victories

Winning, succeeding, and winning awards are often the goals of life. But when a person reaches his goal, what follows? If victory is the peak, the peak is often followed by the downhill slope. What's even more terrifying is that behind the mountains are cliffs, which are real and terrifying traps. Therefore, we must be more careful on high mountains, so that we can go up a level instead of going downhill; to gain victory and more victories.