传道书［第8章］
Book of Ecclesiastes 8
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传道书［第8章|Book of Ecclesiastes 8【以神智慧查看人生】
17/02/2022
引言：人生多变，不如人愿！世事变幻，出人意料！
一、智慧人的转化（V1-5）
人若靠神、敬畏神，有神的智慧，我们就可以不断经历转化，以致活出不一样的人生。
1.容貌气色会变好（V1）
8:1 谁如智慧人呢？谁知道事情的解释呢？人的智慧使他的脸发光，并使他脸上的暴气改变。
智慧人是指敬畏神且有神真理的人。这人最大的特点就是‘知道事情的解释’。脸能发光就是有神的真理光照，有神的法则和眼光看事情，所以最终就会容光焕发不是吗？脸上有暴怒的气色当然是因为被刺激到、被人中伤了？但是有真理的智慧人就可以有正向变化！
现实人生的每时每刻不都是在做这事吗？他人做错令自己生气；以牙还牙引发反击。一来一往两败俱伤，怎么解释自己的遭遇呢？“因为对方先错，才惹我犯错，我的犯错又惹对方更错。”再不然就是另一种解释：“我都没错，对方还无理取闹，我是忍无可忍才还以颜色。”最终又是神儿女惨败，魔鬼得胜。因为错误解释所遭遇的事！
2.遵守掌权者命令（V2-5）
8:2 我劝你遵守王的命令，既指 神起誓，理当如此。（曾经立誓表明效忠，或像婚姻立誓表明钟爱一生） 8:3 不要急躁离开王的面前，不要固执行恶，因为他凡事都随自己的心意而行。 8:4 王的话本有权力，谁敢问他说：你作什么呢？ 8:5 凡遵守命令的，必不经历祸患，智慧人的心，能辨明时候和定理（原文作“审判”。下节同）。（能明白时机和判断）
王有权柄，不但是因为他是众人的王，更因为他是神的受膏者。他有主权，可以凭己意做事。人要怎么与王互动呢？既然我们是活在神所设立的权柄之下，服从权柄当然就是服从神的真理原则。按着真理的原则做事，最终必能免于祸患，得蒙保护与祝福。
遵命是一种选择，是智慧人的蒙福的生活态度。当人了解人在世上的身份与定位，且愿意按照合乎真理的原则做事时，最终必蒙神赐福。在婚姻、家庭、职场、社会等关系上都是一样的原则。
智慧人的转化，其实就是懂得怎么用神的眼光和真理去解读事情，以致用神的智慧去回应所遭遇的事。
二、是谁掌控万事（V6-10）
1.祸患重压也有定时（V6-7） 8:6 各样事务成就，都有时候和定理，因为人的苦难重压在他身上。 （新译本：各样事务成就，都有合宜的时机和定局，尽管人的灾祸重压在自己身上。） 8:7 他不知道将来的事，因为将来如何，谁能告诉他呢？
原来神允许苦难、灾祸、重担压在一个人身上都有其合宜的时机与目的。换句话说，不是偶然的受苦，无辜和无故的被欺压，遭灾难原来也有神在冥冥之中的目的。为了在人生的历练中成就神的最终目的。
【炼我愈精】这首诗歌就是苦难与熬炼的最佳注解：
祢若不压橄榄成渣，它就不能成油；
祢若不投葡萄入醡，它就不能变成酒；
祢若不炼哪哒成膏，它就不流芬芳；
主，我这人是否也要受祢许可的创伤？
每次的打击，都是真利益；如果祢收去的东西，祢以自己来代替。
2.生死有时人能怎样（V8-10）
8:8 无人有权力掌管生命，将生命留住，也无人有权力掌管死期。这场争战，无人能免，邪恶也不能救那好行邪恶的人。 8:9 这一切我都见过，也专心查考日光之下所作的一切事。有时这人管辖那人，令人受害。 8:10 我见恶人埋葬，归入坟墓；又见行正直事的离开圣地，在城中被人忘记。这也是虚空。
人常说，我的生命我自己管；这话表面上是没有错，但事实上那也只是局部的掌管。因为世事变幻无常，生命的高低起伏，朝夕万变，变幻无常，岂是人所能盘算计划的吗？正如《雅各书 4:13-14》 你们说：“今天或明天，我们要到某城去，在那里住一年，作生意赚钱。”其实明天怎样，你们并不知道。你们的生命是甚么呢？你们本来是过眼云烟，转瞬之间就消逝了。
日光之下所见结局好像大同小异，好人坏人都会死，而且死后不是剩下一瓶骨灰，也顶多就是一个棺材的空间，木材好一点、差一点又怎样呢？价值一千块或一万块，焚烧或埋葬的结果看来都是一样的。到底谁才是真正掌管灵魂生命的主宰呢？有神的人才有答案，无神之人只能面对沉沦。
到底是谁掌管明天？我知谁掌管明天！
三、终极审判在神（V11-17）
1.恶人能逍遥法外？（V11-12a）
8:11 因为断定罪名，不立刻施刑，所以世人满心作恶。 8:12a 罪人虽然作恶百次，倒享长久的年日。
为什么已经定罪的犯人却迟迟都没有给予刑罚，以致世人的心见后越发充满作恶的意图。而且现实人生常会看到恶人作恶多端，但是却长命百岁？似乎神没有看见吗？绝对不是，而是神的怜悯在等候人向他传福音，在等他悔改，否则他的痛苦将是永远沉沦。因为神是终极审判的神！ 2.敬畏神终究得福！（V12b-17）
8:12b 然而我准知道，敬畏 神的，就是在他面前敬畏的人，终久必得福乐。 8:13 恶人却不得福乐，也不得长久的年日；这年日好像影儿，因他不敬畏 神。 8:14 世上有一件虚空的事，就是义人所遭遇的，反照恶人所行的；又有恶人所遭遇的，反照义人所行的。我说，这也是虚空。 8:15 我就称赞快乐，原来人在日光之下，莫强如吃喝快乐，因为他在日光之下， 神赐他一生的年日，要从劳碌中时常享受所得的。 8:16 我专心求智慧，要看世上所作的事。（有昼夜不睡觉，不合眼的。） 8:17 我就看明 神一切的作为，知道人查不出日光之下所作的事；任凭他费多少力寻查，都查不出来，就是智慧人虽想知道，也是查不出来。
敬畏神的人最终必享福乐，这正是所谓“苦尽甘来”。V14说到义人反而面对恶人的遭遇，而恶人反而得到好结果？怎么会是这样呢？其实看戏不都是这样吗？恶人想尽荣华富贵、奢华宴乐，义人却被诬告陷害，受苦连连。电影总是到了最后关头才反败为胜，含冤得血。现实人生可能这样，也可能不是。因为大结局不在地上，大结局是在人死之后；这就是昨天的经文所说的信息。（昨天晨祷我没时间补充第7章的领受，就让我以上一章的看见作为今天的总结：）
总结：后事比现实更现实！
《传 7:1 》名誉强如美好的膏油；人死的日子胜过人生的日子。
《传7:8》说：“ 事情的终局强如事情的起头…。”
《传 6:12》 “…谁能告诉人他死后在日光之下会发生甚么事呢？” （新译本）
基督徒对谈论死亡的事情无需避忌，毕竟那是人生最荣耀和期待的美事。所以传道者说“死的日子胜过生的日子。”因为人生中总有许多心酸流泪的日子、辛辣难受的日子、苦不堪言的日子、偶尔尝到一点甜头却转眼过去了。人生的酸甜苦辣不正是如此吗？对于得着永生应许的基督徒而言，最大的盼望就是得享与神同在的永生。那是永无止境的无比福乐，远非地上的快乐所能相比。因此，经历过人生一切享受的所罗门得了如此结论：人生的终局比起头更强、更好。
上星期是师母的五哥去世一周年的纪念日，从前与五哥同住的六哥把五哥的档案照片制作成一个福音短片，让家人深深反省人生。五哥留下来的手机，还有一切属于他的私人物品通通毫无隐藏的被仔细翻查过。人的后事比人生现实中的事更现实，没有任何秘密是藏得住的，都得任由他人彻底搜查。感谢主，明人不做暗事，有主的光明人生就得尊荣，否则就丑态毕露。面对现实原来不是眼前的一口气或面子问题，原来是在神面前的本相是什么才最重要。
Ecclesiastes 8: Seeing Life in the Light of God's Wisdom
GK611 Morning Devotion
17/02/2022
Speaker: Rev David Tan
Introduction: Life is fickle and unpredictable! The world changes in unexpected ways!
1. Changes in the wise man (V1-5)
(1) The appearance will become better (V1)
A wise man is a man who fears God and has His truth. The greatest characteristic of this person is that he 'knows the explanation of things'. A face that shines is one that has the light of God's truth, and has God's law and vision to see things, so eventually it will look radiant, won't it? Surely the face has an angry look on it because it has been irritated and vilified? But a wise person with the truth can have positive changes!
Isn't that what we do every moment of our lives? Others do wrong to make you angry; an eye for an eye triggers a counterattack. How can one explain what happens to oneself when one loses both ways? "Because the other person was wrong first, it made me wrong, and my mistake made the other person more wrong." Or else there is another explanation: "I was right, but the other side was unreasonable, and I could not stand it any longer before I returned the favor." Again, in the end, the child of God fails miserably and the devil wins. What happened because of the wrong interpretation!
(2) Obey the orders of those in power (V2-5)
The king has authority, not only because he is the king of all people, but also because he is the anointed one of God. He is sovereign and can do things of his own accord. How are people to interact with the king? Since we live under the authority established by God, obedience to authority is, of course, obedience to the principles of God's truth. By working according to the principles of truth, we will ultimately be protected and blessed from evil.
2. Who is in Control of All Things (V6-10)
(1) There is a time for the weight of trouble (V6-7)
It turns out that God allows suffering, calamities, and burdens to be pressed upon a person at the right time and for the right purpose. In other words, it is not accidental suffering, innocent and unwarranted oppression, or calamity that has a purpose from God in the dark. In order to fulfill God's ultimate purpose in the experience of life.
(2) What happens to people in life and death (V8-10)
People often say, "I am in charge of my own life. For the world is unpredictable, and the highs and lows of life are unpredictable, and there are many changes, and the vagaries of life are unpredictable, and it is not for man to plan? As you say in James 4:13-14, "Today or tomorrow we will go to a certain city and live there for a year, doing business and making money." But you do not know what tomorrow will be. What is your life? You were just a passing cloud, fading away in a moment.
What you see in the light of day seems to be the same, good people and bad people will die, and after death is not left with a bottle of ashes, or at most a coffin space, the wood is better or worse, so what? A thousand pieces or ten thousand pieces, burned or buried seems to be the same result. Who is the real master of the soul's life? Only those who have God have the answer; those who have no God can only face sinking.
3. The ultimate judgment is with God (V11-17)
(1) Can the wicked get away with it? (V11-12a)
Why is it that the condemned are not punished with delay, so that the hearts of the world become more and more full of evil intentions when they see it? Moreover, in reality, we often see wicked people who do a lot of evil, but live a long life? Does it seem that God does not see them? Absolutely not, but the mercy of God is waiting for man to preach the gospel to him, waiting for him to repent, otherwise his suffering would be eternal sinking. For God is the God of ultimate judgment!
(2) The fear of God is blessed in the end! (V12b-17)
V14 says that the righteous face what happens to the wicked, but the wicked get good results? How can this be so? Isn't that how it is in a play? The wicked want to have all the glory and luxury, feasting, but the righteous are falsely accused and framed, suffering a lot. The movie always comes to the last moment to turn defeat into victory and get blood for injustice. This may or may not be the case in real life. For the great end is not on earth, but after death; and this is the message of yesterday's scripture.
Conclusion: The afterlife is more realistic than the reality!
Eccles. 7:1 " Reputation is as strong as good anointing; the day of a man's death is better than the day of his life.
Eccles. 7:8 says: " The end of things is as strong as the beginning of things..."
Eccles. 6:12 "...who can tell what will happen to a man after his death in the daylight?" (NIV)
Christians need not shy away from talking about death, for it is, after all, the most glorious and anticipated beauty of life.
That's why the preacher said, "The day of death is better than the day of life." For in life there are many days of sorrow and tears, days of suffering, days of pain, and days when a little sweetness is occasionally tasted but passes away. Isn't that what the sweet and sour of life is all about? For Christians who have received the promise of eternal life, the greatest hope is to enjoy eternal life with God. It is a never-ending and incomparable bliss, far beyond the pleasures of earth.
Therefore, Solomon, who had experienced all the pleasures of life, concluded that the end of life is stronger and better than the beginning.
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