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申命记［第十一章］
Book of Deuteronomy 11

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申命记 第十一章|Book of Deuteronomy 11

【是祸是福在乎爱神与否】

主讲：陈惠菁传道 + 陈炎明牧师

19/10/2022

引言：

为父为母的虽知道孩子不听话，却还是唠叨劝勉，期盼他们少走冤枉路。摩西也不例外，虽知道这些百姓在进入应许地后不久，他们就会败坏离弃神，还是苦口婆心的提醒，他们是与神立约的百姓，透过旷野的经历磨练，要明白神的信实和慈爱。 并期盼百姓能在神所赐的应许地蒙福。但以色列民是否能长久的享有神所赐的福呢？关键就在于他们是否选择爱神。

一、 爱神的人必做的事（V1-7，18-21）

1.时常遵守神的诫命（V1）

摩西呼吁百姓要爱神，而爱神的最好证明就是遵守祂的吩咐、律例、典章、诫命。耶稣在 约14:21也说过“有了我的命令又遵守的， 这人就是爱我的。”

今天我们如果爱神，爱的表现就是遵守祂的诫命。生命所需的一切答案都在圣经里。要蒙福，就要认真的认识并遵守神的话语。

2.活出见证过的信仰（V2-7）

摩西告诉以色列民，他说的话不是对着他们的儿女说。而是对着那些亲身经历神如何施恩拯救他们出埃及、走干地过红海和亲眼目睹，地如何裂开，吞下悖逆并反叛权柄的大坍、亚比兰和他们一切所有的百姓说的。目的是希望他们活出感恩和敬畏神的生命，成为后代可效法的榜样。

首先，真理不是让我们拿来指责别人的（不是对你们的儿女说）。真理永远是对我们自己先说话，是给我们用来检视自己的生命，并与神对齐。

其次，信仰也不是用嘴巴说说而已。我们要成为有良好信仰根基的见证人。听道也行道的活出过往与神互动所得着的信心和生活，让神得荣耀。

3.将神话语教训儿女（V18-20）

基督信仰是否能不断的扎实传承，还是一代不如一代，就在乎我们是否认真对待我们的信仰和认真的传承给下一代。教育孩子的责任在父母身上，不是主日学或儿童教会。父母是孩子最重要信仰导师。信仰不是众多学习项目中的一项，乃与孩子们的生命紧紧相连。所以要拿起这责任，随时教、随地教，到处都是我们的教室，随处都有我们的教材。使孩子们在神的话语扎根、深深认识神、一生爱神。

二、 爱神的人必得的福（V8-17，21-25）

申命记一直在讲的就是神的百姓要爱神、谨守遵行神的律法。国家的法律会告诉你，不可以做这、做那，不然就会犯法被罚。但是神国的律法虽然也是告诉我们，不要做这、做那，但却是为了让你毫无拦阻的来领受神所为你预备了的福分：

1.日子长久、子孙增多（V8-9，21） 摩西吩咐百姓进到应许地，只要他们活在一切诫命的管理之下，神必赐他们日子长久、子孙增多的福分。日子长久指的是平安、健康、长寿。多子多孙对中国传统来说是福气的象征。对以色列人来说子孙增多更是神给他们作为产业和应许亚伯拉罕的祝福。

我们的子孙蒙不蒙福跟我们有着很大的关系。之前5和7章，还有十诫，神都一再重复，“爱我、守我诫命的，我必向他们施慈爱，直到千代。”

2.岁首年终、恩宠连连（V10-17）

以色列民进入应许地后，将白白地得神加倍的恩宠。神给他们的应许地是有山有谷，意思是有天然的沟渠灌溉系统。他们不但不用像在埃及那样，靠劳力用人工引水灌溉，也不用担心没有水源，因神会亲自按时降秋雨春雨在地上。使百姓毫无顾虑的可以得着收藏五谷、新酒和油的福气。不像埃及人需要赌运气，有没有丰收就看尼罗河水有没有泛滥。

基督徒的人生也会有高山低谷，但就因为这样，我们的生命才能得着五谷、新酒和油。因为神在我们的山谷里塑造我们，并会按着祂的时间降下秋雨春雨灌溉我们的生命。也千万不要等不及神降雨就靠自己回到埃及用脚踩水车浇灌。

3.赶出仇敌、得地为业（V22-25）

V22神的百姓若留意谨守遵行一切的诫命，爱神，行祂的道，专靠祂。神不但要把他们认为是巨人的迦南地国民赶出去，更要让他们得地为业。弟兄姐妹，你的生命中还有巨人吗？神今天要为你赶出仇敌。使这些巨人惧怕惊恐，不能在你面前站立得住。也要给你得地为业的应许。

‘脚’是权力的象征，被踏在脚下表示征服。神当年赐给以色列人脚掌踏过之地，便取得所拥权的应许，今天也同样是给我们的。所以，我们要常常在我们社区、居住的地方、工作的职场、学校等，所到之地走祷，祝福那些土地，并相信神在我们脚踏过的地方掌权，那地的人必被转化，归向耶稣。

总结：是祸是福选择在我（V26-32）

摩西以基利心山和以巴路山，将神的祝福与咒诅带出，摆在百姓面前供他们选择。今天同样的祝福与咒诅也摆在我们面前。神给我们自由意志来选择爱祂或不爱祂。在基督信仰里没有中间道路供我们选择。不是黑就是白，没有灰色的。所以我们不可能爱神又爱世界。如果我们一直在神与世界之间穿梭往来，那得到的结果一定是以巴路山的咒诅。

爱神听从神诫命的就必蒙福。不爱神，也就是不听从神诫命，偏离去事奉别神的人就必受祸。弟兄姐妹，让我们选择尽心尽性尽意尽力爱耶和华——我们的神。

Deuteronomy 11: Curse or blessing depends on whether love God or not
GK611 Morning Devotion
20/10/2022
Speaker: Ps Deborah + Rev David Tan

Introduction:

Although parents know that their children are disobedient, they still nag and persuade them, hoping that they will not go the wrong way. Moses was no exception. Although he knew that soon after these people entered the Promised Land, they would become corrupted and forsaken God, he still reminded them intensely that they were the people who made a covenant with God, through the wilderness experience, to understand God's faithfulness and love. And hope that the people will be blessed in the Promised Land given by God. But will the Israelites be able to enjoy God's blessings for a long time? The key is whether or not they choose to love God.

I. Things that those who love God must do (v1-7, 18-20)

1. Always keep the commandments of God (v1)

Moses called on the people to love God, and love for God is best demonstrated by obeying His commands, laws, decrees, and commandments. Jesus also said in John 14:21, " He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me."

If we love God today, the expression of love is to obey His commandments. All the answers to life are in the Bible. To be blessed, we must earnestly know and obey the Word of God.

2. Living out the faith with testimony (v2-7)

Moses told the Israelites that he was not speaking to their children. But to those who had experienced how God graciously rescued them out of Egypt, walked dry land across the Red Sea, and witnessed how the earth was split open and swallowed up Dathan and Abiram who rebelled against the authority. The purpose is to hope that they will live a life of gratitude and fear of God and become an example for future generations to follow.

First, truth is not something we can use to blame others (not to your children). Truth always speaks to us first, for us to examine our own lives and align ourselves with God.

Second, faith is not just talking with mouth. We are to be testimonies with a good foundation of faith. Listening to the sermon and live out accordingly the faith and life gained from interacting with God.

3. Using God's Word to Teach Children (v18-20)

Whether the Christian faith can continue to be passed down steadily, or whether one generation is worse than the other generation, depends on whether we take our faith seriously and pass it on to the next generation. The responsibility for educating children rests with parents, not Sunday schools or children's churches. Parents are the most important teachers of faith for their children. Faith is not one of many programs of study, it is closely linked to the lives of children. Therefore, we must take up this responsibility and teach at anytime and anywhere. Our classrooms are everywhere, and our teaching materials are everywhere. Let children take root in God's Words, know God deeply, and love God all their lives.

II. Blessings to those who love God (v8-17, 21-25)

The book of Deuteronomy has always been talking about the people of God who should love God and obey God's law carefully. The laws of the country will tell you that you cannot do this or that, or you will be punished for breaking the law. Although the law of the kingdom of God also tells us not to do this or that, it is for you to receive the blessings God has prepared for you without hindrance:

1. Days are long, and children are multiplied (v8-9, 21)

Moses commanded the people to enter the Promised Land, and as long as they lived under all the commandments, God would bless them with long days and more children. Long life means peace, health and longevity. Having many children and grandchildren is traditionally a symbol of good fortune in China. For the children of Israel, the increase of children was God's blessing to them as an inheritance and promise to Abraham.

Whether our descendants are blessed or not has a lot to do with us. Previously in Chapters 5 and 7, and the Ten Commandments, God repeats it over and over again, "I will show mercy to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

2. Favour continually from the beginning till the end of the year (v10-17)

After the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they would freely receive double favour from God. The Promised Land that God gave them was a land with mountains and valleys, which meant there was a natural irrigation system of troughs. Not only did they not have to rely on labour to irrigate with artificial water as in Egypt, but they also did not have to worry about lack of water, because God would bring autumn rain and spring rain to the ground on time. So that the people can have the blessing of collecting grain, new wine, and oil without worry. Unlike the Egyptians who had to bet on luck, whether there was a good harvest depends on whether the waterflow in Nile River.

There are highs and lows in the Christian life, but because of this our lives are filled with grain, new wine, and oil. Because God moulds us in our valley and will pour down the autumn and spring rains in His timing to irrigate our lives. We shall not be impatient to wait for God's rain and rely on ourselves and go back to Egypt and draw water with our feet.

3. Drive out the enemy and gain the land as an inheritance (v22-25)

v22 If the people of God are vigilant to keep and do all the commandments, love God, walk in His ways, and trust in Him only, God not only wanted to drive out the Canaanite people who they thought were giants, but also wanted them to acquire the land as an inheritance. Brothers and sisters, are there giants in your life? God is going to cast out the enemy for you today, make these giants terrified and unable to stand before you, and deliver promises to you to acquire land as an inheritance.

The 'foot' is a symbol of power and being stepped on it signifies conquest. God gave the Israelites the promise of the land that the soles of their feet had trod, and the same are also given to us today. Therefore, we should always walk and pray in our communities, places of residence, workplaces, schools, etc., wherever we go, to bless those lands, and to believe that God is in power where we have stepped, and the people of that land will be transformed and return to Jesus.

Conclusion: A curse or blessing, the choice is mine (v26-32)

Moses took Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal to bring out the blessings and curses of God and put them before the people for them to choose. The same blessings and curses lie before us today. God gives us freedom to choose to love Him or not to love Him. In Christianity there is no mid-way for us to choose. Either black or white, no grey. So, we cannot love God and love the world. If we keep going back and forth between God and the world, the result must be the curse of Mount Ebal.

Blessed are those who love God and obey God's commandments. Those who do not love God, that is, do not obey God's commandments, and deviate from serving other gods, will suffer calamity. Brothers and sisters, let us choose to love Jehovah our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.