Manna issue 68 - Thief of Hearts 心盜
Keeping our hearts with all diligence.
你要保守你心，勝過保守一切
Philip Shee—Dubai, UAE
阿聯酋杜拜 許腓利執事
“So Absalom stole the hearts of the
men of Israel.” (2 Sam 15:6)
這樣，押沙龍暗中得了以色列人的心。
(撒下 15：6)
This tragic turn of events in the
history of Israel is a sober reminder
that one of the biggest threats to the
church and our own faith could come
from within the church, rather than
from outside. By the special grace of
his father, King David, Absalom was
allowed to return to Jerusalem from
exile. He even received the king’s
pardon despite murdering his brother,
Amnon (2 Sam 14:33). Yet this kind
gesture was unappreciated. Instead,
Absalom reciprocated by hatching a
treacherous plot to usurp his father’s
throne, even to the extent of seeking
his life. But how did Absalom manage
to steal the hearts of the Israelites
and turn them against David, the
king who was ordained by God?
在以色列的歷史的這個事件悲劇的轉變，
對看的人來說，是很一個當頭棒喝，
對教會和我們的信仰而言，最大的威脅之一，
可能來自於教會裡面，而不是來自教會外面。
因著押沙龍父親大衛王的恩典，
被放逐的押沙龍，得到允許回到耶路撒冷。
雖然他謀殺兄弟暗嫩，不過還是得到了王的原諒。
(撒下 14：33)
然而這種善意的釋出，並沒有被接受。
相反的，押沙龍的回報，卻是密謀邪惡的計劃，
要來篡奪父親的王位，甚至到了想要殺了大衛的程度。
但是，到底押沙龍如何謀劃來竊取以色列的人心呢？
把人心轉成對大衛，對這位神所膏立的王，產生不滿呢？
GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO
GAIN PERSONAL POPULARITY
多走幾哩路，取得人心
Absalom’s evil plot started with
his special effort to gain personal
popularity.
押沙龍邪惡的計謀，一開始就特別努力要取得人心。
First, Absalom rose early and
positioned himself beside the way to
the gate so that he could intercept
and meet people who were bringing
lawsuits or grievances to the king
for judgment (2 Sam 15:2). Making
the special effort to rise early, he was
willing to make a personal sacrifice,
to be inconvenienced in order to
achieve his aim. Such sacrificial
spirit would be well received by
people who had no reason to look
beyond the surface at his underlying
intention.
首先，押沙龍早起，他自已坐在城門旁邊，
這樣他們能攔住民眾，和他們見面，
而這些人是想要打官司，或是有些不滿，想要找王來作審判。
(撒下 15：2)
特別努力付出而早起，他樂意付出個人的犧牲，
為了能達他的目的，即使這樣他會很不方便。
這樣犧牲的精神，會受到人民很大的感激，
而他們沒有理由會去考察，押沙龍在表面之下，
其中到底有什麼意圖。
Second, Absalom listened to the
people’s grievances and opined
that their “case is good and right;
but there is no deputy of the king
to hear you” (2 Sam 15:3). This
was a subtle but very effective way
to take a bigger stride into their
hearts. People with grievances long
for someone to be on their side.
Absalom knew what they wanted
to hear and he made sure he told
them! Such empathy naturally won
him their favor.
第二，押沙龍垂聽人民的抱怨，以為
3事有情有理，無奈王沒有委人聽你伸訴。
(撒下 15：3)
這是一個很微妙，卻非常有效的方式，
讓他可以跨出一大步，進入人民的心理。
不滿的人們很早就想要有人可以站在他們那一邊了。
押沙龍知道他們想要聽到什麼話，
也確定他親自向他們說這些話！
這種同情心很自然地就會得到他們的喜愛。
Having gained a foothold in the
hearts of the people, Absalom then
promoted himself more directly,
indicating his desire to serve them,
promising to give them justice if he
were made judge in the land (2 Sam
15:4).
一旦在人民的心裡取得一席之地，
然後押沙龍更加直接地向人推廣自已，
指出他很想要來為他們服務，
並且說，若他可以這國之中成為審判官，
就應允他們可以得到公平正義。
(撒下 15：4)
Then, Absalom took the final
step and appealed to the emotions
of the people by extending a more
personal and intimate touch to the
relationship. For anyone that came
to him, he would not only gave his
judgment, he would also offer his
hand and kiss the person (2 Sam
15:5).
然後，押沙龍採用了最後一步，
藉由延伸觸及到更加個人和更加親密關係，訴諸於人們的情感。
若有任何人來到他面前，
他不只會為他們伸冤，也會提供他的幫助，親吻這個人。
(撒下 15：5)
By this time, the people had been
completely deceived and as described
by David’s messenger, “the hearts of
the men of Israel are with Absalom”
(2 Sam 15:13).
在這時，人民全部都被欺騙了，
就如同大衛的使者所說，
以色列人的心都歸向押沙龍了！
(撒下 15：13)
STAGING THE REBELLION 籌劃叛變
As the number of people defecting
to him increased (2 Sam 15:12),
Absalom sent spies throughout the
tribes of Israel and instructed them to
declare Absalom as king as soon as
the trumpet sounded (2 Sam 15:10).
隨著人民變節投向他的數目增加，(撒下 15：12)
押沙龍派了很多間諜到以色列的各個支派，
告訴他們，一旦聽到了號角的響聲，
就大聲宣告，押沙龍為王了。
(撒下 15：10)
Absalom’s operation was both
deliberate yet covert. As a result, in
Jerusalem, David remained in the
dark and unable to stand up against
this assault. Soon, David was forced
to withdraw from Jerusalem, knowing
as he did the ruthlessness of Absalom
and wanting to avoid bloodshed in
Jerusalem. David recognized that
Absalom would have no qualms in
striking the city with the sword (2
Sam 15:14).
押沙龍的運作，不但是故意的，而且也是隱密的。
結果在耶路撒冷，大衛仍然不明不白，
不能站起來抵抗這次的攻擊。
不久之後，大衛就被迫從耶路撒冷退出，
這才知道他對押沙龍之前所作的事，有多麼的殘忍，
就想避免耶路撒冷發生流血事件。
大衛很清楚知道，押沙龍對以武力攻打耶路撒冷，
是不會有任何良心不安的。
RECOGNIZE THE DEVIL’S PLOY 認清魔鬼的計謀
It is sad that the enemy in this
case was not a traditional external
party, such as the Philistines, the
Ammonites, the Assyrians, or any
neighboring tribes, but rather from
within Israel. Even more tragic was
that it arose from within David’s own
household. Instead of uniting against
external enemies, the energy of Israel
was spent in internal struggle, in
dealing with treachery.
很可悲的是，這個故事中的敵人，並不是傳統上的外敵，
例如說，腓利士人，亞捫人，亞述人，或是任何附近的族群，
但這次反而是來自於以色列內部。
更悲慘的是，事情是發生在大衛自已的家裡面。
大家沒有團結在一起對抗外敵，
以色列人的氣力反而用在內部的爭鬥上，用來作叛變的事。
This incident provides a glimpse
into the work of the devil and the
potential damage it can inflict on the
church and on each one of us. Just as
Absalom rose from within Israel, the
evil one is likely to use the same ploy
today. After all, this ploy had been
used several times before.
這個事件也讓我們看見了魔鬼的工作，
對教會及我們每一個人，可能造成的傷害。
就如同押沙龍是來自於以色列內部，
今日，惡者也喜愛用同樣的技倆。
畢竟，以前這個計謀已經用過好幾次了。
In the wilderness, Korah managed
to steal the hearts of enough people
amongst the children of Israel to rise
up against Moses. This incitement
included a sizeable two hundred and
fifty leaders of the congregation,
men of renown (Num 16:1–3).
在曠野中，可拉黨想要在以色列民中，
巧取足夠的人心支持，好讓他們站出來對抗摩西。
這次事件煽動大約二百五十位以色列的首領，一些有名的人。
We also see a similar ploy in the
generation following Solomon’s
reign. Jeroboam made a deliberate
effort to steal the hearts of the
people of Israel. He was concerned
that their hearts would turn away
from him to Rehoboam and the
house of David, if they continued
to offer sacrifices in the temple at
Jerusalem (1 Kgs 12:26–27). Hence,
he made two calves of gold and
persuaded the people that it was too
troublesome to travel all the way to
Jerusalem to worship. He introduced
an easier alternative and suggested
the calves of gold to be the gods of
Israel who delivered them from the
land of Egypt. He even took pains
to set one in Bethel and one in Dan,
build shrines on high places, establish
a system of priests from every class of
people who were not of the sons of
Levi, ordain a feast like that in Judah,
and offer sacrifices in Bethel (1 Kgs
12:28–33). On the surface, unlike
the harsh Rehoboam, Jeroboam was
the ideal leader who understood the
people’s difficulties and needs. It was
no wonder that he appealed to the
ignorant and subsequently stole their
hearts. Jeroboam was only interested
in gaining political support from the
people and was even prepared to
turn them away from God and His
institution in Jerusalem.
我們在接下來的所羅門掌權的年代中，
也看到了同樣的計謀。
耶羅波安故意要贏得以色列民的人心。
他心理所想的就是，若是他們繼續到耶路撒冷的聖殿去獻祭，
以色列的人心，就會從他身上轉移到羅波安及大衛家身上。
(王上 12：26-27)
因此，他造了兩座金牛犢，
並且勸告百姓說，一路要走到耶路撒冷去敬拜神，將太過於勞累了。
他引進了一種比較方便的替代方式，
建議百姓說，這兩座金牛續就是以色列民的神，也是過去拯救他們出埃及的神。
他甚至費盡力氣在伯特利和但各設立一座牛續，
在高地上為他們建造神殿，從不是利未子孫的外人上，選了各個階層的人來另立一套祭司系統，
頒佈法令設立一套像猶大地的節期，並且在伯特利獻祭。
(王上 12：28-33)
表面上來看，他雖然不像嚴酷的耶羅波安，
羅波安看起來是很好的領導者，他了解人民的困難和需要。
難怪他能訴諸於人民的無知，接著贏取他們內心的支持。
耶羅波安只在意要從人民身上，得到政治上的支持，
甚至也準備好要把人民，
從神和祂在耶路撒冷所設立的一切典章制度中，帶走。
People with grievances long
for someone to be on their
side. Absalom knew what
they wanted to hear and he
made sure he told them! Such
empathy naturally won him
their favor.
不滿的人們很早就想要有人可以站在他們那一邊了。
押沙龍知道他們想要聽到什麼話，
也確定他親自向他們說這些話！
這種同情心很自然地就會得到他們的喜愛。
GUARD AGAINST DANGERS IN
OUR MIDST
在我們之中時時注意危機
It is natural for us to be attracted to
charismatic people and be drawn to
their passion, their empathy, their
talent, their eloquence, and often,
their personal touch. If such members
or workers were indeed to inspire us
to be even closer to God and His
church, it might prove beneficial for
our faith.
我們很自然的會被有魅力人的吸引，感染了他們的熱情，
與他們有共鳴，欣賞他們的恩賜，羨慕他們的口才，
常常會喜歡他們的個人風格。
若有這種信徒或是工人，會幫助我們更加靠近神和教會，
對我們的信仰來說，看起來就好像很有幫助。
However, the examples above
soberly remind us of the need to
be constantly on our guard. The
following are areas where we have to
exercise our vigilance:
然而上面的例子，提醒我們要警醒，
自已有必要時時小心。
我們要下心警戒下面這些地方：
1) Are we being drawn closer to
any charismatic individual within
the church while being alienated
from others? Have we unknowingly
started to hero-worship or take
sides?
1)我們是不是親近教會某些有魅力的人，
而因此與其他人疏離呢？
我們是不是無意識之間，開始有心英雄崇拜和偏心呢？
Paul pointed out clearly the carnal
nature and spiritual immaturity of
the Corinthians when they started to
align themselves to individuals, with
some claiming to be of Paul, some of
Apollos, and some of Cephas (1 Cor
1:12; 3:1-4). It is natural and healthy
that we have relationships within the
church and we will also inevitably be
closer to some workers or believers.
保羅清楚指出，哥林多教會在肉體上本性的軟弱，及靈性上的不成熟，
自從他們開始把自已和某人作了連結，
有些人就會說自已屬保羅，有人些說自已屬亞波羅，有些人說自已屬磯法。
(林前 1：12；3：1-4)
我們在教會有些個人的關係是很自然且正當的，
無可避免地，我們也會和某些工人和信徒，走的比較親近。
However, it is important that we do
not allow this relationship to develop
into animosity with others. Likewise,
we must be careful not to be blind
to the faults of members close to us
while magnifying the faults of others.
然而很重要的是，不可以讓這種關係，發展成為一種和別人的敵意。
同樣的，我們一定要小心，不要盲目相信那些和我們比較親近的人，他們沒有犯錯。
而反而去放大那些別人沒有犯的錯。
The principle: We should draw from
Paul’s guidance, that even workers
like himself and Apollos were merely
ministers through whom we believed
(1 Cor 3:5). Perhaps, through the
sharing of a good friend, we have
come to believe, or perhaps a
particular church worker inspired and
revived our faith. Notwithstanding,
we must recognize that the real target
of our worship should be Christ, and
Christ alone.
原則：我們該從保羅的教訓中學習，
即使是像他這樣的工人，或是亞波羅，
只不過是我們所信仰的神的執事而而。
(林前 3：5)
或許，因為有好朋友的分享，我們因而信了主，
或者有某個特定的教會工人，啟發了我們，復興了我們的信仰。
儘管如此，我們要認知到，
我們敬拜的真正目標，應該是基督，也只有基督而已。
2) Have we allowed any
charismatic church worker to turn
our hearts against God’s church?
我們是不是讓有些很有魅力的教會工人，
改變了我們的心，變成跟神的教會對抗？
A true worker of God will be
particularly conscious about turning
people towards God and His church,
rather than to himself. Paul was
not flattered when he realized that
some Corinthians had claimed to be
“of Paul” and not of others. On the
contrary, he corrected them:
一個真正神的工人，會特別下意識要把人們引導到神和教會，
而不是指向他自已。
保羅一點也沒有感到受寵，當他知道，
有人哥林多教會的人說他們是屬於保羅，而不是屬於其他人的時候。
相對的，他就糾正了他們的想法：
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified
for you? Or were you baptized in
the name of Paul? I thank God that I
baptized none of you except Crispus
and Gaius, lest anyone should say
that I had baptized in my own
name.
(1 Cor 1:12–15)
13基督是分開的麼？保羅為你們釘了十字架麼？你們是奉保羅的名受了洗麼？
14我感謝神，除了基利司布並該猶以外，我沒有給你們一個人施洗；
15免得有人說，你們是奉我的名受洗。
(林前 1：12-15)
As our relationship with God develops, it should also draw us closer to His
church, where we continue to be edified and at the same time, contribute
to her growth.
隨著我們和神的關係有所進展，這也會讓我們更加靠近祂的教會，
在教會中，我們會一直得到造就，同時，也會促進教會的成長。
He further remarked:
Who is Paul, and who is Apollos,
but ministers through whom you
believed, as the Lord gave to each
one? I planted, Apollos watered,
but God gave the increase. So then
neither he who plants is anything,
nor he who waters, but God who
gives the increase.
(1 Cor 3: 5–7)
他更進一步的解釋：
5亞波羅算甚麼？保羅算甚麼？無非是執事，照主所賜給他們各人的，引導你們相信。
6我栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。
7可見栽種的，算不得甚麼，澆灌的，也算不得甚麼；只在那叫他生長的神。
(林前 3：5-7)
The church, comprising members
still on the journey of spiritual growth,
is clearly not perfect. Likewise,
ministers are also imperfect. Hence,
it is possible to find faults within the
church or among ministers. In our
interactions with members close to
us, we must be extra careful that
we do not end up stirring negative
sentiments about the church.
教會是由一些還在努力行走屬靈信仰成長旅程的信徒所組成的，
很明顯地，他們還有待努力。
同樣地，有些傳道工人也還不夠完美。
因此，很容易在教會裡面，或是在傳道工人身上，
找到一些錯誤。
在與那些和我們比較親近的信徒互動的時候，
我們一定要特別的小心，不要到最後，引起了他們對教會產生負面的觀感。
The principle: If we encounter
members who are unhappy with the
church, and they attempt to stir up
division, we must strive to bridge the
gap and to unite rather than divide.
Also as a part of the church, we need
to pray and positively work towards
the improvement of the church, just
as Paul encouraged the Ephesians to
“endeavor to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph
4:3).
原則：若我們遇到信徒對教會感到不高興，
而他們試圖在引起分裂，就一定要努力溝通，彌補雙方之間的差異，
要讓大家團結起來，而不是各自分裂了教會。
身為教會的一份子，要不斷禱告，要以正面的態度努力工作，讓教會變得更好，
就如同保羅鼓勵以弗所教會的信徒說：
3用和平彼此聯絡，竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心。
(弗 4：3)
3) Is our relationship with God
built only upon the inspiration from
an individual and not from the
church herself, through whom God
had intended to make known His
manifold wisdom (Eph 3:10)?
3)我們與神的關係，只建立在從個人而來的啟發，
而不是來自教會的幫助，
藉著教會，神將祂百般的智慧向人顯明？(弗 3：10)
We have to recognize that God’s
design is for His ministry to be led
by an organization as opposed to
any one individual. As the apostolic
church grew, it continued to operate
in an organized and institutionalized
fashion. When Philip successfully
converted the Samaritans and
baptized them, word reached the
apostles in Jerusalem, who sent Peter
and John to help him (Acts 8:14).
Even though Peter was moved by the
Holy Spirit to preach to Cornelius, he
explained his actions to the church in
Jerusalem and to the other apostles
(Acts 11:1–18). Although Paul was an
apostle, and a very gifted worker, he
did not operate alone. He subjected
himself to the Antioch church to
be dispatched elsewhere (Acts
13:1–4). When there was a dispute
over the matter of circumcision,
this was discussed at the council in
Jerusalem, after which the decision
was dispatched to the churches
throughout the region (Acts 15:1–2;
23–31; 16:4–5). This is consistent
with biblical teachings of the church
being the body of Christ, which
comprises members playing different
functions, yet working together and
integrated as a whole (1 Cor 12; Eph
4:11–16).
我們有需要認知到，神對福音事工的規劃，
是要藉著一個團體來引導的，也正是反對任何個人來帶頭。
隨著使徒教會的成長，教會也一直用組織化及制度化的方式來運作。
當腓力成功讓撒馬利亞人信主，為他們洗禮，
這個消息傳到了耶路撒冷的使徒耳中，
而教會就派了彼得和約翰來幫助他們。(徒 8：14)
甚至彼得也受到聖靈的感動，把福音傳給哥尼流，
他向耶路撒冷教會和其他的使徒，解釋他行動的原因。(徒 8：1-18)
雖然保羅是使徒，也非常的有恩賜，他也不是自已獨自一人在進行工作。
他隸屬於安提阿教會，接受教會的派遣到任何地方去。(徒 13：1-4)
直到有一次他們對割禮的事情有所爭論的時候，
這件事情才被提到耶路撒冷的會議中來討論，
會議完，所作的決議才被傳達到整個區域的全部教會。
(徒 15：1-2；23-31；16：4-5)
這樣的作法，就符合了聖經裡面的教導，
教會要成為基督的身體，
由不同的功能的信徒來組成，
然而大家可以一起工作，整合在一起成為一個身體。
(林前 12；弗 4：11-16)
The principle: As our relationship
with God develops, it should also
draw us closer to His church, where
we continue to be edified and at the
same time, contribute to her growth.
This then aligns with God’s intention
of establishing the church, where “He
Himself gave some to be apostles,
some prophets, some evangelists and
some pastors and preachers, for the
equipping of the saints for the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ, till we all come
to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a
perfect man, to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph
4:11–13).
原則：隨著我們與神的關係，有所進展，
因為這樣，我們應該會更愛接近教會才對，
在教會裡，我們繼續得到造就，同時也參與並幫助教會的成長。
然而才因著與神的旨意合一，在教會中，因為
11他所賜的，有使徒，有先知，有傳福音的，有牧師和教師，
12為要成全聖徒，各盡其職，建立基督的身體，
13直等到我們眾人在真道上同歸於一，認識神的兒子，得以長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量，
(弗 4：11-13)
In his letter to the church in
Ephesus, Paul wrote:
在保羅給以弗所教會的書信中，他寫到：
…that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith; that you, being
rooted and grounded in love, may
be able to comprehend with all the
saints what is the width and length
and depth and height – to know
the love of Christ which passes
knowledge; that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God.
(Eph 3:17–19)
17使基督因你們的信，住在你們心裡，叫你們的愛心有根有基，
18能以和眾聖徒一同明白基督的愛是何等長闊高深，
19並知道這愛是過於人所能測度的，便叫神一切所充滿的，充滿了你們。
(弗 3：17-19)
May our hearts not be stolen by
any one individual, but rather let it
be the sole dwelling place of the love
of Christ.
願我們的心不會被任何個人所迷惑，
反而讓內心成為基督的愛的主要居所。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)