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SVCA 31st 週年感恩主日： 「我是伯特利的 神」
于宏潔 20240303
一.伯特利在聖經中特殊的意義
1. 「伯特利」本身的意義：「神的家，神的居所」 2. 亞伯拉罕兩次在伯特利向 神築壇(創12:8,13:3) 3. 雅各兩次在伯特利經歷 神的顯現 a) 遇見 神之後，在那裡向 神許願,並立柱為証 16 雅各睡醒了，說：「耶和華真在這裏，我竟不知道！」 17 就懼怕，說：「這地方何等可畏！這不是別的，乃是 神的殿，也是天的門。」 18 雅各清早起來，把所枕的石頭立作柱子，澆油在上面。 19 他就給那地方起名叫伯特利…20 雅各許願說：「神若與我同在…21 …我就必以耶和華為我的 神。 22 我所立為柱子的石頭也必作 神的殿…」(創28:16-22) b) 神呼召雅各歸回時，特別以「我是伯特利的 神」來提醒雅各 「13我是伯特利的 神；你在那裏用油澆過柱子，向我許過願。現今你起來，離開這地，回你本地去吧！」 (創31:13) c) 雅各順命返回伯特利，在那築壇、立柱，並經歷 神的顯現與立約 神對雅各說：「起來！上伯特利去，住在那裏；要在那裏築一座壇給 神…2 雅各就對他家中的人…說：「你們要除掉你們中間的外邦神，也要自潔，更換衣裳。 3 我們要起來，上伯特利去，在那裏我要築一座壇給 神…」 4 他們就把外邦人的神像和他們耳朵上的環子交給雅各…5 他們便起行前往…伯特利… 7 他在那裏築了一座壇…神又向他顯現，賜福與他，10 且對他說：「你的名原是雅各，從今以後不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列。」…11 神又對他說：「我是全能的 神；你要生養眾多，將來有一族和多國的民從你而生，又有君王從你而出。 12 我所賜給亞伯拉罕和以撒的地，我要賜給你與你的後裔。」…14 雅各便在那裏立了一根石柱，在柱子上奠酒，澆油。 15 雅各就給那地方起名叫伯特利。(創35:1-15) 二. 歷世歷代以來 神一直要得著合 神心意的居所  13 …耶和華揀選了錫安，願意當作自己的居所，14 說：這是我永遠安息之所；我要住在這裏，因為是我所願意的。 (詩132:13-14)  15 我必睜眼看、側耳聽在此處所獻的禱告。 16 現在我已選擇這殿，分別為聖，使我的名永在其中，我的眼、我的心也必常在那裏。(代下7:15-16)  27 我的居所必在他們中間；我要作他們的 神，他們要作我的子民。28 我的聖所在以色列人中間直到永遠… (結37:27-28) 三. 神在我們教會的恩典與托付 1. 「以利沙代，以便以謝，以馬內利」的上行恩典 2. 「伯利恆，伯大尼，伯特利」的托付與見證 SVCA 31st Anniversary Thanksgiving Sunday: "I Am the God of Bethel" I. The Special Significance of Bethel in the Bible 1. The Meaning of "Bethel" itself: "House of God, Dwelling Place of God" 2. Abraham built altars to God twice in Bethel (Genesis 12:8, 13:3) 3. Jacob experienced God's presence twice in Bethel a) After encountering God, he made vows and set up a pillar as a witness there: 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” 18 Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel…20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going…then the Lord shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house…” (Genesis 28:16-22) b) When God called Jacob back, He specifically reminded Jacob, "I am the God of Bethel": "Jacob...13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land." (Genesis 31:13) c) Jacob obediently returned to Bethel, built an altar, set up a pillar, and experienced God's presence and covenant: "God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God...2 So Jacob said to his household... 'Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you...3 Let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God...'" 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had...5 Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them...to Bethel... 7 There he built an altar...and God appeared to him there and blessed him...10 Then God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel...11 God said to him, 'I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number...I will give you and your descendants the land I gave to Abraham and Isaac...'" 14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel. ." (Genesis 35:1-15) II. Throughout History, God Has Always Desired a Dwelling Place According to His Will - "The LORD has chosen Zion, saying, 'This is my resting place forever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.'" (Psalm 132:13-14) - "Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there." (2 Chronicles 7:15-16) - "My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever." (Ezekiel 37:27-28) III. God's Grace and Entrustment to Our Church 1. The abundant grace of "El Shaddai, Ebenezer, Immanuel" 2. The entrustment and testimony of "Bethlehem, Bethany, Bethel"