討論問題

TAFPC Adult Sunday School Bible Study

台美團契長老教會成人主日學三年讀經運動 02/11/2007 討論問題

Question 1: Ezekiel 18  以西結書十八章

As the exiles were looking at the fall of Jerusalem, there was a sense that this was due to the sins of their fathers, but that they themselves were not responsible.  So God tells the people that the son does not bear the punishment for the father's sin, nor does the father bear punishment for the son's sin (18:20). Those who practice righteousness will not be punished (18:9), but those who practice evil will be punished (18:10-13).

In our experiences, do good people suffer along with the bad for sins they never condoned?  Have we ever been blamed for something done by others? What was especially difficult for us to accept?  Did we tend to question God’s fairness when dealing with these situations?

In light of this passage, what answer do we now have for the common complaint "God is not fair"? In what way does this chapter give us confidence to face God daily and finally on the Day of Judgment?

當流亡的以色列民看著耶路撒冷城陷落時，他們覺得：亡國是由於祖先所犯的罪，而他們自己是無辜的。  為此，上帝告訴以色列民：兒子必不擔當父親的罪孽，父親也不擔當兒子的罪孽（十八章二十節）；公義的人，必定存活（十八章九節）；而行惡的人必要死亡（十八章十到十三節）。

在我們的經驗中，是否曾有良善的人，因為他們未曾犯的罪孽而蒙受苦痛？我們是否曾經因為別人所做的壞事而受責怪呢？對我們而言，什麼樣的情況是最難接受的？而在遭遇這些情況時，我們是否曾經懷疑上帝的公平呢？

我們可以從上面的章節中得到什麼樣的答案，來回應這些「上帝不公平」的抱怨呢？當我們每天──甚至在最後審判的日子──面對上帝時，以西結書十八章又能如何給予我們信心呢？

Question 2. Ezekiel 以西結書20: 5--44 (attention: 8, 9,13,14, 21, 22, 42-44)

In these verses through Ezekiel, God stated that every time He had thought He would pour out His wrath upon the rebellious Israelites, " I acted for the sake of my name", He withdrew His punishment to bring total destruction for them. Now recall our own acts: whenever we discipline or forgive our children for their misbehavior, we often told them and ourselves that: " I am doing this for your good." Compared with this example, don't you think these verses seem to portray a God as self centered and loveless. The prophet seemed to be describing a God only interested in His own name. Why would Ezekiel use these verses to illustrate God's motive to forgive Israelites (and us)? What does " I acted for the sake of my name" mean when the speaker is God instead of human?

上帝通過先知以西結宣告說: 好幾次祂已經準備要對叛逆的以色列人民大發怒氣了但是最後總是 “獨獨我因為我的名的緣故行代誌” 再一次原諒他們,沒有毀滅以色列人. 當咱教訓咱的子孫時,咱時常說 “我是為你好” 乍看之下上帝好像比咱這些當父母的 自我中心又沒愛心多了. 先知以西結所傳達的信息好像是 “只為了上帝的名不受褻瀆, 不關心人民的福利”. 為什麼以西結要這麼傳上帝? 為了祂的 “名” 到底是怎麼樣的一個名?