下面我们继续学习创世纪第九章。
QUOTE:
合和本圣经 创世纪
9：1 神赐福给挪亚和他的儿子，对他们说：你们要生养众多，遍满了地。
2 凡地上的走兽和空中的飞鸟都必惊恐，惧怕你们，连地上一切的昆虫并海里一切的鱼都交付你们的手。
3凡活着的动物都可以作你们的食物。这一切我都赐给你们，如同菜蔬一样。
4 惟独肉带着血，那就是他的生命，你们不可吃。
5 流你们血、害你们命的，无论是兽是人，我必讨他的罪，就是向各人的弟兄也是如此。
6 凡流人血的，他的血也必被人所流，因为神造人是照自己的形像造的。
7 你们要生养众多，在地上昌盛繁茂。
8 神晓谕挪亚和他的儿子说：
9 我与你们和你们的後裔立约，
10 并与你们这里的一切活物 ─ 就是飞鸟、牲畜、走兽，凡从方舟里出来的活物 ─ 立约。
11 我与你们立约，凡有血肉的，不再被洪水灭绝，也不再有洪水毁坏地了。
12 神说：我与你们并你们这里的各样活物所立的永约是有记号的。
13 我把虹放在云彩中，这就可作我与地立约的记号了。
14 我使云彩盖地的时候，必有虹现在云彩中，
15 我便记念我与你们和各样有血肉的活物所立的约，水就再不泛滥、毁坏一切有血肉的物了。
16 虹必现在云彩中，我看见，就要记念我与地上各样有血肉的活物所立的永约。
17 神对挪亚说：这就是我与地上一切有血肉之物立约的记号了。
Genesis 9: 1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
2 "The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.
3"Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.
4 "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
5 "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man.
6 " Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.
7 "As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it."
8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,
9 "Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;
10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.
11 "I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth."
12 God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations;
13 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.
14 "It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud,
15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 "When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
17 And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."
9：1 神赐福给挪亚和他的儿子，对他们说：你们要生养众多，遍满了地。
2 凡地上的走兽和空中的飞鸟都必惊恐，惧怕你们，连地上一切的昆虫并海里一切的鱼都交付你们的手。
3凡活着的动物都可以作你们的食物。这一切我都赐给你们，如同菜蔬一样。
4 惟独肉带着血，那就是他的生命，你们不可吃。
5 流你们血、害你们命的，无论是兽是人，我必讨他的罪，就是向各人的弟兄也是如此。
6 凡流人血的，他的血也必被人所流，因为神造人是照自己的形像造的。
7 你们要生养众多，在地上昌盛繁茂。
8 神晓谕挪亚和他的儿子说：
9 我与你们和你们的後裔立约，
10 并与你们这里的一切活物 ─ 就是飞鸟、牲畜、走兽，凡从方舟里出来的活物 ─ 立约。
11 我与你们立约，凡有血肉的，不再被洪水灭绝，也不再有洪水毁坏地了。
12 神说：我与你们并你们这里的各样活物所立的永约是有记号的。
13 我把虹放在云彩中，这就可作我与地立约的记号了。
14 我使云彩盖地的时候，必有虹现在云彩中，
15 我便记念我与你们和各样有血肉的活物所立的约，水就再不泛滥、毁坏一切有血肉的物了。
16 虹必现在云彩中，我看见，就要记念我与地上各样有血肉的活物所立的永约。
17 神对挪亚说：这就是我与地上一切有血肉之物立约的记号了。
Genesis 9: 1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
2 "The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.
3"Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.
4 "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
5 "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man.
6 " Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.
7 "As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it."
8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,
9 "Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;
10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.
11 "I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth."
12 God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations;
13 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.
14 "It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud,
15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.
16 "When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
17 And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."
我们继续学习和讨论创世纪第九章。
QUOTE:
创世纪9：1 神赐福给挪亚和他的儿子，对他们说：你们要生养众多，遍满了地。Genesis 9: 1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
这节圣经是神对诺亚和他的儿子们祝福。要求他们生养众多，布满全地。根据NASB版本圣经，这是神的第三次这样的祝福。不过前两次的祝福的对象不一样。第一次是对水中游的和天上飞的动物，记载在创世纪1：22。第二次是对人，记载在创世纪1：28. 这是神的对人的二次祝福，虽然对象不同，但神的意旨不变。
持守之约的第二十五点：神赐福诺亚。
QUOTE:
2 凡地上的走兽和空中的飞鸟都必惊恐，惧怕你们，连地上一切的昆虫并海里一切的鱼都交付你们的手。2 "The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.
这是神对人祝福的新内容。神让天上的飞鸟，地上的走兽，水里的游鱼都怕人，并把他们都交到人的手里。这里实际上也又一次重申了人对其它被造万物的管理权。
持守之约的第二十六点： 神命令飞鸟走兽听令于人。
QUOTE:
3凡活着的动物都可以作你们的食物。这一切我都赐给你们，如同菜蔬一样。3"Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.
同上节经文一样，这是神对人新的祝福。从此，人可以食用活的动物，就和食用菜蔬一样。这样人的饮食结构就发生了很大变化。随之而发生重大变化的是人和动物的关系。既然人可以自由使用它们，这些动物想不怕人恐怕也不可能了。
持守之约的第二十七点：神允许人食动物。
QUOTE:
4 惟独肉带着血，那就是他的生命，你们不可吃。4 "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
这条要求有特殊意义，单独这一节就可以写一本书了。简单说，神虽然允许人吃动物的肉，但没有对动物生命的处置权，因为生命是属于创造生命的神。所以，根据犹太人的习俗，也是后来摩西律法的规定，对代表生命的动物血液必须采用两种方法的一种来处理，交还给神。一是撒在祭坛上，这是神允许为人暂时赎罪的方式。第二是把血直接洒在地上。
持守之约的第二十八点：神禁止人吃代表生命的血。
QUOTE:
5 流你们血、害你们命的，无论是兽是人，我必讨他的罪，就是向各人的弟兄也是如此。5 "Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man.
这一节经文体现了神对人生命的保护。不论是人还是动物，只要害人性命，神都会要他们以命抵命。即
使与被害人是弟兄也不能逃脱惩罚。
持守之约的第二十九点：神规定害人者以命偿命。
QUOTE:
6 凡流人血的，他的血也必被人所流，因为神造人是照自己的形像造的。 6 " Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.
这一节经文解释了神让人血债血偿的理由。神在这里再一次重申了人的本质属性和与神的关系。
持守之约的第三十点：神立意为人血债血偿。
QUOTE:
7 你们要生养众多，在地上昌盛繁茂。7 "As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it."
这是神对人的命令，与前两次的祝福内容相同，但性质不同。根据这段经文，人类的繁衍生息就成为人类的责任。一切与此背道而驰的行为就变成了违反神的命令。大家可以联系当前的实际，思考为什么有些行为是违反圣经教导的，不管它有什么理由。不过，人口过剩怎么办？或者说，有没有这个问题？
持守之约的第三十一点：神令诺亚繁衍生息。
QUOTE:
8 神晓谕挪亚和他的儿子说：9 我与你们和你们的後裔立约，8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 "Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you;
神向诺亚和它的儿子们明确表达正是立约的意愿。注意：这不仅仅是与诺亚一家的父子两代，而且包括他们的后裔，即从此以后的所有人类。或者说，诺亚和神立约，代表了整个人类。
持守之约的第三十二点：神明言和诺亚家族立约。
QUOTE:
10 并与你们这里的一切活物 ─ 就是飞鸟、牲畜、走兽，凡从方舟里出来的活物 ─ 立约。 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.
神的这次立约并不限于人类，立约对象包含了所有乘方舟得救的飞禽走兽。当然，这些动物不会自己亲自承担责任，而也是由诺亚作它们的代表的。由此，我们可以进一步体会神的作为的奇妙。同时，各位对动物比较冷漠的弟兄姊妹，要检查一下对它们的态度和关系。别忘了我们是它们的代表啊。
这让我想起一次上课时，教授谈起许多美国信徒对他们的宠物不能跟他们一起上天堂不能接受的时候，我还觉得很不以为然，心里大大地嘲笑了他们一番。现在细想一下，也许他们是对的。如果只有代表进天堂。被代表的不去，恐怕于理有点儿不妥。
持守之约的第三十三点：神明确立约对象包括其它生命。
QUOTE:
11 我与你们立约，凡有血肉的，不再被洪水灭绝，也不再有洪水毁坏地了。11 "I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth."
这是立约的具体内容。就是生命不再被洪水灭绝，地球不被洪水毁坏。我觉得神的这个应许对理解整个持守之曰至关紧要。准确理解这段经文，不扩大，不缩小神的应许，是必不可少的。
持守之约的第三十四点：神立约不再用洪水灭绝生命。
QUOTE:
12 神说：我与你们并你们这里的各样活物所立的永约是有记号的。13 我把虹放在云彩中，这就可作我与地立约的记号了。14 我使云彩盖地的时候，必有虹现在云彩中，15 我便记念我与你们和各样有血肉的活物所立的约，水就再不泛滥、毁坏一切有血肉的物了。12 God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; 13 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. 14 "It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, 15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.
神不但和他的被造物立约，而且为人类用显而易见的彩虹为标记，时刻提醒人类这个持守之约的内容。看来神对人的健忘不但认识深刻，而且有预防措施。
持守之约的第三十五点：神用彩虹为立约印记。
QUOTE:
16 虹必现在云彩中，我看见，就要记念我与地上各样有血肉的活物所立的永约。16 "When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
神明确彩虹在那里出现和彩虹的纪念永约的作用。注意：持守之约是永不取消的圣约。因此天上的彩虹也会永世长存。
持守之约的第三十六点：神让彩虹常现纪念永约。
QUOTE:
17 神对挪亚说：这就是我与地上一切有血肉之物立约的记号了。17 And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."
神最后还念念不忘地对诺亚说明彩虹作为持守之约标记的作用。
持守之约的第三十七点：神告知诺亚彩虹为立约的印记。
到此为止，我们暂时结束了对持守之约的讨论。
现在，我们总结一下整个持守之约执行状态以及如果没有完成，圣约各方应该承担的责任。
持守之约的第二十三点：神垂听诺亚的祈祷决定留存地球。状态：正在进行。神承担主要责任，不令地球毁灭。人类每一个成员应该与神同工，保持地球的正常环境和运行，因为地球是所有人类成员的家园。
持守之约的第二十五点：神赐福诺亚。状态：正在进行。全球六十亿，可以算作生养众多了吧。虽然有一些和神远 隔。
持守之约的第二十六点：神命令飞鸟走兽听令于人。状态：正在进行。似乎还任重道远。
持守之约的第二十七点：神允许人食动物。状态：正在进行。人类的责任。到目前为止，人类对满足口腹之需的事情显然完成得不错，尤其是我们中国人可称比较有心得，值得其他国家和 地区的人效法。
持守之约的第二十八点：神禁止人吃代表生命的血。状态：正在进行。很大一个问题是人们对神是生命的来源这一点认识模糊，因而对禁止食血掉以轻心。
持守之约的第二十九点：神规定害人者以命偿命。状态：正在进行。神最常用的方式就是借助政府机器达到这一目的。
持守之约的第三十点：神立意为人血债血偿。状态：正在进行。神对人的保护措施依然行之有效，违反者必受惩罚。
持守之约的第三十一点：神令诺亚繁衍生息。状态：诺亚完成，人类后代正在进行。
持守之约的第三十二点：神明言和诺亚家族立约。状态：已经立约，效力继续发挥作用。
持守之约的第三十三点：神明确立约对象包括其它生命。状态：已经立约，效力继续发挥作用。
持守之约的第三十四点：神立约不再用洪水灭绝生命。状态：已经立约，效力继续发挥作用。
持守之约的第三十五点：神用彩虹为立约印记。状态：已经立约，效力继续发挥作用。
持守之约的第三十六点：神让彩虹常现纪念永约。状态：正在进行。
持守之约的第三十七点：神告知诺亚彩虹为立约的印记。状态：已完成
我们读了这些经文，要领会的是什么呢？我个人认为有两条是必不可少的。第一是要感恩；第二是要警醒。再看一段新约圣经，作为结束吧。
QUOTE:
和合本圣经 马太福音24：37-41 挪亚的日子怎样，人子降临也要怎样。当洪水以前的日子，人照常吃喝嫁娶，直到挪亚进方舟的那日；不知不觉洪水来了，把他们全都冲去。人子降临也要这样。那时，两个人在田里，取去一个，撇下一个。两个女人推磨，取去一个，撇下一个。
NASB Matthew 24: 37-41 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
NASB Matthew 24: 37-41 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
这段经文浅显易懂，不需进一步讨论，端看我们的态度和行动了。
