Proverbs 8:13, 9:10 Elder Andy Chen Good vs Evil Proverbs 8:13, 9:10 Elder Andy Chen
“There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
PROVERBS 8:13 (箴言) PROVERBS 9:10 (箴言) To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. 敬畏耶和華在乎恨惡邪惡; 那驕傲、狂妄,並惡道, 以及乖謬的口,都為我所恨惡。 PROVERBS 9:10 (箴言) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端; 認識至聖者便是聰明。
What is “fear of the lord”? Beginning of knowledge (1:7, 2:5, 9:10) Hate evil (3:7, 8:13, 14:16, 16:6) Walk uprightly (14:2) A fountain of life (14:27, 19:23) Humility (22:4)
Good vs evil What is Evil? Where did Evil come from? Why does God hate Evil? How to fear God by hating Evil? How about Good?
What is evil?
What is “Evil”? Original word “Ra” Which means bad or evil Often appear as opposite of good Moral evil vs Physical evil Disobedience from will of God
Where did evil come from?
Genesis 2:16-17 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 16 耶 和 華 神 吩 咐 他 說 : 園 中 各 樣 樹 上 的 果 子 , 你 可 以 隨 意 吃 , 17 只 是 分 別 善 惡 樹 上 的 果 子 , 你 不 可 吃 , 因 為 你 吃 的 日 子 必 定 死 !
Genesis 3:4-6 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 4 蛇 對 女 人 說 : 你 們 不 一 定 死 ; 5 因 為 神 知 道 , 你 們 吃 的 日 子 眼 睛 就 明 亮 了 , 你 們 便 如 神 能 知 道 善 惡 。 6 於 是 女 人 見 那 棵 樹 的 果 子 好 作 食 物 , 也 悅 人 的 眼 目 , 且 是 可 喜 愛 的 , 能 使 人 有 智 慧 , 就 摘 下 果 子 來 吃 了 , 又 給 他 丈 夫 , 他 丈 夫 也 吃 了 。
Genesis 3:7 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 7 他 們 二 人 的 眼 睛 就 明 亮 了 , 才 知 道 自 己 是 赤 身 露 體 , 便 拿 無 花 果 樹 的 葉 子 為 自 己 編 作 裙 子 。
What if?
Why hate evil? “To fear the Lord is to hate evil”
Today, the world tells us: It’s ok to have Sex outside of marriage (Hebrews 13:4) Sex with someone of same sex (Romans 1:26-27) Pornography (Matthew 5:28-29) Divorce (Matthew 19:5-6) Abortion (Exodus 20:13, Psalms 139:13-16)
Where is the grey line? Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. 20 禍 哉 ! 那 些 稱 惡 為 善 , 稱 善 為 惡 , 以 暗 為 光 , 以 光 為 暗 , 以 苦 為 甜 , 以 甜 為 苦 的 人 。 21 禍 哉 ! 那 些 自 以 為 有 智 慧 , 自 看 為 通 達 的 人 。
Proverbs 9:1-6 vs 9:13-15 Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.” Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端; 認識至聖者便是聰明。
Romans 7:18-24 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 18 我 也 知 道 在 我 裡 頭 , 就 是 我 肉 體 之 中 , 沒 有 良 善 。 因 為 , 立 志 為 善 由 得 我 , 只 是 行 出 來 由 不 得 我 。19 故 此 , 我 所 願 意 的 善 , 我 反 不 做 ; 我 所 不 願 意 的 惡 , 我 倒 去 做 。20 若 我 去 做 所 不 願 意 做 的 , 就 不 是 我 做 的 , 乃 是 住 在 我 裡 頭 的 罪 做 的 。
Romans 7:18-24 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 21 我 覺 得 有 個 律 , 就 是 我 願 意 為 善 的 時 候 , 便 有 惡 與 我 同 在 。22 因 為 按 著 我 裡 面 的 意 思 ( 原 文 是 人 ) , 我 是 喜 歡 神 的 律 ;23 但 我 覺 得 肢 體 中 另 有 個 律 和 我 心 中 的 律 交 戰 , 把 我 擄 去 , 叫 我 附 從 那 肢 體 中 犯 罪 的 律 。24 我 真 是 苦 阿 ! 誰 能 救 我 脫 離 這 取 死 的 身 體 呢 ?
2 Timothy 2:22 22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 提 摩 太 後 書 2:22 22 你 要 逃 避 少 年 的 私 慾 , 同 那 清 心 禱 告 主 的 人 追 求 公 義 、 信 德 、 仁 愛 、 和 平 。
How to fear god by hating evil?
Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. 敬畏耶和華在乎恨惡邪惡; 那驕傲、狂妄,並惡道, 以及乖謬的口,都為我所恨惡。
Proverbs 6:16-19 16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. 16 耶 和 華 所 恨 惡 的 有 六 樣 , 連 他 心 所 憎 惡 的 共 有 七 樣 : 17 就 是 高 傲 的 眼 , 撒 謊 的 舌 , 流 無 辜 人 血 的 手 , 18 圖 謀 惡 計 的 心 , 飛 跑 行 惡 的 腳 , 19 吐 謊 言 的 假 見 證 , 並 弟 兄 中 布 散 紛 爭 的 人 。
pride The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5 NIV) 凡 心 裡 驕 傲 的 , 為 耶 和 華 所 憎 惡 ; 雖 然 連 手 , 他 必 不 免 受 罰 。 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 NIV) 18 驕 傲 在 敗 壞 以 先 ; 狂 心 在 跌 倒 之 前 。
Driven vs called Driven people live from outside in. Called people live from inside out. Signs of Drivenness: 1. Gratified by accomplishment 2. Gratified by symbols of accomplishment 3. Uncontrolled pursuit of expansion 4. Limited regard for integrity 5. Limited or undeveloped people skills 6. Volcanic anger 7. Abnormally busy
How about good?
How about “good”? Luke 18:18-19 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good— except God alone. 路 加 福 音 18:18-19 18 有 一 個 官 問 耶 穌 說 : 良 善 的 夫 子 , 我 該 做 甚 麼 事 才 可 以 承 受 永 生 ? 19 耶 穌 對 他 說 : 你 為 甚 麼 稱 我 是 良 善 的 ? 除 了 神 一 位 之 外 , 再 沒 有 良 善 的 。
How about “good”? Micah 6:8 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 彌 迦 書 6:8 8 世 人 哪 , 耶 和 華 已 指 示 你 何 為 善 。 他 向 你 所 要 的 是 甚 麼 呢 ? 只 要 你 行 公 義 , 好 憐 憫 , 存 謙 卑 的 心 , 與 你 的 神 同 行 。
Amos 5:14-15 14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. 15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. 阿 摩 司 書 5:14-15 14 你 們 要 求 善 , 不 要 求 惡 , 就 必 存 活 。 這 樣 , 耶 和 華 ─ 萬 軍 之 神 必 照 你 們 所 說 的 與 你 們 同 在 。 15 要 惡 惡 好 善 , 在 城 門 口 秉 公 行 義 ; 或 者 耶 和 華 ─ 萬 軍 之 神 向 約 瑟 的 餘 民 施 恩 。