歷代志上 18 章 1 Chronicles 18

各位平安，這一講我們要來談談《歷代志上》第18章的故事。在上一章裡，我們看到大衛迎接約櫃進城，全城歡騰，大衛的靈性也達到一個高峰，那是敬拜與歡慶的時刻。

但接下來的第18章，畫風一轉，我們進入到大衛征戰的記錄。戰爭的場景總是帶有殘酷，這也是許多基督徒在讀舊約時會感到掙扎的地方——怎麼會在一部聖潔的聖經中看到這麼多血腥、暴力，甚至還是出自像大衛這樣“合神心意”的人之手？

為了幫助大家更好地理解這些經文，我們可以用一個讀經的好方法——「三個窗戶」。

第一個窗戶是 聖經背後的世界（The World Behind the Bible），也就是歷代志所記錄的那個歷史時代。我們需要了解當時大衛所面對的政治、軍事、社會背景。

第二個窗戶是 聖經之中的世界（The World Within the Bible），指的是經文本身的寫作語境。歷代志的寫作目的是什麼？它想傳達什麼神學觀點？

第三個窗戶是 我們面前的世界（The World In Front of the Bible），就是今天的我們。這段戰爭的記載，對我們現代人有什麼意義？它教導我們什麼樣的屬靈原則或生命態度？

我們今天在讀聖經的時候，要記得一件很重要的事：聖經記載的，是兩三千年前的事情。

也就是說，我們不能單純用今天的標準、現代的價值觀，去評斷當時的人、當時的處境，以及他們所做的選擇。當我們願意換一個角度，把自己帶入那個歷史情境、那個時代的文化與現實，我們就會更貼近當時的真實，也更能理解那些看起來難以接受的經文背後，其實有它的原因。

這有點像是把我們自己「放進」那個故事裡頭。當我們進入那個環境，再回頭來看上帝說的話，或者那些人物做出的行動，我們就更容易體會：這些事情為什麼會發生？它們背後的目的與屬靈意義又是什麼？

而透過這樣的閱讀方式，我們不只是了解歷史，我們還能抓住一些「千古不變」的原則。像是：上帝是慈愛的、是憐憫的、也是公義的。這些不變的屬性，是貫穿整本聖經的。

當我們在舊約中看到那些戰爭與審判的場面，也許會心裡不舒服，甚至疑惑：「慈愛的上帝為什麼會這麼做？」但這就是我們要學習用信心去看待的地方。雖然我們的理性有限，沒辦法完全理解上帝的全盤計畫，但我們可以選擇相信——相信祂的性情是良善的，相信祂的作為背後都有祂的智慧與目的。

這也正是信心的功用：在我們還不明白的時候，仍然相信上帝的心意是美好的。

我們可以打個比方。

就像我們小時候，常常不太能理解爸媽為什麼要我們做某些事情。像是為什麼一定要讀書？為什麼非得吃青菜？為什麼要早起、做家事？那時候我們會覺得很煩，甚至會說：「我不要！」「我討厭你！」

我自己的小女兒也是這樣。有時候我對她好，陪她玩她喜歡的東西，她就會開心地說：「我愛爸爸！」但當我要求她做一些她不喜歡的事情——像是吃青菜、吃水果，她就會馬上翻臉：「我討厭爸爸！」

這樣的情境，其實跟我們對上帝的反應很像。當祂賜福給我們、幫助我們，我們感謝祂、讚美祂；但當祂要我們走一條比較辛苦的路、學會順服與改變，我們就會質疑祂，甚至埋怨祂。

可是在那個角色裡，我們就像是那個爸媽——知道孩子還不懂，知道他們需要時間成長。我們選擇用耐心、用愛，去引導他們。同樣地，上帝也是這樣對待我們的。

祂知道我們常常無法馬上理解祂的心意，甚至誤解祂。但祂仍然用慈愛與寬容陪伴我們，相信有一天我們會長大，會明白：祂的心意原來一直都是愛。

接下來我們來看《歷代志上》第18章這段大衛爭戰的記錄。

你會發現，大衛和所羅門真的是兩種完全不同風格的君王。怎麼說呢？大衛是一位「馬上打天下」的開國皇帝，他的一生幾乎都在征戰當中。而所羅門呢，則是一位在太平盛世裡「坐天下」的治理者，重點放在建設與智慧的治理。兩位王的使命不同，也形塑出不同的時代。

那我們就來打開「第一個窗戶」——聖經背後的世界（The World Behind the Bible）。

《歷代志》的作者寫這段記載的時間，大約是西元前400年左右，那時候以色列已經不再是獨立的王國，而是被波斯帝國統治的時代。也就是說，當時的以色列人是國破家亡，被擄回來、但仍處於被統治與壓抑的狀態。

不過波斯王算是相對寬容的，允許他們被擄歸回，重新自治、重建家園。就在這樣的時代背景中，歷代志的作者寫下這些記錄，他們的目的是什麼呢？

這就進入到「第二個窗戶」——聖經之中的世界（The World Within the Bible）。

這位作者寫《歷代志》並不只是為了單純記錄歷史，而是帶著一個強烈的目的——要重新喚起百姓對上帝的信心。當時的以色列人處於低谷，他們急切需要一些鼓勵，需要記得自己的身份，需要知道神與他們立的約沒有被廢棄。

記載的當時以色列還是一個新興的小國，四周都是強敵環伺，若沒有穩固的軍事與屬靈領袖，他們很容易被吞噬。所以上帝透過大衛的南征北討，來穩定局勢，也讓周圍的列國看見 —— 這位以色列的神，不只是曠野中的神、帳棚中的神，而是全地的主宰。

所以，歷代志花了大量篇幅記錄大衛與所羅門王朝的榮耀時刻，這並不是偶然，而是刻意的編排。目的是要提醒這些在困境中的以色列人：「你們的神沒有離棄你們！祂曾經與大衛同行，如今也仍然記念你們。」這是一種歷史的重寫，也是信仰的重申。當人們記得自己曾經是蒙神祝福的百姓，就會更有力量走下去。

接下來我們來看一節很關鍵的經文，就是《歷代志上》第18章第13節：「大衛無論往哪裡去，耶和華都使他得勝。」

這句話很重要，它幫助我們重新理解大衛的戰爭。其實大衛並不是一個嗜殺成性的人，他也不是那種到處挑起紛爭、想打仗就打仗的領袖。他的征戰，其實是出於上帝的帶領，是神在那個時代所託付給他的任務。

從這句經文我們看見，大衛的每一次得勝，不是靠他的聰明或軍力，而是因為「耶和華使他得勝」。也就是說，這背後有上帝的旨意在推動。上帝要透過大衛的征戰，來彰顯祂自己的權柄與榮耀。

為什麼要這麼做呢？這就來開第三道窗戶：我們今天的世界。

大衛的威信，是上帝建立的；而以色列的威信，也是因為上帝的同在而確立的。

其實我們要知道，上帝的本意，並不是要大衛用武力去征服更多土地。不是要我們去讚嘆大衛或是以色列人多厲害，而是要凸顯一件事——因為有上帝的同在，以色列才能站立得住。

這也呼應了以色列一向的特色：他們從來不是人數最多、國土最大的民族。他們的歷史中，從來不以外在的事蹟來誇耀。真正讓他們與眾不同的，是上帝與他們的同在。

你會發現，《歷代志》一再強調的不是大衛的軍事才能，而是「耶和華使他得勝」。也就是說，真正讓這個民族屹立不搖的，不是他們自己，而是那位與他們同行的神。

這就跟人類歷史上許多帝國的擴張方式形成強烈對比。像亞述、波斯、羅馬，或東方古代的中國，他們的擴張常常是為了資源、金錢、人口或土地的控制。戰爭往往出於人的私慾，君王的驕傲，是人類不斷擴張自我中心的表現。

但以色列不是這樣。就算在大衛的全盛時期，他們的領土範圍也不過是有限的一小塊，遠遠比不上這些歷史上有名的大帝國。上帝讓大衛征戰，是為了確立祂的名在萬邦之中被尊崇，而不是建立一個以色列版的「人類帝國」。這場征戰的焦點，不是政治與疆界，而是屬靈的見證。

在這整個過程中，我們也要明白一件很重要的事情——上帝是公義的主，也是權柄的那一位。

既然祂是萬王之王，祂就有資格、有權柄去掌管地上的一切，包括歷史的推動、國家的興衰，甚至戰爭的發生。

我們不否認，戰爭本身是殘酷的。但當我們去對比人類歷史上因為私心、貪婪、野心所引發的戰爭時，我們會發現：人所帶來的戰爭，往往比上帝所允許的戰爭還要殘忍多得多太多了。

人發動戰爭，常常是為了滿足自己的慾望——掠奪土地、控制資源、彰顯權力。而上帝容許戰爭，卻是出於祂的審判、公義與旨意，祂的出發點不是毀滅，而是為了完成祂更大的救贖計劃。

這讓我們再次看見一件事：不是戰爭本身被美化了，而是我們要從中看見誰是那位真正掌權的神，祂的公義永遠不會出錯，祂的判斷比我們人所能理解的更深更遠。

感謝各位的聆聽，我們下一講繼續分享歷代志第十九章的故事，願上帝祝福各位。

Hello everyone, peace be with you. In today’s lesson, we’re talking about the story in 1 Chronicles chapter 18. In the previous chapter, we saw David bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the city, and the whole town rejoicing—it was a peak moment of worship and celebration, and David’s spirituality was at an all‑time high.

But in chapter 18, the tone shifts: we enter the records of David’s wars. The scenes of battle are brutal, and this is precisely where many Christians struggle when reading the Old Testament—why does a holy Bible contain so much bloodshed and violence, even at the hands of someone “after God’s own heart” like David?

To help us understand, we can use a powerful reading method: the Three Windows.

First window: The World Behind the BibleThis window takes us to the historical era in which Chronicles was recorded. We must understand the political, military, and social background David faced.

Second window: The World Within the BibleThis window focuses on the text’s writing context. What was the author of Chronicles trying to convey? What theological perspective is being communicated?

Third window: The World In Front of the BibleThis window brings us to our modern world. What does this war narrative mean for us today? What spiritual principles or life attitudes is it teaching us?

When we read the Bible, it’s crucial to remember: these are events from two to three thousand years ago. We can’t judge these ancient people and situations by our modern standards and values. But if we shift our perspective—enter into that time’s culture and reality—we can better understand why certain actions were taken and what was behind those seemingly harsh passages.

It’s like placing ourselves “inside” the story. Once we’re in that environment, we revisit God’s words and the characters’ actions with fresh insight: why did these events unfold? What spiritual truths were at work?

Through this approach, we don’t just learn history—we also grasp timeless principles. God is loving, merciful, and just—attributes woven throughout the whole Bible.

When we encounter warfare and judgment in the Old Testament, we might feel uneasy or question, “Why would a loving God do such things?” That’s exactly where faith comes in. Though our understanding is limited, we choose to trust: God’s character is good, and His actions are guided by wisdom and purpose. In our uncertainty, faith helps us believe His intentions are truly good.

Let me give you an illustration:

As children, we often didn’t understand why our parents insisted on certain things—like doing well in school, eating vegetables, waking up early, doing chores. We might have complained, “I don’t want to! I hate you!”

My youngest daughter does the same. When I do things she likes, she’ll happily say, “I love you, Daddy!” But when I ask her to eat veggies or fruit, it’s immediate: “I hate you!”

That dynamic mirrors our relationship with God. When He blesses us, we thank and praise Him. But when He leads us down harder paths—calling us to obedience and change—we sometimes question or grumble.

But in the parent role, we understand that our children don’t yet grasp the reasons. We act with patience and love, guiding them. God does the same with us. He knows we don’t immediately understand His heart or His ways, but He lovingly and graciously walks with us, trusting that one day we’ll realize His intentions were always good.

Now, back to 1 Chronicles 18, David’s war campaigns. You’ll notice two very different kings:

• David, the warrior king who “fought on horseback”—his life was largely battles.

• Solomon, the peaceful ruler who “sat on his throne,” focusing on governance and wisdom.

Two kings, two missions, two eras.

First Window: The World BehindChronicles was written around 400 BC, when Israel was no longer an independent kingdom but under Persian rule. The nation had been devastated, its people exiled and living under foreign governance.

Yet the Persians allowed the exiles to return and rebuild. So in this context—under the shadow of empire—the author penned Chronicles with a powerful motive.

Second Window: The World WithinThis wasn’t simply historical documentation. It was a deliberate effort to rekindle the Israelites’ faith. At a time of national discouragement, they needed encouragement, a reminder of their identity, and assurance that God’s covenant remained true.

Hence Chronicles emphasizes David’s and Solomon’s glory times—not by accident, but purposefully. It says, “God hasn’t abandoned you—He stood with David, and He still remembers you.” It’s history retold, and faith reawakened.

Now let’s look at a pivotal verse—1 Chronicles 18:13:

This verse helps us recast David’s wars: he wasn’t a bloodthirsty conqueror looking to fight everywhere. His fighting was led by God’s command and timing. Each victory came not from human power, but because “the Lord gave him victory.” It wasn’t David’s glory—it was God’s.

This brings us to the Third Window: Our World Today.

David’s authority was established by God—and so was Israel’s. God didn’t intend for David to conquer for conquest’s sake, but to show that Israel could stand because of God’s presence.

This matches Israel’s identity throughout history—they were never the most numerous or expansive people. They never boasted. Their uniqueness lay in God’s presence with them.

Chronicles emphasizes “the Lord gave David victory” to make this clear: the lasting stability of Israel wasn’t their own doing but God’s. Contrast this with historical empires—Assyria, Persia, Rome, or ancient China—whose expansions aimed at resources, land, and power.

Israel’s wars were different. Even at its peak, the nation was small—nowhere near those great empires. God used David to ensure His name was honored among the nations—not to build an empire, but to be a spiritual testimony.

Through this entire story, we must remember: God is a just ruler, the sovereign Lord with full authority. As King of kings, He has the right to govern history, nations, even wars.

We can’t excuse war—it’s brutal. But when we compare it to human wars driven by selfish ambition, greed, or pride, we see something profound: man’s wars often exceed the cruelty of wars God allows.

Human wars are about personal gain—land, resources, authority. But the wars God permits are rooted in justice, judgment, and divine purpose—not destruction for its own sake, but part of His redemptive plan.

In all this, we see again: it’s not about making war noble, but about recognizing the true sovereign who rules. His justice never fails, and His plans reach far beyond our understanding.

Thank you all for listening. Next time, we’ll continue with 1 Chronicles chapter 19. May God bless you all!

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