09月30日 一年的第274天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:斯01-03章
第01章主要在講:「廢舊的王后瓦實提」。
一.亞哈隨魯作王,從印度直到古實,統管一百二十七省。斯1:1
1.亞哈隨魯王在書珊城的宮登基;斯1:2
2.在位第三年,為他一切首領臣僕設擺筵席,有波斯和瑪代的權貴,就是各省的貴冑與首領,在他面前。斯1:3
3.他把他榮耀之國的豐富和他美好威嚴的尊貴給他們看了許多日,就是一百八十日。斯1:4
二.這日子滿了,又為所有住書珊城的大小人民在御園的院子裏設擺筵席七日。斯1:5
1.有白色、綠色、藍色的帳子,用細麻繩、紫色繩從銀環內繫在白玉石柱上;有金銀的床榻擺在紅、白、黃、黑玉石鋪的石地上。斯1:6
2.用金器皿賜酒,器皿各有不同。御酒甚多,足顯王的厚意。斯1:7
3.喝酒有例,不准勉強人,因王吩咐宮裏的一切臣宰,讓人各隨己意。斯1:8
4.王后瓦實提在亞哈隨魯王的宮內也為婦女設擺筵席。斯1:9
三.第七日,亞哈隨魯王飲酒,心中快樂,就吩咐在他面前侍立的七個太監米戶幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亞拔他、西達、甲迦,斯1:10
1.請王后瓦實提頭戴王后的冠冕到王面前,使各等臣民看他的美貌,因為他容貌甚美。斯1:11
2.王后瓦實提卻不肯遵太監所傳的王命而來,所以王甚發怒,心如火燒。斯1:12
3.那時,在王左右常見王面、國中坐高位的,有波斯和瑪代的七個大臣,就是甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干,都是達時務的明哲人。按王的常規,辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。王問他們說:斯1:13〔同下。〕斯1:14
A.「王后瓦實提不遵太監所傳的王命,照例應當怎樣辦理呢?」斯1:15
B.米母干在王和眾首領面前回答說:「王后瓦實提這事,不但得罪王,並且有害於王各省的臣民;斯1:16
a.因為王后這事必傳到眾婦人的耳中,說:『亞哈隨魯王吩咐王后瓦實提到王面前,他卻不來』,他們就藐視自己的丈夫。斯1:17
b.今日波斯和瑪代的眾夫人聽見王后這事,必向王的大臣照樣行;從此必大開藐視和忿怒之端。斯1:18
C.王若以為美,就降旨寫在波斯和瑪代人的例中,永不更改,不准瓦實提再到王面前,將他王后的位分賜給比他還好的人。斯1:19
D.所降的旨意傳遍通國,所有的婦人,無論丈夫貴賤都必尊敬他。」斯1:20
四.王和眾首領都以米母干的話為美,王就照這話去行,斯1:21
發詔書,用各省的文字、各族的方言通知各省,使為丈夫的在家中作主,各說本地的方言。斯1:22
◎心得分享:王后瓦實提,容貌甚美,深得亞哈隨魯王的喜愛,但是她沒有珍惜這樣的機會,反而「侍寵而驕」,太監傳的王命,她卻不肯遵命來,所以王甚發怒,心如火燒,王聽了大臣的建議,將他王后的位分賜給比他還好的人,並降旨意傳遍通國,所有的婦人,無論丈夫貴賤都必尊敬他。這個故事在告訴我們,擁有美麗、身份、地位,是一件值得高興的事,但是不懂謙卑尊重他人,最後這一切可能「一夕之間變成烏有」,甚至會惹來「殺身之禍」。
第02章主要在講:「立新的王后以斯帖」。
一.這事以後,亞哈隨魯王的忿怒止息,就想念瓦實提和他所行的,並怎樣降旨辦他。斯2:1
1.於是王的侍臣對王說:「不如為王尋找美貌的處女。斯2:2
2.王可以派官在國中的各省招聚美貌的處女到書珊城的女院,交給掌管女子的太監希該,給他們當用的香品。斯2:3
3.王所喜愛的女子可以立為王后,代替瓦實提。」王以這事為美,就如此行。斯2:4
二.書珊城有一個猶大人,名叫末底改,是便雅憫人基士的曾孫,示每的孫子,睚珥的兒子。斯2:5
1.從前巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒將猶大王耶哥尼雅(又名約雅斤)和百姓從耶路撒冷擄去,末底改也在其內。斯2:6
2.末底改撫養他叔叔的女兒哈大沙(後名以斯帖),因為他沒有父母。這女子又容貌俊美;他父母死了,末底改就收他為自己的女兒。斯2:7
三.王的諭旨傳出,就招聚許多女子到書珊城,交給掌管女子的希該;以斯帖也送入王宮,交付希該。斯2:8
1.希該喜悅以斯帖,就恩待他,急忙給他需用的香品和他所當得的分,又派所當得的七個宮女服事他,使他和他的宮女搬入女院上好的房屋。斯2:9
2.以斯帖未曾將籍貫宗族告訴人,因為末底改囑咐他不可叫人知道。斯2:10
3.末底改天天在女院前邊行走,要知道以斯帖平安不平安,並後事如何。斯2:11
A.眾女子照例先潔淨身體十二個月:六個月用沒藥油,六個月用香料和潔身之物。滿了日期,然後挨次進去見亞哈隨魯王。斯2:12
B.女子進去見王是這樣:從女院到王宮的時候,凡他所要的都必給他。斯2:13
C.晚上進去,次日回到女子第二院,交給掌管妃嬪的太監沙甲;除非王喜愛他,再提名召他,就不再進去見王。斯2:14
D.末底改叔叔亞比孩的女兒,就是末底改收為自己女兒的以斯帖,按次序當進去見王的時候,除了掌管女子的太監希該所派定給他的,他別無所求。凡看見以斯帖的都喜悅他。斯2:15
四.亞哈隨魯王第七年十月,就是提別月,以斯帖被引入宮見王。斯2:16
1.王愛以斯帖過於愛眾女,他在王眼前蒙寵愛比眾處女更甚。王就把王后的冠冕戴在他頭上,立他為王后,代替瓦實提。斯2:17
2.王因以斯帖的緣故給眾首領和臣僕設擺大筵席,又豁免各省的租稅,並照王的厚意大頒賞賜。斯2:18
3.第二次招聚處女的時候,末底改坐在朝門。斯2:19
4.以斯帖照著末底改所囑咐的,還沒有將籍貫宗族告訴人;因為以斯帖遵末底改的命,如撫養他的時候一樣。斯2:20
五.當那時候,末底改坐在朝門,王的太監中有兩個守門的,辟探和提列,惱恨亞哈隨魯王,想要下手害他。斯2:21
1.末底改知道了,就告訴王后以斯帖。以斯帖奉末底改的名,報告於王;斯2:22
2.究察這事,果然是實,就把二人挂在木頭上,將這事在王面前寫於歷史上。斯2:23
◎心得分享:末底改撫養他叔叔的女兒哈大沙(後名以斯帖),王愛以斯帖過於愛眾女,他在王眼前蒙寵愛比眾處女更甚。王就把王后的冠冕戴在他頭上,立他為王后,代替瓦實提。末底改坐在朝門,王的太監中有兩個守門的,辟探和提列,惱恨亞哈隨魯王,想要下手害他。末底改知道了,就告訴王后以斯帖。以斯帖奉末底改的名,報告於王,究察這事,果然是實,就把二人挂在木頭上,將這事在王面前寫於歷史上。上帝是無所不知,早知道有人要害猶太人,祂先讓這兩件事發生,留下伏筆,作為拯救他們的一步棋子,讓我們知道「神的道路高過我們的道路」,雖然有時我們不明白,但是至終卻看見上帝的恩典。
第03章主要在講:「乃曼請旨滅猶大人」。
一.這事以後,亞哈隨魯王抬舉亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼,使他高升,叫他的爵位超過與他同事的一切臣宰。斯3:1
1.在朝門的一切臣僕都跪拜哈曼,因為王如此吩咐;惟獨末底改不跪不拜。斯3:2
A.在朝門的臣僕問末底改說:「你為何違背王的命令呢?」斯3:3
B.他們天天勸他,他還是不聽,他們就告訴哈曼,要看末底改的事站得住站不住,因他已經告訴他們自己是猶大人。斯3:4
2. 哈曼見末底改不跪不拜,他就怒氣填胸。斯3:5
3.他們已將末底改的本族告訴哈曼;他以為下手害末底改一人是小事,就要滅絕亞哈隨魯王通國所有的猶大人,就是末底改的本族。斯3:6
二.亞哈隨魯王十二年正月,就是尼散月,人在哈曼面前,按日日月月掣普珥,就是掣籤,要定何月何日為吉,擇定了十二月,就是亞達月。斯3:7
1.哈曼對亞哈隨魯王說:「有一種民散居在王國各省的民中;他們的律例與萬民的律例不同,也不守王的律例,所以容留他們與王無益。斯3:8
2.王若以為美,請下旨意滅絕他們;我就捐一萬他連得銀子交給掌管國帑的人,納入王的府庫。」斯3:9
3.於是王從自己手上摘下戒指給猶大人的仇敵亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼。斯3:10
4.王對哈曼說:「這銀子仍賜給你,這民也交給你,你可以隨意待他們。」斯3:11
三.正月十三日,就召了王的書記來,照著哈曼一切所吩咐的,用各省的文字、各族的方言,奉亞哈隨魯王的名寫旨意,傳與總督和各省的省長,並各族的首領;又用王的戒指蓋印,斯3:12
1.交給驛卒傳到王的各省,吩咐將猶大人,無論老少婦女孩子,在一日之間,十二月,就是亞達月十三日,全然剪除,殺戮滅絕,並奪他們的財為掠物。斯3:13
2.抄錄這旨意,頒行各省,宣告各族,使他們豫備等候那日。斯3:14
3.驛卒奉王命急忙起行,旨意也傳遍書珊城。王同哈曼坐下飲酒,書珊城的民卻都慌亂。斯3:15
◎心得分享:哈曼得到亞哈隨魯王抬舉,但是他不只跟「侍寵而驕」被廢的王后瓦實提一樣,反而更「變本加厲」,目中無人,要所有人向他下拜,但是惟獨末底改不跪不拜,哈曼見末底改不跪不拜,他就怒氣填胸,就要滅絕亞哈隨魯王通國所有的猶大人,就是末底改的本族。這是一個危機,也是凡不向惡勢力低頭的人,都會遇到的困難,但是每一個危機都是上帝要彰顯祂的拯救的機會。
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"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."(Gal. 6:14)
THEY were living to themselves; self with its hopes, and promises and dreams, still had hold of them; but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for contrition, and had surrendered for it to be given them at any cost, and He sent them sorrow; they had asked for purity, and He sent them thrilling anguish; they had asked to be meek, and He had broken their hearts; they had asked to be dead to the world, and He slew all their living hopes; they had asked to be made like unto Him, and He placed them in the furnace, sitting by "as a refiner and purifier of silver," until they should reflect His image; they had asked to lay hold of His cross, and when He had reached it to them it lacerated their hands.
They had asked they knew not what, nor how, but He had taken them at their word, and granted them all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow Him so far, or to draw so night to Him. They had upon them an awe and fear, as Jacob at Bethel, or Eliphaz in the night visions, or as the apostles when they thought that they had seen a spirit, and knew not that it was Jesus. They could almost pray Him to depart from them, or to hide His awfulness. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to do than to give up, to bear the cross than to hang upon it. But they cannot to back, for they have come too near the unseen cross, and its virtues have pierced too deeply within them. He is fulfilling to them His promise, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32).
But now at last their turn has come. Before, they had only heard of the mystery, but now they feel it. He has fastened on them His look of love, as He did on Mary and Peter, and they can but choose to follow.
Little by little, from time to time, by fitting gleams, the mystery of His cross shines out upon them. They behold Him lifted up, they gaze on the glory which rays from the wounds of His holy passion; and as they gaze they advance, and are changed into His likeness, and His name shines out throught them, for He dwells in them. They live alone with Him above, in unspeakable fellowship; willing to lack what others own (and what they might have had), and to be unlike all, so that they are only like Him.
Such, are they in all ages, "who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."
Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in His Kingdom. They would have had Lot's portion, not Abraham's. If they had halted anywhere-if God had taken off His hand and let them stray back-what would they not have lost? What forfeits in the resurrection?
But He stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well night slipped; but He in mercy held them up. Now, even in this life, they know that all He did was done well. It was good to suffer here, that they might reign hereafter; to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but His was done on them and in them.
-Anonymous.
基督曾說過:「我心柔和謙卑,你們當學我的樣式,這樣你們心裏就必得享安息。」這兒有雙重的真理,有忍耐、溫柔、謙卑和與神和好的美德,這與傚法基督或信靠祂有相同的意義;同時因著你有這些美德,可以完全脫離亞當墮落的本性而有信靠主高尚的行為。
連帶而有的福份,是因著脫離罪惡和對基督初步信仰、期望,受基督忍耐、溫柔、謙卑和與神和好的靈引導並管理;當你具有這些德性,你的生命就有目的,是真理和生命的基督才會在你裏面,你不再掌權,而是基督在你裏面活著。除非你願在忍耐、溫柔、謙卑和與神和好裏治死老我,否則神聖愛的靈,因無立足之地而不能在你裏面產生;而當你又為不忍耐、驕傲所困擾之際,馬上完全捨己,求神施恩幫助。當你遇到難處就促使與神親近,最能使你忍耐接受神的幫助,我們對神有多少信心和期望就可得多少的啟示。
「這些雖然很簡短,但是真正確的教義,使我們因賜下的救恩而真正完全順服神的啟示下,也真正宣告承認三而一的真神。」現在願你有個思想:完全將我的心靈獻上,單單尋求救恩,直接藉著溫柔、謙卑、忍耐和與神和好的力量,使我的生命有屬天的德性。
「並且要作這更大的事,因為我往父那裡去。」約翰福音十四章12節
祈禱不是叫我們適於那偉大的工作;祈禱本身就是偉大的工作。我們以為祈禱,是叫我們得到較高的能力,去應付神的工作。但按照耶穌基督的眼光看,祈禱是我本已救贖的奇蹟,藉著神的能力,同時也是別人救贖的奇蹟。結果子之方法,是祈禱,但須記取的,這種祈禱是建立在救贖的痛苦,不是建立於我的痛苦。一個小孩能獲得祈禱的答覆,一個聰明人反而得不著。
你無論在那裡祈禱總是一種戰爭。不管神製造環境的方法怎樣,本分就是祈禱。切不可如此作想──「我所在的地方,不見得有用;」因為你不在的地方,你必沒有有用。無論神安排你在那裡,祈禱,常常向祂祈禱。「你們若奉我的名求甚麼,我必成就。」(約十四13)我們不肯祈禱,我們得不著奮興,就不肯祈禱,那就是靈性自私的極度形態。我們要依照神的指導而勞動,但祂指導我們的是祈禱,「所以你們當求莊稼的主,打發工人出去,收祂的莊稼。
通常的工人對於工作,是沒有興奮的,但是成功通常是工作勞作出來的;同樣基督的概念,沒有那些勞苦的聖徒是不會發現的。你慇勤祈禱,從神的立場看,是無時不發生效果的。當帕子揭開,一種說不出的驚奇必然發現,你可以看出你是慣於接受耶穌基督的命令的,已經為祂收穫了不少的靈魂。
「……亞伯拉罕信神……」羅馬書四章3節
亞伯拉罕的信心是向著神本身的,他認識帶領他的神,所以他對神有絕對的信心。
亞伯拉罕一生的秘訣在於他與神的友誼。他所認識的神是一位偉大、良善、信實的朋友。無怪乎他能聽神的話,從他自身所愛的本家本族出來,走向一條未知的道路。
除了信靠神的話語,我們是否已學會把自己全然交給神呢?神有無限的愛及力量,祂是與我們立約的主並永遠的好朋友。
經上告訴我們,亞伯拉罕因著信心而榮耀了神。最能榮耀神的辦法,乃是讓世人看見神是誰,以及祂的大能力。神並不希望藉著我們所能做的事,讓世人知道祂能做什麼;神也不用那些有乖謬性格的器皿。相反的,祂一直在找尋那些謙卑的人,並用這些人在世世代代中榮耀祂。