10月02日 一年的第276天 筆者:黃哲輝牧師
讀經:斯08-10章
第08章主要在講:「王撤旨不滅猶大」。
一.當日,亞哈隨魯王把猶大人仇敵哈曼的家產賜給王后以斯帖。末底改也來到王面前,因為以斯帖已經告訴王,末底改是他的親屬。斯8:1
1.王摘下自己的戒指,就是從哈曼追回的,給了末底改。以斯帖派末底改管理哈曼的家產。斯8:2
2.以斯帖又俯伏在王腳前,流淚哀告,求他除掉亞甲族哈曼害猶大人的惡謀。斯8:3
3.王向以斯帖伸出金杖;以斯帖就起來,站在王前,斯8:4
A.說:「亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼設謀傳旨,要殺滅在王各省的猶大人。現今王若願意,我若在王眼前蒙恩,王若以為美,若喜悅我,請王另下旨意,廢除哈曼所傳的那旨意。斯8:5
B.我何忍見我本族的人受害?何忍見我同宗的人被滅呢?」斯8:6
4.亞哈隨魯王對王后以斯帖和猶大人末底改說:「因哈曼要下手害猶大人,我已將他的家產賜給以斯帖,人也將哈曼挂在木架上。斯8:7
A.現在你們可以隨意奉王的名寫諭旨給猶大人,用王的戒指蓋印;因為奉王名所寫、用王戒指蓋印的諭旨,人都不能廢除。」斯8:8
B.三月,就是西彎月二十三日,將王的書記召來,按著末底改所吩咐的,用各省的文字、各族的方言,並猶大人的文字方言寫諭旨,傳給那從印度直到古實一百二十七省的猶大人和總督省長首領。斯8:9
二.末底改奉亞哈隨魯王的名寫諭旨,用王的戒指蓋印,交給騎御馬圈快馬的驛卒,傳到各處。斯8:10
1.諭旨中,王准各省各城的猶大人在一日之間,十二月,就是亞達月十三日,聚集保護性命,剪除殺戮滅絕那要攻擊猶大人的一切仇敵和他們的妻子兒女,奪取他們的財為掠物。斯8:11
2.抄錄這諭旨,頒行各省,宣告各族,使猶大人豫備等候那日,在仇敵身上報仇。斯8:13
3.於是騎快馬的驛卒被王命催促,急忙起行;諭旨也傳遍書珊城。斯8:14
三.末底改穿著藍色白色的朝服,頭戴大金冠冕,又穿紫色細麻布的外袍,從王面前出來;書珊城的人民都歡呼快樂。斯8:15
1.猶大人有光榮,歡喜快樂而得尊貴。斯8:16
2.王的諭旨所到的各省各城,猶大人都歡喜快樂,設擺筵宴,以那日為吉日。那國的人民,有許多因懼怕猶大人,就入了猶大籍。斯8:17
◎心得分享:這章末底改漸入佳境,首先是得到仇敵哈曼的家產,接著末底改奉亞哈隨魯王的名寫諭旨,剪除殺戮滅絕那要攻擊猶大人的一切仇敵和他們的妻子兒女,奪取他們的財為掠物。之後穿著藍色白色的朝服,頭戴大金冠冕,又穿紫色細麻布的外袍,從王面前出來;書珊城的人民都歡呼快樂。人生的境遇變化大,是人所難預料的,從末底改身上看到,信靠上帝的人,神就使他居上不居下,居首不居尾。
第09章主要在講:「猶大人殺滅諸仇敵」。
一.十二月,乃亞達月十三日,王的諭旨將要舉行,就是猶大人的仇敵盼望轄制他們的日子,猶大人反倒轄制恨他們的人。斯9:1
1.猶大人在亞哈隨魯王各省的城裏聚集,下手擊殺那要害他們的人。無人能敵擋他們,因為各族都懼怕他們。斯9:2
2. 各省的首領、總督、省長,和辦理王事的人,因懼怕末底改,就都幫助猶大人。斯9:3
二.末底改在朝中為大,名聲傳遍各省,日漸昌盛。斯9:4
1.猶大人用刀擊殺一切仇敵,任意殺滅恨他們的人。斯9:5
2.在書珊城,猶大人殺滅了五百人;斯9:6
3. 又殺巴珊大他、達分、亞斯帕他、斯9:7
A.破拉他、亞大利雅、亞利大他、斯9:8
B.帕瑪斯他、亞利賽、亞利代、瓦耶撒他;斯9:9
C.這十人都是哈米大他的孫子、猶大人仇敵哈曼的兒子。猶大人卻沒有下手奪取財物。斯9:10
三.當日,將書珊城被殺的人數呈在王前。斯9:11
1.王對王后以斯帖說:「猶大人在書珊城殺滅了五百人,又殺了哈曼的十個兒子,在王的各省不知如何呢?現在你要甚麼,我必賜給你;你還求甚麼,也必為你成就。」斯9:12
2.以斯帖說:「王若以為美,求你准書珊的猶大人,明日也照今日的旨意行,並將哈曼十個兒子的屍首挂在木架上。」斯9:13
3.王便允准如此行。旨意傳在書珊,人就把哈曼十個兒子的屍首挂起來了。斯9:14
4.亞達月十四日書珊的猶大人又聚集在書珊,殺了三百人,卻沒有下手奪取財物。斯9:15
5.在王各省其餘的猶大人也都聚集保護性命,殺了恨他們的人七萬五千,卻沒有下手奪取財物。這樣,就脫離仇敵,得享平安。斯9:16
四.亞達月十三日,行了這事;十四日安息,以這日為設筵歡樂的日子。斯9:17
1.但書珊的猶大人,這十三日、十四日聚集殺戮仇敵;十五日安息,以這日為設筵歡樂的日子。斯9:18
2.所以住無城牆鄉村的猶大人,如今都以亞達月十四日為設筵歡樂的吉日,彼此餽送禮物。斯9:19
3.末底改記錄這事,寫信與亞哈隨魯王各省遠近所有的猶大人,斯9:20
五.囑咐他們每年守亞達月十四、十五兩日,斯9:21
1.以這月的兩日為猶大人脫離仇敵得平安、轉憂為喜、轉悲為樂的吉日。在這兩日設筵歡樂,彼此餽送禮物,賙濟窮人。斯9:22
A.於是,猶大人按著末底改所寫與他們的信,應承照初次所守的守為永例;斯9:23
B.是因猶大人的仇敵亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼設謀殺害猶大人,掣普珥,就是掣籤,為要殺盡滅絕他們;斯9:24
2.這事報告於王,王便降旨使哈曼謀害猶大人的惡事歸到他自己的頭上,並吩咐把他和他的眾子都挂在木架上斯。9:25
3.照著普珥的名字,猶大人就稱這兩日為「普珥日」。他們因這信上的話,又因所看見所遇見的事,斯9:26
A.就應承自己與後裔,並歸附他們的人,每年按時必守這兩日,永遠不廢。斯9:27
B.各省各城、家家戶戶、世世代代記念遵守這兩日,使這「普珥日」在猶大人中不可廢掉,在他們後裔中也不可忘記。斯9:28
C.亞比孩的女兒王后以斯帖和猶大人末底改以全權寫第二封信,堅囑猶大人守這「普珥日」,斯9:29
4.用和平誠實話寫信給亞哈隨魯王國中一百二十七省所有的猶大人,斯9:30
A.勸他們按時守這「普珥日」,禁食呼求,是照猶大人末底改和王后以斯帖所囑咐的,也照猶大人為自己與後裔所應承的。斯9:31
B.以斯帖命定守「普珥日」,這事也記錄在書上。斯9:32
◎心得分享:這一章猶大人把仇敵都滅了,並且把亞達月(十二月)十四、十五兩日定為猶大人的「普珥日」,勸他們按時守這「普珥日—Purim」,禁食呼求,是照猶大人末底改和王后以斯帖所囑咐的,也照猶大人為自己與後裔所應承的,哈曼當初是以抽籤(Pur)決定殺害猶太人的日子,因此定這個節日的名字為「Purim」,又由於末底該對敵人進行了二天的反撲,因此「普珥日」的假日有二天,至於耶路撒冷晚了一天慶祝,是因為耶城有城牆隔絕,當時的信息傳遞至城內晚了一天的緣故。這故事在告訴我們,無論我們身處何地?只要我們信靠上帝,把握住機會,上帝會把我們的危機變成轉機,哭泣的日子,變成慶祝的日子。
第10章主要在講:「末底改作波斯宰相」。
一.亞哈隨魯王使旱地和海島的人民都進貢。斯10:1
二.他以權柄能力所行的,並他抬舉末底改使他高升的事,豈不都寫在瑪代和波斯王的歷史上嗎?斯10:2
三.猶大人末底改作亞哈隨魯王的宰相,在猶大人中為大,得他眾弟兄的喜悅,為本族的人求好處,向他們說和平的話。斯10:3
◎心得分享:末底改當上了波斯的宰相,這是在告訴我們無論你身在何方?是「寄人籬下」也罷,無論你是什麼身份?是「奴隸的身份」也罷,只要敬拜上帝、遠離惡事,上帝會提昇我們的地位。
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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。