從迷惘到信靠
先知的抗議
經文
哈巴谷書一13-17
13你眼目清潔，不看邪僻，不看奸惡；行詭詐的，你為何看著不理呢？惡人吞滅比自己公義的，你為何靜默不語呢？
14你為何使人如海中的魚，又如沒有管轄的爬物呢？
15他用鉤鉤住，用網捕獲，用拉網聚集他們；因此，他歡喜快樂，
16就向網獻祭，向網燒香，因他由此得肥美的分和富裕的食物。
17他豈可屢次倒空網羅，將列國的人時常殺戮，毫不顧惜呢？
信息分享
這幾天的信息讓我們看到，先知因為神使用殘暴的迦勒底人管教猶大人而感到非常激動。他以最激烈的語言提出他的抗議：「你為何使人如海中的魚，又如沒有管轄的爬物呢？他用鉤鉤住，用網捕獲，用拉網聚集他們；因此，他歡喜快樂， 就向網獻祭，向網燒香，因他由此得肥美的分和富裕的食物。他豈可屢次倒空網羅，將列國的人時常殺戮，毫不顧惜呢？」（14-17節）。
昨天我們提到神使用不公義的人來管教公義的人，這對神的百姓來說總是一個費解的問題。歷代以來，來自各地各方的信徒都要設法克服這個難題，就像我們現在一樣。
讓我們先以一個現代的方式來提出問題：為甚麼神使用非信徒管教信徒、使用非基督徒來淨化基督徒呢？為甚麼祂要使用未信的妻子或丈夫來潔淨信主的伴侶？使用不信的父母管教基督徒兒女呢？神使用不潔的工具以達到聖潔的目的，這其中存在一些甚麼理由呢？我相信你會同意我這麼一個觀點：沒有甚麼比神使用那些不敬虔和品格欠佳的人來潔淨、磨煉我們，能夠令我們更懂得謙卑。而謙卑，是必要的。
「被不敬虔的人對付能使我們謙卑」
進深研究
路十二13-21；詩七十三3，七十三12；耶五28，十二1
1. 似乎興旺但不敬虔的人有甚麼結局？
2. 甚麼令耶利米感到迷惑？
祈禱
神我的父啊，您的愛永不止息，您不惜一切來造就我。求您幫助我看到，您讓我學習謙卑不是對我的損害而是糾正。奉耶穌的名祈求。阿們。
From Confusion to Confidence
A prophetic protest
Bible reading:
Habakkuk 1:13-17
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14 You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food.
17 Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy?
Message
The words before us now show that the prophet is really getting worked up about the idea of God using the cruel Chaldeans to discipline the people of Judah. And he makes his protest in the most extravagant language: "Are we but fish, to be caught and killed? Are we but creeping things that have no leader to defend them from their foes? Must we be strung up on their hooks and dragged out in their nets, while they rejoice? Then they will worship their nets and burn incense before them! 'These are the gods who make us rich,' they'll say." His outburst comes to a head with this challenging question: "Will you let them get away with this for ever? Will they succeed for ever in their heartless wars?" (vv.14-17: TLB).
We said yesterday that the fact that God uses the unrighteous to discipline the righteous has always been a problem to the people of God. Throughout the ages, believers from all walks of life have grappled with it, and so now must we.
First, let's pose the question in its modern form: Why does God use unbelievers to discipline believers - non-Christians to refine Christians? Why does He use an unconverted wife or husband to chasten a partner who is a believer, a non-Christian parent to discipline a Christian son or daughter? What possible reason can God have for taking up an impure instrument to accomplish a holy purpose? I am sure you will agree with me when I say that few things are more humbling than God using someone whom we know is godless and lacking in character to chasten and refine us. Humbling - but necessary.
"Being chastened by someone who is godless is humbling"
Prayer
O God my Father, how relentless is Your love. You stop at nothing to make me what You want me to be. Help me see that Your humbling is not designed to cripple me but to correct me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
Luke 12:13-21
Psalm 73:3; 73:12
Jeremiah 5:28; 12:1
1. What is the end of seemingly prosperous but godless men?
2. What did Jeremiah find perplexing?
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