神的異象
這是誰的宇宙?
經文
希伯來書一章1至14節
1神既在古時藉著眾先知多次多方的曉諭列祖,
2就在這末世藉著他兒子曉諭我們;又早已立他為承受萬有的,也曾藉著他創造諸世界。
3他是神榮耀所發的光輝,是神本體的真像,常用他權能的命令托住萬有。他洗淨了人的罪,就坐在高天至大者的右邊。
4他所承受的名,既比天使的名更尊貴,就遠超過天使。
5所有的天使,神從來對哪一個說,你是我的兒子,我今日生你?又指著哪一個說:我要作他的父,他要作我的子?
6再者,神使長子到世上來的時候(或作:神再使長子到世上來的時候),就說:神的使者都要拜他。
7論到使者,又說:神以風為使者,以火燄為僕役;8論到子卻說:神阿,你的寶座是永永遠遠的;你的國權是正直的。
9你喜愛公義,恨惡罪惡;所以神,就是你的神,用喜樂油膏你,勝過膏你的同伴;
10又說:主阿,你起初立了地的根基;天也是你手所造的。
11天地都要滅沒,你卻要長存。天地都要像衣服漸漸舊了;
12你要將天地捲起來,像一件外衣,天地就都改變了。惟有你永不改變;你的年數沒有窮盡。
13所有的天使,神從來對哪一個說:你坐在我的右邊,等我使你仇敵作你的腳凳?
14天使豈不都是服役的靈、奉差遣為那將要承受救恩的人效力嗎?
信息分享
今天讓我們繼續來看一個歷史事件,就是當以賽亞領受從神而來的異象時,他看到全能者「坐在寶座上」(賽六1)。
為甚麼是寶座?你讀聖經的時候有沒有注意到,先知和使徒在疑惑時往往因為看到天上寶座的異象而得到支持?以西結安慰被擄的孤苦百姓時看到永恆的寶座(結四十三7)。但以理在伯沙撒統治期間看到亙古常在者坐在寶座上(但七9)。約翰被放逐到拔摩島時看見關乎將來的異象,期間也多次見到寶座。烏西雅王死去,以賽亞看見主的那一年,他看見主「坐在寶座上」。為甚麼當人們心靈需要力量時會看見永恆寶座的異象?那是為了要提醒他們世界是屬於誰的。
君王坐在寶座上施行統治。寶座象徵力量、能力和權力。藉著向以賽亞顯示自己的寶座,神彷彿在對他說:「此刻可能沒有人坐在猶大的王位上,但我的寶座永遠不會是空的。」在人類歷史的這個關鍵時刻,我們也需要從全能者坐在寶座上這個異象獲得力量。二十世紀初期,有些領袖宣告:「我們已經將君王從他們的寶座上驅逐下來;現在我們要驅逐天上的君王。」這是多麼愚蠢啊!由神創造的受造物怎能期望將創造主從寶座上拉下來?沒有火箭可以到去到神那裡,更沒有核彈可以炸毀神的寶座。神的寶座是攻不破的。
「神的寶座是攻不破的」
進深研究
詩四十五1-6;詩一零三19;賽六十六1
1. 詩人宣告了甚麼?
2. 主宣告了關於祂自己的甚麼事情?
祈禱
我的天父,我的神,您曾經以您寶座的異象來鼓勵以賽亞,我祈求您也同樣的鼓勵我。我知道您的寶座是攻不破的,這叫我從中得到很大的安慰和保障。天父,感謝您。阿們。
The Vision of God
Whose universe is this?
Bible reading:
Hebrews 1:1-14
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"[a]? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"[b]?
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."[c]
7 In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire."[d]
8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."[e]
10 He also says, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."[f]
13 To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"[g]?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Message
We move on now to consider the fact that when Isaiah received his vision of God he saw the Almighty "seated on a throne" (Isa. 6:1).
Why a throne? Have you noticed in your study of the Scriptures that the seers and apostles in their times of perplexity were often sustained by a vision of the heavenly throne? When Ezekiel was comforting the forlorn exiles he saw the eternal throne (Ezek. 43:7). Daniel, during the rule of Belshazzar, saw the Ancient of Days sitting on His throne (Dan. 7:9). When John was exiled on the island of Patmos and had his great vision of the future, he too saw the throne many times. And in the year that King Uzziah died and Isaiah saw the Lord, he beheld Him "seated on a throne." Why was there given to these men in their hour of great need a vision of the eternal throne? To remind them whose universe it was.
A king reigns from his throne - the symbol of might, power and authority. By revealing His throne to Isaiah it was as if God was saying to him: "There may be no one on the throne of Judah at this moment, but My throne is never unoccupied." We too need at this critical hour in human history to be sustained by the vision of the Almighty seated upon the throne. Earlier this century Communist leaders were declaring: "We have deposed kings from their thrones, now we will depose the King from the skies." What foolishness. How can creatures whom God has made hope to pull the Creator from His throne? No rocket can ever reach it and no atomic bomb can blast it. The throne of God is unassailable.
"The throne of God is unassailable"
Prayer
My Father and my God, just as You have sustained others with a vision of Your throne - sustain me too, I pray. Your throne is unassailable. I draw deep comfort and security from that. Thank You, Father. Amen.
Further study
Psalm 45:1-6; 103:19
Isaiah 66:1
1. What did the psalmist declare?
2. What did the Lord declare about Himself?
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