带来复兴的君王:希西家
诗篇四十六篇
1神是我们的避难所,是我们的力量,是我们在患难中随时的帮助!
2所以地虽改变,山虽摇动到海心,
3其中的水虽匉訇翻腾,山虽因海涨而战抖,我们也不害怕。〔细拉〕
4有一道河,这河的分汊,使神的城欢喜;这城就是至高者居住的圣所。
5神在其中,城必不动摇;到天一亮,神必帮助这城。
6外邦喧嚷,列国动摇。神发声,地便熔化。
7万军之耶和华与我们同在;雅各的神是我们的避难所!细拉
8你们来看耶和华的作为,看他使地怎样荒凉。
9他止息刀兵,直到地极;他折弓、断枪,把战车焚烧在火中。
10你们要休息,要知道我是神!我必在外邦中被尊崇,在遍地上也被尊崇。
11万军之耶和华与我们同在;雅各的神是我们的避难所。
信息分享
希西家是亚哈斯的儿子。亚哈斯作王的时候,带领以色列人敬奉异教的偶像。圣经这样描述亚哈斯:「他在急难的时候,愈发得罪耶和华。」(代下廿八22)可是,他的儿子希西家在接任作王之后,却一直忠心事奉以色列的神。诗篇四十六篇正是希西家的作品,这对父子真是天壤之别啊!
接着,希西家生了儿子玛拿西。玛拿西12岁登基,作王55年,但他可能是最败坏的一个犹大王。究竟是甚么原因呢?
在亚哈斯和玛拿西之间,希西家作王共29年。他是一位伟大的改革家,拥有丰富的学识和教养。箴言的后半部分是由他搜集和收录;旧约的大部分经卷也可能是由他结集起来。
他是一位伟大的工程师,他为耶路撒冷修筑引水渠道。最重要的,是他一直非常重视祷告;即使到了晚年,人性的骄傲和软弱带来他短暂的跌倒,他仍然没有放弃祷告。
希西家25岁登基之后,立即重修圣殿和恢复真正的敬拜。这是一项重要的功绩:他带领百姓归回神,并且愿意成为在那时神所使用的人。
此刻,神将甚么工作交给你和我呢?神的百姓是否需要复兴呢?我们能为此祷告吗?我们可以为此做甚么呢?复兴要由哪里开始呢?要在我的生命中开始?还是你?我们愿意被神使用吗?但愿我们祈求主说:「主啊,求你使我们复兴!愿这复兴从我开始。」
HEZEKIAH, THE REVIVALIST
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Message
Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz, the king who led Israel into idolatry. The Bible says regarding Ahaz: “In his time of trouble he became even more unfaithful to the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 28:22) Yet his son Hezekiah, the next king, was true to Israel's God. Hezekiah wrote Psalm 46. What a contrast!
But what happened next? Hezekiah's son was Manasseh. He became king when he was 12 years old and reigned for 55 years but was possibly the worst king Judah ever had. How do you explain these all?
Between Ahaz and Manasseh there was 29-year reign of King Hezekiah. He was a great reformer, a remarkable man of learning and culture. He collected the latter part of Proverbs and possibly put together much of the Old Testament.
He was a great engineer and built tunnels and aqueducts for the water supply for Jerusalem. Above all he appeared to have been an exceptional man of prayer, even though in his later life, when human pride and weakness became his temporary downfall.
Coming to the throne at the age of 25, Hezekiah immediately began a complete restoration of the temple and true worship. What a record to leave behind! He led the people back to God and was God's man for that hour.
What work does God have for you or for me just now? Is there a need of revival among God's people? Can we pray for that? Is there anything we can do to help bring it about? Where does it start? In me? In you? Are we willing for this? Can we say “Lord, send a revival. Let it begin in me”.

