从迷惘到信靠
先知的抗议
经文
哈巴谷书一13-17
13你眼目清洁，不看邪僻，不看奸恶；行诡诈的，你为何看着不理呢？恶人吞灭比自己公义的，你为何静默不语呢？
14你为何使人如海中的鱼，又如没有管辖的爬物呢？
15他用钩钩住，用网捕获，用拉网聚集他们；因此，他欢喜快乐，
16就向网献祭，向网烧香，因他由此得肥美的分和富裕的食物。
17他岂可屡次倒空网罗，将列国的人时常杀戮，毫不顾惜呢？
信息分享
这几天的信息让我们看到，先知因为神使用残暴的迦勒底人管教犹大人而感到非常激动。他以最激烈的语言提出他的抗议：「你为何使人如海中的鱼，又如没有管辖的爬物呢？他用钩钩住，用网捕获，用拉网聚集他们；因此，他欢喜快乐， 就向网献祭，向网烧香，因他由此得肥美的分和富裕的食物。他岂可屡次倒空网罗，将列国的人时常杀戮，毫不顾惜呢？」（14-17节）。
昨天我们提到神使用不公义的人来管教公义的人，这对神的百姓来说总是一个费解的问题。历代以来，来自各地各方的信徒都要设法克服这个难题，就像我们现在一样。
让我们先以一个现代的方式来提出问题：为甚么神使用非信徒管教信徒、使用非基督徒来净化基督徒呢？为甚么祂要使用未信的妻子或丈夫来洁净信主的伴侣？使用不信的父母管教基督徒儿女呢？神使用不洁的工具以达到圣洁的目的，这其中存在一些甚么理由呢？我相信你会同意我这么一个观点：没有甚么比神使用那些不敬虔和品格欠佳的人来洁净、磨炼我们，能够令我们更懂得谦卑。而谦卑，是必要的。
「被不敬虔的人对付能使我们谦卑」
进深研究
路十二13-21；诗七十三3，七十三12；耶五28，十二1
1. 似乎兴旺但不敬虔的人有甚么结局？
2. 甚么令耶利米感到迷惑？
祈祷
神我的父啊，您的爱永不止息，您不惜一切来造就我。求您帮助我看到，您让我学习谦卑不是对我的损害而是纠正。奉耶稣的名祈求。阿们。
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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