神的异象
当支柱被除去时
经文
申命记三十三章20至29节
20论迦得说:使迦得扩张的应当称颂!迦得住如母狮;他撕裂膀臂,连头顶也撕裂。
21他为自己选择头一段地,因在那里有设立律法者的分存留。他与百姓的首领同来;他施行耶和华的公义和耶和华与以色列所立的典章。
22论但说:但为小狮子,从巴珊跳出来。
23论拿弗他利说:拿弗他利阿,你足沾恩惠,满得耶和华的福,可以得西方和南方为业。
24论亚设说:愿亚设享受多子的福乐,得他弟兄的喜悦,可以把脚蘸在油中。
25你的门闩(门闩或作:鞋)是铜的,铁的。你的日子如何,你的力量也必如何。
26耶书仑哪,没有能比神的。他为帮助你,乘在天空,显其威荣,驾行穹苍。
27永生的神是你的居所;他永久的膀臂在你以下。他在你前面撵出仇敌,说:毁灭吧。
28以色列安然居住;雅各的本源独居五谷新酒之地。他的天也滴甘露。
29以色列阿,你是有福的!谁像你这蒙耶和华所拯救的百姓呢?他是你的盾牌,帮助你,是你威荣的刀剑。你的仇敌必投降你;你必踏在他们的高处。
信息分享
有些解经家相信,当时犹大国有很多人包括以赛亚在内,都将希望和期盼寄放在乌西雅王的身上,所以乌西雅王的死令他们感到沮丧。一位现代的解经家比喻当时的情况就像1963年美国甘迺迪总统被行刺时让世界震惊的情况一样。
如果以赛亚将犹大灵性存活的盼望寄托在乌西雅而不是在神身上,我们便很容易明白,当他听到乌西雅王的死讯时感到多么失望和消沉。也许他是在看到躺在棺材里面的王是多么无能为力时,才打算将自己的目光投向坐在永恒宝座上的那一位。我们多么需要学习一个严肃的教训:我们的信靠必须总是放在神身上,否则神会将我们脚下的支柱除去──不是祂因为我们对祂缺乏信心而愤怒,而是祂知道除非我们完全倚靠祂,否则我们不能有效地行动。
我在想,此时此刻在我们的读者群里,是否有人在过去一年中,脚下的支柱真的被除去、失去了你长期以来所倚靠的东西?如果是这样的话,请听我说:神不是对你生气,祂只是希望你肯将重担完全卸放在祂跟前。我们也许可以这么说,你要看到在地上的保障躺在棺材内,然后才能够看到坐在宝座上那一位的荣耀。
「除非我们完全倚靠神,否则不能有效地行动」
进深研究
代下二十1-30;诗三十四5;诗一二三1
1. 约沙法发觉自己身处甚么境况?
2. 他在祷告中承认和肯定甚么?
祈祷
天父,求您帮助我看到,您对我所作的一切,都是为了让我得到最大的益处;您容许某些事情发生,不是要贬低我,而是要建立我;您拆毁我是为了要支持我。求您赐我信靠的心。奉基督的名祈求,阿们。
The Vision of God
When props are knocked out
Bible reading:
Deuteronomy 33:20-29
20 About Gad he said: "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head.
21 He chose the best land for himself; the leader's portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord's righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel."
22 About Dan he said: "Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan."
23 About Naphtali he said: "Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake."
24 About Asher he said: "Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil.
25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.
26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.
27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!'
28 So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell[a] secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.
29 Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights."
Message
Some commentators believe that many in the nation at that time, including Isaiah, had allowed their hopes and expectations for Judah to become so entwined around King Uzziah that when he died they were filled with despair. One modern-day commentator compares it to the shock that reverberated around the world when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
If Isaiah had been pinning his hopes for the spiritual survival of Judah on Uzziah rather than on God then it is easy to see how disappointed and disillusioned he would have become on hearing that King Uzziah had died. Perhaps it wasn't until he came to recognise the impotency of the one who lay in the coffin that he was prepared to lift his eyes to gaze at the One who sat on the eternal throne. How we need to learn the solemn lesson that our trust must always be in God. If it isn't, then God will knock the props out from beneath our feet, not because He is angry at our lack of confidence in Him but because He knows we cannot function effectively unless we fully dependent on Him.
I wonder, am I talking to someone right now who over the past year has had the props knocked from beneath their feet? The things you have depended on for so long are no longer there. Then listen to me: God is not angry with you. He just wants you to rest your weight fully on Him. You may have to be willing to see your earthly securities laid in a coffin, so to speak, before you can see the glory of the One who sits upon the throne.
"We cannot function effectively unless we are fully dependent on God"
Prayer
O Father, help me see that all Your actions toward me have my highest interest at heart. You allow things to happen not to demean me but to develop me. You strip me in order to sustain me. Give me a trusting heart. In Christ's Name I ask it. Amen.
Further study
2 Chronicles 20:1-30
Psalm 34:5; 123:1
1. What circumstances did Jehoshaphat find himself in?
2. What did he confess and affirm in his prayer?
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