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哈巴谷书 第三章 - 在审判中持守信仰

在困苦与未知当中,让我们谦卑坚信,信靠神的怜悯。

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6 分钟阅读

愤怒中记念仁慈

从表面上看,哈巴谷面临着具有毁灭性的,且暗淡的未来。

神已经宣布对邪恶国家的审判。不仅是外邦国家,还有犹大,因为他们犯下了许多罪孽。

哈巴谷明白震怒神是多么令人恐惧。

谁能抵挡这位全能、至高无上的造物主?即使是永恒的山脉、深水和宇宙实体——这些无人能控制的东西,只要看上神的一眼就会颤栗(哈巴谷书 3:6,10-11)。

不用说,神的愤怒是可怕的。光是听闻到就足以让哈巴谷颤栗不止,四肢无力(哈巴谷书 3:16)。

可是,哈巴谷知道他所能做的就是祈祷 “神发怒的时候仍以怜悯为念”(哈巴谷书 3:2),并继续对这位神持有信心。

从这个祷告中,我们看到哈巴谷的谦卑闪耀着光芒。

在哈巴谷书 2:1 中,他谦卑地承认他对情况的缺乏理解不是因为神的计划有误,而是因为他自己的想法是错误的。

同样,我们在第 3 章中看到哈巴谷如何继续谦卑地接受神对犹大的旨意。

尽管他知道神的旨意会给他的国家带来恐慌。

如果我们处于哈巴谷的境地,我们可能会在心里埋怨神,说“祂怎么能做这么可怕的事?”

通常,面对不愉快的情况时,我们的会本能地质疑问题的本质。我们质疑神的公平,神的善良,神对我们的爱。

但我们不要屈服于本能的欲望,去抱怨,去发牢骚。

相反,我们应该向哈巴谷学习,记住神的本性。

神是至高无上的,所以我们没有权利抱怨他。

神是仁慈的,所以让我们在痛苦和烦恼中祈求他的怜悯。

然而,我将因耶和华而欢喜

此外,哈巴谷的真正信心在他所写的赞美诗中足以体现出来。

在困难时期保持忠心并不容易。

这不仅仅是口头上说 “我相信神”。它是通过我们的行动,我们的情感,我们的思想表现出来。

如果在经历人生的艰难时期时,有人说他们相信神,但人们经常听到他们抱怨自己的处境,祷告对他们来说并不是首要任务。人们有理由怀疑这个人是否真的有信仰。

在另一方面,如果一个人,尽管经历了艰难时期,但每天都保持喜乐,每天早上感谢神的小恩惠,珍惜与神在一起的安静时光,我们可能会认为他们是真正对神忠心的人。

这就是哈巴谷在赞美诗里所反映的。尽管可能没有好结果(哈巴谷书 3:17),但他选择在主里欢喜,并在祂里面找到力量(哈巴谷书 3:18-19)。

他既不离弃主,也不埋怨。

相反,哈巴谷选择相信主的良善。

今天,让我们为了拥有这样的信仰而努力,立志成为一个坚定不移,忠于神的基督徒,即使我们的情况可能不会有任何改善。

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但以理书 第四章(英文)

但以理书 第四章(英文)

The story in Daniel Chapter 4 is perhaps not unfamiliar to many of us. King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the great Babylonian empire, the king of kings, being turned into a beast, how spectacular is that? It's not until we read through this chapter for ourselves that we realise something even more spectacular: this whole chapter is told by King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel Chapter 4 is King Nebuchadnezzar's own personal testimony! Isn't King Nebuchadnezzar the infamous evil king? How is it that in this chapter he gives praise to the almighty God? Perhaps the first thing that should catch our attention from today's chapter is the repeated phrase in verses 17 and 32. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He wills. This phrase can even be said to be the theme of the whole Book of Daniel. This book is mostly set in the time of exile, when there seemingly was no longer any king over the people of God. Yet, in the Book of Daniel we see that though there was no earthly king ruling over Israel, God made it clear to these foreign kings that He is the almighty God. He was still the one who was truly the King. The outcome of this is that the evil king Nebuchadnezzar, probably the greatest and most powerful man during his time, writes this testimony for all peoples, nations, and languages to hear (Daniel 4:1-3). Imagine being a subject in the Babylonian empire, and receiving this declaration from king Nebuchadnezzar praising and glorifying the God of Israel. Though God's people sin against Him and are punished by being taken into exile, the name of God is still magnified. God is not put to shame. Today through baptism we have entered into the Kingdom of God. Yet, it is key for us to consider whether God truly is the King of our lives. It's natural to make many plans for our future, out of a desire to lead our dream lives. But for us Christians, the sovereignty and authority of God is something that we must be well-aware of and fully willing to submit to. If God doesn't let me get that job, are we able to accept it? If God closes the path towards our dreams, are we will to say "Let Thy will be done"? If God takes away all that we have, are we able to be like Job and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord"? If all this is causing us to struggle, remember this: God loves us. He knows what's best for us, He knows what we need. He has already given His life for us, and given us His precious Spirit to dwell within us. Having faith in God's love towards us gives us strength to submit to our King with full assurance that this is the best path for us, this is the way to blessing and to eternal life. Since our God is the highest and rules over the kingdom of man, what then should our response ought to be? Nebuchadnezzar begins and ends his testimony by praising and glorifying God. Giving praises to God is something that we have been often taught but perhaps we have not given enough thought to or taken seriously enough. Yet, throughout the Bible, it's clear that praises are a key part of our worship to God (just read the Book of Psalms). What might we praise God for? Like Nebuchadnezzar, we can praise God for His greatness and His almightiness. Just consider the stars, or the intricacies of the human body. We can praise God for His love and wisdom as seen in His creation as well as in His word. The more we study into the holy scriptures, the more we are filled with awe at how complete, connected, and wonderful these life-giving words are. We can also glorify God for His salvation which He has so freely given to us. Imagine how different our lives might be today if not for His grace and mercy! It's when we decide to finally take the importance of praising God seriously and intentionally set aside some time in our daily prayers to praise God, that we truly experience the blessing that comes along with it. We go through life being filled with joy and gratitude, knowing that we have such a great and powerful Heavenly Father who loves us. In fact, it was when Nebuchadnezzar took the glory for Himself rather than giving all glory to God, that the infamous transformation into a beast took place. This brings us nicely to the final point of reflection for this devotional. Pride - when we take glory for ourselves rather than giving glory to God. Nebuchadnezzar's testimony serves as a stark warning for us. Even just a sentence or thought of pride can greatly displease God. How often have we unknowingly taken credit for ourselves for any achievements we have, or for any divine work that we do? Being puffed up with pride and not keeping to one's proper domain is precisely the sin of satan (1 Tim 3:6, Jude 6-7). If we are filled with pride, what difference is there between us and satan? In fact, while satan exalted himself, God on the contrary lowered Himself, coming in the likeness of man and humbling Himself even to the point of death (Phil 2:5-8). Whose example do we want to follow, that of God or of satan? Let us take warning from the story of Nebuchadnezzar and carefully consider who's example we want to follow. Indeed, God opposes the proud while giving grace to the humble. He blesses the meek, that they might inherit the earth .

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