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那鸿书 第一章 - 安慰还是忿怒?

即使神的愤怒大而可畏,他却安慰投靠他的忏悔者。

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7 分钟阅读

虽然我们许多人都熟悉约拿的故事,但对那鸿书可能了解较少。

在约拿的时代,尼尼微城曾悔改并转向神,但一百年后,在那鸿的时代,我们发现他们又回到了旧日的罪恶之中。因此,那鸿书作为针对尼尼微的预言而写,宣告了他们即将面临的惩罚和灭亡。  

然而,与旧约其他经文一样,那鸿书最终也是为了我们的学习而写(罗马书15:4,哥林多前书10:6)。  

神的愤怒

我们中的一些人可能会觉得那鸿书难以阅读。它一开始就描述了神可畏的愤怒,向祂的仇敌施行报应(那鸿书1:2)。

如今许多人认为他们可以智胜神,或者比神更聪明。然而,神是全能且全知的,祂必定会彻底摧毁任何对抗祂的计划或阴谋(那鸿1:8-11)。

而这种惩罚的规模是我们无法想象的。当我们旅行时,可能会被雄伟的山脉和无边的大海所震撼。然而,当神采取行动时,海洋和江河将干涸,大山会震动,小山会消化(那鸿1:4-5)。

在这伟大而可畏的日子,那鸿1:6问道:“谁能站立得住?”这个问题也在启示录6:15-17中提出,那里说到君王、将军、壮士、奴隶等,都试图躲在山洞里寻找庇护。但正如那鸿1:6所说,磐石不能提供保护,因为神能够摧毁它们。

面对罪恶、羞耻和神的审判,我们很容易躲藏并试图在我们的事业、爱好、享乐、旅行、财富等中寻求庇护。然而,在神的愤怒面前,这些一切都无法保护我们。

那么,人如何才能找到避难所呢?唯有在主里面(那鸿1:7)。

主的安慰

有趣的是,那鸿的名字意味着“耶和华的安慰”,这与我们迄今所读的一切形成了鲜明的对比。在宣告神可畏愤怒的所有信息中,我们也看到了希望和安慰的信息。

虽然神宣告对祂的敌人施下审判,但祂也安慰祂的子民。那鸿书1:15 呼应了 以赛亚书52:7,预言弥赛亚的来临,祂将带来和平和好消息。当祂来临时,祂的子民将不再受苦,罪的捆绑也将从他们身上被打破(那鸿书1:12-13)。

的确,作为基督徒,我们非常蒙福,因为能够认识我们的主耶稣。即使我们还是罪人时,祂为我们死,将我们从神的忿怒中拯救出来(罗马书5:8-9)。

然而,我们是否真的以他为我们的避难所?

在主里面寻求避难所意味着信靠祂。这意味着放手,将我们的处境和未来托付给祂全能的手。这意味着把祂视为我们在这个世界上唯一的平安和安慰的源泉。

在耶稣里面寻求避难所也意味着依靠圣灵克服我们的软弱,并真正脱离罪的捆绑。毕竟,为了避开神的愤怒,我们需要在祂面前是圣洁、公义、无可指摘的。

在我们的软弱和不完美中,我们仍然常常违犯我们的主。然而,祂并没有让我们立即面对祂愤怒的全部,而是因祂的大爱而管教和训诲我们。

尽管神的愤怒很大,祂却是不轻易发怒的(那鸿书1:3)。祂有怜悯,有恩典,并且有丰盛的慈爱(诗篇103:8)。祂的愤怒是为那些刚硬心肠、反叛祂的人所留。

然而,如果我们继续行自己的路,拒绝依靠圣灵追求圣洁,我们有一天也会面对神完全的忿怒。
愿我们在主里面找到出人意外的平安和说不出来的喜乐,但也愿我们永远不忘,主的恩慈和宽容是为了引导我们悔改(罗马书2:4)。

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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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