旧约 - 历代记下(2 Chronicles)第6章
Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; |
I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever." |
While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. |
Then he said: "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, |
'Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built for my Name to be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be the leader over my people Israel. |
But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.' |
"My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. |
But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart. |
Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood--he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.' |
"The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. |
There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the people of Israel." |
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. |
Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. |
He said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. |
You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it--as it is today. |
"Now LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me according to my law, as you have done.' |
And now, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true. |
"But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! |
Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. |
May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. |
Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive. |
"When a man wrongs his neighbor and is required to take an oath and he comes and swears the oath before your altar in this temple, |
then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing down on his own head what he has done. Declare the innocent not guilty and so establish his innocence. |
"When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you and when they turn back and confess your name, praying and making supplication before you in this temple, |
then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their fathers. |
"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, |
then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. |
"When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, |
and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel--each one aware of his afflictions and pains, and spreading out his hands toward this temple-- |
then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men), |
so that they will fear you and walk in your ways all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers. |
"As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm--when he comes and prays toward this temple, |
then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. |
"When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name, |
then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. |
"When they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; |
and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly'; |
and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; |
then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you. |
"Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. |
"Now arise, O LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness. |
O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant." |
历代志下第六章
第 6 章
代下 6:3> 在敬拜中所做的动作,若是发自心底的真诚,必会蒙神悦纳……
6:3 百姓领受所罗门的祝福,全体肃立;所罗门向神祷告,当众跪下( 6:13 )。站立与跪下都是尊敬的表现,敬虔的行动使我们专心敬拜,也使别人看出我们是敬畏神的。你在聚会之中或跪下、或站立、或祈祷,都不要因为这是传统,乃要藉这些行动来表明你爱神的心。
代下 6:12-13> 领袖应作群众敬拜亲近神的榜样。我的领导,是否只在工作上,而忽略了信仰上的角色?
6:12-13 贵为一国之君的所罗门,在他百姓面前向另一位下跪,这表明他降服于另一位更高的掌权者;所罗门俯伏在神面前,表明对神至大至深的爱,说明他承认神是裁决万事、真正掌权的君王,而他也鼓励百姓同样敬畏神。
代下 6:18> 创天造地的主,今天却与我同在,我还惧怕什么?
6:18 所罗门惊叹圣殿竟然能充满神的大能,神竟甘愿在地上与犯罪的百姓同住!神的儿子耶稣成为人的样式、住在我们中间,显明神永恒的旨意,也使我们惊奇不已。这是神以祂的大爱临到我们,要我们认识祂并全心全意地以爱回应。我们不仅要赞美祂的大能,更要花时间认识祂。
代下 6:19-42> 不论在任何时刻,任何境况中,神总愿意垂听我们的心声……
6:19-42 所罗门领百姓祷告时,他求神多方垂听百姓的祈求:( 1 )犯罪之时( 6:22-23 );( 2 )仇敌攻击时( 6:24-25 );( 3 )干旱之时( 6:26-27 );( 4 )饥荒之时( 6:28-31 );( 5 )外邦入侵之时( 6:32-33 );( 6 )与仇敌争战之时( 6:34-35 );( 7 )百姓得罪神之时( 6:36-39 )。不管我们的光景如何,神依旧关怀我们;祂要我们向祂祷告、悔改归向祂。请切记,在你祷告的时候,神会垂听你的祈祷。不要因为环境恶劣就怀疑神的关怀。
代下 6:26> 自然灾害在某些情况下,代表神的警戒;我生活中的困难,是否也是神对我的提醒?
6:26 所罗门认为干旱是犯罪的结果,原因何在呢?罪恶不一定是天灾的祸因,但这里所说的却是特殊情况。神曾明示百姓,祂可能以干旱来刑罚他们(参申 28:20-24 )。
代下 6:30> 神不单在垂听,也在赦免为罪痛悔的心灵,祂也知道我的心……
6:30 你曾否因为失败、软弱、困顿,而与神疏远隔绝呢?所罗门在祷告中说明,神随时侧耳垂听百姓的祷告,赦免罪孽,使他们与自己和好。祂正在等候,要垂听我们认罪,重新顺服祂。我们将一切需要和困难向祂倾吐,祂就垂听,随时赦免,使我们能再与祂相交。不要耽延了,来领受祂的慈爱和宽恕吧!
代下 6:36> 自以为毫无缺点,或无可救药,都是没能摆正人与神的关系;我是否属于其中一种?
6:36 “人人都犯了罪”──圣经讲得斩钉截铁,没有人不犯罪,就连神所立的君王也如此。犯罪是人类的通病,我们都要像所罗门一样向神认罪。我们一看出自己犯了罪,就应当尽快求神赦免,与祂和好。认识自己有犯罪的倾向,我们就该与祂时刻亲近,寻求祂的引导,并求祂赐下能力(诗 14:3 ;传 7:20 与罗 3:23 都提到世上人人犯罪的事实。)──《灵修版圣经注释》
历代志下第六章
信实的神成就救恩(六 1 ~ 11 )
面对神荣光充满圣殿的时刻,怎能无动于衷?所罗门也不例外,他作出了回应:
.神在我们中间( 1 ~ 2 )──以色列人相信神的住处为幽暗之处,这是受到西奈山上神显现的传统而引发的(出二十 21 )。上文说有“云”充满就与这观念有关,盖幽暗之处有云是极自然的事。现今神临在了,以殿作为祂的居所,人就可在殿里遇见神。
.信实的神成就大事( 3 ~ 11 )──这里的一番话表达了所罗门称颂神的心声,原因是:
1. 祂向大卫所应许的现在亲自成就了。祂让所罗门登位及完成建殿工作就是明证。过去大卫流人血太多,神不许他建殿宇,但现今所罗门作为太平之子,在神的供应下完成了这项工作。
2. 神与大卫的立约关系并非一件独立事件,它与出埃及的经历有密切关系。神救赎以色列民出埃及,拣选耶路撒冷为祂的居所及选立大卫治理国家等事情,都表明神没有离弃祂的子民,祂遵守了约的要求。
在这情况下,所罗门乐意在庆祝圣殿建成的典礼中高举约的关系,一方面指出神是与整体以色列人立约;一方面又暗示这约仍有效,以色列民自当竭力保守这美好神人的关系。
我们先要感谢神,透过基督的死,我们因信进入了“新约”的关系──享受救恩,成为神的儿女,又受各种属灵福气,这全都是因为神信实,定意差遣救赎主来到人间而成就的。时间既难不倒神,也不能改变祂信实的性格。然而,我们又如何呢?在漫长的基督徒人生路上,我有常常持守对神忠贞的心么?危机当前,我肯看重神人和好的关系么?
思想 我们不用付代价就领受了神救赎的恩典,未知有否使你对神人和好的关系,存轻忽的态度呢?
求神继续施恩(六 12 ~ 17 )
说过一些祝福的话后,所罗门开始向神祈祷。
.祷告的姿势( 12 ~ 13 )──他先站,后来则跪下。向天举手就是祷告的意思。这种在台上祷告的现象并不是以色列所特有的,古代近东的王参与宗教仪节时往往都会如此。此外,在台上祷告显然更易被人看得见及听得清楚。这“院”是“大院”,全以色列会众都可入内,故所罗门是当以色列会众祷告的。
.神今日成就大事( 14 ~ 15 )──所罗门今日能够献殿并作祷告,乃因神愿意向顺服祂的人守约施慈爱,而他父亲大卫蒙福受恩就是最好的明证。
.求神继续施恩( 16 ~ 17 )──回顾过去,看到神已成就了一切,并不表示恩典已尽;相反,这不过是施恩的开始而已。因此,所罗门加强祷告,并求多得恩典,就是神继续坚立大卫王朝,使坐以色列国位的人不断。当然他晓得一件事,就是继后的王必须遵守约的条件,尽上本分守律法,行神的旨意。这样,才算是正确的。
我们都是蒙恩的人,未信主以前,我们感到所领受的好处似都是自己应得的,但信主后我们就不会如此,反领略到这一切一切皆因出于神的怜悯,并向我们施恩所致。其实,我们更应迈进一步,就是在受恩之余,不忘记继续求主施恩。这不是说我们要命令神作这事那事去满足我们的要求,乃是我们看到自己只不过是一个平凡人、软弱者,惟独靠神丰盛的恩典才能活泼的侍立在祂面前。当然,不用再多说,求主施恩的祷告完毕后,我们需要更竭力地守主的教导。
思想 新约里经常出现“恩典”这字,你体会这真理有多深?
具体的恳求(上)(六 18 ~ 31 )
所罗门要建的殿,不仅是献祭的殿(二 4 ),它更是一个祷告的殿( 18 ~ 21 )。耶和华虽然伟大无比,超越一切,但祂却甘愿在殿中与人相遇,俯听人的祷告。
以下是所罗门献上的七项具体恳求:
1. 求神以行动印证义人的清白( 22 ~ 23 )──起誓是一种严肃的行动,为的是表白自己的无罪。既是如此,起誓后发生的事就很关键性,以色列人愿意见到的是罪人受祸、义人蒙福。
2. 求神改变失败的国运( 24 ~ 25 )──当国家因罪而被敌人打败,以色列人需要回心转意归向神时也就是表示他们有悔改的心了。这样,国家命运才能有改变,才能继续在巴勒斯坦这地方立国。
3. 求神除掉旱灾( 26 ~ 27 )──古代的以色列以农立国,故雨水与民生关系十分重大。他们认定神赐雨水就表示神喜悦他们,反之,就是神发怒不悦纳他们。当这种干旱情况发生,以色列人就需要检讨自己的行为,并要离罪行善,才能蒙受降雨的福分。
4. 求神除掉饥荒等灾( 28 ~ 31 )──饥荒的形成,可能是因为旱灾的缘故,但其他疫症也会导致这种情况出现。灾祸固然使人受苦,但积极方面它也可使人操练敬畏神的心。
基督徒的祷告其中可有的内容之一是“恳求”。当我们遇到一些不如意的事情,我们可以向神祷告求改变。这是一种权利,也是一份莫大的福气。这样的举动,是表示尊神为大,以神旨意为至高的标准。不过有一件事我们绝不能轻忽的,就是当这一切不如意的事情是因我们得罪神而出现的时候,我们便需要悔改回转!
祈祷 主啊,赐我一颗敏感的心,叫我知道在何事上曾得罪。
具体的恳求(下)(六 32 ~ 42 )
建造圣殿的经文较具体恳求的经文为短,这有理由叫人相信历代志下的作者是十分重视祷告的。上次我们已谈过四项具体的恳求,今次让我们再继续说及其余的恳求事项。
1. 求神使外邦人认识祂( 32 ~ 33 )──这里所罗门对外邦人的态度是宽容的,盖他们也需要认识神的名。当然,以色列民有责任向天下万民作见证,表扬神的能力与大名,好使外邦人归向神。
2. 求神使以色列军队得胜( 34 ~ 35 )──奉神的名受差遣往各处争战,意思是这些争战都有神的引导,并非他们胡乱发动战争。在这情况下求神帮助,神也会给予他们胜利。其后有很多例证证明这点,就是胜过埃及、摩押及以东等军队。
3. 求神怜悯被掳的悔改子民( 36 ~ 39 )──他们犯罪战败被掳至外地,虽暂无机会回到自己的地方,但他们若肯向神认罪悔改,神必会再次照顾他们的。
所罗门深信神会悦纳他这样的恳求,原因有二:神与约柜同是人安息之所,表明神是永久住在圣殿里的;祂既不离开受膏者大卫、所罗门及继后的王,所以守约施慈爱的福气就必不中断。
基督徒要认识一件事,无论身在何方,只要我们认真、谦卑、悔罪的向神祷告,神必会垂听。地理上的远近也不会拦阻神能力的彰显。当然,蒙允之先,我们必须清楚祷告内容是否为了高举主的名,又合乎神的引导,自己又肯否正视罪恶。否则,神就不悦纳了!
思想 祷告祈求是否已经成了你生命中重要的一部分?──《新旧约辅读》