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Chinese3/6/2006English
經文:以斯帖記三至四章
鑰節:「焉知你得了王后的位分,不是為現今的機會麼?」(4:14下)
提要

        末底改拒絕效忠哈曼,後者受到亞哈隨魯王的提拔,變成只在一人之下,萬人之上。在這樣尊貴的地位,他應該得到適當的尊敬;所有在他底下的人,都要跪拜他。我們知道,以色列人曾跪他們的王和其他值得尊敬的人(撒上24:8;撒下18:28;王上1:16;創23:7;33:3;44:14);所以,末底改拒絕下跪的原因是什麼呢?這倒有許多看法,但請想想這一點,哈曼是一個「亞甲族」人(3:1);所以,他可能是亞瑪力王亞甲的後代(撒上15:8)。上帝曾命令以色列人除去所有的亞瑪力人,因為他們的惡行,並在他們出埃及時,殘酷地攻擊以色列的兒女(出17:8~16;申25:17~19)。但以色列人在掃羅的領導之下,不願忠誠執行這個命令。掃羅的抗命,對以色列和他自己的後代,造成影響久遠的後果。許多亞瑪力人留下來了,他們不斷騷擾以色列人。在二族之間,有很深的仇恨存在。

        假如哈曼真的是一個亞瑪力族後代,這就可以解釋末底改不肯拜他的原因了。上帝曾咒詛了亞瑪力族,並與其宣戰,所以末底改站在上帝一邊,是對抗「猶大人的仇敵」(3:10)。但一方面,哈曼早在末底改事件之前,就已經對猶太人有偏見,才會想把猶太人通通殺光(3:6)。

        早在多年以前,同一個月,上帝曾神奇的救拔了以色列人,帶他們出了埃及;如今,哈曼藉著欺騙方式,獲得國王權柄,又想陰謀毀滅他們。哈曼對王說,他想殺的這民,散布在波斯通國之中,又有不同的律法,這是實話;但是他說,他們不服從王,卻是謊言。要毀滅猶太人,是哈曼自己惡毒的計謀,但他卻利用亞哈隨魯的自大,使他誤信猶太人不尊重他;且他們的財寶如被沒收,要大大增裕王的府庫。

        哈曼請教星象家和魔法師,選一個最好的日子,來屠殺猶太人。因為他相信日子的吉凶。雖然他們掣籤作了決定,上帝卻是最終控制全局的(箴16:33)。祂給祂的子民十一個月來祈禱,向祂呼求;使他們有足夠的時間,獲得一個由王頒布的相反法令;這樣哈曼的毒計便會失敗。

        哈曼用王的戒指蓋印,頒布了一個,如同亞哈隨魯王本人下達的死亡法令。各省的省長不得抗命;因為波斯國王的法令,是不能更改的。帝國人民願意屠殺猶太人的動機是貪婪,殺人者可以取得他所殺的人的全部財產。利用帝國有效的傳信服務(一種快速的驛馬),消息迅速傳佈開來。沒有比末底改更悲傷的猶太人了;畢竟是由於他蔑視哈曼,造成了火上加油。猶太人一聽到這消息莫不悲傷哀號、謙卑自己、禁食、穿著哀傷的麻衣。這象徵著他們對上帝虔誠的祈願,或許祂會為他們介入其中。

        透過以斯帖身邊一位可靠的侍臣,末底改告訴了她這可怕的滅命通告,也告訴她該立即採取哪些行動,替自己的同胞請命。以斯帖表明了她的畏懼:不敢未得王准、未蒙王邀,便進他的私室。因為這本是王宮中的安全措施,任何人若做了這事,都難免死罪;除非王伸出他的金杖,表示歡迎。末底改的反應,顯出他對上帝有巨大的信心。他話中之意是,上帝既把她放在這個位置上,就是為了這樣的時候;所以,假如她保持緘默,並且拒不肩起她對自己同胞應負的責任,便會為她和他全家,帶來上帝的憤怒,亦即死亡(4:14)。

        以斯帖受了末底改的挑戰,答應前去;她把自己放在上帝的手中,即使必須犧牲生命,也在所不辭。因為她終於覺悟到上帝高舉她到這麼崇高的位置,就是要她成為彰顯祂榮耀的工具。在她要懇求王命之前,她要求猶太全民為她禁食祈禱三天。因為主這樣的一個神蹟,只能藉許多的禱告和禁食,同心合意地祈求,方能成真(太18:19~20)。他們唯一的希望,是到主那兒避難(參詩46:1)。

禱告

        主上帝,正如同以斯帖得到王后的原因,是為了這樣一個時刻;甚至您對我們的生命,也有同樣特別的目標。幫助我們配合您的計畫,藉此您的旨意得以達成。奉耶穌基督的名禱告,阿們。

English

Scriptures:Read Esther 3 &4
Key Verse:"Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"(Esther 4:14b)
Overview

        Mordecai refused to pay homage to Haman, whom king Ahasuerus had promoted to the highest position under himself. In such a place of dignity, he was to be afforded due respect; all those under him were to bow to him. We know that the Israelites had bowed to their kings and other respected people (1 Samuel 24:8; 2 Samuel 18:28; 1 Kings 1:16; Genesis 23:7; 33:3; 44:14); so what might the reason be for Mordecai's refusal? There have been many speculations, but consider this: Haman was an "Agagite" (3:1); therefore, he was probably a descendant of the Amalekite king Agag (1 Samuel 15:8). God had ordered the Israelites to exterminate all the Amalekites because of their wickedness and ruthless attack on the children of Israel after they had left Egypt (Exodus 17:8-16; Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Israel, however, under the leadership of Saul, did not faithfully carry out this command. Saul's sin had far-reaching consequences for the Israelites and his own posterity. Some Amalekites remained, and they continually plagued the Israelites. There had always been deep-rooted enmity between them.

        If Haman was indeed an Amalekite descendant, this may well account for the fact that Mordecai would not bow to him. God had cursed the Amalekites and proclaimed war against them, so Mordecai stood with God against "the enemy of the Jews" (3:10). It also appears that Haman had a hatred for the Jews, even before he heard that Mordecai would not pay him homage, and thus he desired to kill them all (3:6).

        In the same month that God, many years earlier, had miraculously redeemed the children of Israel and brought them out of Egypt, Haman plotted their destruction by deceptively obtaining the king's authorization. Haman spoke the truth in telling the king that the people he sought to kill were dispersed throughout his kingdom and had a different law, but he lied in saying they did not obey the king. It was Haman's own evil desire to destroy the Jews, but he played on Ahasuerus' egotism by convincing him that they did not honour him and that their confiscated treasures would tremendously add to his own treasury.

        Haman consulted astrologers and magicians to choose the best day on which to have the Jews killed, for he believed in lucky and unlucky days. Though they cast the lot to make the decision, God was ultimately in control (Proverbs 16:33). He gave His people eleven months to pray and call upon Him so that Haman's evil plans would be overcome, allowing for enough time to get a counter decree issued by the king.

        Using the king's signet ring, Haman issued the death decree as though it came from Ahasuerus himself. The governors of all the provinces would have no choice but to allow such a pogrom to take place, since the official decrees of the Persian kings could not be changed. The incentive for people to kill the Jews was greed; the murderers would be permitted to take all the property of those they would kill. By the empire's efficient postal service (a type of pony express), the news quickly spread. No Jew was grieved more than Mordecai; after all, it was his defiance of Haman which had given fuel to the fire. The Jews responded by humbling themselves with fasting and wearing the garb of mourning. This signified their sincere supplication to God that He might intercede on their behalf.

        Through a trusted attendant of queen Esther, Mordecai gave her the message of doom and her proper course of action in an attempt to save her people. She expressed her natural fear of going unannounced and uninvited into the king's personal chambers. As a security measure, anyone who did that was condemned to die unless he stretched out his sceptre in welcome. Mordecai's response shows his tremendous faith in God. His words implied that God had put her into that position "for such a time as this", and so to keep silent and not fulfill her responsibility toward her people would bring divine wrath upon her and her family, namely death (4:14).

        With Mordecai's challenge, Esther agreed to go; she put herself into the hands of God, even if it meant sacrificing her life. She finally realized that God raised her to such a high position so she might be an instrument for His glory. Before she would petition the king, however, she asked that the Jewish community would fast three days for her, for such a miracle of the Lord could only come about by much prayer and fasting in a unified petition to God (Matthew 18:19-20). Their only hope was to take refuge in the Lord (cf. Psalm 46:1).

Prayer

        Lord God, just as Esther had come to the kingdom for such a time, even so You have a special purpose for our lives. Help us to co-operate with Your plan so that Your will may be done.


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