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Chinese2/17/2006English
經文:以斯拉記三至四章
鑰節:「……那時他們如同一人,聚集在耶路撒冷。」(3:1)
提要

        在大祭司耶書亞,及行政領袖所羅巴伯的領導下,百姓對真神上帝的敬拜又恢復了。所有被擄返鄉的民眾在心志、目標、熱忱上,完全一致,因上帝的靈運行在其間,眾人也有共同的異象。想要為上帝的國度成就任何事,彼此一定要同心。返鄉民眾做的第一件事,即重建上主的祭壇,好向祂早晚獻祭,並按摩西律法守各種節期(3:2~5)。他們逐漸明白,即使聖殿尚未重建,百姓仍可以按著心靈和誠實敬拜上帝(約4:24),而祂也會在他們中間。因為天地的造物主不必局限在人手所造的屋宇內。

        同時,他們亦開始累積各種建殿的材料(3:7),並捐錢給工程庫,好請建築工人,並買所需的建材。好多人慷慨解囊,「量力捐入」(2:69;3:7),捐的比什一奉獻還多。這點再次說明聖經中的一項原則,奉獻禮物給上帝時,重要不在於給的多寡,而在於給的比例。

        新殿根基立定的時候,他們舉行了一場奉獻暨感恩禮拜,當時會眾情緒複雜,有人歡呼,有人哭號。老一輩的族長們猶記得舊殿的光輝,想到它被尼布甲尼撒給毀了,不禁悲從中來,料那新殿將永不及舊殿榮美。但他們也可能是喜極而泣,畢竟禱告了幾十年,終於能有今天。

        猶太百姓恢復敬拜真神後,想必切求上帝的保護,因他們深怕鄰國的騷擾(3:3)。這些鄰國的人是從前亞述及巴比倫王從外地遷進來的,代替被擄走的以色列人(參王下17:24)。他們祭拜外邦神祇,也拜上帝,不少人亦和以色列民通婚(後來就成為新約時代的「撒馬利亞人」)。

        從第四章的事件中,我們可看出猶太人對鄰國的懼怕不無道理。聖經形容這些鄰國百姓為「敵人」,這些人卻又假心假意想和猶太人合作(4:1~2)。人類的大敵撒但,也常在上帝子民要順服上帝、獲致成功的時候,裝成光明天使前來欺哄(林後11:3,14~15)。敵人說他們和猶太人一樣尋求上帝,但所羅巴伯會分辨。猶太人敬拜的是宇宙獨一的真神,敵人信的卻是分治各個區域的小神。他們向以色列的上帝獻祭,是因為如今在這裡落腳,情非得己。其實他們拜的對象可多了,儀式污穢又混雜。

        所羅巴伯與其他猶太領袖,秉著智慧與勇氣,拒絕與敵人妥協,也不接受他們的幫助。在這種制勝仇敵的信心前導下,撒但便無法滲入做任何顛覆和破壞(參約壹4:4;5:4~5)。上帝的子民與不討上帝喜悅的人事相混雜或妥協,是很危險的。我們今天該持守的原則仍和過去一樣:歸向上帝、分別為聖,提防撒但的詭計(參林後2:11),務要抵擋牠(雅4:7),並用聖靈寶劍展開攻擊(弗6:10~17)。

        鄰國遭拒之後,立刻露出猙獰的面目,盤算各種毒計,甚至賄買謀士去破壞上帝子民的工作,以致造成長達十五年的停頓(4:5,24);但上帝旨意後來還是成就了。

        聖經形容撒但是「控告弟兄的」(啟12:10),及「說謊之人的父」(約8:44),這種特性在敵人寫給波斯王的告狀信上尤其明顯。這個風波是發生在亞達薛西王年間,聖殿已建完,百姓正在修築城牆的時候。以斯拉此時故意插入這段史實,顯然有意說明所羅巴伯拒絕鄰國協助建殿是很有遠見的(4:2~3)。謊話連篇的奸人拿到國王禁建的詔書後,便急忙前去耶路撒冷,用勢力強迫百姓停工。撒但不但是控告者,更像一隻吼叫的獅子,隨時想吞吃、毀滅人(彼前5:8~9;約10:10)。

禱告

        噢主,謝謝您賜下敬虔的領袖。請幫助我們在信心和目的上合一,好同心支持您揀選的領袖。奉耶穌基督的名禱告,阿們。

English

Scriptures:Read Ezra 3&4
Key Verse:"The people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem."(Ezra 3:1)
Overview

        True worship to the Lord God was restored under the leadership of Jeshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the civil leader. All the people who returned from the Exile had unity of mind and purpose, as well as enthusiasm, since the Spirit of God had commissioned them and they had the same vision. To accomplish anything for the kingdom of God, there must be unity. Their first action was to rebuild the altar of the Lord that they might worship Him, offer Him the regular sacrifices, and observe all the appointed feasts according to the Law of Moses (3:2-5). They were beginning to understand that God could be worshipped in spirit and in truth (John 4:24) and be present in their midst, even if the Temple had not yet been rebuilt; for the Creator of the universe could never be confined in a man-made structure.

        In the meantime, they were gathering the various supplies needed to begin the reconstruction (3:7). They were also raising money for the treasury, so they could pay the workers and buy the necessary supplies. Many gave generous offerings, over and above their tithes, "according to their ability" (2:69; 3:7). This expresses the biblical principle of giving to the Lord; it is not the amount you give but the proportion of the gift compared to what is left over.

        When the foundations of the new Temple were finally laid, they had a service of dedication and thanksgiving to God, in which there was much joy, as well as mixed emotions. The most elderly Jews remembered the splendour of the former Temple that Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed. Their tears may have been from sadness that the new Temple would never be as glorious as the one they remembered; or they may have been tears of overwhelming joy in finally seeing the answer to decades of prayer.

        As the Jews began the restoration of true worship, they no doubt prayed for divine protection, for they were wary of possible opposition from the foreigners who now occupied Israelite territory (3:3). These were people from other nations whom the conquering nations (first the Assyrians and then the Babylonians) had imported to replace the Israelites who went into captivity (cf. 2 Kings 17:24). These foreigners in the land had mixed their heathen religions with the worship of God, and many had intermarried with Israelites (they later became known as "Samaritans").

        From the events in chapter four, we see that the fears of the Jews were justified. The foreigners were described as "adversaries", and yet they approached the Jews under the guise of friendliness (4:1-2). Satan, the great adversary of mankind, often comes with deception, in the form of an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:3,14-15), especially when the people of God are following Him and having true success. The adversaries claimed that they sought God just as did the Jews, but Zerubbabel knew this was untrue. The Jews worshipped the one and only true God. These adversaries believed in territorial gods, and since they were living in the territory of the God of Israel, they sacrificed to Him. Their worship was corrupt and syncretistic, for the God of Israel was just one of the many gods they worshipped.

        With wisdom and courage, Zerubbabel and the leaders would not compromise, and they refused the heathen's offer to help. With this stand of faith that overcame the enemy, Satan was not allowed to infiltrate their ranks and bring disunity and ultimate disaster (cf. 1 John 4:4; 5:4-5). It is a dangerous thing when the people of God compromise with the world and mix with those things or people unpleasing to God. The principle still applies; we have to maintain purity and be separated unto God, aware of Satan's tactics (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:11), prepared to resist him (James 4:7), and equipped to attack with the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-17).

        When the foreigners were rejected, their true colours were seen; they immediately schemed ways to discourage the people of God. They even went so far as to hire men to frustrate their work and were successful in causing a fifteen-year delay (4:5, 24); but the Lord's will was eventually accomplished.

        Satan is called "the accuser" (Revelation 12:10) and "the father of lies" (John 8:44). This is exactly what was reflected in the letters the adversaries wrote to the Persian kings. Ezra is now relating the events that happened after the Temple was completed and when the city walls were under construction during the reign of the Persian king Artaxerxes. The purpose appears to give further justification for Zerubbabel's refusal of the foreigners' help (4:2-3). These adversaries finally obtained a decree to stop them from rebuilding the city walls. Now Satan was like a roaring lion, seeking to devour and bring destruction (1 Peter 5:8-9; John 10:10). The lying accusers were quick to go up with violence to Jerusalem and put a stop to any building.

Prayer

        Thank You for godly leaders in Your work, O Lord. Please give us unity in our faith and purpose, so we may support Your chosen leaders.


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