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但以理书生命读经 · 第6篇

神堕落的选民中年轻的后裔，胜过

The Victory of the Young Descendants of God’s
1了撒但更进一步的诡计（四）
1Degraded Elect over Satan’s Further Devices (4
胜过那拦阻人看见诸天之神诸天掌权的遮盖
Over the Covering that Hinders People from Seeing the Ruling of the Heavens by the God of the Heavens
2读经：但以理书四章。
2Scripture Reading: Dan. 4
3但以理书是一卷论到神经纶之神圣启示的书。这卷书从一章到六章，没有用神学或教训来陈明神的经纶，乃是用了一连串的事例。但以理一至六章至少记载了六个事例，给我们看见神的经纶是甚么，以及神的经纶如何得以完成。这些事例乃是一些描述。一至六章的事例，表面看是各自独立、毫不相干的，事实上都是相联的。比方说，要找出第二个事例－二章里的大人像－的重点，就必须回到一章。照样，要明白三章，秘诀乃在二章，如此类推。六章里的事例是前面五个事例的总结。要描述一章里的第一个事例，我们必须画一幅图画。首先，我们要画一个人物，就是争战得胜的将军尼布甲尼撒，他刚从耶路撒冷回到巴比伦，带著许多俘虏跟在后面。第二，我们看见被掳的人中有四个聪颖的年轻人。第三，这几个年轻人特别从被掳的人中选上，有王上好的膳食摆在他们面前。第四，他们立定心志为著神，拒绝不吃王膳，只吃蔬菜。然而，他们四个长得非常可爱、快乐并健康。结果，神与他们同在，他们有神的智慧、见识，能领会事情，胜过迦勒底的一切术士十倍。
3Daniel is a book of the divine revelation concerning God'secon o my. In chapters one through six, this book does not present God'secon o my in theology or in teaching but in a series of cases. There are at least six cases recorded in Daniel 1—6 which show us what God'secon o my is and how God'secon o my can be carried out. These six cases are illustrations. Apparently the cases in chapters one through six stand alone and have nothing to do with each other. Actually these cases are all connected. For example, to find the crucial point of the second case, the great human image in chapter two, we must go back to chapter one. The secret of understanding chapter two is in chapter one. Likewise, the secret of understanding chapter three is in chapter two, and so forth. The case in chapter six is a conclusion to the five foregoing cases. In order to describe the first case, in chapter one, we must paint a portrait. First, we must portray the figure of a fighting, overcoming general, Nebuchadnezzar, who has just returned from Jerusalem to Babylon with many captives following behind him. Second, we see four brilliant young men among the captives. Third, these young men are specially chosen from among the captives and then presented with the king's choice food. Fourth, they set their hearts to keep themselves for God, and they reject the royal food and eat vegetables only. Nevertheless, the four become very pleasant, happy, and healthy. Then as a result, God's presence, wisdom, and insight are with them, and they can understand things ten times better than all the others in Nebuchadnezzar's realm
4第二个事例是在二章里。那位伟大得胜的将军作了一个自己不能明白的梦。因著他被属世的荣耀和权势所蒙蔽，他无法明白这梦，以至于把梦忘记了。然而，有一个人名叫但以理，他不在意属世的荣耀和权势，却有心为著神，他就有明白这梦的能力和性能。他不只有对的地位和角度来明白这梦，更在里面有明白这梦的内在性能。因此，当这件未知之事被带到他面前时，他有洞察力，看透那与人政权相关的属世荣耀和威荣。然后他给王一个异象，开他的眼睛。但尼布甲尼撒里面缺乏认识神的能力。虽然他在外面得著但以理的帮助，看见神是至高的神，但他里面没有被摸著。这位伟大得胜的将军，视但以理为英雄，向他下拜并奉上供物和香。这是二章结束时的情景。
4The second case is in chapter two. That great, victorious general dreamed a dream that he could not understand. Because he was blinded by worldly glory and power, he could not understand the dream and eventually forgot it. However, there was a person named Daniel who did not care for worldly glory and power, who had a heart for God, and who had the ability and the capacity to understand this dream. He had not only the right position and the right angle to understand but also an intrinsic capacity in his being to understand. Thus, when such an unknown matter was brought to him, he had the insight. He saw through the worldly glory and majesty related to human government. Then he gave the king a vision to open his eyes. But Nebuchadnezzar was void of the capacity to know God inwardly. Although outwardly he was helped by Daniel to see that God is the Most High God, nothing within him was touched. Regarding Daniel as a hero, this great, overcoming general worshipped him and offered him an oblation with incense. This is the scene at the end of chapter two.
5但以理讲解尼布甲尼撒的梦时，说，『王阿，你是诸王之王，诸天的神已将王权、能力、力量、荣耀，都赐给你。…你就是那金头。』（二37～38。）当尼布甲尼撒思想但以理的讲解时，他可能认为自己是个伟大的人物。因此，在三章，他立了一个大金像，可能是他自己的表征，要人敬拜。这像不只头是金的，整体都是金的。但以理是巴比伦最大一省的总长。他知道大像被立，要让人敬拜；他也豫期会有开光之礼。三章没有题到他，很可能他走开了，去为神的得胜祷告。已过神在耶路撒冷的殿里得著许多敬拜，但如今殿被毁了，殿中敬拜神的器具也被掳到巴比伦。神在这地上的权益丢失了。然而，在巴比伦有些得胜者，但以理就是其中一个。我信但以理避开这像的开光之礼，是要为他三个同伴祷告。他也许祷告说，『神，你必须保守我们，维持在地上对你的敬拜。这敬拜不该被任何人割断、阻挠、干扰并改变。』但以理的三个同伴大胆的回答尼布甲尼撒，说，『这事我们不必回答你。即便如此，我们所事奉的神，能将我们从烈火的窑中救出来。王阿，祂也必救我们脱离你的手。即或不然，王阿，你当知道，我们决不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。』（三～18。）他们被扔在烈火的窑中，但火却对他们失效。所以在三章末了，王很乐意的承认这三个年轻人改变王言，不害怕身体被杀。『尼布甲尼撒说，沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的神是应当称颂的，祂差遣使者拯救祂的仆人，他们信靠祂，改变王言，并且宁舍己身，在他们的神以外不肯事奉敬拜别神。』（28。）
5In his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar ' s dream, Daniel said, "You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of the heavens has given kingship, power, and strength and glory.... You are the head of gold " (2:37-38). As Nebuchadnezzar thought about Daniel's interpretation, he might have considered himself to be someone great. Thus, in chapter three he erected a large golden image, possibly signifying himself, for people to worship. It not only had a head of gold, but the entire image was of gold. Daniel was a prefect ruling over the largest province of Babylon. He realized that the great image was being set up for people to worship, and he anticipated its dedication. Since he is not mentioned in chapter three, it is likely that he went away and prayed for God's victory. God had received much worship in the temple in Jerusalem, but that was destroyed, and the utensils for worshipping God were brought to Babylon. God'sin te rest son this earth were lost. Nevertheless, there were some overcomers in Babylon, and Daniel was one of them. I believe that Daniel stayed away from the dedication of the image in order to pray for his three companions. In his prayer he might have said, "God, You must preserve us and keep Your worship on earth. Your worship should not be cut off, frustrated, violated, or changed by anyone." Daniel'st hree companions answered Nebuchadnezzar boldly, saying, "There is no need for us to give you an answer in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace of fire, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image that you have set up" (3:16-18). They were thrown into the furnace of fire, but the fire had no effect on them. 16 Therefore, at the end of chapter three, the king admitted in a good spirit that these three young men had changed his word and were not afraid to yield their bodies to be killed. "Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed - nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him and changed the king'sword and yielded their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God" (v. 28).
6在四章开头，尼布甲尼撒再次向神献上赞美。但我们看见，在这一章里，尼布甲尼撒继续行事高傲，神就使他降为卑。神暴露他，给他看见自己不是君子，乃是走兽。
6At the beginning of chapter four, Nebuchadnezzar again offered praise concerning God. As we will see, in this chapter Nebuchadnezzar, who continued to walk in pride, was abased by God. God exposed him and showed him that he was not a gentleman but a beast
壹 尼布甲尼撒对神的赞美
I. NEBUCHADNEZZAR'SP RAISE CONCERNING GOD
7在四章一至三节，尼布甲尼撒颂赞神的伟大、权能、永远的国、以及永存的权柄。在二至三节他说，『我乐意将至高的神向我所行的神迹奇事，宣扬出来。祂的神迹何其伟大，祂的奇事何其有力！祂的国是永远的国，祂的权柄代代长存。』
7In 4:1-3 we have Nebuchadnezzar'sp raise concerning God in His greatness, might, eternal kingdom, and everlasting dominion. In verses 2 and 3 he said, "It pleases me to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs, / And how mighty are His wonders! / His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, / And His dominion is from generation to generation
贰 尼布甲尼撒的见证
II. NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S TESTIMONY
8四至十八节记载了尼布甲尼撒的见证。
8Verses 4 through 18 are a record of Nebuchadnezzar's testimony
一 他作了一个梦，所有的术士和迦勒底人都不能讲解
A. Seeing a Dream, and the Magicians and Chaldeans Not Being Able to Interpret It
9五节说，『我作了一个梦，使我惧怕；我在床上的幻想，并脑中的异象，使我惊惶。』于是他下旨叫巴比伦的一切哲士把梦的讲解告诉他。然而，那些术士、用法术的、迦勒底人、观兆的，都不能把梦的讲解告诉他。（6～7。）
9Verse 5 says, "I saw a dream and it frightened me, and the imaginings upon my bed and the visions of my head alarmed me." He decreed that the wise men of Babylon make the interpretation known to him. However, the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans, and diviners could not interpret the dream to Nebuchadnezzar (vv. 6-7
二 但以理进来讲解那梦
B. Daniel Coming In to Interpret the Dream
10至终但以理进来讲解那梦。尼布甲尼撒将梦告诉但以理，然后要但以理把梦的讲解告诉他。（8～18。）
10Eventually Daniel came in to interpret the dream. Nebuchadnezzar told him about the dream and then asked him to make the interpretation known to him (vv. 8-18
参 但以理对尼布甲尼撒之梦的讲解
III. DANIEL'S INTERPRETATION of Nebuchadnezzar's dream
一 但以理惊讶并惊惶
A. Daniel Being Appalled and Alarmed
11但以理听到那梦之后，惊讶片刻，心意惊惶。尼布甲尼撒告诉他不要惊惶，但以理就说，『我主，愿这梦归于恨恶你的人，讲解归于你的敌人！』（19。）
11Having heard of the dream, Daniel was appalled for a while and his thoughts alarmed him. When Nebuchadnezzar told him not to be alarmed, Daniel said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies!" (v. 19).
二 大树表征尼布甲尼撒
B. The Great Tree Signifying Nebuchadnezzar
12尼布甲尼撒在梦中看见一棵树，高大坚固，叶子华美，果子甚多，好作食物。这棵树表征尼布甲尼撒自己。（20～22。）
12In his dream Nebuchadnezzar saw a great, strong, tall tree, beautiful in foliage, rich in fruit, and good for food. This tree signified Nebuchadnezzar himself (vv. 20-22
三一 位守望者，就是圣者，从天而降，说，将这树砍伐
C. A Watcher, a Holy One, Coming Down from Heaven and Saying That the Tree Should Be Cut Down
13尼布甲尼撒在梦中看见『一位守望者，就是圣者，从天而降，说，将这树砍伐毁坏，树不却要留在地内，用铁圈和铜圈箍住，在田野的青草中，让天露沾湿，使他与田野的走兽同分，直到经过七个时期。』（23。）在但以理的讲解里，他解释说，这表征至高的神下命令，把尼布甲尼撒赶出离开人类，与野地的兽同住；他必吃草如牛，失去理性七个时期之久，直到他知道至高者才是人国的掌权者。（24～25。）二十六节接著说，『守望者既吩咐存留树不，等你知道诸天掌权之后，你的国必定归你。』肆但以理给尼布甲尼撒的谏言
13In his dream Nebuchadnezzar saw "a watcher, indeed, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, Cut down the tree and destroy it; yet leave its stump of roots in the earth, but with an iron and bronze band around it, in the tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field until seven periods of time pass over him" (v. 23). In his interpretation Daniel explained that this signifies that the Most High God had decreed that Nebuchadnezzar would be driven out from among mankind, dwell with the beasts of the field, be made to eat grass as bulls, and lose his reasoning for a period of seven times, until he came to know that the Most High is the Ruler over the kingdom of men (vv. 24-25). Verse 26 goes on to say, "In that it was commanded that the stump of roots of the tree be left, your kingdom will be assured to you after you have come to know that the heavens do rule." IV. DANIEL'S COUNSEL TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR
14但以理讲解了梦之后，就给尼布甲尼撒谏言，劝告他说，『以施行公义断绝罪过，以怜悯穷人除掉罪孽，或者你的繁华可以延长。』（27。）
14After interpreting the dream, Daniel offered counsel to Nebuchadnezzar. He advised him, saying, "Break off your sins by doing righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, if there is a prolonging of your prosperity" (v. 27
伍 梦的应验
V. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE DREAM
临到尼布甲尼撒
COMING UPON NEBUCHADNEZZAR
15二十八至三十三节说到这梦的应验如何临到尼布甲尼撒。
15Verses 28 through 33 show how the fulfillment of the dream came upon Nebuchadnezzar
一 尼布甲尼撒在巴比伦王宫顶上行走时所说的话
A. Nebuchadnezzar'sWord as He Walked upon the Roof of the Royal Palace of Babylon
16但以理劝告尼布甲尼撒之后，神给他十二个月的时间悔改。然而，他没有悔改，也没有改变。一天，当王在巴比伦王宫顶上行走的时候，他看著这大城骄傲的说，『这大巴比伦岂不是我用能力的权能建为王家，要显我威严的荣耀么？』（30。）二从天上有声音告诉尼布甲尼撒，
16After Daniel exhorted Nebuchadnezzar, God gave him twelve months to repent. However, there was no repentance and no change. One day while the king was walking upon the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, he looked at the great city and was filled with pride, saying, "Is this not Babylon the great, which I have built up as a royal house by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" (v. 30). B. A Voice from Heaven Telling Nebuchadnezzar
国度要离开他
That the Kingdom Had Passed On from Him
17当王的话在王口中尚未说完，有声音从天降下，说，『尼布甲尼撒王，有话对你说，你的国离开你了。』（31。）神要教训他认识自己甚么都不是，那全能的神，人国的掌权者，随自己的意思赐国给人的那一位，才是一切。按照尼布甲尼撒的性情和所是，他不是个人，乃是个兽。因此，他的心变得不是人的心，有一个兽的心给了他。（16。）神也将他的人性取去。从那时起，他就吃草如牛，身体被露水沾湿，头发长长好像鹰毛，指甲长长如同鸟爪。（33。）
17While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice came down from heaven, saying, "To you it is spoken, King Nebuchadnezzar: The kingdom has passed on from you" (v. 31). God would teach him to know that he was nothing and the mighty God, the Ruler over the kingdom of men, the One who gives the kingdom of men to whomever He wills, is everything. According to his nature and his being, Nebuchadnezzar was not a man but a beast. For this reason, his heart was changed from that of a man's, and a beast'she art was given to him (v. 16). God also took away his human reasoning. In that very hour he began to eat grass as bulls, his body became wet with the dew, his hair grew like eagles' feathers, and his nails became like birds' claws (v. 33
陆 尼布甲尼撒回复正常，
VI. NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S RETURN
以及他的见证
TO NORMALITY AND HIS TESTIMONY
一 那些日子过后，尼布甲尼撒举目望天，他的理性复归于他
A. At the End of These Days Nebuchadnezzar Lifting Up His Eyes to Heaven, and His Reason Returning to Him
18尼布甲尼撒留在这种光景『七个时期』之久。我相信这是指七周，四十九日说的。在那些日子过后，尼布甲尼撒举目望天，他的理性复归于他。（34上。）兽是用四脚走路，总是往下看；但人是用两脚走路，是往上看的。尼布甲尼撒一向天往上看，他的理性就恢复了。因著他改变了，他的理性就复归于他。
18Nebuchadnezzar remained in this condition for "seven periods of time." I believe that this expression refers to seven weeks, to forty-nine days. At the end of these days, Nebuchadnezzar lifted up his eyes to heaven, and his reason returned to him (v. 34a). Because beasts walk on four legs, they look down, but humans walk on two feet and look up. Nebuchadnezzar's reasoning came back as soon as he looked upward toward the heavens. Because he had changed, his reasoning returned
二 尼布甲尼撒称颂至高者，赞美尊崇那永远者
B. Nebuchadnezzar Blessing the Most High and Praising and Honoring the Ever-living One
19尼布甲尼撒称颂至高者，赞美尊崇那永远者，说，『祂的权柄是永远的权柄，祂的国度代代长存；地上所有的居民，都算为虚无；但在天上的万军和地上的居民中，祂照自己的旨意行事，无人能拦住祂的手，或者问祂说，你作甚么？』（34下～。）接著在三十七节，尼布甲尼撒赞美、高举、尊崇诸天的王，因为祂一切的作为都是真实的，祂的道路是公平的，又因祂能使那行动骄傲的降为卑。
19Nebuchadnezzar blessed the Most High and praised and honored the ever-living One, saying, "His dominion is an eternal dominion, / And His kingdom is from generation to generation; / And all the inhabitants of earth are considered as nothing, / But He does according to His will in the army of heaven / And among the inhabitants of the earth; / And there is no one who can resist His hand / Or say to Him, What are You doing?" (vv. 34b-35 35). Further, in verse 37 Nebuchadnezzar praised, exalted, and honored the King of the heavens, because His works are truth and His ways justice and because He is able to abase those who walk in pride.
20尼布甲尼撒在四章末了的赞美，指明他的确学了功课，降卑自己并认识神。在三章他立了一个金像，因为他非常骄傲。接著，四章就教导他一个很大的功课。虽然他行事像君子，事实上他乃是走兽。这一章以后，关于尼布甲尼撒的记载就结束了。
20As indicated by his praise at the end of chapter four, Nebuchadnezzar surely had learned the lesson to be abased and know God. In chapter three he set up a golden image because he was very proud. Chapter four follows to teach him a great lesson. Although he acted like a gentleman, he was a beast. After this chapter the record of Nebuchadnezzar comes to an end