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以斯拉记生命读经 · 第1篇

被掳归回的需要

The Need of a Return from Captivity
1读经：历代志下36:14-23，以斯拉记1:1-5。在本篇信息中，我们来到旧约历史的末后三卷书－以斯拉记、尼希米记、以斯帖记。以色列历史的简览我信在已过的永远里神就定意，在巴别的混乱以后，祂要拣选一个名叫亚伯拉罕的人。神呼召亚伯拉罕以后，花了许多年训练他。至终，亚伯拉罕生了一个儿子以撒。以撒有两个儿子－神所恨的以扫，和神所爱的雅各。（玛一２～３，罗九１３。）雅各多年在神手下受对付。雅各生了十二个儿子，这些儿子成了以色列十二个支派。
1Scripture Reading: 2 Chron. 36:14-23; Ezra 1:1-5 In this message we come to the last three books of history in the Old Testament—Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. A BRIEF SURVEY OF THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL I believe that in eternity past God determined that, after the confusion of Babel, He would choose a man by the name of Abraham. After calling Abraham God spent many years to train him. Eventually, Abraham produced a son, Isaac. Isaac had two sons—Esau, whom God hated, and Jacob, whom God loved (Mal. 1:2-3; Rom. 9:13). For many years Jacob was dealt with under God’s hand. Jacob produced twelve sons, and these sons became the twelve tribes of Israel
2神呼召亚伯拉罕出迦勒底的巴别地，就应许要赐给他美地－迦南地。（创十二１，７，）祂将亚伯拉罕带进这地。所以，亚伯拉罕是神选民中第一个进入美地的人。后来，十二个支派从美地飘流到埃及，留在那里数百年。（出十二４０～４１。）在埃及这段时期，以色列十二个支派成了一个约有二百万人的民族。他们被埃及王法老霸占、奴役并逼迫。他们向神呼吁，神就差遣摩西将他们从那为奴之地拯救到美地。神将以色列人带到西乃山，训练他们，并赐给他们约，遗命，包括道德的律法和礼仪的律法。神赐给以色列人律法，用意是要他们成为祭司的国度。以色列人将要进入迦南地时，神藉摩西嘱咐他们，要杀尽所有的迦南人。祂也嘱咐他们要除灭所有的偶像，以及与拜偶像有关的一切。约书亚接受这嘱咐，也忠于这嘱咐，但他不是完全的忠信。他没有杀尽所有的迦南人，反而允许一些人存留。在西乃山上所颁赐的律法里，神吩咐以色列人在与祂的关系并彼此的关系上该如何为人。祂不要他们离弃祂这活水的泉源，凿出破裂不能存水的池子（偶像）。祂要他们彼此相爱，不杀人，不犯奸淫，不偷窃，不说谎，也不贪婪。他们该顾到别人，甚至将遗失的东西归还主人。这是神所命定的那种生活，这是属地之人活出的属天生活。有这样生活的人，必然能称为神的国。
2When God called Abraham out of Chaldea, the land of Babel, He promised to give him the good land, the land of Canaan (Gen. 12:1, 7), and He brought Abraham into this land. Abraham, therefore, was the first one of God’s chosen people to enter into the good land. Later, the twelve tribes drifted away from the good land to Egypt, where they remained for hundreds of years (Exo. 12:40-41). During this time in Egypt, the twelve tribes of Israel became a nation of about two million people. They were usurped, enslaved, and persecuted by Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They cried out to God, and He sent Moses to deliver them out of that land of slavery into the good land. God brought the people of Israel to Mount Sinai to train them and to give them the covenant, the testament, which included both the moral law and the ceremonial law. In giving Israel the law, God’sin tent i on was that they would be a nation of priests. When the people of Israel were about to enter into the land of Canaan, God charged them through Moses to slaughter all the Canaanites. He also charged them to destroy all the idols and everything related to idolatry. Joshua took this charge and he was faithful to it, but he was not faithful absolutely. Instead of slaughtering all the Canaanites, he allowed some to remain. In the law given on Mount Sinai, God commanded the people of Israel concerning how to behave in relation to Him and in relation to one another. He did not want them to forsake Him, the fountain of living water, and hew out cisterns (idols) which are broken and which cannot retain water. He wanted them to love one another and not to murder, not to commit adultery, not to steal, not to lie, and not to covet. They were to take care of others, even returning lost things to their owner. This was the kind of life that was ordained by God. It was a heavenly life lived by earthly people. A people with such a living could surely be called the kingdom of God.
3然而，以色列人进入美地以后，他们对神不忠信。以色列人失败了，没有达到神的心意，至终分裂为犹大国和以色列国。以色列国成了背道的；他们离弃神，并在耶路撒冷独一的中心以外另立敬拜中心。后来以色列国被亚述人所掳，接著犹大国也被巴比伦人所掳。耶路撒冷城被占据，直到一九六七年才归还以色列。
3However, after Israel entered into the good land, they were not faithful to God. The people of Israel failed God and eventually were divided into the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel. The kingdom of Israel became apostate; they forsook God and set up other worship centers in addition to the unique center at Jerusalem. The kingdom of Israel was captured by the Assyrians, and later the kingdom of Judah was captured by the Babylonians. At that time the city of Jerusalem was captured and was not returned to Israel until 1967
神使以色列人被掳，又应许将他们从被掳带回
GOD GIVING UP THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO CAPTIVITY AND PROMISING TO BRING THEM BACK FROM CAPTIVITY
4在历代志下末了，在神眼中，以色列人的光景和情形是悲惨的。那地被异教徒霸占并接管，神将以色列人交给外邦人作俘虏。不但如此，圣殿被焚烧，耶路撒冷的墙被拆毁。整个美地，所谓的圣地，都被摧毁殆尽。
4At the end of 2 Chronicles, in God’se yes the condition and situation of Israel were miserable. The land was usurped and taken over by pagans, and the people of Israel were given by God as captives to the heathens. Furthermore, the temple was burned and the wall of Jerusalem was torn down. The entire good land, the so-called holy land, was devastated
5耶利米看见这一切，他坐在锡安山顶，俯视耶路撒冷就痛哭。他同胞中所有领头的人，所有尊贵的人，都被掳到巴比伦，只剩下民中最贫穷的人看守那地。难怪耶利米会哀哭。至终，他自己也被掳到埃及，在那里被杀害。何等可怜的情形！这样的光景持续七十年，如耶利米自己所豫言的。耶利米哀哭时，神进来安慰他，告诉他被掳不会到永远，只持续七十年。（耶二五１１。）神向他保证，他的国、他的民、殿和城悲惨的情形，只会持续七十年。有些被掳的人，如但以理，在七十年满时仍要活著。所罗巴伯带领头一批人从巴比伦归回耶路撒冷时，但以理仍活在巴比伦。所以，神安慰耶利米，向他保证，祂怎样使百姓被掳，也要怎样将他们从被掳中带回。神要将他们带回，不是作俘虏，乃是作凯旋的战士。
5When Jeremiah saw all this, sitting on the top of Mount Zion and looking down at Jerusalem, he lamented bitterly. All the leading ones and all the noble ones of his countrymen had been taken away to captivity in Babylon, and only the poorest of the people were left to keep the land. It is no wonder that Jeremiah lamented. Eventually, he himself was taken captive to Egypt and there he was put to death. What a pitiful situation! Such a condition lasted for seventy years, as Jeremiah himself had prophesied. While Jeremiah was lamenting, God came in to comfort him with the word that the captivity would not be forever but would last only seventy years (Jer. 25:11). God assured him that the miserable situation of his country and his people, of the temple and the city, would last for just seventy years. Some of the captured ones, such as Daniel, would still be alive at the expiration of the seventy years. When Zerubbabel led the first return from Babylon to Jerusalem, Daniel was still alive there in Babylon. Therefore, God comforted Jeremiah by assuring him that just as He gave the people up to captivity, He would also bring them back from their captivity. God would bring them back, not as captives but as triumphant warriors.
藉著隐藏的神
THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY
秘密保守的眷顾，
THROUGH THE SECRET PRESERVING CARE
从被掳归回
OF THE HIDING GOD
6在历代志上、下以后，有以斯拉记、尼希米记、以斯帖记。以斯拉记与归回耶路撒冷重建圣殿有关；尼希米记与修复、重建城有关；以斯帖记给我们看见，无所不在、无所不能的神，如何成了隐藏的神，保护在被掳中祂分散的选民。表面看来，神不愿为祂的子民作甚么，因祂是自隐的神。（赛四五１５。）这就是为甚么在以斯帖记里，没有用任何神圣的称呼题到神。这卷书没有明白的题到神，甚至没有使用『神』字。但这卷书给我们看见，神的同在是隐藏的，祂以最智慧的方式运用祂的主宰保守祂的选民。因此，祂的选民在被掳、受逼迫之下，还能存活并繁增，为了有一天他们能被神带回他们列祖之地。头一批以色列人在大卫王室后裔所罗巴伯带领之下归回。所罗巴伯被古列王立为犹大省长。第二批在祭司兼经学家以斯拉带领之下归回。如我们所指出的，这次他们乃是藉著隐藏的神，在他们被掳之中秘密保守的眷顾，才得以归回。
6Following 1 and 2 Chronicles, we have the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The book of Ezra is concerned with the return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, and the book of Nehemiah is concerned with the repair, the rebuilding, of the city. The book of Esther shows us how the omnipresent and omnipotent God became the hiding God in protecting His captured elect, who were scattered in their captivity. Apparently God would not do anything for His people, for He is a God who hides Himself (Isa. 45:15). This is why in the book of Esther God is not referred to by any of His divine titles. In this book there is no explicit mention of God; the word God is not even used. Yet this book shows us that God is present in a hidden way, exercising His sovereignty in the wisest manner to preserve His elect. Because of this, His elect under the persecution in their captivity could survive and multiply, in order that one day they might be brought by God to their fathers’ land. The first group returned under Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, of the royal family. He was appointed the governor of Judah by Cyrus the king. The second group returned under Ezra, a priest and a scribe. As we have pointed out, this return was made possible through the secret preserving care of the hiding God in their captivity
7神容让祂的子民被掳，且在被掳中分散。祂也容让圣地被篡夺、霸占，任凭耶路撒冷城荒凉。似乎无所不能、无所不在的神没有为祂的子民作甚么。但事实上，祂在隐藏的保护、保守他们。今天关于中东的情形也是一样。关于以色列的裁决不在于政治家，乃在于隐藏的神。有一天，无所不在、无所不能的神要显现为人子，要回来据有这地。祂要右脚踏在海上，左脚踏在地上，（启十１～２，）指明祂已来据有地与海。这要回到地上的一位，就是神人耶稣基督。祂来的时候，其他的神人－得胜者－要与祂同在。
7God let His people be captured and then scattered in their captivity. He also let the holy land be usurped and occupied, and He left the city of Jerusalem to lie waste. Seemingly the omnipotent and omnipresent God was not doing anything for the people of Israel. Actually He was protecting and preserving them in a hidden way. The situation is the same today regarding the Middle East. The decision concerning Israel does not rest with the politicians and statesmen but with the hidden God. One day the omnipresent and omnipotent God will appear as the Son of Man, who will come back to take possession of the earth. He will place His right foot on the sea and His left on the land (Rev. 10:1-2), indicating that He has come to take possession of the earth and the sea. This One who is coming back to the earth is Jesus Christ, the God-man. When He comes, other God-men—the overcomers—will be with Him.
以色列人的历史
THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
是新约信徒
BEING A TYPE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
作神选民的豫表
BELIEVERS AS GOD’SELECT
8我们需要记得，以色列人所有的历史都是豫表，表征新约信徒作神的选民。所以，以色列是召会的豫表。召会是由作元首的主藉著祂的使徒，在第一世纪建立的。但在第一世纪末了，召会堕落了。这就是说，召会被掳了。即使在我们中间，就个别而言，无论谁在属灵生命上失败，就是被掳的。这样的人要留在被掳中，直到他悔改。藉著悔改，他就被带回。我们的被掳，乃是被掳离开对基督的享受。但我们的悔改把我们带回到祂面前，回到对基督的享受。今天我们所处的情形，是以斯拉时代的情形所豫表的。我们有些人已经归回，其他的人仍在路上。
8We need to remember that all the history of the people of Israel is a type, typifying the New Testament believers as God’select. Israel, therefore, is a type of the church. The church was established by the Lord as the Head through His apostles in the first century. Yet by the end of the first century the church became degraded. This means that the church was captured. Even among us, individually, whoever is defeated in the spiritual life has been captured. He will remain in captivity until he repents. Through his repentance he will be brought back. If we are captured, we are captured away from the enjoyment of Christ. But our repentance brings us back to Him, back to the enjoyment of Christ. Today we are in a situation that is typified by the situation at Ezra’st i me. Some of us have come back already, and others are still on the way
我们需要清楚三种情形
OUR NEED TO BE CLEAR CONCERNING THREE SITUATIONS
9我们都需要清楚三种情形：世界的局势，基督教的局面，以及我们在主恢复里的情形。世界的帝国是篡夺者，基督教是反对我们的。我们身在主的恢复里，不该认为自己算不得甚么。我们认识世界的局势，认识基督教的局面，也认识隐藏的神。
9We all need to be clear concerning three situations: the world situation, the situation of Christianity, and our situation in the Lord’s recovery. The worldly empires are the usurpers, and Christianity is our opposer. We in the Lord’s recovery should not consider ourselves as nothing. We know the world situation, we know the situation of Christianity, and we know the hidden God
10我有完全的平安，知道我们是在那无所不在、无所不能，却隐藏的神手中，祂正运用祂智慧的主宰保护我们，保守我们，并拯救我们。我们不需要忧虑谁会反对我们或逼迫我们。我们必须相信这位隐藏的神。祂是智慧的，也是主宰一切的。在祂智慧的主宰之下，祂能作一切的事。
10I have the full peace that we are in the hand of the omnipresent and omnipotent yet hiding God, who is exercising His wise sovereignty to protect us, keep us, and save us. We do not need to worry about who will oppose us or who will persecute us. We have to believe in this hiding God. He is wise and He is sovereign. He can do everything under His wise sovereignty