948 英翻中 (648) The Word became Flesh (THIS GOD IS OUR GOD). 道成肉身(這上帝是我們的上帝). 12/26/2024
CHAPTER THIRTEEN 第十三章 “THIS GOD IS OUR GOD” “這位上帝是我們的上帝”
We study the Word of God so that we might better know the God of the Word. The better acquainted we are with God, the more we become like Him and acquire the skills we need for life and service. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10 nkjv). You can make a living without knowing many things, but you can’t make a life without knowing God. 我們研究上帝的話語，以便我們可以更認識話語中的神。我們對神越熟悉，我們就越像他，並獲得生活和服務所需的技能。 「敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端，認識聖者是明智的」（箴 9:10 新欽定版）。你可以在不知道很多事情的情況下謀生，但你無法在不認識神的情況下生活。 “It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate,” wrote A. W. Tozer. “If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is.”1 A.W.托澤爾寫道：“如果我們對上帝的看法是錯誤的或不充分的，那麼我們就不可能保持良好的道德實踐和正確的內心態度。” 「如果我們想讓屬靈力量重新回到我們的生活中，我們就必須開始更加接近上帝。」1 If we read the book of Proverbs, or any book in the Bible, seeking only for doctrinal truth but ignoring God Himself, we’ll miss what the Holy Spirit wants to say to us and do for us. It would be like a child devoting hours to studying the family album but not spending time with his family, getting to know them personally. If we have no growing acquaintance with God, then what we think we know about Him may be misleading; this hinders us from building a godly life. To quote Tozer again, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.”2 If that’s true, and I believe it is, then it’s possible to be a Bible student and also an idolater! 如果我們閱讀箴言書或聖經中的任何一本書，只尋求教義真理，卻忽視了上帝我們自己也會錯過聖靈想要對我們說的話和為我們做的事。這就像一個孩子花很多時間研究家庭相冊，卻沒有花時間與家人在一起，親自了解他們。如果我們對神沒有越來越多的認識，那麼我們所認為的關於祂的認識可能會產生誤導；這阻礙我們建立敬虔的生活。再次引用托澤的話，「偶像崇拜的本質是對上帝的不配的思想娛樂。」2 如果這是真的，而且我相信是這樣，那麼一個聖經學生同時也是一個偶像崇拜者是可能的！ The book of Proverbs reveals to us the wonderful God whom we should trust, obey, love, and get to know in a deeper way. As we grow in our intimacy with God, we will develop the wisdom and skills we need to be successful in making a life. 箴言向我們揭示了這位奇妙的神，我們應該相信、順服、愛戴他，並更深入地認識他。隨著我們與神的親密關係不斷加深，我們就會發展出成功創造生命所需的智慧和技能。
1. A Holy God 1. 聖潔的神 According to Proverbs 9:10 and 30:3, God is “the Holy One”; the word translated “holy” means “utterly different, wholly other.” God’s very nature is holy: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8, 15; 22:9, 16, 32; 1 Peter 1:16).3 “God is light and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). 根據箴言 9:10 和 30:3，神是「聖潔的」；翻譯為「神聖」的字的意思是「完全不同，完全不同」。神的本質是聖潔的：「你們要聖潔，因為我是聖潔的」（利11:44-45；19:2；20:7, 26；21:8, 15；22:9, 16, 32；彼前書1:16).3 「神是光，在他毫無黑暗」 But we must not think of God’s holiness simply as the absence of defilement, like a sterilized surgical instrument. Nor is God’s holiness an inert, negative attribute. It’s something positive and active, His perfect nature accomplishing His perfect will. It’s like the “sea of glass mingled with fire” that John saw before the throne of God in heaven (Rev. 15:2). “For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29; see Deut. 4:24). 但我們絕不能簡單地將上帝的聖潔視為沒有污穢，就像消毒過的手術器械一樣。祂的聖潔也不是惰性的、消極的屬性。這是積極主動的，祂完美的本性成就了祂完美的旨意。這就像約翰在天上帝的寶座前所看到的「調和火的玻璃海」（啟 15:2）。 「因為我們的神是烈火」（來 12:29；參考申 4:24）。 Because He is holy, God hates sin (Prov. 6:17–19). Evangelists remind us that “God hates sin but He loves sinners,” and certainly nobody will question God’s love for a lost world (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). But people can willfully sin so much that they become abominable to God. The perverse man is an abomination to God (Prov. 3:32; 11:20), and so are the proud (16:5), liars (12:22), cheats (11:1; 20:10, 23), hypocrites (15:8; 21:27; 28:9), and the unjust (17:15). Sin becomes so identified with the sinner that the very person becomes reprehensible to the Lord. This doesn’t negate His love, but we must keep in mind that God’s love is a holy love as well as a sacrificing love. It’s a dangerous thing to play with sin and defy the living God. “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (29:1 nkjv). 因為上帝是聖潔的，所以祂恨惡罪（箴 6:17-19）。福音傳道者提醒我們，“祂恨惡罪，卻愛罪人”，當然沒有人會質疑祂對失喪世界的愛（約翰福音 3:16；羅馬書 5:8）。但人們可能故意犯很多罪，以至於成為上帝所憎惡的罪。乖僻的人為上帝所憎惡（箴 3:32；11:20），驕傲的人（16:5）、說謊的人（12:22）、欺騙的人（11:1；20:10）也是如此。 23）、偽善者（15:8；21:27；28:9）和不公義的人（17:15）。罪變得如此與罪人等同，以至於罪人變得受到主的譴責。這不是否定神的愛，但我們必須記住，神的愛是聖潔的愛，也是犧牲的愛。玩弄罪惡並藐視永生神是一件危險的事。 「屢次受責備而硬著頸項的人，會突然被毀滅，而且無法補救」（29:1 新欽定版）。 Proverbs 21:12 calls God “the Righteous One” (niv) or “the righteous God” (nkjv) and states that He judges the wicked for their wickedness. A holy God must be righteous in all His ways and just in all His dealings (24:11–12). “The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just” (3:33 nkjv). Sometimes God sends immediate judgment on the wicked (2:22), but sometimes He merely takes away His restraining hand and allows the sinners’ sins to judge them. “The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast” (5:22 niv; see Rom. 1:18ff.). 箴言 21:12 稱神為「公義者」(niv) 或「公義的神」(nkjv)，並指出祂因惡人的邪惡而審判他們。一位聖潔的神必須在祂一切所行的事上都是公義的，在祂一切的作為上都是公義的（24:11-12）。 「耶和華咒詛惡人的家庭，賜福與義人的家庭」（3:33 NKJV）。有時神會立即審判惡人（2:22），但有時祂只是收回祂限制的手，讓罪人的罪來審判他們。 「惡人的惡行自陷網羅；他的罪的繩索將他緊緊抓住」（5:22 niv；參考羅馬書 1:18ff）。
2. A Sovereign God 2. 至高主權的上帝 The fact that God is holy and just assures us that there are righteous principles that govern the universe and His dealings with us. As Dr. A. T. Pierson put it, “History is His story.” “The Lord works out everything for his own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster” (Prov. 16:4 niv). “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (19:21 niv). The Christian believer remembers Colossians 1:16: “All things were created by him [Christ], and for him.” Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all things. 上帝是聖潔的、公正的，這一事實向我們保證，有公義的原則統治著宇宙以及他對待我們的方式。正如 A.T.皮爾森博士所說，“歷史就是他的故事。” 「耶和華所安排的一切，都是為了自己的目的；甚至惡人，也為了遭禍的日子」（箴 16:4 新國際版）。 「人心多有計謀，惟有主的旨意才得勝」（19:21 N新國際版）。基督教徒記得歌羅西書 1 章 16 節：“萬物都是藉著他（基督）創造的，又是為他創造的。”耶穌基督是阿拉法和俄梅戛，是萬物的開始和終結。 The proud mind of sinful man rebels against the very thought of the sovereignty of God and affirms, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”4 Charles Spurgeon said, “No doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God. The fact that ‘the Lord reigneth’ is indisputable, and it is this fact that arouses the utmost opposition of the unrenewed human heart.”5 罪人的驕傲思想反抗上帝主權的思想，並斷言：「我是我命運的主人：我是我靈魂的統帥。」4 司布真 (Charles Spurgeon) 說：「聖經中沒有任何教義。上帝比上帝絕對主權的真理更能激起人類的憎恨。 ‘主作王’ 的事實是無可爭議的，正是這個事實引起了未更新人心的最大反對。5 Divine sovereignty doesn’t destroy human responsibility and turn humans into robots. “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue” (16:1 niv). “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (v. 33 nkjv). “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (v. 9 nkjv). God expects us to study, think, weigh possibilities, and make decisions, but we dare not “lean on [our] own understanding” (3:5). God promises to give wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5) and to direct those who are willing to obey (Prov. 3:5–6). 神聖主權不會摧毀人類的責任並將人類變成機器人。「心裡的謀算在乎人，舌頭的應對卻出於耶和華」（16:1 Niv）。 「簽子放在懷裡，一切決定卻出於耶和華」（33節）。 「人心籌算自己的道路，唯有耶和華指引他的腳步」（9節）。神期望我們研究、思考、權衡可能性並做出決定，但我們不敢「依靠自己的理解」（3:5）。神應許賜智慧給那些祈求的人（雅各書 1：5），並指引那些願意服從的人（箴 3：5-6）。 Because He is the Creator of all things, God is sovereign in nature (3:19–20; 8:22–31; 30:4). He’s also sovereign in history and geography, controlling the rise and fall of rulers and nations (Acts 17:22–28; Dan. 4:17, 34–35). “By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice” (Prov. 8:15). “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (21:1 nkjv). “There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord” (v. 30 nkjv). 因為神是萬物的創造者，所以祂在自然界中擁有至高無上的主權（3:19-20；8:22-31；30:4）。他在歷史和地理上也擁有主權，掌管統治者和國家的興衰（使徒行傳 17:22-28；但以理書 4:17, 34-35）。 「君王借我掌權，臣宰秉公行義」（箴 8:15）。 「王的心在耶和華的手中，有如水的河；他將它轉向他所希望的任何地方」（21:1 新欽定版）。 「沒有人有智慧、聰明、謀略可以敵擋耶和華」（30節）。 Keep in mind that the God who decrees the end— His purposes—also decrees the means to the end. If He determines to overthrow Pharaoh and deliver Israel from Egypt, He also decrees that Moses and Aaron go to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. If He purposes to bring Israel into the Promised Land, He also decrees that Joshua shall be trained to lead them. If He purposes to win lost souls, He also decrees that a witness will share the gospel. “And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:14–15 nkjv). 請記住，上帝既規定了目的──祂的目的──也規定了達到目的的手段。如果他決定推翻法老王並將以色列人從埃及拯救出來，他也會下令摩西和亞倫前往埃及對抗法老。如果他打算將以色列帶入應許之地，他也會下令訓練約書亞來帶領他們。如果他的目的是贏得失喪的靈魂，他也會下令見證人分享福音。 「如果沒有傳道人，他們怎麼能聽到呢？除非他們被差遣，否則他們怎麼能傳道呢？ （羅 10:14-15 新欽定版）。 The sovereignty of God is one of the greatest motivations for Christian life and service, because we know that God is on the throne and controls all things. His commandments are His enablements, and “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28 nkjv). Instead of being a deterrent to evangelism, an understanding of divine sovereignty is a stimulus to biblical evangelism; for we are sure that God is “taking out” a “people for His name” (Acts 15:14 nkjv; see 18:1–11) and that His Word will not return void (Isa. 55:10–11). God is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9) but desires all people to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4), and Jesus commanded us to go into all the world with the message of salvation (Matt. 28:18–20). Our task is to obey and share the message; His responsibility is to save those who believe. 神的主權是基督徒生活和事奉的最大動力之一，因為我們知道神坐在寶座上並掌管一切。祂的誡命就是祂的能力，「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人」（羅馬書 8:28 新欽定版）。對神聖主權的理解非但不會成為傳福音的障礙，反而會刺激合乎聖經的福音。因為我們確信神正在「為祂的名」「取出」一群「百姓」（使徒行傳15：14 新欽定本；參考18：1-11），並且他的道不會徒然返回（以賽亞書55：10-11）。神「不願有一人滅亡」（彼得後書3:9），但希望所有人都得救（提摩太前書2:4），耶穌命令我們帶著救恩的信息到普天下去（馬太福音） 28:18-20）。我們的任務是遵守並分享信息；祂的責任是拯救那些相信的人。 As sovereign Ruler over all things, the Lord sees and knows what’s happening, the thoughts, actions, words, and motives of all people. “For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths” (Prov. 5:21 niv). “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (15:3 niv). “The Lord weighs the hearts” (21:2 nkjv; see 17:3; 24:12). When God judges, He judges justly, whether He’s punishing the wicked or rewarding the righteous. 作為萬物的至高統治者，主看到並知道正在發生的事情、所有人的想法、行動、言語和動機。 「因為人所行的道都在耶和華面前鑑察，他也鑑察人一切的路」（箴 5:21 新國際版）。 「耶和華的眼目無所不在，惡人善人，他都鑑察」（15：3）。 「主衡量人心」（21:2 新欽定本；參閱 17:3；24:12）。當神審判時，祂的審判是公正的，無論祂是懲罰惡人還是獎賞義人。 It’s encouraging to know that “the Lord reigns” (Ps. 93:1) and that His righteous purposes will be fulfilled. Let’s be sure that we’re walking with Him on the path of life, surrendered to His will and seeking to honor His name. 知道「耶和華作王」（詩篇 93:1）而祂公義的目的將會實現，這是令人鼓舞的。讓我們確保我們在生命的道路上與祂同行，降服於祂的旨意並尋求榮耀祂的名。
3. A Compassionate God 3. 慈悲的上帝 God’s tender compassion and concern are seen in His care of the poor and needy. Widows and orphans in Israel were especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, and God warned His people in His law to beware of mistreating them (Ex. 22:22; Deut. 10:18; 14:29; 26:12; 27:19). 上帝溫柔的慈悲和關懷體現在祂對窮人和有需要的人的照顧上。以色列的寡婦和孤兒特別容易受到剝削和虐待，上帝在律法中警告祂的子民要謹防虐待他們（出埃及記22:22；申命記10:18；14:29；26:12；27 :19） ）。 “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy” (Prov. 14:31 nkjv; see 17:5). “The rich and the poor have this in common, the Lord is the maker of them all” (22:2 nkjv). When the Savior came to earth, He identified with the poor and the outcasts (Luke 4:16–21; 2 Cor. 8:9), and God wants to show His compassion for them through His people. To harm the needy is to give pain to the heart of God. 「欺壓窮人的，就是辱罵造他的主；尊重造物的，憐憫貧窮的人」（箴 14:31 新欽定本；參閱 17:5）。 「富人和窮人有一個共同點，耶和華是他們所有人的創造者」（22:2 新欽定版）。當救主來到世上時，祂認同窮人和被遺棄的人（路加福音 4：16-21；哥林多後書 8：9），神希望透過祂的子民向他們表達祂的憐憫。傷害有需要的人就是傷害神的心。 “Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them” (Prov. 22:22–23 nkjv). “The gate” was ancient Israel’s equivalent of our modern courtroom, for there the elders met to settle village disputes. The poor might not be able to afford a lawyer, but God would come to their defense (23:10–11). 6 「不可因窮人貧窮而搶奪他的物，也不可在門口欺壓困苦人；因為耶和華必為他們伸冤，也必奪取那些擄掠他們的人的性命」（箴 22:22-23 新欽定版）。 「門」相當於古代以色列的現代法庭，因為長老們在那裡開會解決村莊糾紛。窮人可能請不起律師，但神會為他們辯護（23:10-11）。6 Stealing the property of the poor was one way to get rich quick, even though the law commanded that the ancient landmarks not be moved (22:28; Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Isa. 1:23; Hos. 5:10). God owned the land (Lev. 25:23) and loaned it to His people, and they were to keep their property within the tribes and clans. Family farms were marked off by stones, not fences; these ancient landmarks were to be honored and protected. “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow” (Prov. 15:25). The Lord keeps an eye on the property lines. 申命記19:14；27:17；以賽亞書1:23；何西阿書5:10）。上帝擁有這片土地（利25:23），並將其藉給祂的子民，他們要在部落和氏族中保留他們的財產。家庭農場是用石頭而不是柵欄來劃分的。這些古老的地標應該受到尊重和保護。 「耶和華必拆毀驕傲人的家；卻必堅立寡婦的境界」（箴 15:25）。主注視著財產界線。 We can sin against the poor by neglect as well as by oppression. “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard” (21:13 nkjv). “He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses” (28:27 nkjv). If we shut our ears and close our eyes, pretending to be ignorant of their plight, God will take note of it and shut His eyes to our needs and His ears to our prayers—and so will other people. We will reap what we sow. (See Deut. 15:7–11.) 我們可能因忽視或壓迫而得罪窮人。 「誰對窮人的呼求充耳不聞，他自己的呼聲也不會被人聽見」（21:13 新欽定版）。 「賒濟窮人的，不致缺乏；閉眼的，必多受咒詛」（28:27 新欽定版）。如果我們閉上耳朵，閉上眼睛，假裝對他們的困境一無所知，上帝就會注意到這一點，並對我們的需要視而不見，對我們的祈禱視而不見——其他人也會如此。我們種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆。 （參考 申命記 15：7-11。） “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given” (Prov. 19:17 nkjv). When we give to help others, we’re actually giving to the Lord; He puts it on account and pays rich dividends (Phil. 4:15–17). “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matt. 25:40 nkjv). By the way, this principle also applies to the way we treat our enemies (Prov. 20:22; 25:21–22; Rom. 12:18–21). 「憐憫窮人的，就藉給耶和華，他所施的，他必償還」（箴 19：17）。當我們奉獻幫助他人時，我們實際上是在奉獻給主；他將其記入帳上並支付豐厚的股息（腓 4:15-17）。 「既然你對我弟兄中最小的一個做了這事，你就是對我做的」（太 25:40 新欽定版）。順便說一句，這個原則也適用於我們對待敵人的方式（箴 20:22；25:21-22；羅馬書 12:18-21）。 God is a shield to those who trust Him (Prov. 30:5) and a strong tower for those who run to Him for help (18:10). “The name of the Lord” in verse 10 signifies all the glorious attributes of the Lord. Because of who He is and what He is, those who trust Him don’t have to worry—because He is always their refuge and strength (Ps. 46:1). 帝是那些信靠祂的人的盾牌（箴 30:5），也是那些向祂尋求幫助的人的堅固塔（18:10）。十節中的「主的名」表徵主一切榮耀的屬性。由於祂是誰以及祂是什麼，那些相信祂的人不必擔心－因為祂永遠是他們的避難所和力量（詩篇 46:1）。 One of God’s compassionate ministries to us is that of divine guidance. Proverbs 3:5–6 is a promise God’s people have been claiming for centuries, and it has never failed. As I said earlier in this book, God expects us to assess a situation and get all the facts we can, but we must never lean on our own understanding. We must humble ourselves before Him and seek His direction in all things, and we must be sure that our motives are right. 上帝對我們慈悲的事工之一就是神聖的引導。箴言 3:5-6 是上帝子民幾個世紀以來一直在宣告的應許，而且從未落空。正如我在本書前面所說的，上帝希望我們評估情況並盡可能了解所有事實，但我們絕不能依賴自己的理解。我們必須在祂面前謙卑自己，凡事尋求祂的指引，我們必須確保我們的動機是正確的。 But what if we make a mistake, as we’re all prone to do, and start to move in the wrong direction? “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (16:9 niv). “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (19:21 niv; see 16:33). If we sincerely want to know and obey God’s plan, the Lord will direct us and providentially guide our steps in ways that we may not understand. “A man’s steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?” (20:24 nkjv). 但是，如果我們犯了一個錯誤（我們都容易犯這樣的錯誤）並開始朝著錯誤的方向前進呢？ 「人心裡籌算自己的道路，惟有耶和華決定他的腳步」（16:9 新國際版）。 「人心多有計謀，惟有主的旨意才得勝」（19:21 新國際版；參 16:33）。如果我們真誠地想了解並服從神的計劃，主就會以我們可能不理解的方式指導我們並天意地引導我們的腳步。 「人的腳步為耶和華；那麼一個人如何能夠了解自己的方式呢？ （20:24 新欽定版）。 The Danish philosopher Sören Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward.” One day we shall look back and say with David, “Surely [only] goodness and mercy [have followed] me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6).7 Knowing that God lovingly guides our steps as we seek to follow Him is a great encouragement when we don’t know which way to go. “Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses” (25:12 nkjv). Even the great apostle Paul wasn’t always sure of the next step, but the Lord guided him (Acts 16:6–10). 丹麥哲學家索倫·克爾凱郭爾（Sören Kierkegaard）說過：“生活只能向後理解，但必須向前生活。”有一天，我們回首往事，會和大衛一樣說：「我一生一世，〔唯有〕恩惠和慈愛隨著我。」（詩篇23:6）。我們的腳步。 「誰是敬畏耶和華的人呢？他必照他所選擇的方式教導他」（25:12 新欽定版）。即使是偉大的使徒保羅也不總是確定下一步該做什麼，但主引導了他（使徒行傳 16：6-10）。
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