第十四章
3當耶和華使你脫離愁苦、煩惱並人勉強你做的苦工,得享安息的
日子,4你必題這詩歌論巴比倫王說:欺壓人的何竟息滅?強暴的
何竟止息?5耶和華折斷了惡人的杖、轄制人的圭,
6就是在忿怒中連連攻擊眾民的,在怒氣中轄制列國,行逼迫無人
阻止的。7現在全地得安息、享平靜,人皆發聲歡呼。8松樹和黎
巴嫩的香柏樹都因你歡樂說:“自從你仆倒,再無人上來砍伐我
們。”9你下到陰間,陰間就因你震動,來迎接你。又因你驚動在
世曾為首領的陰魂,並使那曾為列國君王的,都離位站起,10他們
都要發言對你說:“你也變為軟弱像我們一樣嗎?你也成了我們的
樣子嗎?”11你的威勢和你琴瑟的聲音都下到陰間。你下鋪的是
蟲,上蓋的是蛆。12明亮之星,早晨之子啊!你何竟從天墜落?你
這攻敗列國的,何竟被砍倒在地上?
默想:
1.這是一首嘲弄人的詩,慶賀狂傲的巴比倫王的敗落。
2.“愁苦”“煩惱”“做苦工”這些字眼是用來形容巴比倫王殘
酷的壓制,而“安息”“平靜”則代表巴比倫暴君滅亡後以色
列百姓的情形。
3 .是否有什麼人會認為你是個“暴君”?你是否經常使得別
人“受苦、煩惱、做苦工”?若是一旦你被調離你的崗位,別
人是否會覺得“安息、平靜”?為什麼?
4.將你對自己的“新”認識告訴神,並祈求神幫助你來改變,成
為使人“安息、平靜”的人。
禱告與筆錄:
繼續安靜在神面前,與神對話,並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中
的思想(心得),或是與神的禱告,記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。
Chapter 14
3 On the day the LORD gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil
and from the harsh labor forced on you, 4 you will take up this taunt against
the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his
fury has ended!5 The LORD has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter
of the rulers,6 which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows,
and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression. 7 All the lands are
at rest and at peace; they break into singing. 8 Even the junipers and the
cedars of Lebanon gloat over you and say,“Now that you have been laid
low, no one comes to cut us down.”9 The realm of the dead below is all
astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to
greet you— all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise
from their thrones—all those who were kings over the nations. 10 They
will all respond, they will say to you, “You also have become weak, as we
are; you have become like us.” 11 All your pomp has been brought down
to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out
beneath you and worms cover you.12 How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you
who once laid low the nations!
Meditation
1.This is a taunt song which celebrates the overthrow of the ruler
of Babylon who personifies the pride that marked the nation as a
whole.
2.The words “suffering”, “turmoil” and “the harsh labour” are used
to describe the cruel oppression by the Babylonian king; and “at
rest” and “at peace” describe the state of the people after the death
of the tyrant.
3.Is there anybody who may think that you are a “tyrant” who always
gives people hard time by causing “suffering, turmoil and harsh
labor”? If you are taken from your position, will that make others
feel “at rest”, “at peace”? Why?
4.Talk with God of this revelation and ask help for you to change.
Prayer & Journaling: Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse
with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down
any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.
Family: Throughout the ages, God’s chosen people, Israel, have been
spared. As adopted children of our heavenly father, Christians are promised
a future land. Pray that all those who do not know of this will come
to know God’s plan for their future.