Lesson
#54 – 8/26/2017 講員:Kevin Berg 翻譯: Melissa Feliz
“For
we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, and to
those who are called according to a pre-determined plan.” Romans 8:28
罗马书8: 28“我们知道,万事都互相效力,叫爱神的人得益处,就是按他旨意被召的人。”
“31What
then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
罗马书8: 31“既是这样,我们对这些事还要怎么说呢?上帝若帮助我们,谁能抵挡我们呢?”
“He who spared not His own son, but delivered
Him up as a substitute for all of us, how will He not, with Him, freely give us
all things.” Romans 8:32
罗马书8: 32“上帝既不顾惜自己的儿子,为我们众人舍了他,岂不也把万物和他一同白白地赐给我们吗?”
“19And my God will supply every need of yours
according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
腓立比书4:19“我的上帝必照他荣耀的丰富,在基督耶稣里,使你们一切所需用的都充足。”
Last week we started an
introduction to Daniel chapter 3. It is a part of our study of the Christian
life. A while ago we began with looking at different aspects of the Christian
life. We began with forgiveness, and talked about fellowship with God. We went
on to look at faith, which included claiming the promises of God. We learned
about God, and all of His attributes. Throughout our studies one thing that has
become obvious is the grace of God. We have learned that it isn’t what we can
do for God, but what He has done for us that makes a difference. Every step of
the way we have been learning about what God has provided for us. And, the more
we learn the more gratitude and love we have toward God, and the more we are
motivated to serve Him.
上星期我们开始了对但以理书第三章的介绍。这是我们关于学习基督徒生活的一部分。前不久,我们开始研究基督徒生活的不同方面。我们从宽恕这个方面,一直谈到了与神团契。我们继续看信心,其中包括向神索要祂的应许。我们了解了上帝,以及祂所有的属性。在我们的学习整个蓝图的过程中,有一件事变得愈发地清晰,就是上帝的恩典。我们已经知道,一切并不关乎于我们能为神做什么,而是神已为我们做过的让一切都不同了。我们一直在学习上帝为我们的每一步都充足地预备了。随着我们学得越来越多,我们就对神越感激越热爱,也让我们越来越有动力想要服侍祂。
After we looked at the Christian
life topic by topic we switched to looking at passages of scripture. We have
seen historical accounts of what it looks like to live the Christian life. God
has provided us with many examples of what it looks like to serve Him. We
looked at Paul and Silas in Acts 16, and how they kept their faith through
difficult situations. They were a positive example for us to learn from.
继我们以话题的方式学习后,我们开始了逐字逐句看经文。我们从历史记载中看到了基督徒生活应有的样式。上帝同样为我们提供了怎样服侍祂的例子,我们在使徒行传16章就看到了保罗与西拉,看到他们是如何在困境中保持他们的信心。他们就是我们可以学习的好的榜样。
We are going to go onto
Daniel chapter 3 tonight to see another positive example from Daniel’s and his
three friends. And, in the near future we will look at a negative example,
where someone said no to God, and the results of that rejection of God’s will and
purpose for their life. This negative example is with a man by the name of
Jonah. And, finally we will see one final hero in God’s eyes by the name of
David. To wrap up our study of the Christian way of life we will look at Psalm
23, a very famous passage of scripture, which some here may have even
memorized. And, after this we will start to study a book in the New Testament.
我们今晚会开始对但以理书3章的学习,也会在这过程中看到另一个积极的例子,即但以理和他的朋友们。不久以后,我们也会一起看一个消极的例子,即有一个对神说不的人,并且会看到拒绝神意愿和目的后的结果,这个消极的例子是一个名叫约拿的人。最后,我们会一起看一个神眼中的英雄—大卫。然后,我们会以诗篇23篇来结束我们对基督徒生活这一系列的学习。诗篇23篇是很著名的经文,我们在座的有人可能已经背下来了。接下来我们会开始学习新约中的一本书。
We asked which book of the
bible would people like to go through and learn from in our Saturday night
bi-lingual bible study. The response was clear – people wanted to go through the
book of John. So, after we learn about Daniel’s three friends, from Jonah’s
failure, and we see King David’s trust in the Lord in really difficult
circumstances, we will begin our study of the book of John, which is one of the
gospels.
我们问过我们这个中英查经班的各位想在我们周六课程中学习圣经中的哪一本书,大家的反响很一直,都想学习约翰福音。所以,在我们结束对但以理和他三个朋友学习后,会一起看约拿的失败,继而到大卫王在极其困难的情况下对主的信任,之后,我们会开始约翰福音,也是四福音书中的一部。
So, this gives us an idea of
where we are going. I don’t know how long each step will take, but we will
leave that in God’s hands.
说这些是让大家了解我们这部分学习的整体走向,我不知道这其中每一步会具体花多长时间,我们就将这交在神的手中吧!
So, tonight turn in your
bibles to Daniel chapter 1. Last week we went through chapters one and two
rather quickly, and there a few things I want to point out before we jump into
chapter 3. In chapter 1, verse 8 we see Daniel making a decision. The word is
“resolved”, and it means to “to come to a definite or earnest decision about
something”. This is the beginning where we see Daniel standing up for what he
believes. He does not want to go against his training as one of God’s chosen
people. He has been given guidelines as to what should and shouldn’t be eaten
and he wants to follow them.
所以,今晚我们打开但以理书第一章。上个星期我们很快地看了第一章和第二章,在我们开始第三章之前,我想在强调几个部分。第一章第8节,我们看到但以理做出了一个决定。这个词“resolved”“立志”,意思是对某件事情做出明确的、认真的决定“。这只是我们看到的但以理坚持他所相信的第一步,他不想违背他作为神拣选的人所接受的训练。他已经就可以吃什么、不可以吃什么这方面的教导,他也想遵从这些教导。
Then, look at Daniel chapter
2, verse 20-23. This is how Daniel responded to God.
2章20-23节展示了但以理是如何向神回应的。
20He said, “Praise the
name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. 21He controls
the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives
wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. 22He reveals deep and
mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is
surrounded by light. 23I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you
have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and
revealed to us what the king demanded.”
20但以理说:“神的名是应当称颂的,从亘古直到永远!因为智慧和能力都属乎他。21他改变时候、日期、废王,立王;将智慧赐给智慧人,将知识赐给聪明人。22他显明深奥隐秘的事,知道暗中所有的,光明也与他同居。23我列祖的神啊,我感谢你,赞美你,因你将智慧才能赐给我,允许我们所求的,把王的事给我们指明。”
This passage gives us a
clear look into just how grateful Daniel is to God for answering their prayers.
He has an attitude of gratitude, and he also shows a genuine humility as he
bows before his Father in heaven, and gives Him praise. He truly has respect
for God. He realizes that his strength comes from God, and that he is not
alone. He is in a foreign country; he has been kidnapped, yet Daniel continues
to keep his eyes on God, and continues to trust in God.
从这段中我们可以清晰地看出但以理对于神应允他的祷告有多感激。他有感激的态度,并在俯首他天父时抱有真正地谦逊,给神赞美。他对神有着真正地尊敬。他意识到了他的力量来自于神,他并不孤单。他身处异国,并被绑架在此,但是但以理还是将他的目光放在神的身上,相信神。
Daniel and his friends are
young. They are teenagers. Yet, from the indication of these two passages of
scripture we can tell that they are mature in their faith. They have learned
well, and are wiser than many who are two or three times their age. We will see
that due to their faith that they have courage beyond their years as well. They
are mature spiritually, even though they are young. This may be a good passage
of scripture to refer to on a regular basis. We could pray this often as we
live in the world we live in today.
但以理和他的朋友都还是青少年,然而,仅从这段经文就可以看出他们在信心中有多成熟。他们学习好,甚至比大他们2倍甚至3倍的人更有智慧。虽然年轻,他们在灵里却十分成熟。
Another person who we need
to get to know a little better is King Nebuchadnezzar. We need to realize what
kind of person he is, and the power he has. When he gives a command, he expects
it to be carried out, and if it isn’t then death is the punishment. In verse 10
of chapter one, it says that the Eunuch is very afraid of the king. And, in verse 12 of chapter 2, the king
demanded that all the wise men in Babylon be destroyed. We will see the same
thing in chapter 3. He is a brutal king, and he loves his power.
我们也要对尼布甲尼撒这个人了解更多一些。我们需要认清他是什么样的人,拥有怎样的权力。当他下达一个命令后,他要命令完全被执行,一旦未被执行,则要以死刑以待。在1章10节,我们看到他的太监长及其害怕他,2章12节,更是吩咐灭绝巴比伦所有的哲士。我们在3章同样会看到类似的情况。他是一个非常残暴的王,并且享受他手上所攥的权力。
Okay, so let’s get into
chapter 3. In the first seven verses the king makes a gold image that is 90
feet tall, and 9 feet wide. Then he gathers all of the local government
officials from all around the province of Babylon for a dedication of the image.
Then he issues the command for all the people of his land, when they hear the
music play to bow down and worship the golden image. If anyone fails to obey
they will be thrown into a fiery furnace.
好,我们一起看第3章,前7节中,尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像,90英尺高,9英尺宽。然后他招来了巴比伦各省的官员来为他的像行开光之礼,于是传令,各方、各族、各国的人在听见乐器声后俯伏敬拜他的金像。凡不俯伏敬拜的,并立时仍在烈火的窑中。
So, then in verse 8 some
people come to the king to report that Daniels’ friends failed to bow down to
the golden image. These three men are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So, in
verse 13, the king is in a furious rage, and calls for them to be brought
before him. And, he asks them if it is true that they don’t worship his gods,
and that they don’t bow down to his golden image. The king reminds them about
the penalty, gives them another chance to obey, and makes a statement that
there is no god who can deliver them out of his hands. This is found in verse
15, and indicates that his power has really gone to his head. This gives us a
look at his arrogance. Let’s look at their answer in verse 16-18:
8节中,有人控告但以理和他的朋友并未俯伏敬拜金像。他们三个分别是:沙得拉、米煞和亚伯尼歌。13节中,王大怒,吩咐人把他们带过来。问他们是不是真的不敬拜他的神和他自己的金像,并提醒他们不敬拜的惩罚,给他们第二次机会,并宣称没有神可以救他们脱离他的手。这记载在15节中,可以看出,他深知自己所有的权力,和他的傲慢。一起看16到18节:
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O
Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17If we are
thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He
will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18But even if he doesn’t, we
want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods
or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
16 沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌对王说:“尼布甲尼撒啊,这件事我们不必回答你,17即便如此,我们所事奉的神能将我们从烈火的窑中救出来。王啊,他必救我们脱离你的手;18即或不然,王啊,你当知道,我们绝不事奉你的神,也不拜你所立的金像。”
Did they mince their words?
Do you think that the king understood what they said to him? Do you think it
took some courage to stand up to this powerful king? They obviously know who is
more powerful, their God, who is also our God.
他们是否直言不讳?你认为王明白他们对他所说的吗?是不是需要很大的勇气才可以这样站在一个满有权力的王面前这样说呢?他们很明显地知道谁更有权力/能力,就是他们所信的神/上帝。
There is no way they could
stand before this angry king, and be so confident, on their own. So, let’s look
at what they are really saying: Our God holds our life in His hands. He is
sovereign and as long as we are on this earth He has a plan and a purpose for
us. If He wants to take us home, He will. It is His decision. The king decides
to throw them in a fiery furnace, but God will decide whether they die in that furnace
or not. He has the capability to save them, God alone determines life and death,
and that is His decision. As long as God has a plan and a purpose in this life
no one can kill them, and if God decides to take them home to heaven, no one
can keep them here on the earth.
他们绝不能单凭自己,有此般的信心,在这样愤怒的王面前。我们来看看他们究竟在说什么:我们的神紧紧地攥着我们的生命,他是全能的,只要我们在这地上,他必会对我们有计划。如果祂要带我们回家,他就会。这是他的决定。王决定将他们扔进烈火的窑中,但是神会决定他们是否会被烧死。祂满有能力来救他们,神决定生死,生死都是神的决定。只要神对他们的生命有目的有计划,没有人可以杀了他们。如果神决定带他们回天国,也没人能将他们留在地上。
So, each person in this
historical account needs to make a decision. The king decided to make a gold
image and to force everyone to fall down and worship it. He also decided on the
punishment. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to decide whether they would
bow down or not. If they fall down and worship the golden image they would be
in violation of God’s commandments (to not have any other gods before Him).
And, then God needed to decide whether He would deliver them from certain
death, or if they would be face to face with the Lord with no more sorrow, no
more tears, the old things would pass away, and then spend eternity with God.
因此,每个人在这个历史时刻都要做出一个决定。王决定造金像,并强迫所有人俯伏敬拜,并明确了惩罚。沙得拉,米煞,亚伯尼歌要决定他们是否要俯伏敬拜。倘若他们敬拜,则违背了神的十诫(除了上帝以外,不可以有别的神)。接下来,神会决定会不会救他们于死难,又或许让他们来到神的面前,从此不再有悲伤与眼泪,旧事都过去,与神永远在一起。
So, now the king makes
another decision because he is so mad. He decides to make the punishment even worse.
It doesn’t make much sense, but he demands that the furnace be heated to seven
times hotter that what it already was. So, the king has made his decision: to
throw them into the furnace, which is now seven times hotter. The three men’s
decision is still to not fall down and worship the golden image; so next, let’s
see what the sovereignty of God decides.
王因为怒气填胸,又做出了一个新的决定,将惩罚变得更重,就是将窑烧得比平时热7倍,当然这个并无道理可言。于是,王的新决定就是将他们投入比平时热7倍的窑中。他们三人仍拒绝敬拜王的金像。接下来,我们会看到我们全能的神是如何决定的。
There is no question that
this furnace is hot enough to kill someone, and the people who were to throw
these three into the furnace died in the process because the furnace was so
hot. So, let’s read verses 23- 25.
毋庸置疑,这个窑是热得足以将他们烧死的,甚至三个将他们扔入窑中的人在将他们扔入的过程中,都被烧死了。我们看23-25节:
“23And these three men,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery
furnace.
24Then King Nebuchadnezzar
was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did
we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the
king, "True, O king." 25He answered and said, "But I see
four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and
the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
23沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌这三个人都被捆绑着,落入烈火的窑中。
24那时,尼布甲尼撒王惊奇,急忙站起来,对谋士说:“我们捆起来扔在火里的不是三个人吗?”他们回答王说:“王啊,是的。” 25王说:“看哪,我看见有四个人,并没有捆绑,在火中游行,也没有受伤;那第四个的相貌好像神子。”
God made His decision, “It
is not time for these men to come home to heaven. I still have a plan and a
purpose for them in Babylon.” And, He not only spares their lives, but He sends
someone to encourage them and to comfort them – the Lord Jesus Christ. They
were bound when they were thrown into the furnace, but the only things that
were consumed by the flames were their bonds. They were now free to walk
around.
神做出了祂的决定:“还不是他们回天家的时候,我对他们在巴比伦还有计划”他不但挽救了他们的命,也派来了鼓励他们,安慰他们的人——我们的主耶稣基督。他们在扔入窑中时是捆绑着的,在他们落入窑中唯一被烧毁的也恰是这个捆绑,他们因此可以自由在火中行走。
What a beautiful picture. When
we are freed from our bonds of sin, then we are free to walk by means of the
Holy Spirit, which is a walk of faith. God often uses adversity to release us
from the bondage that can only be found in this world; the sin that can
immobilize us as we walk through this life. We can be free to also walk with our
Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessing these men experienced in this fiery furnace.
We can be sure that it is something these men will never forgot.
多美的画面.当我们脱离了罪的束缚,可以与圣灵自由行走时,正是在信心中的行走。上帝常常用用地上的苦难帮助我们脱离罪的捆绑,就是阻止我们在生命中自由行走的罪。我们在与我们的主耶稣基督一起行走时获得自由。他们在烈火窑中做经历的是何等的祝福啊!我们可以确信他们永远都不会忘记这样的经历。
So, as can be expected, the
king is amazed. So, he tells them to come out of the furnace. He addresses them
by name, and also calls them, “servants of the Most High” in verse 26. When the
three come out, they don’t smell of smoke, and not one hair on their head is
singed, and even their clothes were not harmed.
所以我们可以确定王很惊奇,于是他告诉他们从火窑中出来,叫了他们每个人的名字,并称他们为“至高神的仆人”。(26节)他们出来后,并没有稍过得味道,毫发无损,连衣服都没有烧到一点。
Nebuchadnezzar has
experienced the power of God first hand. Indeed God is more powerful than he
is. However, this earthly king is not done making bad decisions. He has another
decree to make in verse 29:
尼布甲尼撒亲身经历了神的大能,神的大能远远超过他的权力。然而,这个世上的王没有继续做坏的决定,而是在29节中降了另一个旨:
29Therefore I make a decree:
Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses
laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this
way."
29“现在我,无论何方、何国、何族的人,凡有人毁谤沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的上帝,他必被凌迟,他的房屋必成粪堆,因为没有别神能像这样施行拯救。”
What is wrong with this
decree? The sovereignty of God and the free will of man coexist in human
history. God wants people to choose for Him. People can’t be forced to believe,
or to say good things about God. They need to learn about Him, and then make a
decision for themselves. If someone wants to bad-mouth God, God will take care
of it in the supreme court of heaven, not King Nebuchadnezzar. God doesn’t need
his help; He is perfectly capable on his own.
这个所降的旨有什么错呢?神的主权与人的自由意志在人类历史上是并存的。神希望人们选择他,人却不会被逼迫去相信神,歌颂神。他们需要学习神,然后自己做出他们自己的决定。如果有人讲神的坏话,神会在天国的庭上处理,并不需要尼布甲尼撒代替神来审判。神不需要尼布甲尼撒的帮助,祂自己是全能的。
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego got a promotion. The king gave it to them, but in reality it was a
further blessing from God. It is a principle that we are not promoted, unless
God promotes us … but that will have to be saved for another day.
沙得拉,米煞,亚伯尼歌都得以高升。王高升了他们,而实际上是神给他们的祝福。
有一条原则就是如果神不高升我,我们不会被高升。我们以后会深入讨论这个部分。
If we don’t stand for
something, we will fall for anything. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
stood their ground for what they believed in. Furthermore, they continually
trusted in God; and God blessed them. This is a powerful example and a powerful
lesson for all of us. It is not easy, but let’s try to do the same thing in our
lives.
一个没有立场的人总是相信任何事情。但以理,沙得拉,米煞,亚伯尼歌都坚定地坚守在他们所相信的。并且,总是相信神,神就祝福了他们。这是一个非常有力的例子,满有能力的一课。尽管并不容易做得到,但是让我们也一起在我们的生命中变得同样的坚定吧!
Let’s pray.
God is love … all the time. All the time … God is love.
我们祷告。神是好的,永远都是。所有的时候,神是好的。
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