《信而順服》Day05
《順服的感染力》
1 以斯拉禱告，認罪，哭泣，俯伏在神殿前的時候，有以色列中的男女孩童聚集到以斯拉那裏，成了大會，眾民無不痛哭。2 屬以攔的子孫、耶歇的兒子示迦尼對以斯拉說：「我們在此地娶了外邦女子為妻，干犯了我們的神，然而以色列人還有指望。3 現在當與我們的神立約，休這一切的妻，離絕她們所生的，照著我主和那因神命令戰兢之人所議定的，按律法而行。4 你起來，這是你當辦的事，我們必幫助你，你當奮勉而行。」5 以斯拉便起來，使祭司長和利未人，並以色列眾人起誓說，必照這話去行；他們就起了誓。6 以斯拉從神殿前起來，進入以利亞實的兒子約哈難的屋裏，到了那裏不吃飯，也不喝水；因為被擄歸回之人所犯的罪，心裏悲傷。7 他們通告猶大和耶路撒冷被擄歸回的人，叫他們在耶路撒冷聚集。8 凡不遵首領和長老所議定、三日之內不來的，就必抄他的家，使他離開被擄歸回之人的會。9 於是，猶大和便雅憫眾人，三日之內都聚集在耶路撒冷。那日正是九月二十日，眾人都坐在神殿前的寬闊處；因這事，又因下大雨，就都戰兢。10 祭司以斯拉站起來，對他們說：「你們有罪了；因你們娶了外邦的女子為妻，增添以色列人的罪惡。11 現在當向耶和華－你們列祖的神認罪，遵行他的旨意，離絕這些國的民和外邦的女子。」12 會眾都大聲回答說：「我們必照著你的話行⋯⋯」（以斯拉記十1-12）
1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.” 5 So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. 6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. 7 A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. 8 Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. 9 Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. 11 Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.” 12 The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: “You are right! We must do as you say…” (Ezra 10:1-12)
分享：昨天我們看到面對以色列人和異族通婚的問題，以斯拉選擇以哀痛、羞愧的方式仰望神的公義和憐恤。結果，大家被以斯拉在殿裡的禱告、認罪、哭泣、俯伏所觸動，不單承認通婚一舉干犯了神，並表示會棄絕外邦的妻子，按神的律法而行。其中更有人鼓勵以斯拉奮勉而行；另外，祭司長、利未人和以色列眾人也起誓會撥亂反正；最後，眾人更在雨中聚集，表示要認罪和棄絕外邦人和外邦女子。 (參以斯拉記十1-12)
經文中沒有描述眾人悔改的過程，只是單純的記載眾人因著以斯拉在神面前的痛悔而備受感染。的確，順服於神的感染力往往比我們想像中更大。回想一下，你有多少次感動於耶穌在客西馬尼園時說：「我父啊，倘若可行，求祢叫這杯離開我。然而，不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思。」(馬太福音廿六39) 主就在這裡向我們展示順服的榜樣：人只要願意放下自己有限的識見，願意相信神會為我們安排最好的，神的旨意便能成就，這亦成為感動他人的見證。既然我們都可受感於耶穌的真誠和順服，又怎知我們的順服不能為神所用，讓更多的人得著啟廸呢？
後來的《尼希米記》記載以斯拉回歸後約十三年的事：在城牆重建完成後，以斯拉在向眾人傳講神的律法書。他一展開律法、歌頌至大的耶和華，眾人便回應說阿們；在七天的住棚節，以斯拉也每天向以色列人念神的律法書。(參尼希米記八) 這一切正應了以斯拉最初順服神的感動：「定志考究遵行耶和華的律法，又將律例典章教訓以色列人」(以斯拉記七10)
正如上星期的ChatGOD，一切由你開始，你的順服將能感染更多的人！
反思：知道順服的感染力後，這對我的信仰生命帶來甚麼影響呢？
禱告：親愛的天父，感謝祢讓我從以斯拉、主耶穌的例子見到順服後，祢的旨意得以成就，更多的人受到感動，甚至讓後世的我也得到啟發。就讓我再次肯定我對祢的信心，順服祢的安排，作美好的見證。奉主名求，阿們！
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