来赴君王耶稣的筵席 Courting The King's Favor

耶稣为我们受死的前一个晚上，衪擘饼和斟酒，并且这样说：“这是我的身体 …〔和〕我的血 … 使罪得赦” 。来，让我们同赴筵席，就是我们的君王耶稣为寻求衪恩惠的人而摆设的筵席。

“我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若以为美，…愿王将我的性命赐给我；… 求王将我的本族赐给我。” - 斯 7:3

　　这位得王恩宠、成为最有权力的臣宰的哈曼满心欢喜，因他第二次被邀请与以斯帖王后和王一起坐席。可是，他前几天才受到羞辱，因为要在众人面前尊崇同样得王恩宠的敌人末底改（以斯帖记 6）。然而，接下来哈曼将要面对的事，会让他更惊讶。

　　这个谋算灭绝波斯犹大人的哈曼，没想到王后以斯帖也是犹大人，而她还是末底改的亲戚。此外，当时正值以斯帖最得王恩宠的时期，她灵巧地使用自己的位份，替本族的人对王说话。她的意思是说：“我和族人若只是被卖为奴婢，我也不敢打扰王。只是现在这邪恶的哈曼要剪除灭绝我们。”王对哈曼的恩宠变为愤怒，哈曼知道，他唯一的希望，就是求以斯帖救他一命。

　　亚哈随鲁王有生杀大权，可以毁灭哈曼的生命。就这样，神使用了这位波斯王，来抵挡这个与犹大人为敌的哈曼。

　　敬畏地上的王是聪明和智慧的，更何况敬畏掌管我们身体和灵魂的神（马太福音 10:28），岂不更明智吗？

　　耶稣为我们受死的前一晚，擘饼分酒，说：“这是我的身体 …〔和〕我的血 … 使罪得赦” （马太福音 26:26-29）。来，让我们同赴筵席，就是我们的君王耶稣为寻求衪恩惠的人而摆设的筵席。

祷告

主啊，我们整个人，包括身体和灵魂，都来感谢祢赐给我们的大恩。奉基督的名祈求，阿们。

以斯帖记 7:1-7 Esther 7:1-7

1王带着哈曼来赴王后以斯帖的筵席。
2这第二次在酒席筵前，王又问以斯帖说：“王后以斯帖啊，你要什么，我必赐给你；你求什么，就是国的一半也必为你成就。”
3王后以斯帖回答说：“我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若以为美，我所愿的，是愿王将我的性命赐给我；我所求的，是求王将我的本族赐给我。
4因我和我的本族被卖了，要剪除杀戮灭绝我们。我们若被卖为奴为婢，我也闭口不言；但王的损失，敌人万不能补足。”
5亚哈随鲁王问王后以斯帖说：“擅敢起意如此行的是谁？这人在哪里呢？”
6以斯帖说：“仇人敌人就是这恶人哈曼！” 哈曼在王和王后面前就甚惊惶。
7王便大怒，起来离开酒席往御园去了。哈曼见王定意要加罪与他，就起来，求王后以斯帖救命。

Courting The King's Favor

“If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life. ... And spare my people.” — Esther 7:3

英语音频 English audio

Haman, who enjoyed the king’s favor as his most powerful official, was thrilled with the invitation to dine again with Queen Esther and the king. But in the past day he had also endured the shame of publicly honoring his enemy Mordecai, who had also found favor with the king (Esther 6). Soon Haman would have an even greater surprise.

This man who was plotting to destroy all the Jews in Persia had no idea that Queen Esther was also a Jew and a relative of Mordecai. What’s more, if anyone had the king’s favor, it was Esther, and she used her position shrewdly to advocate for her people. “If I and my people were only sold as slaves, I would not have disturbed you,” she tells the king, in effect, “but this vile Haman wants to annihilate us.” As the king’s favor turns to rage against him, Haman knows his only chance is to beg Esther for his life.

Xerxes’ terrible power could snuff out Haman’s life. As such, the king of Persia would be God’s instrument against this enemy of the Jews.

Fearing a king’s power is smart, even wise. But fearing the God who has power over body and soul is wiser (Matthew 10:28).

On the night before Jesus died for our sake, he broke bread and poured wine, saying, “This is my body ... [and] my blood ... for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-29). Come to the banquet that King Jesus has prepared for all who seek his favor.

Prayer

For the favor you have given me, Lord, I thank you with body and soul. In Christ’s name, Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳