神是公平的
公平是神重要的属性,公平是神性情的重心。神既是公平的,所以公平也是祂国的标记。
在旧约圣经中,身为神子民的以色列人,有责任做神国在地上的实体代表,而这个国度有一天将会充满整个世界。神既是公平的,所以我们看到祂数次吩咐以色列民要作一个公平的民族。士师必须公平地治理百姓;邻舍必须以公平彼此对待;人民总要时常以公平善待客旅(出埃及记 22:21;申命记 24:17-18)。
可是以色列民却一次又一次不去寻求公平。神因此管教他们,把他们放逐在异地。不过,在被放逐之前和在被放逐期间,神藉先知以赛亚说话,来敦促他们要改变他们的行为。以赛亚也传达盼望和赞美的诗歌,神的子民若真诚地在国内实践公平,他们的国家就会像诗歌中描述的景象了。(参看以赛亚书 2:1-5;4:2-6;9:2-7;11:1-12:6)
天国的神是带领旧约时代以色列民的神,祂的名字仍然代表公平。作为神国的子民,我们也同样蒙召不但要以公平行事,我们更应该爱好公平。
祷告
我们的主和君王,我们在你面前屈膝,为你的公平赞美你。求你以你的灵加力量给我们去诚心地爱好公平,又在世上过着实践公平的生活。阿们。
以赛亚书 1:2-4, 13-23
2天哪,要听!地啊,侧耳而听!因为耶和华说:“我养育儿女,将他们养大,他们竟悖逆我。
3牛认识主人,驴认识主人的槽,以色列却不认识,我的民却不留意。”
4嗐,犯罪的国民,担着罪孽的百姓,行恶的种类,败坏的儿女!他们离弃耶和华,藐视以色列的圣者,与他生疏,往后退步。
13你们不要再献虚浮的供物!香品是我所憎恶的,月朔和安息日并宣召的大会也是我所憎恶的,做罪孽又守严肃会我也不能容忍。
14你们的月朔和节期,我心里恨恶,我都以为麻烦,我担当便不耐烦。
15你们举手祷告,我必遮眼不看,就是你们多多地祈祷我也不听,你们的手都满了杀人的血。
16“你们要洗濯,自洁,从我眼前除掉你们的恶行。要止住作恶,
17学习行善,寻求公平,解救受欺压的,给孤儿申冤,为寡妇辨屈。”
18耶和华说:“你们来,我们彼此辩论。你们的罪虽像朱红,必变成雪白;虽红如丹颜,必白如羊毛。
19你们若甘心听从,必吃地上的美物;
20若不听从,反倒悖逆,必被刀剑吞灭。”这是耶和华亲口说的。
21可叹忠信的城变为妓女!从前充满了公平,公义居在其中,现今却有凶手居住!
22你的银子变为渣滓,你的酒用水掺兑。
23你的官长居心悖逆,与盗贼做伴,各都喜爱贿赂,追求赃私。他们不为孤儿申冤,寡妇的案件也不得呈到他们面前。
God is Just
"Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed..." - Isaiah 1:16-17
Justice is an important attribute of God. Justice lies at the heart of God's character. Because God is just, justice is a hallmark of his kingdom.
In the Old Testament, God's people Israel were meant to serve as a physical, earthly representation of God's kingdom that would one day fill the whole earth. As a result, we find countless calls for Israel to be a just nation because God is just. Judges were to rule impartially. Neighbors were to treat each other justly. Foreigners were to be treated justly and fairly always (Exodus 22:21; Deuteronomy 24:17-18).
But Israel failed again and again to exercise justice. That brought God's discipline on them, and he sent them into exile. However, leading up to and during their exile, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to urge the people to change their ways. Isaiah also delivered songs of hope and praise describing what the kingdom would look like if the children of God would truly embrace justice in the land. (See Isaiah 2:1-5; 4:2-6; 9:2-7; 11:1-12:6.)
The God of the kingdom of heaven is the same God who led Old Testament Israel. His name remains synonymous with justice. And as citizens of God's kingdom, we too are called not only to act justly but also to love justice.
We bow before you, Lord and King, to praise you for your justice. Empower us by your Spirit to truly love justice and to live by doing justice in this world. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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