“选秀”的背后 The World We Live In
大臣们的参谋,真是天下的大讽刺。因为它把以斯帖这位诚实正直的犹大女子,带进波斯国最重要的地方,最后她还智慧地影响了国中两位最重要的人物,挽救了神子民的性命。
或许我们(尤其那些作为领袖的)都喜欢想像我们自己多有能力,多么懂得管治我们的世界。在选拔皇后这件事上,亚哈随鲁王也是如此,他完全任命他的大臣,而他们也真的不负王命。
随着“选秀”的进行,以斯帖在王面前留下深刻的印象,成为王最宠爱的女子。然而,没有人知道她原来是个犹大人。事实上,她听从末底改的劝告,不马上透露自己的身份,是明智之举(以斯帖记2:10, 20)。最后,以斯帖的行动和言词,为犹大人带来胜利。这究竟是波斯大臣们有远见,在合适的时间领这女子到合适的地方,还是……这一切早已在神计划之中的呢?
我们当今的世界,不乏荒谬的参谋、腐败的政策、承继父业而带来的坏影响、甚至是信仰的迫害。身为基督的门徒,当我们面对质疑和挑战时,愿我们能“灵巧像蛇,驯良像鸽子”(马太福音 10:16);因为“谨守训言的,必得好处;倚靠耶和华的,便为有福”(箴言 16:20)。
主啊,求祢帮助我们得着智慧,好叫我们能以正直的言语和行为,来面对世上的每一个问题。奉耶稣的名祷告,阿们。
以斯帖记 1:10-22 Esther 1:10-22
10第七日,亚哈随鲁王饮酒,心中快乐,就吩咐在他面前侍立的七个太监米户幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亚拔他、西达、甲迦,
11请王后瓦实提头戴王后的冠冕到王面前,使各等臣民看她的美貌,因为她容貌甚美。
12王后瓦实提却不肯遵太监所传的王命而来,所以王甚发怒,心如火烧。
13-14那时,在王左右常见王面、国中坐高位的,有波斯和米底亚的七个大臣,就是甲示拿、示达、押玛他、他施斯、米力、玛西拿、米母干,都是达时务的明哲人。按王的常规,办事必先询问知例明法的人。王问他们说:
15“王后瓦实提不遵太监所传的王命,照例应当怎样办理呢?”
16米母干在王和众首领面前回答说:“王后瓦实提这事,不但得罪王,并且有害于王各省的臣民;
17因为王后这事必传到众妇人的耳中,说:‘亚哈随鲁王吩咐王后瓦实提到王面前,她却不来’,她们就藐视自己的丈夫。
18今日波斯和米底亚的众夫人听见王后这事,必向王的大臣照样行;从此必大开藐视和忿怒之端。
19王若以为美,就降旨写在波斯和米底亚人的例中,永不更改,不准瓦实提再到王面前,将她王后的位分赐给比她还好的人。
20所降的旨意传遍通国(国度本来广大),所有的妇人,无论丈夫贵贱都必尊敬他。”
21王和众首领都以米母干的话为美,王就照这话去行,
22发诏书,用各省的文字、各族的方言通知各省,使为丈夫的在家中作主,各说本地的方言。
The World We Live In
The advice of the king’s counselors is ironic. The search process would bring Esther, a Jewish woman who shows great integrity, into the most important house of the empire. She would wisely influence the two most important men in the kingdom, intervening to protect God’s people.
We like to believe that we’re competent managers of our world, especially if we find ourselves in leadership positions. Xerxes had total confidence in his counselors’ search for a new queen. They were surprisingly successful.
As the story develops, Esther impresses the king and becomes his favorite. But no one knows she is a Jew. As it turns out, following Mordecai’s advice not to reveal her nationality at first is wise (Esther 2:10, 20). Eventually Esther’s actions and words would bring triumph for the Jews. Good Persian leadership brought this woman to the right place at the right time. Or was it God’s intervention?
Laughable advice, corrupt search objectives, bad influence from inherited wealth, and threats against the faith are commonplace in our world. When we, as Christ’s disciples, stand before rulers and leaders, let us be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). That’s good advice: “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD” (Proverbs 16:20).
Help us gain wisdom, Lord, that in this world we may speak and behave with integrity in every aspect of our lives. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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