在这里,以赛亚对神的子民有非常贴切的描述。羊是顽强的流荡者,它们总是想去那些看来好像更青葱的草地吃草。
以色列民到达应许之地后不久,但支派的人便供奉把从以法莲的米迦偷来的神像,又带了米迦的祭司回来,这祭司被认定为摩西的孙子。但族人顽强地敬拜偶像,他们这样做似乎持续了约三百年之久。
像众多其他以色列人,但族人不理会神说“不可有别的神”和不可雕刻偶像来敬拜的吩咐(出埃及记 20:3-5)。尽管他们设立了祭司来表示他们忠于以色列的神,但事实上,他们所作的和迦南地附近的人没有分别。不过,神当然应该明白,使用“打破传统”的敬拜方式,是创新之举-对吗?归根究底,多样化岂不是人生的调味料吗?
加了香料的食物或许是可口的,但变了质的敬拜只会蔑视和侮辱主。我们最好还是记着希伯来书 12:28-29对我们的提醒:“用虔诚、敬畏的心侍奉神,因为‘我们的神乃是烈火。’”
我们应当记着,圣灵已领我们进入这伟大的牧者的羊圈里,而圣灵也会天天提醒我们,要离弃我们顽梗的行为。在今天,惟愿我们听到并且听从祂的声音(诗篇 95:6-7)。
主啊,求你帮助我们不要叫你的圣灵担忧。惟愿我们尊崇你,不单是在今天的敬拜中,乃是在整个星期中每天所作的每一件事上都如此。奉耶稣祈求,阿们。
士师记 18:11-31
11于是但族中的六百人,各带兵器,从琐拉和以实陶前往,
12上到犹大的基列耶琳,在基列耶琳后边安营。因此那地方名叫玛哈尼但,直到今日。
13他们从那里往以法莲山地去,来到米迦的住宅。
14从前窥探拉亿地的五个人对他们的弟兄说:“这宅子里有以弗得和家中的神像,并雕刻的像与铸成的像,你们知道吗?现在你们要想一想当怎样行。”
15五人就进入米迦的住宅,到了那少年利未人的房内问他好。
16那六百但人各带兵器,站在门口。
17窥探地的五个人走进去,将雕刻的像、以弗得、家中的神像并铸成的像都拿了去;祭司和带兵器的六百人,一同站在门口。
18那五个人进入米迦的住宅,拿出雕刻的像、以弗得、家中的神像并铸成的像,祭司就问他们说:“你们做什么呢?”
19他们回答说:“不要作声,用手捂口,跟我们去吧。我们必以你为父,为祭司。你做一家的祭司好呢,还是做以色列一族一支派的祭司好呢?”
20祭司心里喜悦,便拿着以弗得和家中的神像并雕刻的像,进入他们中间。
21他们就转身离开那里,妻子、儿女、牲畜、财物都在前头。
22离米迦的住宅已远,米迦的近邻都聚集来,追赶但人,
23呼叫但人。但人回头问米迦说:“你聚集这许多人来做什么呢?”
24米迦说:“你们将我所做的神像和祭司都带了去,我还有所剩的吗?怎么还问我说做什么呢?”
25但人对米迦说:“你不要使我们听见你的声音,恐怕有性暴的人攻击你,以致你和你的全家尽都丧命。”
26但人还是走他们的路。米迦见他们的势力比自己强盛,就转身回家去了。
27但人将米迦所做的神像和他的祭司都带到拉亿,见安居无虑的民,就用刀杀了那民,又放火烧了那城。
28并无人搭救,因为离西顿远,他们又与别人没有来往;城在平原,那平原靠近伯利合。但人又在那里修城居住,
29照着他们始祖以色列之子但的名字,给那城起名叫但,原先那城名叫拉亿。
30但人就为自己设立那雕刻的像。摩西的孙子、革舜的儿子约拿单和他的子孙做但支派的祭司,直到那地遭掳掠的日子。
31神的殿在示罗多少日子,但人为自己设立米迦所雕刻的像也在但多少日子。
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way... ” - Isaiah 53:6
Isaiah’s description here is an apt one for God’s people. Sheep can be stubborn wanderers, always grazing where the grass looks greener.
Not long after Israel came to the promised land, the tribe of Dan set up an idol for worship, stolen from Micah in Ephraim, along with Micah’s priest, who is now identified as a grandson of Moses. Dan’s stubborn idolatry seems to have lasted about 300 years.
The people of Dan, like many others in Israel, ignored God’s instructions to have “no other gods” and to make no images for worship (Exodus 20:3-5). Even if they claimed they were committed to the God of Israel by having a priest, they were really just doing as their neighbors in the land of Canaan did. But, surely, God would understand that worshiping “outside the box” was the creative thing to do—right? After all, isn’t variety the spice of life?
Spiced food may be good, but strangely spiced worship only defies and mocks the Lord. We do well to note that Hebrews 12:28-29 reminds us to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”
It is good to remember that the Holy Spirit brought us into the fold of the great Shepherd, and that he daily nudges us to abandon our stubborn ways. Today, may we hear and listen to his voice (Psalm 95:6-7).
O Lord, help us not to grieve your Holy Spirit. May we honor you not only in worship today but in all we do each day of the week. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳