在国际象棋游戏中，国王这个棋子很令人费解，它每次只能移动一格，它差不多不能保护自己，又通常不能进攻敌方，其他棋子如主教、战车、骑士，尤其是皇后，比它有用得多。
然而，这个游戏本身有一矛盾的地方：国王这个棋子尽管没有多大用处，但它却是极为重要的。整个游戏的目标就是要保护国王，游戏的最后一步是“将军”，意思是说国王死了。
昨天，当我们看神对拣选以色列君王的指引时，我们主要专注在看君王不应是那些人或不应做的事，今天就让我们从正面来看如何拣选君王吧。君王领导国家时，必须要绝对忠于耶和华和祂的约，新王必须亲手抄写一份属于他自己的神的律法，就是细心的文士，也往往要用一年的时间才能完成这件差事。对新王来说，这件差事看来是多么低效率和没有用处啊！
然而，神的做法却往往出人意料之外，我们时常觉得不合情理，但它们却引领我们去看基督耶稣作为君王的荣美和奇妙。按照世人的标准，祂的王权看来或许没有多大用处，然而，按照神的标准，这是极为重要的。耶稣为我们牺牲祂自己的生命，跟着又从死里复活，最终为我们每一个人带来出人意料之外的胜利！
主耶稣基督，求祢引导我们去认识和喜爱神的话语和法则，好叫我们所作的一切，都能服事你的国度。主啊，感谢祢拯救我们！阿们。
申命记 17:14-15; 18-20
14“到了耶和华你神所赐你的地，得了那地居住的时候，若说：‘我要立王治理我，像四围的国一样’，
15你总要立耶和华你神所拣选的人为王。必从你弟兄中立一人，不可立你弟兄以外的人为王。18“他登了国位，就要将祭司利未人面前的这律法书为自己抄录一本，
19存在他那里，要平生诵读，好学习敬畏耶和华他的神，谨守遵行这律法书上的一切言语和这些律例，
20免得他向弟兄心高气傲，偏左偏右，离了这诫命。这样，他和他的子孙便可在以色列中，在国位上年长日久。
"Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel." - Deuteronomy 17:20
In the game of chess, there is something curious about the king piece. It can only move one square at a time. It can barely defend itself, and it is often unable to attack opponents. The bishops, rooks, knights, and especially the queen are far more capable.
And yet there is a paradox at the center of the game: the king, though fairly useless, is the all-important piece. The whole game is about defending the king. The final move in the game is "checkmate," meaning the king is dead.
Yesterday, when we looked at God's instructions for Israel's king, we focused mainly on what a king should not be or do. So today let's speak more positively. The king must lead the nation in absolute loyalty to the Lord and his covenant. A new king is required to write out his own copy of God's law. That was a task that would often take a careful scribe a year to complete. What a seemingly inefficient and useless task for a new king!
But God's ways are surprising and don't always make sense to us. They point us to the beauty and wonder of Christ Jesus as King. By worldly standards his kingship may seem useless, but by God's standard it is all-important. Christ's gift of his own life for our sake, followed by his rising again from death, turns out to be God's surprising victory for us all!
Lord Jesus Christ, lead us to know and love God's Word and ways so that our every move may be in service for your kingdom. Thank you for saving us, Lord! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
