谁立大地的根基?

作者:每日箴言   来源:普世佳音

“谁将〔海水〕关闭呢? … 为它定界限, … 说:‘你只可到这里,不可越过,你狂傲的浪要到此止住。’” - 伯 38:8-11

约伯记这卷书探讨人和神的关系。对神忠心的约伯经历了一连串艰难的试炼。他失去了他所有的儿女、所有的牲口、和他的产业,他更失去了他的健康。然而他始终都没有停止信靠神(约伯记 1-3章)。

约伯的朋友一起来看他,他们不但没有安慰他,反而说他一定是犯了大罪,不然这一切困扰是不会凭空发生的。但是他们错了,他们的言语造成的伤害大过所带来的益处。约伯不明白这些灾难为什么会发生,他终于呼求神给他一个答案(约伯记 4-31章)。

另一个朋友也起来说话,他智慧地提供了一些关于这位创造万物的全能神的看法。我们不可能明白神做事的方式,因为神和我们有天壤之别。然而神看顾我们,也教导我们认识智慧,祂是公义和正直的(约伯记 32-37章)。

随后,神自己说话了(约伯记 38-41章),祂问约伯是否知道这个世界是怎样造成的、谁为海水安定界限、以及自然界的力量如何运作来供应食物和水源给所有的活物。

约伯当然不晓得这些事 — 我们也一样不晓得。然而神是良善的,我们的生命都在祂手里。神容许风暴和困扰临到我们,很多时候并非因为我们做错了事。但神仍然会带领我们经历这些困扰并最终医治我们,我们可以相信,在神里面我们的将来必定是稳妥的。

祷告

主神啊,你是天地的创造者,你的荣耀充满了宇宙。求你拯救我们。奉耶稣名祈求,阿们。

约伯记 38:1-33

1那时,耶和华从旋风中回答约伯说:
2“谁用无知的言语,使我的旨意暗昧不明?
3你要如勇士束腰,我问你,你可以指示我。
4我立大地根基的时候,你在哪里呢?你若有聪明,只管说吧。
5你若晓得就说,是谁定地的尺度?是谁把准绳拉在其上?
6地的根基安置在何处?地的角石是谁安放的?
7那时晨星一同歌唱,神的众子也都欢呼。
8“海水冲出,如出胎胞,那时谁将它关闭呢?
9是我用云彩当海的衣服,用幽暗当包裹它的布,
10为它定界限,又安门和闩,
11说:‘你只可到这里,不可越过,你狂傲的浪要到此止住。’
12“你自生以来,曾命定晨光,使清晨的日光知道本位,
13叫这光普照地的四极,将恶人从其中驱逐出来吗?
14因这光,地面改变如泥上印印,万物出现如衣服一样。
15亮光不照恶人,强横的膀臂也必折断。
16“你曾进到海源,或在深渊的隐密处行走吗?
17死亡的门曾向你显露吗?死荫的门你曾见过吗?
18地的广大你能明透吗?你若全知道,只管说吧。
19“光明的居所从何而至?黑暗的本位在于何处?
20你能带到本境,能看明其室之路吗?
21你总知道,因为你早已生在世上,你日子的数目也多。
22你曾进入雪库,或见过雹仓吗?
23这雪雹乃是我为降灾并打仗和争战的日子所预备的。
24光亮从何路分开?东风从何路分散遍地?
25“谁为雨水分道?谁为雷电开路?
26使雨降在无人之地,无人居住的旷野,
27使荒废凄凉之地得以丰足,青草得以发生。
28雨有父吗?露水珠是谁生的呢?
29冰出于谁的胎?天上的霜是谁生的呢?
30诸水坚硬如石头,深渊之面凝结成冰。
31“你能系住昴星的结吗?能解开参星的带吗?
32你能按时领出十二宫吗?能引导北斗和随它的众星吗?
33你知道天的定例吗?能使地归在天的权下吗?

Who Laid The Earth’s Foundations?

"Who shut up the sea . . . when I fixed limits for it and . . . said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?" - Job 38:8-11

英语音频 English Audio

The book of Job explores the relationship between humans and God. Job, who is faithful to God, goes through a difficult series of tests. He loses all his children, all his livestock, and his livelihood. He also loses his health. But he never stops trusting God (Job 1-3).

Job’s friends come around, and instead of consoling him, they say he must have done some terrible wrong, or all this trouble would not have happened. But they are mistaken, and their words do more harm than good. Job wonders why all this calamity is happening. And eventually he calls on God to answer him (Job 4-31).

Another friend speaks up and offers wise insights about the all-powerful God, who has created all things. We cannot understand all of God’s ways because God is so different from us. Yet God cares for us, teaches us wisdom, and is righteous and just (Job 32-37).

Then God himself speaks (Job 38-41), asking Job if he knows how the earth was made, who gave the sea its limits, and how the forces of nature work to bring food and water for all living things.

Of course, Job does not know these things—and neither do we know all things. But God is good, and our lives are in his hands. God allows storms and trouble to come our way, and often we are not at fault. But God can also bring us through and heal us. We can trust that in God our future is secure.

Prayer

Lord and God, Maker of heaven and earth, the universe is full of your glory. Save us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳


发布日期:2022-03-30