终必在他面前败落 Persian Wisdom

神拣选了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧。末底改和以斯帖只不过是昔日犹大皇室的两个远亲，却能抵挡波斯的精英，如此情景真是可笑。

“你在末底改面前始而败落，他如果是犹大人，你必不能胜他，终必在他面前败落。” - 斯 6:13

　　如同瓦实提和以斯帖一样，细利斯是一个有见地的人，她告诉丈夫哈曼，他是在太岁爷头上动土了！而哈曼的谋士们也很同意。我们不晓得细利斯和其他人如何知道哈曼将要面临的事，但我们清楚地知道，神一直在默默地工作，保护衪的子民。

　　细利斯的话，很具讽刺性，就像是对自古以来与神为敌的撒但所说的。虽然撒旦知道它的末日会临到，却仍然不停止地做破坏的工作。如同箴言 16:18所说，“骄傲在败坏以先；狂心在跌倒之前”。

　　哥林多前书 1:27说，“神拣选了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧”。末底改和以斯帖只不过是昔日犹大皇室的两个远亲，却能抵挡波斯的精英，如此情景真是可笑。

　　今天世人仍然在嘲笑另一个犹大皇室家族的后裔，就是大卫的后裔耶稣基督，他们千方百计地想阻挠衪的信徒为衪作见证。

　　然而，只有愚味人才会无视波斯智者的话：“你不能胜他，终必在他面前败落”。

祷告

天父，每当跟从祢的人因抗衡世人的愚妄而遭受逼迫时，求祢安慰他们，又愿那些没有受到逼迫的人，也能够充满感恩与同情，为世人谋取公道。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

以斯帖记 6:12-14 Esther 6:12-14

12 末底改仍回到朝门，哈曼却忧忧闷闷地蒙着头，急忙回家去了，
13将所遇的一切事详细说给他的妻细利斯和他的众朋友听。他的智慧人和他的妻细利斯对他说：“你在末底改面前始而败落，他如果是犹大人，你必不能胜他，终必在他面前败落。”
14他们还与哈曼说话的时候，王的太监来催哈曼快去赴以斯帖所预备的筵席。

Persian Wisdom

“Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” — Esther 6:13

英语音频 English audio

Zeresh, like Vashti and Esther, is no push-over. She tells her husband Haman the truth: You pulled on the ears of the wrong dog! Haman’s advisers agreed. We don’t know how Zeresh and the others knew what Haman was up against, but we do know that God was working behind the scenes to protect his people.

There is much irony in these words from Zeresh. It’s as if they are spoken to God’s ancient enemy, Satan. But God’s ancient enemy, though he knows his end will come, will not stop wreaking havoc where he can. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

God chose the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the wise and strong (1Corinthians 1:27). Mordecai and Esther were only two distant relatives of old Jewish royalty trying to stand against the Persian elite. It was laughable.

But look further: the world today continues to mock a Jewish descendant of another royal family, Jesus Christ, the Son of David. And it wants to silence his followers’ testimony.

Yet only a fool would refuse to take this Persian wisdom to heart: “You cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin.”

Prayer

God of heaven, comfort today your persecuted followers wherever they confront the folly of this world. And may those who do not experience persecution continue to lift them up and seek justice for all. Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳