因脱离敌人的手而欢庆 Joyful Relief From The Enemy

圣餐、受难日、和复活节，都是我们记念神在耶稣基督里为我们成就的事。今天，基督徒正在等待主耶稣最后再来，然而他们现在已经开始享受摆脱敌人后永远的安息了。

“这普珥日在犹大人中不可废掉，在他们后裔中也不可忘记。” - 斯 9:28

　　犹大人逃过了哈曼灭族的诡计，而哈曼自己却掉在他为别人挖的坑中，在王下令灭绝犹大人的那一天，很多跟随哈曼的人也被杀掉。在这件事之后的日子，犹大人都因他们脱离敌人的手而大事庆祝。

　　然而，这不是一次性的庆典，因为世世代代的犹大人都要继续记念这普珥日，每一年到了这个日子，大家都设筵欢乐，彼此馈送礼物，赒济穷人。时至今日，犹大人仍然这样记念这个节日。

　　每一年，基督徒都以不同的节期来记念魔鬼谋算毁灭基督的那一天，他们更欢喜快乐庆祝基督战胜神自古以来的敌人的日子。按照基督的吩咐，他们也按时聚集在圣餐桌前，记念主耶稣赐下衪的身体和血，叫相信衪的人得生命。这样，一周接一周，一年复一年，基督徒都得到提醒，要常常喜乐，因为死已失去它的权势了。

　　圣餐、受难日，和复活节，都是我们记念神在耶稣基督里为我们成就的大事。今天，基督徒正在等待主耶稣最后再来，然而他们现在已经开始享受摆脱敌人后的永远安息了。

祷告

神啊，我们赞美祢，因祢叫我们摆脱敌人的手并得享安息。惟愿我们忠心尊崇祢，又到各处与人分享这个好消息。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

以斯帖记 9:18-28 Esther 9:18-28

18但书珊的犹大人，这十三日、十四日聚集杀戮仇敌；十五日安息，以这日为设筵欢乐的日子。
19所以住无城墙乡村的犹大人，如今都以亚达月十四日为设筵欢乐的吉日，彼此馈送礼物。 普珥日
20 末底改记录这事，写信与亚哈随鲁王各省远近所有的犹大人，
21嘱咐他们每年守亚达月十四、十五两日，
22以这月的两日为犹大人脱离仇敌得平安、转忧为喜、转悲为乐的吉日。在这两日设筵欢乐，彼此馈送礼物，赒济穷人。
23于是，犹大人按着末底改所写与他们的信，应承照初次所守的守为永例；
24是因犹大人的仇敌亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼设谋杀害犹大人，掣普珥，就是掣签，为要杀尽灭绝他们；
25这事报告于王，王便降旨使哈曼谋害犹大人的恶事归到他自己的头上，并吩咐把他和他的众子都挂在木架上。
26照着普珥的名字，犹大人就称这两日为“普珥日”。他们因这信上的话，又因所看见所遇见的事，
27就应承自己与后裔，并归附他们的人，每年按时必守这两日，永远不废。
28各省各城、家家户户、世世代代纪念遵守这两日，使这“普珥日”在犹大人中不可废掉，在他们后裔中也不可忘记。

Joyful Relief From The Enemy

"These days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants." — Esther 9:28

英语音频 English audio

The Jews had escaped Haman’s plot of destruction. Haman himself had fallen into the hole he had dug for others, and many of his followers were destroyed on the day decreed for the Jews’ annihilation. So the days afterward were celebrated as days of relief from the enemy.

This was not to be just a onetime celebration, however, for the memory of Purim was to continue through the generations. Feasting, joy, gifts of food to one another, and gifts to the poor would mark these days every year. And so it is to this very day among observant Jews.

Christians too observe a time each year when they remember the day the devil plotted Christ’s destruction, and with great joy they celebrate the day of Christ’s victory over God’s ancient enemy. And by Christ’s command they gather regularly at the Lord’s table to remember his gifts of his body and blood, offered so that all who believe in him may live. Week by week and year by year, then, Christians are reminded to be joyful because death no longer has any power.

The Lord’s Supper, Good Friday, and Easter are celebrations of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. And already today Christians begin to enjoy their eternal rest from the enemy as they await the final return of the Lord Jesus.

Prayer

We praise you, O God, for giving us relief and rest from our enemy. May we faithfully honor you and share this good news every¬where. Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳