灾难的目的
当霉菌在我的菜园里首次登场时，我的第一反应就是愤怒。当有昆虫、蠕虫或真菌来毁坏我的作物时，我也是愤愤不平。当我发现有动物入侵菜园，偷了我的庄稼时，我更是被激怒了。后来当这些怒气平伏下来，我的理性恢复，就去寻找原因和补救办法。然而，我极少想到要探究自己的内心，看看有没可能是自己的错误，以致造成我园中的灾害。
我们今天读的经文是所罗门王祷告的一部分。场面是王和百姓所建辉煌圣殿的盛大开幕礼。在赞美神的美德之后，所罗门的祷告转向百姓那可预测的失败。软弱——很小的罪——不会马上被察觉和找到。我们大多数人都是缓慢而痛苦地意识到自己的错误。但所罗门藉着神所赐的智慧，能够明白这一点。他也知道神园中的灾害——如旱风和蝗虫——能带领我们回归理性。所以他祷告“如果这地有饥荒、瘟疫... ”
要注意，视每一样灾难都为神对我们犯罪的审判是错误的。但是，在灾难和所面临的挣扎中丝毫看不见神，也是目光短浅的。至少，神愿意让灾难提醒我们察验己心，拓展祷告的疆界，并时时寻求尊荣祂。
神啊，不管我们将遭遇何种灾难，都求祢调转我们的心来寻求祢和祢的怜悯。愿我们最大的渴望总是尊崇祢，并行在祢的道中。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
列王纪上 8:22-24, 37-40
22 所罗门当着以色列会众，站在耶和华的坛前，向天举手说：
23“耶和华－以色列的神啊，天上地下没有神可比你的！你向那尽心行在你面前的仆人守约施慈爱；
24向你仆人－我父大卫所应许的话现在应验了。你亲口应许，亲手成就，正如今日一样。
37“国中若有饥荒、瘟疫、旱风、霉烂、蝗虫、蚂蚱，或有仇敌犯境围困城邑，无论遭遇什么灾祸疾病，
38你的民以色列，或是众人，或是一人，自觉有罪，向这殿举手，无论祈求什么，祷告什么，
39求你在天上你的居所垂听赦免。你是知道人心的，要照各人所行的待他们（惟有你知道世人的心），
40使他们在你赐给我们列祖之地上一生一世敬畏你。
The Purpose Of Disasters?
"Forgive and act… so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors." — 1 Kings 8:39-40
When mildew makes its debut in my garden, my first response is anger. I am indignant when bugs or worms or fungi come to ruin my plants. I get exasperated when I see evidence of animals invading the garden and stealing my harvest. Then, as rationality returns, I look for causes and remedies. I rarely, if ever, search my heart for wrongdoing or any fault of my own as a possible cause behind disasters in my garden.
Our verses today are part of King Solomon's prayer. The occasion is the grand opening of a splendid temple that the king and the people have built. After praising God's virtues, Solomon's prayer shifts to the predictable failings of God's people. Weaknesses—much less sins—are not readily detected or searched out. Most of us grow to realize our own faults slowly and painfully. By God-gifted wisdom, Solomon knows this. He also knows that disasters in God's garden—like blight or locusts—can help bring us to our senses. So he prays, "When famine or plague comes to the land..."
Now, it would be a mistake to see every disaster as God's judgment on our sins. But seeing nothing of God in the disasters and struggles that come our way would be shortsighted. Minimally, God intends that disasters will prompt us to examine our hearts, extend our hands in prayer, and seek to honor him all the time.
Lord God, whatever disasters may come our way, turn our hearts to seek you and your mercy. May it always be our greatest desire to honor you and walk in your ways. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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