肤浅的君王
今天这段记载在以斯帖记的经文，领我们来到被掳的以色列民在异国君王亚哈随鲁统治下生活的日子。亚哈随鲁王统治当时世界上最大的帝国，他拥有极大的权力和财富，但大部份都是用来自我炫耀的；他得不到家人的尊重，他很容易便听信他宠爱的臣仆。他为人简直有几分荒唐。
以色列民如何在这样的王的统治下生活呢？他们怎样面对亚哈随鲁王的王权？抗拒？适应？绝望？在这些事情发生时，神在哪里呢？当邪恶的领导人取得王权、属世的作风以各种诱惑来引诱人时，神岂能仍然作王呢？
我们也同样活在一个只着重外表的时代，有些领导我们的人表露出的虚荣，多过健全的品格和智慧。然而，在以斯帖的故事中，神表明祂正在准备有所行动；神的工作往往是在幕后进行和微妙的，祂很快便会显明，财富是远远比不上真正的光辉和荣耀的。
揭露肤浅的君王和恢复和平公正或许很费时，然而我们确信神是在掌管的。神会显明祂自己是历史之主，而祂也呼召祂的子民忠心渡日和等候祂的拯救。
主啊，惟愿我们不会信靠那些终必死亡的君王，他们不能拯救我们。求祢赐我们盼望，又帮助我们信靠祢，因为祢是创造天地的主。阿们。
以斯帖记 1:1-12
1亚哈随鲁做王，从印度直到古实，统管一百二十七省。
2亚哈随鲁王在书珊城的宫登基，
3在位第三年，为他一切首领、臣仆设摆筵席，有波斯和玛代的权贵，就是各省的贵胄与首领在他面前。
4他把他荣耀之国的丰富和他美好威严的尊贵给他们看了许多日，就是一百八十日。
5这日子满了，又为所有住书珊城的大小人民，在御园的院子里设摆筵席七日。
6有白色、绿色、蓝色的帐子，用细麻绳、紫色绳从银环内系在白玉石柱上。有金银的床榻，摆在红、白、黄、黑玉石铺的石地上。
7用金器皿赐酒，器皿各有不同，御酒甚多，足显王的厚意。
8喝酒有例，不准勉强人，因王吩咐宫里的一切臣宰，让人各随己意。
9王后瓦实提在亚哈随鲁王的宫内，也为妇女设摆筵席。
10第七日，亚哈随鲁王饮酒，心中快乐，就吩咐在他面前侍立的七个太监米户幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亚拔他、西达、甲迦，
11请王后瓦实提头戴王后的冠冕到王面前，使各等臣民看她的美貌，因为她容貌甚美。
12王后瓦实提却不肯遵太监所传的王命而来，所以王甚发怒，心如火烧。
A Shallow King
"For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." - Esther 1:4
Today's reading in the book of Esther brings us to a time when Israel's people lived in exile under the rule of a foreign king, Xerxes. He ruled over the largest empire in the world at that time. He had tremendous power and wealth, but most of that was just for show. In his own family he had no respect, and he was a pushover for any adviser who had his ear. He was kind of a joke.
How would God's people live under such a king? How would they react to Xerxes' reign? Resist? Accommodate? Despair? And where was God in all this? When godless rulers fill the seats of power, and worldly ways seduce many with their allure, how is God still King?
We too live in a superficial age. And some of our leaders exhibit more vainglory than sound character and wisdom. But God showed that he was up to something in the story of Esther. God's work was often behind the scenes and subtle, but God would soon show that real splendor and glory are about far more than wealth.
Exposing shallow kings and restoring peace and justice may take time, but we can be assured that God is in control. God will show himself to be the Lord of history, and he calls his people to walk faithfully and wait for his deliverance.
O Lord, may we not put our trust in mortal kings who cannot save. Give us hope and help us to trust in you, the Maker of heaven and earth. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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