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旧约 - 以斯帖记(Esther)第4章

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.
And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
以斯帖记第四章   第 4 章 

  斯 4:11-5:2> 今日的人已用不着冒死进谏,却可以从以斯帖身上学到哪些榜样? 

  4:11-5:2 以斯帖冒死晋见国王。她的勇敢举动,正是我们遭遇困难或危险时的模范。我们应该:( 1 )计算代价──以斯帖深知自己可能会付出生命。( 2 )分清先后──她相信犹太民族的存活,较个人的安危更重要。( 3 )作好准备──她寻求支持,禁食祈祷。( 4 )身体力行──她不会迟疑耽延,因为过分的考虑会拖延时间,使勇气减退;反之,在作出正确决定之后,她便义无反顾地去做。 

  你是否要面对怀有敌意的人,又是否要就敏感的事情与朋友对质,或告诉家人难以接受的转变?与其坐下担忧,刻意逃避,倒不如学习以斯帖,怀着信心,毅然采取行动。 

  斯 4:13> 假如以斯帖见死不救,她能安然无恙吗? 

  4:13 虽然以斯帖贵为皇后,分享到国王的权力财富,但并不表示她就不需神的保护和智慧。不论在任何政治体制下,无人能够凭己力得享安稳。倘若相信财富地位能使我们百害不侵,就是愚不可及了。 

  历史背后的神 

  斯 4:13-14> “神啊,求你拯救!──”你呢?你可以做些什么? 

  4:13-14 消灭犹太人的诏书颁布后,末底改与以斯帖大可失望沮丧,只救自己,或等待神介入。但他们没有这样做,而是相信神将他们放在现有岗位,必定有其美好旨意,因此他们抓紧时机,采取行动。倘若我们有能力拯救别人,就必须义不容辞地去干。面对生死关头时,不要退缩、表现自私、意志消沉,或是坐等神的安排;反之,祈求神的引领,采取行动吧!很可能神让你身处现时的岗位,就是预备你在时机临到时为祂工作。 

  4:13-17 以斯帖与末底改相信,神会拯救祂的子民,但他们不是呆坐着等,而是积极采取行动。虽然神一直掌权,但祂常透过人去工作,所以我们必须实践祂的旨意。单是祷告和静观其变,并不足够。很多人相信神的应许,却只愿置身事外。以斯帖就不同,她决定晋见皇上,而末底改也遵行她的吩咐去做。该是你做的事,不要等待别人替你做。采取行动参与神的计划,你就会尝到神旨意得以成就时的喜乐。 

  斯 4:14> 是什么促使以斯帖作出冒死见王的决定的? 

  4:14 虽然以斯帖记没有直接提及神的名字,但全书充满神的驾临。以斯帖与末底改相信神必会眷顾;由于他们在合适的时机采取行动,神便使用他们,拯救自己的子民。 

  斯 4:16> 三天三夜不吃不喝地祷告,我从这当中看到了什么? 

  4:16 以斯帖要求同胞为她禁食祷告,是希望在履行危险任务时,得到神的帮助。在旧约中,祷告常伴以禁食(参出 34:28 ;申 9:9 ;拉 8:21-23 )。信徒团契的一项重要功能,就是在困难期间彼此支持。经历挣扎时,你需要与弟兄姊妹分担你面对的考验,请他们支持你,使你得着能力。同样,若他人需要你的帮助,不要吝啬施与援手。 

  斯 4:16> 以斯帖作出最后决定的心路历程是怎样的?是无可奈何还是甘心情愿? 

  4:16 “独善其身”,“自扫门前雪”,反映了世人对生命的自私看法,以斯帖的态度却截然不同。她知道该做的是什么,也了解可能因此而赔上生命,但她义无反顾,“我若死就死吧”意为“即使处死,也死得甘心”,虽然有时代价非凡,但对于必须做的,我们也须有同样的牺牲精神。你有否为了独善其身,在需要挺身而出时却保持缄默?只管按着神的心意而行,结果自有神来负责。 

  斯 4:17-5:1> 神的计划和人的参与,二者的关系如何? 

  4:17-5:1 一切虽全在神的掌管之中,可是末底改与以斯帖必须有所行动;虽然我们无法明白这看似矛盾的道理,但事实的确如此,神选择并透过愿意为祂工作的人,实践祂的计划。我们祈祷时,要全心倚靠神;一旦行动时,则要全情投入。我们要避免走两种极端:坐等不动及一切靠自己。──《灵修版圣经注释》