【双语灵修】愚顽的人 Fool
“‘我主不要理这坏人拿八,他的性情与他的名相称,他名叫拿八[就是愚顽的意思]。’” - 撒上 25:25
大卫和他的士兵住在旷野已有一段时间了,他们一直在看护这一带村庄旷野、保护农夫和牧羊人不被盗贼和劫掠的人袭击。其中一个仆人回想着:“那些人待我们甚好。我们在田野与他们来往的时候,没有受他们的欺负,也未曾失落什么。… 他们昼夜作我们的保障。”
可是主人拿八不理会大卫为他提供的保护,他更没有兴趣款待这些人,他只想如惯常一样:单单为自己求益处。当大卫请他供应一些食粮和物资时,拿八连一句感谢的话也没有说。根据那个时代的习俗,这样的回应是一种侮辱,是不可原谅的。拿八需要有人教他这一课,而大卫也准备去教训他。
拿八的妻子亚比该则较明白事理,他知道拿八的愚顽行为将会使他送命,所以她急忙采取行动,把食粮送给还在路上的大卫和跟随他的人。
亚比该的明智之举帮助大卫维持他良善的性情,她提醒大卫他是谁,以及神赐他怎样的身份。他没有理由像拿八那样愚顽,大卫感谢亚比该拦阻了他出手报复。
祷告
主啊,当我们感到愤怒时,很容易便会做出愚昧的事。求你帮助我们聆听智慧的话,又在我们所行的一切事上尊崇你。奉耶稣名祈求,阿们。
撒母耳记上 25:1-34
1撒母耳死了,以色列众人聚集,为他哀哭,将他葬在拉玛他自己的坟墓里。大卫起身,下到巴兰的旷野。
2在玛云有一个人,他的产业在迦密,是一个大富户,有三千绵羊,一千山羊。他正在迦密剪羊毛。
3那人名叫拿八,是迦勒族的人。他的妻名叫亚比该,是聪明俊美的妇人。拿八为人刚愎凶恶。
4大卫在旷野听见说拿八剪羊毛,
5大卫就打发十个仆人,吩咐他们说:“你们上迦密去见拿八,提我的名问他安,
6要对那富户如此说:‘愿你平安,愿你家平安,愿你一切所有的都平安!
7现在我听说有人为你剪羊毛,你的牧人在迦密的时候和我们在一处,我们没有欺负他们,他们也未曾失落什么。
8可以问你的仆人,他们必告诉你。所以愿我的仆人在你眼前蒙恩,因为是在好日子来的。求你随手取点赐予仆人和你儿子大卫!”
9大卫的仆人到了,将这话提大卫的名都告诉了拿八,就住了口。
10拿八回答大卫的仆人说:“大卫是谁?耶西的儿子是谁?近来悖逆主人奔逃的仆人甚多!
11我岂可将饮食和为我剪羊毛人所宰的肉给我不知道从哪里来的人呢?”
12大卫的仆人就转身从原路回去,照这话告诉大卫。
13大卫向跟随他的人说:“你们各人都要带上刀。”众人就都带上刀,大卫也带上刀。跟随大卫上去的约有四百人,留下二百人看守器具。
14有拿八的一个仆人告诉拿八的妻亚比该说:“大卫从旷野打发使者来问我主人的安,主人却辱骂他们。
15但是那些人待我们甚好,我们在田野与他们来往的时候,没有受他们的欺负,也未曾失落什么。
16我们在他们那里牧羊的时候,他们昼夜做我们的保障。
17所以你当筹划,看怎样行才好,不然祸患定要临到我主人和他全家。他性情凶暴,无人敢与他说话。”
18亚比该急忙将二百饼,两皮袋酒,五只收拾好了的羊,五细亚烘好了的穗子,一百葡萄饼,二百无花果饼,都驮在驴上,
19对仆人说:“你们前头走,我随着你们去。”这事她却没有告诉丈夫拿八。
20亚比该骑着驴,正下山坡,见大卫和跟随他的人从对面下来,亚比该就迎接他们。
21大卫曾说:“我在旷野为那人看守所有的,以致他一样不失落,实在是徒然了。他向我以恶报善!
22凡属拿八的男丁,我若留一个到明日早晨,愿神重重降罚于我!”
23亚比该见大卫,便急忙下驴,在大卫面前脸伏于地叩拜,
24俯伏在大卫的脚前,说:“我主啊,愿这罪归我!求你容婢女向你进言,更求你听婢女的话。
25我主不要理这坏人拿八,他的性情与他的名相称。他名叫拿八,他为人果然愚顽。但我主所打发的仆人,婢女并没有看见。
26我主啊,耶和华既然阻止你亲手报仇,取流血的罪,所以我指着永生的耶和华,又敢在你面前起誓说:愿你的仇敌和谋害你的人都像拿八一样!
27如今,求你将婢女送来的礼物给跟随你的仆人。
28求你饶恕婢女的罪过。耶和华必为我主建立坚固的家,因我主为耶和华争战,并且在你平生的日子查不出有什么过来。
29虽有人起来追逼你,寻索你的性命,你的性命却在耶和华你的神那里蒙保护,如包裹宝器一样。你仇敌的性命,耶和华必抛去,如用机弦甩石一样。
30我主现在若不亲手报仇流无辜人的血,到了耶和华照所应许你的话赐福于你,立你做以色列的王,那时我主必不致心里不安,觉得良心有亏。耶和华赐福于我主的时候,求你记念婢女。”
32大卫对亚比该说:“耶和华以色列的神是应当称颂的!因为他今日使你来迎接我。
33你和你的见识也当称赞,因为你今日拦阻我亲手报仇,流人的血。
34我指着阻止我加害于你的耶和华以色列永生的神起誓,你若不速速地来迎接我,到明日早晨,凡属拿八的男丁必定不留一个。”
Fool
"Pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name – his name means Fool. . . ." - 1 Samuel 25:25
David and his fighting men had been living in the wilderness for a while. They had been watching over the countryside and protecting farmers and shepherds from thieves and raiders. A servant recalled, “These men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. Night and day they were a wall around us. . . .”
But Nabal took no notice of David’s protection, and he had no interest in hospitality. He only wanted to go about business as usual: what was good for him alone. When David asked for some food and supplies, Nabal did not even offer a simple thank-you to David. In the culture of that day, this kind of response was an insult. It was unforgivable. Nabal had to be taught a lesson, and David was willing to teach it.
Nabal’s wife, Abigail, had more sense. She knew that Nabal’s foolish ways were about to cost him his life. So she worked quickly to go and bring gifts of food to David and his men on the road.
Abigail’s wise actions restored humanity to David. She reminded him of who he was and what the Lord had called him to be. There was no reason for him to be a fool like Nabal, and David thanked her for keeping him from taking vengeance into his own hands.
Prayer
Lord, it’s easy for us to act foolishly when we are angry. Help us to listen to wisdom, and help us honor you in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.