【双语灵修】“荣耀天军” Angels, From The Realms Of Glory

“进了房子，看见小孩子… 就俯伏拜那小孩子。” - 太 2:11

我们已经听过天使向牧羊人显现的故事（路2章）。我们也听到了牧羊人的回应。在“荣耀天军”这首歌中，这些细节再次得到传扬。在这首歌的第三节，我们还听到了关于“博士”，即来自东方的智者的故事，他们来敬拜耶稣这位新生王。

在教会年历中，智者，即博士的故事，与主显节（1月6日）有关，同时也与圣诞节有关。

马太福音解释说，“有几个博士”来到耶路撒冷尊崇一位新王。这些智者研究了星相，他们看到一颗特殊的星，标志着一个王的出生。

博士称这个新生婴孩为“犹太人的王”。值得注意的是，他们知道这个孩子已经是个王了。他们一旦找到祂，就俯伏敬拜祂。

正如我们在圣诞故事中看到的那样，每个人都以敬拜来回应这好消息：天使放声唱歌，将荣耀归于神；牧羊人去寻找这个婴孩，他们为所闻所见的一切赞美神；博士找到婴孩耶稣并敬拜祂。

在“荣耀天军”中，我们都获得激励，以同样的方式作出回应。“齐来敬拜，齐来敬拜，敬拜基督，敬拜基督新生王！”

祷告

主耶稣，当我们庆祝圣诞节的时候，愿我们记住你现在是，而且始终是我们要敬拜的王。阿们。

马太福音 2:1-12

1当希律王的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说：
2“那生下来做犹太人之王的在哪里？我们在东方看见他的星，特来拜他。”
3希律王听见了，就心里不安，耶路撒冷合城的人也都不安。
4他就召齐了祭司长和民间的文士，问他们说：“基督当生在何处？”
5他们回答说：“在犹太的伯利恒。因为有先知记着说：
6‘犹大地的伯利恒啊，你在犹大诸城中并不是最小的，因为将来有一位君王要从你那里出来，牧养我以色列民。’”
7当下，希律暗暗地召了博士来，细问那星是什么时候出现的，
8就差他们往伯利恒去，说：“你们去仔细寻访那小孩子，寻到了就来报信，我也好去拜他。”
9他们听见王的话就去了。在东方所看见的那星忽然在他们前头行，直行到小孩子的地方，就在上头停住了。
10他们看见那星，就大大地欢喜。
11进了房子，看见小孩子和他母亲马利亚，就俯伏拜那小孩子，揭开宝盒，拿黄金、乳香、没药为礼物献给他。
12博士因为在梦中被主指示不要回去见希律，就从别的路回本地去了。

Angels, From The Realms Of Glory

"On coming to the house, they saw the child . . . and they bowed down and worshiped him." - Matthew 2:11

We have heard the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds (Luke 2). And we have heard the shepherds’ response. In the song "Angels, from the Realms of Glory" those details are celebrated again. And in stanza 3 of this song we also hear about "sages," wise men from the east, who come to worship Jesus, the newborn King.

In the church calendar the story of the wise men, or Magi, is associated with Epiphany (January 6), but it connects with the Christmas story as well.

The book of Matthew explains that "Magi from the east" came to Jerusalem to honor a new king. These wise men studied the stars, and they had seen a special star that signified the birth of a king.

The Magi referred to this newborn as the "king of the Jews." It is interesting to note that they knew this child was already a king. And once they found him, they bowed down and worshiped him.

As we see in the Christmas story, everyone responds in worship: the angels burst into song, glorifying God; the shepherds go to find the baby, and they praise God for all they have heard and seen; and the Magi find the child Jesus and worship him.

In "Angels, from the Realms of Glory," we are all encouraged to respond in the same way: "Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King!"

Prayer

Lord Jesus, as we celebrate Christmas, may we remember that you are and always have been the King we are called to worship. Amen.