【双语灵修】“古人喜乐” As With Gladness Men Of Old

“那生下来作犹太人之王的在哪里？我们在东方看见他的星，特来拜他。” - 太2:2

1月6日（主显节）是庆祝博士来访的日子。但博士拜访孩童耶稣的故事也关乎圣诞的故事。“古人喜乐”讲述了博士对他们发现“指引之星”的反应，这颗星表明一位君王已经诞生。

当博士在天上观测到这颗星时，他们就开始寻访这位新生的王。这首歌的每一节都鼓励我们以类似的方式作出回应。博士急切地追随光芒找到新生王，在祂面前屈膝敬拜，并献上“最珍稀的礼物”，诗歌也鼓励我们寻找祂的光辉，寻求祂的怜悯，并把我们“最贵重的珍宝”带给“我们天上的王”。我们为耶稣这位万王之王的诞生而欢欣，我们蒙召要对祂有所回应。

诗歌鼓励我们，将我们的生活作为献祭交托给我主我王，是祂成全了我们的救恩。这首歌指向启示录21-22章的应许，我们将在新天新地与神同住，拥有整全完满的生命。到那时，我们将不再需要日月星辰（直译：被造的光），因为世界的光耶稣，就是我们的真光。在那里，我们可以永远与主同住，“我们大家常歌唱，哈利路亚颂君王。”

祷告

主啊，感谢你，感谢博士们对启示具有信心的回应：满怀喜悦，出发去寻找新生王。愿我们也能带着喜乐和欢欣，每天为你而活，直到永远。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。

As With Gladness Men Of Old

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." - Matthew 2:2

The visit of the Magi is celebrated on January 6 (Epiphany). But the story of the Magi visiting the child Jesus connects with the Christmas story as well. "As with Gladness Men of Old" tells the story of the Magi responding to their discovery of "the guiding star" that indicated a king had been born.

When the Magi saw this star in the heavens, they set out in search of the newborn king. Each stanza of the song encourages the singer to respond in a similar way. With the Magi, who eagerly follow the light to find the newborn king, to bow before him in worship, and to offer "gifts most rare," we are encouraged to see his splendor, seek his mercy, and bring our "costliest treasures" to "our heavenly King." We rejoice at the birth of Jesus as the King of kings, and we are called to respond.

We are encouraged to live our lives as an offering to the Lord and King, who has made our salvation possible. The song points us to the promises of Revelation 21-22 describing the full life we will have with God in the new heaven and new earth. Then we will no longer need "created light," because Jesus, the light of the world, will be our light. There we can forever live with the Lord and "sing alleluias to our King!"

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the Magi’s response of faith: setting out with joy to find the newborn King. May we also, with joy and gladness, live our lives for you each day and forever. Amen.