【双语灵修】在称为“面包房”的伯利恒 In The House Of Bread
耶稣在伯利恒降生,祂成为生命的粮,祂应验了历史上最伟大的满足人类需求的征兆。
“〔拿俄米〕就与两个儿妇起身,要从摩押地归回,因为她 … 听见耶和华眷顾自己的百姓,赐粮食与他们。” - 得 1:6
路得和拿俄米的故事以伤心和饥饿开始,然而却是以满足和喜乐作结的。
丈夫和儿子去世后,拿俄米听见神已经开始赐粮食(lehem,意思是面包)给伯利恒的人(参看路得记 1章),而伯利恒这个名字的意思就是“面包房。”
路得和拿俄米回到伯利恒时,在她们寻找粮食的过程中,神每一步都在供应她们的需要 - 在路得拾取剩余麦穗的田间;在日间与收割的人同吃烘穗子时;在收割季节结束时的打谷场上。
故事中凡是提到关于丰足谷物和粮食的记载,都显明主的手所赐的满足。路得被允准跟着收割的人拾取麦穗,又把满满一篮的麦穗带回家。吃饭时,路得吃得饱饱、甚至有余剩。在整个收割期间,路得都可以拾取麦穗。收割日子结束后,路得便请求波阿斯帮助她(路得记 3章)。我们不单在波阿斯所说的话中看到很多富足的记号,我们也在他仁慈和乐施的行动中看得到这记号。
多年之后,路得和波阿斯的后人耶稣,在伯利恒降生。衪成为生命的粮,衪应验了历史上最伟大的满足人类需求的征兆。
祷告
我们的父神,你的作为既出人意外、又令人喜出望外。感谢你赐我们日用的饮食。奉耶稣名祈求,阿们。
路得记 2章
1拿俄米的丈夫以利米勒的亲族中,有一个人名叫波阿斯,是个大财主。
2摩押女子路得对拿俄米说:“容我往田间去,我蒙谁的恩,就在谁的身后拾取麦穗。”拿俄米说:“女儿啊,你只管去。”
3路得就去了,来到田间,在收割的人身后拾取麦穗。她恰巧到了以利米勒本族的人波阿斯那块田里。
4波阿斯正从伯利恒来,对收割的人说:“愿耶和华与你们同在!”他们回答说:“愿耶和华赐福于你!”
5波阿斯问监管收割的仆人说:“那是谁家的女子?”
6监管收割的仆人回答说:“是那摩押女子,跟随拿俄米从摩押地回来的。
7她说:‘请你容我跟着收割的人,拾取打捆剩下的麦穗。’她从早晨直到如今,除了在屋子里坐一会儿,常在这里。”
8波阿斯对路得说:“女儿啊,听我说,不要往别人田里拾取麦穗,也不要离开这里,要常与我使女们在一处。
9我的仆人在哪块田收割,你就跟着他们去。我已经吩咐仆人不可欺负你。你若渴了,就可以到器皿那里喝仆人打来的水。”
10路得就俯伏在地叩拜,对他说:“我既是外邦人,怎么蒙你的恩,这样顾恤我呢?”
11波阿斯回答说:“自从你丈夫死后,凡你向婆婆所行的,并你离开父母和本地到素不认识的民中,这些事,人全都告诉我了。
12愿耶和华照你所行的赏赐你。你来投靠耶和华以色列神的翅膀下,愿你满得他的赏赐。”
13路得说:“我主啊,愿在你眼前蒙恩。我虽然不及你的一个使女,你还用慈爱的话安慰我的心。”
14到了吃饭的时候,波阿斯对路得说:“你到这里来吃饼,将饼蘸在醋里。”路得就在收割的人旁边坐下。他们把烘了的穗子递给她,她吃饱了,还有余剩的。
15她起来又拾取麦穗。波阿斯吩咐仆人说:“她就是在捆中拾取麦穗,也可以容她,不可羞辱她;
16并要从捆里抽出些来,留在地下任她拾取,不可叱吓她。”
17这样,路得在田间拾取麦穗,直到晚上。将所拾取的打了,约有一伊法大麦。
18她就把所拾取的带进城去给婆婆看,又把她吃饱了所剩的给了婆婆。
19婆婆问她说:“你今日在哪里拾取麦穗,在哪里做工呢?愿那顾恤你的得福!”路得就告诉婆婆说:“我今日在一个名叫波阿斯的人那里做工。”
20拿俄米对儿妇说:“愿那人蒙耶和华赐福!因为他不断地恩待活人死人。”拿俄米又说:“那是我们本族的人,是一个至近的亲属。”
21摩押女子路得说:“他对我说:‘你要紧随我的仆人拾取麦穗,直等他们收完了我的庄稼。’”
22拿俄米对儿妇路得说:“女儿啊,你跟着他的使女出去,不叫人遇见你在别人田间,这才为好。”
23于是路得与波阿斯的使女常在一处拾取麦穗,直到收完了大麦和小麦。路得仍与婆婆同住。
In The House Of Bread
"When Naomi heard . . . that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home." - Ruth 1:6
Ruth and Naomi's story begins with sadness and hunger, and it ends with fulfillment and joy.
After Naomi's husband and her sons died, she heard that God was again providing food (literally lehem, which means bread) in Bethlehem, which means "house of bread" (see Ruth 1).
When Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem, God provided for them at every stage of the bread-making process—in the field as Ruth picked up leftover grain; at mealtime during the workday when the harvesters ate roasted barley; and at the end of the season at the threshing floor.
In this story, all kinds of references to the abundance of grain and bread show fulfillment by the Lord's hand. Ruth was permitted to glean with the crew and to bring home a basket brimming with grain. At mealtime, Ruth ate until she was satisfied, and she even had some left over. Ruth also harvested grain throughout the season, after which she approached Boaz to help her (Ruth 3). And many of the signs of fulfillment are not only in Boaz's words but also in his gestures of kindness and provision.
Many years later, Jesus, a descendent of Ruth and Boaz, was born in Bethlehem. And he became the bread of life, the greatest fulfillment of all time.
Prayer
God our Father, your ways surprise and delight. Thank you for our daily bread. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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