【双语灵修】不得见晨光NO LIGHT OF DAWN

「『人当以训诲和法度为标准。』他们所说的若不与此相符，必不得见晨光。」-赛 8:20
神的子民并不总是遵神的道而行。有时，他们的领袖甚至去求问交鬼和行巫术的（撒上 28:3-25）。在这里，以赛亚指出了试图透过求问死人来寻找只有神才能给的属灵指引的后果：「仰观上天，俯察下地，不料，尽是艰难黑暗和幽暗的痛苦……」

神借着以赛亚说得很清楚：在死人中寻求生命的人，是没有平安的。以赛亚宣告说，求问神和求问死人之间的对比，就像白天和黑夜一样不同。先知诗意地写道：「（他们）必不得见晨光」。换句话说，从死人那里寻求指引就像走进无尽的黑夜，你无法在黑夜中找到晨光。

这些事物的诱惑力在于，它们承诺提供快速进入灵界和获得属灵能力的途径。但这与我们在将临期所铭记的圣经故事中神的话语背道而驰。神并没有要求我们寻找神奇的方法来接近祂，而是祂主动来寻找我们。在耶稣里，祂找到了我们；我们也可以借着耶稣坦然无惧地来到神面前。

祷告

主啊，我们承认我们没有在该转向祢的时候转向祢。我们在祢之外寻求心灵的安慰、智慧和指引。感谢祢让我们借着祢的儿子耶稣能与祢面对面。阿们。

以赛亚书 8:19-22
19 有人对你们说：「当求问那些交鬼的和行巫术的，就是声音绵蛮、言语微细的。」你们便回答说：「百姓不当求问自己的神吗？岂可为活人求问死人呢？20 人当以训诲和法度为标准。」他们所说的若不与此相符，必不得见晨光。 21 他们必经过这地，受艰难，受饥饿，饥饿的时候心中焦躁，咒骂自己的君王和自己的神。 22 仰观上天，俯察下地，不料，尽是艰难黑暗和幽暗的痛苦，他们必被赶入乌黑的黑暗中去。

NO LIGHT OF DAWN

“If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” -Isaiah 8:20

God’s people did not always walk in God’s way. At times, the leaders of God’s people even consulted with mediums (1 Samuel 28:3-25). Here Isaiah notes the consequences of trying to consult the dead to find spiritual direction that only God can provide: “They will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom. . . .”

God’s words through Isaiah are clear: there is no peace for someone who seeks life among the dead. Isaiah declares that the contrast between seeking God and seeking the dead is as different as day and night. Rather poetically, the prophet writes, “They have no light of dawn.” In other words, seeking guidance from the dead is like walking into a never-ending night. You can’t find the light of day by turning to the night.

The allure of such things is that they promise to provide quick access to the spiritual realm and to spiritual power. But that runs contrary to God’s Word in the biblical story we remember during Advent. For instead of demanding that we find magical ways to access God, God has taken the initiative to seek us out. God came to us in Jesus Christ, so that through him we might have unhindered access to God himself.

Prayer
Lord, we confess that we do not turn to you when we should. We seek spiritual comfort, wisdom, and direction outside of you. Thank you for giving us direct access to you through Jesus, your Son. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳