【双语灵修】上帝律法的第一条FIRST TABLE OF GOD’S LAW

出埃及记 20:1-11

神吩咐这一切的话说： “我是耶和华你的神，曾将你从埃及地为奴之家领出来。

“除了我以外，你不可有别的神。

“不可为自己雕刻偶像，也不可做什么形象仿佛上天、下地和地底下、水中的百物。 不可跪拜那些像，也不可侍奉它，因为我耶和华你的神是忌邪的神。恨我的，我必追讨他的罪，自父及子，直到三四代； 爱我守我诫命的，我必向他们发慈爱，直到千代。

“不可妄称耶和华你神的名，因为妄称耶和华名的，耶和华必不以他为无罪。

“当记念安息日，守为圣日。 六日要劳碌做你一切的工， 但第七日是向耶和华你神当守的安息日。这一日你和你的儿女、仆婢、牲畜，并你城里寄居的客旅，无论何工都不可做。 因为六日之内，耶和华造天、地、海和其中的万物，第七日便安息，所以耶和华赐福于安息日，定为圣日。

10月24日

上帝律法的第一条

耶稣对他说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽意爱主－你的 神。 这是诫命中的第一，且是最大的。” (马太福音22:37-38)

最近我和妻子去听了一场交响乐。台上七十五位音乐家倾力演奏，而最耀眼的明星是，那位使用1699年斯特拉迪瓦里小提琴的年轻小提琴手。演出结束时，全场观众起立鼓掌，这位年轻人离场后，掌声持续不断，他重新登台鞠躬致意。当掌声更加热烈时，他再次返场谢幕。

这位小提琴手是个自负的年轻人吗？并不是。给予观众机会为精彩演出表达感激与惊叹，反而增添了听众的喜悦。若演奏者谢幕后不再返场，观众反而会有未尽兴之感。表达欣赏本就是享受精彩演出的重要环节。

神赐予祂子民的首块法版（前四条诫命）召唤他们尽心、尽性、尽意爱主。神期望我们在所思所言所行中尊荣祂。首块法版旨在让我们真正领略神的荣美与荣耀。

以这种方式要求我们的爱和尊崇，并非自负。恰恰相反，这正表明那位全然奇妙且充满慈爱的神，殷切期盼我们深刻享受最美好的生命、祝福与盼望。

祷告

神啊，感谢你的律法，教导我们看见并享受你赐予众人那奇妙美好的爱。求你帮助我们所思所行，永远遵循你的道路。奉耶稣之名，阿们。

Exodus 20:1-11

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24

FIRST TABLE OF GOD’S LAW

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” —Matthew 22:37-38

My wife and I recently attended a symphony. Seventy-five musicians on the stage gave their best. The star of the show was a young violinist playing a 1699 Stradivarius violin. At the end of the performance, with the crowd on their feet applauding, the young man left the stage. The applause continued, and he reappeared and bowed. The applause increased, and he returned a second time.

Was this violinist an egotistical young man? No. Giving the audience the opportunity to express their gratitude and amazement for a beautiful performance added to the listeners’ joy. If the violinist had simply walked off and not returned, the audience would have felt shortchanged. Expressing appreciation is an important part of enjoying a great performance.

The first table of God’s law to his people (commandments 1-4) calls them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind. God wants us to honor and glorify him in all we think, say, and do. The first table of the law is designed to enable us to truly appreciate God’s beauty and glory.

Calling for our love and respect in this way is not egotistical. Rather, it is a sign that the utterly amazing and loving God wants us deeply to enjoy the best life, blessings, and hope possible.

Lord God, thank you for your law, which teaches us to see and enjoy your amazing, beautiful love for us all. Help us to think and act and live in your ways always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.