【双语灵修】神的笑脸THE SMILE OF GOD

利未记 9:22-24

亚伦向百姓举手，为他们祝福。他献了赎罪祭、燔祭、平安祭，就下来了。 摩西、亚伦进入会幕，又出来为百姓祝福，耶和华的荣光就向众民显现。 有火从耶和华面前出来，在坛上烧尽燔祭和脂油，众民一见，就都欢呼，俯伏在地。

星期一

十一月十日

神的笑脸

“亚伦向百姓举手，为他们祝福。” - 利 9:22

我们的文化极度沉迷于追求快乐--透过财富、事业、运动和娱乐、以及其他无数的事情来寻找快乐。有人著书立说，有人做研究，有人拍制播客、电影和电视节目，这些方式都声称能令人得到满足。然而，我们仍未能找到真正能满足心灵的喜乐。世俗的快乐瞬间即逝，它不能兑现其夸大的承诺。

原因是我们被造，是要我们在与神的关系中找到最深的喜乐的。可是，罪令我们与神分开了，我们怎样才能再次得到有神同在的喜乐呢？

作为百姓到神那里的代表，大祭司为百姓的罪献上祭物。今天的经文显示，祭司也代表神来百姓中间。完成了献祭后，大祭司亚伦便举起手来，宣告神的祝福临到百姓。神已经接纳了那些祭物，祂透过亚伦向百姓宣讲恩典和安慰的话。这些恩典的话也是对我们说的呢！复活之后，耶稣转向他的门徒“就举手给他们祝福”（路加福音 24:50）。神已经接纳了耶稣献上的生命和死亡，所以，作为我们伟大的大祭司，耶稣可以代表神说话，赐福我们。因着耶稣，神向我们仰脸，祂微笑的脸光照我们，赐我们平安（参看民数记 6:22-26）。世上没有更大的喜乐的了！

祷告

父啊，当祢的子民见到祢的荣耀时，他们都俯伏在地敬拜祢。当祢的笑脸光照我们时，惟愿我们也献上自己来敬拜祢。阿们。

Leviticus 9:22-24

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10

THE SMILE OF GOD

Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. —Leviticus 9:22

Our culture is obsessed with happiness. We seek joy in wealth, in our careers, in sports and leisure, and in a host of other things. Books have been written; research conducted; podcasts, movies, and TV shows produced—all promising a way to contentment. Yet soul-satisfying joy remains out of reach. Worldly happiness is fleeting at best, and it fails to deliver on its lofty promises.

That’s because we are created to find our deepest joy in a relationship with God. But our sin keeps us apart from God. How can we be restored to the joy of God’s presence?

As a representative of the people to God, the high priest offered sacrifices for the people’s sins. But today’s reading shows that the priest also represented God to the people. After completing the sacrifices Aaron the high priest raised his hands and pronounced God’s blessing on the people. God had accepted the offerings and—through Aaron—spoke a word of grace and comfort to his people.

This word of grace is for us too! After his resurrection, Jesus turned to his disciples, “lifted up his hands and blessed them” (Luke 24:50). God had accepted the sacrifice of Jesus’ life and death, so, as our great High Priest, Jesus could speak on God’s behalf and pronounce favor on us. Because of Jesus, God turns his face toward us, and the light of his smile shines on us and gives us peace (see Numbers 6:22-26). There is no greater happiness!

Father, when your people saw your glory, they fell facedown and worshiped you. As you smile on us, may we too offer ourselves in worship. Amen.