【双语灵修】神子民的误解THE MISTAKES OF GOD'S PEOPLE

以赛亚书 40:27；诗篇 13

27 雅各啊，你为何说“我的道路向耶和华隐藏”？以色列啊，你为何言“我的冤屈神并不查问”？ 1 耶和华啊，你忘记我要到几时呢？要到永远吗？你掩面不顾我要到几时呢？ 2 我心里筹算，终日愁苦，要到几时呢？我的仇敌升高压制我，要到几时呢？ 3 耶和华我的神啊，求你看顾我，应允我，使我眼目光明，免得我沉睡至死， 4 免得我的仇敌说“我胜了他”，免得我的敌人在我摇动的时候喜乐。 5 但我倚靠你的慈爱，我的心因你的救恩快乐。 6 我要向耶和华歌唱，因他用厚恩待我。

6月27日

神子民的误解

“雅各啊，你为何说，我的道路向耶和华隐藏？以色列啊，你为何言，我的冤屈神并不查问？” - 以赛亚书 40:27

神的子民当时正处于灰心丧志、孤立无援的状态。尽管神已向他们彰显了祂的独特本质和伟大作为，但百姓仍在两件事上产生了误解。

他们认为神忘记了他们。他们开始怀疑神的慈爱与眷顾，他们的表现就像“自然神论者”（deists）一样，幻想神是遥远且冷漠的，对我们的挣扎漠不关心。

他们认为神对他们不公平。他们深信自己拥有某种特别的权利，而神却没有兑现。他们指责神疏忽职守、处事不公。他们未能从神的管教中看到祂慈爱的呵护。他们忽略了祂的诫命，也忘记了那要尽心、尽性、尽力爱祂，并要爱邻如己的呼召（《申命记》6:5；《利未记》19:18；并参阅《马太福音》22:34-40）。

神的管教绝非没有慈爱。生活中的风暴或许会来临，但这并不代表神不再眷顾。我们被神所爱，尽管我们有罪，祂仍满有恩典地赐予我们生命与赦免。我们蒙拣选，并非基于我们有多好或做了什么。我们得救是本乎恩，也因着信，并靠着耶稣为我们牺牲的大能。藉着耶稣，无论处境如何，我们都能以谦卑和感恩的心来到主面前。

祷告

慈爱的神，求你提醒我们，你永不离弃我们。当我们面临艰难时刻甚至管教时，求你教导我们谦卑与信靠。求你帮助我们安息在你的恩典与慈爱中。阿们。

Isaiah 40:27; Psalm 13

SATURDAY, JUNE 27

THE MISTAKES OF GOD'S PEOPLE

Why do you complain . . . ? Why do you say . . . “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? —Isaiah 40:27

God’s people were discouraged and feeling helpless. Despite the majesty God had shown for them in the uniqueness of his being and the greatness of his work, the people were mistaken in two ways.

First, they thought God had forgotten them. They began to doubt God’s goodness and care. They were like deists, who imagine that God is distant and indifferent to our struggles.

Second, they thought God was being unfair to them. They believed they had special rights that were not being delivered to them. They accused God of neglect and injustice. They did not see God’s loving care in his discipline. They ignored his commands and his call to love him with all their heart, soul, and strength and to love their neighbors as themselves (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; see Matthew 22:34-40).

God’s discipline is not done without love. Storms in life may come, but they do not nullify God’s care. We are loved by God, and he graciously gives us life and offers us forgiveness despite our sins. We are chosen not on the basis of how good we are or what we have done. We are saved by grace through faith in the Lord and by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Through Jesus we are freed to approach the Lord with humility and gratitude, no matter what our circumstances might be.

Loving God, remind us that you never forsake us. When we face hard times and even discipline, teach us humility and trust. Help us to rest in your grace and goodness. Amen.