“Wisdom: Knowing the True Fear of the Lord 智慧:曉得對主真正的敬畏“(Proverbs 箴言 1:5-7)
Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance – for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
使智慧人聽了,可以增長學問,使聰明人聽了,可以獲得智謀;使人明白箴言和譬喻,懂得智慧人的言詞和他們的隱語。敬畏耶和華是知識的開端,但愚妄人藐視智慧和教訓。
Like fallen Adam and Eve hiding from God’s presence, fugitive Moses approaching a burning bush with no burning up as well as those chosen shepherds as witnesses of Jesus’ birth, they have had experience of a terror having no relation to mere fear of bodily harm but the presence of the divine. No lasting good can come from religious activities that do not root in this quality of creature-fear. The animal in us is very strong and self-confident. Until it has been defeated God will not show Himself to the eyes of our faith. To conclude, “No one can know the true grace of God who has not first known the fear of God!”
好像墮落了而逃避神臨在的亞當和夏娃、走近烈火燒不盡之荊棘的逃亡犯摩西,與及蒙揀選作耶穌降生見證的牧羊人,他們曾經體驗了那種與單單害怕身體受傷毫無關係,卻是因著神聖的顯現帶來的畏懼。宗教活動若不紮根於受造者對神的敬畏,它就不會給我們帶來任何持久的益處。我們裡面的野獸非常強壯,而且充滿自信。除非它遭受擊敗,否則神就不會對我們信心的眼睛顯明自己。總的來說,“ 沒有人能夠認識神真正的恩典,除非他已首先認識對神的敬畏!”
Prayer: Sovereign God, we should regard you with respect, awe and the proper reverence that the creature owes to the Creator and that the redeemed owes to the Redeemer. Thank you for reminding us that fearing you comes from your revelation and having right relationship with you is the key to the wisdom of life. Help us to cultivate that affectionate reverence by which we as your children bend ourselves humbly and carefully to your love as well as your will. Amen.
禱告: 至高無上的神啊,我們理應以尊重、畏怯,並受造者對創造主與及得贖者對救贖主所虧欠的正確敬畏待你。感謝你提醒我們,敬畏你來自你的啓示,而與你有和好正確的關係是生命智慧的關鍵。求你幫助我們,培育那充滿深情的敬畏,我們作為你的兒女藉著它,把自己謙卑和細心地朝向你的慈愛與及你的旨意裡。阿們。