第56章 领受上帝律法的训诲
§1
第56章 领受上帝律法的训诲
§2
Chap. 56 - Instructed in the Law of God
§3
（本章根据：尼希米记8-10）
§4
这正是吹角节的时期。许多人都聚集在耶路撒冷。当时的情景乃是悲惨而有趣的。耶路撒冷的城墙虽已重建，城门也已安立，但城内大部分仍是一片废墟。[1]{PK 661.1}
§5
It was the time of the Feast of Trumpets. Many were gathered at Jerusalem. The scene was one of mournful interest. The wall of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and the gates set up, but a large part of the city was still in ruins.{PK 661.1}[1]
§6
以斯拉这时年事已高，他站在城内最宽街道中的一个木台上，四面都是犹大逝去光荣的可悲陈迹。那聚集在他左右的是他利未族的弟兄们。他们从台上俯瞰下去，是一片人山人海。那与上帝立约的子民已经从四围各地聚拢来了。“以斯拉称颂耶和华至大的上帝。众民都举手应声说阿们，……就低头，面伏于地，敬拜耶和华。”[2]{PK 661.2}
§7
On a platform of wood, erected in one of the broadest streets, and surrounded on every hand by the sad reminders of Judahs departed glory, stood Ezra, now an aged man. At his right and left were gathered his brother Levites. Looking down from the platform, their eyes swept over a sea of heads. From all the surrounding country the children of the covenant had assembled. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen: . . . and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.{PK 661.2}[2]
§8
然而即使在这里，也有以色列犯罪的证据。由于民众与异邦之人通婚，希伯来的语言已经转讹误多了，所以主讲人必须费尽心机用当时民间的言语来解释律法的原则。“他们清清楚楚的念上帝的律法书，讲明意思，使百姓明白所念的。”[3]{PK 661.3}
§9
Yet even here was evidence of the sin of Israel. Through the intermarriage of the people with other nations, the Hebrew language had become corrupted, and great care was necessary on the part of the speakers to explain the law in the language of the people, that it might be understood by all. Certain of the priests and Levites united with Ezra in explaining the principles of the law. They read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.{PK 661.3}[3]
§10
“众民侧耳而听”“这律法书。”他们专心而恭敬地倾听至高者的圣言。当律法被解明的时候，他们就看出自己的罪来，并因自己的过犯而悲伤。但这原是一个快乐的节日，是主吩咐民众要以欢欣的精神遵守的圣会，因此他们受命要抑制自己的愁苦，并要因上帝加于他们的大慈怜而欢乐。尼希米说：“今日是耶和华你们上帝的圣日，不要悲哀哭泣。……你们去吃肥美的、喝甘甜的，有不能预备的，就分给他。因为今日是我们主的圣日，你们不要忧愁，因靠耶和华而得的喜乐是你们的力量。”[4]{PK 662.1}
§11
And the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. They listened, intent and reverent, to the words of the Most High. As the law was explained, they were convinced of their guilt, and they mourned because of their transgressions. But this day was a festival, a day of rejoicing, a holy convocation, a day which the Lord had commanded the people to keep with joy and gladness; and in view of this they were bidden to restrain their grief and to rejoice because of Gods great mercy toward them. This day is holy unto the Lord your God, Nehemiah said. Mourn not, nor weep. . . . Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.{PK 662.1}[4]
§12
当日上午是专用来举行宗教聚会的，因此民众便用余下的时间存着感恩的心来细述上帝的福惠，并享用他所供备的恩物。众人也将一部分食物分给一无预备的穷人。众民大大快乐，因为已经宣读并明白了律法上的话。[5]{PK 662.2}
§13
The earlier part of the day was devoted to religious exercises, and the people spent the remainder of the time in gratefully recounting the blessings of God and in enjoying the bounties that He had provided. Portions were also sent to the poor, who had nothing to prepare. There was great rejoicing because the words of the law had been read and understood. {PK 662.2}[5]
§14
次日，他们继续宣读并讲明律法。及至指定的日子，七月初十日便根据上帝的命令，而举行了赎罪日的严肃礼节。[6]{PK 665.1}
§15
On the following day the reading and explaining of the law were continued. And at the time appointed--on the tenth day of the seventh month--the solemn services of the Day of Atonement were performed according to the command of God.{PK 665.1}[6]
§16
在同月的十五日至二十二日，民众和首领们再守了一次住棚节。那时“要在各城和耶路撒冷宣传报告说，你们当上山，将橄榄树、野橄榄树、番石榴树、棕树和各样茂密树的枝子取来，照着所写的搭棚。于是百姓出去，取了树枝来，各人在自己的房顶上、或院内、或上帝殿的院内……搭棚。……于是众人大大喜乐。从头一天，直到末一天，以斯拉每日念上帝的律法书。”[7]{PK 665.2}
§17
From the fifteenth to the twenty-second of the same month the people and their rulers kept once more the Feast of Tabernacles. It was proclaimed in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God. . . . And there was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he [Ezra] read in the book of the law of God.{PK 665.2}[7]
§18
民众天天倾听律法上的话语，就觉悟了自己的过犯，以及他们国家在过去各世代中所犯的罪。他们看出上帝保护的恩眷之所以收回，亚伯拉罕的子孙之所以分散到外邦，都是因为他们离开了上帝；故此他们决心要祈求他的怜悯，并许愿要遵行他的诫命。当他们在住棚节结束之后，还没有参加第二天所举行的严肃会之前，他们先与当中的外邦人隔开了。[8]{PK 665.3}
§19
As they had listened from day to day to the words of the law, the people had been convicted of their transgressions, and of the sins of their nation in past generations. They saw that it was because of a departure from God that His protecting care had been withdrawn and that the children of Abraham had been scattered in foreign lands, and they determined to seek His mercy and to pledge themselves to walk in His commandments. Before entering upon this solemn service, held on the second day after the close of the Feast of Tabernacles, they separated themselves from the heathen among them.{PK 665.3}[8]
§20
当民众在主面前俯伏下拜、承认罪过并恳求赦免时，他们的首领们便鼓励他们、要相信上帝已照他的应许垂听了他们的祈祷。他们不但需要悲哀、哭泣、忏悔，也必相信上帝已经饶恕他们。他们必须细述他的怜爱并赞美他的良善，借此表现自己的信心。这班教师们说：“你们要站起来，称颂耶和华你们的上帝永世无尽。”[9]{PK 665.4}
§21
As the people prostrated themselves before the Lord, confessing their sins and pleading for pardon, their leaders encouraged them to believe that God, according to His promise, heard their prayers. They must not only mourn and weep, and repent, but they must believe that God pardoned them. They must show their faith by recounting His mercies and praising Him for His goodness. Stand up, said these teachers, and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever.{PK 665.4}[9]
§22
于是，当聚集的会众起立向天伸手时，便有以下的诗歌唱出：“耶和华啊，你荣耀之名是应当称颂的，超乎一切称颂和赞美。你，唯独你，是耶和华；你造了天和天上的天，并天上的万像，地和地上的万物，海和海中所有的，这一切都是你所保存的，天军也都敬拜你。”[10]{PK 666.1}
§23
Then from the assembled throng, as they stood with outstretched hands toward heaven, there arose the song: Blessed be Thy glorious name, Which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth, and all things that are therein, The seas, and all that is therein, And Thou preservest them all; And the host of heaven worshippeth Thee.{PK 666.1}[10]
§24
唱完赞美诗之后，会众的领袖便述说以色列的历史，表明上帝过去对他们是何等的仁慈，而他们对上帝却是何等的忘恩负义。于是全会众便立约要遵守上帝的一切诫命。他们已经因自己的罪而受罚，这时他们承认上帝对待他们的一切都是公义的，故此他们许愿要遵守他的律法。为要使这约成为“确实的约，”并永久保存作为他们所承担的义务之记念起见，就将它写了下来，祭司、利未人和首领们也都签了名。这约要用来使他们记起自己的责任，并成为防御试探的屏障。民众严肃地起誓“必遵行上帝借他仆人摩西所传的律法，谨守遵行耶和华我们主的一切诫命、典章、律例。”这次所起的誓，也包括不再与当地民族通婚的诺言在内。[11]{PK 666.2}
§25
The song of praise ended, the leaders of the congregation related the history of Israel, showing how great had been Gods goodness toward them, and how great their ingratitude. Then the whole congregation entered into a covenant to keep all the commandments of God. They had suffered punishment for their sins; now they acknowledged the justice of Gods dealings with them and pledged themselves to obey His law. And that this might be a sure covenant, and be preserved in permanent form, as a memorial of the obligation they had taken upon themselves, it was written out, and the priests, Levites, and princes signed it. It was to serve as a reminder of duty and a barrier against temptation. The people took a solemn oath to walk in Gods law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His judgments and His statutes. The oath taken at this time included a promise not to intermarry with the people of the land.{PK 666.2}[11]
§26
在那禁食的日子结束之前，民众借立誓不再干犯安息日，更进一步地表示决心归向主，尼希米这时并没有像后来那样，使用他的权柄来阻止外邦商人进入耶路撒冷。但为力求使民众不致屈从试探起见，他借着一项严肃的誓约，限制他们答应不再在这日向这些摊贩购物而违犯安息日的律法，希望如此可以阻止那些商人不再来作这样的买卖。[12]{PK 667.1}
§27
Before the day of fasting ended, the people still further manifested their determination to return to the Lord, by pledging themselves to cease from desecrating the Sabbath. Nehemiah did not at this time, as at a later date, exercise his authority to prevent heathen traders from coming into Jerusalem; but in an effort to save the people from yielding to temptation, he bound them, by a solemn covenant, not to transgress the Sabbath law by purchasing from these venders, hoping that this would discourage the traders and put an end to the traffic.{PK 667.1}[12]
§28
同时也为维持公共礼拜上帝的费用作了安排。会众许愿每年在十分之一以外，另奉献一笔规定的款项为圣殿崇事之用。尼希米写道：“我们……都掣签，……每年将我们地上初熟的土产和各样树上初熟的果子，都奉到耶和华的殿里，又照律法上所写的，将我们头胎的儿子和首生的牛羊，都奉到我们上帝的殿。”[13]{PK 667.2}
§29
Provision was also made to support the public worship of God. In addition to the tithe the congregation pledged themselves to contribute yearly a stated sum for the service of the sanctuary. We cast the lots, Nehemiah writes, to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord: also the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks.{PK 667.2}[13]
§30
以色列已经为自己背道的罪深感忧伤而归向上帝了。他们已经痛哭哀号、承认己罪了。他们已经承认上帝对待他们的一切都是公义的，并已立约要遵守他的律法。这时，他们就必须表示相信他的应许。上帝已经悦纳他们的悔改，他们这时就要因罪过得蒙赦免，并重获神圣恩眷的凭证而欣喜了。[14]{PK 667.3}
§31
Israel had returned to God with deep sorrow for backsliding. They had made confession with mourning and lamentation. They had acknowledged the righteousness of Gods dealings with them, and had covenanted to obey His law. Now they must manifest faith in His promises. God had accepted their repentance; they were now to rejoice in the assurance of sins forgiven and their restoration to divine favor.{PK 667.3}[14]
§32
尼希米所作恢复崇拜真神上帝的努力终于获得成功了。只要民众忠于自己所立的誓约，只要他们顺从上帝的圣言，主就必实现他的应许而将丰富的恩惠倾降与他们。[15]{PK 668.1}
§33
Nehemiahs efforts to restore the worship of the true God had been crowned with success. As long as the people were true to the oath they had taken, as long as they were obedient to Gods word, so long would the Lord fulfill His promise by pouring rich blessings upon them.{PK 668.1}[15]
§34
这段记载对于一切自知有罪，并感觉不配因而颓丧的人，都充满了信心的教训与鼓励。《圣经》固然据实叙述以色列背道的结果；但它也描写他们归向主的时际所表现的深切自卑和悔改，以及诚恳献身与慷慨牺牲。[16]{PK 668.2}
§35
For those who are convicted of sin and weighed down with a sense of their unworthiness, there are lessons of faith and encouragement in this record. The Bible faithfully presents the result of Israels apostasy; but it portrays also the deep humiliation and repentance, the earnest devotion and generous sacrifice, that marked their seasons of return to the Lord.{PK 668.2}[16]
§36
每次真诚转向主都为人生带来恒久的喜乐。每当一个罪人顺从圣灵的感化时，他就会在那位鉴察人心之大主的圣洁对比下，看出自己的罪愆与污秽来。他看出自己已被判定为犯法的人。但他万不可因此趋于绝望，因为他的赦免已经获得保证了。他尽可因感知自己的罪已蒙饶恕，并因那位乐于赦罪之天父的慈爱而欢喜快乐。上帝将悔改的罪人抱在他慈爱的怀中，缠裹他们的创伤，除净他们的罪污，并以救恩的衣袍给他们穿上，这乃是他的光荣。[17]{PK 668.3}
§37
Every true turning to the Lord brings abiding joy into the life. When a sinner yields to the influence of the Holy Spirit, he sees his own guilt and defilement in contrast with the holiness of the great Searcher of hearts. He sees himself condemned as a transgressor. But he is not, because of this, to give way to despair; for his pardon has already been secured. He may rejoice in the sense of sins forgiven, in the love of a pardoning heavenly Father. It is Gods glory to encircle sinful, repentant human beings in the arms of His love, to bind up their wounds, to cleanse them from sin, and to clothe them with the garments of salvation.{PK 668.3}[17]