This week, we shall continue the
study of 2 Chronicles of the Old Testament.
The Celebration of Passover
(1) The priests and the Levites were ashamed (vv. 13-16):
a. Why were they ashamed?
b. Did it have anything to do with v. 14?
c. What did they do as a result?
(2) There were people, especially from outside of Judah who came to present and eat sacrifices while unclean (vv. 17-20).
a. What might be the reasons for their uncleanness? (see Lev. 7:19, 11:28, 12:2; 13:3; 15:2, 16-24 for some of the reasons)
b. What should they have done before participating in this celebration? (see the example in Lev. 11:28 )
c. What if they eat any of the sacrifice while unclean? (see Lev. 7:20-21)
d. Why did Hezekiah not prohibit them from participating at the celebration and pray for them? (vv. 18-19)
e. Did God hear Hezekiah’s prayer? Why or why not?
f. What does this tell us about the difference between the letter and the spirit of the Law? (see 2 Cor. 3:6)
(3) How special was this celebration that gave everyone great joy? (v. 21)
(4) Why did Hezekiah choose to speak to the Levites with words of encouragement? (v. 22)
(5) What special contribution had they made concerning this celebration?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
本週我們繼續研讀舊約歷代志下。請細心慢慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
重守逾越節
(1) 祭司與利未人覺得慚愧(30:13-16):
a. 他們為什麼感到慚愧？
b. 與30:14所言有關嗎？
c. 他們怎樣做？
(2) 有許多人，特別是從猶大以外回來的，尚未自潔就守節，甚至吃祭牲(30:17-20):
a. 他們不潔的原因可包括什麼？（可參利7:19, 11:28, 12:2; 13:3; 15:2, 16-24）
b. 他們該怎樣才參加守節？(參利11:28)
c. 若未自潔而吃祭物會有什麼結果？（見利7:20-21）
d. 為何希西家不立即制止他們，反而只為他們禱告？(30:18-19)
e. 神應允這禱告嗎？為什麼？
f. 這樣我們對律法的字眼和精義有什麼了解？（見林後3:6）
(3) 這叫眾人大大喜樂的慶祝有什麼特別之處？
(4) 希西家為何特別慰勞（NIV譯為勉勵）那些利未人？
(5) 這些利未人在這重要的時刻立了什麼功？
(6) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the LORD.” (2 Chr. 30:22)
We know that we are different members in the body of Christ and the Apostle Paul reminds us that, as a result, we all have different functions (or gifts)—some appear to be stronger and more presentable, and others weaker and less presentable (1 Cor. 12:22ff), but nonetheless, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines” (1 Cor. 12:11).
However, knowing this truth has not helped us. Often we desire gifts that others have and envy the attention, praise and satisfaction that appear to come with these gifts.
While it is true that the Spirit gives gifts “just as He determines”, the Apostle Paul does encourage us to prepare ourselves to be used by God for “noble purposes” with these words, “If a man cleanse himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). The Levites at the resumption of the Passover celebration was a case in point.
The Levites had not been given the function to handle the sacrifice animal directly according to the Law of Moses (see Lev. 1:6); it was the sacred privilege of the priests. However, because many of the priests had not cleansed themselves in time, as a result, there were not enough priests to handle the skinning of the animals. On the contrary, “the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been” (2 Chr. 29:34), and so they were drafted into helping the priests in this sacred function. At the end of the seven days’ celebration, Hezekiah was so pleased with them that he “spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the Lord” (2 Chr. 30:22).
This is a great example for us to learn in that, if we keep ourselves pure, there is no telling how God can use us for the sake of His kingdom.
「希西家慰勞一切善於事奉耶和華的利未人。於是眾人吃節筵七日，又獻平安祭，且向耶和華─他們列祖的神認罪。」(代下30:22)
我們都知道信徒是基督身體的肢體。使徒保羅提醒我們，各肢體有不同的功用（即恩賜）—有些似是較為強壯和被看為體面的；有些看來是較軟弱和不體面的（林前12:22ff）。但他強調的說：“這一切都是這位聖靈所運行，隨己意分給各人的” (林前12:11)。
但知道這真理不一定使我們願意接受這事實。往往，我們善慕別人的恩賜，甚至妒忌別人因此所得的光彩、稱讚和成果所帶來的滿足感。不過保羅卻指出：恩賜固然是聖靈“隨己意”分配的，但他也鼓勵我們要準備自己來被神所重用：“人若自潔，脫離卑賤的事，就必作貴重的器皿，成為聖潔，合乎主用，豫備行各樣的善事”（提後2:21）。那些協助希西家所重新遵守逾越節節期之利未人是很好的例子。
按著摩西律法的規定，一般利未人不能直接參與獻祭牲的事宜；這聖職是祭司的專利（參利1:6）。但在這次的典禮中沒有足夠能合時自潔的祭司來剝祭牲的皮。反而，“因為利未人誠心自潔，勝過祭司”（代下29:34），他們就被破例的用來協助完成這聖職。在七天的守節結束時，希西家就特別“慰勞一切善於事奉耶和華的利未人” （代下30:22）。
是的，若我們常常自潔，神是樂意使用我們來作祂聖工的。
30:23-27—The Celebration of Passover (Continued)
(1) Why did the whole assembly feel the need to celebrate the festival beyond the originally prescribed seven days? What does it say about the spiritual condition in that it was the decision of the “whole assembly”?
(2) What example did the king set for the people? (v. 24)
(3) How did it impact the officials of the city?
(4) Have you any idea how long it has been since such a joyous celebration of this scale has taken place? (v. 26; see 2 Chr. 7:4ff—more than 250 years)
(5) Was God really pleased with their sacrifices and worship? (v. 27) Why?
31:1-8—Post-Celebration Events
(6) What happened after this celebration? (31:1)
(7) What might account for such drastic actions, even outside of Judah?
(8) In re-establishing the duty roster for the priest and Levites,
a. What example did the king set for them? (v. 3)
b. What order did he give the people after he set his own example? (v. 4)
c. How did the people respond to the king’s order? Why? (vv. 5-7)
(9) How would you describe the contribution of Hezekiah to the revival of the nation? Why was he so successful?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請細心慢慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
30:23-27—重守逾越節（續）
(1) 為何全會眾要再守多七天？這怎樣反映出會眾的心？
(2) 希西家作出什麼榜樣？(30:24)
(3) 眾首領如何作出回應？
(4) 你曉得像這樣的守節敬拜已有多久沒有出現？（30:26; 可參代下7:4ff—事隔足足250年）
(5) 神是否真的喜悅他們的獻祭和敬拜？(30:27) 為什麼？
31:1-8—這事以後
(6) 這次的守逾越節帶來什麼影響？(31:1)
(7) 為何連猶大以外的一帶地方也出現這樣的影響？
(8) 重定祭司和利未人的班次：
a. 希西家為重建聖殿經常的獻祭作出什麼榜樣？(31:3)
b. 既先立榜樣，他跟著發出什麼諭旨？(31:4)
c. 百姓怎樣回應王的命令？為什麼？(31:5-7)
(9) 你認為希西家對國家屬靈的復興作出了什麼重大貢獻？成功之處何在？
(10) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中?
“The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the LORD.” (2 Chr. 31:3)
The revival under Hezekiah was really remarkable. Not only did the celebration of the Passover rival the scale of the celebration of the dedication of the temple in the time of Solomon (2 Chr. 30:26), it was a revival beyond the surface ― a true revival of the spiritual condition of the people, because the Bible shows how God was pleased with their celebration in that “The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place” (2 Chr. 30:27).
When you think of the fact that Hezekiah succeeded one of the most wicked kings in Ahaz who had not closed the temple to Yahweh worship, but brought into the temple all kinds of idols and altars, it would have been an impossible task for Hezekiah to restore the external worship of Yahweh to the nation, let alone changing the hearts of the people. He might be able to accomplish the former by force as a king, but the latter was truly beyond his power. As it turned out, he was able to accomplish both.
It was obviously God’s doing in that He had prepared the hearts of the Levites whose conscientiousness in consecrating themselves had made the cleansing of the temple and the celebration of the Passover possible (2 Chr. 29:34). However, we can also see that in everything, the king was setting as example for all to follow:
- Once the temple was cleansed, he took the lead to get up “early in the morning” and gathered the city officials to go up to the temple to present the sin offerings (29:20)— this shows his own commitment to return to the Lord;
- And as the whole assembly agreed to celebrate the festival for seven more days (likely at his suggestion), he took the lead to offer 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for the assembly and thus the city officials followed suit with their 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats (30:24); and
- He did more than give a one-time contribution to the celebration of Passover, but he also contributed to maintain the regular services at the temple (31:3) which prompted the people to follow his order to tithe as they should (31:4).
Indeed, the most effective teaching is not one of words but of deeds. To be a successful spiritual leader, we need not only to talk our walk, but walk our walk. Walk must precede talk!
「王又從自己的產業中定出分來為燔祭，就是早晚的燔祭和安息日、月朔，並節期的燔祭，都是按耶和華律法上所載的。」(代下31:3)
希西家所策動的復興實在是很特別的。一方面，這次守逾越節的喜樂和規模可以說是能與所羅門獻殿的典禮相比的(代下30:26) ；這次的復興確是超越外表儀式的輝煌，而是屬靈生命復興的彰顯，因為聖經作見證說：“那時祭司利未人起來，為民祝福，他們的聲音，蒙神垂聽，他們的禱告，達到天上的聖所” (代下30:27)。
按情理，希西家是繼猶大歷史中少有如此行惡的王亞哈斯作王的；這亞哈斯不但停止了耶和華殿的敬拜，更把各種偶像和祭壇放在神的殿。能把這情況轉過來，特別能叫百姓的心回轉向神，實在是難上加難。他或許能用王的權勢來潔淨聖殿，但潔淨、改變人心卻不是他能作的。但結果，兩者都得潔淨。
這當然是神的工作！祂準備好那些利未人，都 「誠心自潔」，使聖殿得潔淨、獻祭得順利完成 (代下29:34)。同時，我們看到希西家在凡事上都是以身作則，為各人立下榜樣：
- 不論在聖殿一得潔淨後，他就 “清早/early in the morning”起來(代下29:20)，帶領首領到聖殿獻贖罪祭—這正顯出他為國悔罪的決心；
- 在延伸守節七日時，他率先自費獻出大批祭牲，使眾領袖不得不跟他的榜樣而行(代下30:24)；
- 更寶貴的，這不只是一次過的榜樣: 他更 “從自己的產業中定出分來為燔祭，就是早晚的燔祭……”(代下31:3)—這榜樣感動了百姓重新遵守律法什一奉獻的吩咐(代下31:4)。
是的，最有力的講章是用生命，不是單用口來傳遞的！
(1) What was the result of the people’s response in resuming their obligation to tithe? (v. 8)
(2) What did tithing mean to the Levites and the priests? (v. 10; see Num. 18:21 as well)
(3) Why did Hezekiah have to step in to take care of the “heaps” of offerings? (vv. 11-13)
(4) With proper storage in place, what did Hezekiah do to ensure that all priests and Levites even outside of Jerusalem were properly provided for? (vv. 14-15)
(5) What was the emphasis in v. 18 and the explanation given at the end of the verse concerning the distributors?
(6) What three adjectives were used to describe the deeds of Hezekiah? (v. 20)
(7) What was the meaning of each of these adjectives?
(8) What was the basis of such commendations? (v. 21a)
(9) What was the result of his obedience to the Lord? (v. 21b)
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請細心慢慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 民眾重新實行什一奉獻帶來了什麼結果？(31:8)
(2) 百姓遵守什一奉獻的誡命對祭司和利未人有多重要？(31:10; 亦參民18:21)
(3) 為何希西家要插手處理那「堆壘」？(31:11-13)
(4) 在豫備倉房後，希西家如何使耶路撒冷以外的祭司和利未人也得到照顧？(31:14-15)
(5) 31:18要表達什麼？能有如此美好的安排的原因是什麼？
(6) 聖經在31:20 用那三個形容詞來稱讚希西家？
(7) 這三個形容詞個別的意思是什麼？
(8) 這美好的稱讚的原由是什麼？(31:21)
(9) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shekaniah assisted him faithfully in the towns of the priests, distributing to their fellow priests according to their divisions, old and young alike.” (2 Chr. 31:15)
As most godly kings in Judah received almost a standard line of commendation from the Bible saying that so and so, “did what was right in the eye of the Lord” (2 Chr.14:2; 20:32; 24:2; 25:2, to cite but a few), Hezekiah received a much lengthier commendation: “This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly” (2 Chr. 31:20-21).
Among all the “good and right and
faithful” things he did before the Lord, I admire Hezekiah as a king who truly cared about people. In as much as he had a passion to restore the temple worship and he,
indeed, worked “whole heartedly” to restore temple worship and reestablish
the duty roster of the priest and Levites to ensure its continuation, he also
made sure that the people would resume their duties in tithing, because the
Lord has said,
“Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites'." (Num.18:24)
When the people responded enthusiastically in tithing to the point that “heaps” of offering had been piled up as leftovers from what the priests and Levites of Jerusalem were able to consume, Hezekiah quickly stepped in to intervene so that these offerings could be preserved properly, not only for the provision of Jerusalem’s clergy, but also those serving in towns outside of Jerusalem (31:11-15). In other words, Hezekiah did not only seek to use the priests and Levites to his noble end—the restoration of Yahweh’s worship, but he also truly cared about them. The priests and Levites to Hezekiah were not tools, but people about whom he deeply cared.
「在他手下有伊甸、岷雅岷、耶書亞、示瑪雅、亞瑪利雅、示迦尼雅，在祭司的各城裡供緊要的職任，無論弟兄大小，都按著班次分給他們。」(代下31:15)
一般較敬虔的猶大王都被聖經稱許為“行耶和華眼中看為正的事”的王（見代下14:2; 20:32; 24:2; 25:2等）。但希西家得到的稱讚就比較長一點: “希西家在猶大遍地這樣辦理，行耶和華─他神眼中看為善為正為忠的事。凡他所行的，無論是辦神殿的事，是遵律法守誡命，是尋求他的神，都是盡心去行，無不亨通” (代下31:20-21)。
在希西家所作“為善為正為忠的事”中，我最欣賞他的是他怎樣真心的關心別人。他當然是為神大發熱心的重建聖殿的敬拜、盡心的重定祭司和利未人的班次，使聖殿經常的獻祭得以保持，他更要確保百姓恢復什一的奉獻—這是對利未人的生計息息相關的。因為神是這樣說：“因為以色列人中出產的十分之一，就是獻給耶和華為舉祭的，我已賜給利未人為業。所以我對他們說：在以色列人中不可有產業。” (民18:24)
當百姓踴躍把當納的帶到聖殿前，甚至「積成堆疊」，遠超過耶路撒冷祭司和利未人所需時，希西家就立即干預：吩咐豫備倉房，為的是要確保在耶路撒冷以外各城的祭司和利未人都得到照顧(代下31:11-15)。換句話說，希西家不單是看重用這些利未人完成重建聖殿敬拜的重任，他更是實質的關心和照顧他們肉身的需要。是的，他不是看祭司和利未人是他的工具，乃是有血有肉，他所關心的人！
(1) The last chapter ends with the comment that “And so he (Hezekiah) prospered” (31:21) and once again the Bible commends him for his faithfulness in this opening verse (32:1): Why then would God allow such a powerful enemy to invade Judah (in fact, the Assyrians had almost reached Jerusalem)? (v. 1)
(2) In defense of the city, the king and his officials decided to block off the springs outside the city Jerusalem. What was the purpose of this action? (v. 4)
(3) What else did Hezekiah do to defend the city? (v. 5)
(4) Were these actions wise?
(5) Does it mean that Hezekiah did not trust in the Lord? Why or why not? (see vv. 6-7)
(6) How does v. 7 echo the encouragement of the Apostle John in 1 John 4:4?
(7) Why was Hezekiah so confident that his God will prevail over the powerful Assyrian army? (v. 8)
(8) What effect did his word of encouragement have on the people of Judah in the face of such an imminent attack by the powerful Assyrians who were the dominant world power of the time?
(9) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
While the Chronicler seeks to focus on the faith of Hezekiah, it is helpful to get a more complete picture of the incident by reading the account of 2 Kings 18:13-18.
請細心慢細慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 希西家既是如此「虔誠」(32:1) ，為何神卻容許他和國家遭強敵的威脅（其實敵兵已快臨城下）？
(2) 為要保衛城，王與首領決定塞住城外的水源，用意何在？(32:4)
(3) 希西家採取什麼方法來護衛耶路撒冷？(32:5)
(4) 這種種的行動是需要的嗎？為什麼？
(5) 是否這就表示希西家沒有倚靠神呢？為什麼？
(6) 32:7怎樣與新約的約翰壹書4:4的教訓類同？
(7) 為何希西家如此肯定神必勝過亞述大軍？(32:8)
(8) 這番話對面對強敵的百姓有作用嗎？(32:8)
(9) 今天你得到的提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
註：歷代志的作者在此的著重點是希西家的信心；列王紀下8:13-18對整件事故有較全面的描寫。
“After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.” (2 Chr. 32:1)
One wonders why God would allow Hezekiah and his people to be invaded by the powerful Assyrians when they had genuinely turned to Him and Hezekiah had sought the Lord and worked wholeheartedly (2 Chr. 31:21).
It once again reminds me of the lyrics of the song “God Has not Promised”. Indeed, God has not promised that because we are his children or because we are faithful to Him that the sky will always be blue. In fact, our faith needs to be tested for it to be genuine which was certainly the case with Hezekiah’s faith.
While the Chronicler only mentions about how Hezekiah and his officials sought to defend the city with blocking the water supply around the city and reinforcing the walls around it (2 Chr. 32:4-5), he is silent about whether Hezekiah turned to seek the help of God right away. The account in 2 Kings 18:13-18 provides us with the insight into how Hezekiah momentarily faltered in his faith and resorted to appease Sennacherib by paying tribute to him by even scraping off the gold from the pillars of God’s temple (2 Ki. 18:13-16). It was only when such appeasement proved to be futile that he eventually turned to the Lord for help (2 Chr. 32:20).
I felt like looking into a mirror as I was reading the struggle of Hezekiah as he faced the trial of his life. Fortunately, I am also being reminded of the Lord’s promise in the midst of our struggle that: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
「這虔誠的事以後，亞述王西拿基立來侵入猶大，圍困一切堅固城，想要攻破佔據。」(代下32:1)
不曉得你的心是否在問：既然希西家是如此 「敬虔」，又盡心的尋求神，為何神容許他和猶大被強大的亞述所侵擾？
這使我想起“神未曾應許”這首詩歌來。是的，神未曾應許祂的兒女天色常藍。相反的，我們的信心是必需經過試煉才得穩固的。這正是希西家所需要的。
雖然歷代志的作者只提及希西家和首領們怎樣塞住城外的水源和堅固城牆 (代下32:4-5)，沒有提到希西家有否立即的求問神；但是列王紀下18:13-18讓我們看見，希西家在那時不知怎的軟弱下來，欲以貢物求和，甚至把聖殿柱子的金也刮下來給亞述王。可惜結果是徒然的。在無法可想之下，他才謙卑的求告耶和華(代下32:20)。
讀到希西家在掙扎中的失敗，我好像是在看著一面鏡子，見到自己信心的微少。可幸的是，我也想到主對保羅所說的：“我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全”（林後12:9）。這也正是希西家及後所經歷到的。
(1) 2 Kings 18:13-18 shows us that by that time Judah had lost all the fortified cities except Jerusalem and Hezekiah had been humbled to the point that he paid tribute to the Assyrians by stripping the gold off the temple structure:
a. How would the people of Judah feel toward their king and their God?
b. If you were Hezekiah, how would you feel about the situation?
(2) How did Sennacherib challenge the faith of Hezekiah? (vv. 10-12)
(3) What effect might his words have on the people of Judah?
(4) What proof did Sennacherib give to back up his claim? (vv. 13-15)
(5) How did Sennacherib directly challenge the Lord? (vv. 16-17)
(6) Why did the officers of Sennacherib choose to speak in Hebrew? (v. 18)
(7) 2 Kings 18:36 says that the people remained silent; what might they being saying in their hearts?
(8) What would you do at this time, if you were Hezekiah?
(9) What did Hezekiah do? (v. 20; also see 2 Ki. 19:1-2)
(10) How did God answer their prayers? (v. 21; see also 2 Ki. 19:35-37 for greater details)
(11) What blessings did this battle lead to? (vv. 22-23)
(12) What is the main message to you today, and how may you apply it to your life?
請細心慢慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 列王紀下18:13-18指出，那時亞述已攻取了猶大各堅固城，實質上只餘耶路撒冷。希西家欲委曲求存，連聖殿柱子的金也刮下來獻給亞述王：
a. 既是這樣，百姓會怎樣看他們的王和他們的神？
b. 希西家尚可作什麼？
(2) 西拿基立藉臣僕的口怎樣挑戰希西家對神的信靠？(32:10-12)
(3) 他這番話會對百姓有什麼影響？
(4) 西拿基立提出什麼證據來支持他的話？(32:13-15)
(5) 他更怎樣向以色列的神發出挑戰？(32:16-17)
(6) 為何他的臣僕刻意的用猶大語大聲呼叫？(32:18)
(7) 列王紀下18:36提到百姓保持緘默。你認為當時他們心中在想什麼？
(8) 那時那地，如果你是希西家，你會怎樣做？
(9) 希西家結果怎樣做？(32:20; 亦參王下19:1-2)
(10) 神怎樣答允他們的禱告？（32:21; 亦參王下19:35-37較詳盡的記載）
(11) 這戰爭的結果更帶給希西家什麼祝福？(32:22-23)
(12) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world—the work of human hands.” (2 Chr. 32:19)
It is indeed hard to take insults. If we are insulted, especially in public, it may be hard to take, but to allow the enemies of the Lord to insult His name in front of us, while we cannot do or say anything in reply is even harder to take. This was the situation faced by the officials of King Hezekiah.
2 Kings 18 gives us greater details about the insulting words spoken by the commander of Assyria. First, the representatives of Hezekiah made the mistake of begging the commander of Assyria not to speak in Hebrew, lest the people could hear and understand his insults to King Hezekiah and the Lord (2 Ki. 18:26). They were such losers that they basically had surrendered before the Assyrians even invaded the city. They had not only admitted their failure, but also that of the Lord in whom Hezekiah had put his trust and hope.
The result was double-humiliation in that they were likened to people who “will have to eat their excrement and drink their own urine” (2 Ki. 18:27) and the commander continued to speak in Hebrew and openly insulted the Lord as incapable of delivering Jerusalem (2 Ki. 18:35). At the end they had no answer for the challenge of the commander (2 Ki. 18:36).
However, we have to understand that it is no use—in fact there is no need to win any argument for the Lord as He always has the final say. Actually, we should fear for those who openly insult the name of God as Hezekiah rightly understood. God will not take their blasphemy lightly, and in the case of the king of Assyrian, He “will have him cut down with the sword” (2 Ki. 19:7).
However, God is such a gracious God that His forgiveness will still be extended to those who might have blasphemed Him in ignorance as we recall His promise that in the Last Days, even the Egyptians and the Assyrians will worship Him together (Isa.19:23) and He even calls Assyria, “my handiwork” (Isa. 19:25).
「他們論耶路撒冷的神，如同論世上人手所造的神一樣。」(代下32:19)
被人侮辱是不好受的，特別是當眾的被侮辱時。當被侮辱的不是我們，而是我們的神，而我們又無言以對時，就叫我們更感難受了。不曉得你遇過這樣的情形沒有？這正是希西家的幾個官員所面對的。列王紀下18對此事有較詳細的記載。
首先，不知怎的，他們竟向亞述的軍長求情，希望他不用希伯來話來喊戰，免得百姓聽得懂！(王下18:26) 其實這樣的向敵求情，實是懦夫的表現：城尚未被攻陷，就已認了輸！結果是遭受加倍的羞辱，被敵譏笑為“吃自己糞、喝自己尿的人”( 王下18:27) 。軍長更進一步以希伯來語，狂言說神是不能救耶路撒冷脫離他的手的！(王下18:35) 他是連耶和華也侮辱了。
結果他們就算想要回答，也是無言以對！(王下18:36)
不過，我們要知道，當人像這軍長一樣的出言侮辱神時，我們是不用作任何回應的，因為神自己會作出回應(He always has the final say) 。其實，我們更要替這些侮辱神的名的人驚懼。正如希西家明白到，神對這些辱罵祂的人必“發斥責”( 王下19:4) ；而以賽亞更保證，神必審判亞述王，“使他在那裡(本土)倒在刀下”( 王下19:7) 。
但希奇的是，神竟是如此憐憫人的神；祂的赦免會惠及那些因無知而侮辱祂的人。因而以賽亞預言說：在末後，這些亞述人會聯同埃及人一同敬拜祂；祂更稱亞述為“我手的工作”( 賽19:23-25) 。
32:24—Hezekiah’s sickness (read 2 Kings 20:1-11 also)
(1) How did Hezekiah face his seemingly terminal illness?
(2) Should he have asked for healing?
(3) How many additional years did God give him to live?
(4) Whom did he give birth to in this period? (see 2 Chr. 33:1)
32:25-31—The Pride of Hezekiah
(5) How does the Bible describe his success and prosperity? (vv. 27-29)
(6) Do you think his fame could match those of his forefather Solomon?
(7) What caused him to be proud? (v. 25)
(8) How did the Lord deal with his pride?
(9) Read the event of the visit of the convoys from Babylon in 2 Ki. 20:12-19.
a. In what way did the event show his pride?
b. How did he respond to the rebuke of the prophet?
32:32-33—Death of Hezekiah
(10) Take a moment to reflect on the life of Hezekiah:
a. If you were to write an epitaph of this king, what would you write?
b. What is the main lesson you can learn from his life?
c. How may you apply it to your life?
請細心慢慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
32:24—希西家遘疾（亦參閱王下20:1-11）
(1) 希西家怎樣面對他的重病？
(2) 他該求不死嗎？
(3) 神應允他所求，更多賜他多少年壽命？
(4) 在這額外的年日中他生了誰？(見代下33:1)
32:25-31—希西家的驕傲
(5) 聖經怎樣論到希西家的成就？(32:27-29)
(6) 你認為他的成就能與所羅門相比嗎？
(7) 他為什麼會這樣自傲？(32:25)
(8) 神怎樣處理他的驕傲？
(9) 請翻閱列王紀下20:12-19有關巴比倫王差使者來探望他的記載：
a. 這事情怎樣顯出他的狂傲？
b. 他怎樣回應先知的責備？
32:32-33—希西家的死亡
(10) 請稍用時間思想希西家的一生
a. 你可為他寫什麼碑文？
b. 你從他的生命學到什麼功課？
c. 你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.” (2 Chr. 32:24)
As I was reading the more detailed account of Hezekiah’s illness in Isaiah 38 and 2 Kings 20, I have to confess that I do have mixed feelings toward Hezekiah’s prayer for healing. On the one hand his desperate desire not to die is understandable:
- As he said, he was still in the prime of his life (Isa. 38:10); he was likely about 39 years old — too young to die.
- He had unfinished business: He had suffered great humiliation during the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians, although he and the city were delivered miraculously by the Lord. He probably felt that there was unfinished business for him to do and that was to rebuild Jerusalem and his army for future protection against the Assyrians. This he certainly did according to 2 Chronicles 32:27-30.
- His prayer after healing indicated that he had learned a lesson from his illness (Isa. 38:17) and pledged to walk in humility (Isa. 38:15) and committed to teach his children of God’s faithfulness (Isa. 38:19).
On the other hand, what happened after his healing had proved that the last 15 years of his life had turned out to be a curse, not a blessing to him and the nation:
- 2 Chronicles has this to say about his life after healing: “But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him…” (2 Chr. 32:25);
- His pride was further revealed in that he showed off his treasures to the envoys of the king of Babylon which, undoubtedly, contributed to the fall of Jerusalem directly or indirectly in the hands of the Babylonians; and
- He failed to teach his son Manasseh the faithfulness of the Lord. This son succeeded him at his young age of 12 (2 Chr. 33:1) which means that he was born during the added 15 years of Hezekiah’s remaining life. As we know, Manasseh turned out to be one of the most wicked kings of Judah who did extreme evil in the eyes of the Lord (2 Chr. 33:9).
Perhaps, Hezekiah should have submitted to the will of God, since it is never how long we live, but how we live that really matters!
「那時希西家病得要死，就禱告耶和華，耶和華應允他，賜他一個兆頭。」(代下32:24)
我得誠實的說，讀到以賽亞書38和列王紀下20較詳細有關希西家患病的記載時，我對希西家力求醫治的禱告有點保留。在某些方面，他不想死是可以理解的：
- 那時，他只不過是39歲，正值壯年(賽38:10—NIV譯為prime of his life是合宜的) ；
- 他確有未完成的事：雖然有神奇妙的拯救，他在被亞述圍困時確受了極大的侮辱。作為一國之君，他實在有責任重修堅固城、重整軍隊來保衛國家。歷代志下32:27-30就見證到他確在病癒後完成這些事務。
- 從神在列王紀下20: 6的回答，我們曉得猶大仍正面對亞述的威脅。希西家已誠然悔改，學了功課，不會再倚靠埃及了；他剛把國家轉回信靠神的正途上。若然現在死去，恐怕國家在這轉接的危機中，再次走錯路；
- 而且，從以賽亞書38:17，我們曉得他確從這絕症中學到功課；因而承諾從此要謙卑而行(38:15) ，更願教導兒女認識神的誠實(38:19) 。
- 可是，看到他得醫治後所行的，我們就曉得這額外的15年壽命，竟成了他個人與國家的咒詛：
- 歷代志下就這樣的論到他得醫治後的生命：“希西家 卻沒有照他所蒙的恩報答耶和華；因他心裡驕傲，所以忿怒要臨到他和猶大並耶路撒冷。”( 代下32:25)
- 他心裡的驕傲在以賽亞書第39章表露無遺：他把“一切” 、“所有” 的財寶與軍備向巴比倫的使者顯示，因而直接或間接地導致耶路撒冷滅亡在巴比倫手中；
- 他更沒有好好教導兒子瑪拿西認識神：這位在他延長的15年生命中誕生的兒子(瑪拿西是12歲時繼位的) ，成了猶大國最敗壞的王之一。
- 這樣看來，希西家還是應該順服神的旨意為上；因為人的生命不在乎長短，乃在乎我們怎樣活在這世上，不論年日是長或是短。
(1) Since Manasseh was only 12 years old when he became king, how old was Hezekiah when he was born? (According to 29:1 Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years.)
(2) Why didn’t Hezekiah have any spiritual influence on Manasseh?
(3) Consider Manasseh’s drastic change of course from Hezekiah’s (vv. 2-9):
a. Try to list one by one the sins that he had committed against the Lord.
b. When the Bible mentions his sin of building altars (for other gods) in the temple of the Lord (v. 4), why does it point out the promise of God that “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever” (1 Ki. 9:3)?
c. In mentioning the sin of putting the image Manasseh made in the temple of the Lord, what warning does the Bible point out (vv. 7-8)? Why?
d. What might be the most unexpected thing he did as far as you are concerned?
e. What might be the most abominable? Why?
(4) What impact did his sin have on the people? (v. 9)
(5) What did the Lord do first to call Manasseh and his people to repentance? (v. 10)
(6) Did it work? Why or why not?
(7) What did the Lord do next? (v. 11)
(8) How did Manasseh respond to God’s chastisement? (v. 13)
(9) Are you surprised that given the wickedness of Manasseh, the Lord would forgive him? Why or why not?
(10) What is the main lesson you have learned about Manasseh and how may you apply it to your life?
請細心慢慢讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反複思考問題。
(1) 瑪拿西既是12歲就登基，他出生時，希西家年紀有多大？(按29:1所言，希西家25歲時登基，在位共29年)
(2) 為何希西家沒有在信仰上影響到他的兒子？
(3) 瑪拿西行惡(33:2-9):
a. 試逐一列出他的種種惡行。
b. 提到他在聖殿築（拜偶像的）壇時(33:4)，為何聖經特別指出神曾對這殿的應許？(見王上9:3)
c. 提到在聖殿立雕刻的偶像時（33:7-8）聖經特別指出什麼警告？
d. 這些罪行中最令你希奇的是什麼？
e. 那罪行最可惡？為什麼？
(4) 瑪拿西的罪怎樣影響百姓？(33:9)
(5) 神先用什麼方法來叫他們悔改(33:10)
(6) 有效嗎？為什麼？
(7) 神惟有再採取什麼行動？(33:11)
(8) 瑪拿西怎樣回應神的管教？(33:13)
(9) 神竟然連行大惡的瑪拿西也完全的赦免：你感到意外嗎？為什麼？
(10) 今天你得到的提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” (2 Chr. 33:13)
As we read the account of Manasseh, we can’t help but raise many questions, including the following:
- Didn’t Hezekiah have any other son to put on the throne? Why did he make Manasseh his successor at the young age of 12?
- Why didn’t Hezekiah, being such a godly king, have any spiritual influence on his son?
- Did it have anything to do with his much doting on a son who was born when he was around 42 years old?
- Where and how did Manasseh learn all these detestable practices of the nations which Hezekiah had eradicated for some 29 years?
- Why would God allow such a wicked king to reign for such a long time — 55 years?
Since the Scripture is totally silent on these issues, it is not helpful for us to speculate, except on the last question.
2 Chronicles 33 gives us an account of the latter part of Manasseh’s life in that God did more than use prophets to warn and rebuke him (2 Ki. 21:10ff); God used the Assyrians to take Manasseh prisoner and humiliate him (33:11). In his distress, Manasseh repented and “knew that the Lord is God” (33:13). The sincerity of his repentance was reflected in his undoing of all the detestable practices and the tearing down of all altars for idols, including those he built inside the courts of the temple of the Lord, and in telling “Judah to serve the Lord” (33:16).
I guess the important lesson we can learn from the life of Manasseh is that God is indeed long-suffering, and He always gives the wayward chance after chance to repent and to come to know Him. Not that all the wayward would repent like Manasseh, but when it happens, we can be sure that that “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Lk. 15:10)
「他祈禱耶和華，耶和華就允准他的祈求，垂聽他的禱告，使他歸回耶路撒冷，仍坐國位。瑪拿西這才知道惟獨耶和華是神。」(代下33:13)
讀到瑪拿西的生平時，我不禁產生以下的疑問：
1. 希西家難道沒有其他兒子可以繼位，必要立這才十二歲的瑪拿西作王嗎？
2. 為何希西家這如此敬畏神的好王，竟然在屬靈生命上對兒子好像絕無影響？
3. 這是否與年老得子有關？
4. 希西家用了29年的心血把偶像的敬拜從國中連根拔起，瑪拿西從那裡學習這些外邦人所行可憎的事？
5. 為何神會容許如斯可惡的王掌權達55年之久？
對以上的疑問聖經既沒有交代。恐怕任何的答案都純屬猜測而已—除了最後的一個問題。
歷代志下第33章詳細記載瑪拿西後期的事蹟。原來，神不但派先知們來警告瑪拿西，祂更用亞述王來懲治他，用鐃鈎鈎住他，用銅鍊鎖著他，使他受羞辱(33:11)。瑪拿西因而悔改，“知道惟獨耶和華是神” (33:13) 。
瑪拿西的悔改也是真誠的，因為他拆毀了以前所建的偶像與祭壇，更“吩咐猶大人事奉耶和華以色列的神” （33:16）。
這樣看來，神確是長久忍耐的神。祂常常給予迷路的人多次悔改的機會，期待他至終能認識祂。當然，不是每個迷路者都會像瑪拿西一樣，至終悔改。但當這樣的罪人真正悔改時，我們知道，“在神的使者面前，也是這樣的為他歡喜” （路15:10）。