全地都将认识主的荣耀

Knowledge of the Lord’s Glory Will Fill the Earth

Dr. Benjamin Clemons作/ MLC出版 / Allie译

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. Habakkuk 2:14,20

认识耶和华荣耀的知识要充满遍地，

好像水充满洋海一般。

惟耶和华在他的圣殿中；

全地的人都当在他面前肃敬静默。

(哈巴谷书 2: 14，20)

Injustice, destruction, violence, legal paralysis, the righteous hemmed in by the wicked. These words may conjure modern troubles, but they were uttered by the prophet Habakkuk 2600 years ago. In a dialogue between the Lord and Habakkuk, the prophet questioned why evil went unpunished among God’s people in Judah. The Lord’s answer was not what Habakkuk expected. God would use the nation of Babylon to punish the sins of his own people. Shocked, Habakkuk asked how the holy God could tolerate this wicked nation punishing believers. The Lord’s answer: Babylon too would be punished for their wickedness, overthrown and disgraced, but his kingdom would remain, and the righteous would live by faith.

不公正、破坏、暴力、司法不公….公义总是被邪恶挤到了边缘。这些词汇呈现了我们当代的诸多问题，但是这些问题早在2600年前哈巴谷的时代就被提起了。在上帝和哈巴谷的对话中，先知哈巴谷问上帝为什么不在犹大国神的子民中间惩罚罪恶。上帝的回答出乎哈巴谷的意料，上帝要使用巴比伦帝国来惩罚自己子民的罪。哈巴谷震惊了，他问上帝：你怎么能够允许一个邪恶的民族来惩治信徒呢？上帝回答说：我会惩罚巴比伦的罪恶，推翻它，使它失去荣耀。但是神的国终将坚立，神公义的子民将因信心而存活。

In his answer, the Lord offers woe to Babylon and all who conquer or oppress through power and bloodshed. God offers comfort as well. In his command of history, he has a greater plan for the world. He will triumph, not under an imperial banner
or national flag, but through his Word as his church covers the earth. Although human kingdoms will fall and their works disappear, knowledge of the Lord’s glory will last forever.

在上帝的回答中，祂应许了巴比伦的陨落，以及对所有暴力压迫和流血征战的惩罚。同时上帝也应许了他的安慰，他对世界有一个更伟大的计划。他将吹响胜利的号角，不是以一个世界上的国度来统治万民，而是通过他的话语和他的教会。虽然世上的万国和工程都会消逝，但神的荣耀将存到永远。

The Lord further encouraged Habakkuk, promising that Babylon’s faith in idols would prove empty. Statues could not come to life. They gave no answers and offered
no help. But God was alive and present, teaching, guiding, and protecting his people. Woe to those who deny God and trust in themselves, their personal strength, or their accumulated wealth. These will fade and fail, but God is eternal.

上帝继续鼓励哈巴谷，告诉他巴比伦对偶像的忠诚不过是灰飞烟灭。所有的雕像塑像不会有生命，它们既无法给出答案也无法给予帮助。但是我们的上帝是活着的神，也是此刻同在的上帝，他会教导我们、指引我们、保护他的子民。那些离弃上帝的人有祸了，他们相信自己的力量和他们积累的财富，他们终将消逝，而神是存到永远的。

The glory of the Lord is displayed as he punishes the evils of this world in his time and on his terms. An even greater glory was demonstrated as he sent his own Son to live a perfect life on our behalf. God upheld his justice, allowing our punishment to fall on Jesus. Jesus’ resurrection confirmed the victory over evil, the conquest over sin, death, and the devil. Now, through faith, God grants his mercy to sinners.

上帝的荣耀显现，他按着自己的旨意和时间惩罚世上的罪恶。他差遣自己的爱子来彰显他的荣耀，活出完美的生命。上帝持守他的公义，让耶稣亲自担当我们所当得的刑罚。耶稣的复活让我们确信他战胜了魔鬼、胜过了罪、死亡、邪恶。而今，通过对上帝的信，他赐恩典给世上的罪人。

Seek the Lord. Wait confidently on his promises and glorify his name. This Advent, know that the Lord is in his temple as you ponder the manger in silence.

让我们寻求上帝，耐心等待他的应许和他荣耀的名降临。在这个将临期，当我们望向主的马槽，就知道神已经在他的圣殿中。

Dear Lord, we thank you for making us yours through faith. We stand in awe of your glory and grace. Use us to joyfully share the knowledge of your Word, all to the glory of your name. Amen.

亲爱的主，我们感谢你让我们通过信心成为你的子民，让我们站立在你恩典的荣光中。让我们喜乐地传讲你的话语，奉你荣耀的圣名。阿门。