Presumption. 僭越之罪
God’s Word reveals God’s will and we must not go beyond what God permits. To transgress (v. 2) means to “cross the line,” which is presumptuous sin. God says, “Thus far and no farther!” and we must obey. That obedience applied to sentences of judgment (vv. 8–13). The sinner who challenged the judgment of God’s appointed leaders was destined to die. “Hear and fear!”
神的话语启示了神的旨意,是我们不得跨越的。违背(2节)的意思是“越线”,而这是僭越之罪。神说:“只可到这里,不可越过!”,所以我们必须遵从。我们也须遵守审判官所断定的判语(8-13节)。罪人若不听从神所立之领导的审判,必被治死。 “要听见害怕!”
Pride. 骄傲之罪
Israel did ask for a king, and God gave them Saul (1 Sam. 8–10). We do not know whether he obeyed (vv. 18–20), but we do know that he failed to obey God’s will (1 Sam. 15). His successor David was a man of God’s Word, but David’s son Solomon committed all of the sins named in verses 16–17 (1 Kings 10–11). There was great prosperity for a time, but then the nation divided and turned from God.
以色列确实向神求立一王治理他们,所以神赐给他们扫罗(撒上8-10)。我们虽不知扫罗是否顺服神(18-20节),但可晓他违背了神的旨意(撒上15)。他的继承人大卫是个看重神话语的人,但大卫的儿子所罗门却犯下了16至17节中所列的一切罪行(代上10-11)。那时的以色列极其繁荣,但以色列国随后被分裂并离开了神。
Common citizens, priests, judges, and kings—all had an obligation to submit to God’s Word and obey it. The higher the position, the greater the responsibility. “Hear and fear!”
普通百姓、祭司、审判官和国王都有义务降服于神的话,并遵从它。地位越高,责任也越大。“要听见害怕!”
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- For I am God, and there is no other (Isa 45:22). You shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exo 34:14). The Lord is very serious about where our hearts are. He alone is the only God and there is none other. However, Calvin correctly observes that human hearts are the factories of idols. We made many idols for ourselves to worship. It includes visible and invisible idols. The desires of our hearts, being good or bad, can become our idols. Notice the punishment is severe. It is the death penalty. This is because God is our only Creator and we ought to worship Him alone. He will not create us to worship other gods. Let’s examine our hearts carefully. If we don’t God will do this.
因为我是神,再没有别神。(赛45:22)不可敬拜别神;因为耶和华是忌邪的神,名为忌邪者(出34:14)。耶和华非常关注我们的心思意念到底属谁。唯独祂是神,除祂以外别无他神。然而,加尔文正确指出人心是制造偶像的工厂。我们为自己制造了许多敬拜的偶像;这都包括有形和无形的。我们心中的渴望,无论好坏,都可以成为我们的偶像。请注意拜偶像的处罚极其严重—是死刑。这是因为神是我们独一的创造者,而我们应该唯独敬拜祂。神造我们,绝不为敬拜他神。让我们仔细审察自己的心,否则神会这么做。
- The kings are not to acquire many horses; not to take multiple wives and not to accumulate much silver and gold. That means the kings were not to rely on military strength, political alliances, or wealth for his position and authority, but he was to look to the Lord. The kings shall write for themselves in a book a copy of this law and it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them. (Deu 17:18-19) The leaders of a nation are also to write, read and do the word of God. Let’s pray for our nation that they will obey the Lord.
国王不可为自己加添马匹,不可为自己多立妃嫔,也不可为自己多积金银。这表示:国王不得依靠军事力量、政治联盟或财富取得地位权力,只要单单仰望主。国王需为自己抄录一本法律书存在自己那里,平生诵读,好学习敬畏耶和华他的神,并谨守遵行这律法书上的一切言语和这些律例(申17:18-19)。国家领导也当写、读并行神的话。让我们为国家祷告,愿领导能顺服主。