Manna issue 78 - Obedience Above All Else (Daniel chapter 3) 順服比一切都重要 (但以理書三章)
God will meet us in the flames. 神會在火焰中見我們
Colin Shek—Sunderland, UK 英國山打崙 石柏曦
As Christians, we are blessed if we
obey God. The Bible teaches us to
overcome the tides of the world
through our obedience—to resist the
secular norms of pursuing money,
satisfying our lusts, and fulfilling our
dreams.
身為基督徒，若我們順服神，就會被祝福。
聖經教導我們透過順服，可以克制世上的潮流 -
抵抗世上的習俗去追求金錢，只滿足追求自已的慾望，完成自已的夢想。
At times, such obedience seems to
come at a cost. You may do your best
to shine for God at work and yet be
passed over for promotion. Instead,
the person that parties every night or
spends Friday afternoons surfing the
Internet is promoted. While firmly
maintaining godly values, speech,
and conduct at school, you may find
yourself as the class loner or the butt
of every joke. You may offer as much
time and money as you can manage
to God, yet you constantly struggle
to balance your family schedules
or finances. Why do Christians
encounter such things? Why can’t the
lives of good and obedient Christians
be smooth sailing?
有些時候，這樣的順服似乎也要付出一些代價。
在工作上，你可能盡自已的力量來為主發光，然而卻錯過被升遷。
相反地，那些每天晚上夜夜笙歌的人，或是那些每到星期五下午就只會上網不作事的人，反而升官了。
雖然在學校很嚴謹的保守住神的價值觀和言行，你可能會發現自已成為班上的獨行俠，或是成為大家取笑的笑柄。
你可能盡力花了很多的時間和金錢來服事神，然而卻不斷有困難把自的家庭排程和財務作好兩邊的平衡。
為什麼基督徒會遇到這些事情呢？
為什麼又好又順服的基督徒的生活，不能一帆風順呢？
While God promises blessings
in return for obedience, He does
not bubble wrap us from life’s hard
knocks. Although God allows us to
experience pressures and challenges
in life, He is always there for us. This
is the encouragement and promise
given to us in the Bible. Daniel’s three
friends served God wholeheartedly,
shunning the ways of the world, yet
they met with dire consequences.
Their experience has been penned for
us today, to remind us that obedient
Christians have to withstand the
pressures of the world.
雖然神應許，只要順服就會得到祝福，
祂沒有好像好氣泡袋包住我們，讓我們遠離生活中困難的衝擊。
雖然神讓我們在生活中有壓力和挑戰，祂總是在我們身邊要幫助我們。
我是聖經裡面給我們的鼓勵和應許。
但以理的三個朋友全心全意的服事神，為世上照亮服事神的道路，
然而他們卻遇到極度可怕的後果。
他們的經歷是為了今日鬥我們而被記錄下來的，
要提醒我們順服的基督徒，要抵擋世界來的壓力。
TRIALS ARE PART OF CHRISTIAN LIFE 試煉是基督徒生活的一部份
Having been assimilated into the
Babylonian regime, Daniel and his
three friends passed the training
expected of them with flying colors
(Dan 1:19,20). God’s intervention in
Babylonian affairs and His constant
abidance with these Jews also led to
their promotions within the Chaldean
government (Dan 2:46–49).
他被納入巴比倫帝國，但以理和他的三個朋友通過了所要經歷的訓練，並且最後得到成功(但 1：19，20)。
神在巴比倫事件的介入，以及他無時無刻和猶太人同在，
對讓他們可以在迦勒底人王國裡面得到了升遷。
However, Daniel chapter 3 records
how Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-Nego found themselves in a
sticky situation—obeying the first
commandment (Ex 20:3) became
socially and politically challenging.
Pressures mounted against them to
abandon their loyalty and obedience
to God.
然而但以理書三章，記錄了沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌如何發現自已身處在一個困難的情況 -
遵守第一條誡命在社會及王朝內變得很困難。
有壓力升起來反對他們，要他們去放棄對神的忠心和順服神。
First, they encountered pressure
from authority, namely, King
Nebuchadnezzar whose image of
gold was to be dedicated by all
workers of the government (Dan
3:1–2). Next, they faced peer pressure
from their fellow civil servants from
around the region, who were willing
to abandon their own gods at the
blow of a horn to pledge allegiance
to the god of Babylon (Dan 3:2–7).
第一，他們面對了掌權者的強大壓力，也就是說，所有政府官員要獻給尼布引尼撒王金像(但 3：1-2)。
接下來，他們也面對了來自同事的壓力，從附近地區同為管理王國區域的同僚，
他們都可以當聽到號角聲嚮的時候，就放棄自已的神祇，去對巴比倫的神來宣誓效忠。(但 3：2-7)
Finally, not only did the three Jews
have to stand firm against the idol
and peer pressure, they also had
to deal with the Chaldean workers
plotting against them: “There are
certain Jews whom you have set over
the affairs of the province of Babylon:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego;
these men, O king, have not paid due
regard to you. They do not serve your
gods or worship the gold image which
you have set up” (Dan 3:12).
最後，這三個猶太人不只要堅持穩固來對抗偶像和同儕的壓力，
也要處理迦勒底工人計劃起來對抗他們的事：
"12現在有幾個猶大人，就是王所派管理巴比倫省事務的沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌；
王啊，這些人不理你，不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。"
(但 3：12)
The king became furious at
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
and gave them an ultimatum:
國王對沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌很生氣，給了他們最後通牒：
“Now if you are ready at the time
you hear the sound of the horn,
flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in
symphony with all kinds of music,
and you fall down and worship the
image which I have made, good! But
if you do not worship, you shall be
cast immediately into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace. And who is the
god who will deliver you from my
hands?” (Dan 3:15)
15你們再聽見角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙，和各樣樂器的聲音，若俯伏敬拜我所造的像，卻還可以；
若不敬拜，必立時扔在烈火的窯中，有何神能救你們脫離我手呢？
(但 3：15)
Bow down to the image or prepare
to be killed; all because they chose to
obey their God and refused to take
part in some “office ritual” or “official
engagement.” It seems that the best
thing they could have done was to
dutifully nod-along, accept the king’s
grace, and seemingly bow down to
the idol. After all, why should they
not compromise? Why obey God and
incur the wrath of the king when the
consequences of doing so would be
disastrous?
向偶像下跪，或者準備受洗；
只因為他們選擇聽從他們的神，拒絕來參與"工作場合的儀式"，或是"官方的約定"。
看起來，他們所能作的最好選擇，就是盡責地一起同意王的命令，接受王的恩典典，表面上看起來向偶像跪拜。
畢竟，為什麼他們不應該去妥協呢？
為什麼要順從神，而引起了王的憤怒，而且當引王生氣時，後果將會是有大災難的呢？
The Bible tells us that we may
encounter sticky situations in life
when we choose to obey God (1 Pet
3:14–17; 4:1–2, 12–14). We will find
ourselves in circumstances where
we are pressured into compromising
our faith. If we feel isolated from
school friends or work colleagues,
we will undoubtedly feel the pressure
to join in with the odd rude joke or
add some swearwords to flavor our
speech. What is wrong with joining
in occasionally and getting accepted,
even if it means momentarily dropping
our godliness down a level? Doing so
may mean not missing out on the
next promotion.
聖經告訴我們，當我們選順從神的時候，我們或許會在生活上遇見棘手的情況(彼前 3：14-17；4：1-2，12-14)。
我們會發現四周的情況，給我們壓力要我們在信仰上作出妥協。
若是我們和學校的同學，及公司的同事相互疏離的時候，
毫無疑問地我們會感到一起壓力，接著就用一些奇怪粗俗的笑話相要融入，或是加入了一些髒話讓我們的話比較容易讓人接受。
偶爾融入別人，並且被別人接受有什麼錯的呢？即使這代表我們要暫時降低自已的虔誠的態度一點點，有什麼不好的呢？
這麼作就代表了，下一次的升遷機會，將不會再被錯過了。
Perhaps you feel the pressure to
“keep up with the Joneses.” Why
have less than others? Why not spend
a little less time with the family and
with God to pursue more wealth?
With more money, we can buy bigger
and better things. Why should we
not reduce our Sabbath worship and
attendance by enrolling our children
in weekend tutoring to improve their
success? By doing so, we are following
the societal model to improve our
children’s future.
或許你會感到了一些壓力，只為了"和身旁的人保持友好的關係"。
為什麼我們要比別人擁有的比較少呢？
為什麼不少花一點點的時間與家人相處，也少花一些時間敬拜神，就可以拿多出來的時間去追求更多的財富呢？
有了更多的金錢，我們就可以買更大更好的東西了。
為什麼我們不應該去減少安息日的崇拜時間，和參加聚會的次數，
用這些時間讓自已的小孩在週未參加才藝訓練，增加他們成功的機會呢？
這麼作之後，我們就會跟上社會的模式，改善小孩子的未來。
However, what does God expect
from us in such circumstances? How
did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-
Nego respond to the pressure put on
them to momentarily abandon their
faith?
然而在這樣的環境之中，到底神希望我們作什麼呢？
沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌到底如何來回應加諸在他們身上的壓力，是暫時放棄自已的信仰嗎？
GOD DESIRES OBEDIENCE DURING TRIALS 在試煉中神希望我們順服
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
answered and said to the king, “O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need
to answer you in this matter. If that
is the case, our God whom we serve
is able to deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace, and He will deliver us
from your hand, O king. But if not,
let it be known to you, O king, that
we do not serve your gods, nor will
we worship the gold image which
you have set up.”
(Dan 3:16–18)
16沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌對王說：尼布甲尼撒啊，這件事我們不必回答你；
17即便如此，我們所事奉的神能將我們從烈火的窯中救出來。王啊，他也必救我們脫離你的手；
18即或不然，王啊，你當知道我們決不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。
(但 3：16-18)
Their answer was clear, even if it
was suicidal. Our God can deliver us,
but even if He does not, we would
rather die than bow down to your
gods. They believed that God was
more than able to save them, but their
obedience did not rest on Him doing
so. It was a case of honoring the first
commandment or nothing: obedience
above deliverance. What was most
important to them was standing by
the law of the one true God. “But if
not ….” This statement revealed their
great reverence towards God and
their faith in Him.
他們的回答是清楚的，即使他們回答根本就是在自殺。
我們的神會拯救我們，但是即使他沒有來救，我們也寧願死，而不願意向你的神下跪。
他們相信神不只能救他們，但是他們的順服並沒有只有依賴祂來拯救而已。
這就是一個例子，要遵守第一條誡命，或者拋棄一切的選擇：順服大於拯救。
過去對他們而言，最重要的就是與獨一真神的誡命站在一起。
"若是沒有..."
這句話就顯示了他們對神，以及他們對自已身上的信仰，有極大的敬畏。
And so, what about us? What is our
response when the odds are stacked
against us? Are we willing to obey
the commandments of God above all
else? Even if it means we will lose out?
所以接下來，我們自已呢？
當我們面對很多奇怪的事情衝著我們來的時候，我們到底會怎麼來回應呢？
我們是不是願意順服神的誡命，大過一切所有的事情呢？
即使這就代表了我們會輸得很慘，我們可以堅持下去嗎？
Some may wonder, “Why should I
believe in a God who does not protect
or deliver me in my time of need? I
have a career to think about. I have a
family to take care of. I have my bank
balance to maintain.” The issue is not
that God cannot deliver. In fact, He is
able (Dan 3:17), and more often than
not, He does.
有些人會想，"為什麼我們應該要信神，但祂卻不在我需要的時候，來保護我，或拯救我呢？"
我要想想自已的工作。
我要照顧自已的家庭。
我們維持銀行帳戶的收支平衡。"
這個問題並不是神不能來拯救你。
事實上是，祂是可以的(但 3：17)，祂來拯救的次數是比不救的次數更多，而且祂就是會這麼作。
However, God wants to see us hold
fast to Him at all costs. To have the
attitude that says, “I will shun the
ungodliness of the world, the vain
pursuit of money at all costs, even if it
means less job security and less digits
in my bank account. I will hold fast to
my godly conduct and speech, even if
it means missing out on all the office
in-jokes, and having fewer Facebook
‘likes’.” The godly attitude that says,
“I don’t need to be super rich. I don’t
need to be popular. But I need to
obey Christ. I need to follow Him.”
That, after all, is the faith described in
the Bible (Heb 11–12); the faith that
pleases God (Heb 11:6).
然而，神要看見我們不計一切代價，來堅守神的事情。
要讓我們有以下的這種態度，
"我會迴避世上一切不義的事，放棄不計一切對金錢虛空的追求，
即是這就代表了我的工作將會不太有保障，或者我的銀行存款的數字變得更少。
我們堅守我虔誠的言行，即使這就代表了我們錯過辨公室裡面，同事小圈圈裡面所會講的笑話和八卦，
或是在我的臉書上，得到"讚"的數字變得很少"。
虔誠的態度就是說，"我不需要變得超級有錢。
我不需要變得超級有名。但是我需要去順服基督。我要跟隨祂。"
畢竟，這就是在聖經裡面所描寫的信心(來 11-12)；
是神所喜悅的信心(來 11：6)。
GOD MEETS US IN THE FLAMES 神在火焰中與我們相見
In response to the Jews’ steadfastness
in God, the Babylonian king
commanded that the furnace be
heated up seven times more intense
than usual (Dan 3:19), the three men
be bound and cast in (Dan 3:20). The
king was astonished at what he saw
next:
為了要回應有關猶太人對神的堅持不變，巴比倫王命令，要把火爐的熱度加熱七倍，要比平常的熱度更加兇猛(但 3：19)，
這三個人就被綁起來，丟了進去(但 3：20)。
接下來王對他眼睛所看到的事感到驚奇：
“Look!” he answered, “I see four
men loose, walking in the midst of
the fire; and they are not hurt, and
the form of the fourth is like the Son
of God.” (Dan 3:25)
25王說：看哪，我見有四個人，並沒有捆綁，在火中遊行，也沒有受傷；那第四個的相貌好像神子。
(但 3：25)
A fourth man like the Son of God?
All of them unbound and walking
about? Against all laws of physics
and biology, they were unharmed
inside the furnace. The king called
them out and the workers gathered
for a quick assessment. Miraculously,
no hair or clothing was singed (Dan
3:27). The chapter concludes with the
pagan king, who had built a pagan
idol, praising the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Dan
3:28–29). It was impossible to dispute
the sovereignty of the one true God
preserving His people. The king even
acknowledged that there was no
other God who could do such a thing
(Dan 3:29).
第四個人就像神子一樣？
他們全部都沒有被綁住，並且四處行走？
超越了一切世上物理和生物的法則，他們在火爐裡面沒有受到傷害。
王叫他們出來，工人們就立刻聚集起來。
非常神奇的是，沒有頭髮和衣服有被燒焦(但 3：27)。
這一章的異教國王，他建了一尊偶像，但卻下這樣的結論，
沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌的神是應該稱頌的(但 3：28-29)。
要來爭論獨一真神保護祂百姓的最高主權，是完全毫無意義的。
國王甚至承認，沒有任何其他的神，可以作出這樣的事情。(但 3：29)
It is notable that God did not
prevent the furnace from being
heated up, nor did He prevent His
loyal followers from being bound or
from being thrown into the furnace.
While He allowed them to experience
the struggle and challenges, He
abided with them and met them in
the midst of their trials.
值得注意的是，神並沒有防止火爐被一再加熱，
祂也沒有阻止他忠心的跟隨者沒有被捆綁，或是阻止他們不要被丟進火爐裡面去。
然而祂卻准許他們來體驗到所面臨的掙扎和挑戰，祂和他們同在，在他們的試煉當中與他們相會。
This is the same for us today. God
may not always prevent us from
experiencing the struggles of life, such
as dipping into our overdraft to make
ends meet, but He always sustains our
lives, in that we will have food on the
table. He does not always prevent us
from being isolated in our pursuit of
godliness, but He does abide with us
and builds us up to be stronger and
godlier. Even if not immediately, He
will provide us with godly friends to
support and walk with us. God may
not prevent us from going into the
operating theatre but He does help
us throughout the procedure and the
recuperation. He does not always stop
us getting burned in life, but He does
have a tendency of meeting us in the
flames. In such moments of trials, is
it not a blessing to have a great God
who promises to be with us (Deut
31:6)?
對今日我們的來說，也是一樣的。
神不會總是來阻止我們體驗到生活中的掙扎，就像是看一下我們帳戶有沒有透支，然後讓我們可以收支平衡，
但祂總是維持我們的生活，在這樣的事上，他讓我們在餐桌上有食物。
祂總是不會阻止我們在追求虔誠的事上被孤立起來，
但祂卻與我們同在，把我們建立起來，變得更加信心堅強，更加虔誠。
即使並沒有馬上就出現變化，祂會讓我們有虔誠的朋友，來支持我們，來陪伴我們。
神或許不會阻止我們走入手術室，但祂會幫助我們經歷過所有的過程，並且得以康復。
祂總是不會阻止我們在生活中被燙到，但祂會有這樣的傾向，當我們在火焰中受試煉的時候，祂會來與我們相見。
在這樣受試煉的時候，有一個偉大的神，祂應該要和我們同在，難道不是一種祝福嗎？(申 31：6)
CONCLUSION 結論
Life as a Christian may not be easy or
smooth sailing at all times. Often, our
obedience to God seems to come at a
cost. Obeying the first commandment
means having to make tough choices
from time to time, demonstrating our
willingness, devotion, and faithfulness
to God. By doing so, we will likely
be forced out of our comfort zone,
lose our sense of security, and even
our popularity. Despite these, God
desires our obedience above all else.
In return, He will abide with us and
meet us amidst our pressures and
challenges.
身為基督徒的生活中，在任何時刻都不會很輕鬆，也不會是一帆風順。
常常是，我們對神的順服，看起來都要付出一些代價。
順服第一條誡命就代表了，常常需要去面對，並且作出困難的決定，
去展現出我們對神很樂意，有熱心，並且很忠心。
因為這麼作了，我們就好像會被強迫推出舒適圈一樣，失去了自已的安全感，失去了受歡迎的程度。
雖然會面對這些事情，神希望我們要順服，大過一切的事情。
為了回報我們，祂會與我們同在，在我們受到壓力和挑戰的時候，他會與我們相見。
May we courageously stand firm
and willingly follow Christ. By doing
so, we will know and experience that
above all else, God Himself is our
most precious blessing.
願我們鼓起勇氣，站立得穩，並且樂意跟隨基督。
因為這麼作，我們就會明白，並且體會到，在任何一切的事上，神才是我們最珍貴的祝福。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)