5. Manna issue 63 - All the Sons of God Shouted for Joy 神的眾子喜樂歡呼
K.C. Tsai—Toronto, Canada 加拿大多倫多
ENCOUNTERS WITH MUSIC 遇上音樂
The orange-colored seats on the Air India plane brightened up the whole cabin.
The spacious legroom and the personal TV screen in front of each seat
washed away the former chaotic make-do scene in the cabin.
印度航空飛機上橘色的座椅，讓整個機艙顯得明亮起來。
寬敞的腿部空間，和每個座位前面的個人電視螢幕，
洗去了以前機艙混亂，但還差強人意的情況。
Air India was no longer that makeshift airline which I took 12 years ago,
where, when you asked for a diet coke,
you would instantly get a pack of milk
to substitute what the attendant could not find in the cart.
Only one thing had remained unchanged
—the Indian music, with its short
but repeated syllables that floated around in the cabin.
The music went on and on until its tune kept reverberating in my head,
following me into the arrival hall of Heathrow airport.
印度航空不再是我12年前搭乘的臨時航空公司，
當你要一杯健怡可樂時，
你會立即得到一包牛奶
取代空服員在推車中找不到的東西。
只有一件事沒有改變，
—印度音樂，帶著短促，
但重複的音節，在機艙不斷擴散。
音樂一直持續播放，直到它的旋律在我的腦海中不斷迴響，
跟著我進到英國希思羅機場的入境大廳。
End of May, I took Air India to London, UK, the city where time zeros.
Once again, I realized how large this city is
- the Tube journey from the airport to London Church took more than one hour
- and yet, I had only traveled half the way across the city.
The city seemed to be like the brethren from China
whom I met later at London Church
—foreign but seemingly familiar.
五月底，我搭乘印度航空飛往英國倫敦，這座零時區的城市。
我再一次意識到，這座城市有多大，
—從機場到倫敦教會的地鐵，花了一個多小時，
—然而，我只穿過了這座城市的一半路程。
這座城市彷彿來自中國的兄弟姐妹，
我後來在倫敦教會遇見他們，
—陌生卻又似曾相識。
Unexpectedly, more than a hundred mainland Chinese brethren
had come to London since my last visit.
Being foreigners in this country,
they usually work on Saturdays to make a living,
leaving no luxury for them to enjoy the Sabbath rest.
For this reason, they gather every other Sunday evening
from 9 pm to 3 am to sing hymns and have services.
On one occasion, after dinner, a youth from London Church showed me a youtube video.
It sounded like a pop concert or a TV show,
but then I realized that it was actually a presentation by a True Jesus Church choir.
The showmanship of the soloist,
with deliberate slurred diction and occasional outbursts of near screaming,
echoed through the large dining hall.
Unprepared to hear a hymn presentation in such a showbiz- style,
I was prompted to think of the music that flows through the Bible ….
沒想到，有一百多位中國大陸的弟兄姐妹，
自從我上次到訪以來，他們已經過來倫敦了。
作為這個國家的外國人，
他們通常在周六工作以謀生，
讓他們沒有存留任何奢侈，可以享受安息日的休憩。
因此，他們隔週日晚上就會聚會一次，
從晚上 9 點到凌晨 3 點唱讚美詩，並舉行禮拜。
有一次晚餐後，倫敦教會一位青年給我看了一段 YouTube 影片。
聽起來就像一場流行音樂會，或是電視節目，
但後來我才意識到，這其實是真耶穌教會詩班的表演。
獨奏者的表演技巧，
帶著故意含糊其辭，偶爾爆發出近乎尖叫的聲音，
迴盪整個偌大的餐廳。
由於沒有準備好聽到如此娛樂界風格的讚美詩表演，
促使我想起聖經中流淌的音樂…。
THE ORIGIN OF MUSIC 音樂的起源
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
(Job 38:4-7)
4我立大地根基的時候，你在哪裡呢？
你若有聰明，只管說罷！
5你若曉得就說，是誰定地的尺度？
是誰把準繩拉在其上？
6地的根基安置在何處？
地的角石是誰安放的？
7那時，晨星一同歌唱；
神的眾子也都歡呼。
（約伯記 38:4-7）
When God laid the foundations of the earth,
the morning stars sang and the sons of God (angels) shouted for joy.
Yet, music first appeared in human history in a completely different context.
當神立定大地根基的時候，
晨星歌唱，神（天使）的子女歡呼雀躍。
然而，音樂一開始出現在人類歷史上，是在完全不同的背景下。
Genesis 4 mentions that Cain went out from the presence of God
and lived in the land of Nod on the east of Eden,
after he killed his brother Abel.
Later on, from Cain’s lineage, Jubal became the father and inventor of instruments
(Gen 4:21).
So, music and instruments initially had nothing to do with praising or worshipping God.
Music exclusively served the purpose of entertainment and relaxation among men.
創世記四章提到，該隱從神面前出去，
住在伊甸東邊的挪得之地，
在他殺了自已兄弟亞伯之後。
後來，從該隱的血脈中，猶八成為樂器之父和發明者
（創 4：21）。
所以，音樂和樂器一開始是與讚美或敬拜神無關。
音樂的目的，是專為人們娛樂和放鬆。
MUSIC TO PRAISE GOD 讚美神的音樂
When Jacob’s wife Leah gave birth to Judah, she said,
“Now I will praise the LORD.”
Therefore she called his name Judah (literally “praise”)
(Gen 29:35).
Only then did music regain its original purpose,
which is to praise God just as the angels did at the time
when God laid the foundations of the earth.
當雅各的妻子利亞生下猶大時，她說：
“35這回我要讚美耶和華，”
因此給他起名叫猶大(就是讚美的意思)。
（創 29：35）。
直到那時，音樂才恢復了最初的目的，
就是那時天使一樣讚美神，
當神立定大地的根基。
More than 400 years later,
when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea,
God plunged the tenacious Egyptian army and their horsemen and chariots into the sea.
Following that, the children of Israel joyfully celebrated their deliverance.
They joined Moses in an enthusiastic song of praise to God for His glory and power.
Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand
while all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
And Miriam said,
400多年之後，
當摩西帶領以色列人出埃，並渡過紅海時，
神把頑固的埃及軍隊，和他們的馬兵和戰車投入海中。
隨後，以色列百姓歡欣鼓舞慶祝他們的拯救。
他們與摩西吟唱熱情的讚美詩給神，讚美祂的榮耀和大能。
然後，亞倫的妹妹，女先知米利暗，拿起手中的鈴鼓，
接著所有的婦女都跟著她出去，敲打鈴鼓跳舞。
米利暗說，
"Sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!"
(Ex 15:21).
“21你們要歌頌耶和華，因他大大戰勝，
將馬和騎馬的投在海中。”
（出 15：21）。
The Israelites sang and danced for God,
for the LORD Himself had become their strength and song.
以色列人為神唱歌跳舞，
因為耶和華自己成了他們的力量和詩歌。
The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
(Ex 15:2)
2耶和華是我的力量，我的詩歌，也成了我的拯救。
這是我的神，我要讚美他，
是我父親的神，我要尊崇他。
（出 15:2）
When the chosen people eventually came to the east side of the River Jordan,
God told Moses to command them
not to offer sacrifices at any place of their own choosing
once they entered the promised land.
Instead God Himself would choose a dwelling place for His name.
The people were to come to this place to ‘learn’ to worship
and offer sacrifices during festivals, three times a year.
God had sovereign control over the selection of the place for worship,
where He would put His name
(Deut 12).
當選民最終來到約旦河東岸時，
神吩咐摩西命令他們，
不可以在他們自己選擇的任何地方獻祭，
一旦他們進入應許之地。
相反的，神會親自為祂的名選擇一個居所。
人們會來到這個地方，來「學習」敬拜，
節期時會獻祭，一年有三次。
神有敬拜地點選擇主權的控制權，
祂會選擇把自已的名字安置在哪裡
（申 12）。
After the Israelites had conquered most of the cities in Canaan under Joshua’s direction,
the tent of meeting was set up in Shiloh.
在約書亞的指揮下，以色列人征服迦南地的大部分城市之後，
會幕設立在示羅。
Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh,
and set up the tabernacle of meeting there.
And the land was subdued before them.
(Joshua 18:1)
1以色列的全會眾都聚集在示羅，
把會幕設立在那裡，
那地已經被他們制伏了。
（書 18：1）
DEVIATING FROM AND RETURNING TO GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS 從神的指示偏離而再度回歸
But who would have thought that things would take a different direction?
The 400-year period of the judges in Canaan ended with this remark:
但是誰能想到，事情卻朝著不同的方向發展呢？
迦南地四百年的士師時期以這句話結束：
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
(Judges 21:25)
25那時，以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行。
（士 21：25）
All this time, God was with Israel and wanted to be their king to guide them.
Yet His people were without a king in their hearts.
Unable to see God’s presence,
they conducted their lives according to their own liking and concepts.
Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Although they continued to go to Shiloh
during the three festivals to sing, dance and be merry,
these actions were no longer directed towards God
(Judg 21:19-25).
Instead, they were merely giving full reign to their emotions,
entertaining themselves and others.
一直以來，神都與以色列同在，並且想要成為他們的君王來引導他們。
然而祂的百姓心中卻沒有君王。
看不見神的同在，
他們按照自己的喜好和觀念，過著自己的生活。
每個人都做了自己認為對的事。
雖然他們會繼續前往示羅，
每逢三個節期還是歌頌舞蹈、歡欣快樂，
這些行為都不再針對上帝
（士 21：19-25）。
相反的，他們只是完全受制於自己的情感，
用來娛樂自己和他人。
It was not until the time of David
that music was given a whole new dimension and purpose.
David played the harp with a heart of quiet servitude.
Moreover, he used his harp music to drive out the distressing spirit from Saul.
Thus, he elevated the purpose of music to a higher level
—it was used to please God and to ask for power from Him.
Through his music, which was completely for God and directed towards God,
David found favor in the eyes of the LORD and also received strength.
從此沒有，直到了大衛時代，
音樂被賦予了全新的用途和目的。
大衛懷著一顆安靜服事的心彈奏豎琴。
此外，他還用豎琴演奏，來驅除掃羅身上的憂愁情緒。
因此，他將音樂的目，提升到了更高的層次，
—音樂被用來取悅神，並且祈求祂的力量。
透過他的音樂，是完全為了神，是面向神的音樂，
大衛在耶和華眼中蒙恩，也得著力量。
After David’s ascension to the throne,
he longed to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem.
However, his first attempt failed,
as he did not follow the Law,
which prescribed that the ark had to be ministered to by the priests and carried by Levites.
Due to his negligence and Uzza’s ignorance,
God struck Uzza to death.
Through this sobering incident,
David realized that
man should not superimpose his own ideals or creativity
on God’s principles in service and worship.
God has given man clear instructions on how to worship and serve Him.
What man needs to do is to learn to follow these instructions.
大衛登上王位之後，
他想要把約櫃帶進耶路撒冷。
然而他第一次的嘗試失敗了，
因為他沒有遵守律法，
律法規定，約櫃必須由祭司管理，並由利未人搬運。
由於他的疏忽和烏撒的無知，
神擊殺了烏撒。
透過這起喚醒人心的事件，
大衛才明白，
人們不應該強加自己的理想或創造力，
於神事奉和敬拜的原則。
神已經給了人類明確的指示，該如何敬拜和事奉祂。
人所需要做的，就是學會遵守這些命令。
The second time, David had learned his lesson
and used the proper way to usher the ark into Jerusalem.
He not only commanded the priests and Levites to purify themselves before carrying the ark,
but also appointed singers to sing praises before the procession.
These singers, who were chosen from among the Levites,
were to welcome the ark into the city of David with loud and joyful praises.
第二次，大衛吸取了教訓，
並以正確的方式將引導約櫃進入耶路撒冷。
他不但吩咐祭司和利未人，在抬約櫃前要潔淨自己，
也指定詩班在前行隊伍之前歌頌。
這些詩班是從利未人中選出來的，
眾人大聲歡呼，歡迎約櫃進入大衛城。
FOCUS ON PURITY AND SINCERITY 專注於聖潔和虔誠
After they had set the ark of God in the tabernacle,
David also appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of God,
to commemorate, to thank, and to praise God
(1 Chr 16:4).
He then separated these Levites into 24 divisions.
They cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great,
the teacher with the student,
so that they could be instructed to make music to God,
and take turns to praise Him
(1 Chr 25:1-31).
他們把神的約櫃安置在聖幕裡之後，
大衛又指派了一些利未人，在神的約櫃前供職，
去紀念、感謝、讚美神
（代上 16：4）。
然後他將這些利未人分成 24 組分隊。
他們抽籤分派自己的職責，無論長幼，
老師與學生一起，
以便他們能受教為神創作音樂，
並且輪流讚美神
（代上 25：1-31）。
By then the first choirs were established.
就是那時，第一個詩班成立了。
The Levites were consecrated to God,
replacing Israel’s firstborn males to serve God and to fulfill the sacred duties.
They were separate from the rest of the people and sanctified.
In a solemn manner, they sang praises to God.
利未人分別為聖歸於神，
取代以色列長子來服事神，並履行這神聖的職責。
他們與其他百姓分別，並且潔淨成聖。
他們用莊嚴的態度歌頌神。
Today, our choirs should do likewise.
We are a royal priesthood
(1 Peter 2:9),
the spiritual Levites.
As such, we need to be careful not to sing hymns to entertain
or feed our emotions, but to thank and praise God.
Most importantly, our hearts must be consecrated as we make music to Him.
If our focus is on thanking and praising God with a pure and sincere heart,
our own ideas will naturally take a backseat.
Instead of using worldly methods to draw people to God,
our reverent singing and praise will please the Lord
and attract those who have a heart to seek Him .
.. Consequently, the Holy Spirit will touch people’s inmost selves
and guide them into God’s presence.
今日，我們的詩班也應該這樣做。
我們是君尊的祭司
（彼前 2：9），
屬靈的利未人。
因此，我們需要小心，不要唱詩來娛樂，
或是滿足自已的情感，而是用來感謝讚美神。
最重要的是，當我們為神創作音樂時，內心必須分別為聖。
如果我們專心用純真虔誠的心，來感謝讚美神，
我們自己的想法自然會退居次位。
不是使用世俗的方法來吸引人歸向神，
我們虔誠的歌頌和讚美，就會蒙主喜悅
並且吸引那些有心尋求祂的人。
.. 所以聖靈會觸動人最深處的自我，
並且引導他們來到神的面前。
Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in our heart to the Lord.
(Eph 5:19)
19當用詩章、頌詞、靈歌、彼此對說，
口唱心和的讚美主。
（弗 5：19）
As the sons of God, let us gaze at God’s creation and salvation
as well as His unceasing mercy.
Let us make Him our song
… then, indeed, we will shout for joy!
身為神的兒子，讓我們來凝視著神的創造與拯救，
以及祂永不止息的憐憫。
讓我們以祂作我們的詩歌，
…那麼，我們確實能夠喜樂歡呼！
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)