牧者心聲
從心仰望

周曉暉牧師
2022 年 7 月 2 日 / 3 日


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70 週年堂慶主題曲《70+》的一句「順服仰望祢,進新境界」,正好呼應著北宣五年計劃的總主題「持定使命,進新領域」。新,意味著有轉變。的確,眼見周遭變化持續,悲歡離合不斷,叫人不禁有一種吃不消的低氣壓。

上一季講壇重溫了使徒信經,其中講及的信仰要義,提醒我們縱是百感交集,仍能確知自己所「信」的是誰。

然而,從「信」到最終救恩完全實現之間,是要有「盼望」的。早前我們曾經從創世記至列王記選讀有關利未和他後代的經文,民數記十六章記載的可拉,本來已在會幕中服事神,他所屬的利未支派哥轄族人,是負責抬約櫃,足見其工作的重要性,但他仍覬覦亞倫大祭司之職,摩西一再規勸,他始終不肯回轉,結果神大發烈怒,使可拉和屬他的人被大地吞滅。然而,聖經讓我們知道,神仍存留可拉的後裔,或許可拉兒子中有人堅守利未人的職分,並未跟隨可拉生事。誠然,上主的救恩,是與敬畏祂的人就近。

詩篇共分為五卷,卷二(四十二至七十二篇)和卷三(七十三至八十九篇)之中,就有 11 篇註明是可拉的後裔所寫(若沒有註明作者的四十三篇也計算在內,則共 12 篇,傳統視四十三篇為四十二篇的下半部)。這些詩篇分別是:四十二、(四十三)、四十四至四十九、八十四、八十五、八十七、和八十八篇。

觀乎內容,其中有不少是詩人從內心深處向神發出的呼聲,尤其因為可拉後裔作為恆常在聖殿事奉的歌唱者(參代下二十 19),卻身處異域,無法完全實踐原有的使命。人在新的境地,要踐行召命,卻是舉步維艱,這些詩篇所展示的,就是人怎樣與自己的內心對話,怎樣在未獲神回應之前仍然祈求,而且如何與他人一同求告。

今天,我們目睹列國紛紛攘攘,有人或要為家人作抉擇,因而徬徨猶豫。不少人或會問:將來該何去何從?眼見身邊的人和事不斷變遷,心裡難免沉鬱悵惘。

真的,有些感受,有些失去,不是用一套說詞就能強壓下去,也不是單憑群體的喜慶事就能輕易沖刷和掩蓋掉。

作為神的兒女,我們實在渴望見到上主的作為,期盼雨過天晴,好在寬闊之地繼續回應神給自己的人生召命。這一季,就讓可拉後裔的詩篇帶領我們向神訴說心事,並叫我們堅信神才是人真實的倚靠,惟祂是我們的盼望所在。我們當持續「從心仰望」祂!





Pastor's Sharing

Fervent Hope

Rev Arnold Chow

There is a line in the NPAC 70th Anniversary theme song "70+" that goes: "Obey and hope in You, enter new horizons." This is very much in line with the overall theme of our Five-Year Plan, which is "Steadfast Mission in New Horizons." "New" connotes change. Indeed, changes happening all around and continual scenes of sorrow and joy, separation and reunion make one feel an unbearable depression.

Our sermons in the last quarter reviewed the Apostles' Creed, through which the key doctrine of our faith reminds us that despite our mixed feelings, we can still be sure we know in whom we "believe".

Nevertheless, between "believe" and the ultimate consummation of salvation, "hope" is needed. Earlier, we have studied selected passages from Genesis to Kings about Levi and his descendants. Korah in Numbers 16 originally served God in the tabernacle. The Kohathites to which Korah belonged was a clan of the Levite tribe and was responsible for the important work of carrying the Ark of the covenant. But he was eyeing Aaron's high priest work. Despite Moses' exhortation to the contrary, he would not stop his bid. This caused great anger on the part of God resulting in Korah and all those associated with him to be swallowed by the earth. But the Bible tells us that God spared Korah's offspring. It was possible that some of Korah's sons were faithful to their duties as Levites and had not followed Korah in causing havoc. Really, God's salvation is with those who fear Him.

Psalms is divided into five books. In Book II (Psalm 42 to 72) and Book III (Psalm 73 to 89), 11 psalms were attributed to the sons of Korah (12 if we include the unattributed Psalm 43, which is traditionally considered to be the second part of Psalm 42). These psalms are Psalm 42, (43), 44 to 49, 84, 85, 87 and 88 respectively.

In terms of content, many of them were cries to God from the bottom of the psalmists’ hearts. This is particularly so because the sons of Korah, who habitually served as singers in the temple (see 2 Chronicles 20:19), were stranded in a foreign land and could not wholly fulfil their original mission. In a new environment, it was difficult to fulfil one’s mission. What these psalms reveal is the inner conversation in man's heart, how he continues to pray before God answers his prayer, and how he prays with others.

Today, we see the nations entangled. Some people may have to make decisions for the family which has them hesitate and worried. Many may ask: What should we do in future? When the people and things all around keep changing, one inevitably feels downhearted and confused.

It is true that some feelings, some losses cannot be dismissed by speech, nor can they be brushed aside or covered up simply with joyful celebrations in a community.

As children of God, we long to see the acts of the LORD. We look forward to the sunshine after the rain when we can continue to respond to God's calling in our lives in this vast land. This quarter, let the psalms by the sons of Korah lead us to pour out our hearts to God and help us to firmly believe that God alone is the One we can truly depend on. He alone is our hope. Let us continue to have "fervent hope" in Him!






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