牧者心聲
停下來
周曉暉牧師
2025 年 5 月 17 日 /18 日
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感謝神和北宣家讓我取用年假及安息年進修假。這週末我會和父親飛往羅馬，父子二人預備在當地的華人神學院合教數課。
上週崇拜家事分享了我這動向，散會時有弟兄姊妹著我好好休息。「休息」一詞，令我想起詩篇四十六篇10節上：「你們要休息，要知道我是神！」據一網上聖經2024年的統計，這節經文是100句最常被瀏覽的金句之一，常被印在卡片上，或用在提醒人不要過勞的文章裡。也許你也曾用它來提醒疲憊的弟兄姊妹：要「休息」！
其實詩篇四十六篇10節上的「休息」，並非指睡覺或休假。原文有「停止、放鬆拳頭、放下武器」之意，我們或可參照環球聖經譯本：「你們要停下來，要知道我是神」。
詩篇四十六篇的詩人，先是描繪大地移動、山岳崩塌傾入海中、海浪洶湧拍岸、山脈震動的天然災禍畫面，用以表達神子民在禍患中，仍可宣告「我們不害怕」（2節），因為「神是我們⋯⋯的避難所」（1節）。
到了詩篇的中後段，詩人轉而描繪戰亂場面（9節）。戰爭這種人禍，是在眾災難中最無情、最殘酷的。詩人號召世人來看「萬軍之耶和華」使所有的戰爭，從近到遠，都止息了，遍地呈現「荒涼」的景象（8節）：四處盡是折斷的武器和焚毀的軍備，不再有廝殺爭鬥的聲響。然後，詩人才將神這句「你們要停下來」的話寫下。
神這句話的對象，有可能是正在攻擊神子民的敵國。祂呼籲列國要知道祂就是全地的主（10節下），所以，列國要「停下來」，不要再攻擊，以此尊崇祂。
今天世上的爭戰和亂局此起彼落。最近在南亞有新的武裝衝突，讓我們急切祈求全地的主「使戰爭止息，直到地極」，但願世上好勇鬥狠的國家都「停下來」，讓大地回復平和。
不過，同一句話也可以是向著神子民說的。神叫子民「停止、放鬆拳頭、放下武器」，就是要他們不可再靠人手爭勝之力，因為這從來都不是人絕對的保障，所以，人應當「停下來」，倚靠神。
確實，我從候任身分到正式接棒已有七年了。近日感到自己彷彿只剩下一格電，是時候「停下來」、充充電了。在未來數月，我會有外出服事，也有一些進修和休歇的時候。深信萬軍之上主會看顧北宣家，因為祂才是我們堅固的保障（Mighty Fortress，1節）。
Thanks to God and the NPAC family, I have been given time for both my annual leave and sabbatical and study leave. This weekend, my father and I will fly to Rome in preparation for co-teaching some classes at a Chinese theological seminary.
Last week, I shared this upcoming trip during the family news time at worship. After the service, some brothers and sisters reminded me to get some good rest. That word "rest" brought Psalm 46:10a to my mind: "Be still, and know that I am God. " According to the statistics of an online Bible website in 2024, this is one of the top 100 most-viewed verses. It is often printed on cards or quoted in articles encouraging believers not to overwork. You may have used it yourself to remind a tired friend in Christ: "Be still (Get some rest)!"
But the "still" in Psalm 46:10a does not really mean sleep or vacation. The original Hebrew carries the sense of "stop," "relax clenched fists," or "put down your weapons." The Worldwide Chinese Bible puts it this way: 「你們要停下來，要知道我是神」("Stop awhile, and know that I am God. ")
In the first part of Psalm 46, the psalmist describes earth giving way, mountains crumbling into the sea, waters roaring, and mountains quaking. It paints a picture of natural disasters. This is to show that in the midst of tribulations, God's people can still declare: "We will not fear" (v.2), because "God is our refuge" (v.1).
Later in the psalm, the psalmist turns to depict a war scene (v.9). Of all human disasters, war is among the most merciless and devastating. The psalmist calls the world to witness how "the Lord Almighty" makes all wars — both near and far – cease. The earth is full of desolations (v.8): shattered weapons and burned military gear are everywhere. There is no more noise of strife and killing. It is after this that the psalmist writes down these words of God’s: "Be still."
It is possible that God's message here is directed at enemy nations rising up against His people. He urges the nations to know that He is Lord of all the earth (v.10b). They should therefore "be still, " stop the attacks, and, in doing so, exalt Him.
Today, wars and unrest continue to erupt across the world. Recently, new armed conflicts have broken out in South Asia, prompting us to urgently pray to the Lord of all the earth to "make wars cease to the ends of the earth. " May the nations that love to fight and use force "be still, " so that the earth may once again be at peace.
However, it is also possible that the same message is addressed to God's own people. He calls them to “stop, relax clenched fists, and put down their weapons." He is telling them not to rely on their own strength or human efforts for victory, for these have never been man's ultimate security. So man must "be still" and rely wholly upon God.
It has been seven years since I became Senior Pastor Designate and then served as Senior Pastor. Lately, I have felt as though my battery has only one bar left. It is time to "be still" and recharge. In the months ahead, I will have opportunities to serve beyond our church, as well as time for study and rest. I truly believe the Lord Almighty will continue to watch over the NPAC family, for He alone is our Mighty Fortress (v.1).
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