7:11 祭司以斯拉是通達耶和華誡命和賜以色列之律例的文士。亞達薛西王賜給他們諭旨，上面寫著說：
7:12 「諸王之王亞達薛西，達於祭司以斯拉通達天上上帝律法大德的文士，云云。
7:13 住在我國中的以色列人、祭司、利未人，凡甘心上耶路撒冷去的，我降旨准他們與你同去。
7:14 王與七個謀士既然差你去，照你手中上帝的律法書察問猶大和耶路撒冷的景況；
7:15 又帶金銀，就是王和謀士甘心獻給住耶路撒冷、以色列上帝的，
7:16 並帶你在巴比倫全省所得的金銀，和百姓、祭司樂意獻給耶路撒冷─他們上帝殿的禮物。
7:17 所以你當用這金銀，急速買公牛、公綿羊、綿羊羔，和同獻的素祭奠祭之物，獻在耶路撒冷─你們上帝殿的壇上。
7:18 剩下的金銀，你和你的弟兄看著怎樣好，就怎樣用，總要遵著你們上帝的旨意。
7:19 所交給你上帝殿中使用的器皿，你要交在耶路撒冷上帝面前。
7:20 你上帝殿裡若再有需用的經費，你可以從王的府庫裡支取。
7:21 「我─亞達薛西王又降旨與河西的一切庫官，說：『通達天上上帝律法的文士祭司以斯拉，無論向你們要甚麼，你們要速速地備辦，
7:22 就是銀子直到一百他連得，麥子一百柯珥，酒一百罷特，油一百罷特，鹽不計其數，也要給他。
7:23 凡天上之上帝所吩咐的，當為天上上帝的殿詳細辦理。為何使忿怒臨到王和王眾子的國呢？
7:24 我又曉諭你們，至於祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守門的，和尼提寧，並在上帝殿當差的人，不可叫他們進貢，交課，納稅。』
7:25 「以斯拉啊，要照著你上帝賜你的智慧，將所有明白你上帝律法的人立為士師、審判官，治理河西的百姓，使他們教訓一切不明白上帝律法的人。
7:26 凡不遵行你上帝律法和王命令的人就當速速定他的罪，或治死，或充軍，或抄家，或囚禁。」
7:27 以斯拉說：「耶和華─我們列祖的上帝是應當稱頌的！因他使王起這心意修飾耶路撒冷耶和華的殿，
7:28 又在王和謀士，並大能的軍長面前施恩於我。因耶和華─我上帝的手幫助我，我就得以堅強，從以色列中招聚首領，與我一同上來。」
11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,
To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:
Greetings.
13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. 14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. 15 Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, 16 together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. 17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.
18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. 19 Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. 20 And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.
21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— 22 up to a hundred talents[a] of silver, a hundred cors[b] of wheat, a hundred baths[c] of wine, a hundred baths[d] of olive oil, and salt without limit. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons? 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.
25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.[e]
27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way 28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.
****************
以斯拉也帶一群人歸回耶路撒冷，而切還帶了不少財物以及以前聖殿的物品，這一切都是波斯王亞達薛西的心意。可見上帝的做為是多麼奇妙，竟然藉用世上最強大的君王，來完成自己中的旨意！
或許我們會因為以斯拉受到這樣的待遇，也期盼政府能多多支持教會福音的傳揚，優待基督徒，給更多的福利。但是，我們回頭看歷史就不會盼望這事發生，正如羅馬帝國以基督教為國教，和中世紀教皇的力量高於國家君王，不是使教會得到助益，反讓教會腐化，失去了屬靈的能力！
也因為這樣，我們不要太期盼教會與國家關係太近，反倒是我們不要忘記基督徒在世是寄居的與客旅，因為我們盼望的不是人權力集中的國度，而是上帝做主、做王的上帝國！
不要忘記《啟示錄》所說的：「第七位天使吹號，天上就有大聲音說：世上的國成了我主和主基督的國；他要作王，直到永永遠遠。」(11:15)
惟有上帝的國是永遠長存，世上的國終將過去，真正的權柄者是上帝！
沒有留言:
張貼留言