讀經： 但以理書九章15至19節 15主─我們的神啊，你曾用大能的手領你的子民出埃及地，使自己得了名，正如今日一樣。我們犯了罪，作了惡。 16主啊，求你按你的大仁大義，使你的怒氣和忿怒轉離你的城耶路撒冷，就是你的聖山。耶路撒冷和你的子民，因我們的罪惡和我們列祖的罪孽被四圍的人羞辱。 17我們的神啊，現在求你垂聽僕人的祈禱懇求，為自己使臉光照你荒涼的聖所。 18我的神啊，求你側耳而聽，睜眼而看，眷顧我們荒涼之地和稱為你名下的城。我們在你面前懇求，原不是因自己的義，乃因你的大憐憫。 19求主垂聽，求主赦免，求主應允而行，為你自己不要遲延。我的神啊，因這城和這民都是稱為你名下的。 |
| 當但以理想到，神的計劃是要祂的子民重歸故里，他立刻醒覺到他們現時的屬靈光景，將難以支持他們長途跋涉返回耶路撒冷。翻山越嶺的路途固然是一大考驗，但更重要的，是他們要由物質充裕的巴比倫回到極度貧困的耶路撒冷，並且要放棄安舒的生活，重拾艱辛的工作。 對於同胞將要重回故國這件大事，但以理感到非常興奮。縱使他未必能夠等到這個日子，與同胞一同回歸，但他卻深深感覺到必須為他的同胞代禱。這種迫切的心，推動他感同身受，把自己看作是他們當中的一份子，把他們的罪看成為自己的罪，懇切地向神認罪，求取祂的寬恕。 留意他的禱告是何等謙卑和迫切。請再讀第3節。這時的但以理，已是朝廷宰相，僅在大利烏王一人之下。而且，他的一生可謂無可指摘，連他的敵人也找不出他有任何瑕疵。然而，他卻與他的同胞認同，承認他們是一同得罪了神。 神聽了他的禱告（21節），接著便向他啟示了一個新的異象。並且，在兩年之後，神便按照祂的應許，雖然不是由但以理率領，卻讓以斯拉和所羅巴伯帶領祂的子民回到以色列。 我們總是期望神工作，渴望更多見到神的賜福。然而，我們有沒有反省，神為甚麼沒有按照我們所求的祝福我們？神為甚麼不即時回應？ 也許是因為我們沒有作好準備。我們可能需要省察、認罪、悔改，又或是神的時間未到。然而，只要我們熱切期待神的工作，只要我們願意讓神在我們心裡工作和藉著我們工作，神總會傾福施恩予我們的。 信仰的復興，總是先在神的百姓心中重燃愛心，帶來認罪的醒覺和悔改。我們是否需要這樣的復興呢？ |
Bible Reading: Daniel 9:15-19 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly! 16 "O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name." |
| As Daniel thought about God's plan for his people, he realized first that God's people were not in the right spiritual condition to face the long journey back to Jerusalem. The journey would only be part of the testing. They would be exchanging the plenty of Babylon for the poverty of Jerusalem. They would have to give up the ease of the East for the hard work of the West. Daniel was thrilled at what was going to happen. He might not be able to share in the return but the burden of prayer weighed heavily on him. It resulted in this remarkable confession in which he identified himself with Israel and its shortcomings. Notice the humility and intensity of his prayer. Read v.3 again. This man was Number One in the government next to King Darius. His life was blameless. Even his enemies could find no fault in him. Yet he included himself as he confessed the sins of the people. God heard his prayer (v.21) and a whole new revelation was given to him. Two years later God did exactly what He had promised and took the people back to the land of Israel. However, it was not under the leadership of Daniel but of Ezra and Zerubbabel. We are always wanting God to work. We often long to see more blessings. Why doesn't God do what we ask Him and why doesn't He do it now? It could be that we are not ready. There may be things that need to be put right. There may be things that need to be confessed. It may not quite be God's time. But if we are in earnest, if we are willing to face up to what God wants to do in us and through us, there could be no end to the blessing He is waiting to pour out. Revival has been defined as "the renewing of the first love among God's people, resulting in the awakening and conversions of sinners." Isn't that what we need? |
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