[牧者心語] The Sufficiency of God's Word 2017.16

◎Rev. Rick Beard (翻譯／張頌恩傳道)

Psalm 19 – The Sufficiency of God’s Word

詩篇19篇 上帝話語的充足

We have many voices coming at us every day. They all tell us something about life and our lives. Some are more subtle than others but all want our attention. So whose voice do we listen to most each day?

我們每天都會聽到很多聲音。這些聲音告訴我們有關生命和日常生活的故事。有些聲音比較不容易聽到但都在嘗試吸引我們的注意力。所以我們每天聽到最多的是誰的聲音呢？

In moving to the second part of this psalm we learn that just as the sun dominates the daytime sky, so too, God’s Word is to dominate our lives. Jesus, the perfect man, showed us the supreme importance of God’s Word in Matthew 4:1-10. 

在詩篇19篇第二段我們看到太陽支配了白晝的天空，同樣地，神的話語應該要支配我們的日常生活。在馬太福音四章1-10節，耶穌作為一個完全的人，向我們表明了上帝話語無可比擬的重要性。

The Bible clearly states there are only two kinds of advice in the world: that which aligns with God’s Word and that which does not – Psalm 1:1-3. If God’ Word does not direct every area of our lives, we will have difficulty distinguishing between the two. 

聖經很清楚地陳述了在這世界上只有兩種道路 – 隨從神的道路與不隨從神的道路 – 詩篇一篇1-3節。如果在我們日常生活中上帝的話語沒有站在支配的地位，那我們就很難分別這兩種道路之間的差別。

Nowhere in the Bible does Scripture make as bold and comprehensive claims about itself as it does in Psalm 19:7-9. This passage reveals to us the sufficiency of God’s Word to do all He intends in His people’s lives. I will focus this article on the first aspect. 

在聖經中沒有其他的經文像詩篇19篇7-9節如此清楚又廣泛地向我們充足地顯明，神的話語在祂的子民當中要成就的事。這篇文章將會將聚焦在這個部分。

“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul” – Psalm 19:7

耶和華的律法全備，能甦醒人心；耶和華的法度確定，能使愚人有智慧。詩19:7

The word “perfect” speaks of the Bible as whole, complete, sufficient, not lacking anywhere.  It is comprehensive in that it covers all aspects of every issue we truly need to know. That being said, there’s an implied contrast here with the imperfect, insufficient, flawed reasoning of people.  

全備這個字眼顯示了聖經整全完備充足不缺的特性。聖經完整地包含了我們在生活中所需要知道的每個層面的所有問題。話雖這麼說，人的理智卻是不完美，不充分，又有缺陷的。

It is perfect because there is nothing in life we need to know to understand God, our lives, and the world around us, that is not addressed at least in seed form in God’s Word. Absolutely nothing. I do not need the Bible plus some other kind of wisdom to live a life that pleases God. That is what makes this statement so profound. 

聖經是完整無缺的，因為我們不需要任何聖經以外的東西去認識神，我們的生活，還有我們所處的這個世界。全部我們所需要知道的，在聖經中最少都有神種子般的話語。除了聖經之外我們絕對不需要其他額外的智慧去活出一個討神喜悅的生活。這就是使得這結經文如此深刻的原因。

　　　

If what is happening in my life matters to God, He has graciously addressed it in His Word. He has not left out anything I will need to navigate successfully through this life with Him. 

如果在我生活中所發生事情對上帝來說是要緊的，那在祂已經在祂的話語中解答了。祂沒有遺漏一樣在我們生命旅程中成功需要的任何引導。

Yet even more than that, Scripture is so powerful and comprehensive that it can transform the entire person, changing someone into the person God wants him or her to be. The Bible is the living word of the living God. “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” – Hebrews 4:12.

然而，不僅於此，聖經的經文是廣泛的又有能力使整個人改變，使他/她成為上帝命定成為的那樣。聖經是永生神活生生的話語：神的道是活潑的，是有功效的，比一切兩刃的劍更快，甚至魂與靈，骨節與骨髓，都能刺入、剖開，連心中的思念和主意都能辨明 – 希伯來書四章12節。

Since it is perfect, God’s Word restores, revives, and renews His people. It is sufficient to restore even the most broken life—e.g. King David’s life. He understood the authority and power of God’s Word well even though there were times in his life when he sought to live above it. See also James 1:25 – the perfect Word reveals and transforms imperfections; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3-4. 

上帝藉著這樣完備的話語，祂恢復屬祂的子民，使屬祂的子民甦醒，又使屬祂的子民更新。祂的話語足夠使最破碎的生命得到恢復。就像大衛王，雖然在他的生命中曾經不顧神的話語而犯罪，但他仍然明白(經歷了)神話語的權柄與大能。雅各書一章25節講到：神全備的話語能夠改變那些不完全的；提摩太後書三章16-17，彼得後書一章3-4。

So where are you struggling today? What answers do you need? What direction are you seeking? Where have you failed the Lord? What in your life is broken? What sins dominate you more than God’s Word does? Where do you sense your own inadequacies and weaknesses? What inner pain just will not go away? Where do you feel like giving up? How do you love that unlovable person? Or that harsh employer? When you need answers to what matters most, do you turn to God’s Word? Do you seek Him who is the author and completer of your faith; the One who said His Word is perfect? 

你今天生活中的掙扎是什麼呢？你需要甚麼樣的答案呢？你尋求的方向在哪裡？你在哪裡得罪了上帝？你生命中是否有些破碎的部分？是否有些罪支配了你而不是上帝的話語？你是否對自己的不足和軟弱有所察覺呢？你內心深處是不是有一些無法過去的傷痛？你是否常常想要放棄？你是不是有能力可以愛那些不可愛的人？或是你惡劣的雇主？當你在緊要關頭的時候，你是否在祂的話語中找尋答案？你是否尋求那位為你的信心創始成終的耶穌？尋求話語全備的那位耶穌呢？

We cannot live, as God intends, apart from His Word. God has promised in His Word to perfect, comfort, satisfy, direct, change, and guide His people. “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word” – Psalm 119:73-74.  

如果缺少了神的話語，我們就無法活出祂心意中我們應該要成為的樣式。神應許了祂的話語使祂的子民完全，得安慰、得滿足、得改變；又得引導。祢的手製造我、建立我；求祢賜我悟性，可以學習祢的命令！敬畏祢的人見我就要歡喜，因我仰望祢的話 – 詩篇119:73-74