玛拿西
We have grieved the loss of a great royal these past few days – Queen Elizabeth.
On Christmas Day 1952 – at just 26 years-old, the new monarch spoke for the first time to the world: ‘Pray for me,’ she asked, ‘that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.’
在过去的几天里，我们为失去一位伟大的皇室成员——伊丽莎白女王而感到悲痛。 1952 年圣诞节，这位年仅 26 岁的新君主第一次向世界发表讲话：“为我祈祷，”她请求道，“愿上帝赐予我智慧和力量，以履行我将要履行的庄严承诺，以便我可以在我生命的所有日子里忠实地为他和你服务。
It was a prayer God answered.
Elizabeth would make a series of solemn promises six months later at her coronation, which she kept faithfully for the next seventy years. The newly crowned Queen promised three things: to govern appropriately, to maintain justice, and to profess the gospel of Christ. All this she surely did until her final breath – reigning as Queen for over 70 years.
这是一个上帝回应的祷告。
伊丽莎白将在六个月后的加冕典礼上做出一系列庄严的承诺，在接下来的七十年里她都忠实地遵守了这些承诺。这位新加冕的女王承诺了三件事：妥善治理、维护正义和宣扬基督的福音。所有这一切她都做到了，直到她最后一口气——在她作为女王统治的 70 多年里。
We witness contemporary leaders failing and falling all around us at an unprecedented rate. Notions of duty, of promise-keeping, and of accountability to God can seem antiquated and even naive. At such a time, Queen Elizabeth’s lifelong example of consistency in private faith and integrity in public service is both startling and inspiring. It’s no wonder she is remembered and honoured.
It should have been this way for the king we’re looking at today - Manasseh. He was set up for a win - to lead in a godly and effective manner.
我们目睹当代领导人以前所未有的速度在我们周围失败和倒下。责任、信守诺言和对上帝负责的观念似乎过时甚至幼稚。在这样的时刻，伊丽莎白女王一生坚持个人信仰和公共服务正直的榜样，既令人震惊又鼓舞人心。难怪她会被人们记住和尊敬。
对于我们今天看到的国王玛拿西来说，应该是这样的。他是为胜利而准备的——以敬虔和有效的方式领导
We read that… Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. /2 Kings 21:1
He co-reigned with his dad – Hezekiah - for about ten years. He had a pretty good example in his father… a good apprenticeship to lay a good foundation.
He was exposed to the teaching ministry of the famous prophets - Isaiah and Micah. Imagine hearing directly about Isaiah’s vision of the holiness of God, or Micah’s call to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
He saw what happened to the northern kingdom of Israel when they continued to turn their back on Yahweh – and how the Assyrians had brutally overtaken the nation and scattering whoever was left.
我们读到……玛拿西登基时年十二岁，在耶路撒冷作王五十五年。 /列王纪下21:1
他与他的父亲——希西家——共同统治了大约十年。他的父亲是一个很好的榜样……他和他父亲之间的很好的学徒关系为他奠定了良好的基础。
他接触了著名先知以赛亚和弥迦的教导事工。想象一下直接听到以赛亚关于上帝圣洁的异象，或弥迦呼吁公正行事、怜悯地爱和谦卑地与你的上帝同行。
他看到北方的以色列王国在他们继续背弃耶和华时发生了什么事——以及亚述人如何残暴地占领了这个国家，并驱散了剩下的人。
As a child he would likely have personally seen how the Lord delivered Jerusalem in a very miraculous way, when Jerusalem was under siege by the Assyrians and they turned to Yahweh: 185,000 soldiers died overnight without Judah going to war. All because God defended his people.
In other words, Manasseh was set up for him for a long righteous reign. But, he is by far the worst king of all that we have seen, and will see, in our series.
当他还是个孩子的时候，他可能亲眼目睹了主如何以一种非常神奇的方式拯救了耶路撒冷，当时耶路撒冷被亚述人围攻，他们转向耶和华：185,000 名士兵一夜之间死亡，犹大没有参战。这一切都是因为上帝保护了他的子民。
换句话说，玛拿西是为他长期的正义统治而设立为王的。但是，在我们的系列中，他是迄今为止我们所见过并将看到的最糟糕的国王。
This should make many of us pause.
If Manasseh had everything needed to win – yet failed miserably – it means that it’s possible for you and me, and for people we love – to have everything needed for a win, yet fail miserably.
Today, it’s the equivalent of being sent to the best school to study, the best leadership academies, having a supportive invested Christian family – yet flunk when it really counts.
Manasseh’s story is a horrid tale of events. There is no way to sugar coat it. It’s a mess!
这应该让我们中的许多人停下来。
如果玛拿西拥有获胜所需的一切——但仍然惨败——这意味着你和我，以及我们所爱的人——有可能拥有获胜所需的一切，但仍会惨遭失败。
今天，这相当于被送到最好的学校学习，最好的领导学院，拥有一个支持的基督徒家庭——但在真正重要的时候却失败了。
玛拿西的故事是一个可怕的事件故事。没有办法给它粉饰。一团糟！
The story raises a question for us: What do we do when there seems no way out of the mess we are in?
The author sums Manasseh’s messy situation:
Manasseh did what was evil in the LORD’s sight following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. /2 Kings 21:2
That word ‘evil’ is going to be heard over and over and over again in the story we read.
It’s like the writer of 2 Kings wants us …
to see the hideousness of Manasseh’s actions over and over again
to feel the full weight of all it.
to experience the stench of the mess that happens under his leadership
这个故事向我们提出了一个问题：当我们陷入困境时，我们该怎么办？
作者总结了玛拿西的乱局：
玛 拿 西 行 耶 和 华 眼 中 看 为 恶 的 事 ， 效 法 耶 和 华 在 以 色 列 人面 前 赶 出 的 外 邦 人 所 行 可 憎 的 事 。 /列王纪下21:2
在我们读到的故事中，“邪恶”这个词会一遍又一遍地听到。
就像《列王纪下》的作者想要我们……
• 一遍又一遍地看到玛拿西行为的可憎之处
• 感受它的全部重量。
• 体验在他的领导下发生的烂摊子的恶臭
Manasseh’s mess begins…
“He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed.” / 2 Kings 21:3
What’s the first thing on Manasseh’s list? Well, he wipes out the good that his dad had done.
Remember, his father led a reformation towards God. Once Hezekiah was dead, he wasted no time turning to evil.
Apparently, having a godly parent doesn’t guarantee anything.
Already, it’s as if Hezekiah’s righteous reign never happened.
But, the list is just beginning. The mess is only just beginning to pile up.
玛拿西的混乱开始于……
“重 新 建 筑 他 父 希 西 家 所 毁 坏 的 邱 坛 ， 又 为 巴 力 筑 坛。” / 列王纪下 21:3
玛拿西名单上的第一件事是什么？好吧，他抹杀了他父亲所做的好事。
请记住，他的父亲领导了一场对上帝的改革。希西家死后，他立即转向邪恶。
显然，拥有敬虔的父母并不能保证任何事情。
就好像希西家的正义统治从未发生过一样。
但是，这份清单才刚刚开始。混乱才刚刚开始堆积起来。
He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. / 2 Kings 21:3
Remember Ahab and his wife – Jezebel. They were a seriously bad royal couple from the northern kingdom of Israel. Ahab’s reign was a dark period for the kingdom of Israel. Remember, Manasseh is from the kingdom of Judah. He better than this – isn’t he? The kingdom of Judah is becoming every bit as evil now as the northern Kingdom of Israel had been.
他为巴力筑了祭坛，做 亚 舍 拉 像 ， 效 法 以 色 列 王 亚 哈 所 行 的 。 / 列王纪下 21:3
记住亚哈和他的妻子——耶洗别。他们是来自以色列北部王国的一对非常糟糕的王室夫妇。亚哈的统治是以色列王国的黑暗时期。请记住，玛拿西来自犹大国。他比这更好——不是吗？犹大王国现在变得和北方的以色列王国一样邪恶。
He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them./ 2 Kings 21:3
He is turning to every power under heaven he hears about – except for the very One who created the heavens and the earth. But, the list isn’t even at the half-way mark yet. The mess is only just beginning to pile up.
且 敬 拜 事 奉 天 上 的 万 象。/ 列王纪下 21:3
他正在转向他所听到的天下所有的力量——除了创造天地的那一位。但是，这份名单甚至还没有到一半。混乱才刚刚开始堆积起来。
He built pagan altars in the Temple of the LORD, the place where the LORD had said, “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” / 2 Kings 21:4-5
It’s one thing to worship other gods. It’s another entirely to bring them into the Temple that Yahweh had set aside for his people to come and worship him.
Perhaps fittingly – the name ‘manasseh’ means ‘forgetful.’ He was the king of forgetfulness, the king who chooses a different narrative for life. Later, we read he even had the audacity to commission a carved image of another god and establish it right in the very place God had established for people to come and give thanks to Yahweh who had rescued them from slavery and provided them this land and their freedom.
Manasseh has turned his back on that story and embraced a new story with new gods.
The effects of paganism are piling up.
But he’s not finished yet…
在 耶 和 华 殿 宇 中 筑 坛 。 耶 和 华 曾 指 着 这 殿 说 ： 我 必 立 我 的 名 在耶 路 撒 冷 。 / 列王纪下 21:4-5
敬拜别神是一回事。把他们带到耶和华为他的子民所建造来敬拜他的圣殿里，完全是另一回事。
也许恰如其分——“玛拿西”这个名字的意思是“健忘的”。他是健忘之王，选择不同生活故事的国王。后来，我们读到他甚至大胆地委托雕刻了另一个神的形象，并将其建立在上帝为人们设立的地方，用来感谢耶和华将他们从奴役中拯救出来，并为他们提供了这片土地和他们的自由的地方。
玛拿西背弃了那个故事，接受了一个新神的新故事。
异教的影响正在堆积。
但他还没做完……
Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire./ 2 Kings 21:6
This is barbaric! It’s not that he hated his son. It’s just that Manasseh found himself in such a bind with geo-political issues, and with the enemy threatening to take his life and his kingdom, that he felt he had nowhere else to go. By sacrificing his son, he could show these so-called gods how earnest he was, how desperate he was for their attention. It’s a tragic state of affairs.
玛拿西并 使 他 的 儿 子 经 火 。/ 列王纪下 21:6
这是野蛮的！并不是他恨他的儿子。只是玛拿西发现自己与地缘政治问题如此纠缠，敌人威胁要夺走他的生命和他的王国，他觉得自己无处可去。通过牺牲自己的儿子，他可以向这些所谓的神表明他是多么认真，多么渴望得到他们的关注。这是一种悲惨的状况。
He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. / 2 Kings 21:6
He trafficked in dark powers. This is all happening in the kingdom of Judah - the very people who are meant to call out to Yahweh for his guidance and leadership.
But, the mess continues to escalate…
In verse 16, we read…
又 观 兆 ， 用 法 术 ， 立 交 鬼 的 和 行 巫 术 的。 / 列王纪下 21:6
他贩卖黑暗的力量。这一切都发生在犹大王国——这些人本应呼求耶和华的引导和领导。
但是，混乱继续升级......
在第 16 节中，我们读到……
Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. / 2 Kings 21:16
Josephus, a Jewish historian from around the time of Jesus records that Manasseh slaughtered prophets of God daily. Justin Martyr claims he was the one responsible for putting the prophet Isaiah to death by sawing him in half.
This is the opposite of what Micah had personally preached to him – the need to act justly! This is the murder of the innocents. It’s toxic. It’s cruel!
The writer continues…
玛 拿 西又 流 许 多 无 辜 人 的 血 ， 充 满 了 耶 路 撒 冷 ， 从 这 边 直 到 那边 。/ 列王纪下21:16
耶稣时代的犹太历史学家约瑟夫斯记载，玛拿西每天都在屠杀上帝的先知。贾斯汀烈士声称他是负责将先知以赛亚锯成两半而将他处死的人。
这与 弥迦 亲自向他宣讲的相反——需要公正行事！这是对无辜者的谋杀。这是有毒的。太残忍了！
作者继续……
This was in addition to the sin that he caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the LORD’s sight./ 2 Kings 21:16
His actions were contagious. The people now found themselves in their own messy situations. Our bad traits and habits are often adopted by others.
The list finishes with this glaring assessment from Yahweh:
玛 拿 西 行 耶 和 华 眼 中 看 为 恶 的 事 ， 使 犹 大 人 陷 在 罪 里 。/ 列王纪下 21:16
他的行为具有传染性。人们现在发现自己陷入了混乱的境地。我们的不良特质和习惯经常被他人采用。
这份清单以来自耶和华的评价结束：
“King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in this land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols.”/ 2 Kings 22:11
Not only did Manasseh outstrip the kings before him but His evil was worse than the pagan nations at the time when Israel came into the land.
This is as bad as it can possibly get. There is a stench from Manasseh reign. It’s a heavy weight on the kingdom of Judah.
It’s easy to look at this pile of mess – and feel disconnected from it. Removed.
“It’s not my choices, not my mess!”
Unless it’s directly in my world, or impacts me, it’s just what it is! A mess.
2022 - Another murder. Another ram raid. An unnecessary war… with unnecessary blood shed – for what reason? For what gain? It’s a mess. We see it each day. It’s on our news feed. We become disconnected from the reality of the impact – “not my choices, not my mess! Someone ought to do something.”
“因 犹 大 王 玛 拿 西 行 这 些 可 憎 的 恶 事 比 先 前 亚 摩 利 人 所 行 的 更甚 ， 使 犹 大 人 拜 他 的 偶 像 ， 陷 在 罪 里 ；”/ 列王纪下 21:11
玛拿西不仅胜过他之前的诸王，而且他的邪恶比以色列进入这片土地时的异教国家还要严重。
这是最糟糕的情况。有来自玛拿西统治的恶臭。这对犹大王国来说是一个沉重的负担。
看着这堆乱七八糟的东西很容易——感觉与它脱节了。 “这不是我的选择，
不是我的烂摊子！”
除非它直接在我的世界里，或者影响到我，否则就是这样！一团糟。
2022 - 另一起谋杀案。又一个飞车抢劫商店。一场不必要的战争……不必要的流血——出于什么原因？为了什么利益？一团糟。
我们每天都看到它。它在我们的新闻提要上。我们与影响的现实脱节——
“不是我的选择，不是我的烂摊子！有人应该做点什么。”
We see the mess in someone’s else’s life – their actions or failure to act. We turn away because it’s too hard - It’s much easier to stand and look from a distance.
It’s also easy to find endless fault with the world around me: if people were more responsible, made better decisions, acted with more integrity …then they would be better. Oh, it’s not that I think I am perfect, but my mess isn’t as bad as others, it’s tidy, unseen, doesn’t hurt others, nothing to worry about.
That lens of blamelessness that I can create supposedly frees me up to criticize the messed up world caused by politicians and royalty and my neighbour. Thank
God that I am not contributing to that mess.
Except (pause) ……. I am. (pause)
我们看到别人生活中的一团糟——他们的行为或不作为。我们转离是因为太难了——站在远处看要容易得多。
我也很容易在我周围的世界中找到无穷无尽的错误：如果人们更负责任，做出更好的决定，以更正直的方式行事……那么他们会更好。哦，不是我认为我很完美，而是我的烂摊子没有别人那么糟糕，它整洁，看不见，不伤害别人，没什么好担心的。
我从那种无可指责的角度出发，据说可以让我自由地批评由政客、皇室成员和我的邻居造成的混乱世界。感谢上帝，我没有为那场混乱做出贡献。
除了（停顿）……。我是。 （暂停）
The Russian novelist and Nobel Prize winner wrote: “If only it were all so simple!
If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” /Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Could it be that all of us contribute to some toxic mess?
Could it be we are all responsible for the pile of mess around us?
Several decades ago a newspaper posed the question, “What’s Wrong with the
World?” The Catholic thought leader G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief
letter to the editor,
一位俄罗斯小说家和诺贝尔奖获得者写道：
“要是一切都这么简单就好了！要是有恶人在某处阴险作恶，只要将他们与我们其他人分开并消灭他们就好了。但是，善恶的分界线贯穿了每个人的内心。” /Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 亚历山大·伊萨耶维奇·索尔仁尼琴
会不会是我们所有人都造成了一些混乱？
难道我们都要为我们周围的一堆乱七八糟的东西负责吗？
几十年前，一份报纸提出了一个问题：“世界怎么了？”据称，天主教思想领袖 G. K. Chesterton 吉尔伯特·基思·切斯特顿给编辑写了一封简短的信，
“Dear Sir: Regarding your article ‘What’s Wrong with the World?’
I am.
Yours truly,
G.K. Chesterton”
“尊敬的先生：关于你的文章‘這個世界怎么了？’
我是。
敬上，
吉尔伯特·基思·切斯特顿”
This is the honest assessment of someone who has grasped reality and the message of Jesus.
Jesus had this ability to show that the mess we see out there is in here.
Listen to what he says to the religious establishment of the day whose lives – on the outside - looked spick and span.
这是对掌握了现实和耶稣信息的人的诚实评价。
耶稣有能力表明我们在外面看到的烂摊子就在这里。
听听他对当时的宗教机构所说的话，他们的生活 - 在外面 - 看起来很整洁
“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds…. And you say that if you had lived in the days of your ancestors, no blood would have been on your hands. You protest too much! You’re cut from the same cloth as those murderers, and daily add to the death count./ Matthew 23:27-32 (MSG)
你 们 这 假 冒 为 善 的 文 士 和 法 利 赛 人 有 祸 了 ！ 因 为 你 们 好 像 粉 饰的 坟 墓 ， 外 面 好 看 ， 里 面 却 装 满 了 死 人 的 骨 头 和 一 切 的 污 秽 。你 们 也 是 如 此 ， 在 人 前 ， 外 面 显 出 公 义 来 ， 里 面 却 装 满 了 假善 和 不 法 的 事 。你 们 这 假 冒 为 善 的 文 士 和 法 利 赛 人 有 祸 了 ！ 因 为 你 们 建 造 先知 的 坟 ， 修 饰 义 人 的 墓 ， 说 ：若 是 我 们 在 我 们 祖 宗 的 时 候 ， 必 不 和 他 们 同 流 先 知 的 血 。这 就 是 你 们 自 己 证 明 是 杀 害 先 知 者 的 子 孙 了 。你 们 去 充 满 你 们 祖 宗 的 恶 贯 罢 ！/马太福音 23:27-32）
He is telling the religious establishment that they are like the very people who killed the prophets who came and warned them. In other words - someone like Manasseh.
Perhaps we have more in common with Manasseh than any of us might wish for. I wonder if Manasseh would have seen his life as one big pile of mess. My guess is that if you could have sat down with him, you would find he was an ordinary man with his own insecurities, someone trying to make sense of life, striving for a thriving life.
他告诉宗教机构，他们就像杀死前来警告他们的先知的人一样。换句话说 - 像玛拿西这样的人。
也许我们与玛拿西的共同点比我们任何人所希望的要多。我想知道玛拿西是否会将他的生活视为一大堆烂摊子。我的猜测是，如果你能和他坐下来，你会发现他是一个有着自己不安全感的普通人，一个试图理解生活，努力追求繁荣的人。
Q: Manasseh, why did you place that idol in the temple?
A: “Well, it’s who the people are worshipping anyway. That idol promised to protect us. Remember, we’re under pressure from every front. We can do with all the help that we can get.”
Q: But, your child? Why did you sacrifice your child? A: “sometimes, you have to do whatever is necessary. I wanted to show my ardent passion in the hope that the gods would come to our rescue.”
问：玛拿西，你为什么把那个偶像放在圣殿里？ 答：“嗯，反正就是人们崇拜的对象。那个偶像答应保护我们。请记住，我们承受着来自各个方面的压力。我们可以尽我们所能取得帮助。”
问：但是，你的孩子呢？你为什么要牺牲你的孩子？
答：“有时候，你必须做任何必要的事情。我想表现出我的热情，希望众神来拯救我们。”
Okay, we haven’t sacrificed a child like he did, but can some idol of success cause us to work unnecessary hours sacrificing time with our children? Isn’t that just another form of sacrifice, albeit to a different idol?
And don’t we turn to other experiences and relationships and things that promise the world – but eventually just lead to a one big pile of mess?
The honest assessment of our situation is this: We are more sinful than we ever thought.
I see this more and more in myself. I look back and see the harm I have caused to people, the things I’ve said, the things never said. The unintended actions. The lack of action. I see the potential to harm. Thankfully, with God’s help it gets less.
好吧，我们没有像他那样牺牲一个孩子，但是一些成功的偶像会让我们付出不必要的时间来牺牲与孩子相处的时间？这不就是另一种形式的牺牲，尽管是献给不同的偶像吗？
难道我们不在转向其他的经历、关系和对世界有承诺的事情——但最终只会导致一大堆混乱吗？
对我们处境的诚实评估是：我们比我们想象的更有罪。我越来越多地在自己身上看到这一点。我回头看看我对人们造成的伤害，我说过的话，从未说过的话。意料之外的动作。不作为。我看到了潜在的伤害。谢天谢地，在上帝的帮助下，它变得少了。
But, the older I get, the more I understand what the Apostle Paul said:
“Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.”/ 1 Timothy 1:15
Ultimately, this IS our mess – the hurt we bring, the omissions of things not done, the life we try to hide. God doesn’t want it to stay like this.
That’s why in Manasseh’s case, he sent prophets to warn him. He sent prophets to warn the people. But, they ignored warning after warning.
但是，随着年龄的增长，我越明白使徒保罗所说的话：
“基 督 耶 稣 降 世 ， 为 要 拯 救 罪 人。。。在 罪 人 中 我 是 个 罪 魁 。”/提摩太前书 1:15
最终，这就是我们的烂摊子——我们带来的伤害，未完成的事情，我们试图隐藏的生活。上帝不希望它一直这样。
这就是为什么在玛拿西的例子中，他派先知警告他。他派先知警告人们。但是，人们一次又一次地忽略了警告。
It’s the pain of a parent – watching their child go down a path of self-destruction.
Maybe you’ve been there before – and you can imagine the pain of our heavenly father. Calling. Urging. Warning. Desiring. Pleading.
“Keep going down this pathway and your marriage will be over.”
“If you don’t turn back, your kids will eventually have enough.”
“That habit will become an addiction that will have a control over you.”
“Please, please, stop and listen. I want the best for you.”
And like Manasseh, we tend to make excuses and look the other way.
And, like Manasseh, the heaviness remains. The mess grows. The toxicity increases.
这是父母的痛苦——看着他们的孩子走上自我毁灭的道路。也许你以前有过这样的经历——你可以想象我们天父的痛苦。打电话。催促。警告。渴望。恳求。
“继续走这条路，你的婚姻就会结束。”
“如果你不回头，你的孩子最终会受够了。”
“那个习惯会变成一种可以控制你的瘾。”
“拜托，拜托，停下来听一听。我要给你最好的。”
和玛拿西一样，我们往往会找借口，另辟蹊径。
而且，像玛拿西一样，沉重感依然存在。混乱越来越大。毒性增加。
So, here in the story of the Kings, we read:
“So this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror. I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab...”/ 2 Kings 21:12-13
God had told them the consequences would come. He isn’t One to turn a blind eye and let injustice go unnoticed. Someone needs to act on behalf of the son that is killed in a sacrifice, and the innocents slaughtered throughout the land.
God warned his people – then and now - what will come to pass.
所以，在列王纪的故事中，我们读到：
“所 以 耶 和 华 ─ 以 色 列 的 神 如 此 说 ： 我 必 降 祸 与 耶 路 撒 冷 和犹 大 ， 叫 一 切 听 见 的 人 无 不 耳 鸣 。 我 必 用 量 撒 玛 利 亚 的 准 绳和 亚 哈 家 的 线 铊 拉 在 耶 路 撒 冷 上 ， 必 擦 净 耶 路 撒 冷 ， 如 人 擦盘 ， 将 盘 倒 扣 。......”/ 列王纪下 21:12-13
上帝告诉他们后果会来。他不是一个可以视而不见，让不公正被忽视的人。需要有人代表在祭祀中被杀的儿子采取行动，无辜的人在这片土地上被屠杀。
上帝警告他的子民——当时和现在——将会发生什么。
The reason the author of Kings places this story in front of us is that he wants us to see that Manasseh’s actions led to the downfall of the kingdom of Judah. What we sow, we reap. There are consequences for our actions.
While this is the horrid end of the story according 2 Kings, thankfully, this is not how the story ends for Manasseh.
History is always told with a perspective. Here, in the book of the Kings, we see the what is coming to the Kingdom of Judah.
But, the story is also told in the twin books of Chronicles. The author of the Chronicles has a different purpose. He is writing about 100 years later, after the exile has happened, and he wants to inspire hope and faith in God among those who are hurting after the spiritually devastating ordeal they have experienced.
《列王纪》的作者将这个故事摆在我们面前的原因是他希望我们看到玛拿西的行为导致了犹大王国的垮台。我们播种什么，收获什么。我们的行为会产生后果。
虽然这是 列王纪下中故事的可怕结局，但幸运的是，这不是 玛拿西故事的结局。
历史总是以一种视角讲述的。在这里，在列王纪书中，我们看到了即将临到犹大王国的事情。
但是，这个故事也在历代志的两本书中讲述。历代志的作者有不同的目的。
大约 100 年后，在流放发生后，他正在写作，他想激发那些在经历了精神毁灭性的磨难后受到伤害的人对上帝的希望和信心。
He wants his readers to see that there is more to the story of Manasseh that a big pile of mess.
So, when you come to 2 Chronicles 33, after providing the same list of his evil ways, we read that Manasseh was taken into captivity. As everything came crashing down around him, Manasseh came to his senses and called out to God.
Often, it’s not until life comes crashing down around us that we are awakened to our need for God.
他希望他的读者看到，玛拿西的故事除了一堆乱七八糟的东西之外还有更多。
所以，当你来到 历代下 33 时，在提供了他邪恶行为的相同清单之后，我们读到玛拿西被俘虏了。当一切都在他周围崩溃时，玛拿西回过神来，呼唤上帝。
通常，直到生活在我们周围崩溃时，我们才会意识到我们对上帝的需要。
But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the LORD his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God!/ 2 Chron 33:12-13
The story in the book of 2 Kings doesn’t talk about this ending to the story because ultimately the damage was done to the kingdom of Judah and destruction was coming. That’s what his purpose is all about.
But, the writer of Chronicles notes that Manasseh’s story ended with grace and reformation. He goes on to highlight the repentance and reform that Manasseh led in the remainder of his life. Yes, the people would still be carried off into exile but the disaster would be delayed, and the king would personally discover that the LORD alone is God.
在困苦中，玛拿西祈求他的上帝耶和华的帮助，并且在他祖先的上帝面前极其谦卑。 耶和华应允他的祷告，垂听他的恳求，使他返回耶路撒冷继续做王。玛拿西这才明白耶和华是上帝。/ 历代志下 33:12-13
列王纪一书中的故事并没有谈到这个故事的结局，因为最终对犹大王国造成了破坏，毁灭即将来临。这就是他的目的所在。
但是，历代志的作者指出，玛拿西的故事以恩典和悔改告终。他继续强调玛拿西在余生中所带领的悔改和改革。是的，人民仍然会被流放，但灾难会被推迟，国王会亲自发现只有耶和华是上帝。
Chronicles wants to show that there is can be a different ending to your story – a hopeful one!
It’s a story of grace: While we are more sinful than we know, we are more loved than we can imagine.
Sometimes we think that grace is just a NT idea. But, the idea that grace is strictly a New Testament concept is foreign to the Scriptures that I read. Just look at Manasseh.
An evil man, a horrid leader who caused so much damage – yet he finds grace!
He receives forgiveness! His life is changed!
历代志 想要表明你的故事可能会有一个不同的结局——一个充满希望的结局！
这是一个关于恩典的故事：虽然我们比我们知道的更罪恶，但我们比我们想象的更被爱。
有时我们认为恩典只是新约的想法。但是，恩典严格来说是新约概念的想法与我读过的圣经是不同的。看看玛拿西。
一个邪恶的人，一个可怕的领袖，造成了如此多的伤害——但他找到了恩典！
他得到了宽恕！他的人生发生了翻天覆地的变化！
As I think of this story, I’ve come to see Manasseh as the Prodigal Son of the OT.
Perhaps you’re familiar with the famous story Jesus told. It’s found in the fifteenth chapter of the gospel of Luke. The parable’s plot is very simple. There was a father who had two sons. The younger asked for his share of the inheritance, received it, and promptly left for a far country, where he squandered it in reckless selfish life. In a very real sense, the son has created one big of pile of mess - of his own making. It started off with good times but things went from bad to worse.
He decides that it’s best to return home to his father and plead to be one of the hired help. But, the unimaginable happens.
Though this son has embarrassed the family and been responsible for a shameful mess – the Father sees him and runs towards him and receives him with open arms.
当我想到这个故事时，我开始将玛拿西视为旧约中的浪子。
也许你熟悉耶稣讲过的著名故事。它出现在路加福音第十五章。比喻的情节非常简单。有一个父亲，他有两个儿子。小弟要了他的那份遗产，得到了，便飞奔到了一个遥远的国家，在那里他肆无忌惮地自私地挥霍了它。在一个非常真实的意义上，儿子创造了一大堆烂摊子——他自己制造的。它开始于美好的时光，但事情变得越来越糟。
他决定最后回到父亲身边，并请求成为一名受雇的帮手。但是，难以想象的事情发生了。
尽管这个儿子让家人感到难堪，并对一团可耻的混乱负有责任——但父亲看到了他，跑向他，张开双臂迎接他。
It’s captured here in Rembrant’s 17th century painting.
Notice the younger son kneeling, resting his head on his father’s chest. He is bald. Exhausted. Dishevelled. He wears just one tattered shoe. His life is a complete shambles.
But, here and now – He is undeservedly and unexpectedly welcomed home. He is now safe. He is deeply loved.
After this scene, the Father replaces the foul smelling clothes with the best robe, brings out new sandals for his feet, and throws the party of the decade. The music plays as the Father dances and laughs with his son because his son has chosen to come home.
伦勃朗在他 17 世纪的画作中体现了这一场景。
注意小儿子跪在地上，把头靠在父亲的胸前。他秃头。筋疲力尽的。蓬头垢面。他只穿了一只破烂的鞋子。他的人生完全是一团糟。
但是，此时此地——他受到了不应该和意外的欢迎回家。他现在安全了。他被深深地爱着。
这一幕结束后，父亲用最好的长袍代替了臭气熏天的衣服，为他的脚拿出新凉鞋，举办了派对。音乐播放着，父亲与儿子一起跳舞和欢笑，因为他的儿子选择了回家。
Henri Nouwen, the prolific author and Christian theologian wrote a beautiful classic book called ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son.’ He says…
多产的作家和基督教神学家亨利·努文（Henri Nouwen）写了一本美丽的经典著作，名为《浪子回头》。他说……
“我一次又一次地离开了家。我逃离了祝福之手，奔向远方寻找爱情！这是我生命中的巨大悲剧，也是我在旅途中遇到的许多人的生活。不知何故，我对那个称我为挚爱的声音充耳不闻……还有很多其他的声音。我周围世界的黑暗声音试图说服我，我不是好人，只有通过‘制造’成功的阶梯来赢得我的好，我才能成为好人。” / Henri Nouwen
And, where did that ladder of success get us? It either gets us to a horrid mess that everyone can see,
Or, of course, it might get us to be the other brother in the story.
而且，成功的阶梯把我们带到了哪里？它要么让我们陷入每个人都能看到的可怕混乱，
或者，当然，它可能会让我们成为故事中的另一个兄弟。
Did you notice there is another brother in this story? He too has a story.
If you go back to the painting - Rembrant’s painting – you can see the older brother who stands a far of in the painting. Rembrant has painted him to be as far to the right as possible. He is well-clothed in a gold-embroidered garment like his father. On the outside – there is a lot of similarity. But, unlike his Father - He is withdrawn. He doesn’t reach out. There is no smile or welcome. He simply stands there with a large open space separating father and the elder son. How could his father welcome his younger brother who has trashed the family name?
His respectability and morality have blinded him. He is living under his father’s name but far from the father. The tragedy is that he cannot see his own lostness. Elder brothers divide the world in two: “The good people (like us) are in and the bad people, who are the real problem with the world, are out.”
你注意到这个故事里还有另一个兄弟吗？他也有故事。
如果你回到这幅画——伦勃朗的画——你可以看到站在画中远处的哥哥。伦勃朗把他画得尽可能靠右。他和他父亲一样，穿着一件金绣衣裳。在外面——有很多相似之处。但是，不像他的父亲——他是孤僻的。他没有伸出手。没有微笑或欢迎。他只是站在那里，有一个很大的空白，把父亲和大儿子隔开。他的父亲怎么会欢迎他这个毁了姓氏的弟弟？
他的尊严和道德使他蒙蔽了双眼。他住在父亲的名下，但离父亲很远。可悲的是，他看不到自己的失落。
哥哥把世界一分为二：“好人（比如我们）在里面，坏人，世界上真正的问题所在，在外面。”
But, it’s not an honest assessment, is it?
Sadly, the church can be full of older brother types. Upset because God hasn’t lived up to expectations. Angry, grumpy, bitter at what someone else has done.
We can be blind to our own situation.
It’s possible to do the right things but – internally - be messed up.
It’s possible to see the mess of others – and be blind to your own offences.
It’s possible to stand off to the side in a self-righteous condescending way.
但是，这不是一个诚实的评价，不是吗？
可悲的是，教会可能充满了哥哥类型。心烦意乱，因为上帝没有达到我们的期望。对别人的所作所为感到愤怒、暴躁、痛苦。我们可能对自己的情况视而不见。
做正确的事情是可能的，但是——在内部——被搞砸了。
有可能看到别人的烂摊子——而对自己的罪行视而不见。
以一种自以为是的居高临下的方式站在一边是可能的。
If we go back to the painting, we see that there are others in the painting besides the Father and the two brothers. There is another man and two women – standing by, watching the shocking tenderness. They are observers or bystanders. There is indifference, curiosity, daydreaming and attentive observation.
It reminds me how easy it is to stand at a distance and watch grace in action but not get involved. It’s easy to observe and fail to personally step into the centre of the activity; to kneel down and let myself simply be held by a forgiving God.
It’s like we are invited to move from bystander to participant. To move from contemplating this story to experiencing the wonder of what grace and forgiveness can do in our own lives.
如果我们回到这幅画，我们会看到画中除了父亲和两个兄弟之外还有其他人。还有一男二女——站在一旁，看着那让人震惊的柔情。他们是旁观者或观察者。有冷漠、好奇、做白日梦和细心的观察。
它提醒我，站在远处观看恩典在做工是多么容易，但不参与其中。我们往往很容易观察到， 但无法亲自踏入恩典做工的中心；跪下来，让自己简单地被宽恕的上帝指引着。
就好像我们被邀请从旁观者变成参与者。从思考这个故事转变为体验恩典和宽恕可以在我们自己的生活中做些什么的奇迹。
So where are you in the picture?
Whether you are a younger brother type, an older brother type, or a distant observer – The Father invites all of us to draw close and receive His love and forgiveness.
So, take another look at the painting and place yourself there in the role of the prodigal.
Look at the father - Notice the tired longing face – the tears, the love, the waiting.
And notice the open posture and those hands drawing the son close.
Notice the masculine strong left hand of the father. It has strength, a strong grip on his father providing protection.
那么你在图片的哪个位置呢？
无论你是弟弟型、哥哥型还是遥远的观察者——天父邀请我们所有人靠近并接受他的爱和宽恕。
所以，再看看这幅画，让自己扮演浪子的角色。
看看父亲——注意那张疲惫渴望的脸——眼泪、爱、等待。
并注意张开的姿势和那些将儿子拉近的手。
注意父亲的男性强壮的左手。它有力量，他的父亲有力地抓住他，提供保护。
Notice the refined, soft and tender right hand of the father. It’s quite different than the other hand. The fingers are close to each other and have an elegant quality. They lie gently upon the son’s shoulder – stroking, offering consolation, comfort.
Hands that hold and hands that comfort.
I have come to know those hands in my life. They have held me from the time I was born. They have protected me in times of danger. Consoled me in times of grief. They have always welcomed me when I have strayed.
请注意父亲那精致、柔软、温柔的右手。它与另一只手完全不同。手指彼此靠近，具有优雅的品质。他们轻轻地躺在儿子的肩膀上——抚摸着，给予安慰和抚慰。紧抓的手和抚慰的手。
我已经认识了我生命中的那些手。从我出生的那一刻起，他们就一直抱着我。他们在危险时刻保护了我。在悲伤的时候安慰我。当我迷路时，他们总是欢迎我。
I have come to hear the voice of my father – whispering to me, “you are my child who I love, upon you does my favour rest. Come home.’
Can you hear him say this to you? Because He is. He speaks to you my name:
“_____ you are my child who I love, upon you does my favour rest. Come home.’
This is the love that surpasses knowledge. It’s here that we begin to grasp how
wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and … we are invited to
experience this love that surpasses knowledge.’
我来听父亲的声音——对我耳语：“你是我所爱的孩子，我的恩惠寄托在你身上。回家来吧。'
你能听到他对你说这些吗？因为他是。他对你说出我的名字：
“_____你是我
所爱的孩子，我的恩惠归于你。回家来吧。'
这是超越认知的爱。正是在这里，我们开始领悟基督的爱是多么的宽广、长
久、高深，并且……我们被邀请去体验这种超越认知的爱。
Friends, this is the gospel. While we are more sinful than we know, we are more loved than we can imagine.
700 years after Manasseh, a son was born. He came from the same whakapapa/genealogy that included Manasseh, our OT prodigal son.
The one born of his line was called Jesus.
Jesus was born right into the mess. He was born among the chaos of a tyrant
Herod trying to kill him – just like Manasseh had done to the prophets.
Jesus became a prodigal son for our sake. He left the house of his heavenly Father, came to a foreign country, gave away all that he had, and returned through the cross to his Father’s home. All of this he did, not as a rebellious son, but as the obedient son, sent out to bring home all the lost children of God.
He came as one who acted justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with his Father.
朋友们，这就是福音。虽然我们比我们知道的更罪恶，但我们比我们想象的更被爱。
玛拿西之后 700 年，一个儿子出生了。他来自同一个 whakapapa/家谱，其中包括我们的旧约浪子 玛拿西。
从他的血统中出生的那一位被称为耶稣。
耶稣就出生在这个烂摊子里。他出生在一个暴君希律试图杀死他的混乱之中——就像玛拿西对先知所做的那样。
耶稣为了我们成了浪子。他离开了天父的家，来到了异国他乡，放弃了他所有的一切，通过十字架回到了他父亲的家。他所做的这一切，不是作为一个叛逆的儿子，而是作为一个听话的儿子，被派出去把上帝所有迷失的孩子带回家。
他来是作为一个行事公义、怜悯地爱、谦卑地与他的父亲同行的人。
St Paul writes,
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. / 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
He stepped into the mess so that we can take on his righteous robe.
He was stripped of everything so that we can be honoured and free of shame.
He became the target of bitterness, anger, and injustice – so that we can receive love, joy, and peace.
He now reigns as the righteous king who will one day return.
And He wants to take care of your mess.
Perhaps you have never responded to his loving invitation for you to draw near.
You’re an observer. It’s time to step into the centre of the story and receive the love of your heavenly father. Speak to him. In your own words. There is no script you need to use. Simply tell him you’re sorry for what you’ve done and want to be adopted into his family. Experience that warm welcome.
圣保罗写道，
神 使 那 无 罪的 ， 替 我 们 成 为 罪 ， 好 叫 我 们 在 他 里 面 成 为 神 的义 。 / 哥林多后书 5:21 (NIV)
他走进了混乱，以便我们可以穿上他的正义长袍。
他被剥夺了一切，这样我们就可以得到尊重和免于羞耻。
他成为苦毒、愤怒和不公正的目标——这样我们才能得到爱、喜乐与平安。
他现在作为正义的国王统治，总有一天会回来。
他想处理你的烂摊子。
也许你从来没有回应他对你亲近的慈爱邀请。你是一个观察者。是时候走进故事的中心，接受天父的爱了。和他说话。用你自己的话来说。没有您需要使用的脚本。简单地告诉他你为你所做的事情感到抱歉，并希望被他的天家接纳。体验那种热烈的欢迎。
Some of you might feel like your mess is too big and there’s no going back. But, the Father is right now standing with arms wide open, calling out: ‘come home.
There is a place at my table reserved for you.’
God didn’t just step into the mess 2,000 years ago. He is willing and able to step into what we are dealing with right now. This is his core work. He loves you deeply.
Once you’ve received that love, he wants you to show others what he can do with their mess.
Allow your mess to become your message.
你们中的一些人可能会觉得自己的烂摊子太大了，没有回头路了。但是，父亲此时正张开双臂站着，喊着：‘回家吧。我的桌子上有一个位置给你。
上帝不只是在 2000 年前踏入这个烂摊子。他愿意并且能够介入我们现在正在处理的事情。这是他的核心工作。他深深地爱着你。
一旦你接受了这种爱，他希望你向其他人展示他可以如何处理他们的烂摊子。
让你的混乱成为你的见证。
People need to know that what Jesus does in you he can do in others.
Some of you have a son/daughter/grandchild/friend/parent. They look like a hopeless cause.
But, might their story become a modern version of Manasseh’s story – one that highlights the grace and power of God? If God can forgive Manasseh – this can happen to anybody.
So, who is hurting around you that needs you to step into their mess and point them to Jesus?
How might you welcome them home, without any questions and without wanting anything from them in return.
Who around you needs to know that While we are more sinful than we know, we are more loved than we can imagine.
PRAYER
人们需要知道耶稣在你身上所做的，他也可以在别人身上做。
你们中的一些人有一个儿子/女儿/孙子/朋友/父母。他们看起来像一个无望的缘由。
但是，他们的故事是否会成为玛拿西故事的现代版本——突出上帝的恩典和力量？如果上帝可以原谅玛拿西——这就可能发生在任何人身上。
那么，谁在伤害你，需要你走进他们的烂摊子并将他们指向耶稣？
你是否可能没有任何问题地欢迎他们回家，也不想从他们那里得到任何回报。
你身边的人需要知道，虽然我们比我们知道的更罪恶，但我们比我们想象的更被爱。
祷告
