約西亞
Kia ora Gracecity. Wwelcome to the last message in this amazing Royals series. Hasn’t it been great?
Gracecity的弟兄姐妹好。欢迎进⼊我们精彩的皇室系列讲道的最后⼀篇信息。这⼀系列的讲道很棒对吗？
Bookmark on your seats today looking back over whole series – reminder where we’ve come, kings looked at, lessons we’ve learned. But today, saved the best until last. Looking at the reign of King Josiah – great-grandson of Hezekiah, grandson of Manasseh – and want to suggest he’s best of lot. Even better than David.
在你们的座位上放有书签，回顾了整个皇室系列——提醒我们来过哪⾥，学习了哪些国王，我们从他们身上学到的教训。但今天，最好的留到了最后。看看约⻄亚国王的统治时期——希⻄家的曾孙，玛拿⻄的孙⼦——我想说他是这些王中最好的国王。甚⾄⽐⼤卫还好。
Josiah
约⻄亚
His story is told in 2 Kings 22-23, which is almost end of the book. Just 4 kings reign after him – 3 sons and 1 grandson – for little over 20 years, before Judah swept away by mighty Babylonian empire.
他的故事在列王记下22-23章中讲述，⼏乎是这卷书的结尾。在他之后只有4个国王——3个⼉⼦和1个孙⼦——统治了20多年，直到犹⼤被强⼤的巴⽐伦帝国征服。
Josiah’s story introduced at the beginning of 2 Kings 22, with standard formula that you might be getting used to now, for the different kings.
约⻄亚的故事是在列王记下22章的开头介绍的，⽤的是介绍每个不同的国王的标准格式，你们现在可能已经习惯了这种⽅式。
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2 Kings 22:1
约⻄亚登基的时候年⼋岁，在耶路撒冷作王三⼗⼀年。他⺟亲名叫耶底⼤，是波斯加⼈亚⼤雅的⼥⼉。 (列王纪下22:1)
So Josiah is 2nd king of Judah to come to throne as a child. Two centuries before, King Joash became king at 7; now Josiah comes to throne as 8-year-old. His father Amon had been assassinated.
所以约⻄亚是第2位在孩童时期就登上王位的犹⼤国王。两个世纪前，约阿施国王在7岁时登基;如今，8岁的约⻄亚登上王位。他的⽗亲亚们被暗杀了。
Now in each of the introductory formula for kings, given quick summary and then told whether they good or bad. In northern kingdom of Israel, none of them good. All of them rejected Yahweh, God of Israel.
However, in southern kingdom of Judah, 8 out of 20 kings were good; followed in footsteps of David. One of them was Josiah. So next verse summarises his godliness:
现在在每⼀个国王的介绍格式中，都是先给个快速的总结，然后告诉他们是好是坏。在北国以⾊列，没有⼀个王是好的。他们都离弃耶和华以⾊列的神。
然⽽，在南国犹⼤，20个国王中有8个是好王，他们追随⼤卫的脚步。这其中⼀个就是约⻄亚。所以下⼀节总结了他的敬虔:
He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 2 Kings 22:2
约⻄亚⾏耶和华眼中看为正的事，⾏他祖先⼤卫⼀切所⾏的道，不偏左右。(列王纪下22:2)
That final line about not turning to right or left, is metaphor from earlier in Bible. Idea of walking along pathway of good living, righteous living, that’s laid out in God’s Word, and not turning away from that.
And that’s what Josiah did. He is the only king out of all kings of whom that is said – not even David gets that kind of endorsement.
最后那句不偏左右的经⽂，是圣经早期的隐喻。⾛在美好⽣活，正义⽣活的道路上，这是在上帝的话语中提出的，不背离这⼀点。这就是约⻄亚所做的。他是所有国王中唯⼀⼀个被这样讲的国王——甚⾄⼤卫也没有得到这样的认可。
That incredibly positive view then confirmed towards end of his reign, near end of ch.23:
这种令⼈难以置信的正⾯评价在他统治末期得到了证实，在第23章的末尾
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to Yahweh as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. 2 Kings 23:25
在约⻄亚以前，没有王像他尽⼼、尽性、尽⼒地归向耶和华，遵⾏摩⻄的⼀切律法；在他以后，也没有兴起⼀个王像他。(列王纪下23:25)
Some of that language might be familiar to you – “all of his heart and all of his soul and all of his strength.” That’s taken from Deut 5 earlier in OT, and of course Jesus picks it up in the NT and says that is the greatest commandment – that sums up the whole OT – loving God with everything we’ve got.
And then writer picks up word “all” again – “all the Law of Moses.” Picture of a king who is completely whole-hearted.
其中⼀些语⾔你可能很熟悉——“尽⼼，尽性，尽⼒”这句话摘⾃旧约申命记第5章，当然耶稣在新约中引⽤了这句话，说这是最伟⼤的诫命——它总结了整个旧约—⽤我们所拥有的⼀切爱上帝。
然后作者⼜选了“⼀切”这个词——“摩⻄的⼀切律法”。这是⼀个完全尽⼼向神的国王。
So we have this description of a king who is whole-hearted – loving God with everything he’s got, and obeying the Law that the other kings have despised and ignored. Josiah is the best of the lot.
所以我们有了这样⼀个国王的描述，他是⼀个⽤他所拥有的⼀切尽⼼爱上帝的⼈，⽽且他遵从其他国王所轻视和忽视的律法。约⻄亚是众多国王中最好的⼀位。
So here’s the question – why? Why is Josiah the most whole-hearted, obedient king out of all of them?
Or to put it another way, What is at the heart of his whole-heartedness?
那么问题来了，为什么?为什么约⻄亚是他们之中最尽⼼最顺服的王呢?或者换句话说，他尽⼼爱
神的核⼼是什么呢?
At the heart of a whole-hearted king
was a heart for the Word of God
[big idea; can we have it over two lines like this please]
⼀位尽⼼爱神的国王的核⼼
是追求神的话语的⼼
At the heart of Josiah’s story, at the heart of his wholeheartedness, is the Word of God. It’s the Scriptures that are the catalyst for Josiah’s life and reign, and the legacy that he leaves.
约⻄亚故事的核⼼，他尽⼼爱神的核⼼，是上帝的话语。圣经是约⻄亚⽣命和统治的催化剂，也是他留下的遗产。
Here’s what happened – 2 Kings 22:3,
事情是这样的列王记下22:3，
In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of Yahweh. 2 Kings 22:3
约⻄亚王⼗⼋年，王派⽶书兰的孙⼦，亚萨利雅的⼉⼦沙番书记上耶和华殿去 (列王纪下22:3)
Josiah initiates a major repair and renovation of the temple in Jerusalem, after his grandfather Manasseh and father Amon had neglected and abused. According to 2 Chron. 34, a couple of things had already happened. Josiah had a personal encounter with God as a 16-year-old, in his 8th year on throne, and seems to have come to personal faith. Then at 20, in his 12th year, began purging the land of idols and false gods. And now, at 26 years of age, leading this massive cleanout and repair of the temple.
在他的祖⽗玛拿⻄和⽗亲亚们被荒废和虐待之后，约⻄亚开始对耶路撒冷的圣殿进⾏⼤规模的修复和翻新。根据历代志下34章的描述，⼀些事情已经发⽣了。约⻄亚16岁的时候，也就是在他登基的第8年，与上帝有过⼀次个⼈的相遇，似乎开始了他个⼈信仰之路。20岁那年，也就是他登基的第12年，他开始清除偶像和假神。⽽现在，26岁的他，领导着对神殿的⼤规模清理和修复。
And it’s as work is getting underway that an important discovery is made:
随着⼯作的进⾏有了⼀个重要的发现
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of Yahweh.’ He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him. 2 Kings 22:8-9
希勒家⼤祭司对沙番书记说：“我在耶和华殿⾥发现了律法书。”希勒家把书递给沙番，沙番就读了。 沙番书记到王那⾥，把这事回覆王说：“你的仆⼈已把殿⾥所发现的银⼦倒出来，交在管理耶和华殿督⼯的⼿⾥了。” (列王纪下22:8-9 和合本2010)
There’s some debate over exactly what this “book of the Law” was, but most of the scholars I have read seem to agree that it was most probably what we know as the book of Deuteronomy. It was considered the summary of the five books of Moses, or the Torah, and clearly laid out for the people of Israel how they should live in relationship – in covenant – with Yahweh, their God.
关于这本“律法书”到底是什么还有⼀些争论，但我读过的⼤多数学者似乎都同意，它最有可能就是我们所知的申命记。它被认为是摩⻄五经的总结，或者叫律法（Torah），它清楚地为以⾊列⼈指明了他们应该如何⽣活在与耶和华，他们的上帝的关系中。
And the book – Deuteronomy – had disappeared. There are references to the law earlier in the book of Kings, so probably what happened is that during the long, wicked reign of Manasseh, the book of Deuteronomy that was normally kept in the temple was either hidden to keep it from Manasseh, or he ordered that the priests got rid of it. So probably for the best part of 50 years the main Scriptures they would read had disappeared, and even this godly king had been on the throne for 18 years, it hadn’t been discovered and reclaimed.
⽽《申命记》这本书也不⻅了。《列王记》中提到了律法，所以很可能发⽣的是，在玛拿⻄漫⻓⽽邪恶的统治期间，原本放在神殿⾥的《申命记》要么被藏起来不让玛拿⻄看到，要么他命令祭司把它扔掉。所以可能在50年的⼤部分时间⾥，他们读的主要圣经都消失了，即使是这位虔诚的国王在位18年，它也没有被发现和回收。
Until this moment. And pretty much everything that the author of Kings tells us about godly king Josiah is in relation to how he responds to the discovery of God’s Word.
直到这⼀刻。《列王记》的作者所告诉我们的关于敬虔的约⻄亚王的⼀切，⼏乎都与他对发现神话语的反应有关。
So Josiah will do three things in response, and I want to suggest that these three responses are at the heart of his whole-heartedness. The first response was,
所以约⻄亚会做三件事作为回应，我想说这三件事是他尽⼼爱神的核⼼。第⼀个回应是，
1. He whole-heartedly listened to the Word of God
1. 他尽⼼聆听神的道
It continues in v.10:
在第10节继续:
Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 2 Kings 22:10-11
沙番书记⼜向王报告说：“希勒家祭司递给我⼀卷书。”沙番就在王⾯前朗读那书。王听⻅律法书上的话，就撕裂⾐服。 (列王纪下22:10-11)
This was the first time that Josiah had probably heard the words of Scripture, the Word of God, specifying how the people of Israel were to live as the people of a holy God. And the words break him.
Deuteronomy contains these requirements for Israel’s behaviour, and promises great blessings when they obey, and curses like disasters, military defeats and ultimately exile from the land if they disobey. And as he hears the Word of God, Josiah realises that they have been massively disobedient … for centuries!!
这可能是约⻄亚第⼀次听到圣经，上帝的话语，它规定以⾊列⼈要怎样作圣洁的神的⼦⺠。这些话让他崩溃了。申命记包含了这些对以⾊列⼈⾏为的要求，承诺当他们顺从时，会有巨⼤的祝福，如果他们不顺从，会有灾难，军事上的失败和最终被流放。当他听到神的话的时候，约⻄亚意识到他们已经严重的不顺从了…数世纪了!
But I don’t want us to miss the seriousness and gravity of how Josiah hears the Word. This is serious.
This is God’s Word. This is the objective, clear revelation of the one true God. And Josiah listens and responds wholeheartedly to what God’s Word says.
但我不想让⼤家错过约⻄亚聆听圣道的严肃和庄严。这是很严肃的。这是神的话。这是对唯⼀真神客观、明确的启示。约⻄亚尽⼼聆听并回应神的话。
I can’t help feeling that Josiah’s response to the Word is so different from many of us today. We haven’t lost the Word – we have more copies of the Bible, more translations available to us, than ever before.
We not only have paper Bibles; we have websites on computers; we have apps on our phones. The Word is more available to us than perhaps any generation of believers before us.
我不禁感到，约⻄亚对神的回应与我们今天的许多⼈是如此不同。我们并没有丢失圣经——我们拥有⽐以往更多的圣经副本，更多的译本。我们不仅有纸质的圣经;我们在电脑上有圣经的⽹站;我们的⼿机上有圣经的应⽤程序。我们⽐以前任何⼀代的信徒都更容易得到神的话语。
And yet the question is, do we whole-heartedly hear the Word of God like Josiah? Do we take the Word of God seriously like Josiah? Do we long to know what it says and conform our lives to it? Or do we treat this treasure with a yawn, and leave it to pursue more important things?
但问题是，我们是否像约⻄亚那样全⼼全意地聆听神的话语呢?我们是否像约⻄亚那样认真对待神的话语?我们是否渴望知道它说的是什么，并使我们的⽣活符合它?还是我们对这些财富不屑⼀顾，丢下它去追求更重要的东⻄?
I came across this brilliant quote a couple of years ago:
⼏年前，我偶然看到了这句名⾔:
The Word is in our pockets and on our coffee tables, like a love letter waiting to be perused or a feast waiting to be devoured. Justin Dillehay and Ivan Mesa
圣经就在我们的⼝袋⾥、咖啡桌上，就像情书等着我们细读，像盛宴等着我们狼吞⻁咽。
——Justin Dillehay和Ivan Mesa
And yet, numerous studies through the last few decades show that in churches in the western world, less and less Christians are habitually reading and studying the Bible. And biblical illiteracy is climbing.
The sad truth is for many of God’s people, we don’t read the book, we don’t know the book, we don’t careabout the book.
然⽽，过去⼏⼗年的⼤量研究表明，在⻄⽅世界的教堂⾥，习惯阅读和学习圣经的基督徒越来越少。圣经⽂盲也在攀升。悲哀的事实是，对许多神的⼦⺠来说，我们不读圣经，不认识圣经，也不关⼼圣经。
One writer that I’m reading a lot of at the moment, Paul Tripp, asks this question:
我现在经常读的⼀个作家，保罗·特⾥普，问了这样⼀个问题:
If I could listen in on and watch a month of your life, what would I conclude about the place of God’s
Word in your life? Paul David Tripp
如果我可以收听并观看你⼀个⽉的⽣活，我对神的话在你⽣活中的地位会得出什么结论?——保罗·⼤卫·特⾥普
See, the first thing Josiah does is he wholeheartedly listened to the Word. What about us?
看，约⻄亚做的第⼀件事就是全⼼全意地聆听神的话。那我们呢?
Do we regularly feed on God’s Word through listening, reading, studying, and meditating on it?
我们是否经常通过聆听、阅读、学习和冥想来领受神的话?
See God’s Word can’t impact our lives if our Bible remain on the shelf, if the app is never opened. And if you’re not regularly feeding on God’s Word, the place to start isn’t by trying to do an hour’s Bible study every day. It’s starting small; just carving out a few minutes to read a chapter. Or subscribe to a devotional on the YouVersion Bible app. Or listen to the Bible being read to you on the bus going to work or uni. Or download the Royals devotional and start at the beginning even though were almost at the end. In other words, don’t set unrealistic goals. Don’t try and do too much. Start small, but make hearing God’s Word a habit for life.
如果我们的圣经⼀直在书架上，如果圣经的应⽤程序从来没有打开过，上帝的话就不会影响我们的⽣活。如果你不是经常领受神的话语，那么你的开始并不是试着每天学习⼀⼩时的圣经。⽽是从⼩做起;挤出⼏分钟来读⼀章。或者在YouVersion圣经应⽤程序上订阅⼀篇灵修⽂。或者在上班或上学的公交⻋上听语⾳版圣经。或者下载皇室系列灵修⼿册，从开头开始学习，即便这⼀系列的讲道已经快结束了。换句话说，不要设定不切实际的⽬标。不要尝试做太多。从⼩做起，但要使听神的话语成为⽣活的习惯。
The 2nd thing that Josiah did, was he didn’t just whole-heartedly listen to God’s Word.
约⻄亚所做的第⼆件事，就是他不仅仅是尽⼼听神的话。
2. He whole-heartedly submitted to the Word of God
2. 他尽⼼顺服神的道
When Josiah hears the words of Deuteronomy, he knows that generations of God’s people before him – his own ancestors – have neglected to obey God’s Word. That means potentially judgment is coming. He’s already responded personally by tearing his robes, and humbling himself before God. But he knows more needs to be done.
当约⻄亚听到申命记的话时，他知道在他之前的⼏代神的⼦⺠——他⾃⼰的祖先——已经忽视了神的话语。这意味着潜在的审判即将到来。他已经亲⾃做出了回应，撕裂了⾃⼰的⻓袍，在上帝⾯前卑躬屈膝。但他知道还有更多⼯作要做。
So he sends his key officials to a prophetess by the name of Huldah. What’s interesting is that 3 or 4 of the writing prophets of the OT lived during Josiah’s reign – Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk.
But Josiah doesn’t go to any of them – he sends his team to this godly and wise prophetess to learn from her and to be guided by her. And she gives Josiah’s men the bad news – judgment is coming, and God won’t be swayed – but because Josiah has responded so beautifully, Yahweh will delay judgment until after his death.
于是他派他的⾸领去⻅⼀个名叫户勒⼤的⼥先知。有趣的是，《旧约》中有3到4位先知⽣活在约⻄亚统治时期——耶利⽶、⻄番雅、那鸿、哈巴⾕。但约⻄亚没有去任何⼀个地⽅，他派他的队伍去找这位虔诚⽽睿智的⼥先知，向她学习，并受她的指导。她把坏消息告诉了约⻄亚的⼈——审判即将来临，上帝不会动摇——但因为约⻄亚的反应如此美妙，耶和华会把审判推迟到他死后。
So what does Josiah do in response? He leads one of the most amazing services of the OT, where he pulls all the people together like Joshua did centuries before, and he renews the covenant. Even if judgment is coming, Josiah is committed to leading his generation in obeying and honouring God.
那么，约⻄亚做了什么回应呢?他主持了⼀个旧约中最奇妙的仪式，在那⾥他把所有的⼈聚集在⼀起就像⼏个世纪前约书亚所做的那样，他更新了契约。即使审判即将来临，约⻄亚也承诺要带领他的后代顺服和荣耀上帝。
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of Yahweh with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets – all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of Yahweh. 2 Kings 23:1-2
王派⼈召集犹⼤和耶路撒冷的众⻓⽼来。 王和犹⼤众⼈、耶路撒冷的居⺠、祭司、先知，以及所有的百姓，⽆论⼤⼩，都⼀同上到耶和华的殿去；王把耶和华殿⾥所发现的约书上⼀切的话读给他们听。 (列王纪下23:1-2)
So don’t miss that – the king himself is now the one reading the book of the law to his subjects – Josiah wants his people to understand the holiness of God and their own personal failure.
所以不要错过这⼀点——国王⾃⼰现在是在给他的⾂⺠读律法书——约⻄亚想让他的⼈⺠明⽩上帝的神圣和他们个⼈的失败。
The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of Yahweh – to follow Yahweh and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. -2 Kings 23:3
王站在柱⼦旁边，在耶和华⾯前⽴约，要尽⼼尽性跟从耶和华，遵守他的诫命、法度、律例，实⾏这书上所写这约的话。全体百姓都愿遵守所⽴的约。(列王纪下23:3)
See, the king hasn’t just heard God’s Word and thought, ‘O well, that was nice. What a great reading.’ He’s responsive to what it says; he’s submitting himself to what God’s Word calls him to. The book of Deuteronomy made it very clear that Israel had turned its back on Yahweh. And Josiah accepts what the Bible says, and calls people to turn their lives around in submission to God’s Word.
看，国王不仅听到了神的话，然后想，‘哦，那很好。多么美妙的话。“他会对神的话做出回应;他是顺服神的话语所要他顺服的。申命记很清楚地说以⾊列背弃了耶和华。约⻄亚接受圣经所说的话，呼吁⼈们改变⾃⼰的⽣命，顺服神的话。
So here’s another question to consider:
这是另⼀个需要考虑的问题:
Do we allow God’s Word to challenge and shape our beliefs, worldview, decisions, and behaviours?
我们是否允许神的话来挑战和塑造我们的信仰、世界观、决定和⾏为?
In other words, do we look to what the Bible says for our sense of identity, or within ourselves?
换句话说，我们是根据圣经所说的来获得我们的身份认同感，还是顺从我们⾃⼰的内⼼?
Do we allow Scripture to impact the decisions we make, or are our own desires more important?
我们是让圣经影响我们所做的决定，还是我们⾃⼰的欲望更重要?
Do we trust God’s Word when it says God is with us, or are we driven by our feelings?
当神的话语说神与我们同在时，我们是相信它呢，还是被我们的感觉所驱使?
Do we let Scripture define true success and failure in life, or do we let the world around us define those?
我们是让圣经来定义⼈⽣中真正的成功和失败，还是让周遭的世界来定义成功和失败?
Do we wholeheartedly submit to the Word, and let it challenge and shape us throughout life?
我们是否全⼼全意地顺服神的话，让它在⼀⽣中挑战和塑造我们?
Finally, King Josiah didn’t just whole-heartedly listen and submit to the Word of God.
最后，约⻄亚王并不仅仅全⼼全意地听从和顺服神的话。
3. He whole-heartedly obeyed the Word of God
3. 他尽⼼遵从神的话
Most of 2 Kings 23 is the account of the work that Josiah does to get rid of idolatry from the land of Judah. He destroyed idolatrous stuff that had been inside the temple (v.4); he got rid of false priests that worshipped the false god Baal and the stars (v.5); destroys what are called “high places” – places of worship all over kingdom (v.8-9); he desecrated spot where child sacrifices had been made (v.10).
列王记下23章的⼤部分是关于约⻄亚为从犹⼤地除去偶像崇拜所做的⼯作。他毁坏了圣殿⾥的偶像崇拜的东⻄(4节);他除掉了敬拜假神巴⼒和偶像的假祭司(5节);破坏所谓的“邱坛”- -全国的敬拜场所(8-9节);他污秽献祭⼉童的地⽅(10节)。
In other words, he completely cleansed the land from any false worship. That was the negative part.
But then, positively, he encouraged the proper worship of Yahweh, including celebrating the great festivals of the Bible. So we read in 23:21-23,
换句话说，他把这地从⼀切虚假的敬拜中完全洁净了。这是消极的部分。
但是，积极的部分，他⿎励正确地崇拜耶和华，包括庆祝圣经中的伟⼤节⽇。所以我们在23:21-23读到，
The king gave this order to all the people: ‘Celebrate the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.’ Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to Yahweh in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 23:21-23
王吩咐众百姓说：“你们当照这约书上所写的，向耶和华—你们的上帝守逾越节。” ⾃从⼠师治理以⾊列，到以⾊列诸王、犹⼤列王在位的⼀切⽇⼦，从来没有守过这样的逾越节， 只有在约⻄亚王⼗⼋年，才在耶路撒冷向耶和华守这逾越节。(列王纪下23:21-23)
So this worship celebration of Passover was the biggest festival God’s people had seen since the days of Joshua. It was just about getting rid of everything that was wrong and evil in the land; it was also about positively worshipping and celebrating and remembering the goodness and grace of God.
所以这个逾越节的敬拜庆典是⾃约书亚时代以来神的⼦⺠所⻅过的最⼤的节⽇。它只是要摆脱这⽚⼟地上⼀切错误和邪恶的东⻄;它也是关于积极地崇拜、庆祝和记住上帝的良善和恩典。
Notice again this is all based on obedience to the Word of God. V.21 – “Celebrate the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” Josiah didn’t just listen and submit to God’s Word – he obeyed it – both negatively in terms of what needed to be eradicated from the land to honour God, but also positively in terms of obeying what God had said so that they honoured and glorified Him.
请再次注意，这⼀切都是建⽴在遵从神的话语之上的。21节-“当照这约书上所写的，向耶和华你们的神守逾越节。”约⻄亚不仅听从并顺服神的话，他还遵从了神的话。他既在消极的⼀⾯认为要从地上根除什么才能荣耀神，也在积极的⽅⾯地认为要遵从神的话才能荣耀神。
So that leads us to a final question:
这就引出了最后⼀个问题:
Do we put into practice the truth of God’s Word by culling the evil and cultivating the good in our lives?
我们是否通过在我们的⽣活中去恶修善来践⾏上帝话语的真理呢?
See, to use language from the New Testament, we are called to put off a whole bunch of behaviours and practices and beliefs that aren’t part of a holy life – bitterness, slander, gossip, sexual sin, greed. And we’re to put on, as new behaviours, characteristics like the fruit of the Spirit – love, patience, compassion, forgiveness, kindness.
看，⽤新约的语⾔来说，我们被要求丢弃⼤量不属于圣洁⽣活的⾏为、实践和信仰——痛苦、诽谤、流⾔、性罪、贪婪。我们要养成新的⾏为，养成像圣灵果实⼀样的特性——爱、耐⼼、同情⼼、宽恕、善良。
This is why King Josiah – one of the last kings of Judah before the nation is exiled for their sin – this is why he is probably the greatest of the kings. Finally, there was a king who was committed to hearing, submitting to and obeying the Word of Yahweh.
这就是为什么约⻄亚王——是在这个⺠族因为罪恶⽽被流放之前犹⼤最后的国王之⼀——这就是为什么他可能是最伟⼤的国王。终于，有⼀位国王致⼒于聆听、顺服和遵从耶和华的话语。
At the heart of a whole-hearted king
was a heart for the Word of God [big idea]
⼀个尽⼼爱神的国王的核⼼
是⼀颗信奉上帝话语的⼼
As we finish, I want to invite all of us to just stop and reflect on our love for, and commitment to, God’s Word. How do we measure up to Josiah in terms of hearing, submitting and obeying God’s Word? I want to put those three questions back up the screen that I’ve already asked and invite you to just pause and allow the Spirit to convict you and nudge you about which of those you need to grow in more.
在我们结束的时候，我想邀请我们所有⼈停下来，反思我们对神的话语的爱和承诺。在聆听、顺服和遵从神的话⽅⾯，我们怎样才能达到约⻄亚的⽔平呢?
我想把我已经问过的那三个问题放回屏幕上，请你暂停⼀下，让圣灵来为你指出你的罪，提醒你哪⽅⾯更需要成⻓。
LISTENING: Do we regularly feed on God’s Word through listening, reading, studying, and meditating on it?
SUBMITTING: Do we allow God’s Word to challenge and shape our beliefs, worldview, decisions, and behaviours?
OBEYING: Do we put into practice the truth of God’s Word by culling the evil and cultivating the good in our lives? [this might need to be a full slide at Central as well]
聆听: 我们是否经常通过聆听、阅读、学习和冥想来领受神的话语?
顺服：我们是否允许神的话来挑战和塑造我们的信仰、世界观、决定和⾏为?
遵从:我们在我们的⽣活中，是否通过去恶修善来实践神话语的真理呢?
And again, what’s a small step you can take to grow in your heart for the Word? If you’re not even reading the Bible regularly at the moment, just add a small habit for a few minutes. Or if you feel you need to grow in your submission to the Word, or your obedience, perhaps just add a small time of reflection to what you already do. Perhaps try journalling or reflective prayer as a way of being more responsive to God.
再说⼀遍，你可以⽤怎样的⼀⼩步来让你信奉上帝的话语的⼼成⻓?如果你现在甚⾄没有定期读圣经，只要增加⼀个⼏分钟阅读的⼩习惯。或者如果你觉得你需要在顺服或遵从神的话语上成⻓，也许你只需要在你已经做的事情上增加⼀点反思的时间。也许可以试着写⽇记或沉思祷告，作为对上帝更有反应的⼀种⽅式。
Because if we are going to be whole-hearted followers of Jesus in our lives, we need to mimic the heart of
Josiah for the word of God.
因为如果我们要在⽣活中尽⼼跟随耶稣，我们需要模仿约⻄亚对神的话的⼼。
At the heart of a whole-hearted king
was a heart for the Word of God
⼀个尽⼼爱神的国王的核⼼
是⼀颗信奉上帝话语的⼼
As we finish this series of Royals, however, I want to conclude with one final thought.
当我们要结束皇室系列讲道的时候，然⽽，我想⽤最后⼀个想法来结束。
Remember that beautiful summary of Josiah’s life that we read at the beginning, from 23:25?
还记得我们在开头23章25节读到的关于约⻄亚⼀⽣的美好总结吗?
Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to Yahweh as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. 2 Kings 23:25
在约⻄亚以前，没有王像他尽⼼、尽性、尽⼒地归向耶和华，遵⾏摩⻄的⼀切律法；在他以后，也没有兴起⼀个王像他。(列王纪下23:25)
After that amazing statement, we then read these sobering words in the very next verses:
在这个精彩的陈述之后，我们在接下来的经⽂中读到这些发⼈深省的话:
Nevertheless, Yahweh did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to arouse his anger. So Yahweh said, ‘I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and this temple, about which I said, “My Name shall be there”.’ 2 Kings 23:26-27
然⽽，耶和华向犹⼤所发猛烈的怒⽓仍不⽌息，因为玛拿⻄种种的恶事激怒了他。 耶和华说：“我也必将犹⼤从我⾯前赶出，如同赶出以⾊列⼀样。我必撇弃我从前所选择的这城耶路撒冷和我所说我的名必留在那⾥的殿。”(列王纪下23:26-27)
As good a king as Josiah was, he could undo the evil of previous generations.
像约⻄亚这样的好国王，他能消除前⼏代⼈的罪恶
He could not pay or atone for the sins of the people.
他⽆法为⼈⺠的罪赎罪。
He could not change the hearts of his people to follow God more closely.
他⽆法改变他的⼦⺠更紧密地追随上帝的⼼
He could not take away or absorb the wrath of God against sin and rebellion.
他不能带⾛或吸收神对罪恶和叛逆的愤怒。
He could not bring in a new covenant to replace the old one that they struggled to keep.
他不能带来⼀个新的约来代替他们努⼒遵守的旧约。
As good as Josiah was, he could not fix the mess and brokenness of human sin.
尽管约⻄亚很好，但他⽆法解决⼈类罪恶的混乱和破碎
What was needed was another king, who could deal with the sins and failures of his people, take away the wrath of God, offer forgiveness and hope, and bring in a new covenant of love.
我们所需要的是另⼀个国王，⼀个能够解决⼦⺠的罪恶和失败，消除上帝的愤怒，给予宽恕和盼望，并带来爱的新约的国王。
And in a sense, that’s what the stories of all of the kings are meant to make us long for. Every king – the good, the bad, and the ugly – are meant to whet our appetite for the ultimate king to come from the house of David. All of the kings are pointing us forward to Jesus, the ultimate king from the line of Daivd – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
在某种意义上，这就是所有国王的故事都意在让我们渴望的。每⼀个国王，⽆论好坏丑陋，都是为了激起我们对⼤卫家族最终国王的渴望。所有的王都指向耶稣，⼤卫家族的最终之王——万王之王，万主之主。
And that’s why on your bookmark is a verse from Isaiah 16 about the king to come.
这就是为什么在你们的书签上有⼀节以赛亚书第16章的经节，是关于将来之王的。
In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it –one from the house of David –one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness. Isaiah 16:5
在⼤卫帐幕中必有宝座因慈爱坚⽴，必有⼀位君王凭信实坐在其上，施⾏审判，寻求公平，迅速⾏公义。(以赛亚书16:5)
That king is Jesus. And He has come once as a suffering servant to pay for our sins and failures; and He will come again as the conquering King to establish His kingdom in all of its fullness once and for all.
That’s what we look forward to. And that’s who all of the kings are pointing us towards.
那个王就是耶稣。他曾经来过⼀次，作为⼀个受苦的仆⼈，为我们的罪和失败付上代价;⽽且他必再来，作为得胜的王，⼀劳永逸地建⽴他的王国。这正是我们所期待的。所有的国王都指向他。
Even so, come King Jesus.
即便如此，耶稣王必会来
