2010 Jan 13 (星期三） 空墳的見證

默想經節 約翰福音20：1~20

請點擊此處連結到 Jan/13 的經文默想

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2010 / Jan / 10 主日崇拜 (一月19日的禱告會，要分享這篇信息）

<Urbana 09 青年分享見證 之一>

主日證道: 吳柏翰牧師

Leaving Babel Behind (離開巴別塔)

Scriptures: Genesis 11: 1-9 (創世記 11: 1-9)

¹ Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

² As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

³ They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.

⁴ Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

⁵ But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.

⁶ The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

⁷ Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

⁸ So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

⁹ That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

1 那 時 ， 天 下 人 的 口 音 、 言 語 都 是 一 樣 。

2 他 們 往 東 邊 遷 移 的 時 候 ， 在 示 拿 地 遇 見 一 片 平 原 ， 就 住 在 那 裡 。

3 他 們 彼 此 商 量 說 ： 來 罷 ！ 我 們 要 作 磚 ， 把 磚 燒 透 了 。 他 們 就 拿 磚 當 石 頭 ， 又 拿 石 漆 當 灰 泥 。

4 他 們 說 ： 來 罷 ！ 我 們 要 建 造 一 座 城 和 一 座 塔 ， 塔 頂 通 天 ， 為 要 傳 揚 我 們 的 名 ， 免 得 我 們 分 散 在 全 地 上 。

5 耶 和 華 降 臨 ， 要 看 看 世 人 所 建 造 的 城 和 塔 。

6 耶 和 華 說 ： 看 哪 ， 他 們 成 為 一 樣 的 人 民 ， 都 是 一 樣 的 言 語 ， 如 今 既 作 起 這 事 來 ， 以 後 他 們 所 要 作 的 事 就 沒 有 不 成 就 的 了 。

7 我 們 下 去 ， 在 那 裡 變 亂 他 們 的 口 音 ， 使 他 們 的 言 語 彼 此 不 通 。

8 於 是 耶 和 華 使 他 們 從 那 裡 分 散 在 全 地 上 ； 他 們 就 停 工 ， 不 造 那 城 了 。

9 因 為 耶 和 華 在 那 裡 變 亂 天 下 人 的 言 語 ， 使 眾 人 分 散 在 全 地 上 ， 所 以 那 城 名 叫 巴 別 ( 就 是 變 亂 的 意 思 ) 。

Sermon Outline:

1. Towers of the World (世界之高塔)

A tower is a symbol of power, pride and prestige. It marks the achievement of the city that builds it. It gives recognition, a name, to those who live around it. It shouts out to the world, on behalf of its builders, ‘Here we are! We have made it!’

塔是一種力量的象徵，自豪和威望。它標誌著該城市實現了建築的壯舉。那些生活在其周圍的人，都給予其極高的認同，一個名字。這是向全世界宣告，代表了建設者在表示，”我們來了！我們已完成這項艱難的工程！我們成功了！

Eiffel Tower was built in 1887 at the height of 318m. Interestingly enough, it was hated by the Parisians when it was built, and it was almost torn down in 1909. Now the tower symbolizes Paris and has become a very popular destination for visitors.

艾菲爾鐵塔建於 1887年高度三百一十八公尺。有趣的是，它建成時，讓巴黎人非常的痛恨，在1909年它幾乎是要被拆除的。現在，艾菲爾鐵塔象徵著巴黎，並已成為遊客一個非常熱門的旅遊景點。

Empire State Building was built in 1931at the height of 443m. It was constructed during the golden era of 1920s in New York that was characterized by wealth, greed, and excesses. Ironically, when the building was officially opened during the Great Depression, many of its office space sat empty for years following.

帝國大廈建於 1931年，高度四四三公尺。它建在1920年的黃金時期，20年代在紐約的特點是財富，貪婪和無節制的奢華。具有諷刺意味的是，大樓正式啟用時正直美國經濟大蕭條時期，它的許多辦公樓層卻空了很多年。

CN Tower was completed in 1973 at the height of 553m. The original project was designed to be a TV and radio communication tower of only 300m. But during the 60’s and the 70’s, Toronto was booming. New skyscrapers were popping up around the city. In order to keep up, CN Tower was redesigned to its current height. It was the tallest free-standing structure in the world for the next 34 years, and in 1995, it was declared as one of the seven modern wonders of the world.

CN塔完成於 1973年高度553公尺。這個建築計劃原始設計目的是要做僅300公尺高的電視和廣播通訊塔。但在60年代和70年代，多倫多是蓬勃發展的城市。新的摩天高樓四處林立在城市附近竄起。為了跟上，CN塔重新設計，建造到目前的高度。在後來 34年裏，這是一個世界最高的獨立式結構，在 1995年，它被列為七個現代世界奇景之一。

Petronas Twin Towers and Taipei 101 were both built in the past ten years. They symbolize the emerging powers in Asia that is built on commerce and international trade. They are both statements of pride and recognition for their respective cities. These towers are a way to tell the developed world that ‘our countries have made it, and we are here to stay’.

馬來西亞雙峰塔和台北101大樓均建於過去十年間。它們象徵著亞洲的新興大國建立在商業和國際貿易上。他們都在各自陳述驕傲和對其城市認同的方式。這些塔樓是用一種方式告訴世界已開發國家 “我們國家成功了，而我們進入已開發國家中的行列是不會改變的。

Several towers are still under planning and construction stage. The Freedom Tower in New York is scheduled to be completed by 2013 at the height of 541m. It is being built on the site of the collapsed World Trade Centre. It is Americans’ way of telling the world that nothing can knock them down. The Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦) will be completed by 2014 at the eye-catching height of 632m. It is a symbol of China’s rise to the status of superpower.

目前有幾個塔仍在規劃和建設階段。位於紐約的自由塔將於 2013年完成高度五百四十一公尺。自由塔修建的位置在受911攻擊倒塌的世貿中心。這是美國人的方式告訴世界，沒有什麼事可以擊敗他們。在中國有上海大廈（上海中心大廈），將於 2014年完成，高度632公尺非常醒目。這是一個中國崛起超級大國地位的象徵。

However, the most amazing man-made tower has to be Burj Dubai that was recently completed at an unbelievable height of 828m. It arises out of the desert in the Middle East. The tower and the city of Dubai is a statement of man’s triumph against nature. It celebrates human ingenuity and human engineering. However, it was recently revealed that the financing structure of Burj Dubai has collapsed. Even as the building is left standing, its office space will most likely sit empty for quite some time.

然而，最令人驚訝的人造塔要屬杜拜塔，最近完成了令人難以置信的高度八百二十八公尺。它升起於沙漠中的中東地區。塔和迪拜城的一個聲明是，人類對自然的勝利。它慶祝人類聰明才智和人體工程學。然而，最近發現，融資結構的杜拜塔已經崩潰。即使建築物已聳立，它的辦公空間很可能會空一段時期。

Will Burj Dubai be known as a man-made miracle or a human folly? Only time will tell. But there is another tower, a much older tower that has long served to be a lesson in human folly. I am referring to the biblical story of the tower of Babel.

將杜拜塔稱為人造奇蹟還是人類的愚蠢？只有時間才能告訴我們。但是還有一個塔，一個更古老的塔，長期以來一直是人類愚蠢的一個教訓。我指的是聖經故事裏的巴別塔。

Question: Which towers of the world have you visited? Which tower impresses you the most? Why?

妳曾經參觀過哪一些世界有名的高塔? 哪一個高塔讓你印象深刻? 為什麼?

2. The Tower of Babel (巴別塔)

The story of the tower of Babel was recorded in chapter 11 of Genesis. It was told in a way that sets the will of mankind against the will of God. The story began with the world having one language (v.1), and it ends with the LORD confusing the language of the whole world (v.9). In-between, the story was written in a chiastic structure where the action and intention of mankind was recorded in v.2-4, and the corresponding intention and action of God was recorded in v.6-8.

巴別塔故事記載在創世紀第11章。在說人類違背對上帝的旨意之事。故事開始是說世界上只有一種語言（v.1），以耶和華將整個世界的語言混亂作結束（v.9）。兩者之間的故事用對比的結構來寫，人類的行動和意圖記錄在(v.2 – 4)，以及相對應神的意圖和行動記錄在(v6 – 8) 。

The action of mankind began with movement eastward. The Hebrew word that was used for ‘moving’ is the same word as ‘journeying’ for Abram, and ‘wandering’ for the Israelites during the Exodus. It conveys a sense of unknown, danger, and perhaps growth. The eastward direction is the same direction where Adam and Eve were kicked out of Eden. It reminds us of the previous judgment that God had cast on humanity.

人類開始向東移動的行動。希伯來文詞是用於 “遷徙” ，和亞伯蘭的 “行”，和以色列人在出埃及記的 “徘徊” 是同一個詞意。它傳達的意義是未知，危險，也許是成長。這向東的方向是和亞當和夏娃被趕出伊甸園一樣的方向。它提醒我們先前的審判是上帝對人類投了票。

They eventually ‘settled there’ (v.2) in the plain of Shinar, also known as the land Babylon. The corresponding opposite of this action is in verse 8 where God ‘scattered them from there’ to all over the world.

他們最終 “定居在那裡”（v.2）在示拿平原，也稱為巴比倫之地。相對應相反的行動是在第8節，上帝 將 “他們從那裡分散” 到世界各地。

In verse 3, they said to each other, ‘Come, let us make bricks.’ Using brick and mortar for building materials (instead of stone and mud) was a great technological advancement in its time. It allows structures to be built much higher, in much more stable way. The corresponding opposite of this action can be found in verse 7 where God said, ‘Come, let us go down and confuse their language’.

在第 3小節，他們對彼此說 “來吧，讓我們做磚”。用磚和灰泥作建材（而不是石頭和泥土）在那個時候是一個偉大進步的科技。它讓建物搭蓋得又高又穩。相對應相反的行動中可以在第七小節找到，上帝說: “來吧，讓我們下去，在 那 裡 變 亂 他 們 的 口 音” 。

The intention of mankind was to build a city and a tower that reaches to heaven (v.4). The explicit reason was to ‘make a name for themselves’, so that they would not be ‘scattered over the face of the earth’. The implicit reason of building a tower that reaches into heaven was to compete against God, to be like God. It was the same reason that Adam and Eve took the fruit from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:5).

人類意圖要建立一個城市和一個塔直達天堂（v.4）。明確的理由，是 “讓自己留名” 使他們不會被 “分散在世界各處”。內在隱含的原因是要建立一個高塔直達到天堂的與上帝作對，要成為神。在伊甸園裏，亞當與夏娃摘了智慧樹上的果子（創 3:5），也是同樣的原因。

The corresponding opposite of mankind’s intention can be found in verse 6 where God’s intention was made clear. God did not want mankind to plan things for themselves against God’s own plan. Only God can plan without limit. Man is not supposed to emulate his creator in this way.

相對應相反的人類的意圖可在第6小節在找到，上帝的意向明確。上帝不要人類為自己的事情計劃去違反上帝的計劃，只有上帝 可以做沒有界限的計劃。人不該仿照他創造者。

The central point of the chiastic structure of verse 1-9, thus the focal point of this story, can be found in verse 5 – ‘the LORD came down!’ With heavy irony we now see the tower through God’s eyes. This tower which man thought reached to heaven, God can hardly see! From the height of heaven it seems so insignificant that the LORD must come down to look at it! It is simply a brilliant and dramatic way of expressing the puniness of man’s greatest achievements, when set alongside the creator’s omnipotence.’

由中心點來看v1-9節的對比結構，從這個故事的焦點來看，可以在第 5小節找到 – “耶和華降臨”！通過上帝的眼睛來看我們現在看到的塔是多麼諷刺，人認為這個塔可直達天堂，在神眼中卻不認為！從天堂的高度看塔似乎那麼的渺小，耶和華必須要下來看！在全能創造者眼中，它只不過是一個輝煌且戲劇性的方式表達人類最偉大的成就的渺小。

Question: Have you ever gone against the will of God? What were the consequences?

你是否曾經違背上帝的旨意? 結果是什麼?

3. Leaving Babel Behind (離開巴別塔)

The word ‘Babel’ closely resembles the Hebrew word ‘balel’, which means ‘to be confused’. The story of the tower of Babel serves as a reminder to us not to be confused of our place, our role, and our limitation. It reminds us of the consequences of going against the will of God. It reminds us that we are not God, and we can never be ‘like God’.

這個詞 “巴別塔” (通天塔)非常類似於希伯來文 “balel”，即 '”混淆”。巴別塔的故事提醒我們不要混淆了我們的地位，我們的角色，和我們的有限的能力。它提醒我們違背上帝的旨意的後果。它提醒我們，我們不是上帝，我們決不會成為 “神”。

The story of Babel in chapter 11 of Genesis is followed by the story call of Abram in chapter 12. In that story, Abram was asked by God to leave his country and his people in the land of Ur, which is located in the same region as Babel. In the same way we are also asked by God to leave our Babel behind. Leave Babel behind so God’s plan of salvation can begin through us, as it was through Abraham.

巴別塔的故事，在創世紀第11章，其次是亞伯蘭蒙召的故事在第12章。在這個故事中，神指示亞伯蘭離開烏爾之地-他的國家和他的人民，它和通天塔位於同一地區。以同樣的方式，我們也被上帝要求離開我們的巴別塔。只有離開巴別塔，通過我們神的救恩計劃可以開始，就如同通過亞伯拉罕的一樣。

This past Thursday night, the Career Fellowship held a welcome party for newcomers to the fellowship. The turnout was good; we had over twenty people in the party. The president, Paul K.C. Wu, and the fellowship co-workers had put in a lot of thoughts to make the event a success. We had good food, enjoyed some drink, and got to know some new friends. We played various ice-breaker games, and in one of the activities, we had to choose up to three wishes from a list of ten, and then to allocate 100% importance to the chosen wishes. So, for example, one could choose good health, wisdom, and wealth as three wishes, and to allocate 33% to each. Or, one could choose having a loved one accepting Christ and having good marriage, and allocate 60% to one and 40% to the other.

在這個星期四晚上，社青為新加入的契友舉行迎新晚會。晚會非常成功，我們有 20多人參加迎新之夜。會長吳國慶和同工們投入了很多的心思，使活動進行得圓滿成功。我們有美味的食物，喜愛的飲料，並結識一些新朋友。我們玩各種破冰遊戲，其中有一個遊戲是，從列出10樣選項名單裏，必須從中選擇最多三個願望，然後 用重要性依次將100%的百分比分配給所選擇的願望。例如，人們可以選擇身體健康，智慧和財富三個願望，並將其分配給每個 33％。或者，人們可以選擇有一個心愛的人接受基督，擁有良好的婚姻，一項分配 60％，另一項分配40％。

So I found myself choosing one wish, to be immortal 長身不老, with 100% importance. I explained to others that being immortal, I would also have health, wisdom, wealth, and if one marriage doesn’t work out, He will have many lifetimes to work on a good marriage. Someone joked that I would have eternity to preach the Gospel to others as well. But later on, as I reflect on why I wanted to be immortal so much, I realize that it is the one thing that God had denied humanity since Adam and Eve. So wanting immortality is the same as those who want to build the tower of Babel – to go against God, and to be like God. I think when our dreams, our aspirations, or our desires conflict with the will of God, we all have a bit of Babel in us.

所以，我自己選擇的一個願望 - 100％重要的長身不老。我向別人解釋何謂長身不老，我有健康，智慧，財富。如果一個人婚姻不成功，一生需用很多時間精力來完善婚姻。有人開玩笑說，我宣揚福音給其他人會得永生。但後來，我反省為什麼自己想這麼多如何成為不朽的，我知道一件事，自從亞當和夏娃事件以來，上帝已經不肯定人類。因此，希望能不朽是和誰想要建立巴別塔是同樣的 - 違背上帝旨意，想要成為神。我認為當我們的夢想，我們的願望，或我們的慾望與上帝的旨意相衝突時，在我們內心都有一點巴別塔(通天塔)。

Come, let us leave our Babel behind. 來! 讓我們離開我們的巴別塔。

Come, let us seek the will and the kingdom of God. 來! 讓我們尋求 神的國，神的意。

So we would not repeat the same mistake that had befallen those builders of Babel.

因此，我們不要重複同樣的錯誤，去遭受降臨在建造巴別塔人身上的事。

Question: What is my Babel? How do I leave that Babel behind?

什麼是我的巴別塔? 我如何離開這個巴別塔?

Translated into Chinese by Teresa Yan

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活動佈告欄

-- 1月12日星期二 禱告會將分享1月3日吳牧師的證道 “新年新希望" 經文 -- 哥林多後書 5:16-18,提摩太前書 4:7-8，帶領由吳牧師與許嘉恩長老，請會友踴躍參加

-- 元月17 日下午1:30分舉辦-理財講座由張鈞弟兄主講

-- 大專、青契、少契三個團契將在1月15日(五)開始聚會。由林世雄醫師主講:「如何處理孤單」

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代禱事項

為教會

-- 為本教會吳柏翰牧師的牧會
-- 為今年度的主題「操練敬虔，邁向聖潔」，培靈會的籌辦。
-- 為韓國教會 (Chambit Presbyterian Church) 牧師，長老們的合一來禱告
-- 為教會即將建立新的網站事工，求主帶領
-- 求神復興同工禱告的心（TRC禱告部落格）
-- 請多來加入靈修默想禱告的行列！(新年新希望！)
-- 為新一年度各團契新的會長及同工的團隊服事禱告
-- 由莉長老呼籲更多成人同工參與電腦投影事工
-- 參加Urbana青年對宣教事工有熱心, 為此禱告


為肢體

-- 為本教會的會友經營的事業禱告，求主在新的一年看顧保守與祝福（每週三位）。

JIA Studio (嘉恩 長老), 美樂 (文華 執事) ,Utencia (陳信永 兄)
-- 為社青面對事業、婚姻和工作上的壓力
-- 為H1N1的病情可以得以控制，請大家勤洗手注意衛生
-- 為Ivy在台灣眼角膜移植手術後禱告，求主讓一切都順利！
-- 為一些有一段時間沒有來教會的弟兄姐妹們禱告
-- 為外出的兄姊: 卓純真, 楊桂英姐妹, 林博司長老, 陳利昌弟兄 返台 ,王枝鶯,林佳蓉姐妹返 加
-- 為身體欠安的肢體禱告， 林博司 長老
-- 為偉哲執事在中會的事奉禱告，求主賜智慧。
-- 為史太太的小孫Timothy 感冒生病，求主憐憫醫治
-- 為黃敏美姐妹（黃貴美長老的大姊）的信仰追尋，求主引領
-- 為身體欠安的肢體禱告，偉哲執事感冒
-- 為施Johnny 尋找適當工作

感謝事項

-- 感謝楊川台執事暫代教會幹事職務，願上帝紀念。
-- 感謝 神讓參加 Urbana 青年大會的青年們平安回來，且豐盛得著！
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