Read: 2 Chronicles 16:7–14 

God helps those who depend on Him.

上帝帮助那些倚靠祂的人。

The eyes of the  range through out the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

耶和华的眼目遍察全地，要显大能帮助向祂心存诚实的人。-历代志下16章9节

Life seems straightforward in the laws of the Old Testament. Obey God and get blessed. Disobey Him and expect trouble. It’s a satisfying theology. But is it that simple?

King Asa’s story seems to fit the pattern. He led his people away from false gods and his kingdom thrived (2 Chron. 15:1–19). Then late in his reign, he depended on himself instead of God (16:2–7) and the rest of his life was marked by war and illness (v. 12).

旧约律法似乎给了一个简单的生活指标，顺服上帝就蒙福，不顺服就招灾祸，这好像不错，但真的这么简单吗？亚撒王的经历好像符合这个模式。当他带领百姓远离假神，他的王国就复兴(历代志下15章1-19节) 。但他在位后期，因倚靠自己而不倚靠上帝 (16章2-7节)，使他在战争和病痛中度过余生 (12节) 。

It’s easy to look at that story and draw a simple conclusion. But when the prophet Hanani warned Asa, he said that God will “strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (16:9). Why do our hearts need strengthening? Because doing the right thing may require courage and perseverance.

亚撒王的故事可说是完全符合这简单的模式。但当先知哈拿尼警告亚撒王时，他说上帝要“彰显大能来扶助那些全心归向祂的人”（16章9节，当代中译本）。为何全心归向上帝的人还需要这样的大能呢？因为要做正确的事，还需要勇气和坚忍。

Job got the starring role in a cosmic tragedy. His crime? “He [was] blameless and upright” (Job 1:8). Joseph, falsely accused of attempted rape, languished in prison for years—to serve God’s good purposes (Gen. 39:19–41:1). And Jeremiah was beaten and put in stocks (Jer. 20:2). What was the prophet’s offense? Telling the truth to rebellious people (26:15).

约伯可说是圣经中遭遇最悲惨的人物，难道他犯了罪吗？上帝说：“他完全正直”(约伯记1章8节) 。约瑟被诬告意图性侵他主人的妻子，在监牢中受苦多年，其实是为了成就上帝美好的旨意(创世记39章19节-41章1节) 。先知耶利米遭人殴打、囚禁(耶利米书20章2节) ，他是犯了什么错吗？他只是向悖逆的人们传讲真理(耶利米书26章15节) 。

Life is not simple, and God’s ways are not our ways. Making the right decision may come at a cost. But in God’s eternal plan, His blessings arrive in due time. 

可见人生并不能套用这简单的模式，上帝的道路也非同人的道路。要做出正确的决定，可能需要付上代价。但在上帝的永恒计划中，祂所赐的福分总是会适时地临到我们。

Pray:

Lord, thank You for the examples of courage and obedience in Your Word. Help us learn from their mistakes and from their wise choices, as we make our choice to serve You.

主啊，谢谢祢藉着圣经让我们看见勇气和顺服的榜样。请帮助我们在选择事奉祢时，能从他们的经历中得着鉴戒。

Read: 2 Chronicles 16:7–14 

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 8 Were not the Cushites[a] and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen[b]? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolishthing, and from now on you will be at war.”10 Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.11 The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.13 Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. 14 They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes, and they made a huge fire in his honor.

整理：于姊妹