“Angry Enough to Die! 發怒以至於死!”
From September 20th, 2020
  • 經文 / Scripture: 約拿書 Jonah 3:10–4:11 , 腓立比書 Philippians 1:21–30
  • 講道人 / Preaching: Rev. Aline Russell
  • 司會 / Liturgist: 周家宏 Jerry Chu
  • 投影片 / Slides: 李曉寒 Emma Li
  • 司琴 / Pianist: 董宜坤 Kathryn Tung
  • 聖詩準備 / Hymn: 蘇希三 Tony Su
  • 週報 / Bulletin: 周家宏 Jerry Chu
  • 翻譯 / Interpreter: 詹佩芬 Peggy Lin、林子凱 Kevin Lin
  • 敬拜讚美 / Praise Worship: 讚美之泉敬拜讚美 Stream of Praise Music Ministries

Sermon Translation Weekly Bulletin Children’s Bulletin Younger Children’s Bulletin

線上主日崇拜將於上午10點開始。本會將於YouTube和Facebook平台轉播。

Online worship starts to stream at 10 am. We will stream on YouTube and Facebook.

Sermon Script 華語翻譯
ANGRY ENOUGH TO DIE 發怒以至於死
Aline G. Russell 9/20/20 愛鄰 G·羅素 9/20/20
Jonah  3:10 – 4:11; Philippians 1: 21 – 30 約拿書3:10 – 4:11;腓1：21-30
High Holy Days 至聖節日
September is a very important month for us. 9月對我們來說是非常重要的月份。
It begins with a holiday, with Labor Day Monday which gives us a last long weekend for play, for a short trip, for family or friends. 它一開始就有假日，伴隨著星期一的勞動節給我們一個連假，好與家人或朋友一起玩遊戲，或短程旅遊。
When I was growing up, school didn’t start until after Labor Day but that changed a few decades ago for various reasons. 我小的時候，學校在勞動節之後才開學，但幾十年前由於種種原因改變了。
School has already started here, whether in person or online or both. 現在這裡的學校已經開學，無論是親自到學校, 線上授課或混合的上課方式。
Unfortunately, it also seems to be the worst month for hurricanes and wildfires. 不幸的是，這似乎也是颶風和野火最頻繁的月份。
September is a very special month in Judaism. 在猶太教裡，九月是非常特殊的月份。
It is always of interest to me to take a look at what is going on in the “religion of Jesus.” 查看“耶穌的宗教”所發生的事，一直是我的興趣。
September is the time of the High Holy Days. 九月是至聖節日的時間。
Rosh Hashanah began the evening of Friday, September 18 and ends this evening, September 20. 猶太新年是從9月18日星期五晚上開始，直到今晚9月20日結束。
Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the year for Jews, and celebrates the creation of the world. 猶太新年是猶太人一年的第一天，慶祝世界的創造。
Rosh Hashanah coincides nicely with our season of the care of creation in the Presbyterian Church. 猶太新年恰好與我們長老教會中 “關心神的創造” 的季節吻合。
For Jews, it marks the beginning of a 10 day period of introspection and repentance. 對猶太人來說，這是為期10天的自省和悔改的開始。
At the end of the 10 days is Yum Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement. 結束的第10天是贖罪日。
There is a feast the day before Yum Kippur but then many people fast for the 25 hours of the day itself. 前一天有盛宴，但是之後的贖罪日，有很多人禁食25個小時。
They repent from all their sins for the whole year, and visit people to seek or give forgiveness the best they can. 他們為一整年的罪惡悔改，並拜訪人們，盡力尋求原諒或給予寬恕。
They also give to the synagogue and to charity and spend much of the day in the synagogue. 他們還向會堂和慈善機構捐贈，並在會堂中度過大部分時間。
It is an impressive set of actions calculated to help people search their hearts and to prepare for a new beginning in a new year. 這是一系列令人印象深刻的舉動，旨在幫助人們發掘自己的內心，並為新的一年預備一個新的開始。
The passage from Jonah was offered as the scripture for September 20. 在9月20日這天，約拿書中的一段經文會被引用。
The book of Jonah is traditionally read on Yum Kippur as a reminder of God’s mercy to all those who return to him sincerely. 傳統上在贖罪日當天會讀約拿書，提醒上帝的憐憫是要臨到所有真誠回到他身邊的人。
We are only reading a chapter of this short book, but I hope you will take the opportunity to read the whole thing soon. 我們今天只讀這小本書中的一章，但我希望您能藉此機會閱讀整本書。
It is a great read! And only a bit over 2 pages! 這是一本好書！而且只有2頁多一點！
Jonah the Prophet 先知約拿
 Jonah is described as a prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II, which took place for 40 years in the 8th Century BC. 約拿被描述為耶羅波安二世統治時期的先知，後者在公元前8世紀在位40年。
Those years were a kind of a golden age for Israel, at least for the upper classes. 那幾年對於以色列，至少對上層階級來說，是一個黃金時代。
Jeroboam II was able to recover every piece of land that had ever been lost by his predecessors. 耶羅波安二世他收復了前朝失去的每塊土地。
He also took some steps toward reconciliation with the southern kingdom of Judah, realizing that these two related kingdoms were much better off as allies than as competitors or enemies. 他還採取了一些步驟，與南部的猶大王國和解，他意識到這兩個王國作為盟友比作為競爭對手或敵人要好得多。
Jeroboam II even went so far as to give some land he had taken from Syria to the king of Judah. 耶羅波安二世甚至還把他從敘利亞獲得的土地贈予了猶大王。
Israel under Jeroboam II had a vigorous trade relationship with the Phoenicians, the great seafaring merchants of the day. 耶羅波安二世領導下的以色列與當時的偉大航海商人腓尼基人有著緊密的貿易關係。
The country enjoyed great prosperity during this time. 在這段時間裡，國家非常繁榮。
Unfortunately, moral standards and faith in the true God had collapsed during the previous King, and Jeroboam II did nothing to change that. 不幸的是，即使在上一任國王的治理期間，道德標準和對真神的信仰已經瓦解，耶羅波安二世並沒有做出任何改變。
In fact, there was an explosion of idolatry, with people building altars to the pagan gods Baal and Ashtarte, and some even sacrificed their children to the cult of Moloch. 事實上，偶像崇拜激增，人們為異教神巴力和亞斯她錄建造祭壇，甚至有人將自己的孩子獻給了摩洛神。
Jonah’s Call to Nineveh 約拿受呼召到尼尼微
Since Jonah the prophet had anointed Jeroboam II at his coronation, we assume he was a popular person in the court. 由於先知約拿曾在加冕禮上膏過耶羅波安二世，我們認為他在殿堂上是個受人歡迎的人物。
When God called him to go to preach in Nineveh, Jonah rebelled. 當上帝呼召他去尼尼微傳道時，約拿抗拒了。
Nineveh was the flourishing capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was occasionally a threat to Israel. 尼尼微是亞述帝國的繁榮之都，有時會對以色列構成威脅。
It was wealthy, powerful, and pagan. 它是富有的，強大的和不信上帝的。
Jonah did not want to go. 約拿不想去。
Instead he hopped a ship heading for Tarshish, 2500 miles in the opposite direction! Nineveh was only 550 miles away, by contrast. 相反地，他跳上了一條要往反方向行駛2500英里的船去他施！相較之下，尼尼微僅550英里遠。
But running away from God is futile. 但是想逃離上帝是沒有用的。
As Psalm 139 says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? 正如詩篇139篇所說：“我往那裡去躲避你的靈？
    Where can I flee from your presence? 我往那裡逃躲避你的面?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 8我若升到天上、你在那裡．
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”  (vss. 7- 8) 我若在陰間下榻、你也在那裡” （7-8節，和合本）
God Finds Jonah 上帝找到約拿
God was on the ship with Jonah, and God was in the sea and the sky which surrounded him. 上帝在約拿所搭的船上，上帝也在環繞著他的海裡與天上。
A great wind and a violent storm began to batter that ship and all the sailors and passengers that were aboard were terrified. 狂風暴雨開始擊打這艘船，船上所有的水手和乘客都感到恐懼。
They even threw all their valuable cargo overboard to lighten the load to help their chances of survival. 他們甚至將所有貴重的貨物扔到船外以減輕負荷、求生。
Everyone aboard was crying out to their god to deliver them–   all except for Jonah, who had gone below, curled up, and gone to sleep. 船上的每個人都在向他們的神求救–除了約拿以外；他在艙底，蜷縮著，沈睡著。
Some people are able to sleep to escape an unpleasant reality. 有些人為了逃避令人不快的現實，選擇睡覺。
But that provided Jonah with only a temporary escape. 但這只為約拿提供了一個暫時的逃脫。
The captain of the ship went below and woke Jonah up, asking him to add his prayers to those of the rest of the people on the ship. 船長走到艙底，叫醒約拿，要他跟船上其他的人一起禱告。
Finally, in desperation, they cast lots to find out if anyone was on the ship was guilty of making his god angry. 最後，他們絕望地掣籤，以查明船上是否有任何人犯了使他的神生氣的罪。
Thankfully, their superstitious belief that a god would work through casting lots was justified when Jonah was revealed as the problem, because he was. 幸好他們所迷信的神透過掣籤指出約拿是問題的所在，因為他就是。
I don’t recommend this method for us today, but it worked in the book of Jonah, and Jonah confessed to the people on the ship that he was running from God, “the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 我不建議使用這種方法，但在約拿書中它是有用的；約拿向船上的人們承認他是從上帝那裡逃出來的，“那個造天、大海和陸地的上帝。”
The sailors and the other passengers were terrified, and asked Jonah what he had done. 水手和其他乘客都嚇壞了，問約拿他做了什麼。
To his great credit in an otherwise despicable series of actions, Jonah admitted that the storm was his fault, and that they should throw him into the sea and it would become calm again. 對於他一連串讓人唾棄的行為所造成的後果，約拿承認暴風雨是因為他的錯；他們應該把他扔進海裡，海浪會再次變得平靜。
Remarkably, this group of men of mixed religions and nationalities who were in grave danger were reluctant to do that. 很特別的是，這群不同宗教、不同國籍的人，即使在生命危險中也不願這樣做。
They tried to row back to land rather than to throw Jonah overboard. 他們試圖要把船划回岸邊，而不是將約拿拋入海中。
But the storm got even worse. 但是暴風雨變得更嚴重了。
Finally, they felt they had no other choice, but prayed for forgiveness as they did so. 最終，他們覺得自己別無選擇，只能為他們所做的祈求寬恕。
When the sea became immediately calm, they offered a sacrifice to God, the REAL God, and made vows to him. 當海立即變得平靜時，他們向上帝，真正的神獻祭，並向祂許願。
God Saves 上帝拯救
So this rebellious prophet made converts while he was running away from God!  I am reminded of Paul’s statement, “God works all things for good for those…who are called according to his purpose.” 所以這位背逆的先知在他逃離上帝的過程中做了改變！我想起了保羅的一句話：“上帝使萬事互相效力…就是按他旨意被召的人。”
Even Jonah himself did not die, but was swallowed by the big fish, and then was vomited out onto dry land! 約拿沒有死，而是被大魚吞到腹中, 然後魚就把約拿吐在旱地上！
God is merciful. 上帝是仁慈的。
Many people were endangered by Jonah’s rebellion, but no one lost their life, not even Jonah. 許多人因為約拿的抗拒，生命受到威脅，但沒有人喪生，甚至約拿也沒有。
And a bunch of people became aware of the God of the Hebrews, the creator of the world, and made sacrifice and vows to him! 一群人開始認識到希伯來人的上帝，世界的創造者，並向祂獻祭與許願！
Second Call to Nineveh 第二次受呼召到尼尼微
But that’s not the end of the story. 但這還不是故事的結局。
After Jonah made his way home, however that occurred, God spoke to Jonah a second time, and said, “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” (Jonah 3: 2) 約拿回到家後，上帝第二次對約拿說話，說：“你起來、往尼尼微大城去、向其中的居民宣告我所吩咐你的話。”（約拿書3：2）
This time Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. 這次約拿聽從了耶和華的話，就去了尼尼微。
One of the paradoxes of the Christian faith is our belief in an all-powerful God and at the same time in personal free will. 基督教信仰中似非而是的論述之一，是我們相信全能的上帝，同時又相信個人的自由意志。
Free Will Versus a Sovereign God 自由意志與掌權的上帝
My personal way of reconciling these two seemingly opposing realities is this. 我個人對這兩個看似對立的現實信念，做這樣的解釋：
I believe we do have free will, but eventually God’s will WILL prevail. 我相信我們確實有自由意志，但最終神的心意會勝出。
Jonah was free to rebel, but it cost him. 約拿可以選擇反叛，但他會為此付出代價。
Eventually he agrees to do what God asked him to do. 最終他同意做上帝要他做的事情。
I don’t know how that works out in any particular individual person, but I do believe that God is the Alpha and Omega. 我不知道每個人如何解釋這論述，但我確實相信上帝是阿爾法 (開始) 和亞米茄 (終結)。
The end of history will be what God wants. 歷史的終結將是上帝想要的。
But in the meantime, what we choose makes a great deal of difference to each one of us, to those around us, and to the world at large. 但是與此同時，我們的選擇對我們每個人、我們周圍的人以及整個世界，會造成很大的不同。
But back to Jonah. 但是回到約拿。
He went to Nineveh, and walked into the middle of the city, which took a full day, the city was so large, and then delivered God’s message. 他去了尼尼微，花了整整一天的時間才走到城中間，可見這座城是如此之大，然後傳達了上帝的信息。
It was a simple one. 是很簡單的一句話。
“Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” (3: 4)  “再過四十天，尼尼微城要被毀滅了！” （3：4）
Nineveh’s Response 尼尼微的回應
When the king of Nineveh heard the message, he immediately took off his royal robes, covered himself in sackcloth, and sat down in the dust. 尼尼微王聽見這信息時，立即脫下王袍，披上麻布，坐在灰中。
Not only that, but he also issued this royal decree: 不僅如此，他還發布了這樣的命令：
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. “人、牲畜、牛羊都不可吃東西；不准吃，也不准喝。
 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.  8人和牲畜都要披上麻布。每一個人都必須懇切地向上帝祈禱，並且停止邪惡的行為，不做強暴的事。
9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (Jonah 3: 7 – 9)  9也許上帝會因此改變他的心意，不再發怒，我們就不至於滅亡。」” （約拿書3：7 – 9）
I heard at the funeral of John Lewis that he used to preach to the chickens he cared for when he was 4. 我在約翰·路易斯（John Lewis）的葬禮上聽說，他曾經向4歲時照顧的雞講道，
He even baptized and married some of them!  And then he couldn’t eat them. 他甚至為它們洗禮並為其中的一些雞主持婚禮！然後他不能吃它們。
My husband’s sister decided to stop eating meat when she was a young child, and has stayed a vegetarian ever since. 我丈夫的姐姐在小時候就決定不吃肉，並且從那以後一直保持素食。
We don’t know whether animals have souls or not. 我們不知道動物是否有靈魂。
The Ninevites seemed to think they do! 尼尼微人似乎認為它們有！
God Responds 上帝回應
Well, God DID relent. 好吧，上帝確實改變心意。
How could God resist all the people and cows and chickens and goats all fasting and covered with sackcloth！ 上帝怎能抗拒所有的人、牛、雞和山羊都禁食，並被上麻布呢！
And what about Jonah? 那約拿呢？
Most preachers or evangelists would be overjoyed with such a response!  A whole big pagan city, along with their animals, repenting from their evil ways! 大多數傳教士或佈道家都會為這樣的回應而高興！整個不信上帝的城市，以及他們的動物，都從邪惡的道路上悔改了！
But not Jonah! To Jonah, this seemed very wrong!  He became quite angry that God chose to forgive the people and animals of Nineveh!  Why?!!!  Can you understand why? 但約拿沒有！對約拿來說，這似乎是非常錯誤的！他很生氣，因為上帝選擇寬恕尼尼微的百姓和動物！為什麼？！！！你能明白為什麼嗎？
Jonah’s Anger 約拿的憤怒
Jonah tells us why. 約拿告訴我們為什麼。
He said to God, 他對上帝說：
“Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. “上主啊，在我離開家鄉以前，我不是說你一定會這樣做嗎？就因這緣故，我盡了所能要逃往他施！
I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 我知道你是慈悲憐憫的上帝。你不輕易發怒，滿有仁慈，常改變心意不懲罰人。
3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”  3所以，上主啊，讓我死吧！我死了比活著還好！」”
Wow. 哇！
Jonah was mad because God forgave Nineveh!  So angry that he said “it is better for me to die than to live!” 約拿很生氣，因為上帝原諒了尼尼微！他非常生氣以至於說：“我死了比活著還好！”
What does that say about Jonah that he was angry that God acted out of love! 這裡說，約拿為上帝愛的舉動，感到憤怒！
That sounds like Jonah himself has a need to repent! 聽起來約拿本人需要悔改！
It seems to me that God was very gracious and loving towards Jonah as well when he said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 在我看來，上帝是非常慈愛地對約拿說：“你憑甚麼這樣生氣呢？”
God Responds to Jonah 上帝回應約拿
Instead of answering, Jonah went outside the wall of the city and sat down to sulk. 約拿沒有回答，而是走到城外，悶悶不樂地坐下。
He was still waiting to see if God would destroy the city. 他還在等著看上帝是否會摧毀這座城市。
While he sat there, a fast-growing vine grew up and provided him with some shade. 當他坐在那裡時，一棵生長迅速的藤蔓長出，並為他提供一些樹蔭。
Jonah’s mood improved a little, but the next day when a worm chewed on the plant, the plant died, and Jonah was once more exposed to the blazing sun. 約拿的情緒有所改善，但是第二天，當蟲把這棵樹咬死了，約拿再次暴露在烈日下。
He grew faint and morose once again, and said, 他快要暈過去，又開始煩悶地說：
 “It would be better for me to die than to live.”  “我死了比活著還好！”
God is still trying to get through to Jonah, so he says to him, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” 上帝仍在設法與約拿溝通，所以祂對他說：“你憑甚麼為這棵蓖麻樹這樣生氣呢？”
Jonah replied, “It is. And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” (Jonah 4: 9) 約拿回答說：“我怎麼不可以！我氣得要死了！” （約拿書4：9）
Jonah has learned nothing. 約拿還沒有學到教訓。
Nothing about the mercy of God that spared the Ninevites OR Jonah. His response to getting hot because he is sitting in the hot sun waiting for a city to be destroyed is to get angry. 並不是因為上帝寬恕尼尼微城的人或是約拿的憐憫。而是他對於坐在太陽下等著城市被毀，卻要被曬暈而憤怒。
We might think he has a few more options, such as leaving that hot spot to go home or even going back into the city of Nineveh to teach them more about God. 我們可能會想說他還有其他選擇，例如離開那熱死人的地方回家，甚至回到尼尼微城，向他們傳講更多關於上帝的道理。
But no, he is addicted to his anger and his sense of grievance against God and says “I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 但是沒有，他沉迷於憤怒和對上帝的不滿之情，並說：“我很生氣，希望我已經死了。”
Anger And Its Consequences 憤怒及其後果
I have to believe that for God to hear a statement like that from one of his beloved children – a prophet no less – is painful. 我必須相信，讓上帝聽到祂心愛的其中一個孩子– 甚至是先知– 作這樣的陳述是很心痛的。
Life is a gift given to us by that very same God, and such a statement is like kicking God in the face!  Especially when there is no good reason for Jonah’s depression. 生命是從獨一的上帝賜予我們的禮物，然而約拿這樣的陳述就像是打臉上帝！尤其約拿並沒有一個好理由沮喪。
He is depressed because he is angry, and angry because he can’t stand the thought of God loving someone HE doesn’t love. 他因為生氣而沮喪，而生氣是因為無法忍受上帝愛他不愛的人。
i.e. the Ninevites. 也就是尼尼微城的人。
Jesus is clear when he says he wants us to feed, love, and pray for our enemies. 耶穌很清楚地告訴我們要給我們的仇敵吃、愛他們、為他們禱告。
He knows it goes against our nature. 祂知道這違背了我們的本性。
He knows it is very very difficult. 祂知道這非常非常困難。
But that’s what Jesus Christ our Lord wants. He wants us to love them enough to want them to be saved, too. 但這就是我們的主耶穌基督想要的。祂希望我們愛他們，希望愛足夠到讓他們也得到拯救。
What happened to Jonah that he can’t stand the thought of his enemies being saved? 約拿無法忍受敵人被拯救，他的結果如何？
Jonah has been given so many gifts. 約拿已經得到了很多的恩賜。
In Israel, he associated with the king and with other important people. 在以色列，他與國王和其他重要人物交往。
He received the gift of being spoken to by God – – several times in this story. 在這個故事中，他多次領受了上帝對他說話的恩賜。
He has rescued by God from death in a miraculous way. 他以奇蹟般的方式被上帝從死亡中救出。
He has experienced the success of a whole city turning to God from their heathen ways. 他經歷了整個城市成功地從不信上帝到轉向上帝的改變。
For a day, he even experienced a little minor miracle with the fast-growing plant that sprang up to give him shade. 有一天，他甚至經歷了一個小奇蹟，就是樹快速長大供他遮蔭。
Now, finally, he is experiencing God speaking to him again to try to show him what it means to be the prophet of a loving God. 現在，最後，他正在經歷上帝再次與他說話，試圖向他解釋何謂慈愛的上帝的先知。
He was so blessed. 他是如此的幸運。
Yet he is so angry he wishes he were dead. 但是他很生氣，希望他自己死了。
Let us pray. 讓我們禱告。