Listen to the Stones 聆听石头的声音
Dexu Xia
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:40
Today's Scripture Luke 19:37-40
Today's Insights Some scholars believe that Jesus’ statement in Luke 19:40 that “if [the crowds] keep quiet, the stones will cry out” is a reference to Habakkuk 2:11: “The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.” Others suppose that the stones in view are the stones of the very gates themselves, as seen in Psalm 118:19-20: “Open for me the gates of the righteous . . . the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.” Whether Luke 19:40 echoes an Old Testament text or not, it’s an example of poetic imagery where inanimate objects praise God (see also Psalm 114:6; Psalm 148; Isaiah 55:12). Jesus had often refused praise during His earthly ministry. Now He not only accepted it but encouraged it. When humans fail to praise the Creator, the creation itself will praise God.
Today's Devotional After our family held a riverside memorial service for my father, we each selected a stone to help us remember him. His life had been a checkerboard of wins and losses, but we knew his heart had been for us. My fingers traced my stone’s smooth surface and helped me remember to hold him close.
In Luke 19, Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem while the crowds waved palm branches, shouted Hosannas, and cheered, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (v. 38; see John 12:12-13). In the Pharisees’ disdain of what they perceived to be a blasphemous claim of messiahship, they ordered Jesus to tell the disciples to be quiet. Jesus replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40).
The stones do cry out—in many ways. God has used stones throughout the story of His love for us. Two rough-hewn stones carried ten chiseled commandments to tell us how to live (Exodus 34:1). Stones of remembrance piled by the Jordan River and in the middle of the river reminded generations of Israelites of God’s provision and faithfulness (Joshua 4:8-9 nlt). The one rolled into place to contain Jesus’ body is the same one that rolled away to show He had risen (Matthew 27:59-66; Luke 24:2). We “hear” this stone as it reminds us of Jesus’ words: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
Listen to the stones and lift your own voice along with them in praise to our loving Father.
Reflect & Pray
How have the stones of God’s work in our world “cried out” to you? What message might God intend for you to take to heart?
Dear Father, thank You for using even stones to speak of Your love.
By Elisa Morgan
“耶稣回答说：“我告诉你们，他们若闭口不说，这些石头必要呼叫起来。” 路加福音 19:40
今日经文 路加福音 19章37-40 节
今日心得 一些学者认为，耶稣在路加福音 19章40节中所说的“他们若闭口不说，这些石头石头必要呼叫起来”是指哈巴谷书 2章11节：“墙里的石头必呼叫，房内的栋梁必应声。”另有人则认为所指的石头就是城门本身，正如诗篇 118章19-20节中所说：“给我开义门…耶和华的门，义人要进去。”无论路加福音19:40是否呼应了旧约经文，它都是一个诗意的例子，用无生命的物体赞美上帝（另见诗篇114:6；诗篇148；以赛亚书55:12）。耶稣在地上传道期间常拒绝被赞美。现在，他不仅接受了赞美，还鼓励赞美。当人类未能赞美造物主时，受造物本身就会赞美上帝。
今日灵修 我们家在河边为父亲举行了追悼会后，我们每个人挑选了一块石头来帮助我们纪念他。父亲的一生就像一盘棋局，其中充满了输赢胜负般的跌宕起伏，但是我们知道他的心一直与我们同在。我的手指抚摸着石头光滑的表面，提醒自己要紧紧地拥抱他。
在路加福音19章中，耶稣凯旋进入耶路撒冷，人群挥舞着棕榈枝，高呼“和散那”，欢呼道：“奉主名来的王是应当称颂的！”（38节；见约翰福音12:12-13）。法利赛人对此不屑一顾，因为他们认为耶稣自称弥赛亚是亵渎圣者，因此，他们命令耶稣禁止祂的门徒这样欢呼。耶稣回答说：“他们若不作声，石头必要呼叫起来。”（路加福音19:40）
石头的确会以多种方式呼叫。上帝在祂爱我们的整个故事中都在使用石头。两块粗糙的石头上刻着十条诫命，告诉我们当如何生活（出埃及记34:1）。约旦河边和河中央堆积的纪念石，提醒一代又一代的以色列人上帝的供应和信实（约书亚记4:8-9 新译本）。滚过来挡住埋葬耶稣身体的墓穴石头，和滚开见证耶稣已经复活的石头是同一块（马太福音27:59-66；路加福音24:2）。我们“听见”这块石头的呼喊，因为它提醒我们耶稣的话：“复活在我，生命也在我”（约翰福音 11:25）。 让我们聆听这些石头的声音，并和它们一起高声赞美我们慈爱的天父。
反思与祷告 上帝在我们这个世界里所用的这些石头，是如何向你“呼喊”的？上帝希望你藉着这些石头铭记什么信息？
亲爱的天父，感谢您甚至使用石头来表达您的爱。
作者：伊莉莎·摩根