Listening to God 听从上帝
Dexu Xia
[Josiah] would not listen
to what Necho had said at God’s command. 2 Chronicles 35:22
Back when I was driving to college and back home again, the road to our house in the desert seemed painfully dull. Because it was long and straight, I found myself driving faster than I should have more than once. First, I was given a warning from the highway patrol. Then I received a ticket. Then I was cited a second time in the very same place.
Refusing to listen can have unfortunate consequences. One tragic example of this is from the life of Josiah, a good and faithful king. When Necho, the king of Egypt, marched through Judah’s territory to help Assyria in battle against Babylon, Josiah went out to counter him. Necho sent messengers telling Josiah, “God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me” (2 Chronicles 35:21). God really did send Necho, but Josiah “would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo” (v. 22). Josiah was fatally injured in the battle, “and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him” (v. 24).
Josiah, who loved God, discovered that insisting on his own way without taking the time to listen to Him or His wisdom through others never ends well. May God give us the humility we need to always check ourselves and take His wisdom to heart.
By: James Banks
What do you need God’s wisdom for in your life? What will you do to listen to Him today?
Ever wise and loving God, help me to be humble and to listen for Your wisdom today. Thank You that when I ask for wisdom, You give “generously . . . without finding fault” (James 1:5).
.[约西亚]不听从上帝藉尼哥之口所说的话。—历代志下35章22节
回想当年我开车往返学校与家里，必须行经一条沙漠中的公路。这条又长又直的公路令我感到乏味至极，我发现自己不止一次超过最高限速。我第一次超速时，高速公路巡警只是给了我一个警告。再犯时，我接到了罚单。过后，我又在同一个地点被开了第二次罚单。
拒绝听劝可能会面临不幸的后果，那位敬虔的犹大王约西亚就是一个悲惨的例子。当埃及王尼哥为帮助亚述抵抗巴比伦，率军行经犹大国的领土时，犹大王约西亚就出兵与他争战。尼哥差遣使者告诉约西亚：“上帝吩咐我速行，你不要干预上帝的事，免得祂毁灭你，因为上帝是与我同在”（历代志下35章21节）。上帝的确派遣尼哥，但约西亚却“与他打仗，不听从上帝藉尼哥之口所说的话，便来到米吉多平原争战”（22节）。最后约西亚身受重伤，不治身亡，“犹大人和耶路撒冷人都为他悲哀”（24节）。
这位爱上帝的君王约西亚必定体会到坚持己见，不听从上帝或是上帝藉着别人所说的智慧建言，绝不会有好结果。让我们恳求上帝赐给你我所需要的谦卑，也常常自我省察，并将祂的智慧铭记在心。
作者： 庞雅各
在你的生活中，哪方面需要上帝的智慧？
今天你要如何听从上帝的话语？
充满智慧和慈爱的上帝，请帮助我谦卑聆听，
顺从祢智慧的引导。我要感谢祢，
因为当我向祢求智慧时，祢就厚赐与我，不加责备