February - 2
THE VOICE OF GOD
The Lord . . . said, “Speak to the Israelites . . . .” Leviticus 1:2
When God questioned Adam in the garden, he hid; when God spoke at Sinai, the people trembled. “Moses, you speak with God!” they cried; “we don’t want to die” (see Exodus 20:18-19). But without the voice of God we are left to listen to our own voice.
Human words can be impressive. Lofty poetry and powerful oratory move us to do great things. But none of it gets us back to God. Only God’s voice can get us home again. Only God’s voice has the power to draw us out of the darkness and into his marvelous light.
God’s voice can be intimidating, as it was for Israel. All those instructions—those do’s and don’ts. Perhaps you think God doesn’t care for you because when you spoke to him in prayer one day, he didn’t answer the way you desired. But God heard your prayer. And his personal word to you lives before you, in the Bible.
In Leviticus God tells us how Israel’s sins can be forgiven. Then God gives instructions for the priests, who will help the people bring acceptable sacrifices to God, with humble and repentant hearts. Leviticus also teaches Israel how to be clean in body and soul. God teaches his people, priests included, how to live holy lives in their desert camp and later in the promised land.
These are holy words for holy living. And we can learn from them in the community of God’s people.
PRAYER
We give thanks for your Word, O Lord. Help us to hear your voice so that we may walk in the light of your grace. Help us listen to your words and live by them. In Jesus, Amen.
当神在伊甸园中要向亚当质问时，他惊得要躲起来。当神在西乃山说话时，百姓战抖着呼喊：「摩西，你代我们向神说话吧，我们不想死啊！」（参出埃及记20:18-19）。可是，若没有神的声音，我们便只能听见自己的声音。
人的说话可以令人动容，情操高尚的诗句和振振有辞的演说，都会激发我们作一些伟大的事情，但却不能令我们返回神的怀抱。只有神的声音可以领我们回家，只有神的声音才有能力领我们脱离黑暗，进入祂奇妙的光明中。
然而，神的声音也可以令人惊怕，正如以色列的情况一样，神吩咐他们哪些事情「可作」和「不可作」，但这一切却吓怕了他们。或许你认为神不看顾你，因为有一天你在祷告中向祂说话，祂却没有按着你的意愿应允你，但神已垂听了你的祷告，祂更在圣经中亲自向你说话。
在利未记，神告诉我们，以色列民所犯的罪，如何才能得到赦免。继而指示祭司，由祭司以谦卑和悔改的心，代表百姓向神献上祂所悦纳的祭。利未记亦教导以色列民如何洁净自己的身体和心灵。神教导祂的百姓，包括祭司在内，如何在今日旷野的营和他日的应许之地里，过圣洁的生活。
这些都是帮助百姓过圣洁生活的圣言，我们可以从神的百姓身上学习。
祷告
主啊，感谢祢赐下祢的话语，求祢帮助我们聆听祢的声音，好叫我们行在祢恩典的亮光中。求祢帮助我们聆听祢的说话，按祢的说话生活。奉耶稣名求，阿们。