【当小孩子死了When a Child Dies】

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当小孩子死了

撒母耳下12:16 所以大卫为这孩子恳求 神，而且禁食，进入内室，终夜躺在地上。  
12:17 他家中的老臣来到他旁边，要把他从地上扶起来，他却不肯起来，也不同他们吃饭。  
12:18 到第七日，孩子死了。大卫的臣仆不敢告诉他孩子死了，因他们说：“孩子还活着的时候，我们劝他，他尚且不肯听我们的话，若告诉他孩子死了，岂不更加忧伤么？”  
12:19 大卫见臣仆彼此低声说话，就知道孩子死了。问臣仆说：“孩子死了么？”他们说：“死了。”  
12:20 大卫就从地上起来，沐浴、抹膏、换了衣裳，进耶和华的殿敬拜。然后回宫，吩咐人摆饭，他便吃了。  
12:21 臣仆问他说：“你所行的是甚么意思？孩子活着的时候，你禁食哭泣，孩子死了，你倒起来吃饭。”  
12:22 大卫说：“孩子还活着我禁食哭泣，因为我想，或者耶和华怜恤我，使孩子不死，也未可知。  
12:23 孩子死了我何必禁食，我岂能使他返回呢？我必往他那里去，他却不能回我这里来。”

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，可以理解，当人们失去自己年幼的孩子时，想要确定孩子是安全地在上帝的怀抱里。圣经没有表述，这些不幸的小孩子要对上帝作出信心的宣告。然而，当我们研读上帝的话语时就会明显地看到，上帝对小孩子们的仁慈。

多年以来，人们为死去的小孩子编造了非圣经的解释。一些人辩论道，救恩对有的人有效，有的人无效。可是根据圣经，这个解释不准确（约翰福音3:16 神爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡、反得永生。彼得后书3:9 主所应许的尚未成就，有人以为祂是耽延。其实不是耽延，乃是宽容你们，不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改）。而另一些人持更复杂的理论，就是上帝通过祂的预知，从而决定死去的孩子是进天国或下地狱。这个观点的实质意思就是：上帝会解救那些祂预先知道谁长大能得救的人，而其余的祂就会抛弃。这是多么可怕的不确定性，意味着自己的家人会被上帝遗弃。

上帝不让人猜测。祂的话语教导说，幼年的孩子不知道怎样择善弃恶（申命记1:39 并且你们的妇人孩子，就是你们所说必被掳掠的和今日不知善恶的儿女，必进入那地。我要将那地赐给他们，他们必得为业。以赛亚7:16 因为在这孩子还不晓得弃恶择善之先，你所憎恶的那二王之地必致见弃），因此他们不必为自己的道德行为承担责任。相应地，一个死去的小孩子，等待他的将是上帝敞开的怀抱。根据圣经，这是惟一符合天父的品性、意念和旨意的神学解释。

直至小孩子成熟到能够决定是否侍奉上帝之前，他或她在神圣的审判之下都是安全的。我们公义慈爱的上帝不会因为孩子太小，不懂得他需要一位救主而惩罚他们。基督徒们会在天国与他们死去的小孩子相聚，大卫在撒母耳下12:23里说：“我必往他那里去，他却不能回我这里来。”


When a Child Dies

2 Samuel 12: 16 David pleaded with GOD for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth  on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.

18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”

19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Understandably, people who lose a child want assurance that their little one is safe in the arms of GOD. The Bible is not explicit about what happens to those who are too young to make a proclamation of faith. However, the LORD’s mercy upon them becomes clear as we study HIS WORD.

Over the years, people have created unbiblical explanations for what happens to little ones who die. There are those who argue that salvation is available to some but not to others, which is scripturally inaccurate (John 3: 16 For GOD so loved the world that he gave HIS one and only SON, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life. ; 2 Peter 3: 9 The LORD is not slow in keeping HIS promise, as some understand slowness. Instead HE is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.). Another more complicated theory holds that GOD uses HIS foreknowledge to determine whether a child who dies will enter heaven or hell. The idea is that HE rescues those who HE knows would have grown up and been saved, but HE rejects the rest. What terrible uncertainty that would mean for family members left behind.

GOD doesn’t keep people guessing. What HIS WORD teaches is that during the early years of life, a child does not know how to choose good from evil (Deut. 1:39 And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it. ; Isa. 7: 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.) And therefore isn’t held responsible for his moral conduct. Accordingly, when a little one departs from life, the LORD is waiting with open arms. This is the only theology that makes biblical sense, given the FATHER’s character, desires, and plan.

Until a child is mature enough to decide about whether to serve the LORD, he or she is safe from divine judgment. Our just and loving GOD does not punish children for being too young to grasp their need of a SAVIOUR. Believers join their departed little ones in heaven. King David said in 2 Sam. 12: 23 “. . . . . .I will go to him, but he will not return to me”.

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肩负责任的时期

你们要将我这话存在心内、留在意中，系在手上为记号、戴在额上为经文；也要教训你们的儿女，无论坐在家里、行在路上、躺下、起来，都要谈论；又要写在房屋的门框上，并城门上（申命记11:18-20）

我想到，有一次一位初为人母的年轻妈妈允许我抱着她在襁褓中的儿子时，我感慨地说：“真难以相信，可爱的婴儿与生俱来就有罪恶的本性。”然后这位妈妈表示抗议，我想最好现在不要与她争论，不过我很想两年之后，等她的儿子长大一些再联络她，到那时她的想法就会有所不同了！

在这一点或另一点上，我们都感到过被拉着去做一些明知是错的事情（不符合上帝教导的事情），而作为成年人和基督徒，我们懂得向试探妥协是与上帝为敌的罪，但是小孩子却会按照他们罪恶的本性指令去做。比如，妈妈说：“不要碰”，可是他们出于叛逆的本性，无论怎样还是要伸手去碰。小孩子还不能明白，跟从父母的指令是智慧。所以在男孩女孩幼年时，就要开始教导他们分辨善恶，好使他们在成长的过程中能够智慧地选择按照上帝的旨意行事。

幼年时的孩子是无辜的，他们既不是公义的，也不是得救的，但是在上帝的怒中却是安全的（如果他死了，是去天国）。圣经在申命记中提到，孩子有无辜的时期（1:39和今日不知善恶的儿女，必进入那地。我要将那地赐给他们，他们必得为业）。从上帝的话语证实，小孩子在一个时期内，是不必为自己的行为承担道德责任的。

而处在承担道德责任的年纪，孩子与孩子也会有所不同。因为小孩子在成长时，有的是被培育属灵的能力来追求公义，而有的却向明知是罪仍为之发展。所以孩子处在无辜的年龄时，【正是父母灌输后代圣经教导的关键时期，根据圣经来培育他们、教训他们服从上帝。】

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，真基督徒服从上帝教导的行为，就是在宣告他们可靠的生命原则。所以上帝的圣约和真基督徒的好榜样，必会祝福他们的子孙后代。

箴言20:7 行为纯正的义人，他的子孙是有福的。
申命记4:40 我今日将祂的律例、诫命晓谕你，你要遵守，使你和你的子孙可以得福，并使你的日子在耶和华你 神所赐的地上，得以长久。   
诗篇112:1-2你们要赞美耶和华！敬畏耶和华，甚喜爱他命令的，这人便为有福！他的后裔在世必强盛，正直人的后代必要蒙福。  

The Age of Accountability

Deuteronomy 11: 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,

I recall an interesting conversation I once had with a young first-time mom while she allowed me to hold her infant son. I commented, “It’s hard to believe that they are born with a sinful nature.” She protested, and I thought it best not to argue with her. But I would have liked to call her a couple of years later when the boy was a toddler to see if she thought any differently!

At one point or another, all of us have felt a tug to do something that we knew was wrong. As adults and believers, we’ve learned that giving in to temptation is a sin against GOD. But small children do exactly as their natures dictate. Mother says, “Don’t touch,” but they reach out and touch anyway. Little ones do not yet see the wisdom of following their parent’s rules. Boys and girls must be taught to recognize the difference between good and evil before they can make the wise choice to do right.

In the early years, a child is in a state of innocence. He is neither righteous nor saved, but he is safe from GOD’s wrath—if he dies, he goes to heaven. The Bible refers to the innocent period in Deuteronomy 1(39 And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.) The WORD of GOD confirms that there is a period of time when children are not morally accountable for their conduct.

The age of moral responsibility differs from child to child. As little ones grow, they each develop the spiritual capacity to pursue righteousness or knowingly give in to evil. The years of innocence are the time for parents to pour into their offspring sound biblical training and lessons on obedience.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The conduct of true followers proclaims their sound principles. GOD's covenant and their good example secure blessings to their children.

Proverbs 20:7 The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them
Deuteronomy 4:40 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.
Psalm 112:1 Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in HIS commands.
Psalm 112:2 Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

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面对未知的未来

希伯来11:23 摩西生下来，他的父母见他是个俊美的孩子，就因着信把他藏了三个月，并不怕王命。  
11:24 摩西因着信，长大了就不肯称为法老女儿之子。  
11:25 他宁可和 神的百姓同受苦害，也不愿暂时享受罪中之乐。  
11:26 他看为基督受的凌辱，比埃及的财物更宝贵，因他想望所要得的赏赐。  
11:27 他因着信，就离开埃及，不怕王怒。因为他恒心忍耐，如同看见那不能看见的主。  
11:28 他因着信，就守逾越节、行洒血的礼，免得那灭长子的临近以色列人。  
11:29 他们因着信，过红海如行干地，埃及人试着要过去，就被吞灭了。  

希伯来11章里的一个短句，概括了摩西的生命态度：他恒心忍耐，如同看见那不能看见的主（27节）。摩西的生命充满了不确定的事：身为一个“拙口笨舌”的人，怎能与法老对话？（出埃及记4:10 摩西对耶和华说：“主阿，我素日不是能言的人，就是从你对仆人说话以后也是这样，我本是拙口笨舌的）身为一个杀人犯，怎能成为上帝所拣选的人？又怎能带领这些顽梗的以色列民？他们又怎能过红海、征服迦南、在旷野存活40年之久？

摩西深知上帝对他的期望是什么，可是他没有预见未来的超凡能力，所以他无法看到他服从上帝的行为会有什么样的结果。然而，这位以色列的领袖是靠着信心前进，确信上帝的大能能够带领、保守他们，并使他们得胜。摩西得到的保障惟独出自上帝，他是自始至终持守着上帝的应许。

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，自从摩西带领以色列民进应许之地，几千年以来，我们的生命并没有变得更坚确。当今的基督徒会有更多疑虑：我会结婚吗？我的工作稳定可靠吗？如果我生病了，我的孩子怎么办？我怎样完成所有不得不做的事情？感谢主，我们的保障源头任何时候都未改变，上帝仍然在我们的生命中是惟一确实的，你能够倚靠这位信实（提摩太后书2:13 我们纵然失信，祂仍是可信的，因为祂不能背乎自己）、公义（诗篇89:14 公义和公平，是你宝座的根基；慈爱和诚实，行在你前面）、又慈爱的上帝（以弗所2:4 然而 神既有丰富的怜悯，因祂爱我们的大爱）。

从摩西的生命教导我们，要坚定不移地倚靠上帝。即使看起来是绝望的困境，也掌管在上帝的至高主权之手；尽管看起来前面的道路布满黑暗又人迹罕至，但是上帝始终行在我们前面。坚定信心地继续前进，如同看见那不能看见的主。

Facing the Unknown

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of GOD rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of CHRIST as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw HIM who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. 29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

Tucked into Hebrews 11 is a short phrase that indicates Moses’ approach to life: “. . . . . . ; he persevered because he saw HIM who is invisible” (v. 27). There was no shortage of uncertainty in Moses’ life. How could someone “slow of speech” address Pharaoh?  (Ex. 4: 10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”). How could a murderer become GOD’s chosen man? How would anyone lead these stiff-necked Israelites? And how would they cross the Red Sea, conquer Canaan, or survive 40 years in the desert?

Moses knew what the LORD expected of him, but he didn't have supernatural vision into the future. So he couldn't see the outcome of his obedient actions. The Israelite leader moved forward by faith—confident in the LORD's power to guide, protect, and overcome. Moses derived security solely from GOD, who consistently kept HIS promises.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Life hasn't gotten more certain in the millennia since Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land. Modern believers wonder about things too. Will I ever marry? Is my job safe? What happens to my kids if I get sick? How can I accomplish all I have to do? Thankfully, the source of security hasn't changed in all that time. GOD is still the only certainty in this life. You can count on the ONE who is faithful (2 Tim.2: 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.), just (Ps. 89: 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.), and loving (Eph. 2: 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,).

The lesson from Moses’ life is to cling tenaciously to the LORD. Even situations that look hopeless are cupped in GOD's sovereign hand. Moreover, though the way looks dark and the road seems untraveled, HE walks before us. Continue forward in confidence, as seeing HIM who is unseen.

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天父的心

于是起来往他父亲那里去。相离还远，他父亲看见，就动了慈心，跑去抱着他的颈项，连连与他亲嘴（路加福音15:20）

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，你对罪人有多少仁爱呢？

这个问题可能听起来有些奇怪，但正是今天我想让你思考的。经常会出现这样的情况，一旦我们得救了，就认为自己的生命变得洁净一些了，对那些仍旧迷失的人就失去了怜悯之心。当我们看到醉倒在街头的醉汉、看到办公室里对老板撒谎或讲黄段子的同事时，会在暗地里对他们嗤之以鼻，不屑一顾。

但是，如果我们真正懂得我们天父的心，就决不会再做这样的事。从主耶稣讲述的故事中，我们就可以看到上帝的心，就是浪子回头的故事。

很可能你已经听过很多次了，那个儿子怎么

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天父的心

于是起来往他父亲那里去。相离还远，他父亲看见，就动了慈心，跑去抱着他的颈项，连连与他亲嘴（路加福音15:20）

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，你对罪人有多少仁爱呢？

这个问题可能听起来有些奇怪，但正是今天我想让你思考的。经常会出现这样的情况，一旦我们得救了，就认为自己的生命变得洁净一些了，对那些仍旧迷失的人就失去了怜悯之心。当我们看到醉倒在街头的醉汉、看到办公室里对老板撒谎或讲黄段子的同事时，会在暗地里对他们嗤之以鼻，不屑一顾。

但是，如果我们真正懂得我们天父的心，就决不会再做这样的事。从主耶稣讲述的故事中，我们就可以看到上帝的心，就是浪子回头的故事。

很可能你已经听过很多次了，那个儿子怎么悖逆、怎么使他的父亲受辱，可是尽管如此，当儿子悔改时，这位父亲依旧是欣喜地迎接儿子回家。而有一句经文，今天我要着重给你指出来：相离还远，他（悖逆的儿子）父亲就看见他。

从这句话我们看到感人的一幕，就是这位慈爱父亲的心。这句话告诉我们，即使在儿子悔改之前，甚至在儿子朝向罪恶的漫长日子里，这位父亲仍然顾念着儿子，盼望他回家。

每天清晨，父亲会在门前极目眺向远方，望眼欲穿地想要看到儿子回家的身影；每天夜幕降临前的最后一件事，就是再看一次儿子回来了没有，他眯紧双眼，翘首以盼。他时时都在惦念儿子，他的心永远都充满着对儿子的爱。他的爱布满揪心的痛，在他儿子回家的那天，儿子还在路上时，这位父亲就跑向儿子，拥抱他、亲吻他。

这就是我们天父对那些迷失之人所怀的心；这就是在你仍徘徊于世界的时候，天父对你所怀的心；即使你仍被罪恶的污秽覆盖，但天父还是用张开的双臂等着拥抱你，这就是祂的心。

整个世界充满了疲惫不堪又没有找到上帝怀抱的人，他们不只是“罪人”，也是我们潜在的弟兄姊妹。迷失的人，迫切需要这位慈爱的天父。而上帝禁止我们对他们嗤之以鼻，愿我们的上帝帮助我们改变对他们的态度，能够以怜悯之心把他们领回祂的怀抱。

The FATHER's Heart

(Luke 15: 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”)
   
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

How much love do you have for sinners?

That may sound like a strange question, but it's one I want you to think about today. All too often, once we get saved and get our lives cleaned up a little bit, we lose our compassion for those who are still lost. We look at the drunk stumbling down the street or the guy at the office who lies to the boss and tells dirty jokes and turn up our spiritual noses.

But if we ever truly understood the heart of our heavenly FATHER, we'd never do that again. JESUS told a story that can give us a glimpse of that heart. It's the story we call the prodigal son.

You've probably heard it many times, how the son rebelled and dishonored his father, and how the father, in spite of it all, received him home with joy when he repented. But there's one phrase in it I want to draw your attention to today. It's this one: "But when [the prodigal son] was yet a great way off, his father saw him."

That phrase gives such a moving glimpse of the heart of that loving father. It tells us that even before his boy had repented, even during those long days when he was up to his eyebrows in sin, that father was watching for him, longing for him to come home.

Every morning he scanned the horizon, hoping to see the silhouette of his returning son. And the last thing every night, he'd look again... straining his eyes in hope. His son was constantly on his mind, and his heart was always full of love for him. The kind of gut-wrenching love that, on the day his son came home, drove that father to run to him and kiss him.

That's the kind of heart our heavenly FATHER has for those who are lost. It's the kind of heart HE had for you while you were still wandering in the world. It's the kind of heart that embraced you with open arms even when you were still covered with the grime of sin.

There's a whole world full of weary people out there who haven't yet found that embrace. They're more than just "sinners," they're our potential brothers and sisters...lost ones in desperate need of a loving heavenly FATHER. GOD forbid we should ever turn up our noses at them. May our LORD help us instead to start bringing them home.