OBEDIENCE ｜ 顺服

ENOBEDIENCE to God's commandments is the first, fundamental, universal demand made upon created spirits—a demand pressed upon believing men, not as a means of justification, but as a governing rule of life. Obedience demands and engages the exercise of the whole intellect, heart, will, and conscience in the persistent fulfillment of every duty; and the smallest duty involves the whole principle of obedience. Indeed, it is the little duties that make the heart and will and conscience sensitive and prompt to dutifulness: small obediences create the habit, and lead to and make easier the fulfillment of greater duties. The ground of obligation: man's obligation to obedience is grounded upon God's relations to man—as his Creator and Moral Ruler; as his Pattern of moral action; and as the true and supreme end of his being. Personal reasons for man's obedience: 1. The law of God, the rule of man's obligation and duty, is absolutely needful to ignorant, consciously dependent and responsible men. Rom. 7:7. I had not known sin, but by the law. Gal. 3:24. The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. 2. The commandments of God are designed and adapted only and surely for man's good. Deut. 6:24. The Lord commanded us to do all these statutes . . . for our good always. [The word "good" is a striking word; the connection of all the commandments of God with it is quite as striking. It enforces the truth that the only way of life and blessedness is in law-keeping. D. S. Gregory.] Hence the law is the greatest boon and the best friend to man—"holy, and just, and good" (Rom. 7:12).

BSBDeuteronomy 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes and to fear the LORD our God, that we may always be prosperous and preserved, as we are to this day.

中顺服神的诫命，是向受造之灵所提的第一、根本、普遍的要求——这要求向信徒提出，并不是作为称义的途径，而是作为管治生活的准则。顺服要求并调动整个理智、心灵、意志与良心，去持之以恒地履行每一项本分；而最小的本分里，也包含着顺服的全部原理。的确，正是那些细小的本分，使心、意志与良心对尽责变得敏锐而迅捷：小的顺服养成习惯，引向并使人更容易履行更大的本分。义务的根据：人顺服的义务，奠基于神与人的诸关系——他是人的创造者与道德统治者；是人道德行为的典范；也是人存有之真实而至高的归宿。人顺服的切身理由：1. 神的律法，即人义务与本分的准则，对无知、自觉倚赖并须负责的人是绝对必需的。罗马书 7:7 —— 只是非因律法，我就不知何为罪。加拉太书 3:24 —— 这样，律法是我们训蒙的师傅，引我们到基督那里。2. 神的诫命，其设计与适配唯独、且确凿是为了人的好处。申命记 6:24 —— 耶和华又吩咐我们遵行这一切律例……使我们常得好处。〔『好处』这个词很引人注目；神一切诫命都与它相连，同样引人注目。它有力地表明这一真理：唯一通向生命与福乐的路，就在守律法之中。格雷戈里（D. S. Gregory）〕因此，律法乃是人最大的恩物、最好的朋友——是『圣洁、公义、良善』的（罗马书 7:12）。

ENIn harmony with these personal motives, we find two Scriptural reasons assigned for obedience: God is our God, and He is good and gracious unto us. These motives are expressly stated in the opening words of Jehovah to His redeemed Israel, introducing the Moral Law: Ex. 20:2. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. And the same assertions are repeated again and again by psalmist and prophet: I am thy God; I have redeemed thee; therefore obey My voice and keep My covenant (Ex. 19:5). This is the key-note to the Mosaic legislation and the whole after-history—before and without regard to ceremonial and sacrifice. The demand of obedience throughout the Old and New Testament: the initial prohibition to Adam (Gen. 2:16, 17. Thou shalt not eat of it); the manifold words of Moses and Joshua, with accompanying promises (Lev. 26:3-13; Deut. 28:1-14; Deut. 4:1, 40; 10:12; 11:27, 28. Josh. 1:7. That thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest). 1 Chron. 28:8. Keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God. Eccles. 12:13. Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Jer. 7:23. Obey My voice, and I will be your God. 2 Cor. 10:5. Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Obedience better than sacrifice: 1 Sam. 15:22. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

BSB1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.

中与上述切身动机相合，我们看到圣经为顺服指定了两条理由：神是我们的神；他向我们良善而施恩。这两条动机，明明白白地陈述在耶和华向蒙救赎之以色列开口、引入道德律的头一句话里：出埃及记 20:2 —— 我是耶和华你的神，曾将你从埃及地为奴之家领出来。诗人与先知也一再重申同样的宣告：我是你的神；我救赎了你；所以你要听从我的话，遵守我的约（出埃及记 19:5）。这是摩西立法与其后全部历史的基音——而且是先于礼仪与献祭、不依赖礼仪与献祭的。新旧两约中对顺服的要求：最初对亚当的禁令（创世记 2:16-17 —— 只是……不可吃）；摩西与约书亚种种带应许的话（利未记 26:3-13；申命记 28:1-14；4:1, 40；10:12；11:27-28。约书亚记 1:7 —— 使你无论往哪里去，都可以顺利）。历代志上 28:8 —— 你们当谨守遵行耶和华你们神的一切诫命。传道书 12:13 —— 敬畏神，谨守他的诫命，这是人所当尽的本分。耶利米书 7:23 —— 你们当听从我的话，我就作你们的神。哥林多后书 10:5 —— 将人所有的心意夺回，使他都顺服基督。顺服胜于献祭：撒母耳记上 15:22 —— 听命胜于献祭，顺从胜于公羊的脂油。

ENFruits or returns promised to obedience: Gen. 18:19 (covenant blessings to Abraham and his spiritual seed). Prov. 29:18. He that keepeth the law, happy is he. Ps. 19:11. In keeping of them there is great reward. Obedience a condition and means of the knowledge of truth: John 7:17. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine. 1 John 2:3. Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. Ps. 111:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments. John 8:32. If ye continue in My word, . . . ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Divine fellowship: Matt. 12:50. Whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother. Light and life: John 15:10. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love. John 8:12. Shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:51. If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death. John 14:23. My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. 1 John 3:24. He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. John 15:14. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Prayer answered: John 15:7. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 1 John 3:22. Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments. Liberty: Ps. 119:45. I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts. Immortal blessedness: 1 John 2:17. He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Rev. 14:12, 13. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

BSBJohn 7:17 If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.

中应许给顺服的果子与回报：创世记 18:19（立约的福分归于亚伯拉罕与他属灵的后裔）。箴言 29:18 —— 惟遵守律法的，便为有福。诗篇 19:11 —— 守着这些便有大赏。顺服是认识真理的条件与途径：约翰福音 7:17 —— 人若立志遵着他的旨意行，就必晓得这教训。约翰一书 2:3 —— 我们若遵守他的诫命，就晓得是认识他。诗篇 111:10 —— 敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端；凡遵行他命令的是聪明人。约翰福音 8:32 —— 你们若常常遵守我的道……你们必晓得真理，真理必叫你们得以自由。与神相交：马太福音 12:50 —— 凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄姐妹和母亲了。光与生命：约翰福音 15:10 —— 你们若遵守我的命令，就常在我的爱里。8:12 —— 就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。8:51 —— 人若遵守我的道，就永远不见死。14:23 —— 我父也必爱他，并且我们要到他那里去，与他同住。约翰一书 3:24 —— 遵守神命令的，就住在神里面，神也住在他里面。约翰福音 15:14 —— 你们若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。祷告蒙应允：约翰福音 15:7 —— 你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面，凡你们所愿意的，祈求就给你们成就。约翰一书 3:22 —— 并且我们一切所求的，就从他得着，因为我们遵守他的命令。自由：诗篇 119:45 —— 我要自由而行，因我素来考究你的训词。不朽的福乐：约翰一书 2:17 —— 惟独遵行神旨意的，是永远常存。启示录 14:12-13 —— 圣徒的忍耐就在此，他们是守神诫命和耶稣真道的。

ENIllustrative examples: Abraham (Gen. 22:18; 26:5. Because thou hast obeyed My voice); Caleb (Num. 14:24. He hath followed Me fully); Jotham (2 Chron. 27:6. He prepared his ways before the Lord his God); Hezekiah; Josiah; Paul (Acts 26:19. I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision). Partial and imperfect obedience recompensed: Rehoboam; Ahab (1 Kings 21:29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before Me?); Jehu. Threatenings against disobedience: Prov. 1:24-32. Because I have called, and ye refused . . . I also will laugh at your calamity. Mal. 2:2. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, . . . I will even send a curse upon you. Illustrations: Moses (Num. 20:7-13, the smiting of the rock); Ahaz.

BSBNumbers 14:24 But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.

中例证：亚伯拉罕（创世记 22:18；26:5 —— 都因亚伯拉罕听从我的话）；迦勒（民数记 14:24 —— 他专一跟从我）；约坦（历代志下 27:6 —— 他在耶和华他神面前行正道）；希西家；约西亚；保罗（使徒行传 26:19 —— 我故此没有违背那从天上来的异象）。部分而不完全的顺服也蒙报偿：罗波安；亚哈（列王纪上 21:29 —— 亚哈在我面前这样自卑，你看见了吗？）；耶户。对悖逆的警告：箴言 1:24-32 —— 我呼唤，你们不肯听从……你们遭灾难，我就发笑。玛拉基书 2:2 —— 你们若不听从，也不放在心上……我就使咒诅临到你们。例证：摩西（民数记 20:7-13，击打磐石）；亚哈斯。