【Daily Bread】隐藏之美 Hidden Beauty

在托巴哥岛的海边，我的孩子们原本认为那里的海底不值得一探究竟，我哄了他们一下，他们才勉强穿戴潜水装备潜入加勒比海。过了一会儿，他们浮上海面时，都欣喜若狂地说：“海底有成千上万种不同的鱼！实在是太美了！我从没见过这么色彩缤纷的鱼！”

Because the surface of the water looked similar to freshwater lakes near our home, our children could have missed the beauty hidden just below the surface.

从岸上看，这片海水跟我们家附近的淡水湖没什么差别。正因如此，孩子们差点就错失隐藏在海面下的美丽景致。

When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king, Samuel saw the oldest son, Eliab, and was impressed by his appearance. The prophet thought he had found the right man, but the Lord rejected Eliab. God reminded Samuel that He “does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

同样的道理，当先知撒母耳前往伯利恒，要膏抹耶西的其中一个儿子为下一任的君王时，他看到耶西的长子以利押外表出众，以为这就是上帝属意的人选，但上帝却没有拣选以利押。上帝提醒撒母耳：“耶和华不像人看人：人是看外貌，耶和华是看内心。”（撒母耳记上16章7节）

So Samuel asked if there were more sons. The youngest boy wasn’t present but caring for the family’s sheep. This son, David, was summoned and the Lord directed Samuel to anoint him.

随后，撒母耳询问耶西，他所有的儿子是否都到齐了。那时，他最小的儿子大卫正在放牧家里的羊群而未能出席。当大卫被召唤回来，上帝便指示撒母耳膏他为王。

Often we look at people only on a surface level and don’t always take the time to see their inner, sometimes hidden, beauty. We don’t always value what God values. But if we take the time to peer beneath the surface, we may find great treasure.

我们常常只看人的外表，却不常花时间了解那隐藏于内在的美好，也经常轻忽上帝看为宝贵的事物。但是如果我们愿意花时间探索表面之下的事物，或许便能发现极美的珍宝。

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

16 耶和华对撒母耳说：“我既厌弃扫罗做以色列的王，你为他悲伤要到几时呢？你将膏油盛满了角，我差遣你往伯利恒人耶西那里去。因为我在他众子之内，预定一个做王的。” 2 撒母耳说：“我怎能去呢？扫罗若听见，必要杀我。”耶和华说：“你可以带一只牛犊去，就说：‘我来是要向耶和华献祭。’” 3 你要请耶西来吃祭肉，我就指示你所当行的事。我所指给你的人，你要膏他。” 4 撒母耳就照耶和华的话去行。到了伯利恒，那城里的长老都战战兢兢地出来迎接他，问他说：“你是为平安来的吗？” 5 他说：“为平安来的，我是给耶和华献祭。你们当自洁，来与我同吃祭肉。”撒母耳就使耶西和他众子自洁，请他们来吃祭肉。6 他们来的时候，撒母耳看见以利押，就心里说：“耶和华的受膏者必定在他面前。” 7 耶和华却对撒母耳说：“不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，我不拣选他。因为耶和华不像人看人，人是看外貌，耶和华是看内心。”

Who taught you how to think about yourself and others?

谁曾教导你如何看待自己和他人？

Long before Samuel looked for a king among the sons of Jesse, God was teaching His children to see below the surface of our skin. From the days of Eden, He has been showing people like us that what happens in our hearts is more important than our outward appearance.

早在撒母耳从耶西的众子中膏立一位国王之前，上帝就教导祂的儿女不要看外貌，反要看内心。从伊甸园那时候开始，上帝便一直向我们显明，我们内心的光景比外在的表现更重要。

How has God’s interaction with the men and women of the Bible helped you to think about yourself and Him?

圣经人物与上帝之间的互动，如何帮助你正确看待自己和上帝之间的关系？