Remain strong, for God’s eye is on you.

当坚持下去，上帝正看顾你。

The eye of their God was watching over [them] . . . and they were not stopped.Ezra 5:5 

上帝的眼目看顾犹大的长老，以致总督等没有叫他们停工。-以斯拉记5章5节

When an opportunity came to take on a new role at work, Simon believed it was a godsend. After praying over the decision and seeking counsel, he felt that God was giving him this opportunity to take on bigger responsibilities. Everything fell into place, and his boss supported his move. Then things began to go wrong. Some colleagues resented his promotion and refused to cooperate. He began to wonder if he should give up.

当西蒙有机会在工作中担任新的职位时，他相信这是上帝为他所预备的。他为这事祷告和寻求他人的意见之后，觉得这是上帝给他机会承担更大的责任。一切都顺利地进行，他的主管也支持他的调动，但问题开始出现了。有些同事对他的升迁感到不满，并且拒绝合作。他开始思考自己是否应该放弃。

When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to build the house of God, enemies sought to frighten and discourage them (Ezra 4:4). The Israelites stopped at first, but continued after God encouraged them through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (4:24–5:2).

当以色列人归回耶路撒冷重建上帝的殿时，敌人试图恐吓、扰乱他们（以斯拉记4章4节）。起初他们被迫停工，但因上帝藉着先知哈该和撒迦利亚的劝勉，他们又继续建造圣殿（4章24节-5章2节）。

Once again, enemies came to hassle them. But this time they persevered, knowing “the eye of their God was watching over [them]” (5:5). They held on firmly to God’s instructions and trusted Him to carry them through whatever opposition they’d face. Sure enough, God moved the Persian king to support the temple’s completion (vv. 13–14).

于是敌人又开始骚扰，但此次以色列人坚持下去，因他们知道“上帝的眼目看顾[他们]”（5章5节）。他们坚守上帝的命令，相信不管遭到什么样的反对，上帝都会带领他们度过。果然，上帝感动波斯王，让他支持重建圣殿（13-14节）。

Similarly, Simon sought God’s wisdom to discern whether he should stay or find a new position. Sensing God calling him to remain, he relied on God’s strength to persevere. Over time, he slowly gained his colleagues’ acceptance.

同样地，西蒙也藉着读经和祷告寻求上帝的智慧，好让他知道应该坚持下去，或是另寻新的职位。当他清楚知道上帝要他继续坚持时，便倚靠上帝的能力坚守岗位。随着时间过去，他慢慢获得了同事的认可。

As we seek to follow God, wherever He places us, we may face opposition along the way. That’s when we need to keep following Him. He will guide us and carry us through.

在跟随上帝的过程中，无论祂把我们放在哪个位置，我们都可能会面临反对的声浪。在这样的时候，我们还是要坚心跟随祂。祂会引导我们，也会带领我们度过难关。

Lord, we trust your plan for us, teach us to hold it on to you, not be discouraged or frightened by difficult situations, or those who oppose you.

主啊，我们相信你为我们所预备的计划，教导我们好好握住它，不要因情况困难，或者那些反对你的人而感到沮丧或害怕。

Ezra 5:1-5    NIV

5 Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. 3 At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?” 4 They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

以斯拉记 5:1-5

5 那时，先知哈该和易多的孙子撒迦利亚奉以色列神的名，向犹大和耶路撒冷的犹大人说劝勉的话。 2 于是，撒拉铁的儿子所罗巴伯和约萨达的儿子耶书亚都起来，动手建造耶路撒冷神的殿，有神的先知在那里帮助他们。 3 当时河西的总督达乃和示他波斯乃并他们的同党来问说：“谁降旨让你们建造这殿，修成这墙呢？” 4 我们便告诉他们建造这殿的人叫什么名字。 5 神的眼目看顾犹大的长老，以致总督等没有叫他们停工，直到这事奏告大流士得着他的回谕。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

It was a Persian king by the name of Cyrus who ordered the release and return of Israel from Babylonian exile (Ezra 1:1–7). Israel had been waiting for a national deliverer who would be a descendant of King David. Yet according to Isaiah, God had called Cyrus to be his servant and shepherd (Isaiah 44:21–45:6). Is it possible that long before Jesus, God was giving us reason to never give up on His ability to come to our rescue in the most unexpected ways?

有一个名叫塞鲁士的波斯国王，下令释放以色列人，允许他们从巴比伦被掳之地归回（以斯拉记1章1-7节）。以色列一直期待从大卫王的后裔中，兴起一位能拯救以色列国的人。但根据以赛亚的说法，上帝曾呼召塞鲁士作祂的仆人和牧人（以赛亚书44章21节-45章6节）。是否有这种可能，早在耶稣降生之前，上帝就给了我们坚信祂能拯救的理由，因为祂能用我们最意想不到的方式来救我们？

整理：于姊妹