士師記裏雅威的靈——靈的作為與士師們不同的回應／曾宗盛
曾宗盛
撮要
根據士師記的敘述，「雅威的靈」和士師及他們的工作有密切的關係。士師記三章10節描述雅威的靈降在俄陀聶身上，叫他成為以色列的士師，帶領以色列人掙脫壓迫者的統治，開創一段和平的時期。類似的情況也出現在其他士師身上，雅威的靈感動了基甸（六34）、耶弗他（十一29），以及參孫（十三25，十四6、19，十五14），賦予他們力量，在亂世中帶領以色列民族度過難關。值得注意的是，雅威的靈以不同的方式接近士師：有時祂像風一樣臨到士師（例如俄陀聶、耶弗他），有時祂像外袍一般穿戴在士師身上（例如基甸）。雅威的靈對待參孫更為特別，祂像是擾人的不速之客，不斷地催促參孫採取行動（十三25）；祂也像高空俯衝而下的老鷹一般，突然捉住了他（十四6、19，十五14），讓他霎時變成孔武有力的勇士。這些不同的描述說明雅威的靈以多種樣式進入人類的生活世界，參與在拯救祂的百姓的行動中。不論是以溫和的、或是劇烈的方式，都呈現雅威的靈的能力與多樣面貌。至於這些士師們如何回應雅威的靈的作為呢？前後士師採取不同的回應方式，因此帶給以色列人的拯救效果也逐漸遞減。雅威的靈和士師之間呈現耐人尋味的互動關係。
ABSTRACT
According to the narratives of the Book of Judges, “the Spirit of Yahweh” had close relationship with the Judges and their work. Judges 3:10 describes that, after the Spirit of Yahweh coming upon him, Othniel became a judge over Israel. He liberated the Israelites from the dominion of the oppressors and hence created a period of peace. Similar situations happened to the other judges. The Spirit of Yahweh moved Gideon (6:34), Jephthah (11:29), and Samson (13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14), and empowered them to lead the Israelite people going through different crisis in turbulent times. It is worthy of note that the Spirit of Yahweh used different ways in leading the judges: sometimes she was like wind coming upon the judges, such as Gideon and Jephthah; sometimes she was like a coat mantling someone, such as Gideon. Moreover, the Spirit particularly treated Samson in a special way. She was like an undesirable guest constantly pushing him to take the initiative (13:25), and a hovering eagle dashing from the sky above and suddenly grasping him (14:6,19; 15:14). She forced him to become a strong and mighty man. These different descriptions indicate that the Spirit of Yahweh enters into the lives of human beings in a variety of ways and participates in the actions of saving his peoples. With either mild or fierce manners, the Spirit of Yahweh constantly demonstrates her strength and various features. But how did the judges react to the actions of the Spirit of Yahweh? Their reactions differed, and thus brought to the Israelites diminishing effects of salvation. Apparently, there were intriguing interactions between the Spirit of Yahweh and the judges.
原載於《教牧期刊》第27期及《建道學刊》第34期合刊（2010年7月），頁295-318。
