Arks, Trough, and Treasure

Arks, Trough, and Treasure 箱子傳奇

By Esther Ng inspired by a sermon delivered by Rev. Stephen Wang on December 11, 2016

(by Esther Ng inspired by a sermon delivered by Rev. Stephen Wang on December 11, 2016)

(聽畢王庭飛牧師二零一六年十二月十一日講道，吳羅瑜有感而作)

Five box-like containers, big and small. 五箱子大小不同，

Fulfilling God’s purpose, one and all. 成就神旨顯奇工。

First came the ark that Noah was to build, 先有挪亞建方舟，

So that human lives from the Flood would shield. 洪水泛濫人不愁，

Birds, beasts and creatures too galore, 飛禽走獸亦安康，

Safe inside, though waves outside pound and roar. 無懼怕舟外風浪；

For God had so decreed—to save those seeking refuge within, 投身舟內命不喪，

But punish those unrepentant of sin. 硬心不悔者淪亡。

Three stories tall, and over one hundred years in the making, 三層結構百年造，

Noah’s Ark was a giant, and Moses’ ark a mere weakling. 方舟固比草箱高。

For this box was a make-shift sanctuary for Baby Moses alone, 小箱暫作摩西床，

Hoping against all odds for mercy to be shown 但願誰家心胸廣，

To the Hebrew boy floating along the river, 飄流男嬰肯垂憐。

While Sister Miriam anxiously watched with a shiver. 姐姐河畔頻流連，

The plan worked, by God’s providential care! 喜見神助計謀逞，

So Moses got adopted by a princess, and Egyptian riches could share. 公主領養富連城！

Decades later, to God’s orders obedient, 多年後摩西無悔，

Moses built an ark very different. 按神心意建約櫃，

In the wilderness, inside the tabernacle, 曠野會幕內擺放，

Where God’s wrath and mercy would meet in a special receptacle. 神怒神憐交匯場。

A box to be sure, but covered with gold. 櫃乃箱子外鍍金，

God’s tablets of Law it was to hold, 內有法版彌久新，

With Aaron’s budding rod, and a pot of manna as well, 亞倫杖及嗎哪罐，

For remembrance and for calling on Emmanuel. 神同在大恩數算。

But the Ark of the Covenant had to abdicate its place, 約櫃終須被取消,

For the Law showed up sin and the world panted for grace. 律法顯罪神恩浩，

So Emmanuel became incarnate—the Baby in a Manger, 以馬內利今降生，

In a feeding trough for animals, to the world a stranger. 動物槽傳嬰兒聲，

In a trough of unpolished wood, or box carved from rocks, 粗木或硬石槽裡，

Lay the Almighty as an infant! No greater paradox! 全能神竟成躺嬰。

No luxury for God’s Only-Begotten, no cradle for Mary’s New-born, 宮廷享受盡闕如，

Only a sign for poor shepherds, as angels to them had sworn. 卻是牧人好標記。

Then later, other boxes borne by eastern magi to Bethlehem came, 旋後東方博士來，

Humbly presented, but gifts and reminders of world-wide fame. 箱內禮物別心裁：

Gold—precious metal fit for a king, 黃金堪配大君王，

Frankincense—for the health he would bring, 乳香能醫各創傷，

And myrrh—for his death as atoning sacrifice. 沒藥示救贖犧牲，

A gift for the king to use, and his largesse it signifies. 供王用復表王恩。

May we too bring our love in gratitude for his love, 願以愛還主大愛，

Our gift on earth in response to the gifts from above! 稍回報上天慷慨！