經文:「祂將海變成乾地,眾民步行過河;我們在那裡因祂歡喜。」(詩66:6) 按著常情來說,百姓過紅海時:波濤在兩邊翻騰,追兵在後面吶喊;他們一定驚恐、戰慄、痛苦、倉皇。可是詩篇作者卻說:「我們在那裡」--大水中--「因祂歡喜」。多少信徒能有這樣的經歷:「在那裡」--一個失望的絕境中,一個外患內憂的時刻--還能「因祂歡喜」? 「在那裡」立約的神來了!「在那裡」祂的應許實現!「在那裡」仇敵盡都消滅!「在那裡」嘗到屬天經歷!如果不是「在那裡」,而是在一個順遂的境遇中,即便花盡力氣尋找,也找不到這些榮耀的事實。就像白日的陽光將星光遮掩了;待黑夜一到,滿天的繁星就再次出現--經上的應許、安慰、盼望,也都是在憂愁之夜出現的。 就像,雅各在「雅博渡口」一樣;日落之後,才有天使前來。我們經過虔誠的祈禱之後,才能獲得結果。亞倫在夜晚點燃聖殿的燈;在困苦艱難之夜晚,信徒的明燈,發出最燦爛的光亮。拔摩海島上的約翰;在孤單淒涼中,得見主榮耀的異象。如今在地上仍有許多荒涼的拔摩海島,那裡有主的同在,可以消滅孤單和憂愁,你願不願意去呢? 有多少旅客,在經過紅海和約但河的苦難時,能一心想念神說:「我們步行過河,在那裡--在這些黑暗的經歷裡,在波濤四面翻騰的光景裡--「因祂歡喜」--馬克特夫 Dr. Macduff 「…從那裡…我必賜他葡萄園,又賜他亞割谷,作為指望的門,他必在那裡歌唱。」(何2:15) 新譯|荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "He turned the sea into dry land; they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him" (Ps. 66:6). It is a striking assertion, "through the floods" (the place where we might have expected nothing but trembling and terror, anguish and dismay) "there," says the Psalmist, "did we rejoice in him!" How many there are who can endorse this as their experience: that "there," in their very seasons of distress and sadness, they have been enabled, as they never did before, to triumph and rejoice. How near their God in covenant is brought! How brightly shine His promises! In the day of our prosperity we cannot see the brilliancy of these. Like the sun at noon, hiding out the stars from sight, they are indiscernible; but when night overtakes, the deep, dark night of sorrow, out come these clustering stars--blessed constellations of Bible hope and promise of consolation. Like Jacob at Jabbok, it is when our earthly sun goes down that the Divine Angel comes forth, and we wrestle with Him and prevail. It was at night, "in the evening," Aaron lit the sanctuary lamps. It is in the night of trouble the brightest lamps of the believer are often kindled. It was in his loneliness and exile John had the glorious vision of his Redeemer. There is many a Patmos still in the world, whose brightest remembrances are those of God's presence and upholding grace and love in solitude and sadness. How many pilgrims, still passing through these Red Seas and Jordans of earthly affliction, will be enabled in the retrospect of eternity to say--full of the memories of God's great goodness--"We went through the flood on foot, there--there, in these dark experiences, with the surging waves on every side, deep calling to deep, Jordan, as when Israel crossed it, in 'the time of the overflowing' (flood), yet, 'there did we rejoice in Him!'" --Dr. Macduff "And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the door of trouble for a door of hope: and she shall sing THERE" (Hosea 2:15). | Mrs. Charles Cowman
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