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經文：「我要安靜，在我的居所觀看。」（賽18:4） 還記得亞述王西拿基立攻擊猶大的那段故事嗎？當亞述軍隊上來的時候，神並沒有阻止，就像是許可他們這麼做一般。 神安靜地在居所觀看，日光也仍舊照著他們；但是到了夜裡，神的使者擊殺了所有高傲的亞述軍隊，如同農夫用鐮刀削剪樹枝那樣容易。 在此我們看見神的作為實在奇妙；祂樂意安靜地在祂的居所觀看！祂的安靜並不是默許，祂的緘默並不是同意。祂只是在等待祂的時候；一個最適合的時候，祂就會起來，在惡者的計謀正要成功的時候，降下災禍毀滅他們。 當我們看到世上的邪惡，想到惡人的成功，甚至在仇人的欺壓下掙扎的時候，就應當想到神正在安靜觀看。 讓我們再看主耶穌在世時的做法；一天晚上，耶穌獨自在岸上，看見門徒在海中，因風不順搖櫓甚苦，祂怎麼做呢？祂靜靜地望著； 當拉撒路生病的時候，主明明知道所親愛的人在伯大尼受著痛苦，但是祂卻不去，直等到拉撒路的病勢日漸嚴重，死亡，安葬在墳墓之後，祂才前行；為的是等待最合宜的時間。 親愛的讀者，神是不是也是這樣對你呢？你應當知道神並非不關心，祂也全都看見；祂的手正按在你的脈搏上，留意地數算你的心跳起伏，在祂認為最合宜的時候，祂就要前來拯救你。--譯自日誠報 Daily Devotional Commentary 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: "I will be still, and I will behold in my dwelling place" (Isa. 18:4, RV). Assyria was marching against Ethiopia, the people of which are described as tall and smooth. And as the armies advance, God makes no effort to arrest them; it seems as though they will be allowed to work their will. He is still watching them from His dwelling place, the sun still shines on them; but before the harvest, the whole of the proud army of Assyria is smitten as easily as when sprigs are cut off by the pruning hook of the husbandman. Is not this a marvelous conception of God--being still and watching? His stillness is not acquiescence. His silence is not consent. He is only biding His time, and will arise, in the most opportune moment, and when the designs of the wicked seem on the point of success, to overwhelm them with disaster. As we look out on the evil of the world; as we think of the apparent success of wrong-doing; as we wince beneath the oppression of those that hate us, let us remember these marvelous words about God being still and beholding. There is another side to this. Jesus beheld His disciples toiling at the oars through the stormy night; and watched though unseen, the successive steps of the anguish of Bethany, when Lazarus slowly passed through the stages of mortal sickness, until he succumbed and was borne to the rocky tomb. But He was only waiting the moment when He could interpose most effectually. Is He still to thee? He is not unobservant; He is beholding all things; He has His finger on thy pulse, keenly sensitive to all its fluctuations. He will come to save thee when the precise moment has arrived. --Daily Devotional Commentary Whatever His questions or His reticences, we may be absolutely sure of an unperplexed and undismayed Saviour. ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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