十一月十日

永生的神是你的居所。（申33：27）

居所、避難所應譯爲“宮邸”，這叫我們想到神是我們居住的所在，是我們的家。這一個詞裏具有豐富而甜蜜的意思，因爲我們的心所最寶貴的是我們的家，幷不管它是怎樣卑陋寒微的茅舍，或是樞繩瓮牖的蓬屋；而我們得以在榮耀的神裏面居住、行動幷生活是多麽寶貴呀！在家中，我們便感到安全：我們把熙攘紛紜的塵世關在門外，安安逸逸地住在家裏。因此當我們與神同在的時候就“不怕遭害”。

他是我們的保障和退避所，是我們的居所。我們在家中便得以休息，一天的辛勞和疲倦到了家中才能歇息。我們的心在神裏面得享安息，人生的倥偬和鬥爭使我們疲弱不堪，但我們若轉向他，我們的身心就可安然居住。在家中，我們的心便可松一口氣；我們不用怕人誤會，也不用顧及我們的話語會被人誤解。我們在神的面前也可這樣自由自在地與他相交，可以把我們心中所藏的願望都拿出來；“耶和華與敬畏他的人親密。”（當譯爲“耶和華的秘密曉示敬畏他的人。”）敬畏神的人所有的秘密也應當，而且必須告訴神。家也是我們得到真正快樂的地方，我們的心在神裏面才得到極大的喜樂。我們也爲家而工作忙碌。想到家我們就有力量擔當一天的重擔，使我們的手興奮地從事我們的工作；我們對于神的家也當有這樣的存心。愛他，便加强了我們的力量。我們因他的愛子便想到他，每逢看到救贖主受苦的面容就不能不使我們爲他效勞。我們感到我們必須作工，因爲我們的弟兄需要拯救，我們要把浪子帶到家中，好使我們父的心滿了快樂；我們要使我們所住的天家滿了聖潔的歡樂。那以雅各的神爲避難所的人有福了！

November 10

"The eternal God is thy refuge."--Deuteronomy 33:27

The word refuge may be translated "mansion," or "abiding- place," which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home. There is a fulness and sweetness in the metaphor, for dear to our hearts is our home, although it be the humblest cottage, or the scantiest garret; and dearer far is our blessed God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. It is at home that we feel safe: we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. So when we are with our God we "fear no evil." He is our shelter and retreat, our abiding refuge. At home, we take our rest; it is there we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. And so our hearts find rest in God, when, wearied with life's conflict, we turn to him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our hearts loose; we are not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of our words being misconstrued. So when we are with God we can commune freely with him, laying open all our hidden desires; for if the "secret of the Lord is with them that fear him," the secrets of them that fear him ought to be, and must be, with their Lord. Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in him which far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labour. The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burden, and quickens the fingers to perform the task; and in this sense we may also say that God is our home. Love to him strengthens us. We think of him in the person of his dear Son; and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labour in his cause. We feel that we must work, for we have brethren yet to be saved, and we have our Father's heart to make glad by bringing home his wandering sons; we would fill with holy mirth the sacred family among whom we dwell. Happy are those who have thus the God of Jacob for their refuge!