二月十七日

以撒靠近庇耳拉海萊居住。（創25:11）

夏甲和以實瑪利曾在那裡因那永活並看顧人的神使她的眼睛明亮，便得暢飲泉水，解去了他們的乾渴和苦情；屬世的人當他們在危困缺乏之時才來到神面前呼求他。他們是在困苦時求告他，但在順利時便離棄了他。以撒卻在那裡居住，好時時取給于活水的泉源和看顧人的神。人的情況，以及他心靈的居處，是探測人實況的好方法。或許夏甲得見神的經驗激動了以撒的心，使他尊敬那地；他很寶貴那個神秘的地方，黃昏時他常出去散步，所以很熟悉那井的情形；他曾在那裡遇見利百加，所以覺得那地像自己的家一樣；而最主要的是因歡喜在那裡與永活的神相交，因此使他選擇了那個聖地作他的居所。讓我們學著住在永活神的面前，讓我們求聖靈使我們今天，天天，感到“那看顧我的。”願主耶和華作我們一個歡暢的、安慰的、不竭的、湧到永生的泉源。屬物的水瓶能破碎，會乾枯，但造物主宰的泉源是永不枯竭的；住在這泉邊的人是有福的，他必可隨時從那裡得到一切的需要。主是幫助眾人的：他的名是“沙代”（Shaddai希伯來文全能者的意思，）全能的神；我們的心常有與他相交之樂，因他，我們的生命找到了屬靈的丈夫主耶穌；我們今天要在他裡面生活、行動、為人，那末讓我們居住在他裡面，好與他密切相交。榮耀的主啊！使我們永不離開你，乃要居住在永活神的泉旁。

February 17

"Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi." --Genesis 25:11

Hagar had once found deliverance there and Ishmael had drank from the water so graciously revealed by the God who liveth and seeth the sons of men; but this was a merely casual visit, such as worldlings pay to the Lord in times of need, when it serves their turn. They cry to Him in trouble, but forsake Him in prosperity. Isaac dwelt there, and made the well of the living and all-seeing God his constant source of supply. The usual tenor of a man's life, the dwelling of his soul, is the true test of his state. Perhaps the providential visitation experienced by Hagar struck Isaac's mind, and led him to revere the place; its mystical name endeared it to him; his frequent musings by its brim at eventide made him familiar with the well; his meeting Rebecca there had made his spirit feel at home near the spot; but best of all, the fact that he there enjoyed fellowship with the living God, had made him select that hallowed ground for his dwelling. Let us learn to live in the presence of the living God; let us pray the Holy Spirit that this day, and every other day, we may feel, "Thou God seest me." May the Lord Jehovah be as a well to us, delightful, comforting, unfailing, springing up unto eternal life. The bottle of the creature cracks and dries up, but the well of the Creator never fails; happy is he who dwells at the well, and so has abundant and constant supplies near at hand. The Lord has been a sure helper to others: His name is Shaddai, God All-sufficient; our hearts have often had most delightful intercourse with Him; through Him our soul has found her glorious Husband, the Lord Jesus; and in Him this day we live, and move, and have our being; let us, then, dwell in closest fellowship with Him. Glorious Lord, constrain us that we may never leave Thee, but dwell by the well of the living God.