九月二十六日
站在窪地番石榴樹中間。（亞1：8）
本章的异像是說明以色列人在撒迦利亞之時的情形，但是對于我們，它乃是說明現在神的教會在世界上的情形。教會好象是山谷中一叢茂盛的番石榴樹。它是隱藏著的，不被人看到，是隱秘的；粗心的人看來，它幷無佳形美容值得羡慕。教會，像她的頭一樣，也有榮耀，乃是肉眼所看不見的，因爲她彰顯她的榮美的時候尚未來到。它也有平靜安穩的意思：因爲山頂雖有大風吹拂，番石榴樹在山谷中卻仍安息平靜。暴風雨臨到山巔，但山下神的城，卻因滋潤它的水流更加歡暢。番石榴樹在靜靜的水邊發旺滋長，是狂風所不能動搖的。
神的教會裏面有極大的平靜！即使在被反對和受逼迫的時候，仍有平安，這平安不是世人所賜的，因此不能被奪去：神所賜出乎人意料之外的平安必保守屬神之人的心懷意念。這一幅強有力的平安圖畫還有一種含義，就是聖徒必永遠生長。番石榴樹是常青的，它是不落葉的樹；教會在最險惡之時，青葱的恩典仍然環繞著她；不，她最葱翠的時候便是當寒風最尖銳的時候，她所受的災害越曆害，她就興旺。
因此這節經文也有得勝的意思。番石榴樹是和平的表號，因此也象徵著得勝。（平常用番石榴葉或橄欖葉象徵和平）得勝者的額上常戴著番石榴葉或是桂葉；教會不也常常得勝嗎？基督徒藉那愛他的主不更像一位得勝者嗎？一切聖徒不都平平安安地睡在得勝者的膀臂中嗎？
September
26
“The
myrtle trees that were in the bottom.” — Zechariah 1:8
The vision in this chapter describes the condition of Israel in
Zechariah’s day; but being interpreted in its aspect towards us, it describes
the Church of God as we find it now in the world. The Church is compared to a
myrtle grove flourishing in a valley. It is hidden, unobserved, secreted;
courting no honour and attracting no observation from the careless gazer. The
Church, like her head, has a glory, but it is concealed from carnal eyes, for
the time of her breaking forth in all her splendour is not yet come. The idea
of tranquil security is also suggested to us: for the myrtle grove in the
valley is still and calm, while the storm sweeps over the mountain summits.
Tempests spend their force upon the craggy peaks of the Alps, but down yonder
where flows the stream which maketh glad the city of our God, the myrtles
flourish by the still waters, all unshaken by the impetuous wind. How great is
the inward tranquility of God’s Church! Even when opposed and persecuted, she
has a peace which the world gives not, and which, therefore, it cannot take
away: the peace of God which passeth all understanding keeps the hearts and
minds of God’s people. Does not the metaphor forcibly picture the peaceful,
perpetual growth of the saints? The myrtle sheds not her leaves, she is always
green; and the Church in her worst time still hath a blessed verdure of grace
about her; nay, she has sometimes exhibited most verdure when her winter has
been sharpest. She has prospered most when her adversities have been most
severe. Hence the text hints at victory. The myrtle is the emblem of peace, and
a significant token of triumph. The brows of conquerors were bound with myrtle
and with laurel; and is not the Church ever victorious? Is not every Christian
more than a conqueror through Him that loved him? Living in peace, do not the
saints fall asleep in the arms of victory?
