十一月十日
永生的神是你的居所。（申33：27）
居所、避难所应译爲“宫邸”，这叫我们想到神是我们居住的所在，是我们的家。这一个词里具有丰富而甜蜜的意思，因爲我们的心所最宝贵的是我们的家，幷不管它是怎样卑陋寒微的茅舍，或是枢绳瓮牖的蓬屋；而我们得以在荣耀的神里面居住、行动幷生活是多麽宝贵呀！在家中，我们便感到安全：我们把熙攘纷纭的尘世关在门外，安安逸逸地住在家里。因此当我们与神同在的时候就“不怕遭害”。
他是我们的保障和退避所，是我们的居所。我们在家中便得以休息，一天的辛劳和疲倦到了家中才能歇息。我们的心在神里面得享安息，人生的倥偬和斗争使我们疲弱不堪，但我们若转向他，我们的身心就可安然居住。在家中，我们的心便可松一口气；我们不用怕人误会，也不用顾及我们的话语会被人误解。我们在神的面前也可这样自由自在地与他相交，可以把我们心中所藏的愿望都拿出来；“耶和华与敬畏他的人亲密。”（当译爲“耶和华的秘密晓示敬畏他的人。”）敬畏神的人所有的秘密也应当，而且必须告诉神。家也是我们得到真正快乐的地方，我们的心在神里面才得到极大的喜乐。我们也爲家而工作忙碌。想到家我们就有力量担当一天的重担，使我们的手兴奋地从事我们的工作；我们对于神的家也当有这样的存心。爱他，便加强了我们的力量。我们因他的爱子便想到他，每逢看到救赎主受苦的面容就不能不使我们爲他效劳。我们感到我们必须作工，因爲我们的弟兄需要拯救，我们要把浪子带到家中，好使我们父的心满了快乐；我们要使我们所住的天家满了圣洁的欢乐。那以雅各的神爲避难所的人有福了！
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!
