四月十八日
又把朱红线绳系在窗户上。（书2:21）
喇合靠赖探子的应许保全了自己。她看那两个探子是以色列人之神的代表。她的信心既诚笃而坚固，并且也很顺服。在窗户上系一条朱红线绳是一件小事，可是她却照办，不马虎，不疏忽，免得冒险。这里给我们一个教训，你曾留心遵行主的一切旨意吗？有时他的一些命令似乎并不重要，你也奉行不误吗？你对于信者浸礼和主的晚餐这二礼是否按著主自己的方式而行呢？你疏忽了这二者，就说明你的心并不爱主，也不顺服。因此要在一切事上都无可指摘，如果系红线是主的命令，那末就当遵从。喇合这一种行动给我们一个更大的教训。我们是否一心信赖耶稣的宝血呢？我们是否把这朱红线绳，像哥狄阿斯的结（Gordian Knot，弗吕家王哥狄阿斯所编之结，极复杂难解，神话谓能解此结者当为亚洲主人，亚历山大不能解曾拔剑斩之）一样系在我们的窗上，好叫我们信靠的心永远不被移去呢？我能看到我的罪在死海，我的盼望在耶路撒冷，若我没有看到血并看到一切都与这可称颂的能力有关吗？若窗户上有这线，经过的人必看到它的明显的颜色；若我的生命已经被赎，一切看到的人都必认为是很明显的。那有什么可羞耻的呢？让人或鬼任意看吧。总之，主的血是我所夸耀、我所歌颂的。我的心哪！谁能看到那红线，在你信心软弱时连你自己也看不见；耶和华报仇的使者必能看见并越过你。耶利哥的墙倒塌了，喇合的房子就在城墙上，但却屹立无恙；我的生命建筑在血肉之躯上，当死亡来临时，我必平安稳妥。我的心哪！把鲜明的朱红线系在窗户上，然后你放心、安息吧！
April 18
“She bound the scarlet line in the window.” –Joshua 2:21
Rahab depended for her preservation upon
the promise of the spies, whom she looked upon as the representatives of the
God of Israel. Her faith was simple and firm, but it was very obedient. To tie
the scarlet line in the window was a very trivial act in itself, but she dared
not run the risk of omitting it. Come, my soul, is there not here a lesson for
thee? Hast thou been attentive to all thy Lord’s will, even though some of His commands
should seem non-essential? Hast thou observed in his own way the two ordinances
of believers’ baptism and the Lord’s Supper? These neglected, argue much
unloving disobedience in thy heart. Be henceforth in all things blameless, even
to the tying of a thread, if that be matter of command.
This act of Rahab sets forth a yet more solemn lesson. Have I implicitly
trusted in the precious blood of Jesus? Have I tied the scarlet cord, as with a
Gordian knot in my window, so that my trust can never be removed? Or can I look
out towards the Dead Sea of my sins, or the Jerusalem of my hopes, without
seeing the blood, and seeing all things in connection with its blessed power?
The passer-by can see a cord of so conspicuous a colour, if it hangs from the
window: it will be well for me if my life makes the efficacy of the atonement
conspicuous to all onlookers. What is there to be ashamed of? Let men or devils
gaze if they will, the blood is my boast and my song. My soul, there is One who
will see that scarlet line, even when from weakness of faith thou canst not see
it thyself; Jehovah, the Avenger, will see it and pass over thee. Jericho’s
walls fell flat: Rahab’s house was on the wall, and yet it stood unmoved; my
nature is built into the wall of humanity, and yet when destruction smites the
race, I shall be secure. My soul, tie the scarlet thread in the window afresh,
and rest in peace.
