九月二十六日
站在洼地番石榴树中间。（亚1：8）
本章的异像是说明以色列人在撒迦利亚之时的情形，但是对于我们，它乃是说明现在神的教会在世界上的情形。教会好象是山谷中一丛茂盛的番石榴树。它是隐藏着的，不被人看到，是隐秘的；粗心的人看来，它幷无佳形美容值得羡慕。教会，像她的头一样，也有荣耀，乃是肉眼所看不见的，因爲她彰显她的荣美的时候尚未来到。它也有平静安稳的意思：因爲山顶虽有大风吹拂，番石榴树在山谷中却仍安息平静。暴风雨临到山巅，但山下神的城，却因滋润它的水流更加欢畅。番石榴树在静静的水边发旺滋长，是狂风所不能动摇的。
神的教会里面有极大的平静！即使在被反对和受逼迫的时候，仍有平安，这平安不是世人所赐的，因此不能被夺去：神所赐出乎人意料之外的平安必保守属神之人的心怀意念。这一幅强有力的平安图画还有一种含义，就是圣徒必永远生长。番石榴树是常青的，它是不落叶的树；教会在最险恶之时，青葱的恩典仍然环绕着她；不，她最葱翠的时候便是当寒风最尖锐的时候，她所受的灾害越历害，她就兴旺。
因此这节经文也有得胜的意思。番石榴树是和平的表号，因此也象征著得胜。（平常用番石榴叶或橄榄叶象征和平）得胜者的额上常戴着番石榴叶或是桂叶；教会不也常常得胜吗？基督徒藉那爱他的主不更像一位得胜者吗？一切圣徒不都平平安安地睡在得胜者的膀臂中吗？
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?
