Nor Sleep / 不睡觉

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Dexu Xia

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Sep 12, 2019, 3:09:16 AM9/12/19

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Nor Sleep

He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

For a man who lives by a code, so to speak, it felt like a major failure. What’d I do? Well, I fell asleep. Our kids have a curfew to meet when they’re out for the evening. They’re good kids, but my practice is to wait up until I hear their hands turn the front doorknob. I want to know they’re home safe. I don’t have to do this: I choose to. But one night I awoke to my daughter saying through a smile, “Dad, I’m safe. You should go to bed.” Despite our best intentions, sometimes fathers fall asleep at their posts. It was very humbling, and also very human.

But that never happens with God. Psalm 121 is a reassuring song about Him as guardian and protector of His children. The psalmist declares that God who watches over us “will not slumber” (v. 3). And for emphasis, he repeats that truth in verse 4: He “will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Can you even imagine? God never falls asleep at His post. He is always keeping watch over us—the sons and daughters and aunts and uncles and mothers, and even fathers. It’s not so much that He has to do this, but rather that, out of His great love, He chooses to. That promise is definitely something to sing about.

Reflect & Pray

In what ways do you sense God’s presence? When you don’t, what truths can you depend upon?

Father, thank You for Your constant care over our lives. We know that doesn’t mean a life absent of trouble, but rather a life held close by Your love and presence. Help us to confidently rest in the assurance that You’re always at Your post.

不睡觉

保护以色列的，也不打盹，也不睡觉。-诗篇121篇4节

我是个讲求纪律的人，所以我规定孩子们晚上几点一定要回到家。虽然他们都很自律，但我的习惯都是不睡觉，直等到听见门把转动的声响，确定他们安全到家了才能安然入睡。我虽大可不必等门，但我乐意这么做。然而，有一次我在等门时竟睡着了，这让我感到挫败。那一夜，女儿轻轻地把我摇醒，笑着对我说：“爸爸，我平安到家，你该去睡觉了。”尽管做父亲的总是处处为儿女着想，但有时也有无法做到的地方。这虽令人感到惭愧，但也是人之常情。

但上帝绝对不会这样。诗篇121篇是令人宽慰的诗歌，颂扬上帝看顾保守祂的儿女。诗人宣告，那位保护我们的上帝“必不打盹”（3节），并于第4节重申、强调这个事实：祂“不打盹，也不睡觉”。

你能想像吗？上帝从不打盹，也不睡觉，而是时时刻刻保护着我们每一个人。不论你是为人子女、阿姨、叔叔、母亲或甚至是位父亲，祂都保守眷顾。上帝虽大可不必这么做，但因祂深爱我们，就乐意看顾我们。上帝应许时刻保护我们，我们能为这个应许高声歌颂！

天父，谢谢祢持续看顾我们的生活。
我们知道，这并不表示一帆风顺，
而是被祢的爱和同在所环绕。
求祢帮助我们能完全相信，祢必时刻看顾。