Good Grief
Dexu Xia
As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you. 2 Kings 2:2
Today's Scripture 2 Kings 2:7-14
Today's Insights After Elijah (Hebrew, “Yahweh is my God”) had completed his ministry assignments, he was miraculously taken from the earth (2 Kings 2:11). Plans were in place, however, for God’s work to continue among His people. Some years before, Elisha (Hebrew, “God is salvation”) had been designated as Elijah’s successor (see 1 Kings 19:16-21). Centuries later, Jesus or Yeshua (Hebrew, “Yah [Yahweh] saves”) also prepared for His departure after His death and resurrection. His work would go on through successors who saw Him when He ascended (Acts 1:10-11) and were empowered by the Holy Spirit. We also can press on in Him even as we grieve those who are no longer with us.
Today's Devotional A man named Hidesaburō Ueno taught at Tokyo’s Imperial University in the 1920s. Every afternoon, he returned on the 3:00 p.m. train to find his dog, Hachiko, waiting for him. One day Professor Ueno suffered a stroke during class and died. When he didn’t get off the afternoon train, Hachiko lingered a while, then went home. The dog returned the next day at 3:00, and the next day, and the day after that, for ten years. Hachiko’s loyalty touched the hearts of many Japanese, who came to sit with him.
Elisha was similarly committed to his master, Elijah. On the day Elisha knew he would lose him, Elisha refused to let him out of his sight. Then a chariot of fire whisked Elijah to heaven. Elisha choked out what he saw: “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” (2 Kings 2:12). He picked up Elijah’s cloak, the symbol of the prophet’s power that had parted the Jordan moments earlier (v. 8), and asked, “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” (v. 14). He struck the water, which parted as it had for his master. What a bittersweet day!
Have you lost someone you love? No words can do justice to your pain. Every sob releases memories of the love you shared. You hurt deeply because you loved deeply. How bittersweet! Thank God for this beloved person and for your capacity to love. Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak. What might you do?
Reflect & Pray
What tangible sign or ritual honors the memory of your loved one? How does Jesus help to carry your burden?
Dear Father, thank You for giving me people whom I loved deeply. Help me to press on in You. By Mike Wittmer
好的悲伤
我指着永生耶和华，又敢在你面前起誓，我必不离开你。列王纪下 2:2
今日经文：列王纪下 2章7-14 节
今日心得 以利亚（希伯来语，意为“耶和华是我的神”）完成他的事工后，奇迹般地被接离开世间（列王纪下 2:11）。然而，神已为继续在祂的子民中开展工作计划好了。几年前，以利沙（希伯来语，意为“神是拯救”）被指定为以利亚的继承人（参见列王纪上 19:16-21）。几个世纪后，耶稣或耶书亚（希伯来语，意为“雅威[耶和华]拯救”）也为祂死而复活后的离开做准备。祂的工作将通过那些在祂升天时见过祂（使徒行传 1:10-11），并被圣灵充满的接替者继续下去。即使我们为那些已离我们而去的人悲伤，我们也能靠着耶稣继续前行。
今日灵修 20世纪20年代，一位名叫上野英三郎的男子在东京帝国大学任教。每天下午，他都会乘坐下午3点的火车回来，发现他的爱犬八公在车站等他。有一天，上野教授在课堂上中风去世。因为他没有乘下午的火车，八公在车站逗留了一会后就回家了。第二天下午3点，八公又回到车站来了，第三天又来了，这一来就是十年。八公的忠诚感动了许多日本人的心，他们纷纷前来与它同坐。
以利沙也同样忠于他的主人以利亚。在以利沙知道自己将要失去以利亚的那一天，以利沙不肯让他离开自己的视线。后来，一辆火车将以利亚送上了天堂。以利沙哽咽着说出他所见的：“我父啊！我父啊！以色列的战车马兵啊！”（列王纪下 2:12）他拾起以利亚的外衣，这外衣象征着先知以利亚的能力，以利亚在片刻前曾用这外衣分开约旦河（8节）。以利沙问道：“耶和华，以利亚的神在哪里？”（14节）。他用以利亚的外衣击打河水，河水就像被以利亚击打那样分开了。真是苦乐参半的一天！
你失去过挚爱吗？任何言语都无法表达你的痛苦。每一次抽泣都唤起你们曾经分享的爱的回忆。你深爱过，所以你也深感痛苦。多么苦乐参半！感谢上帝赐予你这位挚爱的人，也感谢上帝使你有爱的能力。以利沙拾起以利亚的外衣。你会怎么做？
反思与祷告 有什么具体的记号或仪式可以纪念你所爱的人？耶稣如何帮助你分担你的重担？
亲爱的天父，感谢你赐给我挚爱的人，帮助我继续前进。作者：麦克魏特嚜