Our Thoughtful God 体贴我们的神
Dexu Xia
Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime? 2 Kings 20:19
Today's Scripture 2 Kings 20:12-19
Today's Insights The Babylonian king sent envoys to Hezekiah seeking to forge an alliance with Judah against Assyria. In a foolish bid to impress them, Hezekiah showed them the wealth of his kingdom. God was testing Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:31). He had previously acted powerfully on Hezekiah’s behalf, but Hezekiah trusted in himself and the military alliance instead of God (see 2 Kings 19:35-36; 20:4-11; 2 Chronicles 32:25). Although Hezekiah repented (v. 26), he brought God’s judgment upon Judah. Later, Jerusalem would be destroyed and the people exiled to Babylon (2 Kings 20:16-19; Isaiah 39). Unlike Hezekiah, God provides the perfect example of loving others.
Today's Devotional “Do you want to see my scar?” My friend Bill had been paralyzed from the chest down after falling off a ladder years ago, and now he was in the hospital for a severe infection acquired during a surgery. As we discussed his new challenge, he lifted his blanket to show me the long incision made to treat his infection. “Does it hurt?” I asked. “I can’t feel it at all,” he said. As soon as he said it, I felt convicted. During all the years I’d known him as a friend, I’d been unaware that his injury prevented both his mobility and ability to feel. I was embarrassed that I hadn’t had more empathy for him and his injury to better understand what he faced daily.
My lack of thoughtfulness about my friend reminds me of something King Hezekiah of Judah did. When the prophet Isaiah told him that everything in his palace would one day “be carried off to Babylon,” and his own descendants “taken away” (2 Kings 20:17-18), Hezekiah was pleased. “For he thought, ‘Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?’ ” (v. 19). Even though he was a good king, Hezekiah was focused more on himself than on what others would face.
How different God is. “This is love,” John wrote, “not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son” to save us (1 John 4:10). God cares so deeply for us that He suffered for us, so that we might live in His love forever.
Reflect & Pray
What does God’s thoughtfulness mean to you? How might you think of others today?
Thank You for thinking of me, dear God. Please let Your love flow through me to others.
Jams Banks
我的一生岂不平安无事吗？列王纪下 20:19
今日经文：列王纪下 20章12-19 节
今日心得：巴比伦王派遣使者到希西家那里，寻求与犹大结盟对抗亚述。希西家却向他们展示了自己王国的财富，愚蠢地想以此打动使者。上帝在试验希西家（历代志下 32:31）。上帝曾大力帮助希西家，但希西家却更信靠自己和军事联盟，而不是上帝（列王纪下 19:35-36；20:4-11；历代志下 32:25）。虽然希西家悔改了（26节），但他还是导致上帝的审判降在犹大身上。后来，耶路撒冷被毁，人民被掳到巴比伦（列王纪下20:16-19；以赛亚书39）。与希西家不同，上帝为我们树立了爱他人的完美榜样。
今日灵修： “你想看我的伤疤吗？” 我的朋友比尔几年前从梯子上摔下来，胸部以下瘫痪，现在他因手术中严重的感染住院。当我们讨论他的新挑战时，他掀开毯子给我看他为治疗感染而做的长切口。“疼吗？”我问。“我一点都感觉不到，”他说。他一开口，我就感到内疚。我认识他这么多年，一直没意识到他的伤不仅影响了他的行动能力，也影响了他的感觉能力。我为自己没有对他和他的伤有更多的同理心而感到惭愧，没有更好地理解他每天所面对的一切。我对朋友缺乏体贴，让我想起犹大王希西家的所作所为。先知以赛亚告诉他，有一天，他宫里的一切都会“被掳到巴比伦”，他的后裔也会“被掳”（列王纪下20:17-18），希西家却很高兴。“因为他心里说：‘在我有生之年，难道不会有太平稳固吗？’”（19节）。虽然希西家是一位贤明的君王，但他更关注自己，而不是关心别人将要面对的一切。
上帝是多么与众不同啊！约翰写道：“不是我们爱上帝，乃是上帝爱我们，差遣他的儿子”来拯救我们，这就是爱了（约翰一书4:10）。上帝如此深切地关心我们，甚至为我们受苦，好让我们永远活在他的爱里。
反思与祷告：上帝的体贴对你来说意味着什么？你今天会如何看待他人？ 亲爱的上帝，谢谢您关心我。我祈求您让您的爱通过我流向他人。 作者：詹姆斯·班克斯