God Our Refuge 上帝是避难所
Dexu Xia
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
The remarkable 2019 movie Little Women sent me back to my worn copy of the novel, especially the comforting words of Marmee, the wise and gentle mother. I’m drawn to the novel’s depiction of her steadfast faith, which underlies many of her words of encouragement to her daughters. One that stood out to me was this: “Troubles and temptations . . . may be many, but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your heavenly Father.”
Marmee’s words echo the truth found in Proverbs that “the name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (18:10). Towers were built in ancient cities to be places of safety during danger, perhaps because of an enemy attack. In the same way, it’s through running to God that believers in Jesus can experience peace in the care of the One who’s “our refuge and strength” (Psalm 46:1).
Proverbs 18:10 tells us protection comes from God’s “name”—which refers to all of who He is. Scripture describes God as “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). God’s protection comes from His mighty strength, as well as His tenderness and love, which causes Him to long to provide refuge to the hurting. For all who are struggling, our heavenly Father offers a place of refuge in His strength and tenderness.
By: Lisa M. Samra
How have you experienced God’s strength in times of trouble? Where have you seen His comforting care?
Heavenly Father, please help me to run to You in both good times and times of struggle.
耶和华的名是坚固台，义人奔入，便得安稳。—箴言18章10节
在2019年上映的精彩电影《小妇人》（Little Women，台湾译名《她们》），让我重温了我这本已经破旧的小说，尤其是睿智温柔的母亲马区太太所说的那些安慰人的话，特别令人回味。小说里描述她坚定不移的信心最吸引我，而这信心促使她对女儿们说了许多鼓励的话。有一句话最深得我心，她说：“苦难与试探……也许很多，但如果你学习去感受天父的能力与温柔怜悯，你便可以克服与胜过一切。”
马区太太的话呼应了箴言中的真理：“耶和华的名是坚固台，义人奔入，便得安稳”（18章10节）。许多古代城市建造塔楼，好在危急的时刻，比如面对敌人攻击时，让城内居民有个安全的避难所。同样地，上帝是“我们的避难所，是我们的力量”（诗篇46篇1节），当我们奔向祂，就能因祂的看顾而经历平安。
箴言18章10节告诉我们，保护是来自上帝的“名”──表明祂所有的特质。圣经描述上帝是“有怜悯、有恩典的上帝，不轻易发怒，并有丰富的慈爱和诚实”（出埃及记34章6节）。上帝的保护出自祂的大能大力，以及祂的温柔慈爱，因此祂渴望为受伤害的人提供庇护。我们的天父以祂的大能与怜悯，为所有遭逢逆境的人提供了一个避难所。作者： 夏莉珊
你在困境中曾如何经历上帝的大能？
你曾在哪方面看到祂慈爱的保守？
天父，无论我是身处顺境或逆境，请帮助我能奔向祢。