In God We Trust 信靠上帝
Dexu Xia
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15
In the early days of the American Revolutionary War, an expedition was launched against British forces in Quebec. When the expedition passed through Newburyport, Massachusetts, on the way to Canada, they visited the tomb of the renowned evangelist George Whitefield. Whitefield’s coffin was opened and his clerical collar and cuffs were removed. The clothing was cut in pieces and distributed in the mistaken belief that it could somehow give the soldiers success.
The expedition failed. But what the soldiers did demonstrates our human tendency to trust in something less than a relationship with God—money or human strength or even religious traditions—for our ultimate well-being. God cautioned His people against this when invasion from Assyria threatened, and they sought Pharaoh’s help instead of turning from their sins and turning personally to Him: “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, “No, we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee!’ ” (Isaiah 30:15–16).
Their “expedition” failed as well (just as God said it would) and Assyria overwhelmed Judah. But God also told His people, “The Lord longs to be gracious to you.” Even when we have trusted in lesser things, God still holds out His hand to help us return to Him. “Blessed are all who wait for him!” (v. 18).
In what other than God are you sometimes tempted to place your trust? How will you rely on Him today?
I trust You, God. Please help me to always rely on You because You’re always faithful!
你们得救在乎归回安息，你们得力在乎平静安稳。—以赛亚书30章15节
在美国独立战争初期，美军曾对在加拿大魁北克的英军发动远征，经过麻州的纽伯里波特时，特意到著名的布道家乔治 · 怀特腓（George Whitefield）的坟墓。他们打开他的棺木，取出他的牧师领和袖子，并将他的衣服剪成一片片发给士兵们，因他们误以为这样就能旗开得胜。
这次的远征失败了，但士兵的行为却显示了人类的劣根性，我们宁可相信其他事物会带来福祉，好比金钱、人的能力，甚至宗教传统，而不愿信靠上帝。当以色列遭亚述入侵和威胁时，上帝告诫祂的百姓不要信靠别的，但他们却寻求法老的帮助，而不是离开自己的恶行，回转归向上帝。以赛亚对百姓说：“主耶和华以色列的圣者曾如此说：‘你们得救在乎归回安息，你们得力在乎平静安稳，你们竟自不肯。’你们却说：‘不然，我们要骑马奔走。’所以你们必然奔走。”（30章15-16节）
以色列民想依靠埃及的救援也失败了（就如上帝所说的一样），后来犹大国更受到亚述的威胁。但上帝告诉祂的子民：“耶和华必然等候，要施恩给你们。”即使我们依赖那些次要的事物，但上帝仍会伸手帮助我们回转归向祂。让我们时时提醒自己：“凡等候祂的都是有福的！”（18节）
除了上帝以外，有时你还会想依赖哪些事物？
你今天要如何完全信靠祂？
上帝啊，我信靠祢。请帮助我时时倚靠祢，
因为祢永远信实可靠！